Hermione's Character Flaws; and The Dating Game (SHIP)

[pennylin]

No: HPFGUIDX 68928

Hi --

HERMIONE & BRAVERY -- I agree with all of Erika's points.  In addition, in OOP, we learn from Hermione that the Sorting Hat debated putting her in Ravenclaw but chose in the end to put her in Gryffindor.  Hermione does not say whether she had a mental conversation with the hat similar to what Harry did, but it's possible that because she *asked* to go into Gryffindor and because the Hat recognized the value she places on bravery, it elected to put her in Gryffindor.  I think Erika is also right to point out that there are all kinds of courage.  I definitely think Hermione has exhibited many different types of courage, not the least of which are the examples of moral courage and "standing up to your friends" varieties cited by Erika.  As for DADA, it sounds as though Harry was likely the only person to beat Hermione in that exam too.

In OoP, we see Hermione exhibiting much more "conventional courage".  The first and most striking example is that Hermione speaks Voldemort's name.  Over and over again.  She chides Ron for continuing to wince and moan when she speaks the name ("Oh don't be pathetic, Ron" and "Oh for pity's *sake* Ron!").  She starts out stammering it out at first ("V-Voldemort") and then gradually says his name with more confidence over the course of the novel.  She is, at the end of OOP, the only one of Harry's peers prepared to say the name Voldemort.  [I could make a shipping point about this, but I'll refrain ... for now].  

THE DATING GAME --

Katrina commented:

<<<<<<Teen girls are pretty scheming when they like a particular guy.  In my experience, we don't quite scheme against the guy, but we scheme 
against other girls whom we perceive as a threat.  (Actually, I 
ended up dating my husband because one girl tried scheming against 
me and it backfired, and made her look bad).  I don't think we do it 
maliciously, or every girl schemes the same way, etc, etc, etc.  (I 
don't want to be accused of stereotyping)  :)>>>>>>>>>>

Ummmm......yes.  So, I guess I have at least two points here.  First, why isn't Hermione "scheming" in some way to get Ron to ask her out, if that's really what she wants?  She *knows* he likes her romantically.  She also obviously thinks he's a very late-bloomer on the romance front (her look of deep disgust at Ron's reaction to the news that Harry and Cho kissed).  So, why isn't she letting him know (in subtle or not-so-subtle ways) that she'd be receptive?  Could it be.......gasp......that she doesn't actually want Ron as a boyfriend?  I know, I know.  The horrors.  :--)  I'm saving my bombshell points on that aspect until after the shipping debate at Nimbus - 2003 next week.  

And, if you throw out the kiss on the cheek, be prepared that Hermione has kissed Harry on the cheek at least once too.  We H/H shippers are pretty confident also that Hermione kissed Harry after she kissed Ron on the cheek in OoP.  If true, that'd be 2 kisses to 1 kiss.  In any case, it's dead-even.  Maybe she only has platonic feelings for *both* of them?  

Second, isn't she in effect possibly "scheming" against Cho as a potential rival?  She sure has paid an awful lot of attention to Cho, from the sounds of it.  Cho very definitely regards *her* (Hermione) as a rival.  Just as Krum regarded Harry as a rival.  Could there be something there?  I'd say it's a definite possibility.  <g>

As for Ginny, yes, she is a stronger character, albeit through an unsatisfactory handling of her from my perspective.  Ooh, Ginny is a prankster like Fred and George!  Ooh, Ginny has a sense of humor!  Ooh, Ginny has lots of friends!  Ooh, Ginny has boyfriends!  Ooh, Ginny is a talented Quidditch player!  Ooh, Ginny is super woman!  Please.  Could we have had some *hint* of all that Ginny in previous volumes, please?  I do like the stronger and improved Ginny, don't misunderstand.  But, I as a reader feel cheated about how she was developed in one fell swoop into such an overwhelming super-star.  So, while H/G is, IMO, in pretty much as strong a position as H/H, I'm no closer to being in favor of H/G than ever before.  It doesn't feel at all right to me.  So, I'll continue to hope that I'm right and it's actually H/H in the end.    

I've seen a fair few posts over the last few days with statements like "R/H is a dead cert" and "H/G is so destined," so I felt compelled to step in with just a little of the H/H viewpoint.  We on the H/H ship just absolutely love OoP.  We think our ship is poised to leave the dock in fact. 

Penny



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