Some shipping questions...

[epoch2 at infi.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 29469

> I think that statement about Mr./Miss Wrong only applied to the 
three 
> main characters.  But I'm still not convinced that Fleur was Ron's 
> Miss Wrong.  The day Ron wakes up and realizes Hermione "is a girl" 
> where his crush on her becomes painfully obvious is literally the 
> same day -- in fact little more than an hour or two -- from him 
> asking Fleur to the dance.  And his own account of asking Fleur 
> almost seems like he doesn't know what he was doing.  Harry 
suggests 
> that she was turning on the "veela charm" for Diggory and Ron got 
> caught in the backlash.  If this is so, it actually makes *more* 
> sense for Hermione to be his Miss Wrong rather than Fleur -- since 
he 
> never really fell for Fleur; he just got caught in the supernatural 
> attraction that she exuded.
> 
> My recent reread of the series, looking especially for clues as I 
> was, convinced me that Hermione could just as easily fall for Harry 
> as for Ron as well.  If anything, I think there are *more* clues in 
> that direction, although it's a muddy guess at best even so.  In 
this 
> case, Ron's Miss Right -- if he's even met her at all -- is a 
> complete mystery.  Padma Parvati?  Not likely.
> 
> Joshua Dyal
**********************************************************************
   You know, I am still sticking with Fleur being Ron's "Miss Wrong". 
It is true that Fleur did turn on the old charm to entice Diggory but 
I think that Ron was smitten with Fleur well before that. I am 
remembering the Great Hall after all of the delegates arrived. While 
it is probably true that Fleur did turn on the old charm to mark her 
entrance, I don't believe that she had the Veela charm turned on all 
of the time. I am remembering when Fleur stopped by the Gryffindor 
table to ask for the Bouillabaisse. Ron was speechless. Although 
Harmione disagrees with Harry that Fleur was a Veela, JK does 
indicate that many of the boys in the hall seemed to be struck by 
Fleur. I find it hard to believe that Fleur would turn on the charm 
just to get a platter of food. 
   Moreover, it seems that if she did turn on the charm, why was 
Harry not effected. In fact, I don't recall Harry ever being effected 
by Fleur's charms. Earlier in book 4, he was ready to jump from the 
top box at the World Cup during the Veela's show, so, that would 
indicate that he is not immune to the charms of the Veela. Hmm, is it 
possible that he was immune to Fleur?
   Also, after Harry saved Gabrielle during the second task, I don't 
believe that Fleur was using any sort of Veela charm when she thanked 
him. She seemed too genuinely relieved that Harry saved a hostage 
that was not his own. If that is true, then Ron's hopeful wish that 
he too would be thanked by a kiss from Fleur would also indicate that 
he was still smitten with her but not under any Veela spell.
   While I love that fact that JK does give all sorts of twists and 
turns in the novels, there are some things that are just meant to be. 
Ron and Harmione have been destined since book one. Almost from the 
moment they met, there has been some sort of attraction. It just 
amazes me that JK has such great insight on what it is like to be a 
young boy. Pre-teen boys often make fun of the girls that strike 
their fancy. And, if what Dumbledore says about saving a wizard is 
true, then Harmione and Ron are meant to be. If you remember, when 
the mountain troll traps Harmione in the girls restroom, although 
Harry jumps the troll to save her, it is actually Ron's "Wingardian 
Leviosa" charm that saves both Harry and Harmione.
   Now, I have no knowledge of Chess, but I am wondering if Ron 
didn't sacrifice himself to save Harmione in book one. Granted, by 
sacrificing himself, Ron did allow for Harry to checkmate the King. 
However, would it have been possible to win the game by sacrificing 
another piece? Perhaps Harmione? Does give one pause for thought, 
doesn't it? It also indicates that, perhaps, I am thinking too much 
about the books. Never-the-less, I have yet to find a series of 
books, children's books no less, that has given me so much enjoyment.