You know what, I am going to rant again because I am a little bit angry. Write it down to insecure writer syndrome. But like... I've clearly struck a nerve with my last chapter of When we were up to no good, judging by some of the comments.
Unfortunately one of my critics have just written "and now this" about that chapter specifically, so I have NO idea exactly what "this" is. But coupled with another comment, I have it at a guess that it's the fact that I make Remus Lupin do ONE elective. I've included the extract of said discussion between Remus and the boys below, if anyone's curious.
Basically, they're discussing electives and Remus tells them he's planning to take Divination but haven't yet decided on his second subject. James and Sirius suggest that he (1) either just does one elective or (2) does muggle studies because his mother is a muggle, so it's an easy subject. Why? Because of his lycanthropy.
Now do I believe in canon that he only took one subject? Not really. He probably took two. If we're going by canon, he probably took COMC and Divinations, because that's apparently the default subjects for Gryffindors (I am only partially joking).
But I am sick and tired of fanon Remus, who is given a limp, lots of bandages and scars, and sometimes a cane, but who otherwise lives a perfectly normal life. As a chronically ill person with an invisible illness, it truly pisses me off that Remus, who does not have visible scars in canon, is given lots of visible signs of his condition and not a single one of the invisible ones. Not his insecurity or fear of being caught, not the prejudice if anyone finds out (fanon Remus usually have lots of friends who know and are totally cool with it), not the tiredness we see in canon. None of the exhaustion he probably experiences, and that we see marked in his prematurely aged face, his graying hair, his hoarse voice.
So yes, I am going to have Remus Lupin do one elective, because that's what being chronically ill is like. It's a never-ending struggle between pushing and trying to adjust and accommodate.
It's also not just about Remus. It's showing James and Sirius' privilege. Because people like James and Sirius have the confidence to play by their rules and their preferences. Most of us, we follow what's expected of us, and norms. And for Remus in particular, playing by the norms is important not to stick out. To James and Sirius, it makes sense that you take the amount of subjects you fancy or you're fit to take. Who cares what other people think? Plus, they're not always the most understanding of friends, but this is one of those times their confidence and logic help Remus, and they challenge him in a constructive way.
Finally, and this is really the heart of my rant: I DO IT BECAUSE I'VE NOT SEEN IT DONE BEFORE. For goodness sake, why are people so keen that we all do the same thing? If there are multiple canon faithful interpretations, I will ALWAYS choose a path I've not seen done, if that's possible. To me, it's about bringing something new to the table. A new way to interpret and understand the characters.
