Ron and Hermione in Deathly Hallows

[sdeepthi]

No: HPFGUIDX 172993

Deepthi:
Hi all, I am responding to multiple posts here..

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LKH said:

JKR sucks at romance. For one... I do not get all the Hermione/Ron shippers.  It is not normal in my opinion to constantly bicker with your crush... Usually people put on their BEST behavior when trying to win the one they love.

Deepthi:
Ron is a teenager, and teenagers are very awkward with the opposite sex, more so when they feel an attraction. I thought JKR's portrayal here was dead on. There are all kinds of possible starts to a relationship, and something where you get all the bickering out right at the beginning may actually have a better chance in the long run, than one where everything has been sugar-coated to start with, and it is only later that you see the person's true colors.  Ron and Hermione do care for each other - that is why Ron gets jealous when Hermione goes to the Yule ball with Krum in GoF, Hermione is furious when Fleur kisses Ron after the second task in GoF, and Hermione hurtles to the hospital wing when Ron almost dies in HBP (in Slughorn's office)

LKH said:
<snip>
the infatuation with his mother (he wanted to FEAST upon her image) made the ship entirely creepy. There wasnt enough true buildup.... No connection of souls so to speak.

Deepthi:
The actual quote is "His /eyes/ feasted on her" Harry is a teenager who has no real memories of his mother. The only memory he has is of Voldemort killing his mum. With this background, it is not surprising that he couldn't take his eyes off her, he knew that he would have to face Voldemort very soon, and by necessity take his attention off her.  As for a connection, everyone feels a connection to their mother, even if they have no memories of her alive.  We seem to be living in an age where all innocence has been lost, and even your relationship with your mother is suspect.

LKH:
JKR's blatant lack of understanding human Sexuality killed the
whole story for me. I was sorely dissapointed that she could
delve into the aspects of Torture and other deeply disturbing
human emotions.. yet she couldnt touch sexuality with a ten foot
pole.

Deepthi:

You are within your rights to say that she didn't portray sexuality the way you wanted it, but please don't turn it into a personal attack on her.

We have to remember that JKR is writing for a audience that varies in age from seven to ninety (or more). She had to be very subtle with any portrayals of sexuality. It is there in the canon, if you read carefully..

GoF: At the Yule Ball, Snape is blasting rosebushes apart, and couples emerge from them.  Obviously, teenagers in Harry's world are like teenagers in the real world, they have physical relationships, they wouldn't need to hide if they are simply holding hands, or looking at each other.

OoTP: It takes Harry half an hour to return to the common room after he kisses Cho.

HBP: Ron pulls Lavendar into an empty classroom, if they just wanted to kiss, they have no problems doing that in front of everyone.

DH: Ron shoots a guilty look at Lupin when he has to hold on to Tonks (chapter 4).  Obviously, he is very aware of her as a woman.

There are plenty of such scenes, not even counting Harry's obvious reactions to Cho and Ginny. I felt that it was very true to life without getting too much into the details.

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Sandra said:

Hello Alison! You're right, they were all "a given" right at the start or at least very early on (I always wanted Hermione to be with
Harry, and still did right till the end!) but my point is that there's no tenderness shown between any of them.  I remember when I was at school and how I felt every time certain friends began sharing looks, or when their friendships became 'touchy' as well as 'talky' , or being together when they needn't, and all the other hundreds of ways which don't need listing, but all that was missing from TDH just like it was from all the other books.

Deepthi:
How about Ron holding Hermione at Dumbledore's funeral?  Ron was too immature for a serious relationship until the end of HBP. But in DH, there are plenty of scenes where Ron is holding Hermione, or they are holding hands.  See Page 76, 94, 97 and so on.. Obviously, this being an action story, and not a romance, JKR couldn't couldn't spend too much time dwelling on the relationships.

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Sandra again:
>
> I think that's probably down to JKR's understanding of such things,
> maybe?

Deepthi:

Writers draw from their own experience, but their books don't have to encompass the whole of their experience. Let us appreciate JKR for the great books she has shared with us, and keep personal comments on her out of these discussions.