A SHIP thought or two

[Brian]

No: HPFGUIDX 102667

The ol' SHIPping debate makes for interesting reading when there 
isn't much else to talk about (and even when there is).  I thought 
I'd add my thoughts to the mix and see what happens.

All SHIPpers should take heart--In my view, JKR has left the 
possibilities open.

To wit: 
Ron's interest in Hermione is overt, but apparently under control.  
Strongest evidence: GOF--Yule Ball and sequelae, OOTP--his gift of 
perfume and his anger over any mention of Krum and his disorientation 
following Hermione's good luck kiss.  The "under control" part 
evidence: He is around her constantly with no real change in their 
relationship.  He obviously isn't making her uncomfortable or she 
would disappear.  Also, Harry hasn't commented on it.

Hermione's interest is not overt, but hinted at by JKR.  In GOF, the 
most we can say is she is affected by his reaction.  Ron has an 
effect on her (as opposed to being a no-count in her life), but she 
doesn't state the exact effect.  In OOTP, their are still only 
hints.  She seems to be watching Ron--appraising, if you will.  
You'll notice that she is very aware of Ron in OOTP. She wonders 
where he is then he comes in out of the cold.  Her "frostiness seems 
to melt," etc.  She distracts him with a kiss so he won't see the 
Slytherin badges.  This could just be solicitous friendship, 
though.    

For H/H SHIPpers, no doors have been closed.  It's interesting that 
the moment when she most appraises Ron is when he demonstrates his 
loyalty to Harry after the letter from Percy in OOTP.  This scene 
clearly demonstrates the importance of these two guys in her life, 
but it's amenable to multiple interpretations.  Also, Ron's interest 
in Hermione has clearly been more overt than any return interest on 
her part.

About SHIPping in general: Some folks wonder why we even have these 
discussions about such young characters.  In fact, I've wondered 
about my own interest in the debates.  I've come up with a few 
hypotheses.  One of them is a compliment to JKR; the other, a 
potential criticism of her work.  The compliment is she has created 
characters that inspire suspension of disbelief (of which a great 
deal is required with this storyline, you must admit) and concern.  
Those of us who enjoy the books actually care, while we are 
suspending disbelief, what happens to the characters.  I would guess 
that the same formula that makes the books so popular is at work 
here, that is, that we can somehow relate to these people, so 
SHIPping debates are symptomatic of a certain vicariety from us, much 
in the same way people sometimes discuss the futures (romantic and 
otherwise) of characters on TV shows.


The potential criticism is this: I have noticed that what I believe 
to be JKR's adult perspective bleeds into the dialogue and 
characterizations from time to time.  Look at some of her phrasing.  
For instance, in OOTP Harry describes his date with Cho as "a 
fiasco."  Would a fifteen year-old use that term (maybe it's more 
common in the UK)?  Hermione after hatching the DA idea, 
says, "Listen, Ron and I have been sounding out people who we thought 
might want to learn..."  What kind of fifteen year-old says that?  I 
think, perhaps, JKR might have overshot the mark in portraying 
Hermione's sophistication.  It could be that the language of the book 
is leading us into thinking of the characters as adults.

Now I've been an R/H SHIPper from the start, but my tendency might be 
a case of movie contamination.  Also, though, for some reason I want 
Ron to "get the girl."  I can't even explain why.  For some reason, 
Ron evokes more pathos from me than Harry.  I wonder if anyone else 
feels that way?  Maybe it's just the simple fact that Ron has 
demonstrated an interest, so it's easy to feel for him.  Harry, on 
the other hand, has been relatively detached regarding Hermione.  
Maybe it's that I like the way Ron and Hermione seem to keep each 
other in check.  

For you H/H-ers out there, I will say this: In OOTP, Hermione and 
Harry develop *something*.  I don't know if it is a precursor to 
romantic involvement, but they definitely develop an understanding 
that, for the moment, excludes Ron.  JKR begins this early in OOTP 
when Harry and Hermione notice Malfoy's comment about "dogging."  
Rowling seems to make quite a point of mentioning that Ron noticed 
noticed nothing (the description merited its own line in my American 
edition).  Harry and Hermione become "in tune" with each other in 
OOTP, but I'm not sure what it means.  Ron continues to demonstrate 
an obliviousness.  Ron is the most realistically portrayed adolescent 
of the three.  He is about "on schedule" as far as I can tell.  
Hermione and Harry as advancing a bit further.  We'll have to see how 
it all ends up!

Brian B.