[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione & the Boys

[morine10 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11165

In a message dated 1/28/01 9:26:14 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
pennylin at swbell.net writes:

Me:
> > Hermione is bossy and even though she has lightened up considerably and 
> will IMO continue to do so, she will always be bossy.
> 
Penny:
> Not necessarily.  Are you saying that we human beings aren't capable of 
> fully eradicating negative personality traits?  Ever?

Never.  <g> Actually, I don't think they are ever eradicated, just tweaked.  
She can take her naturally "bossy" nature and transform it into a less 
offensive means of helping others.  These traits don't go away, but as a 
person grows they can learn how to use them constructively.  

Me:
> > And yes he does appreciate her help and loyalty.  But he says so himself - 
> she isn't as fun as Ron.
> Penny:
> I've said it before, but I'll repeat briefly for the newbies.  He's a 
> 14-year old boy.  *Of course* he misses his male best friend.  Of course 
> his female best friend who's a
> bookworm isn't going to be as much fun to him at that stage in his life.  
> This does *not* mean though, as R/H'ers have asserted, that (a) Harry cares 
> for Ron more than Hermione or (b) that when the characters are older and 
> more mature that he would still long for male companionship over female 
> companionship.  He's just not reached that level of maturity yet (he's only 
> just started noticing that girls are pretty for goodness' sake).  He's 
> still at the stage where he'd really rather be goofing off than being 
> serious.  That won't always be case though.
> 

I don't think that I have ever asserted a) - at least I haven't meant to.  I 
have friends that I go out and party with and those that are strictly stay at 
home and watch movie types.  I love both.  Harry loves and needs both Ron and 
Hermione.  I also did not mean to say that Hermione can't be any fun.  Each 
of the trio brings with them something special, and part of what Ron brings 
is his humor.  As for b) I don't think I've asserted this either.  I'm sure 
that he's going to long for female companionship someday-just not Hermione. <g
> We all know that whoever each of the three end up with, their significant 
others will have to understand the relationship and bond between the trio.  

Me:
> > Both of them need that patented Ron Weasley Fun.
> Penny:
> Ron can be hilarious -- his sarcasm is a great addition to the Trio.  But, 
> Ron isn't always a barrel of laughs to be around.  He needlessly prolonged 
> arguments with Hermione (PoA) and with Harry (in GoF).  He's funny .... but 
> he's pretty immature and stubborn at this point too (IMO).  That could 
> change -- hopefully it will.
> 

This is a major point of divergence between us - we really do not read the 
arguments in PoA the same.  Regarding the Firebolt, I feel that Harry and Ron 
were being equally stubborn.  Both prolonged that argument.  As for the 
Crookshanks/Scabbers incident - IMO Hermione was acting insensitive and 
spoiled.  Crookshanks was trying to attack and possibly eat Scabbers.  She 
continued to poo-poo Ron's concerns saying "that's what cats and rats do."  
That really irked me.  So what if Ron is mad for a while?  Shouldn't he have 
some time to mourn?  His pet is missing and presumed eaten, and I personally 
believe he had the right to be angry.  Hermione apologizes but only after Ron 
has forgiven her.  As for GoF--First let me say that I am not saying that Ron 
was not at fault in this whole affair.  He was absolutely being a prat.  
However, it is my view is that Harry prolonged that argument.  He made 
himself inapproachable to Ron.  My between the lines reading said that it was 
Ron that made the attempts to make ammends....trying to catch Harry's eye in 
Divination after Harry's smart remark, looking for Harry in the common room 
when Harry is speaking with Sirius.  Harry had every right to be angry, but 
Ron was not prolonging anything.  But of course this is my interpretation. :)

> > Together Hermione and Harry are as dull as one of Professor Binn's goblin 
> lectures.
> 
> That's a matter of perception.  <g>
> 

Ain't it the truth?

-Mo
Viewing the wizarding world through R/H colored glasses

"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" - Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and 
the Goblet of Fire


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