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

[pippin_999]

Penny
>> I fail to see how any reader could have expected Rowling to 
do more with Hermione than she already has.  What more could 
she have done with Hermione's character than she has?  As this 
is indeed new information to me, I'm genuinely curious as to 
what the arguments might be.   <<

Hmm...well, I defer to your knowledge of the fandom, but I 
thought I detected, in the initial commentary after OOP, and from 
what I've heard there was a similar reaction to GoF,  a 
disappointment  that Hermione hadn't developed a passion for 
something besides books and House Elves. 

I said:
> 
> <<<<<<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.>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 
Penny:
> You mean the Ron who was babbling nonsense because he 
was being choked by the brains?  Him?  I don't know that he 
*chose* to remain by Hermione so very much.  Harry had an 
intense reaction to Hermione's being knocked unconscious by 
the spell and thought dead for a moment or two ....... we see him 
barely sparing a thought to the injuries suffered by Ginny and 
Luna and even Ron.  He asked Neville to see Hermione to 
safety, and it was Neville who said he'd carry her and stay with 
Harry.  So, really, it was Neville much more than Ron who made 
a choice to remain with Hermione.  [I'd far rather see Hermione 
hook up with Neville than with Ron, btw].  I'm not sure what you're 
referring to by saying that Ron chose to remain with unconscious 
and defenseless!Hermione, really.  When the 2 groups meet 
back up, Ron's in no condition to be any help to anyone.  Am I 
misremembering?  <<<

I think so. The action is hard to follow deliberately, I think, to
play down Ron's role (and also to hide that Lupin strikes no blow 
in the battle.)

 Ron,Ginny and Luna are separated from Harry, Hermione and 
Neville when they escape from the DE ambush in the Hall of 
Prophecy. 

The latter three flee to the Time Room, where Hermione is 
stricken unconscious by the slashing hex. Harry and Neville run 
with the unconscious Hermione to the Door chamber. They are 
joined there by Ron, Ginny and Luna who were in the Planet 
Room. Ron is already bleeding and giggly. Nobody saw what 
was done to him. (I have a feeling the giggles didn't come from a 
Death Eater curse at all, but rather a close encounter with 
Jupiter, planet of mirth--and kingship.)

Bella and four other DE's chase them into the Brain Room. It is 
then that the addled Ron accio's the brain. Harry tries to use 
Diffindo to sever the tentacles but it fails. Ginny screams and is 
stunned. Neville tries Stupefy with no effect.  Harry and Neville 
are now facing five DE's. Harry runs away, hoping the DE's will 
follow him and that Neville will stay to help Ron.

Harry arrives in the Death Chamber, along with the five DE's who 
were chasing him, and five more rush in, accounting for all the 
DE's except the baby-fied one and one other, perhaps the 
seriously wounded Nott.  Neville rushes to defend Harry, leaving 
Hermione behind in the brain room. 

 Neville tells Harry that he thinks Ron is all right, that he was
still fighting the brain when Neville left. He later tells Lupin
again that Ron is all right. So Neville has left Ron alone to fight 
off thebrain and defend the unconscious Hermione, and Ron, 
despite being damaged, does so successfully. 

When Harry chases Bella back through the Brain Room after 
Sirius dies,  he leaps over Luna, who is groaning on the floor, 
Ginny,who, by the sound of it has just come to, Ron who giggles 
feebly, and  Hermione who is still unconscious. So at this point, 
Ron has  fought off the brain, apparently single handed and has 
stayed with the unconscious Hermione all through the fight in the 
Death Chamber.

Pippin