[HPforGrownups] Re: Ron (just Ron ... no SHIP); Bickering

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 38713

Hi --

Jo Serenadust said:

<<<<Harry certainly does get sick of Ron & Hermione sniping at each 
other, and even goes to the Owlery to get away from it.  The point, 
I think is that *Hermione* certainly doesn't seem to find it 
tiresome.  In fact, the fact is that it takes two to bicker and 
since she is always just as engaged in it as Ron is, I've always 
gotten the impression that she finds it stimulating rather than 
upsetting.>>>>

Well, yes, she may indeed find it stimulating.  Then again, it might take on an entirely different dynamic if she were romantically involved with Ron.  Right now she's just sparring with a good buddy.  This could go either way IMO.  <g>

I said: <<<<<I'm the one who's hugely offended when people try to say things like "Ron is more important to Harry than Hermione" for example.  I 
*know* I've said this before: if asked to name his 2 best friends, 
it's clear Harry would name Ron and Hermione (and I don't think he'd 
even agree to prioritize them).  If asked to name her 2 best 
friends, I'm sure Hermione would say Harry & Ron.  And obviously Ron 
would name Harry & Hermione.  I don't think there are any 
hierarchies of any sort within the Trio.>>>>

Jo Serenadust responded:  

<<<<But, but...Ron *is* more important to Harry when push comes to 
shove. I really don't want to "hugely offend" you but JKR makes it 
clear on two occasions in GoF, that if forced to choose, Harry would 
prefer Ron to Hermione.
"Harry liked Hermione very much, but she just wasn't the same as 
Ron.  There was much less laughter and a lot more hanging around in 
the library when Hermione was your best friend"  GoF, Chapter 19

This clearly indicates that before their rift, Harry regards Ron as 
his *best* friend, and Hermione as one of his best friends. In the 
second task, of course, Ron is the one thing Harry will miss most.>>>>>>

:::screams:::

No, no, no!  :--)

I so don't agree with this assessment.  Of course, she's not the *same* as Ron; she's a girl.  And when you're a 14-year old boy who's not too keen on studying in the first place, you'd naturally miss your best male buddy who knows all the Quidditch terms & wants to spend time outdoors instead of cooped up in a library.  That doesn't mean that if he was point-blank asked: are you better friends with Ron or with Hermione, that'd he say "Ron."  

Also, more importantly, *much, much* more importantly: Harry did in effect answer that question at the bottom of the Lake during the 2nd Task.

***************


He turned back to Hermione, raised the jagged rock and began to hack at her bindings, too --

At once, several pairs of strong grey hands seized him.  Half-a-dozen mermen were pulling him away from Hermione, shaking their green-haired heads and laughing.

"You take your own hostage," one of them said to him.  "Leave the others --"

"No way!" said Harry furiously -- but only two large bubbles came out.

"Your task is to retrieve your own friend ... leave the others...."

"*She's* my friend, too!' Harry yelled, gesturing towards Hermione, an enormous silver bubble emerging soundlessly from his lips.

**************************  

I will *never, ever, ever* buy the argument that Harry values Ron more than Hermione unless & until JKR specifically confirms this in a chat or writes it in a clear & unambiguous way into one of the next novels.  Likewise, I would *never, ever* believe that any of them would prioritize their friendships within the Trio.  The friendships & such *will* change if an inter-Trio romance develops or tries to develop & fails; that will certainly change the dynamic.  But, until then, I remain very opposed to the notion that Hermione is in effect a secondary member of the Trio.  In fact, if you say that Harry & Ron would both put her as their "2nd" best friend, you're in effect saying that there is no Trio really.  There are 2 best friends who also both count this studious girl with bushy hair as a good friend, but not a best friend.  I can't agree with that.  

Penny


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