Accchhsssssaaaa!

[kslmoran]

No: HPFGUIDX 172546

> Sandra:

> And he and Hermione just disappeared for a few pages in all the
> tension and prelude to chaos, and then reappeared with a basilisk
> fang or two. At the very least, that was worth a half chapter or
> even a whole one, so that  Ron and Hermione's relationship could
> have been shown to develop more. I didn't feel there was the
> slightest girlfriend/boyfriend thing going on, and the moment
> when they do kiss seemed to be thrown in as a convenient place
> for them to do the obligatory.
> That made me feel quite empty about their situation, and it
> seemed rushed. Considering there were seven books, that
> could have been done far sweeter.

kslmoran:

I think Ron and Hermione's relationship HAS been building in all
of the books.  Now, they were only 11 when they first came to
Hogwarts but even then they already started to bicker with each
other.  And any reader of Romance novels knows that's the first
sign of a good romance.  And you can see so many times when Ron
stands up for Hermione.  Just off the top of my head I remember
in book 2 COS, Ron faces off against Malfoy after Malfoy calls
Hermione a Mudblood.  And poor Ron and his broken wand end up
with a mouthful of slugs.

Book 4 GOF the tension between Ron and Hermione during the Yule
Ball is incredible.  Ron is so jealous but won't admit it, he
blames it on her being a traitor by  dating Krum (whom he had
loved as a Quidditch player until now).  And Hermione is broken
hearted that Ron hadn't really noticed she was a girl until then
(or at least she didn't think so).

Book 6 HBP, Hermione is out of her head jealous over the whole
Ron/Lavendar thing.  And when Ron finally wises up (after he
drinks the poison wine and ends up in the hospital wing) he
seems embarrassed about Lavendar.  But Hermione (who rushed
to his side as soon as she heard) seems to forgive him and
even helps him figure out how to get rid of Lavender. And Ron
is the one consoling Hermione at Dumbledore's funeral (or they
are consoling each other).  Harry even wonders about Ron and
Hermione's potential relationship, thinking that if they get
together it might backfire if it doesn't work out.

Unfortunately we can't really SEE what is going on during the
time Ron and Hermione are off getting the Basilisk fangs, Book
7 DH) since that isn't the way JKR writes.  It's very rare that
she shows us anything but Harry.  The only exceptions are things
from the past or Voldemort.  And even then many of the times it
is a vision Harry is having.  I would like to have seen all the
times Ron and Hermione were together as Prefects during Book 5
OoTP.  I just saw the movie and was disappointed that they never
even mentioned that both Hermione AND Ron  were prefects.  But
don't get me started on the movies, complete different story
there.

And I loved the kiss. And thought it was perfect timing.  Ron
has always been more worried about himself than things like
house elves. So when, on his own, he shows his genuine concern
for them, something Hermione has worked so hard to achieve,
Hermione realizes just how much he has grown.  And I love Harry's
response, "Is this the moment?" and then "OI! There's a war going
on here!" after they didn't stop kissing.

Maybe because I am such a hopeless romantic, I "SAW" all the
little hints that JKR gave us regarding Ron and Hermione.  I
would bet if you went back and re-read the books knowing what
happens, you may see them too.  They were very subtle but
definitely there.

I was thrilled that JKR finally let them get together.

kslmoran