[HPforGrownups] Shipping through the cracks

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 11300

Hi --

Kathleen Kelly MacMillan wrote:

> Scott wrote:
> > I guess that when it comes down to it I
> >just don't like or relate to Ron. (I know that is no excuse) To a
> >certain extent I also think that the character most like me is
> >Hermione and so I want to set her up with the hero.
>
> See, crew?  They even admit it!  ;)

"They"??  Or, Scott?  See H/H'ers -- we get maligned as a group for the
opinions/perceptions of one of our members.  :--)  For the record, I
don't relate to Ron either, but I do like him.  I prefer Harry &
Hermione though -- by far.  I relate to Hermione, and I like them both.
I like them together.  :)

> Rina wrote:
> >But maybe we all look at what we prefer in a relationship, and apply
> >it to these characters? I think I do, sounds like Kathy might, and I
> >believe Penny talked earlier about not seeing anything affectionate
> in
> >the constant bickering. Any thoughts? I know it's a generalization,
> >but I'm just curious if it's on target.
>
> Well, you've pegged me right.  That's why I find H/H (and the thought
> of Harry as a boyfriend-did I mention how much identify with
> Hermione?) rather boring.

Funny that two obviously very different people (me and Kathy) could
identify so strongly with Hermione.  Makes Hermione all that much more
interesting, doesn't it?

> Actually I see a lot of parallels, and I am looking forward to reading
> DrMM's take on things.  Mostly I see the relationships as similar, the
> way the two females keep the two males "grounded" so to speak.  It
> strikes me that Ron has a nice healthy fear of Hermione at times (in
> PoA, he says something sarcastic while she's studying for finals, but
> "very quietly").  Maybe it's a fear of upsetting her, I don't know,
> but I see Arthur reacting to Molly in the same way.  I don't know-I'll
> wait and see what DrMM has to say before I blather on any more.

I see Arthur as being a little bit "hen-pecked" if you want the truth.
I love Molly Weasley for alot of reasons, but she is a tad overbearing.
I think it was Elizabeth who says that Harry would just be hen-pecked by
the shrew-like Hermione if he ended up with her.  I don't see that trait
in Hermione myself.  But, maybe that's me wanting a nice partnership of
equals marriage for *my* Hermione -- a nice "Calm" marriage with her
soul-mate (Harry).

Is there such a thing as a "nice healthy fear" of your
partner/mate/love-of-your-life?  Not in a Calm marriage (IMO).

> OK, here's what's posted by our gangplank:
> Welcome Aboard the Good Ship R/H!
> While aboard our ship, please note the following rules and
> regulations:
>
> 1)      No defamation of Weasleys will be tolerated.  This includes,
> but is not limited to, implications that Ron is less than Harry,
> suggestions that Ron will turn evil and betray his friends, and the
> like.  The penalty for this will be walking the plank, to be
> administered immediately to violators by First Mate Mo (who can be
> very surly, so watch out!)
> 2)      H/H-ers are welcome to visit for brief periods, but they
> minute they try to convert crew members, they will be keelhauled.  Be
> warned, if an H/H-er stays for an extended time, he or she may be led
> away to our clinic by Counselor Kelley for gentle deprogramming.
> 3)      The suggestion that Hermione should be with Draco is cause for
> immediate loading into one of our canons (yes, canons) and being
> launched over to the SS Leather Trousers.
> 4)      The SS H/G travels alongside the Good Ship R/H for protective
> purposes. Any visitor who is unable to be nice to the H/G is advised
> to remain on the port side of the ship away from temptation to taunt.
> Anyone taunting the crew of the H/G will find themselves burping slugs
> for several hours.
> 5)      Watch out for the Canary Creams.

Too many rules/regulations!  I'll just stay aboard the low-key, Freedom
of Speech is always tolerated Cruiseliner H/H -- thanks.  :--)

> And, as much as it's been argued here, I still don't think she "chose
> sides" during that fight by spending time with Harry, as it seems to
> me she spent time with Ron too, but that's another argument).

When?  When did she spend this time with Ron?  From what we see in GoF,
she ate all her meals with Harry, she walked to classes with Harry, she
sat in classes with Harry (or occasionally between the two of them early
on in the fight), they studied in the library together, they went to
Hogsmeade together .... in short, I see very little opportunity for any
Ron time.

> Anyway, more to the point, I was wondering if people think Viktor was
> a
> literary device to bring out the tension between Ron and Hermione, or
> if he will be important in later books.

Neither.  <g>  I think he was a literary device -- but not for the
purpose of showing romantic tension between R & H.  I think it was a
means of showing that Herm can "clean up good," have a real date, has
the maturity & poise to get involved in a romance, etc.  It might be a
means of showing *Ron's* feelings for Hermione -- but it didn't show
Hermione has any feelings for Ron (did you know that I think she likes
Harry, Kathy? <g>).

> Hero Gets The Girl.  Need I say more?

Let's see this HGTG cliche is *bad* in the R/H world, but the sappy
OBHWF cliche is perfectly fine?  :--)

> Most of the "Calm" relationships I have seen personally seem to be
> that way mostly because one or both of the partners aren't standing up
> for what they really want. (Before you start the flame-throwers, I
> hasten to add that this is merely my experience and I am fully aware
> that not all "Calm" relationships are this way.  I am merely try to
> explain why I prefer the "Volatile".)

Good thing you added that parenthetical disclaimer ... or I'd have had
to throw some flames your way.  :--)  My husband & I both have strong
personalities, but we choose to resolve our differences in a calm
cooperative manner.  This does not mean one or both of us is meek &
mealy-mouthed & not standing up for ourselves.

Penny


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