[HPforGrownups] SHIP: Comments on Various Shipping Posts

[marshamoon]

No: HPFGUIDX 15477

I'm new.  I'm not going to attempt to quote "canon" at 12:40 AM, but I'll dig it up later if I must.  GoF, IMO, does give us very strong indications Ron has an unexpressed and unacknowledged romantic interest in Hermione.  Harry realizes this. ( "Somehow he thought Hermione got the idea much better than Ron.....")  This doesn't necessarily mean she reciprocates these feelings of Ron's.  If we are to assume, from "next time, ask me first" that she has a willingness to date Ron, that may not necessarily mean she has strong romantic feelings for Ron.  After all, she is presently willing to date Viktor Krum. He's famous, he could have any girl at Hogwarts, and he thinks she's the real deal.  What's not to like about that?  She's flattered by his attentions, and we don't really know what she thinks of him beyond "...he's really nice."  Hermione is smart, that's established.  She is also smart enough to figure out when a young man is interested.  She seems willing to throw herself into the business of "learning" about being a girl, and getting a start on the male/female relationship thing.  A bird in the hand is sometimes better for practice than the one in the bush, after all. (Harry and Ron are the "birds" in my analogy) If Ron and Viktor are willing, why not? On the intent of JKR's intentions here, we as readers are allowed to realize through Viktor's and Ron's attention to her, that Hermione is turning into a girl: a possible love interest to someone, & a very attractive and desirable girl at that. We know the relationships are about to change because of that.   Although from the book, and from JKR's interview, there is a strong hint that a romantic relationship may develop between R/H, there is absolutely (IMO) no foreshadowing to indicate that their possible relationship will last.  Timing wise, hint-wise, IMO, it seems likely to me that Ron and Hermione are likely to fool around a bit in the upcoming book.  Does it seem likely that this may continue for the next three texts?  Given the numerous occasions on which Ron and Hermione have disagreed with one another, it could be that their differences would be more likely to surface within a romantic pairing and they break up.  No doubt you have figured out that I think the H/H pairing will be the most likely conclusion to the series.  Even though we are being led to believe that a possible H/G, H/C could develop and romantic futures may exist for V/H or R/H (or N/H), I believe these are red herrings.  Why?  Because the second most well developed character in these books is Hermione. We know more about Harry only because the books are written from his POV.   She has had more written about her and more personal growth attributed to her than even Ron.  Ron is there just as often as Hermione, but she's the larger character (IMO). I cannot believe that Rowling would spend that much time and effort on a character who will not turn out to be the Heroine to Harry's Hero.  She is the strong female character. I don't think the fact that Harry hasn't shown much interest in her yet is telling, since there are some indications he seems to be lagging a bit behind Ron in his sexual development.  A lurch in his stomach for Cho doesn't translate into much for me.  I can envision the H/G thing, but I have to agree with others that this is not supported by character development.  

And anyway, isn't that tease Hermione going to be spending some time in Bulgaria with Viktor this summer?  Practice makes perfect.  And when you're Miss Granger, you must be perfect.


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