Ship predictions(scenarios)

[charlot7542]

No: HPFGUIDX 90724

Neil wrote:
> I can't believe I've let myself be drawn into this 
> discussion, but here goes.

Charlotte:
I can't believe I've been drawn in either, but here's my take on 
it...

 
Neil:
> My first question is which came first, ships or fanfiction?  I
> can't believe that anyone upon first reading SS or CoS even 
> thinks about ships unless they have been brainwashed by fanfiction.  
> These are 11 and 12 year old kids.  They > will be 17 when they 
> leave Hogwarts.  What percentage of people in the world marry 
> someone from their graduating class?  Yet we have determined 
> that Harry and Ron must pick their future mates from either 
> their class or the one directly behind them.

Charlotte:
Actually I read the books in order and by the time I got to the end 
of CoS I was fairly certain that there was something between Ron and 
Hermione. At this stage I had never read any fanfiction and I wasn't 
really looking for anything of the sort because this was a kid's 
book, but I still sensed something (as did my sister who read the 
book around the same time as me and came to the same conclusion 
independently). I realise that at this stage they are 11 and 12 
years old, but that's easily old enough for school crushes to start 
forming. I suppose the reason people try to pair off eventual 
partners from within the school class is because JKR has set a 
precedent for this with Harry's own parents. I'm not sure about 
Molly and Arthur, but I always had the impression that they too met 
at school. Maybe someone can enlighten me?


Neil
> Personally I don't think Rowling will link anyone in a till 
> death do us die relationship in the series.  It wouldn't be 
> good for sales.  Perhaps only if there is an epilogue. 

Charlotte
I agree with you here. I think any romantic activity is going to be 
very much on the sidelines as it's not the most important aspect of 
the story. Even now its used more by JKR for lighter comic relief. 


Neil
> I think a Harry/Hermione relationship could make it...

Charlotte:
I'm still not convinced about the whole Harry/Hermione thing. Yes, 
on the whole they get on well in OotP and seem to spend a lot of 
time together. There appears to have arisen a genuine understanding 
between them, which wasn't there even in GoF. But this can be seen 
as an indication that Harry is becomming more mature and thus 
learning to appreciate more than chocolate frogs and Quidditch. The 
reason he doesn't appreciate the time spent alone with Hermione in 
GoF is because he was still really an immature boy. Nevertheless for 
me the H/Hr relationship is still very platonic; there is absolutely 
no jealousy on either side, a sure indication of romantic feeling. 
Can you imagine Hermione helping Ron with his feelings for another 
girl in the same way that she does for Harry? I don't think so. All 
the things that people have cited as indications of a possible 
relationship (complimenting each other in terms of talent and 
intellect, respect etc.) are things that can contribute towards a 
lasting friendship (which in itself is a very special relationship), 
but if there is no chemistry or attraction there, its never going to 
work. My problem, is that it is all too reasonable. 
 

Neil
> A marriage between Ron and Hermione in the real world would 
> never make it. Some say their fighting is funny in the story and 
> it is, but would it be funny in real life.  

Charlotte:
Yes, but this isn't real life. There are so many examples of 
fighting couples in literature that eventually end up together from 
JKR's favourite Jane Austen style Darcy and Elizabeth to Beatrice 
and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing right down to Anne of Green 
Gables and Gilbert Blythe. Who knows if these relationships would 
work in real life, but they are very entiertaining as part of a 
narrative. 

Niel
> Hermione wants to free elves, Ron looks down on them and would 
> dread their being free.  Who would do his laundry?   Hermione 
> is a super achiever and Ron is happy to get by.  
> 
> In a relationship between Ron and Hermione, they could never be
> equal partners.  She excels him in every way.  Could Ron accept that.
> Forget the hints and look at the personalities of the characters.  
> Ron and Hermione wouldn't even be friends if Harry wasn't there as 
> a buffer zone.

Charlotte:
I'll come back to your original point here. You're right, they are 
still very young. One would hope that as they get older both Ron and 
Hermione will develop and become more tolerant in general. Harry's 
not the only one who needs to mature. As they do, the dynamics of 
their relationship is sure to change. Already in OotP with 
Hermione's less emotional attitude there are less arguments between 
them. Actually the Anne and Gilbert relationship is a good one to 
look at in this context. They meet at around the same age as Ron and 
Hermione (although Gilbert is a bit older) and start out fighting 
all the time. But as they grow older, they eventually become friends 
and fall in love. It's all about growing up and maturing. I agree 
that without Harry to diffuse the tensions between R/H that they 
might not be friends. They'd probably be like Anne and  Gilbert, but 
that doesn't mean that the attraction isn't there and that 
eventually they'll see eye to eye. 

As for the difference in talent, I can see how this might be a 
problem. However, if you look at Ron, despite his seemingly 
indifferent attitude to school work and achievement in general, he 
seems to gravitate towards high achievers. If you use the equal 
partner criteria he shouldn't even be friends with Harry. I'll admit 
that he does have a number of hang ups as a result of his successful 
older brothers, and actually for this reason I think he down plays 
his desire to perform well. Way back in PS when he looked into the 
mirror of Erised, what did he see? Certainly not a nice easy 
existence with a wife to cook and look after him. No, he saw himself 
as really successful. Already in OotP we see him start down this 
road. With the final Quidditch victory and the departure of Fred and 
George I think we'll see a more confident Ron, more able to 
challenge Hermione on her own terms. I think Hermione understands 
Ron's underlying desire to be successful and as such is the person 
to push him in the right direction. Just a thought.

Charlotte, who can't believe she wrote so much on this topic and 
appologises for bringing in sentimental teen-romance literature to 
support her argument.