Ron & Hermione: Equal Best Friends or Not?

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 38726

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> wrote:

> Many thanks to Catherine for pointing out the LOON-y detail 
regarding the wording in the 2nd Task.  You're quite right; it's 
Dobby who adds in the adjective "most."  <g> happily at Catherine  
Interesting question regarding what might have happened if Krum 
hadn't been dating Hermione and/or if Dobby hadn't mentioned Ron 
specifically to Harry before the 2nd Task began.  Very interesting.  

This particular nitpick strikes me as a technicality, more than a 
source of enlightenment.  Actually, when measuring what each 
champion values most highly, the staff isn't limited to those on the 
premises at Hogwarts.  If that were so, maybe Roger Davies (with 
whom she was "very busy" ^^ would have been the most obvious choice 
for Fleur.  In fact, one could legitimately wonder why Sirius wasn't 
at the bottom of the lake for Harry.  I do believe they have a way 
of discerning the true feelings of each champion (although, if Ron 
were a champion, I'd give even odds on Hermione being his choice <g>)

 
Me in earlier post:
> <<<OTOH, when he and Ron are ticked off at Hermione during 
> the Firebolt incident in PoA, he probably misses her, but doesn't 
> seem to be in as much pain about her absence from his life during 
> that period as he is about the Firebolt being confiscated.>>>>
 
Penny replies: 
> Harry suffers from inertia in this incident IMO.  He does miss 
her, and he does recognize that she was only trying to help.  He 
does make overtures to Hermione, and he asks Ron "can't you cut her 
a break?" at one point.  But, he doesn't take *strong* action to 
intercede in the Ron/Hermione quarrel.  This is in keeping with 
Harry's general personality though, and I don't think it should be a 
reflection on how he values Hermione.

Inertia, huh.  Well he does tend to be passive, but I keep 
remembering how Harry doesn't just miss Ron during their argument, 
he SUFFERS from his absence.  He's alternately sad and furious, 
keeps imagining Ron's reactions to things like the "wonky feint" 
remark, considers going after him when he walks out on him, steals 
glances to see if he's looking back, and is generally miserable.  
Try as she does, Hermione's efforts and companionship don't have any 
effect on his misery, although he appreciates her efforts.  He just 
doesn't have anything like this level of unhappiness when he and Ron 
are estranged from Hermione.  I'm sorry, but I can't ignore the 
contrast.

Me again:
 
> <<<Well, I really doubt that JKR will ever specifically confirm 
that 
> Harry values Ron more than Hermione in either chat or text because 
I 
> can't imagine that ever being necessary.  I'm sure it would be 
> excruciating for any member of the trio to "reject" one in favor 
of 
> another and I hope I didn't imply that this would happen.>>>>

Penny again: 
> Did I misunderstand your point then?  I thought your point was 
that Ron is Harry's *best friend,* and that Hermione was something 
less than that.  


No, I did make the point that Harry *does* seem to value Ron's 
friendship (or at least his company) over Hermione's.


Me again:
> <<<It's just that the way I read the books, Harry and Ron would 
have been friends, whether Hermione existed or not.  Their 
relationship was firmly established early in SS/PS when they still 
couldn't stand her.  I don't see anything to indicate that either 
Harry or Ron would have been friends with 
> Hermione without their prior friendship with each other.>>>

And Penny again:
> And, the point is ......?  Yeah, Harry & Ron became friends 
first.  I don't think that makes Hermione forevermore an interloper 
or 2nd class friend as a result.  I also thought later, after 
posting my first message, that Harry does consistently refer to 
Hermione as his "other best friend."  JKR obviously, IMHO, thinks 
that Hermione is on the same friendship level as Ron for Harry.

The point is that Hermione is in the trio because it is a trio.  The 
three of them are a great team, and she brings formidable assets to 
the trio.  They wouldn't be nearly as effective in their adventures 
without her valuable input.  However, in terms of pure friendship, 
Harry seems to value Ron just because he's...well, Ron.  He doesn't 
have to be good at chess, or Quidditch or classwork for Harry to 
value him; he just has to be the loyal friend that he is.

Penny sums up:
> Well, sure, he's only 14.  He wants to talk about Quidditch and 
goof off and play chess and do things Hermione in general has no 
interest in.  All I'm saying is that it's perfectly natural for a 14-
yr old boy to prefer to hang out with "the guys."  But, when he 
thinks about who his best friends are, he always includes Ron and 
Hermione equally.  As the kids mature, I'm confident Harry will 
appreciate Hermione's strengths as much as Ron's fun.


I guess it all comes down to the question of how we evaluate our 
various friendships. Whom do we value most; the people who are "good 
for us" in terms of encouraging us to do our best work, or do we 
value the ones who bring us relaxation, fun, and an escape from the 
troubles in our lives? I've never doubted that Harry appreciates 
Hermione's strengths, but he seems to need and be drawn to Ron's 
companionship more (at least, so far). 
 

Jo S., beginning to seriously despair of ever having more canon to 
work with