FAQ feedback, SHIP: R/H, D/H, Hollywood bickering, and a little bit of H/H

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 23459

The Romantic Pairings FAQ says regarding Ron and Hermione:
'The two of them start out by irritating each other to the point of exasperation. They get on each other's nerves. They may even hate each other at times. Which means that they are Doomed, according to Hollywood and classic romantic tradition, to Fall In Love.'

and, regarding Draco and Hermione:

'If the bickering between Ron and Hermione through the books is an indication of a "Spencer Tracy & Katherine Hepburn" style attraction of opposites, the slaps and curses Hermione has thrown at Draco Malfoy should be considered evidence that a relationship between Draco and Hermione follows the same rules of attraction.'

in both cases reflecting what may be a minority view of listies.

I don't wish to comment directly on the authority of Hollywood in romance (though the bickering couple falling in love goes back a lot further - think of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy for example): may I just comment on how I see this sort of thing working in HP.

I would regard bickering and argument as symptomatic of underlying issues in a relationship.  In order to find out what those issues are, you need to look in more depth.  So, between Ron and Hermione, I would say there is a sort of tug-of-war.  Each wants the other to take their own view more seriously, for example Hermione on studying, Ron on lightening up ('Are you ever going to read Hogwarts, a History?' 'Why should we when all we have to do is ask you?').  They are trying to extract a concession that the other thinks their view is important to themselves.

I would therefore see the bickering as being quite consistent with a future H/R pairing, but I would then expect it to die away as they become more secure in their mutual understanding.  Which might make for boring reading for us, of course.

Hermione and Draco are poles apart.  Draco apparently has fundamental views which mean that Hermione must think he has no respect for her whatever.  It is almost impossible as things stand now to conceive of Hermione as being attracted to Draco.  Her reactions to him - slapping, etc. reflect this.

However, when we consider what Draco must think of Hermione, the picture is rather more interesting.  She, who is inferior to him in the respects he considers important, continually beats him; his response is to try harder, yet he still fails.  By GOF, her psychological mastery is nearly complete as she can reduce him by saying 'Hello, Professor Moody', and affects not to care about Rita Skeeter's article (but see below).  He also discovers at the ball that she can look stunning.  I think it is entirely possible that Draco's desire to win may well take the form of attempted conquest of her affections, though as his character stands, that would be based on lust and the desire for mastery.  If he then fails (as surely he must), he will resort either to violence and hatred or to a comprehensive re-evaluation of his own character and possible repentance. (This would be a little bit Darcy-like, BTW.)

Has any fanfic explored this view of Draco?  (I have read hardly any, though I don't take the principled 'other people's toothbrush' view of it)

Taking all three cases together (R/H, D->H, and H->D) I'd say that 'bickering' points in three quite different directions, and can only be understood in the wider context.

Finally, on Hermione's reaction to Rita Skeeter, I noticed the other day that her anger at Rita hardens noticeably, becoming almost obsessive, after the bubotuber pus incident arising from the 'Hermione trifled with Harry' article.  Is this a bit of evidence for H/H?  My idea is that, although Hermione's immediate reaction is that it's clearly untrue, and therefore not hurtful, but as the consequences play out (including Krum's jealousy) she starts to feel an issue has been raised she did not want to think about, and takes it out on Skeeter.  To set against that RS's contributions are so appalling and potentially destructive that Hermione's anger can be justified purely on that basis. She may also feel that her freedom in developing her relationship with Krum to a place where she feels happy (not necessarily romance) has been reduced.

David

Is this what you meant, Penny?


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