SHIP: H/H, H/R or other?/Harry gaining Independence

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 44710

>From "Risti" --
>
> Message: 7
>    Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 05:56:01 -0000
>    From: "Risti" <kristin at jesusphreaks.org>
> Subject: Re: SHIP: H/H, H/R or other?/Harry gaining
> Independence
> 
> 
> Keep in mind that Harry is the narrator, which means
> that whatever is 
> on his heart is what we read.  In my opinion, if a
> love interest 
> starts to be the thing most on his heart, we are
> going to lose focus 
> of what's really important.
> 

I agree with this.  I think the fact that Ginny is
such a one-dimensional character so far is simply
because Harry has not yet paid much attention to her
yet himself.  I suppose it is a sort of self-defense
against her hero-worship as he pays much more
attention to the rest of the Weasleys, even Percy. In
CoS, after Fred, George & Ron rescued him from P.
Drive and he is staying at the Burrow, he was noticing
Ginny a bit (her blushing, putting her elbow into the
butter, upsetting her porridge) until it all becomes a
bit much for him to take. About what Ginny and Harry's
relationship will be like as her character develops, I
have stopped speculating and decided to just wait and
see...

As for Harry and Hermione's relationship, I have never
really seen any indication that they _will_ get
together romantically, especially in reading GoF. 
There are quite a few places where Harry could notice
that _Hermione is a girl_ but has no such reaction:

1. When Hermione reveals that she has a date to the
dance.

2. When he actually sees Hermione at the dance, all
dressed up & her hair done.

3. When Rita Skeeter writes her Witch Weekly article
about Hermione throwing Harry over. Here, a pairing of
the two is actually asserted, yet Harry is completely
unfazed.

4. Any of the following times when Krum shows interest
in Hermione.  Harry's attitude is always sharply
contrasted with Ron's 

BTW, Krum/Hermione is apparantly strictly a one-way
relatinship; after the dance, anytime Krum tries to
get any closer to Hermione, she always seems to be too
busy paying attention to Harry.  I suppose you could
take this either of two ways.  Maybe Hermione has a
romantic interest in Harry, which she is keeping the
lid on in light of current events, or it may just be
that she finds she has no real interest in Krum
coupled with the fact that one of her closest friends
needs her right now.

To sum this point up, I think Harry is very relaxed
around Hermione the way one would be with a very close
and trusted friend.  I think JKR may have this kind of
relationship in mind for them, and I don't think I
would be too disappointed, because I think these kinds
of friendships are very valuable.  I wouldn't rule
anything else out, though.  After all, Harry is in the
midst of his first-ever crush, on Cho.  Any thoughts?

Risti continues: 
> 
> I also think that as the story progresses, and Harry
> matures into a 
> more powerful wizard, the time will come when he
> will need to be more 
> independent.  We've already seen him shedding the
> support of 
> Dumbledore, in my opinion, he will come to rely less
> and less on Ron 
> and Hermione as well.  

<snip>

> In PS, Ron and Hermione help him through the tasks,
> but it is Harry, 
> ultimately, who must 'go on.'
> 
> In CoS, Hermione is paralyzed, Ron is injured, Ginny
> is unconcious, 
> (Gilderoy is clueless, if he counts), and Harry is
> the one who 
> defeats Tom Riddle.
> 
> In Prisoner of Azkaban, first of all, Harry is the
> one who makes the 
> ultimate decision to spare Wormtail's life.  Then,
> while Ron is in 
> the hospital wing, and Hermione is unsure of what to
> do, it is Harry 
> who casts the Patronus that saves them all.
> 
> Goblet of Fire is where we really start to break
> away, and what makes 
> me feel very strong that this will only be stronger
> in future books.  
> While Ron and Hermione help him prepare, Harry is
> then placed alone 
> into a situation much like the climactic scenes in
> PS.  Once we reach 
> the graveyard, I don't even need to say that Harry
> was all on his 
> own.  Even Dumbledore said he proved himself there. 
> Ahh yes, 
> Dumbledore, another sign that Harry is breaking off
> into 
> independence.  In the first three books, Dumbledore
> also plays a key 
> role in the ultimate 'battle scene.' (He came and
> got Harry in PS, it 
> was his Phoenix that came in CoS, and in PoA he told
> them to use the 
> time turner.)
> 
> 
My thoughts:

I see what you are saying, but there is also a paradox
here.  In the first two tasks of the triwizard
tournament, Harry does need a _lot_ of help from
Crouch/fake Moody.  Especially in the second task, he
would have fallen flat on his face otherwise.  In the
third task only, I think we are left free to believe
that Harry could have managed on his own.

So, I would like to agree with Risti here and add that
part of Harry's growth to independence is going to
include knowing when to go ahead and ask for help,
already!

Finally, to take things just one step further, I
sincerely hope that Harry does continue to work _with_
these other wonderful characters.  I would hate it if
Harry turned out to be a "god" among wizards and too
high above any of them.  I _want_ to see the strengths
of Ron, Hermione, Lupin, Sirius, and especially
NEVILLE combined with Harry's to defeat Voldemort.

Great post, Risti-- it brought some things into focus
for me that had been swirling around in my mind like
the stuff in the pensieve!

Anne


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