SHIP: Re: Who is the boy? and Why I hate the H/G Ship

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 54314

Calliope had made the point that Harry already *has* the 
Weasley family, through Ron.  In response to this, I remarked:

<<<<<<You know, this sort of argument works just as well for the 
other 
side. You could just as well say that Harry already *has* 
Hermione.  She is already a dear friend. They could hardly care 
more about each other than they do already.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Penny:
>>>>Well, speaking for myself, I would certainly say that 
romantic/sexual love is quite a different level than friendship love.
 
So, I would say that actually, yes, they certainly could care more 
about each other than they do already.  Eros would bring an 
entirely different intimacy to the relationship.  <<<<

Well, that's just it. Intimacy and sexual/romantic love are not the 
same thing, certainly not where teenage boys are concerned. 
Harry doesn't need to be romantically involved with Ginny to 
develop emotional closeness to the Weasley family and  he 
doesn't need to be romantically involved with Hermione to 
become closer to her. In fact it might make it more difficult.

Harry's cravings for Cho certainly didn't make it easier for him to 
connect with her. If Harry starts developing similar feelings for 
Hermione, they're bound to make him uncomfortable.  He might 
fight shy of them and start being as tetchy with her as Ron is. 
Now that's an H/H relationship I could believe in, though I  have 
this feeling it's not what H/H'ers have in mind <g>

I would say Harry does care deeply about Hermione, but he 
expresses this by being willing to take risks on her behalf 
physically rather than  emotionally. We're not really sure whether 
Harry *can* give or accept love in a more direct way--that's part of 
the suspense. 

Harry's deepest feelings are still very much kept to himself. The 
swiftness with which he befriends Hagrid, Ron and Sirius 
implies that he does indeed have a pent up longing to connect, 
but so far the reader has far more access to Harry's feelings 
than even his closest friends. Unless there have been heartfelt 
conversations "offstage" (and that's as creaky a device as any 
god from the machine) Hermione and Ron don't know about 
Harry hearing his parents' deaths when the Dementors are near, 
they don't know that he's known all along about Voldemort's 
wand core, or that he daydreams about playing World Cup 
Quidditch or has nightmares about Voldemort laughing. When it 
comes to emotional knowledge of Harry, Ron and Hermione are 
more on a par with Neville and Ginny than they are with us.

Much as I would like to see this change, I don't see Hermione as 
being the catalyst, even if Harry does develop romantic feelings 
for her. Harry's never going to feel safe sharing his feelings with 
her until  she stops trying to improve him.  If  she did that now, it 
might cost him his life--he really needs her more as a coach 
than a confidante at this point. That's the one edge Ginny has. 
For all that we know so little about her, we do know this: it's 
extremely unlikely that she thinks anything about Harry Potter 
needs to be improved.

Pippin