Character Summary: Hermione Granger/SHIP

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 15262

No, no, no... RON and Hermione.  I have become quite obsessed with 
this.  All through the Yule Ball build up my heart was almost 
breaking for Hermione.  She wanted the boys to notice that she was a 
girl, which they don't until they are absolutely desperate for dates 
of their own, and they don't even notice her new teeth until Ron's 
interest is piqued with regard to her mystery date.  I think she 
played all of this superbly.  She had the right attitude (disgusted 
with Ron for choosing good looks over character), and made Ron look 
shallow in comparison.  She had the good sense to know exactly what 
would make Ron sit up and take notice of her(ie going to the ball 
with Krum, Ron's hero) and she generally shows that she is streets 
ahead as far as general maturity is concerned.  I was going to say 
that this is usually the case between young male and female teenagers 
of that age, which is why it seems right that Hermione should go for 
someone older like Krum (I even linked her to Percy at one stage), 
but Hermione is streets ahead of most of the other girls as well. 
(None of the silly giggling in corners for her).

All this seems more likely on rereading, in light of JKR's comments 
in the Comic Relief online interview.  Someone asked if Hermione 
liked Ron as more than just a friend, and she said that the answer to 
that was in GoF.  Therefore I am sure that there will be developments 
at some stage.

Incidently, Ginny is the other person who comes out very well here.  
She accepts an invitation from Neville, and then is desperately 
disappointed that she can't go with Harry.  But she has too much 
integrity to let Neville down, showing a thoughtfulness and 
sensitivity that the boys seem to lack at this stage.  

Ginny and Hermione are developing into stronger female characters all 
the time, and I think there will come a time when Ron and Harry will 
recognise Ginny's worth and stop treating her as Ron's baby sister.


(By the way, what is a Shipper?)
--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Schlobin at a... wrote:
> Great summary..and it has finally convinced me to become a SHIPper 
> (is that right? prounounced as in slipper?)
> 
> H/N!
> 
> Hermione/Neville forever......just look at all the evidence..she 
> notices his pain; she comforts him....He asks her out.......
> destiny....
> 
> Susan