OoP/ SHIP: H and R> the death> lack of plot...(spoilers)

[Stefanie R]

No: HPFGUIDX 62454

Let me start by talking about Hermione and Ron. I think they are more 
well suited than any of the characters. Of course JKR teases us but 
they are obviously the `will they or won`t they` couple of the Harry 
Potter universe. Why do they go together so well? As someone 
mentionned, Hermione never treats Ron like second best. But at the 
same time she completely understands his feelings of inferiority. 
Hermione may not be pining for Ron because for the most part, I don't 
think she either allows herself romantic feelings, or does but simply 
puts them on the back burner because for Hermione ambition has always 
been first. Also Ron is able to see Hermione's compassionate side 
that is behind the brain. She alone sympathized with him when he 
threw the tantrum over Harry getting all the attention in Gof. 

The evidence in Gof that Hermione returns his affections is that 
scene after the Yule Ball when she gets mad at Ron for being jealous, 
`"well why didn`t you ask me yourself instead of as a second string`" 
(something along those lines). The common theme between them is that 
Ron's lack of confidence and immaturity do not allow himt o be 
straigthforward about his feelings for Hermione. He is too insecure 
to ask her out, but also he hasn't reached the stage in adulthood 
when kids cease to call each other names in place of admitting they 
like on eanother. 

Hermione is too busy with other things to put romance first. And she 
also recognizes that Ron has not reached a mature enough stage yet. 
In the ootp, she tells Harry he is an idiot over his dealings with 
Cho. And though Ron does not have a romantic conquest in this book 
she makes a point of saying that Ron is still more of an idiot than 
Harry. (Whom has given us plenty of evidence to his lack of skill in 
that department.) All we have about Ron is Fleur Delacourt...and 
Hermione! And of course there was the kiss on the cheek that Hermione 
gave Ron on the cheek before his quidditch match. Now his disbelief 
was not only over the fact she kissed him, but that in a way it was 
Hermione admitting her non-platonic feelings for Ron. It was 
DEFINITELY a teaser and a hint for things to come.

Those that are still harping about Hermione and Harry have to look at 
the facts...the pair have no chemistry. If Hermione secretly pines 
for Harry how come she advised him so well regarding Cho? She even 
told him to tell her supposed 'rival' (as some have construed Cho) 
that she was ugly!  Harry, as everyone knows, has no interest in 
Hermione. He was not in the least bit jealous when Ron and Hermione 
were having their jealous fight after the Yule Ball. He respects 
Hermione but that`s as far as it goes.

I`m afraid that it probably will be a case of the big happy Weasley 
familly because Harry and Ginny are definitely heading for a romance. 
First of all in ootp she has grown up so much from the first days 
when she was a snivelling, melodramatic first year. Now she is a 
confident fourth year, who has gone through 2 boyfriends and can 
stand up to her older brothers. She has also, it seems, become quite 
close to Hermione. Not to mention that she took Harry's plac eon the 
team as Gryffindor seeker and she acts much more strongly than in the 
last books. When Harry mistreats her she doesn't take it lying down. 
When they suggest she is too young to go to the ministry of magic she 
ignores them and proves them wrong. In the battle scene she outlasts 
Ron and Hermione and tries to fight with a broken ankle. Whether or 
not Harry and Ginny do get together, her character has definitely 
been strengthened to the point where she could be considered an equal 
to Harry.

As a whole I didn`t particularly enjoy ootp, I thought that there was 
nothing really new or unpredictable. It seemed like the book was 
setting up for the war that will explode in the later books. After 
such a fantastic and tragic ending in gof, you expect real action to  
occur, plot lines to finally move forward, instead of simply 
tantalizing hints. But the progression that is suggested in book 4 
simply does not step up to the plate for book 5. There is no 
progression for Ron and Hermione, Harry and Cho barely have a 
relationship and hardly talk, Voldemort`s comeback is altogether 
lame. While all the other books are subtly tied together in that you 
don`t realize until the end the hints that she has laid out and they 
make a puzzle with very few loopholes. Whereas in ootp she sets about 
delving into the themes of the books to date, and all the unanswered 
questions of the entire series rather than having an engaging story 
in the present at the same time. The only new addition to the Harry 
Potter world is Professor Umbridge, she is the only enemy they face. 
There is no mystery, no satisfying conclusion. Voldemort is only 
after a prophecy, and though you do find out interesting things, the 
plot is not captivating enough to cause excitement when you uncover 
them. 

It is also too long, with a fight scene that is implausible, and a 
death that is...fruitless and futile. It is so quick and expected and 
during  afight scene that the death seems very contrived. With the 
death of Cedric Diggory it was anything but, Harry and himself could 
never have guessed that by both touching the twizziard tournament cup 
that they would be transported to Voldemort and his death eaters, and 
that Cedric would meet his untimely death. It had much more tragedy, 
because it was sudden and unexpected, even though the character was 
less well known. Sirius was reckless and throughout the book it was 
said that a man like him could not survive living in a house, and not 
being able to do anything. It was a death that almost seemed staged 
out of convenience, (so as to get rid of the complicated Sirius 
plothole in which everyone else thought him a convicted murdereder) 
and therefore was less affecting. 
I am excited for Ron and Hermione to finally get together and for 7 
to be the book of all books, because JKR has certainly set it up.