[the_old_crowd] OOP: Some shipping thoughts

Neil Ward neilward at flyingfordanglia.yahoo.invalid
Wed Jun 25 19:46:26 UTC 2003


I've also been taking a look at HPfGU's main list and trying to decide
whether to post a sort of review (repeating things others will have said) or
just diving into a thread...  It is, um, *busy* over there though.

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Penny said:

<< The first, of course, is Hermione's reaction to the arrival of the
prefect badges.  My interpretation is that she not only *expected* to be
paired with Harry in this role, she *wanted* to be (and her disappointment
and surprise shines through before she recovers herself). >>

I'm not sure this had anything to do with romantic interest, but I agree
that she expected Harry to be made a prefect.  Hermione regards herself as
an academic superior to the other Gryffindor girls and Harry as a high
achiever in other areas (saving people, conquering the Dark Lord, Quidditch)
and a natural top dog among the boys.  Ron had been the least accomplished
of the three of them and it probably didn't enter Hermione's head that he
would be made a prefect.  So convinced was she, in fact, that she was
prepared to share the glory with Harry right under Ron's nose.

<< I also thought the scene where Harry acknowledges that he and Cho just
snogged was telling, but again, brilliantly-crafted.  Hermione asks what Cho
wanted in a "businesslike manner," she asks "briskly" if they kissed and is
seen to be wearing a slight frown as she awaits his answer.>>

Businesslike and brisk suggest to me that Hermione was trying to hide her
feelings. My interpretation is that she wanted to be happy for Harry, but
was bothered that his interest lay in Cho's direction, so she became brisk
and tried to orchestrate the relationship.  It may just be the interest of a
sisterly best friend rather than potential girlfriend, but she is clearly
emotionally attached to Harry.

On potential R/He:

<< The bickering is pretty clearly spelled out to be *arguing* (not witty
banter) and it's unpleasant to all involved.  And, we don't have to take
Harry's word for it actually.  We the reader can pretty well see that it's
*not* banter and it's not fun. >>

Fighting and bickering between Ron and Hermione could be a sign of
frustration that there are three people in the 'relationship', because of
their equal closeness and loyalty to Harry.  In my experience, people can be
obnoxious with people they fancy (even if they haven't realised it
themselves) if they can't get close to them, because (a) they are with
someone else or (b) the circumstances don't allow it.  If it *was* just fun
and witty banter between them, I'd be much less inclined to speculate on
R/He.

<< They are fundamentally disagreeing most of the time, IMHO.  If this was
meant to be "tension," then I think Rowling failed abysmally. Word on the
street is that some of the R/H fans are squicked by Ron comparing Hermione
to his mum. >>

They disagree a lot of the time, but I also think that if they were to stop
arguing over Harry, we could see something different emerging.  I think
that's where it's heading.  As for tension, there is certainly an atmosphere
created by the arguments between Hermione and Ron as opposite types, but
they are starting to move away from that: Hermione was becoming more
rebellious and Ron was losing the 'underachiever' label.

Neil











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