Hermione's attitudes, age, and SHIP/s...

[raolin1 at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 30033

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., monicawitt at m... wrote:
> I don't think she has a "hidden love" for Ron, it's more that 
> tentative, teenaged, putting out feelers sort of thing, where you 
> feel a need for a romance, but aren't sure where it's coming from, 
so 
> you look at everyone around you, seeking out possible objects of 
> affection. When someone doesn't notice you "that way", it's an 
> insult. I mean, here's this guy who's only just met her (Krum). He 
> asks her to the Yule Ball after hanging out near her in the library 
> for a few weeks. Here's Ron, who's been close to Hermione for 
years. 
> He only asks her as a last resort it seems. Of course it's an 
insult. 


I don't mean hidden in that sense; I mean hidden in the sense that 
it's not obvious that Hermione has feelings for Ron.  I understand 
what you're saying, I just don't think the the text of the book 
really points that way.  Ignoring the infamous kiss, which actually 
to me does not have much in the way of romantic overtones, I still 
think the "preponderance of evidence" --to use a US legal term-- 
points to Hermione being more likely to care for Harry "that way" 
than Ron.  Her being insulted because Ron just noticed she's a girl, 
or because he was angry that she went with Krum (even though he asked 
her first) have very prosaic and understandable explanations without 
having to theorize that she's got a thing for Ron.


> However, Ron's anger and jealousy over Krum/Hermione cast him in a 
> different light, once it becomes apparent that's what's going on 
with 
> him. It would start gears turning in a girl's head if she noticed 
> behavior like that in a friend. It seems to me Hermione is waiting 
> for Ron to get real and be honest about his feelings. 


Personally, I think Hermione is still waiting to figure out what her 
own feelings are exactly -- either that or the whole Krum episode 
forced her to confront them for the first time and she's finally 
armed at the end of GF with an understanding of what she feels.  
However, since the books themselves give no evidence of either, it's 
a moot point until we have book five in front of us, I suppose.


> Then there's Hermione giving Harry that peck on the cheek everyone 
> talks about. I'd say it's more of a sisterly act than a romantic 
one, 
> and also a little calculated, as if she's testing Ron. It doesn't 
> mean the kiss isn't sincere, but it also doesn't mean that she 
likes 
> Harry "that way". 


That only comes as evidence for likeing Ron "that way" if you already 
accept that she does.  Otherwise, it means nothing in that regard.  
This becomes a bit of a circular argument where you have to already 
accept that Hermione likes Ron, and then you are able to find 
evidence for it based on your assumptions going in.  Because it can 
be done just as easily assuming she likes Harry, or Neville, or for 
that matter -- just about anyone else, that really proves very little.


> The thing is, we don't really know, because the argument that 
> would've given us clues about R/H possibilities is only heard just 
as 
> it ends. I think it's a teaser for a subplot of book 5, personally.


I agree.  I think the whole frustrated romance undertone of book 4 is 
foreshadowing for what is to come in books 5 and beyond.

Joshua Dyal