Small FF reference; SHIP: H/H vs R/H

[pippin_999 <foxmoth@qnet.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48783

I said:
<<<I'm not saying H/H can't happen. But if it does, I'd like to see 
Harry accept that his fame and power are an essential part of 
what would make him attractive to Hermione as a partner.>>>>>

Penny:
I don't know why you assume that Hermione would only be 
interested in him because of his fame and power.  I think it's the 
reverse: he would be interested in *her* because she could hold 
her own with his fame/power.  If he didn't have that fame or 
power or was somehow "stained" as it were, I don't think it would 
make a bit of difference to Hermione.  I think *she* quite clearly 
respects her friend Harry, not the Boy Who Lived.  A big "me too" 
to what Jim Ferer wrote on this topic. 
<snip>
I agree with every word that Jim Ferer has written about why the 
R/H ship just doesn't work, IMO.  I don't think Ron's ego and 
self-esteem can handle a relationship with Hermione over the 
short-term.  Now whether he will develop sufficient self-esteem 
to let her blossom and thrive in her own right ....... maybe.  But, 
evaluating 14-yr old Ron from GoF, I sure wouldn't lay odds that a 
R/H relationship will make it into their 6th year.  <g>  <<


What I see here is a great concern with the balance of power in 
relationships. Personally, I haven't seen much of this from 
Harry's end of things at all. I think  if he was concerned about 
that, he'd have made friends with Draco instead of Ron. Harry, in 
canon, doesn't think of his fame and power as part of who he is.  
I see that disconnect as central to his character, and the reason 
why he's wary of people who want to associate with "famous 
Harry Potter."  He's not worried about putting people in his 
shadow at all, IMO.

I do think, as Ebony seems to, that the balance of power is an 
issue for Hermione. It isn't Harry's power itself that  would attract 
her, it's the balance of power between them. She wouldn't need 
to fear that her drive and assertiveness would overpower Harry, 
and I think this could  make *him* attractive to her. *But* I think 
Harry would sense this and find it off-putting.

In fact, I think this is the reason he hasn't developed romantic 
feelings for her in canon so far. All his experience has been to 
dissociate love and power, to think of them as opposites. He has 
not, at least since the age of one, had any experience of being 
loved by someone who is powerful, and he has a great deal of 
experience with being mistreated by the powerful.

I think Harry is very glad to have Hermione on his side as a 
friend, and ally, and  coach. I think he likes, admires and 
respects her tremendously. But I think he will always feel, 
perhaps without ever being able to articulate it, that there is 
something she needs  that he can't give her. I think Hermione 
wants and deserves to be loved for the very powerful individual 
that she is. Right now,  I don't think Harry can manage that.

Pippin