SHIP: Re: Perfume vs. Book

[happybean98]

No: HPFGUIDX 89342

> Helen wrote:
> 
> Ah! But I think Hermione's gift to the boys is really more telling 
> than their gifts to her. Hermione gave both boys identical gifts. 
Not 
> playing favorites? Still hasn't made up her mind? Only time will 
> tell ;)
<snip>

Me (Kathleen):

I agree that Hermione's gifts are telling. I personally feel that she 
prefers Harry, (when she asks him to knit with her in OOP, I think 
she's definitely fishing for Harry's true feelings. Also, she really 
casts out a line when she says, "And you should have told (Cho) how 
ugly I was too." OOP) (Might I add, she catches her fish when Harry 
says, "But I don't think you're ugly".)  

However, I think before she can really respect either boy as romance 
material, they have to stop being dependent on her. As intellectual 
as she is,  she can't really see either of them as an "equal" unless 
they prove they can take responsibility for their own studies. How 
else can she be sure that they are not "using" her because she's 
smart? (As a  former high-school nerd, I've experienced this quandry 
first hand.) 

The homework planners were her way of trying to force them to change. 
Alas, she fails, because as with her attempts to free the house 
elves, she wrongly thinks that providing the vehicle for change is 
all that is necessary to bring it about. Just as the house elves need 
to recognize their need for freedom for it to happen, Harry and Ron 
need to recognize their need to take responsibility for their own 
studies if they are to win Hermione's heart.

If Ron figures this out, and makes a serious effort, he may win her 
in the end and make himself Head Boy in the process.  

Berit replies:
<snip>
> Also, I don't think Ron and Hermione's constant bickering is an 
> argument they won't get together; quite the contrary. Opposites 
> attract each other...

Me (Kathleen):

I agree that opposites attract, but it is not always a healthy thing. 
It can come about when one person feels they need the opposite 
qualities in someone of the opposite sex to complete them. It can be 
a sign that they don't feel complete in themselves, but I don't want 
to go off topic.

Kathleen