Originally posted on Kiki and Tea February 4th, 2014
Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t read all the Harry Potter books or watched all the movies, you may want to skip this post.
Over the weekend an interview was released where JK Rowling said making Ron & Hermione a couple wasn’t the best choice.
I was involved in the Harry Potter fandom for a number of years, and even wrote my share of fan fics about the series. Over the years, so many people have protested that Harry and Hermione made the most sense as a couple. Most of these arguments surrounded Ron’s immaturity.
Logically speaking, I could understand their point, even if I didn’t agree with it.
Harry & Hermione? It’s Ron & Hermione For Me.
But you know who’s not logical?
Teenagers.
Teenagers have newly discovered hormones. They are testing the limits of decision making, and (hopefully) learning from mistakes. Even when you’re being attacked by Voldemort at final exam time each year, you still have hormones.
To me, Ron & Hermione are the perfect teenage relationship. Especially in Goblet of Fire. Yes, it was immature. It was even kind of irritating. But you know what? That’s how I remember relationships in high school. And by “relationships” I mean that giant knot of nerves you work yourself up into just to talk to or walk past a guy you’ve decided you like.
It’s lame & it’s immature. It’s also a part of growing up. An adult filter of what a good relationship is shouldn’t apply to teenagers.
So, despite the hormones & general teenager behaviour, should Ron & Hermione have ended up together?
Well, as the books progressed, all of the characters matured.
In Deathly Hallows, what some people see as Ron’s final act of immaturity happens: when he runs away while they’re searching for Horcruxes. I don’t really know if this is immaturity in the same sense as the rest of the book. It’s youth, and being unable to deal with the highly stressful situation of being on the run & separated from a large & loving family. It’s a reaction to extreme isolation.
The other key thing to remember here is that the books are told from the perspective of an outsider. Harry is not a local to the wizarding world. He did not grow up in that culture. Neither is Hermione. For different reasons, they both have the ability to separate themselves from their families and concentrate on the Horcrux search. Ron had so many ties to the wizarding community that he simply can’t break himself from them in the way he needs to.
So Ron creates an additional layer of isolation by leaving, which gives him perspective. I view this act as a personal growth step, especially given his quick desire to return to Harry and Hermione.
Hermione needs the balance that Ron gives her. She needs to be reminded to have fun. As close as Harry and Hermione were as school friends, I always feel Harry never had a chance to develop or decide who he was because of Voldemort hanging over his head. And I think Harry would be happier with Ginny because you still get that “young love” but Ginny was always her own person, and I think she would be secure enough to let Harry find himself post-Deathly Hallows.
One more thing about Ron & Hermione’s relationship: it would never be boring. Each of them would keep the other on their toes.
I’m eagerly awaiting the full text of the interview to see the full context, and of course to see what else is revealed about this much-loved world! But for now, I’m still firmly in the Ron & Hermione camp.
Which couple was your preference in Harry Potter? Did you change your mind as the books went on?
It’s a while since I’ve read the books and I haven’t read them all but it was always Hermione and Ron for me too, it’s like they’re destined to be together! I like that alliteration of Hazza and Hermione but together but that’s as far as my like goes in that relationship!
My daughter read and read and then read again the series of Harry Potter. Watched every movie and then watched them again. She LURVES it. I am not so much of a fan. I like the first book but then I got a little bored and watched the movies. #teamIBOT
Agree with everything you wrote 100%. I think Ron definitely matures in the last parts of the series. I love the two couples the way they are- especially Harry and Ginny as I think he needs hermione as a friend for life and leaves the romance firmly outside their friendship.
I might disappoint you here when I tell you I never really got the hype surrounding Harry Potter. It’s just didn’t captivate my interest. My children did though and from what I have seen I totally agree with you.
Oh dear. I only ever saw the first movie and then all interest waned. I know it was/is a huge thing and so many people use the Harry Potter series and JK Rowling’s work as being life-changing. Your words here did not mean much to me but you do seem to be an expert and I take my hat off to you. I think fictional passions are amazing and that we can see parallels in life even more so. D x
I’ve got to say, I’m with Nicole! I’ve not read any Harry Potter at all. But, for what it’s worth, the names Harry and Hermione make a better sounding match! #teamIBOT
I am totally with you on this. I actually liked the way it was done, and yes, Ron was annoying, but so was Harry and Hermione, as you say, they were teenagers, they felt & acted irrationally based on hormones, just like every teenager in the history of teenagers, and I think Harry & Hermione would have been way too boring for each other eventually. Hermione needed someone she could not only look after, but that could make her laugh and that needed her as much as she needed someone, and I don’t think Harry was like that. Harry & Ginny were definitely much better suited and I think that Ron & Hermione mirrored Ron’s parents in many ways.