Hermione's Fling, Dubious Grownups

[A. Vulgarweed]

No: HPFGUIDX 39267

Pippin wrote:
>>
>> Laura said:
>>
>> <<<Mature taste?  Alright...I'll admit that, being a teenager, I
>probably am not the best authority on what is "mature", but
>well..jeez.  Ron seems very unhealthy and immature right now
>when it comes to *coughs* matters of the heart...<<<
>
>And the other two aren't? What's Hermione playing at with Viktor
>anyway? Is anybody really comfortable about her being in a
>relationship with a seventeen year old boy?

Um...yeah. In fact, up until you posted this, it would never occur to me
that anyone would be *un*comfortable with it. Why? Well, maybe because of
his unsavory Durmstrang connections, and the lurk of Karkaroff, and the
weirdness of Quidditch stardom....not to mention his susceptibility to
Imperius. If the age difference is what you mean, no, I don't think it's
that significant--especially not with the way he defers to her. (Rather
puppy-doggish, it seems to me, which makes him seem younger to me than he
is; Hermione seems prematurely old; these two factors combined, she might
come out a bit ahead of him). Also, if her birthday is Sept 19, one
possible way to read that is that she is one of the oldest in the class--if
there's a question, wouldn't they want to give a Muggle-born as much time
as possible to adjust?. So she might be 15 for almost all of GoF. A
17-year-old and a 15-year-old is even less of an issue.

I think she's "playing at" acknowledging the first good-looking boy who's
ever responded to her _as a girl_ (not really counting Neville, who I think
she feels too 'maternal/teacherly' towards to ever consider romantically)
straightforwardly and in a complimentary fashion (unlike Ron's dithering).
It's not totally "mature" I guess but I can't say I blame her. She's
probably curious to learn more about Durmstrang and Bulgaria, too. Nothing
wrong with that either. They're _both_ at an age for short-lived
experimental dating--cut 'em some slack.

>
>
>Okay, you can substitute "jaded and cynical" taste instead <g>
>>From my "mother of one grown and one teenaged male"
>perspective,  there are few  male characters besides
>Dumbledore who don't have some growing up to do.

Does anybody ever finish growing up until they die? And the women!
Pomfrey's got an obvious codependent caretaker complex and some serious
control issues, as does Molly: McGonagall is so repressed it hurts to look
at her, Trelawney's an obvious case of narcissistic personality disorder,
as is, oddly, Narcissa; Madam Maxime cannot accept her heritage...we won't
even mention Petunia! (I'm exaggerating for the fun of it, of course.)
That's what makes the books realistic in their cartoonishly exaggerated
way--even grownups are never perfectly grown-up. Unless they get to be 150.

>
>I think Hermione is a wonderful girl but she's not just about
>perfect (I have no hope of convincing anyone who believes that
>she is. One thing I've learned from this list: love is blind.)

Who has said that she is? In real life, she'd drive me up a tree (but I'd
grudgingly admire her). But she is definitely one of my favorite
*characters*, self-righteous cluelessness and all. She's going to achieve
great things, that girl. But she'll always be a bit of a bull in a china
shop.
>
>Sometimes, IMO, Hermione is just as clueless as Ron when it
>comes to taking the emotional temperature. As a rallying cry,
>"You've got just as much right as wizards to be unhappy!" leaves
>something to be desired, don't you think?

Yes, indeedy, and it's *funny.* Ron is funny too, of course (and more often
than Hermione, intentionally so).
>

>Why? Ron seems pretty much at peace with himself by the end
>of GoF. He's made a decision to let go of his grudge against
>Viktor, as shown by  asking for the autograph. He doesn't tease
>Hermione about Viktor wanting a "vord". He manages a
>conversation and a handshake with Fleur without turning purple
>and staring. All his concern on the trip home is for Harry,
>Hermione and his brothers. He doesn't express any envy of
>Harry for winning the Tri-wizard gold that I can recall. I just don't
>see this seething bundle of adolescent resentment--if anybody
>embodies that, it's Draco.
>
>Pippin

I agree. I think Ron really rallies here.

Do you think the realization that he almost lost Harry--that they are all
now well aware they are living in wartime and could lose anyone at any time
for that matter--had something to do with it?
>
Irene:
>
>Yes, I'm comfortable with what we have seen so far.
>She really needed someone who respects her love of learning
>and sees her on her own and not as a part of the trio.

Yes, that too. All three of them are in a little bit of danger of
over-fusion, IMO. Dating outside the Trio (and even outside of Hogwarts)
seems more a healthy thing to do than not.

luv
AV