SHIP: Muddying the pool

[ellejir]

No: HPFGUIDX 31454

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "viola_1895" <viola_1895 at y...> wrote:

> Seriously though, ship debates are interesting in that they're 
>quite often about who _Hermione_ should end up with rather than who 
>Harry should. ^_^ Which I find quite intriguing. Is it because most 
>of the active fans are female and find something identifiable in 
Hermione?< 

Most definitely, I think.  The group seems to be top-heavy with 
brainy, bookish, former middle-school girl-geek/teacher's pets (no 
offense, I am a card-carrying member of the "Hermione and I are One" 
club.)  In that sense, the SHIP preference is influenced by the boy 
that one finds most attractive for oneself.  I prefer Harry because I 
love his courage and sensitivity.  Ron is a bit too intellectually 
shallow for my taste, although quite plucky and a truly loyal friend 
(Hmmm--that is *not* damning him with faint praise--I love how he 
stands up for Hermione and Harry and his family to Malfoy et al.)  
Unfortunately, I agree with everyone who pointed out that JKR seems 
to be setting up a romance between Ron and Hermione (Ron's jealousy 
of Krum/behavior at the dance and Hermione's sniping at Fleur, for 
example.)  It is hard to interpret those passages any other way, I 
think. (I know, I know...2000 other posts say that they think *NOT*) 
Hopefully, it is just another case of JKR's love of misdirection.
                                
Elle