[HPforGrownups] Re: SHIP: Muddying the pool

[Shannon Compton]

No: HPFGUIDX 31434

At 05:03 PM 12/12/2001 -0000, Cassandra wrote:

>One would assume that she spends *some* time with Ron, but 
>considering that she eats all her meals with Harry, walks around the 
>lake with Harry in between classes, and apparently sits with Harry in 
>class, I don't think it was very *much* time. I also agree that this 
>is because Hermione intuitively understands that Ron, with his 
>brothers and their friends at school with him, will not be so alone 
>and bereft during a fight as Harry will, and so chooses to be there 
>to support Harry. I was using this less as a ship argument than as an 
>attempt to dismiss the suggestion that Ron and Hermione are 
>somehow "more close" than Harry and Hermione as friends, or that they 
>have an exclusive relationship that does not include Harry at all. 

Oh, clearly the majority of her time during this period is spent with
Harry. No objections there.  And I wasn't intending it as a shipping
argument of any kind, just that, considering the situation and the books
perspective, such a division of her time is understandable.
>
>"As for the Three Broomsticks...I can't recall just why Harry was 
>using his  cloak"
>
>Precisely because he does not want Ron to know that he is in 
>Hogsmeade.
>
>
>" but Ron does know about the cloak and probably knows Hermione
>> wouldn't be sitting there alone."
>
>Why? He knows that Hermione has been spending much of her time with 
>Harry; it is not my impression that Hermione has many other close 
>friends besides Harry and Ron. She could easily have decided to go to 
>Hogsmeade on her own. It is simply an assumption that Ron would know 
>she was there with Harry, not a certainty, and frankly I still think 
>it was rude behavior on his part.

True, she could very easily have decided to go to Hogsmeade on her own.
Maybe he did think so, and maybe he was just being rude. However, it seems
illogical to me.  For one, we do know that, however reduced their
interaction is, they DO still spend time together when Harry isn't there
during this period.  I got my book back so I looked through that section,
and there's no evidence that I can see that Hermione and Ron were having
any kind of blow out at that time. So it would be very odd for Hermione not
to have joined Ron at the Three Broomsticks. Also, Ron knows that Harry and
Hermione have been together a lot recently, that Harry is avoiding him as
much as he's avoiding Harry, Harry has an Invisibility Cloak, AND Hermione
is sitting there apparently talking to herself. It makes sense that he'd
guess. He's not a stupid person, after all.   

>Yes, but again, given that we are told how much time Hermione is 
>spending with Harry during the fight, there simply isn't that much 
>*time* available for her to spend with Ron. Also, assuming some "off-
>the-page" interactions between Ron and Hermione is fine, but still no 
>more than hopeful extrapolation, just like those of us who hope that 
>Draco, off the page, is better-behaved than he is on the page.

I'm not particularly 'hopeful' about it. I'm not into the whole shipping
thing. But the off-page interactions between Ron and Hermione are inferred
all over the place.

>"I see Hermione with one day, it's Ron. (she seems as displeased with 
>his obsession with Fleur as he is with her date with Viktor, after 
>all)."
>
>*As* displeased? Surely not. Hermione does not throw a spectacular 
>tantrum when Ron asks Fleur to the ball, or just goggles at her as is 
>his wont. She may be somewhat displeased, but she is surely not *as* 
>displeased by any means. (You may argue that she is internaslly 
>tormented and just not showing it, but that way lies madness. :D)

I'm nothing if not mad! It's true, Hermione isn't *as* displeased,
apparently, but she certainly doesn't seem happy about it.  And I think
everyone can agree, Hermione isn't as prone to angry outbursts as Ron.
She's much more discreet about nearly everything. 

But, that's where my arguments on that front end. Like I said, I have no
real stake in the 'shipping' thing, though I do have my opinions. Oh, I
have lots of those.

Then 
>there's the whole business about how it's Harry she pulls back into 
>his seat when the boys are drawn to the veela at the Quidditch World 
>Cup, not Ron...no, running out of time here. :D

Maybe she just couldn't reach Ron. :)  

Alas, how did I get into this!

Shannon