Harry/Cho SHIPping in book 5 (and Hermione's reaction for it -- H/H debunking)

[Przemyslaw Plaskowicki]

No: HPFGUIDX 77427

Hello again,

Making R/H shipping notes during 3rd reread of OotP, I also make some 
observations about Harry/Cho relationship (which, I believe hadn't been 
yet discussed on this forum).

Firstly, from my point of view, all Harry/Cho affair was inspired or 
even forced by Cho. True, Harry had some romantic feelings toward her, 
but he was for sure not expecting to have a full relationship with her.
He was always approached by her: in the Hogwarts Express, and during 
lessons break.
The Xmas snogging was also her idea -- it was Cho who noticed mistletoe. 
Also let's analyze what was said after in the common room:
 >>[Harry just entered and Ron was awkwardly trying to learn what has 
happened.] Hermione took matters out of his hands. 'Is it Cho?' she 
asked in a businesslike way. 'Did she *corner* [emphasis mine - P.] you 
after the meeting?'<<
I don't think the word 'corner' should be used when describing romantic 
relationships.

Same thing had happened during Valentines' Hogsmead weekend; obviously 
Cho knew exactly why she chosen Madam Malkin's cafe:
 >>[Decorations of Madam Malkin's caused that] Harry was reminded 
unpleasantly of Umbridge's office.
'Cute, isn't it?' said Cho happily.
'Er... yeah,' said Harry untruthfully.
'Look, she's decorated it for Valentine's Day!' said Cho, indicating a 
number of golden cherubs
that were hovering over each of the small, circular tables, occasionally 
throwing pink confetti
over the occupants.
'Aaah...'<<
And later we remember Harry worrying immensely if he should kiss or hold 
hands with Cho. He definitely was not prepared for relationship, and 
Cho's forcing it on him made it even worse.
Catastrophe was imminent and of course had happened:
 >>'You're meeting Hermione Granger? Today?'<<

What was the reason of such jealousy? It seems that from Cho's point of 
view, when boy meets girl on February 14th, he *must* do it from 
romantic reasons. Does Hermione on purpose sabotaged Harry's date? I 
don't think so.

Let's again reference book 5 for Hermione inquiring Harry about his 
relationship with Cho. Let's note that those inquiring are usually apropos:
 >>[Trio was returning from DA's founding meeting]
'And talking about Michael and Ginny... what about Cho and you?'
'What d'you mean?' said Harry quickly.
[...]
'Well,' said Hermione, smiling slightly, 'she just couldn't keep her 
eyes off you, could she?'<<
More importantly is the time when Hermione is asking Harry about 
Valentine's date she allegedly sabotaged:
 >>Cho Chang walked into the Hall with her friend Marietta. Harry's 
stomach gave an
unpleasant lurch, but she did not look over at the Gryffindor table, and 
sat down with her
back to him.
'Oh, I forgot to ask you,' said Hermione brightly, glancing over at the 
Ravenclaw table, 'what
happened on your date with Cho? How come you were back so early?'<<
It was only Cho Chang's entering the Hall that made Hermione remember 
that Harry indeed have a date on previous day -- yes the previous day, 
that dialogue took place during Monday's dinner. This seems to be in 
agreement with Hermione's remark toward Skeeter: >>'Yes, yes, one of 
these days you'll write more horrible stories about Harry and me,' said 
Hermione indifferently. 'Find someone who cares, why don't you?'<<

Same thing before Gryff/Raven quidditch match:
 >>'Oh, gosh, I forgot!' said Hermione, watching the eagle flapping its 
wings as Luna walked
serenely past a group of cackling and pointing Slytherins. 'Cho will be 
playing, won't she?'
Harry, who had not forgotten this, merely grunted.<<


Before I move to Xmas snogging debriefing with Ron and Hermione, I'd 
like, for the sake of SHIP's equality, to quote some pieces of OotP, 
which might in fact support H/H ship (remember however that I reread the 
book with R/H notion in mind, so that list is for sure biased and 
incomplete):
1. Let us see what memories Harry had during first Occlumency 
lessons:H&H Concession:
 >>He was five, watching Dudley riding a new red bicycle, and his heart 
was bursting with
jealousy... [...]he was sitting under the Sorting Hat, and it was telling
him he would do well in Slytherin... *Hermione* [emphasis mine - P.] was 
lying in the hospital wing, her face
covered with thick black hair... [...] Cho Chang was drawing nearer to 
him under the mistletoe...<<

2. The fact that when Hermione came to Grimmauld for Xmas, the first 
thing she had done, was going upstairs to Harry:
 >>Around six o'clock in the evening the doorbell rang and Mrs Black 
started screaming again. [...]
'I know you're in there,' said Hermione's voice. 'Will you please come 
out? I want to talk to
you.'[...]So, I've come here for
Christmas.' There was snow in her hair and her face was pink with cold. 
[...] Anyway,' she said briskly,
'let's go to your bedroom, Ron's mum has lit a fire in there and she's 
sent up sandwiches.'
Harry followed her back to the second floor. When he entered the 
bedroom, he was rather
surprised to see both Ron and Ginny waiting for them, sitting on Ron's 
bed.<<
Now I think that all those was staged. Apparently Hermione was recalled 
from her vacations because Harry's withdrawal (or she was just informed 
of it by Ron's letter), and after consultations with Ron and Ginny, they 
decided to lure Harry for a honest talk. Let's remember that Hermione is 
not a Weasley (yet! <g>).

3. Harry was helping Hermione with lessons -- with obvious results:
 >>Harry agreed to test Hermione after lunch on Sunday, but regretted it 
almost at once; she was very
agitated and kept snatching the book back from him to check that she had 
got the answer
completely right, finally hitting him hard on the nose with the sharp 
edge of Achievements in
Charming. 'Why don't you just do it yourself?' he said firmly, handing 
the book back to her, his eyes watering.<<

If you know some other quotes supporting H/H feel free to add there.

And now, let's move for a crucial event in 5th book R/H and H/H shipping 
war. Post Xmas snogging debriefing starring: Harry, Ron and Hermione:
[What they speak to each other was already analysed, I'd like to point 
out non-verbal communication between (surprise!) Ron & Hermione, so I 
cut almost all speech]:
 >>Numbly surprised, Harry nodded. Ron sniggered, breaking off when 
Hermione caught his
eye.
[...]
Ron made a triumphant gesture with his fist and went into a raucous peal 
of laughter that
made several timid-looking second-years over beside the window jump. A 
reluctant grin
spread over Harry's face as he watched Ron rolling around on the hearthrug.
Hermione gave Ron a look of deep disgust and returned to her letter.
[...]
Oh,' said Ron, his smile fading slightly. 'Are you that bad at kissing?'
'Dunno,' said Harry, who hadn't considered this, and immediately felt 
rather worried. 'Maybe
I am.'
'Of course you're not,' said Hermione absently, still scribbling away at 
her letter.
'How do you know?' said Ron very sharply.
[...]
'Ron,' said Hermione in a dignified voice, dipping the point of her 
quill into her inkpot, 'you
are the most insensitive wart I have ever had the misfortune to meet.'
[...]
A slightly stunned silence greeted the end of this speech, then Ron 
said, 'One person can't feel
all that at once, they'd explode.'
'Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean 
we all have,' said
Hermione nastily picking up her quill again.
[...]'<<
Points to note here: Hermione still indifferent to Harry's dating life 
(see above), and Hermione's two attacks on Ron's lack of emotions.
And that's make us leaving H/H ship, and entering R/H ship which I'll 
describe in another post in a moment.

Regards,

-- 
Pshemekan