SHIP: R/H question for Ebony (was Ron and Hermione do TOO banter!)

[Amy Z <lupinesque@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50490

Ebony wrote:

> I emphatically do expect to see R/H in future books, David.  I 
think 
> that Ron likes her, and I think that Hermione will date him not 
> because she likes him, but for other reasons that I can discuss in 
> detail later.  Teenage girls date guys all the time who are more 
> interested than they are, I would assert.

I didn't know how you were going to handle this question, Ebony, and 
I'm impressed.

I wholeheartedly agree that one can see R/H happening even if one 
thinks the two of them aren't suited, and even if one thinks that 
Hermione has shown not a glimmer of interest.  I think we will see 
R/H even though I'm not at all convinced that Hermione has feelings 
for Ron as of the end of GF.

The argument has run thus in the past:

R/Her:  I think Ron and Hermione are going to get together.  Look at 
him!  He's smitten.

H/Her:  But Hermione doesn't reciprocate.  

R/Her:  That doesn't matter.

H/Her:  What?  You think it's sufficient basis for a relationship for 
the boy to like the girl?  Isn't that a bit patriarchal?

But it seems to me that that isn't quite the point.  For a 
relationship to start, one person has to express an interest.  It is 
not universal, perhaps not even usual, for both to feel the stirrings 
of more-than-friendship at the same time.  For the relationship to be 
successful over more than a few dates, sure, the interest has to be 
reciprocated.  But R/H isn't at that stage.

So you're looking out at the universe of possible couples and you see 
one boy interested in one girl.  That seems to me to increase the 
chances that of all the possible combinations, that one is going to 
be realized.  No patriarchal assumptions are necessary. 

As for whether Ron and Hermione will crash and burn after one 
declaration (very possible), one date (ditto), or ten years of 
marriage (not likely to be seen in these books or an epilogue, but 
thank heaven for fanfiction), it's certainly possible.  I got off the 
R/H ship because people kept telling me that that ship was going all 
the way to "'til death does us part" and I wanted the local, not the 
express.  (Pardon the mixed transportation metaphor.)

I do have high hopes that Ron will develop into someone a lot more 
mature (literary-development hopes, and sufferer-in-the-advanced-
stages-of-the-affective-fallacy hopes).  It is as if we're seeing 
three children grow up and each deals with his/her identity and 
issues at different times.  This puts strain on a relationship, e.g., 
when Ron's frustration with his poverty and his position in his 
family becomes acute, he lashes out at his friend for being rich and 
famous.  Sometimes those gaps widen; sometimes they heal.  Sometimes 
they widen *then* heal.  I think it's even money which one will 
happen with Ron and Harry, though if *I* were a betting woman, I 
would put my money on the series ending with everyone in the Trio 
who's still alive being harmonious.  That is probably my wishful 
thinking speaking, which is why I should never to go Vegas.

Ebony wrote:

> I feel so strongly that R/H makes no sense in terms of the broader 
> narrative that if I see OBHWF development without conflict in the 
> rest of canon, I'd be fascinated and would definitely expend some 
> time and energy critiquing it on a scholarly level.  

Myself, I doubt anything major will happen in the relationship of 
Ron, Harry, and Hermione "without conflict," because their friendship 
has already been through a lot of conflict.  In all four books, in 
all three pairings--Ron-Hermione, Hermione-Harry, and Harry-Ron--as 
well as various two-on-one combos like Ron and Harry ignoring 
Hermione in PA, the relationship has had its ups and downs.  Of all 
the combinations, I think the conflict between Ron and Hermione is 
sharpest.  Or is this not what you mean?

If you mean crash-and-burn conflict on the scale of divorce or 
betrayal rather than just disagreement or tension, this is going out 
on a limb indeed, and gives you serious bragging rights, since we 
know so little about the broader narrative.  I often wonder whether 
JKR is going to go into the dark, dank territory of betrayal amongst 
the Trio (e.g. Ron Goes Over to the DEs, At Least Temporarily) or 
will keep it "all for one, one for all" with only glitches along the 
way.  I can see predictors for either in "the story so far."

Amy Z