Essay on H/H in light of OoP (long, VERY long) (SHIP, mostly SHIP)

[pippin_999]

I, Pippin, who did indeed meet Penny at Nimbus, and seconds 
her Hurray! said:
> <<<<<<<I will concede that Hermione takes the role of heroine 
in OOP. I 
> will even concede that by literary convention, this entitles her to 
> choose the hero of that book as her mate. Ah, but (you knew 
> there was going to be a but) who *is* the hero of OOP?
> 
> Harry may be the narrative focus and the central character in 
> OOP, but that doesn't make him a hero.>>>>>>>>>>

Penny replied:
> Oh, but it *does* though!  At least according to my dictionary.  
Hero is defined as a variety of things, including "(4) the principal 
male character in a novel, poem or dramatic presentation."  He 
also still fits the bill for "(2) any man noted for feats of courage
or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or 
sacrificed his life."  
> 
> A whiny, self-centered, largely ineffective hero he was (in OOP), 
I'll concede....... but he is still the hero.  And, I'd also argue
that you can't deny that Harry is indisputably the most likely 
person to be the Hero of the series (though Neville stands a 
greater-than-average chance of being the one to really vanquish 
Voldemort once and for all).  And, I think Hermione is being set 
up increasingly as the heroine ....... it's a trend that really
jumped out at me in OOP but was set in place much earlier.
> 

Oh well, if we're going to talk about the *series* then we have to 
ask who the heroine of the *series* is.  It's been a matter of 
some disappointment, especially to Hermione's  fans, that 
Rowling hasn't really done as much with Hermione's character 
as she could have. Hermione took  her position as Harry's friend 
about halfway through Book One, and there she has stayed, 
apart from occasional tiffs.Their friendship has deepened, but 
basically Harry and the reader see Hermione the same way in 
Book Five as she was in Book One: a staunch supporter, a 
clever ally, a bit of a nag, and a walking talking reference book. 

Harry's  relationship with Ginny is far more dynamic, including 
the  rescue in Book Two ( much more dramatic than the rescue 
of Hermione in Book Three) and his changing view of her 
character in OOP. 

Rowling has said that Luna is the anti-Hermione. Ginny, I would 
say, is becoming the anti-Cho: undivided in her loyalty to Harry, 
unshakably good-humored, and able to take Harry's moods in 
stride.

Also you'll note that Harry  left Hermione during the fight 
with the DE's. When she was unconscious and defenseless, it 
was Ron who stayed by her side, paralleling Book One where 
Hermione leaves Harry and goes back to tend the unconscious 
Ron.

Pippin