[HPforGrownups] Re: SHIP: Harry and Hermione

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 92353

Laura (me):
>> Because it leaves Hermione browbeating Ron until he just ignores
>> her.  Molly basically treats Arthur like a seventh son.

Susanne:
> Actually, this sounds exactly like the way Hermione and
> *Harry* interact, already.
>
> Hermione nags, or suggests how Harry should act in any given
> situation (yes, she wants to help, but it often comes across
> like a mother-child relationship), and Harry chooses to ignore her
> just as often as he listens to her.

I knew someone would bring this up (because someone always does ^_~), 
and I'm afraid that we're just going to have to agree to disagree.

Personally, I see Harry and Hermione's relationship in an *entirely* 
different light.  In my opinion, he very rarely just *ignores* her.  
Even when she was trying to get him not to break into Umbridge's office 
in OotP (during which she got so repetitive and insistent that even *I* 
was annoyed with her), he never just tuned her out.  Rather, he 
realized that she had a valid point, but chose to go against her advice 
anyway.  In fact, the entire day he was mostly on the fence about 
whether he would go ahead and do it, which is why I think that Hermione 
didn't just give up the first (hundred) times she tried to convince him 
not to do it -- she could tell he was still deciding.

The question isn't whether Hermione is bossy toward Harry and/or Ron.  
Hermione *is* bossy, period.  I just happen to feel that Harry values 
her opinions and advice (heck, his conscience has developed into her 
voice!), whereas they just roll like water off Ron's back.  Sure, Ron 
is more likely to *argue* with Hermione over stupid little things, but 
Harry's the one who can actually shut her up when she needs to be 
(oftentimes with just a look).

Furthermore, there is just a . . . different quality to her 
interactions with Harry.  It's not that she doesn't *care* what Ron 
thinks, but she doesn't value or respect his ideas.  Harry, on the 
other hand . . . I, at least, definitely get the impression that she 
cares deeply about and has respect for his feelings and ideas.

Aside from all this, how often is she gentle with Ron?  Does she ever 
*really* put his needs before hers in any meaningful way?  Has she ever 
actually conceded *anything* to him?  Does she support him the way she 
does Harry?  I know that I certainly see R/H and H/H interactions 
through biased eyes, but I just don't think Hermione *respects* Ron 
very much.  They're good friends, yes, of course.  But I don't think 
their bond really goes any deeper than that.

Laura