SHIP: Hermoine's Reaction to...

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 106038

Arya said:

>Arya (who is a firm believer in R-->Hr-->H and an eventual Trio  of heartbreak because there is simply not more powerful emotion than love)
>

Juli says:

I too believe it stands right now as R-->Hr-->H. I do think Hermoine knows Ron likes her, and has some feelings for him (which is why she derided him for not asking her to the Yule Ball). But she's devoted to Harry and seems to understand that he needs her more than Ron right now. Whether that devotion is a foundation for romantic love or a deep friendship isn't clear. But she is determined to stand by Harry's side, come what may, and even Ron isn't going to pull her away from that position. Harry comes first.

As for how it will all end up, I'm not convinced there will be a love triangle. In fact, I hope there isn't. There are far too many other issues to be dealt with in the final two books to waste too much time on romantic love, IMO, especially romantic love among teenagers. However they all feel at 15 or 16 is not necessary (even probably) how they'll feel as adults. I suspect Ron could easily fall "out" of love (as much as he is now actually "in" love) with Hermoine. He could find a stronger attraction to someone else, like Luna, that blossoms into deeper feelings. Or, once Harry's future is settled, Hermoine could realize deeper feelings for Ron, and it could go from there. 

As for Harry, who right now is far to consumed in his own problems to have much emotion left over for romantic love right now, may eventually develop romantic love for any of the three girls who are loyally standing by his side right now, and who all have different but equally valuable things to offer him. 

My best guess is that eventually it could be R/Hr and either H/L or H/G, or it could be R/L and H/Hr. Or it could be H/Other! JKR knows, I'm sure, but for the rest of us, and based on the unpredictablility of the human--and wizard--heart, it's still too difficult to tell right now.

Juli