SHIP Ron/Hermione

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 151572

>>SSSusan:

> > <snip>
> > Also, I'd love an example or two of ways in which you've seen Ron
> > being good at reading people emotionally.
> > <snip>
 
Betsy Hp:

> The easy answer is Harry.  Ron is, generally, much more aware of how 
> Harry is feeling and (possibly more importantly) knows what Harry 
> needs from moment to moment.  For example: Knowing that Harry would 
> prefer to go flying than sit around talking about his feelings.
> 
> Another example, I think, is when Lavender's pet rabbit dies.  
> Hermione sees it as an opportunity to prove her point of view, Ron 
> understands that Lavender is not in the mood to hear it.
[etc.]

houyhnhnm:

I like this one:

"Well--it's not funny really--but as it's Filch,"  he said. "A Squib
is someone who was born into a Wizarding family but hasn't got any
magical powers.  Kind of the opposite of Muggle-born wizards, but
Squibs are quite unusual.  If Filch's trying to learn magic from a
Kwikspell course, I reckon he must be a Squib.  It would explain a
lot.  Like why he hates students so much."  Ron gave a satisfied
smile.  "He's bitter." (CoS9)

It's not just that Ron is able to view Filch with compassion, but the
fact that he doesn't think the misfortune of being a Squib is funny,
that shows his capacity for empathy in this example.

Betsy HP:

> And actually, I think I've figured out why this particular bickering 
> couple just doesn't work for me: They have so very little in 
> common.  Which actually goes against, I think, the bickering couple 
> template.

houyhnhnm:

I agree somewhat.  None of the teen romances really worked for me. 
Maybe I'm just too old to empathize.  I do think the Ron/Hermione
pairing makes a kind of sense, though. I think a lot of Hermione's
attraction to Ron has to do with the fact that he's a Weasley.  I
don't mean that she is aware of this in a conniving sort of way.  I
doubt if she's aware of it at all.  But for a Muggle-born witch who is
anxious to be fully accepted into the Wizarding World, what could be
better than to marry into a pure-blood Wizarding family which is also
open-minded in its attitude towards Muggles?  A prospective
father-in-law who practically dotes on Muggles and a mother-in-law who
has not only already welcomed her as one of the family, but appears
also to have put her dibs on Hermione as a future wife for her son.  

Additionally, "there are some things you can't share without ending up
liking each other," and being the two best friends of The Chosen One
is one of them.