SHIP: Hermione and The Winter's Tale

[Moonstruck]

No: HPFGUIDX 44488

Good lord, I cant believe Im about to argue in favor
of a Ron-Hermione pairing.
    
Judy said:

< It may well be that Ron ends up with Hermione, but I
< cannot see Rowling foreshadowing this paring with < 
 such cliche, old Hollywood scenes as spats and <   
rows that turn into romance.

< Whomever Hermione ends up with will have to be <    
 mature and in control.  Our dear Ron still has < a
lot of growing up to do to fill that bill.


I could not agree more! 

To be entirely honest, Im an ardent H/Hr shipper.
IMHO, Harry is far better suited for Hermione in terms
of personality, intelligence and maturity. I also
think Hermiones skills provide a perfect compliment
to Harrys. Ive never savored the thought of a R/Hr
pairing  for the very reasons cited above. As someone
who identifies very thoroughly with Hermione, its
difficult for me to see what Hermione would find
romantically appealing about Ron, especially given his
immature rages, irrational assumptions, and seemingly
shallow outlook of the world around him. 

And Ive always questioned the skewed logic that
believes a male and female who bicker and argue
incessantly are harboring some kind of romantic
desire. I think most of the time people fight because
their personalities are simply too opposed; they dont
see eye to eye on things. 

Ive read the HP4Gus FAQ-Romance quite thoroughly in
the past and I agree there are a number of possible
pairings for future HP books. I would like nothing
more than to have JKR create a romance with Harry and
Hermione and I wont give up on that hope until Ive
read the last word in book 7. However, it is with
heavy heart and a great deal of forced objectivity
that I have assert my belief that JKR intends for Ron
and Hermione to end up together  and most of them are
*not* based on The Winters Tale.

*The most obvious proof for this pairing is the
emotional tension between Hermione and Ron throughout
GoF. As much as I want to believe that Hermiones
frustrations with Ron and the Yule Ball have more to
do with his insensitive attitude toward Hermione and
her desire to be recognized as an *girl*, I believe it
cuts farther that that. Chapter 22 The Unexpected
Task clearly indicates the couplings JKR believes are
viable. *Remember* before GoF came out, JKR said that
H/R/Hr would end up with the wrong people. Apply that
thought to The Unexpected Task. When the four
players  Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny  start out
together, Harry and Ron are both distraught because
they have sought dates with their females of choice
(Cho and Fleur, respectively) and been rejected. By
the end of the chapter, however, the tables have
turned and Hermione and Ginny leave the common room in
much the same condition as Ron and Harry entered.
Hermione *specifically* takes Ron to task for so
tardily noticing Hermiones feminity and angrily
storms off. Ginny has agreed to go to the Yule Ball
with Neville, but feels miserable about the decision
once she realizes Harry is dateless. Harry, she seems
to think, might have asked her had she not been
promised all ready. She leaves the common room in a
dejected state. The ever-wise Ron bewilderedly asks
Harry: Whats got into them? 

Other people may read this chapter differently, but I
think its JKRs indication that the people who should
be together are eluding each other.


*I know Im not the only person whos noticed the
similarities between Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys
relationship and Ron and Hermiones. Arthur and Molly
are often coming to loggerheads about various issues
(for instance, the Dementor argument at the Leaky
Cauldron in PoA). Molly tends to be pragmatic and
structured, while Arthur is more laid back and
lenient. Molly clearly wears the pants in the
household. She is as much a powerful and commanding
witch as mother/wife.  Clearly, these same dynamics
exist between Ron and Hermione. Consider also
Hermiones propensity to looking after or even
*mothering* those she perceives as in need of
help/love/support (Neville, Crookshanks, the House
Elves, Harry) and expressing her scorn or caution when
someone is doing something dangerous/wrong/risky.
Molly Weasley is often disciplining Fred and George
for the same reason. 

Perhaps my favorite and earliest indication that this
parallel exists and that it hints to a R/Hr pairing is
in SS/PSP:

Harry meets the Weasleys at Platform 9  and observes
Molly shepherding the children onto the Hogwarts
Express. Molly approaches Ron with her handkerchief.

 Ron, youve got something on your nose.

The youngest boy tried to jerk away, but she grabbed
him and began rubbing the end of his nose. (95)


Later, we meet Hermione and she has this to say:

 I only came in here because people outside are
behaving very childishly, racing up and down the
corridors, said Hermione in a sniffy voice. And
youve got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you
know? (110)
 

*Finally, its my belief that Ron *needs* Hermione in
order to reach his full potential as an individual.
Though they argue quite a bit, Hermione helps to keep
Ron grounded when he gets out of hand. If Ron has any
chance for survival in these books, its Hermione.
Consider the exchange in GoF after the Second Task of
the Tournament, when Rons penchant for exaggeration
and ego-stroking is exaserbated by the attention he
gains as an underwater hostage:

Harry noticed that Rons version of events changed
subtly with every retelling. 

But I had my wand hidden up my sleeve, [Ron] assured
Padma Patil, who seemed to be a lot keener on Ron now
that he was getting so much attention and was making a
point of talking to him every time they passed in the
corridors. I couldve taken those mer-idiots any time
I wanted.

What were you going to do, snore at them? said
Hermione waspishly.

Rons ears went red, and thereafter, he reverted to
the bewitched sleep version of events. (509-10)

Hermiones pointed criticism, bursts his absurd
balloon and help Ron realize how asinine hes being.
In this sense, Hermione exerts a great deal of
influence over Ron. Its my belief that a relationship
with Hermione will redeem Ron and save him from his
own demons.


But I still want H/Hr :-(

-Jessica.



=====
"Oh, I'll settle down with some old story/About a boy who's just like me/Thought there was love in everything and everyone/You're so naive!/After a while they always get it/They always reach a sorry end/Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then/With a winning smile, the boy/With naivety succeeds/At the final moment, I cried/I always cry at endings"
- "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying," Belle and Sebastian

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