SHIPPING of Love and War

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20995

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Scott" <insanus_scottus at y...> wrote:
 
> 
> The thing is that Harry and Hermione are needy too. Their neediness 
> does not come across in the same way, but it's still there. Ron is 
> obviously insecure, but not much less so than Harry or Hermione.>

Of course!  I haven't been as struck with the thought that Ron was a 
"typical needy boy" as others here.  He seems to hold his own more 
often than not.  I find Neville much needier than Ron (but that's 
another post entirely), but I see Ron as moody and insecure about 
certain things.  Isn't that normal?  I'm a 31 year old woman and I 
still have some insecurities.  I also think Ron, unlike Harry, lets 
others know his feelings and insecurities and doesn't make excuses for 
them ("I hate being poor!" and so on).  I also have to remind myself 
that they are only 14 now, and people do grow and usually change for 
the better as they get older.  When I was in college I blamed everyone 
else for my problems because I had trouble with responsibility and had 
a jolting realization about that when I was 25 - and boy, have I 
changed!  Ron has a lot of growing to do, and if his parents' 
relationship is any indication of a relationship he might have, there 
is hope! 
  
> 
> If a Ron/Hermione marriage were to happen I see it being somewhat 
> like Ebony's TiP (wonderful story by the way!). However in my 
> universe, post-canon R/H date, maybe even get engaged, and then 
> realise that their fights aren't funny, and that while they made 
> good friends they could never be husband and wife.>

Who said anything about marriage?  I'm really just talking canon here.  
Even though I'm still not sure why there's an attraction between Ron 
and Hermione, I see that JKR has created one and I believe that the 
two of them will act on it.  If they both survive *takes a steadying 
breath to get the thought out of her head*, they are likely, as 
someone mentioned, to meet other witches and wizards (or Muggles) who 
could very well be the Ones for each of them.  Harry, too, though I've 
made it pretty damned clear I want him to give Ginny a chance <g>. 

> 
> --I've said before that I dislike Ginny, but much more so because I 
> don't feel like we know her than because what we *do* know of her I 
> don't like.>

As someone who likes Ginny very much, I'm curious to know what it is 
exactly about Ginny that people do not like (it has been mentioned 
before).  There are other characters who aren't well developed yet are 
well loved (Neville, Fred, George...).  I think we need to know more 
about Ginny, though and I'm happy to say that JKR will be developing 
her character more in OoP.
> 
> Ebony wrote later:
> "QUESTION:  What is the basis of Ron and Hermione's friendship?"
> 
 While I think that similar and common interests can 
> certainly build a relationship/friendship I don't think they are the 
> basis of it. Being friends has to do with connecting with other 
> people. One way to do that is with common interests, but once a 
> person becomes friends with someone their experiences together are 
> far more "binding" than their common interests. Though those 
> experiences are likely to be about shared interest. Argh! I'm not 
> sure *what* I'm trying to say.>

Absolutely!  Childhood friendships, whether or not they last, are 
always remembered fondly - I still keep in touch with my two oldest 
friends and now they feel more like relatives than friends even though 
we do not talk regularly.

Something very important about the H, H, and R friendship is 
convenience.  They live together and go to most classes together.  Had 
Hermione been placed in Ravenclaw, I don't think they'd be such good 
friends.  I also believe that in times of stress, familiar people are 
the ones we want to be around, and that is true for the three.  When 
Harry finds something out, it is Hermione and Ron he runs to (although 
Hermione tends to keep more from Ron and Harry simply because they are 
boys.  She chose to tell Ginny about Krum inviting her to the dance).  
Just as you mentioned about experiences, the adventures the three have 
together also keep them together as friends.  


--jenny from ravenclaw**********