Ron and Hermione in Deathly Hallows

[Kristine Carlson Asselin]

No: HPFGUIDX 172614

I normally lurk in this group, but had to respond to this topic.  Ron and Hermione are my two favorite characters and I love them dearly.  JKR presents their romance through Harry's eyes.  He's not going to see a heart-to-heart that R/H might have, so we're not going to see it.  I was wondering all throughout the book if we were going to see anything more than the shoulder squeezes, and the concern for each other - because the bottom line is that Ron learned from his fiasco with Lavender, and was not going to repeat it.  And R/H have never had that type of touchy - feely friendship, so it would have been incredibly unbelieveable if they had suddenly started groping and snogging one-another in front of Harry.  The one thing that I thought might have been missing is that Hermione might have confided in Harry her feelings for Ron during the time that he left -- but then again, she was so mad at Ron at that point, that she wouldn't even say his name.
   
  From the first book forward Ron is almost constantly concerned about Hermione's safety (even before he "realized" that he fancied her) and that is amplified in DH.  The most heart-wrenching scene for me is the one in Malfoy Manor when Hermione is being tortured - Ron is absolutely beside himself with terror and grief and frustration for not being able to help her.
   
  JKR didn't write a romance novel - so you don't see a lot of blatant romance.  I think it's believeable (come on, doesn't Ron act exactly like a teenage boy acts?  Especially for a boy who had confidence issues? And the scene with his destroying the locket explains why -- he fears that deep down Hermione would prefer Harry -- it's all back to his feeling like second-best.  He doesn't feel like he's worth her love).
   
  After Ron returns to the tent after leaving them - his confidence changes.  He starts to be the leader, he does some pretty amazing things to help his friends.  And lastly, I don't believe that the kiss in the ROR was their first kiss -- it's just the first one Harry witnesses.  
   
  Sorry for the rant -- I'm back to lurking.
   
  Kris
   
   


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