Perfume vs. Book

[Arya]

No: HPFGUIDX 89177

Meri wrote:
I also loved that Ron gave Hermione perfume for Christmas. I just knew he 
was going to be a sweet boyfriend!

Erika (Wolfraven) wrote:
I've seen many R/Hrs mention this passage. But really I don't find it helps the
R/H cause much. Here's the quote:

"'Thanks for the book, Harry," she said happily.'I've been wanting that New
Theory of Numerology for ages! And that perfume's really unusual Ron.' " 
(444 UK)

Okay, clearly the perfume is an indication that Ron's interested in
Hermione, but we've known about that since GoF. But what about Hermione's
reaction? I'm not a guy, but I can't imagine that if I were to give a girl
perfume I'd want her to say it was "unusual". Contrast this to her response to
Harry's gift. She's described as receiving Harry's gift "happily" and there's an
exclamation point at the end of the sentence. Compared to that, her 
response to
Ron's perfume seems only lukewarm, as if she's just trying to be polite. After
all "unusual" isn't what you want perfume to evoke, is it? Her comment 
doesn't
seem to indicate that she's especially pleased with the gift, nor does it seem
to be meant to encourage Ron.

Another reason I think this quote reflects poorly on the R/H situation is
that demonstrates how little Ron understands Hermione. It's true that many 
girls would be pleased to receive perfume as a present; in fact's it's a typical if
not cliche gift for a girl. But Hermione isn't the sort of girl who's likely to
care much about perfume. Remember what she tells Harry after the Yule 
Ball? She mentions how much Sleakeasy she had to use to make her hair 
straight and says that it's too much trouble to bother with every day. That's 
the kind of girl Hermione is. She'll dress up on special occasions but, for the 
most part, isn't overly concerned with looks. In light of this I really doubt 
perfume is something she's really interested in as a gift. Harry, in contrast, 
gets her a numerology book which, I assume, is associated with Arithmancy-- 
Hermione's favourite class. Ron's gift is a cliche; Harry's reflects a knowledge 
of Hermione's character.

Arya now:  
Erika did an excellent analysis of this and I just felt compelled to offer my 
opinion about the use of interpretting gifts as indicators of feelings between 
two people.  (It was a rather lengthy all-girls discussion one recent night here)  

The perfume Hermione gets from Ron strikes very near to my heart because 
there was one year with a rather newish b-friend  (only together 4 months) 
gave me perfume for Christmas.  I was very disappointed in the end.  He'd 
also given me a selection of gourmet coffees but, all in all, all the gifts 
combined gave me the distinct impression we would not last.  Why?  
Perfume, one I had never mentioned and didn't pparticularly like, but he did, 
struck me as a selfish gift.  It's something you give to a person but chose 
because you, the giver intend to enjoy it.  (He had said he liked it and that's 
why he bought it.)  The coffees, like the perfume, were consumable.  They 
were temporary and not lasting.  Truth of the matter was, we broke up about 
five months later, shortly after the last of the coffees had been used up.  
Even since then, I never thought that was a coincidence and have always 
tried to analyse gifts and relationships.  

Let's look at Harry's gift in this same light.  He buys her a book that he knew 
from likely overhearing Hermione mention she wanted it.  This means he had 
to have listened to her.  (Believe me, a rare, rare quality for a male to exhibit.)  
He had no personal gain in giving her the gift.  He's not even in the class with 
her and about to benefit from her increased knowledge from the book.  This 
shows it to be selfless and the only motivation he has to give her that is to 
make her happy.  A book is everlasting.  It does not fade like the bloom of a 
flower, evaporate like the aromatics of a perfume, or even fray like wool.  
Sure they pages may tatter and tear but the knowledge they provide is truly 
eternal.  It's a lasting gift.   

Compared to Ron's gift of an "unusual" perfume which Hermione, I think we 
can safely say, would rarely wear (she is rather low maintenace).  I see Ron 
as perhaps having a bit of a proximity crush on Hermione.  I've seen no 
evidence it's returned--especially since OotP-- and do not think it would be 
lasting.  

Arya~~  (Who is still single and has yet to get a book as a gift from any boy--
or girl--friend. )