Harry/Hermione

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 1790

Hi:

hgiammarco at hotmail.com wrote:

> Another topic: A friend and I were discussing Harry's possibilities
> for a future partner. She thinks that JKR has Harry's future pinned
> in with Hermione... I am leaning towards the idea that Harry is
> careening towards single-hood, much like Dumbledore. Hermione just
> seems a little too close to become a future romance. They are best
> friends.
> And then where would that leave Ron?

Well, as Carole already intimated -- this is one of my favorite
subjects.  First, I don't know that we can make the presumption that
Dumbledore has always been single & uninvolved romantically (he might
even be now for all we know).  None of the teachers seemingly have
spouses, partners or dates . . . . which is perhaps a bit unrealistic.
In any case, Dumbledore is old enough that he might well be widowed.

Back to Harry/Hermione romantic possibilities (H/H) -- I've never posted
all my H/H evidence & theories to this group in one lump posting before
so . . .  here goes.  Mind you, it created a firestorm of controversy on
hpanonymous, which is why I've been reluctant to post it all here
before.  But, it's all in the FAQ to be posted for this group (along
with arguments against H/H & arguments for & against the other possible
pairings).  This is the simplified version of the Arguments For H/H from
my FAQ draft --

1.  Balance -- Harry and Hermione are more balanced as a couple than Ron
and Hermione.  Harry's bravery and standout magical abilities are
balanced by Hermione's intellect and natural magical abilities;
therefore, neither party would be the dominant partner in a romantic
relationship.  She's a strong enough person to "hold her own" and be a
realistic love interest of the hero.

2.   JKR's Favorite Characters: One member has created some strong
arguments that Harry is JKR's favorite character in the series and that
because he is the story's hero, he is in effect her hero as well.
Hermione is indisputably JKR's "surrogate" in the books.  JKR has
admitted that Hermione reflects many aspects of her own personality.

3.   Hermione's Interest:  It can be argued that Hermione has shown more
interest in Harry than in Ron.  She bought him an expensive broomstick
servicing kit for his birthday in PoA (indicating that she gave the
matter enough thought to buy him a present he'd enjoy rather than what
he expected her to buy, a book).  At the Quidditch World Cup in GoF,
it's Harry that she pulls back into his seat when the boys are all
entranced by the veela.

When Harry and Ron are fighting during GoF, she chose to spend the all
or most of her time with Harry rather than Ron.  We the readers are left
with the impression that Harry and Hermione go to classes together, sit
together in classes, leave class together, eat all their meals together,
spend all their time in the common room together and take several long
walks together.  While we have the impression that Hermione believes
both Harry and Ron are being stubborn, she's taken sides to some extent
by spending all or most of her time with Harry during this time period.
When they go to Hogsmeade and Harry is in his invisibility cloak,
Hermione was, from the viewpoint of the other students, alone. Ron
didn't make any attempt to invite her to join him and his group or even
approach her.

It's Harry who is the recipient of Krum's jealousy rather than Ron.
Krum says that Hermione talks about Harry "very often."  Although he
might have had the same conversation with Ron, it is implied that he
doesn't regard Ron as a rival for her affections.

She kisses Harry at the end of GoF.  We don't know if she also kissed
Ron and/or Krum, but the fact that she kissed Harry is subtly emphasized
(and might or might not be significant).

4.   Subtle Subtext: Most readers who favor this pairing argue that the
subtext for a romantic relationship between these two is subtly apparent
in the books.  While Ron's attraction to Hermione is apparent to even
the most obtuse of readers, one needs to look a bit below the surface to
see the Harry/Hermione subtext.  Additionally, the books are written
from Harry's point of view, and he is clearly aware of Ron's feelings
for Hermione.

There's also the Farmer in the Dell Theory --

1. Ron has romantic interest in Hermione;
2. Hermione has romantic interest in Harry; and
3. Harry has romantic interest in someone outside the Trio or in no one.

As Carole pointed out, many of the firm H/H "shippers" were converted
(or at least partially converted) by the Paradigm of Uncertainty fanfic
(written by member Lori Summers).  Many of us also believe that the
Farmer in the Dell Theory is far more likely to play out in the 7 books
while the characters are at Hogwarts.  Or, as Carole said, many of us
also believe it's likely that Ron & Hermione could date during the books
but still not be the "right" person for each other (with H/H being each
other's eventual "destiny").

Okay -- long enough for now.  Hopefully that satisfied Helena's
curiosity and won't inspire a huge circle of arguments.  <g>

Penny




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