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

[Jim Ferer <jferer@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48785

Pippin:"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."

There isn't any concern on Harry's side at all, we agree completely on
that.  The issue here, and even more with Ron and Hermione, is Ron's
feelings.  Can Ron's self-worth and ego stand being in the shadow of
these two exceptional young wizards, that's the issue.  We've already
seen signs of strain in the Ron/Harry friendship; I say it is likely
to be magnified in a Ron/Hermione romance.

If the fame/power/glamor/whatever imbalance was an issue to Hermione,
she wouldn't be who she is; she'd be as haughty as Fleur.  I could
foresee Hermione becoming impatient with Ron's insecurity.

Pippin:"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."

I don't believe the 'balance of power' attracts Hermione; insecurity
would repel her.  Hermione has insecurities of her own; she worries
that all her efforts will be enough, that her cleverness won't be
enough, and her response to it is to work harder and harder.  The
vulnereabilities in others that irritate us the most are the ones we
have ourselves.  If Ron was comfortable with who he was, it wouldn't
be an issue.

Pippin:"In fact, I think this [the balance of power issue] is the
reason he [Harry] hasn't developed romantic feelings for her
[Hermione] in canon so far. All his experience has been to dissociate
love and power, to think of them as opposites."

Harry doesn't have a power issue problem, IMO.  If Harry had a
negative issue with the powerful, he would have trouble with authority
figures like Dumbledore or McGonagall.  He doesn't. His rule-breaking
is not the same thing as antagonism towards authority.

Why isn't Harry attracted to Hermione?  If we knew that, we'd set up a
counseling center together and clean up.  Their relationship was
established early on, pre-hormones, and they're comfortable in it;
IOW, Harry hasn't noticed Hermione's a girl ("Well spotted!") That
could change; maybe it will, maybe it won't. If it did happen, I would
imagine that as the most enduring kind of relationship possible.

The day could come that Harry realizes he's brought all his
vulnerabilities and needs to her, so why not take another step?