"Fanfic Tangent" (ship warning)

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 9991

Hi --

mlleelizabeth at aol.com wrote:

> <Ebony wrote>: because despite all of our ship debating, Harry, Ron, and
> Hermione are
> first and foremost *friends*.  Ron has feelings for Hermione. Has anyone ever
> considered that he *might* step aside or tamp those feelings down?>
>
> <Elizabeth responded>: Why would he do that? Do you really think it's
> acceptable for a person to
> sacrifice their feelings for another in order to let the "Hero" get the girl?

I think Ebony was suggesting that *if* Ron knew (or Hermione told Ron) that her
feelings were for Harry and *if* Ron knew or suspected that Harry returned (or
*could* return) Hermione's feelings, would Ron not be a big enough person to put
his own feelings for Hermione to the side, considering that he is first &
foremost friends with them both?  IMO, it is not only acceptable but a show that
a person is a bigger person than to let petty jealousy stand in the way of a
budding romance & a continued friendship amongst the three of them.

What I find strange is the implication by some people in the past (not you
Elizabeth) that Hermione's feelings don't count.  It seems as though some believe
that her feelings are irrelevant and what matters is whether or not Ron or Harry
likes her.  For example, it's possible she doesn't care for either one of them
that way.  Since her feelings aren't known at this point, that's why these
shipper debates can continue.  The H/H & R/H shippers (and D/H shippers) can all
make a plausible case.

> True, Hermione isn't a possession.  Neither is Harry.  Hermione doesn't "get"
> Harry because she's clever or witty or any of the many other nice things she
> is.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone make that argument (and having prepared the
Romance FAQ and the Hermione FAQ (just yesterday), I'd have seen if it they had).

> As I tend to identify with Harry, I bristle at the suggestion that *anyone*
> should "get" him.  Poor boy!  He's not a prize, you know, he's a person!  And
> to force him to spend the rest of his life with a bossy, know-it-all, stifling
> person (and that *is* the way Ms. Rowlings has described Hermione so far) is
> not exactly fair to Harry! Henpecked! Harry totally squicks me.  Forcing Harry
> to spend the rest of his life with anyone is really not very kind to him.  I
> most object to the H/H pairing because I consider it a "shotgun wedding" for
> Poor Harry.

Oh my!  Well ... okay.  Gosh, I didn't think of us H/H'ers were so vociferous
that we suggest that Harry's feelings don't count.  I know I've never suggested
such a thing.

I definitely disagree strongly, however, with your statement that JKR has
*definitely* depicted Hermione as a bossy, know-it-all, stifling person.  Please
just add IMO if you're going to say something that strong (especially about one
of the major characters).  I just wrote the Hermione FAQ yesterday (most of it
anyway).  She starts out that way, sure enough.  But, well .... maybe you'll see
more redeeming Hermione qualities when you read the FAQ on her.  I guess it's
safe to say you're not in favor of pairing Hermione up with any of the
characters, eh?  <g>

FYI, it's Rowling, not Rowlings.

> Ebony: <<Why don't any of these arguments take her feelings into account? >>
>
> Elizabeth: I don't believe they should, but neither do I believe that Ron's
> feelings should be taken into account.  The books are written from Harry's
> point of view.  Unless Harry is a psychic empath or Hermione declares her
> feelings directly to Harry, we can't really know what Hermione's feelings are,
> nor are they the focus of the story.

I think you misunderstand what Ebony was saying.  She's not saying the canon
should necessarily include the POV of either Hermione or Ron.  She's saying that
for people to argue that Ron likes Hermione & therefore R/H is the way it is, is
to disregard Hermione's feelings.  Her feelings should be taken into account as
much as Ron's feelings (or Harry's feelings).  Sounds like you agree with that.
I think.

> Ebony:  <<Let's wait to see what Hermione thinks in canon.>>
>
> Elizabeth: I hope you are not holding your breath.  Unless she makes a
> statement to Harry, I don't believe that we will ever know that with certainty,
> nor is it particularly important to Harry's story. Even if Hermione does make
> it evident that she is romantically inclined towards Harry, that does not
> create an H/H ship.

Yep.  Just like Ron finally declaring his feelings for Hermione doesn't create an
R/H ship either.  :--)

Actually, I can envision more than one scenario where the romances might affect
the main plotline.  I can also envision Harry learning about Hermione's feelings
(if she has them for him) -- either directly from her or perhaps indirectly (he
could overhear a conversation for example or someone else could tell him).

> My ship pet peeve: the odd insistence that any of us are necessarily and
> unequivocally right in our ship beliefs, regardless of Ms. Rowling's statements
> and/or canon writings.

I can only speak for myself.  I'm not so delusional as to think that I'm
definitely right about any of my ship predictions.  JKR throws a curve ball far
too often for anyone to predict anything with any real certainty (IMHO).

I, along with several others, have teased that fanfic can create alternative
universes for the characters forever, no matter how it ends up at the end of
canon (I guess even if Harry dies at the end of Book 7).  But, canon predictions
are not set in stone by any of us.  Not IMO anyway.

Penny