ADMIN: Reminder re: SHIPping post requirements (was Ron, Harry....or Draco? Who do you think Hermione will

[jchutney]

No: HPFGUIDX 34009

Penny & Bryce <pennylin at s...> wrote:
>>My response: I believe Hermione has *her* heart set on Harry, 
not .Ron (and certainly not Draco at this point).A summation of my 
evidence that I've argued ad nauseum many times before 
(chronologically, not prioritized): the hug she gives Harry at the 
end of the Potions Challenge in SS, the expensive broomstick 
servicing kit she buys him for his birthday in POA, her constant 
fretting & fussing over him, the time she spends with Harry during 
the Harry/Ron falling-out during GOF, her response to Harry's 
performance in the 1st Task ("Ooh, Harry, you  were *amazing*, you 
really were!"), her reaction to Harry after the 2nd Task (too busy 
worrying about him to pay any attention to Krum), the fact that she 
talks about Harry so much & in such a way to elicit a jealous 
reaction from Krum, and the Kiss at the end of GoF.  Er ... there's 
probably more, but those are the high points in short.>> 

Hi Penny!
 
I always find the argument that Hermione has her heart set on Harry 
instead of Ron fascinating because I see it so differently.  Your 
examples of hug post Potions, fretting & fussing, responses to  
Harry's performance after 2nd Task, even the kiss all seem to stem
from deep friendship with no hint that it is romantic as opposed to  
platonic.  I strongly disagree with your view that she was trying to 
elicit a jealous reaction from Krum.  If being a Harry cheerleader  
means anything, one could argue that Ron also has romantic feelings 
for Harry.  When he's not overcome by jealousy ;), Ron is just as 
passionate a champion of Harry's.  Also, Harry & Hermione both have 
money - why wouldn't they give each other expensive gifts?  Harry is 
very casual about getting the Ominculars for H&R. (Ron is obviously 
very touchy about money and would object to an expensive gift).  I 
definitely think Hermione RESPECTS Harry more than she respects Ron. 
However, there is no real evidence that her feelings for him are 
romantic.
 
 Other reasons I don't think JKR has set up H/H (although of course,  
she may have a well planned change of course in BkV) are the things 
that are NOT there but (IMO) should be if H was set on H: Ron is NOT 
jealous of H/H. The alleged H/H relationship mentioned in Rita's 
article does not seem to affect him.  Ron is jealous of everything 
about Harry EXCEPT for his relationship with Hermione. If something 
were there, wouldn't Ron notice it?  Ron even suggests that Hermione 
take EITHER him or Harry to the Yule Ball. Ron is later angered by 
the Skeeter's portrayal of Hermione as a "scarlet" woman, toying with 
Harry & Viktor.  There seems, once again, to be no evidence R is 
jealous of H/H.
 
Post Yule Ball, Hermione yells at Ron that next time there's a ball 
he should ask her out before someone else does.  If her heart were 
set on Harry, WHY would Hermione invite Ron to ask her out?  That's 
just asking for trouble and incompatible with the Hermione we know. 
In addition, she seems quite jealous of Fleur in specific.  Cho is 
grouped in with her tirade against pretty people.  If Hermione's 
heart is set on Harry instead of Ron, why is she unable to clearly 
see Ron's tirades against Krum for what they are?  If she 
 were dispassionate, IMO, she would be able to recognize Ron's 
feelings and she would find a gentle way to let him down.  Imagine if 
Neville or Dean reacted the same way Ron did?  Wouldn't the jealousy 
be obvious to Hermione?  IMO, the reason she cannot see the jealously 
clearly is because her feelings for Ron (and she probably does NOT 
want to have these feelings) cloud her judgment. She's clearly hurt 
that it takes Ron so long to see her as a "girl"; she's hurt when he 
alleges Viktor is only using her to get to Harry, etc.  
 
Finally, the most important person in the world to Harry is Ron.  The 
Weasleys are his favorite family. Harry doesn't have romantic 
feelings for Hermione. Would he really choose Hermione over Ron?  
Perhaps JKR is setting up a Ron loves Hermione loves Harry loves Ron 
story (very Arthurian Legends!).  Yet I can't see (at this point) 
Hermione trying to come between best friends any more than I can see 
Harry going after the girl Ron wants. It's just too soapy, and IMO, 
unworthy of JKR.

jchutney