#harmione

[harmony867]

I’ve seen too many comments saying that Harmione shippers only ship Harmione because of the movies and although there’s nothing wrong with movie watchers this is a claim used to invalidate Harmione and act like it has no base in canon. So here is an essay first written in 2003 showing the canon roots of Harmione and how Hermione is not only central to the books and Harry’s life. His ultimate ride or die. (This is not my essay I didn’t write it.)

***

Harry + Hermione - Ron.

by Mad Eye Mike

The following essay will illustrate how Harry and Hermione always experience the most crucial and perilous situations together without Ron. It will lay bare how H/Hr always end up sharing an intense emotional encounter—alone—and how that strengthens the bond between them. It will show Ron’s presence being lessened more and more with each passing book, how we’re being weaned off him slowly, why r/Hr aren’t being set-up as a couple and ultimately, how H/Hr are.

Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone:

The trio’s very first adventure established what was to come in later books. After Ron’s eliminated from the chess match, H/Hr continued forward to the last test—potions. The test itself wasn’t the ‘fail and you get to do it over’ kind either, it had life or death consequences attached—pretty stressful stuff for a couple of eleven year olds. Before being forced to leave Harry, Hermione’s lip trembled, she threw herself onto him, hugged him and finally allowed let her emotional wall come down. Now if the characters had been older, like 18 instead of 11, this would've been a very romantic moment between them. The scene of a girl (near tears) throwing herself onto a boy and embracing him before he sets off to possibly face his death evokes some very powerful imagery. However, if JKR has been setting up r/Hr from the beginning (as some r/hr shippers say), why didn’t she have Hermione stay behind to take care of Ron while Harry moved forward by himself? For the first time, H/Hr are given the spotlight alone, together to face a perilous circumstance.

Note #1—This is the first time Ron was separated from H/Hr but it was cleverly disguised as the classic ‘Heroes Best Friend Sacrifices Himself’ scene. However, take notice of how neither Harry nor Hermione felt the need to check on Ron who sacrificed himself. Harry even had to convince himself Ron was okay because he wasn’t really sure if Ron was dead or not. Literally and symbolically, H/Hr looked back at Ron while they continued forward together.

Note #2—Take a closer look at the pieces each of the trio replaces and play as during the chess game. Ron’s a Knight, Hermione’s a Rook and Harry’s a Bishop.

The Knight (Ron) moves in an ‘L’ shape in any direction. While the Rook and Bishop can move freely around the board (in their respective directions), the Knight is limited to only two square jumps—one forward, one diagonal. This parallels Ron’s place in the trio as he’s also limited in how far his abilities will take him.

The Rook (Hermione) moves horizontally and vertically any number of squares forwards and backwards. Incidentally, this powerful piece is the only one that can perform the ‘Castling’ maneuver—a move that’s sole purpose is to protect the King from harm (Hermione protects Harry).

The Bishop (Harry) moves diagonally any number of squares forward or backwards. By nature of its movements, the Bishop is the perfect companion piece to the Rook. Together they can cover the entire length of the board and all squares.

Now I just want to point out one last piece—The Queen. This is the most powerful piece in the game as it can move horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forwards and backwards any number of squares. The Queen is basically the Rook (Hermione) and Bishop (Harry) combined into one piece. Something else to keep in mind—it was the Queen that took Ron out of the game.

Chamber of Secrets:

This is the book where H/Hr began to intellectually separate themselves from Ron and the start of their ‘mental connection’ where they instinctively know what the other is thinking. Jointly, H/Hr were able to piece together the mystery involving Tom Riddle, the Chamber, the Diary and the Basilisk. Here’s where we first saw Ron wasn’t on the same level as H/Hr and as they continued to figure things out, Ron was more and more baffled as to what was going on. The only thing he did contribute was in remembering he saw Riddle’s name on a trophy. Ron was even left behind with Lockhart when he and Harry reached the Chamber. Couldn’t JKR have involved Ron in a more significant way? It was his sister (Ginny) trapped down there and dying after all. JKR made something perfectly clear with this book and that’s when Hermione isn’t with Harry, he’s going to have to continue on alone in one form or another. In this case, it was in every way.

Note #3—During the last night in the Great Hall, the text (clearly from Harry’s POV) described how Hermione came running towards him screaming “You did it! You solved it!”. Notice how JKR doesn’t have Hermione include Ron by saying something like “You both solved it!”.

Prisoner of Azkaban:

This may be the quintessential H/Hr moment of the series thus far. It contains everything—emotion, fear, friendship and symbolism all rolled into one extended sequence. This was the book (until OotP) where Ron’s lack of importance and presence became most evident. Beginning with Dumbledore telling Hermione ”Three turns should do it”, H/Hr proceed to go on an incredible adventure together which completely dominated the tale from that point on. For the third straight time, JKR completely removed Ron rather than finding a way to involve him. Once again, Ron didn’t get to share in the terrifying and jubilant moments H/Hr experienced together. First H/Hr traveled back in time to save Buckbeat from execution. Then they spent three hours alone together in the woods talking quietly. Then they watch as the situation from earlier when Pettigrew got away played out before them. Then Harry confided in Hermione he thought he saw his father (something Harry was incredibly embarrassed about admitting by the way). Then Harry saved himself, Sirius and Hermione from the Dementors when he finally produced a Patronus. Finally, it was H/Hr who took a ride on a Hippogriff to save Sirius. In the end, after all was said and done, it was Harry and Hermione whom saved the day, once again, without Ron.

Note #4—Did you know the Hippogriff represents love in mythology? Think of the imagery and literary theme that JKR presented by having Harry and Hermione ride on it to save the day. In terms of symbolism, it doesn’t get any more fairy tale and romantic than that.

Note #5—When writing down predictions for his future, Ron jokingly says he will get trampled by a rampaging Hippogriff (crushed by love?).

Goblet of Fire:

When Harry lost Ron’s friendship, the schools support and encountered the negative side of fame for the first time in his life, Hermione stood by him. When the public (and Molly) began targeting Hermione for supposedly playing with Harry and Krum’s hearts, Harry stood by her. It was a curious bit of writing by JKR to make it so when H/Hr finally experienced rumors and innuendo for the first time in their lives, all they had were each other to lean on for emotional support. Ron was still too bitter towards Harry and too busy giving Hermione a hard time about Krum to be an effective friend to either of them. Also noteworthy is how JKR wrote it so H/Hr practiced the summoning charm alone together—the very charm which saved Harry’s life later. As GoF went on, H/Hr grew closer and the gap that already separated them from everyone else was widened. Emotionally, intellectually and magically, Harry and Hermione continued progressing together forward while Ron lagged behind yet again. With all the focus on the Yule Ball and dating, one of the key aspects often overlooked is how JKR yet again divided the trio during a time of stress. While Ron was off losing control of his emotions, JKR proceeded to develop the bond between H/Hr to the point where it became absolute.

Note #6—Ron once again made the prediction of getting trampled by a rampaging Hippogriff.

Note #7—In the time she spent with Krum, Hermione talked about Harry so much that Krum suspected there was more going on between H/Hr than friendship. One of the classic examples of having subconscious feelings for someone is when you talk about them non-stop to other people.

Note #8—No matter how much hate mail she got or taunts she endured, Hermione never denied the rumors she was Harry’s girlfriend.

Note #9—Ron at one point actually asked Hermione if she was brewing love potions. It’s possible even Ron has noticed the H/Hr connection. If not, why else would he asks such a thing?

Order of the Phoenix:

There are three—count ‘em—three separate occasions in OotP where Harry and Hermione go on together without Ron.

A. With Hagrid to see Grawp

B. Leading Umbridge to the Centaurs

C. In the Department of Mysteries

A. In the first instance, JKR had Harry and Hermione go with Hagrid to see Grawp. Now, what’s interesting is how this took place during Ron’s big moment. That was the day Ron helped Griffindor win the Quidditch Cup and it was written to have both Harry and Hermione miss it. I can totally understand why Hagrid went to get Harry, but did Hermione really need to go as well? Especially since it was the perfect opportunity to have her stay behind and watch the guy she’s supposedly in love with play in an important game. If r/Hr are being set-up to be together, why didn’t JKR have Harry go on alone with Hagrid while Hermione stood behind to watch Ron win the cup? That was a perfect opportunity to showcase a r/Hr moment and yet, it didn’t happen. Instead we were given another intense emotional experience for H/Hr to share together while Ron was absent.

Note #10—The text describes a shaking and whimpering Hermione clinging to Harry as he protects her from Grawp’s outstretched hand. Try to picture the image of a terrified Hermione being protected in Harry’s arms. Not very platonic looking is it?

B. In the next example, JKR had Harry, Hermione and Umbridge enter the forest to go look for Dumbledore’s ‘weapon’. What followed was another potentially fatal situation for H/Hr and Ron was nowhere to be found—this time he was bound and gagged on the floor in Umbridge’s office. True he wasn’t the only one as Neville, Ginny and Luna were also left behind, but none of them are as important as Ron are they? Ginny and Luna haven’t been in all five books and Neville has never really been important to the plot until now. Point is, they’re not part of the trio—Ron is. Yet, it’s Harry and Hermione alone who shared another intense emotional experience under not only the threat of Umbridge, but the Centaurs as well. Couldn’t JKR have found a way for Ron to play a part in this? No, it’s written so that he shows up with Ginny, Neville and Luna well after it was all over.

Note #11—When the Centaurs attack Umbridge, Harry grabs Hermione and pulls her down to the ground. JKR could’ve simply written it to have H/Hr duck for cover, but she doesn’t.

C. The Department of Mysteries is the last of the three instances where Harry and Hermione proceeded without Ron. When running away from the DE’s, the six kids split up into two groups of three. Now what’s interesting here is JKR didn’t split the trio away from the new kids, no instead she split up the trio. What’s even more interesting (for you H/G shippers) is that it was the perfect opportunity for Ginny to take center stage and be showcased as Harry’s future partner in crime so to speak, but it didn’t happen. Nor was it written to have r/Hr work together as a finely tuned team. Instead JKR gave us yet another instance where H/Hr worked together or were together in a life-threatening situation. When Ron disappeared, he remained missing in action for quite a while and when he finally reappeared, he had already been rendered useless. Consequently, he almost got himself killed when he released a brain from its tank and was nearly strangled by its thoughts.

Note #12—Wasn’t it rather symbolic that Ron (who is viewed upon as the comic relief of the trio) was incapacitated by some sort of laughing spell and then began fighting with a brain (Hermione?) which began suffocating him? I love Ginny’s line of “Harry, it’ll suffocate him!”—perhaps this is a symbolic text reference to a r/Hr relationship?

Note #13—When everyone first ran from the DE’s, Harry reached back and grabbed for Hermione’s robes to drag her forward. Interesting how it wasn’t written for him to grab for Ginny or to have Ron grab for Hermione. Instinctively, subconsciously, the one Harry reached out to grab and protect was Hermione. There are five other people Harry could’ve grabbed (including his supposed intended Ginny), and yet, JKR had him reach for Hermione.

Conclusion:

Now if this had only happened once or twice in five books then I could easily write it off. In literature however, patterns, themes and symbolism are relevant and with someone like JKR who uses all three, you have to look closely. What is JKR hoping to establish by constantly having H/Hr bond without Ron? Regardless of whether the threat was an emotional or physical one, Harry and Hermione continue to experience and share all these extraordinary moments together. Why is JKR writing it that way?

Now assuming the trio survives their seventh year, don’t you think Ron is going to feel left out? Try to imagine being Ron for a second. Its after you’ve graduated Hogwarts and Voldemort has been defeated. Every wizard and witch in the world is going to want to talk to the people who helped bring him down. Harry will be bigger than a legend, so will Hermione and everyone else who played a part. However, considering it was always H/Hr together (in some form) who defeated Voldemort and his DE’s time and time again, it’ll be H/Hr who’ll be in demand for interviews, discussions, teaching posts, etc. Yes Ron did play a small part in some of these adventures, but at a certain point, he can’t talk anymore because he wasn’t there to share in the full experience with H/Hr.

Now can you imagine Ron dating Hermione and she’s always being asked to do a joint interview with Harry talking about all the times they worked together to triumph over Voldemort? How do you think Ron is going to feel about that? He might mature as he gets older but eventually, this will get to him. No significant other likes to see their partner share in the experience of all these adventures with someone else. Worst of all for Ron, there’s no one to blame. Harry’s not at fault, Hermione’s not at fault and neither is Ron. He just wasn’t there to share in what H/Hr went through and that’s the way it is. I can just see a day in the future where the three of them do an interview with the Daily Prophet and it goes something like this:

Reporter: So, tell us how you first defeated Voldemort’s plan for returning.

Harry: Well, we found out he was after the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Hermione: Yeah, it was hidden at Hogwarts.

Reporter: Rumor has it the stone was well guarded. How did you three get to it?

Harry: Well, we had to pass four test in order to get to the stone.

Reporter: What kind of tests?

Hermione: Herbology, Charms, Transfiguration and Potions.

Harry: If it wasn’t for Hermione, I never would’ve gotten pass the potions test. See, there were only two correct choices. One allowed you to move forward, the other allowed to go back.

Reporter: Only two? So how did you get back Ron?

Ron: Oh, um…I got knocked out in chess game before that.

Reporter: I see. So Harry, tell us about the Chamber in your second year, legend has it you took on a Basilisk all by yourself.

Harry: Well, I never would’ve found it if it weren’t for Hermione. She’s the one who figured out it was traveling through the pipes.

Reporter: Really Miss Granger?

Hermione: Well, I only helped, it was Harry who figured out where the chamber entrance was, took on Riddle solo and saved Ginny.

Reporter: Mr. Weasley, where were you?

Ron: I went with Harry into the chamber but we got separated when the roof caved in so I got stuck behind with Prof Lockhart.

Reporter: I see. Now Harry, tell us about your third year when you took on a heap of Dementors.

Harry: Well, I owe everything to Professor Lupin. He’s the one who taught me how to produce a Patronus.

Reporter: But didn’t you and Miss Granger break wizard law and travel back in time?

Harry: Um, yeah we did. See, Hermione had this Time Turner that Professor McGonagall gave her because she was taking so many classes that year. It allowed us to travel back, save both a Hippogriff named Buckbeat and my late Godfather Sirius Black from execution as well as our past selves.

Reporter: Hermione, you must’ve been one responsible 13 year old to be given a time turner?

Hermione: Well, Professor McGonagall always trusted in me so yeah, I guess.

Reporter: Mr. Weasley, what was it like to travel back in time?

Ron: Oh well, uh…I had my leg broken and was knocked out in the hospital when all this happened so I didn’t get to go.

Reporter: I see. Well Harry, what about the night when Voldemort returned in your forth year. Tell us, how did you escape him and all those DE’s?

Harry: Well it’s like I’ve said many times before, I used the Accio charm to summon the portkey over to me and that’s how I got away.

Reporter: Good thing you paid attention in Charms class huh?

Harry: Actually, it was Hermione who taught me that spell.

Reporter: Is that so Miss Granger?

Hermione: Well yes you see. I originally taught it to Harry so he could get pass the first task in the TWT which involved fire-breathing dragons. He needed a spell that would allow him to summon his Firebolt broomstick.

Reporter: Ah I see, I see. So tell us Ron, what was it like helping teach Harry the summoning spell? Was he a quick learner?

Ron: Actually, at that time Harry and I had a falling out and weren’t speaking to each other so I wouldn’t know.

Reporter: I see. Anyway Harry, the night the world found out Voldemort returned, tell us, how did you and your friends ever escape from Delores Umbridge?

Harry: Well, actually, it was all Hermione’s brilliant plan.

Reporter: Oh really? Tell us Miss Granger, how did you escape from that awful woman?

Hermione: Well I remember she went to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry and I just couldn’t let that happen, so I lied and told her we were keeping a weapon for Professor Dumbledore hidden in the forest.

Reporter: Why did you say that?

Hermione: Well, earlier we had been in the forest when we discovered the Centaurs no longer wanted humans in there. So I figured if we went deep enough into the woods, they’d drive Umbridge away for us.

Reporter: That was smart. But wait. Why were you in the forbidden forest?

Harry: Hagrid took us there to meet his brother Grawp and that’s when we learned the Centaurs were angry with humans.

Reporter: Interesting. And what was Grawp like Mr. Weasley?

Ron: Um, actually, I was playing in a Quidditch match. I didn’t go with them to met Hagrid’s brother.

Reporter: I see, so it was just you and Hermione alone Harry?

Harry: And Hagrid.

Reporter: Yes of course, and Hagrid. So getting back to that night, did your plan work Miss Granger? Did the Centaurs drive Umbridge away?

Hermione: Oh yes they did, but they almost killed us as well.

Reporter: Heavens! Were you scared?

Hermione: Oh goodness yes! I had no idea what to say.

Reporter: Harry?

Harry: Yeah, I was scared too.

Reporter: And what about you Ron?

Ron: Er…I wasn’t there with them.

Reporter: Oh no? where were you?

Ron: I was back in Umbridge’s office gagged and tied up on the floor.

Reporter: I see. Well, thank you three for your time.

You see what I’m talking about? If JKR stays with this theme of Ron being separated, he’ll never truly be able to share in Harry and Hermione’s experiences. H/Hr will forever be linked—especially if they succeed in taking down Voldemort. Unless JKR makes Ron a big time hero in the next two books (which would be stupid but not totally out of the question considering the whole ‘prefect’ nonsense in OotP), he’s always going to be the third wheel. Now I know what you some of you r/hr shippers are saying “Well, a tricycle has three wheels and that’s what the trio is.” That analogy doesn’t apply to the trio and I’ll explain why. On a tricycle, you usually have one big front wheel (Harry) and two supporting wheels (R/Hr). If any of the wheels break off, the tricycle collapses and ceases to function. In the above examples, when Ron broke off, H/Hr continued just fine. They were still able to peddle forward without the third wheel. What kind of tricycle only needs two wheels? Well the answer isn’t a tricycle at all, it’s a bicycle.

For those of you now saying ”Oh, but I’ve seen three wheeled bicycles.” Yeah, but on those bikes, all the wheels are equally important. That’s not the case with the trio. Though Harry is the star of the books, within them, Hermione is every bit his equal as a character and student. Even JKR has said ‘Harry needs Hermione badly’. Ron is neither the star nor equal as a character, student, in ability, etc. For those of you thinking the trio’s more like a triangle, once again it doesn’t apply. When was the last time you saw a two-sided triangle? You know what a triangle is with on side missing? A right angle.

The fact of the matter is this, in every book, JKR has continued her pattern of turning the trio of H/Hr/R into the couple of H/Hr. When presented with every opportunity to truly show off some great r/Hr or H/G moment, JKR hasn’t taken it. Now ask yourself, why? JKR has said she wants to write her characters realistically. Now in real life, when two people go through an intense emotional experience together, they usually form a bond in some way. It doesn’t necessarily always lead to romance but a bond is formed nonetheless. Just look at all H/Hr have been through. Now look at what H/R have been through. Now look at what r/Hr have been through. Now look at what H/G have been through. Doesn’t even come close does it? JKR has made Harry and Hermione so far ahead of everyone else that at this point, there is no other suitable person for them.

I’m sorry to all other shippers out there, but for true love to happen, a foundation must first be set. Ginny just truly ‘developed’ in book 5—maybe not in your personal view, but in Harry’s eyes and his view is the only one that matters. He’s never noticed Ginny before, he hasn’t gone through anything with her (Chamber doesn’t count as she was knocked out. She wasn’t awake helping him fight the Basilisk or Riddle) and he doesn’t have any type of bond or shared experience with Ginny. OotP confirms this as even after Ginny makes her comment about being possessed, Harry doesn’t go and talk to her about what she experienced or what it was like. Perfect opportunity there for some H/G bonding and it doesn’t occur.

Hermione needs an equal partner and unfortunately, Ron is not that person. In no way shape or form is he on Hermione’s level. Not in maturity, intellect or magical ability. To date Ron would be a step down for Hermione. He snaps at her for no reason (Corresponding with Krum via owl post is a crime?) and his normal attitude towards her is rude (Hermione very clearly says this in OotP). Why would a girl like Hermione—smart, beautiful and strong—want to date Ron? In every way imaginable, she exceeds him and as we see in OotP, the only thing they share is time waiting for Harry. This isn’t meant as Ron bashing, but the hard truth is that JKR has simply not written Ron that way.

Ron represents the normal kid in the trio and everyone acknowledges that. Problem is, JKR has made him so normal, he’s almost unimportant now as OotP demonstrated. Harry and Hermione are compatible. If they were to pair up in a contest against other students, there’s no one their age that can match up against them. Hell, H/Hr have even outsmarted DE’s—much less regular wizards. JKR has written the H/Hr relationship in such a way that realistically, they’ll never be satisfied with anyone else. In every way possible, it’s quite clear that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were literally made for each other

[whyohwhydoris]

I know "I'll go with you" is a movie scene, but it really does fit their relationship.

As much as Harry chooses to go in secret because he knows neither Ron nor Hermione would permit him to otherwise - in the books at least - I do think that movie line reflects so often that Hermione was his greatest supporter.

Time and again, Hermione knew exactly what was going on. She knew exactly the risks. She was scared not just in the moment, but throughout many of their adventures. She isn't some stoic hero.

Some might say the same of Ron, and there is much of that - though I think he isn't as fully clued in as Harry and Hermione much of the time. But with Hermione, she is completely aware of all the risks and all the dangers and all the possibilities. Ron is careless - not in the sense of acting carelessly, but in the sense of not looking far enough ahead.

And so, Hermione obliviated her own parents and smuggled them to the other side of the planet, packed her home up in her purse, went to a wedding, and without a second thought was committed to following Harry. And she seemed to rely on Ron for some of the strength to make that decision. But in the end, when he left Hermione stayed without an ounce of hesitation.

So often it is Hermione and Harry at the last moment - the impossible moment where after it can only ever be Harry alone. In Philosopher's Stone it is the two of them in the potion trial, and Hermione wishes she could go forward with him. In Prisoner, it is the two of them tumbling through time until the fateful moment that Harry must cast the most powerful spell we maybe ever see him conjure. In Goblet, she is with him throughout the first trial until he must actually enter the arena and face the Dragon. In Order, it is she who does all of the ground work before she pushes Harry forward to teach and lead. In Deathly Hallows, it is she and he who travel to Godric's Hollow to face death in its many guises.

And so this moment feels so natural. There is nothing she wouldn't do for him in a moment like this. Whoever else may exist in the world, she so clearly and purely loves Harry - more probably than anyone since his own mother and father.

I care not what the text says about how their lives progress - I'm not at all surprised that in the rush after they can finally live free, they turn to the easy things and have to walk the long road back to their true selves. But it was always clearly the two of them alone in their own world. From the moment she fixed his glasses through to the last of their days.

Hermione worried about Harry

[a-capricious-creative]

Oh geez here we go.

Harry does not walk all over her, he just has a temper. Hermione tolerates it because his anger is almost always valid. He doesn’t let out his anger to be dickhead, it’s called venting your emotions.

When you’ve realised Voldemort has returned, and no one is telling you anything and no one believes you and you’ve just been tortured and almost killed by Voldemort and stuck with no one but your shitty relatives your whole summer while your friends are all having fun together, a fifteen year old isn’t gonna be keeping in their emotions and remaining all calm and composed.

And it wasn’t just about the stupid firebolt, Ron had just seen his rat all bloody on his bed and Crookshanks has been tryna attack for the past few months, so naturally everyone thinks the cats killed him and Hermione continued to defend it. Given that the evidence was right in front of them, they can’t be blamed for thinking the cats killed Scabbers nor can they be blamed for being mad at Hermione continuing to defend the cat they thinks killed their rat. They don’t know about Peter yet so that doesn’t matter.

And Harry was having a very tiresome year, and Quidditch is one of the few things that brings him joy and he lost his broom in the last match due to a dementor attack. And Hermione, without even consulting Harry, tells Professor McGonagall. Well-intentioned or not, having someone meddle in your business without your permission and have the choice taken away like that would annoy anyone. Also, they’re all literally thirteen in this and he’s got this brand new amazing broom, and it gets taken away because Hermione meddled when it wasn’t her business to do so. Whether it’s for safety or not, Hermione has no right to make decisions for people. That’s literally one of her main flaws, she’s meddling and controlling. Coming from someone who grew up with controlling parents.

If Hermione had simply talked to Harry first, no one would be mad at anyone. It’s the fact that she interfered with someone else’s business. Plus he’s literally on the Quidditch team, his team relies on him, he needs to practice.

And her breaking the wand, trying to say Hermione was wrong to be apologetic - HELLO??? THEY’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR AND THE WANDMAKER HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED SO HE CAN’T GET ANOTHER ONE AND BASICALLY HAS NO MEANS OF DEFENDING HIMSELF and that wand has been by Harry’s side from the very beginning so naturally it holds sentimental value and was his only protection. So naturally Hermione is wary that Harry is angry. Because despite that it was accidental and that Hermione saved him, it is still pretty bad that Harry now doesn’t have a wand at a time like this.

Hermione knows Harry’s life is a constant cycle of trauma and loss so she knows it isn’t fair to come down on him for his anger. And Harry knows Hermione can be meddling, controlling and stubborn and he puts up with that.

It appears Hermione has more empathy as a kid than most of the older people who post about these books.

Seeing as this person is a Romione shipper, I think the bigger concern is that one needs to put down another ship to make theirs look good, you’d think a ship actually worth its salt would have enough sustenance to shine on its own.

[victorialestrange]

Hermione & Harry 🖤

maturing means realising that even tho ron might be harry's best friend, hermione is his ride or die. (i love golden trio's friendship so damn much anyway. no hate to ron!!)

[ulovepotter05]

[the-original-gays]

Ginny: You know that voice of morality and reason in your head?

Ron and Harry simultaneously: You mean the one that sounds like Hermione?

[whyohwhydoris]

The other day, I saw someone on Reddit note how Harry and Hermione use each other's wands.

It is wild to me that in the very first book - the same book where Olivander introduces us to the fated nature of Harry's wand and it being the brother wand to Voldemort's - Hermione casually takes Harry's wand to cast alohomora during their chase after the stone.

And, as reddit also pointed out, stark contrasts are drawn between the blackthorn wand that Ron gives Harry and Hermione's wand. Harry isn't noted to struggle to cast spells with Hermione's wand - he effortlessly casts a shield charm in fact. He certainly struggles with the blackthorn wand. And this is in Deathly Hallows, the other book where wand lore is presented by Olivander.

So, we have Harry commenting actively on how the blackthorn wand doesn't work well. But even before that, Ron struggled with a hand-me-down wand, and the books emphasize that wands are mercurial in a way. Harry is successful with Draco's wand because he overcame Draco. He can wield the Elder wand for a similar wand-lore reasons. Voldemort is shown using a variety of wands, but they aren't ideal and he is constantly seeking the right wand to defeat Harry.

But Harry and Hermione wield each other's wands without trouble from the get-go.

There's a few places in the books where magic is implied to signal underlying compatibility. James and Lily's patronuses are the obvious example. So it feels meaningful (though certainly unintentional) that Harry and Hermione - who have very different wands - are evidenced to use each other's wands without issue.

Particularly, it seems odd that Hermione can use Harry's wand so readily when Harry's wand is one of the most deeply magical in the series. Of all the wands we meet, the three most magically special in the series are the Elder Wand, Voldemort's, and Harry's.

So this girl who is in no way tied (other than her deep affection for Harry) to that entire deal can just use Harry's very magical wand? Really?

Just feels like another moment where the story knew what it wanted to be before it was contorted into what it became.

[soup-of-the-daisies]

“BUT ITS PLATONIC!! THEY’RE JUST BEST FRIENDS THEY’RE LIKE SIBLINGS ITS GROSS TO SHIP THEM” and they’re also in love and having filthy sex. hope this helps

[painedpen]

“The Golden Trio”?? Did you mean: “Two non functional disasters and their caretaker, Ronald Weasley”??

[ratatattouille]

so crazy how hermione literally breaks up with krum bc she can’t stand his fans and the attention he gets and doesn’t bat an eye when she gets her name smeared on countless newspapers all over the country and gets angry owls from women and girls who hate her bc they think she did harry wrong somehow. like harry’s notoriety doesn’t stop her for even a second.

harry hates his fame and hermione completely disregards it. compare with ginny who starts out as a fan girl and never gets over her limerence for harry and uses other boys to get him to notice her and kisses harry publicly, etc

the wildest thing about HPB was how i was expected to believe that bully-hater harry would laugh at ron’s expense when ginny publicly humiliated him and that fame-hater harry would fall for his first ever fangirl. ooohhh i hate it.

[lunar-skylar]

I love enemies to lovers, I really do, but friends to lovers will always have my heart and soul.

[achiepy]

deserved.

[ashdashcrash]

winter at hogsmeade ☃️✨

[cimerran-714]

The fandom likes to talk about how Ron was willing to let himself get hit by the Cruciatus curse in order to prevent Hermione from getting tortured. What happens afterwards, though, is that Romione shippers argue about how Harry hadn't done anything like that. After all, he was just asking Ron to shut up.

This, they claim, is evidence that Ron cares more about Hermione than Harry does. Or that Harry doesn't care about her at all.

I do think what Ron did here is very admirable, and there's absolutely nothing to critique about that. What I hate is how it turns into Harry bashing to justify shipping Romione.

First, it's important to keep in mind that Harry's comparatively more level-headed than Ron is. He's not as emotional & he rarely displays them openly (and when he does, it's in Hermione's presence, but that's something for another post).

As Harry wanted to figure out a way from the problem, he was getting disturbed by Ron screaming, which was affected his. concentration. Unlike Ron, who was reacting emotionally, Harry wanted to think about whether they would be able to escape the place. That's why he was asking him to shut up.

And that's a good thing. When you are in trouble and someone you like is getting tortured, you attempt to try and escape instead of getting carried away by your emotions.

To try and spin Harry trying to save Hermione into "he doesn't care about her" is a flat-out lie.

Honestly, if I were Harry, I'd be pretty pissed as well. Just look at it:

"HERMIONE!” Ron bellowed, and he started to writhe and struggle against the ropes tying them together, so that Harry stag- gered. “HERMIONE!” “Be quiet!” Harry said. “Shut up. Ron, we need to work out a way—“ “HERMIONE! HERMIONE!” “We need a plan, stop yelling—we need to get these ropes off—"

Harry wants to get the bindings off and work out a way. He wants to save Hermione, instead of just screaming to the void.

If even more evidence were needed:

Hermione was screaming again: The sound went through Harry like physical pain. Barely conscious of the fierce prickling of his scar, he too started to run around the cellar, feeling the walls for he hardly knew what, knowing in his heart that it was useless.

Her screaming "went through Harry like physical pain". And, also notice how he was "barely conscious of the prickling on his scar".

He's only done that once before, and that was when he was thinking about Sirius.

His love for Hermione is so powerful that he was able to block Voldemort out of his mind.

[iamnmbr3]

i like how book 7 had so much fan service for ships JKR hates and it was basically all by accident

lunarry: luna can recognize harry even when he's disguised as someone else with polyjuice and in the end she's the one who gives harry the strength to cast a patronus and who he sits near after the battle

drarry: harry and draco risk their lives for each other repeatedly and harry defeats voldemort with draco's wand which feels "friendly" in his hand and works better than any other wand for him

tomarrymort: voldemort and harry are canonically literal soulmates with a soulbond

harmione: ron leaves and harry and hermione stay alone together in a tent and hermione is the only person harry shares his feelings with

it's like she's cursed to constantly create A+ content for pairings that she despises