SHIP: Rowling's decision to form an attraction between Hermione & Ron rather than Hermione & Harry

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 49723

Hi --

pickle jimmy: <<<Though... Even if Hermione was talking about Ron and Harry equally around Krum, who's name would he pay most attention too? Ron is (to Krum) a nobody, whereas Harry is (and Krum has witnessed it) a great flyer, a quidditch keeper, and his main competition in the Triwizard tournament.>>>>>>>>>

If she were talking about Harry and Ron equally, why would Krum draw the inference that she had romantic interest in only one of them?  He'd either be equally threatened, or more likely, draw the logical conclusion that she was best friends with two boys from her class.  I think the only conclusion to be reached is that she didn't talk about Ron at all or not nearly so much; otherwise, there'd be no reason for Krum to be romantically jealous of Harry because Hermione talked about him all the time.

<<<<<<Krum gets to kill two birds with one stone by dating Hermione - he 
can grill her about her friend Harry, and he can get closer to Harry 
by "asking" him about Hermione. Krum is a professional sportsman, 
IMHO, anything that he says can't be taken for any more than his 
method of "playing the game" to his advantage.>>>>>>>>

Possible, though I think that Krum's interest in Hermione is genuine.  

<<<And another thing... Harry and Hermione? Eooowwww. They're brother 
and sister!>>>>>>>>

Sorry, but the brother/sister argument can't be used effectively, IMO, unless you're willing to apply it to both pairings.  They are all best friends.  My perception is that the bickering Ron and Hermione are much more akin to siblings than Harry and Hermione ...... but it's wildly inconsistent to use that as a detraction from either pairing IMO.

Peter Shea said:

<<<More importantly, the flashes of resentment Hermione demonstrates towards Ron around the time of the Yule Ball is more indicative of emotional tension between her and Ron.>>>>>

Harry was not being a typical adolescent boy -- it was Ron who made the "we better hurry or we'll end up with a pair of trolls" comment.  If Harry had engaged in similar churlish behavior, I've no doubt that Hermione would have reacted the same way to him.  And since Ron attacked her with relish (and apparently enjoyment) at the Ball itself, I think her reactions to him were both justified and not at all supportive of an argument that she is attracted to him.  

<<<By comparision, there is insufficient evidence of any attraction to Harry by Hermione. Harry is clearly meant to drawn to the still sketchy character of Cho Chang.>>>>>

Oh yeah?  I see a fair bit of evidence actually.  As I said, her behavior around Krum is the most telling thing (talking up a boy you're interested in when around other people, probably whilst being unaware that you're even doing it, is pretty classic adolescent girl behavior).  Yes, she could have talked up Harry in an attempt to make Krum think there was reason for jealousy as a means of getting him more interested in her ....or less interested in her.  But, Hermione doesn't seem the game-playing type to me.  Strikes me as far more likely that she was very unaware that she was even doing this (and she would have been horrified if she'd heard the Krum/Harry conversation or been told of it later).  She also could barely be bothered to pay attention to Krum, who had just saved her, after the 2nd Task because she was too busy cheering for Harry.  She also, from all appearances, spent more time with Harry than with Ron during the Harry/Ron fight (though perhaps this was because Ron had other friends and Harry didn't .... hard to say).  These are just off the top of my head.  There's a whole thread with tons of H/H arguments over at FictionAlley Park right now.    

Oh, and on Cho -- yes, he was clearly interested in Cho in GoF.  We're talking about Hermione's interest in one of the boys; not who is or isn't interested in her in return.  But,  in any case, Harry certainly registered her appearance at the Ball though, didn't he?  "A beautiful girl Harry didn't know."  Later.......his jaw dropped when he realized who the beautiful girl was.  He clearly processes that she's a girl and an attractive one.  Doesn't make him interested in her romantically at that time, but it clearly doesn't rule that out as possibility later.  Side note: I can't imagine that Harry will still be interested in Cho (or that she would ever return the interest) after GoF.  

<<<<And Hermione, if interested in Harry, would have made use of the perception of a relationship between them after the Rita Skeeter article.>>>>

To do what exactly?  Draw attention to a crush I'd bet money she has no desire to reveal to anyone?  She knows Harry isn't interested in her (and that Ron is).    

Penny

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