[HPforGrownups] Re: Hermione SHIP question

[Helen R. Granberry]

No: HPFGUIDX 79650


Jim: I'll try.  I'm an H/H shipper, but I don't go around looking
for tiny clues – I don't care whose pillow lands on whose in Charms
class.  I see Harry and Hermione converging all the time. They've
changed each other and are more complete together than apart.

<<<snip>>>

She understands him better than anyone else.

<<<snip>>>



Helen (me): Excellent, excellent post, Jim :)

I am an H/Hr shipper for similar reasons (though I am not opposed to
R/Hr). There is probably more evidence for R/Hr, especially when you
bring in JKR quotes, however, there is also plenty of evidence for H/Hr.
More importantly (at least for my own shipping preferences) is that H/Hr
is the more compatible pairing. I was really pleased to see the
progression in OotP, and Harry's growing appreciation of Hermione. He
has a voice in his head now that sounds like her -- she is his Voice of
Reason. 

One point I would like to address... that is, Hermione understanding
Harry better than anyone else. JKR may actually intend an R/Hr romance,
however, the fact that Hermione is JKR's admitted younger self and
someone who 'speaks for her' in the narrative, may explain why Hermione
understands Harry so well. Hermione understands Harry better than anyone
else because *JKR* understands Harry better than anyone else. 

One point some people seem to miss is that Hermione's feelings are
unclear at this point. Ron clearly has a romantic interest in Hermione
and Harry clearly doesn't (for now, at least). After GoF, I think a lot
of people expected some progression on this front, yet none was made.
There are indications that she may care for either boy or neither (she's
still writing long letters to Viktor Krum). 

I am inclined towards the Farmer in the Dell theory. That is, Ron has
feelings for Hermione, Hermione has feelings for Harry and Harry is a
free agent. I wonder if JKR's choice of names might be an indication of
a future love triangle. Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy and
was fought over by two men. An argument against this theory would be
that the romance in the story has never been a big enough part to
justify something as soap opera-ish as a love triangle.

At any rate, we shall see. You make some really excellent points, and my
shipping tends to fall along the lines of who makes the best team rather
than the hints and clues. Not that they aren't an indication of what may
happen, but that is just not how I ship. I pick the team I like best
rather than the team I think has the best chance of winning. 

Helen, who still ships Jo/Laurie