OOP: The Shipping News (spoilers, of course)

[isabella_080]

No: HPFGUIDX 62103

Hard for me to decide which post to respond to....
> Sirius Sam:
> Long time reader, first time poster, blah blah blah.
> Got the book at midnight, finished it by the next midnight, and 
have 
> been waiting to post ever since, so without further ado (but with 
> some spoiler space)
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> The Ships:
> 
> H/R: What a let down. Nothing. After GoF I was sure that we would 
> see a kiss in this book. And when they were both made Prefects! The 
> stage was set, they would be spending time together without Harry, 
> it was bound to happen...but it didn't. The only hint of a H/R ship 
> that I could find comes on page 658, when Hermione asks Ron to help 
> convince Harry not to communicate with Sirius.
>    " ' What do you think about this?' Hermione demanded of Ron, and 
> Harry was reminded irresistibly of Mrs. Weasley appealing to her 
> husband during Harry's first dinner in Grimmauld Place"
> I guess there's still a possibility, but it's looking grim for H/R.
> 
> Me:
> Don't forget Ron's reaction to Hermione kissing him on the cheek 
before the Quidditch game, and Ron getting her perfume for Christmas. 
I think that about wraps up R/H moments, unfortunately. *is a 
definite R/H shipper*
> 
> Sirius Sam:
> H/H: Here we have some definite improvements (I myself am an H/R 
> shipper, so this was disappointing as well). The whole deal with 
Cho 
> just brought Harry and Hermione closer, such as when Harry is 
forced 
> to admit he doesn't think Hermione's ugly (which is a big deal for 
a 
> 15 year old boy). The other big hint comes at the end, but could be 
> interpreted two ways. On the train ride home, when the kids are 
> talking about relationships, Ginny mentions breaking up with 
> Michael, and then (pg. 866):
>      " 'Well, I always thought he was a big of an idiot," [Ron] 
> said...'Good for you. Just choose someone -- better -- next time.' 
> He cast Harry an oddly furtive look as he said it."
<snip>
> 
> Me:
> I, for one, saw H/H shot down even more in this book. Hermione's 
behavior is just way too platonic. Sure, they had some nice 
friendship moments, but I can't imagine Hermione acting like she did 
about Harry and Cho (very platonically, that is) 
<snip>
> 

Oooh, my first post.  Too much to respond to:

H/R:  Yeah, at first I was like "whaaa? *NO* H/R!?!" But then I got 
to thinking...there are very *very* subtle hints (the Harry being 
reminded of Mr & Mrs. Weasley, the kiss on the cheek, even R&Hr 
spending time together discussing Harry).  I *really* think this ship 
is going to happen, but not until the 7th book.  I think JKR *knows* 
that we (ok, many of us) know it's going to happen and are desperate 
for it to happen, so she is dragging it out - she is never one for 
the obvious.  The lack of R/H is serving the same function as her red 
herrings, IMHO.  It wouldn't have had much place in OOP anyway.  This 
book is really about Harry's issues.  I think maybe Luna does like 
Ron, but they would be really weird together...I also believe that 
they all have to have time to date around a bit before really falling 
for someone.  Which leads me to...

H/Cho:  I'm glad that's out of the way.  I mean, he did kinda just 
fall for her without knowing her at all...which is quite normal for a 
teenager.  I'm glad he had his first kiss, it was rather cute ("Wet." 
Hehe.)  But I think we are being set up for...

H/G:  I only ever liked H/G because I have so been in Ginny's place 
before, and I feel her pain - never much of an H/G'er.  But now that 
she doesn't like him, I think it is totally time for it to happen.  
Ginny lived up to everything I was hoping she would be: she's fiesty, 
athletic, spunky...and she already has dating experience.  She was 
even snarky to Harry a couple times....loved it!  I was *so* happy 
when I heard she was dating Micheal Corner b/c it's pretty much the 
first acknowledged teen relationship since Percy/Pen.  And I 
definitely took notice of Ron's "oddly furtive look." (maybe it's 
Ron's Seeing tendencies at work again)  

I have a small theory that perhaps H/G will become rather important 
in Book 7. JKR mentioned in a recent interview (I think it was the 
BBC one) that there is something BIG in 7 that would really be 
upsetting if someone guessed it.  She mentioned it in a discussion of 
ships, but it sounded like it was more important than just ships.  It 
seems to me JKR is developing this theme of the importance of love in 
conquering evil (Lily's sacrifice, being the most obvious... 
Harry's "heart" being what seperates him from V..etc.).  What if 
something to do with love is how Harry will defeat V in the end?  
Because I don't see him giving V the old AK...and what if it has to 
do with Ginny?  This is a bit far-fetched, and I actually don't care 
if H&G get together....but maybe.

And H/H: I personally feel OOP shot it down.  I always hated H/H so I 
am biased, I guess, but Hermione seemed *SO* platonic with Harry.  Of 
course, I could be completely off base and blinded by my H/R love.  I 
really see these two only children as developing a very brother-
sister relationship... to me, that is just as moving and wonderful as 
if they fell in romantic love with each other.  I love their 
frienship. 

All in all, I was happy to see people dating in general.  I felt like 
there were  a lot of very subtle hints that they are growing up, the 
dating being the most obvious.  Did anyone notice it's the first time 
they really drink coffee?  I thought that was so weird...but it makes 
sense...maybe I'm crazy?  People saying "dammit" a bit more.  Well 
that's neither here nor there.

Isabella