Harry and Ginny's romance: canon pros and cons (was SHIP: Where is the canon

[prep0strus]

No: HPFGUIDX 136135


> In contrast, the relationship between Ron and Hermione seems to me
> much more emotionally intimate and mature by the end of HBP. They can
> talk about everything, they are not afraid to disagree, they respect
> the other's opinion when they do disagree, they are not afraid to show
> their true feelings to the other, they talk as a couple (both say "we"
> when talking to Harry at the end, which implies that either they've
> already discussed the matter, or they *really* know each other well),
> and so on. If I had to put my money on which couple has the most
> chances to last, I'd put all of it on Ron and Hermione.
> 
> Del


I disagree with almost everything you've said about Harry & Ginny
(except that showing us a little bit more would've been nice), but I
figure that's been discussed pretty much out the wazoo, so I thought
I'd comment on Hermione & Ron...

I don't understand how you can be so aggressively negative about H/G,
but simply accept R/H.  At least in the little time we do see Harry &
Ginny together, they seem happy, and enjoy each other.

Now, I know Harry is the main focus of the story - that's why we don't
see 'Ginny's side' of the relationship.  It's also why we know Ron &
Hermione best by how they act with Harry, not each other.  But I
wouldn't've minded seeing them enjoy each other's company a bit more.
 We've known that they're GOING to get together for a long time now,
and yet... I don't see any real reason for it.

Complaints have been made about Ginny 'making Harry jealous', but that
seems to be almost entirely what R/H's relationship is.  Ron got
jealous when Hermione got with Krum - a guy who actually saw her as a
girl.  Then, Ron, feeling a bit immature compared to his friends, got
with Lavender, making Hermione jealous.  Hermione, of course,
deliberately went on a date with McLaggen to make Ron jealous.  We've
seen over and over how if anyone else enters the picture, they get
mad.  But what about their reactions to each other?

Ron is impatient with Hermione - her studying constantly, her superior
attitude.  He acts as though he feels he is inferior to her.

Hermione is impatient with Ron - she doesn't like that he doesn't
study, has a slightly looser moral code than her, and most of all,
doesn't find him funny!  Ron jokes around all the time - but Hermione
is never really in on it.  He and Harry bond, and Harry and Hermione
even seem to click better than Ron and Hermione.

A lot has been made of the fact that it could be like Mr. & Mrs.
Weasely, and... ok.  I mean, that's a possibility, but is that really
what we want to be looking for?  And, I don't think it's a perfect
match anyway.  Hermione is clearly more professionally ambitious than
Mrs. Weasely, and Ron has a bit more of an attitude and spunk than Mr.
Weasely.

Really, I'm rooting for them, but I would've liked to see a bit more
of them enjoying each other's company.  Opposites attract, sure, and
they have a shared love of Harry, but there has to be more of it than
simply being jealous when anyone else is around. I have to assume that
they share something that we haven't been privy too.


I would like to mention also that I think that what kids see in these
characters is probably really good - especially as teen heroines. 
Ginny is an athlete, a smart alec, a girl who stands up for herself. 
We've seen her go through a shy stage, growing into independance.  Her
previous relationships, which I don't believe for a second were
contrived to make Harry jealous show her strength.  Dean, for whom we
have no evidence that he's a bad guy (from what we've seen from his
roommate for 6 years) apparently treated Ginny a little chauvenistic,
or was a little domineering - and she let him go.  We know it had been
a point of contention - she brought it up before, and then got rid of
him.  The idea that the character of Ginny as drawn would be in an
abusive relationship is ludicrous - as ludicrous as the idea that the
Harry we've gotten to know over 6 books, a previous relationship, his
friendships, etc, could be an abuser.

We also have Hermione - a smart, driven, activist, independent girl. 
She's not one to take crap from anyone, and is loyal to her friends.

I think Harry as HERO is harder to identify with as a romantic figure,
but everyman Ron is a little easier for the guys (one reason why I
really want him to come into his own, be someone important in his own
right in Book 7)

And, finally, as I've gotten off topic, and meandered all over the
place... kids are smart. And books are entertainment.  Anything can be
read into anything - especially if you're looking for it.  But give
kids some credit to not be duped, and also to understand they're
looking for what most of us are looking for - to be entertained.  Not
to find twisted possibilities.

I kind've wish we could see a little bit more of EVERYTHING -
relationships, minor characters... but choices are made.  And then....
we analyze those choices to death!!!! :)  And that's part of the fun.

~Prep0strus