[HPforGrownups] Harry/Hermione

[Firebolt]

No: HPFGUIDX 1791

While we're at it, some of the H/H counter-arguments - hope this doesn't
offend the H/H shippers out there, I've got nothing against it per se...

<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.>

Even assuming that H and H would be more balanced together, which is not a
point I quite agree with, the Trio as a whole would be far more imbalanced
that a Ron/Hermione situation - Harry, being the main character, would be
able to stand on his own if the other two were involed. In an H/H situation,
Ron would not.

<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.>

We don't really know what Hermione gives Ron for Christmas and for his
birthdays, do we? Maybe in one of the first books, but then, Hermione gave
Harry candy that first year. As for the Quidditch World Cup, the seating is
never specified - if Harry is between Ron and Hermione, Hermione wouldn't
have been able to reach Ron, so she just pulled down Harry.

<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.>

Ron is monopolizing Harry's other close friends, i.e. the other fourth-year
Gryff guys, leaving Harry pretty much on his own. So it would make more
sense for Hermione to spend time with Harry, rather then hanging out with
Ron who has other people to hang out with.

<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.>

Harry is a rival on Krum's turf - he's internationally famous, and he's very
good at Quidditch for his age group. And a competitor in the Triwizard
Tournament. Whereas Ron is, as far as Krum's concerned, a rather ordinary
sort of guy in comparison (no offense, Ron, Krum just hasn't gotten to know
you yet!).  So Harry would be more of a threat in Krum's eyes.

<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).>

Here in continental Europe, platonic friends kiss all the time as a regular
form of greeting. In fact, I believe the number of kisses varies
country-to-country, and all that. No idea what the custom is in England,
though.

Just offering an alternative point of view - although *my* preferred pairing
(Harry/Cho) has even less evidence than H/H...

~Firebolt