SHIP: Re: My $.02 on the ships in the book :-)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 169073

> >>honeypi:
> It will be impossible to convince me that Harry is more concerned   
> about Ginny's safety than he is about Hermione's.  Harry's         
> preference in general is to go it alone because he does not want to 
> risk ANYONE's life. 

Betsy Hp:
I totally agree.  But I also think part of the reason Hermione (and 
Ron! <g>) were able to convince Harry so easily that they were 
sticking with him is that they've proven themselves in the past.  I 
don't think Harry really sees Ginny as a fellow fighter.  I think he 
puts her in the Neville/Luna camp: nice to have the extra bodies but 
not really of great use.  (Not that I'm saying this is either fair or 
correct of Harry. Just saying that's how he sees it. <g>)

> >>honeypi:
> <snip>
> Hermione, on the other hand, does exactly what she always does -   
> she tries protect Harry, be by his side through all the worst, even 
> if she has to fight with him to do so.  Harry folds because he     
> knows well enough that Hermione (and Ron,too) will not yield - not 
> because he loves them less or differently. 

Betsy Hp:
Actually, I've always felt that Hermione can be pretty intimidated by 
Harry when he gets his dander up.  So I actually see Hermione 
yielding fairly easily if Harry was adamant about his "no". (Though 
she would probably try and come at the issue from a different 
angle.)  However, Ron can, has, and will face Harry down if he thinks 
Harry needs it.  (Ron has always been the best of the Trio on the 
care and feeding of Harry, IMO.)  And of course, Ron and Hermione 
together would be near impossible for Harry to refuse.

> >>jme:
> <snip>
> IMHO, the debate on whether Hermione or Ginny should end up with   
> Harry stems from the fact that the strongest male and female       
> characters [i.e. Harry and Hermione] do not really have equals in   
> the story. Ron and Hermione are poles apart and they fight         
> constantly.
> <snip>
> On the other spectrum meanwhile, Ginny and Harry rarely fight [if   
> they ever did]. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but what's       
> troubling about their relationship is how Harry totally dominates   
> Ginny. 
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Hmm, while I'd agree that Hermione is the strongest female character 
in the book and Harry is the strongest male character, I disagree 
that Harry and Hermione are on par with each other.  Harry is the 
hero, yes.  But Hermione is a side-kick and her equal really is Ron, 
IMO.  So Harry doesn't have a female equal within the book.

Harry and Ron without Hermione has its weaknesses, but Harry and 
Hermione without Ron has its weaknesses too.  And honestly, I 
seriously think Harry is closer to Ron than he is to Hermione (and 
no, not in a shippy manner, I'm talking canon here <g>).  So I'd even 
see the Harry, Ron bond as stronger than the Harry, Hermione bond.

The interesting thing is that I don't see much of a bond at all with 
Harry and Ginny.  And while there is a bond between Hermione and Ron, 
at this point it's pretty destructive, I agree.  But honestly, I put 
that to JKR being a better writer of friendships than she is of real, 
honest to goodness, falling in love, you are my soul-mate, romance.  
(IMO, JKR absolutely *nails* the puppy love, first time dating, so 
*that's* what girls are for, awkwardness of the pre-teen and teenage 
years.)

[An aside: This is why I'm hoping for Snape and Lily being friends 
rather than either of them being in love with the other.]

I also think JKR has a bit of a problem writing women.  Which would 
be a serious handicap in creating an equal for her hero.  Or at 
least, that's how I see it. <g>

Betsy Hp (this might be a second posting -- poo on Yahoo!Mort)