SHIP: What did Hermione Know and When did she Know It?

[anguaorc <fausts@attglobal.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52013

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "GRACE701 <grace701 at y...>" 
<grace701 at y...> wrote:
Angua wrote:
> The fact that the H-->R evidence 
> is sooo similar in style to the R-->H evidence is just another 
> attempt by JKR to fool us, tricky wench that she is.<<

Greicy wrote:
> I should hope she is tricky us into thinking something may happen 
> between Ron and Hermione and then do the old switcheroo on us and 
> have Hermione and Harry together! :D

Yes.  Quite a few people are hoping that.  I do not believe the hope 
is well founded.  I'm pretty well convinced that JKR intends, as she 
said in one interview, for Harry and Hermione to be very platonic 
friends.

> Angua wrote:
> >>I don't see why not.  She's had plenty of time to prepare for it 
> and steel herself for the task.  She must know it's kinder in the 
> long run.  Hermione is a sensible girl and she's well-known for 
> giving the boys unpleasant truths.  She's an upfront kind of girl 
in 
> general. If she's going to Bulgaria, she's going.  If she's not, 
> she's not.  Either way, there's nothing to stop her from telling 
Ron 
> and Harry about her plans for the summer.  She wouldn't have to 
> openly acknowledge Ron's embarrassing feelings in any way.  It's 
> just a FACT.<<

Greicy wrote:
> I have to agree with Derannimer, I don't think she wants to hurt 
> him.  Although Hermoine is a confrontatoinal person, it doesn't 
> necessarily mean she will be with this situation.  She doesn't want 
> anything detrimental to sabotage their friendship. It was obvious 
> that he is sensitive about things close to him when in PoA he 
> wouldn't talk to her because Crookshanks "ate" Scabbers, a rat that 
> he cared for dearly.  For him to find out that she doesn't like him 
> from her mouth would be like stabbing him in the heart.  
> 
> I do agree with Angua, IF she doesn't like Ron, it'd be best to 
> continue her relationship with Krum.  That is if she LIKES him 
> enough to continue the relationship.  
> 
> She is definetely not one to lead someone on If she doesn't like 
> Krum she would be confrontatoinal and tell Krum she doesn't like 
him 
> b/c she doesn't have anything else at stake, ex. long-term 
> friendship.

Me again:
I would NOT expect Hermione to lead Krum on just as a gentle way of 
discouraging Ron.  That is not consistent with her straightforward 
nature.  But possibly she *was* having some sort of relationship or 
friendship with Krum, in which case she could have openly 
acknowledged it and let Ron know the sad truth.

If she *is* going to Bulgaria, she should tell Ron.  If she *isn't* 
going to Bulgaria, she should also tell Ron, just out of kindness, 
because it is obvious he cares a lot about it.  That may have the 
unfortunate effect of "encouraging" him, but she can deal with that 
problem when it arises.

The only way I can see that it's all right for Hermione to leave Ron 
in suspense about the Bulgaria trip, is if she *wants* him to feel 
jealous and thus realize his feelings for her.  I *don't* consider 
that manipulation.  Well, I suppose it is, but Ron deserves it. :) If 
she likes him back, I mean.  If she doesn't like him back, he should 
be an object of pity to her and she should treat him kindly, just as 
she seems to have treated Neville kindly when he asked her to the 
Ball.  As far as I can tell, Hermione and Neville are still friends, 
so she knows it can be done.

Greicy:
> I highly doubt Hermione would be sneaky enough to hint to Harry and 
> Ginny she likes Ron, but then again she is surprising me every 
> book.  

I didn't mean she should hint to Harry or Ginny that she likes Ron!  
I don't think she would EVER do that -- the ball is definitely in 
Ron's court now, and he has some lost ground to make up for in 
Hermione's eyes.  I meant that she could tell either Harry or Ginny 
*what her plans for the summer are*, if she is too "embarrassed" to 
talk about them in front of Ron.

Greicy:
> So Angua what are her reasons for keeping secrets.  I am dying to 
> know!  lol

I believe that Hermione likes Ron "that way" and is determined that 
not a single hint or syllable about it will ever escape her until Ron 
grows up, shapes up, admits he likes her, and asks her out properly.  
If she's not going to Bulgaria partly for Ron's sake, then there's no 
way in heck she's going to let HIM know that.  And if he's jealous, I 
think she's rather pleased about that.  I believe that she thinks, 
based on his behavior at the Yule Brawl and his obtuseness about his 
own feelings, that Ron doesn't DESERVE to know.

So... a little stubborness, a little revenge, a little "make him 
jealous," and a little typical Hermione secrecy, all wrapped up 
together.  I think the Ron/Hermione subplot still has a LONG way to 
go.

Angua