(no subject)

[hpraremod]

Discussion Question #18

We here at hprarefest consider a rare pair as something that does not have it's own fest. Our rules have always been based on what pairings had active fests or challenges. So the banned list would include:

Harry/Draco
Draco/Hermione
Ron/Draco
Remus/Sirius
Hermione/Severus
Harry/Severus

The ones from 2016 fest I'm considering removing as "banned" - as in do they even have a fest anymore?

Draco/Ginny (Do they still have a fest?)
Severus/Draco (it only ran once in 2015?)
Remus/Snape (There's no fest, right?)

And the final question is: Harry/Ginny. Is it banned because it's canon? What are thoughts on Harry/Ginny being a banned pairing? (Same question for Hermione/Ron)

We used to have hds_beltane so we banned Harry/Draco/Severus - so is that considered a rare pair now?

Another rare pair community I know of doesn't allow a "threesome" pairing if two of the main pairing is non-rare pair. So since H/D is a thing and so is H/S - should H/D/S be allowed?

Comments

[llaeyro]

rs_small_gifts
rs_games
rs_collab

[hpraremod]

So sorry. I meant Remus/Snape, not Sirius... duh. It was late when I wrote this.

[kitty_fic]

Yes, I believe that Harry/Draco/Severus was banned because of beltane, so it would qualify in my mind now. It's gotten much less common too I think... Unless I'm missing something I haven't seen anyone write that pairing in ages?

Not sure about Draco/Ginny or Harry/Ginny?
I'm still not sure I would consider Hermione/Ron rare though. Maybe that's just because of how many fics they show up as a side pairing? I'd be interested to hear what others think.

Remus/Sirius has rs_games and I think another fest or two still active maybe?

[starstruck1986.livejournal.com]

I think Hermione/Ron does sort of count because the amount of fics where they are the sole pairing are very rare these days.

[theimpossiblegl.livejournal.com]

I'd still ban canon pairings -- those are a given and are always alluded to/background/etc in sooooooo many fics.

[nightfalltwen.livejournal.com]

I agree that canon pairings should still be off limits.

[cryptaknight.livejournal.com]

I agree with banning canon pairings, as well. Remus/Sirius still seem pretty pervasive, too. As for the threesome, it seems like a way of getting around pairings that would otherwise be banned.

[hpraremod]

So sorry. I meant Remus/Snape, not Sirius... duh. It was late when I wrote this.

[smirkingcat.livejournal.com]

agreed with all of the above!

[(Anonymous)]

I disagree with threesome version of two popular pairings being banned. Personally, I would consider that to be a completely different pairing, as the inclusion of a third person will always make the dynamic different if the writer cares at all about the characters being in-character. I don't think I have any OT3s in Harry Potter, but there are plenty of canons where I ship an OT3 but actually dislike the component pairings on their own.

For example, while I don't precisely ship Hermione/Harry/Ron, I don't mind reading fics about it. But I actively hate Ron/Hermione, Harry/Hermione, and Ron/Harry. In that situation, I find that Hermione/Harry/Ron because the inclusion of the third person balances out my problems with the individual pairings. And I'm sure that there are other people who ship OT3 pairings who feel similarly.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, canon pairings should not be considered rare pairs.

[alisanne.livejournal.com]

I agree with excluding canon pairings.

Threesomes do have a different dynamic, so I agree with the anon person above. While H/D and Snarry are off limits (and rightly so) Drapery should be allowed, IMO.

[shiftylinguini.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, Drapery is the best ship name I have ever seen! Just had to chime in and say that haha <3

[alisanne.livejournal.com]

*giggles*
Isn't it, though?
And it gives a new meaning to the idea that Sirius was killed by Drapery.... *g*

[hpraremod]

I think the general consensus is that Drapery is now rare.

:)

[torino10154]

Severus/Draco just ran the once (there used to be one before as well but it's been even longer since it existed). The Snupin one has been gone a full year now, I believe.

I think banning canon pairings is sort of interesting as sure they exist in fic but I don't actually see a lot of primary Harry/Ginny or Ron/Hermione. ETA: The criteria has always been whether the pairing had a fest, not on its actual "rareness".

I must also argue that the threesome really isn't the same as the two separate pairings. That threesome used to be fairly popular, yes, but it's pretty much nonexistent these days. There is a risk of the pairing shippers trying to get their pet pairing in that way, but are there any other threesomes that are banned because of that? Meaning, am I allowed to write Harry/Draco/Hermione? If yes, then there's no reason to ban Severus/Harry/Draco and if no, then it should be listed, right?

[hpraremod]

The criteria has always been whether the pairing had a fest, not on its actual "rareness".

You always say the smartest things. I agree that if Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione don't have an active *fest* they shouldn't be banned. Ron/Hermione had a fest last year "Reunion..." something so I could see why it was on the list last year.

Even if Ron/Hermione are side pairings in over 85% of fics out there, it's not central, and there's no fest.

Thanks for your input.

[kitty_fic]

Whether the pairing has a fest has always been a main consideration but it wasn't the only consideration.

When the fest was created it was a combination of factors that determined which pairings were rare. Yes, if the pairing had a fest was a major factor but it wasn't the only one.

I agree with those that say that the canon pairings should not be considered rare.