Various SHIPPing questions

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 20915

Jenny wrote:

> <<<I suppose I also simply do not, at this point, see any
> tensions between Harry and Hermione the way I see tensions between 
Ron
> and Hermione.  I'd like to see their relationship (friendship or
> otherwise) be developed a bit more, though, because I am still not
> sure why they appear to be attracted to each other (Ron doesn't seem
> like my type at all).>>>

Penny wrote:
 
> I take it from your last comment that you identify with Hermione?  
So many 
> of us do.  Maybe we're projecting which boy we'd choose?  :--)  
Again, I 
> fail to see why "tensions" in a relationship are necessary; in fact, 
I don't 
> see them as a good thing at all.  

I don't know what Jenny meant by "tensions" between Harry and 
Hermione, but what I mean by it (and the lack of it) is not "they 
don't bicker" but "there's no romantic/sexual tension."  When you fall 
for someone, it introduces an awkwardness into your thoughts and words 
that doesn't disperse until your feeling are out in the open.

We don't know what Hermione is feeling "first-hand."  I have read the 
H/H Mission Statement (msg 13842) and still don't see any sign of this 
kind of tension emanating from her.  But it's a matter of opinion, of 
course.

We do know a lot of what Harry is feeling, and the best evidence that 
he has no feelings beyond friendship for Hermione as of the Yule Ball 
is his utterly commonsensical response to Ron's anger there.  He 
really doesn't care in the slightest who Hermione goes to the ball 
with, he doesn't care if she hangs out with Viktor, he observes her 
conversation with him over dinner with the same calm interest as he 
would observe a conversation between her and anyone else, etc.  I 
would say the same about his conversation with Viktor in "The Madness 
of Mr. Crouch."  This is the kind of conversation that would stir up 
latent feelings of attraction if they were there:  "hmmm, Hermione 
talks about me?" and/or "hmmm, Viktor's jealous of me?  Maybe there 
=is= something for him to be jealous about, now that I think about 
it."

I know, Penny, FITD means Harry doesn't have a crush on Hermione 
(yet), but there =are= H/H shippers who think he does (names withheld 
to protect the guilty <g>).  One piece of evidence for such even 
sneaked into the H/H Mission Statement.

BTW, I do identify with Hermione and I would choose Harry over Ron in 
a heartbeat, yet I'm still an R/Her.  That's because my shipping 
(in this instance) isn't about what I want to see but what I think JKR 
is going to do.  I certainly don't think my identification with 
Hermione means she has to have the same taste in boyfriends as I do.  
My best female friend and I have very different ideas about our ideal 
partners, even though she and I are very alike in many, many ways.

Amy Z

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 "I thought it sounded a bit like Percy 
 singing.  Maybe you've got to attack him 
 while he's in the shower, Harry."
            --HP and the Goblet of Fire
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