06.07.06
Shipping
Today I’m going to talk about something I almost never talk about. Shipping. I try to avoid shipping discussions for a couple of reasons. One, I actually don’t care that much. Some people in the Harry Potter fandom seem to be obsessed with who Harry, Ron and Hermione date, and to me, such things are the furthest from the point of the story as can be. Of course the reason is probably that I’m a 26 year old adult, while many HP fans are adolescents. When I was 15, I too was preoccupied with who everyone I knew was dating. The second reason I usually avoid shipping discussions is because I’ve seen them devolve into some pretty nasty arguments. People seem to get pretty wound up about this stuff. But despite that, I’m going to open up the floor on the issue anyways.
Since Half-Blood Prince, I think it’s apparent to everybody who is going to end up with whom, provided nobody dies. At this point, it’s pretty clear that it’s Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione. Yes, I know there are lots of other characters to ship, but somehow I don’t think Rowling is going to deal with the romantic lives of every character in the series.
Let me say first that I never considered Harry/Hermione as a possible couple even before book 4 when it became a bit more apparent that Hermione was in fact Ron’s romantic interest. To me, there couldn’t be anyone more unsuited for each other than Harry and Hermione. Hermione is a bossy know-it-all and Harry is a kid with a quick temper who tends to resent and/or distrust authority. See the problem? You can already see it. Hermione is constantly telling Harry what to do. Harry takes it in silent anger until Hermione says something that pushes his last button, at which point he usually loses it and tells her where to go in no uncertain terms. Most of CAPS LOCK! Harry is directed at Hermione. At which point Hermione, who seems a bit frightened of Harry’s temper, either cries or sulks. Not really a good pattern for a lasting relationship.
To me, Ron/Hermione definitely makes a bit more sense. Yes, they have their share of arguments, but if you look closely, it seems that they actually like arguing with each other. Hermione likes it because she likes to argue and be right (and let’s face it, in an arguement with Ron she’ll always win), and Ron likes it because he appears to get some sort of kick out of getting her all worked up. I think everybody has known a couple who were actually like this.
But where does that leave Harry? Well, with Ginny, I guess. But to be honest, I never really considered Harry/Ginny possible couple material until the very end of book 5, when Ron advises Ginny to choose a better boyfriend and then looks pointedly at Harry. That foreshadowing was just too glaring to miss. I admit I winced when I read that line; Rowling must have been tired at that point, so she decided to do her job with a sledgehammer instead of a chisel. Anyways, my point is that until Rowling came out and said Harry/Ginny, I didn’t really consider it. And it’s not because I don’t like Ginny, or that I don’t think she and Harry are well-matched. In fact, the problem is that I don’t feel that Rowling developed Ginny enough as a character for me or anyone else to make such an assessment either way. Ginny was basically a mute for the first four books. Only in five did she really begin talking, especially to Harry. But it might be that Harry is more the problem here. Even when Ginny did start talking to him, Harry appears to have zero reaction whatsoever to her. Of course he was sort of wrapped up in Voldemort and his bizarrely dysfunctional relationship with Cho Chang, but it seems to me that he should have started to become at least marginally more aware of Ginny as a girl and a person before promptly falling in love with her in book 6. Even if he had thought to himself in book 5 that she was getting kind of cute or something, that would have set up some foundation for his sudden overpowering attraction to her in HBP. As it was, he seemed to go from caring less about Ginny Weasley in book 5 to omg!, how I lurve that red-headed gal in book 6. It just seemed a bit sudden. I’m not opposed to it really, I just think Rowling could have handled it better.
So who did I think Harry was going to end up with? Well, to tell the truth, when Luna Lovegood showed up on the scene in the beginning of book 5, and there was the whole thing with the thestrals, I thought that maybe she was it, the girl for Harry. They seemed to share something that he’d been unable to share with his other friends, a sense of personal loss. I guess, though, that she probably is just a little too flaky for Harry’s taste. Especially for a kid who all his life has just wanted to fit in and be “normal”, at least by wizarding standards.
So fess up, fellow Potter fans. Who do you think would be the perfect couple and why?
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libs said,
June 8, 2006 at 8:52 am
well, not many people think so, but i would really like Draco and Ginny….
, loadsd of people have disagreed with my opinion, but i always found them a really interesting couple, dout they’re going to be together, but from all the fanfics ive read, they’re a cute couple.
libs
Tiffany said,
June 9, 2006 at 4:36 am
I love Harry/Hermione. First reason being it’s not an Emotionally Abuse Realationship like Ron and Hermione have, and it’s sad if you can’t see it. Second until the 6th book when Hermione because a character out of a bad fanfiction she always remind me of one of my best friends Melissa, and Melissa would never let someone push her around like Ron pushs around Hermione, and Melissa is always going for the strong, smart(but never smarter than her) Guys, and she would never go for someone as moronic as Ron, but she would go for someone as sweet as Harry. In a way I always looked at Hermione/Harry the way I would look at Melissa anf her Relationship.
Ron belittles Hermione, is always extremely jealous, fighting, never listen to anyone but himself, etc. The fact it’s not a good base for a realtionship for anyone. I know my mother has been many relationships that are like that, which is called emotional abuse, and you may think that’s cute but it’s really not. Espeically due to the fact that most of them turn physical. It’s obivous that Ron like Hermione by his 2nd grade act, and his jealously, but until ooc Hermione comes in the 6th book you never know that Hermione likes Ron.
Hermione and Ron both would have to change alot to beable to be in a relationship together, but if you put Hermione and Harry together than you wouldn’t have to change them. Yes Hermione is bossy, but someone has to keep Harry inline. Yes Harry has a Temper but most people do, and he just need to control his.
I take everything that I know from life and apply it everywhere and that includes shipping, I suppose not everyone has the life that I have though.
~Tiffany
RavenclawWit said,
June 10, 2006 at 8:38 am
Tiffany,
You are certainly passionate about your ship. I don’t agree with your assessments but I respect your right to your own opinions on the matter. For instance, I would never say that it’s “sad” that you can’t understand Ron/Hermione.
In point of fact, you may be letting your personal life experiences bias your perception of Ron and Hermione’s relationship. I know that it can be painful to watch someone you love in an emotionally abusive relationship. However, I fail to see how Ron and Hermione’s relationship is emotionally abusive. They are both young and immature and sometimes say things that hurt each other’s feelings, but that’s not emotional abuse, that’s human. They actually remind me a lot of a married couple I know. Their relationship isn’t abusive and because they are in their late 20’s, they are more mature than Ron and Hermione, but they still bicker and argue the way that Ron/Hermione do, because they like to.
Real emotional abuse is a serious problem, but just because people argue doesn’t mean the relationship is emotionally abusive. For more information, see this list of the signs of emotional abuse. If you read it, I think you’ll see Ron does not really fit the bill of an emotional abuser.
By the way, I was not implying that Harry is emotionally abusive towards Hermione either. I was just saying that I think their temperaments are too different to make a lasting relationship.
Alex said,
June 21, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Just finished the 6th book and was really happy for H/G, but sad about the ending. I hope they get back together.
RavenclawWit said,
June 21, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Alex,
I’m almost 100% positive that Harry and Ginny will get back together, once Voldemort is dead. I think honestly that Rowling had them break-up at the end of book 6 for two reasons, one, it’s in character for Harry to deny himself for the protection of others. Breaking up with Ginny to protect her is just a “Harry” thing to do. Two, I think in book 7 Rowling is going to be concentrating on the horcruxes and the showdown with the remaining death eaters and Voldemort, and she didn’t want to have to deal with Harry’s love life while she’s doing it.
libs said,
June 26, 2006 at 8:39 am
i would like ron and hermione to be together, i will be sad if they’re not, i would also love ginny and harry to get back together, despite my favourite match ginny/draco, that won’t happen. also do you know when the 7th book is comming out? thanks libs
RavenclawWit said,
June 26, 2006 at 1:52 pm
libs,
This is a complete guess, but most people are speculating that book 7 will be out sometime in Summer 2007. Some have even theorized that it may be released on July, 7, 2007, given the importance of the number 7 in the book (Voldemort’s soul is in 7 pieces, Harry born in the seventh month, Ginny the seventh child of the Weasley’s, etc.). However, I kind of doubt that the book will be released in July at all. The Order of the Phoenix movie is coming out on July 13, 2007, and I don’t think they’d want to release the book and movie quite so close together. My guess is that they’ll release the book in June or maybe even wait until the fall. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind if they put it off just a bit. I don’t want Harry Potter to end!
Michael said,
June 26, 2006 at 4:14 pm
I thought it would be Neville and Luna, but JK seems to have put an end to that rumor. Ron and Hermione definately, but Harry and Ginny seems to be a tossup… Since he broke up with her maybe he will find a new love in year 7… maybe Luna.
As to the release date, I dont know… You are talking MAJOR free publicity at that point. I could see them coming out close together… Plus, I don’t think Scholastic and WB are owned by the same company (could be wrong and am being lazy and not googling) so really one could not control the release date.
kate said,
June 28, 2006 at 10:58 am
Ok, i was really really sad when Harry broke up with Ginny. I think they were a great couple, because they both have so much passion and are so alike. I think he really loved HER, because he broke up with her for her own safety. (I HATE that!!!! LOL) I think, though, that Rowling could have developed Ginny’s character more sooner in the series. I really would have enjoyed reading that!
I think Ron and Hermione would fight WAY too much, but who knows, maybe if they were in a romance relationship that would change a little.
I hope Harry doesn’t get killed off. I cried with the whole Sirius thing, and Harry Potter would be worse!!!!!
RavenclawWit said,
June 28, 2006 at 7:23 pm
kate,
I do think Harry and Ginny make a cute couple but like you say, Rowling should have developed Ginny’s character more and should have had Harry become aware of her earlier.
I too hope that Harry doesn’t die. I’d be very disappointed. The self-sacrifice angle works for some stories, but I don’t think it’s necessary in this one.
Mind at Large said,
July 4, 2006 at 7:29 am
It was obvious to me from the moment that Ginny met Harry that she had the hots for him- I can’t believe you all missed it!
Alex said,
July 4, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Uhh…. we didnt miss it. Jk says outright that Ginny likes Harry, but Harry doesnt start looking at her as more than rons little sis till book 6.
Elena Heavenor said,
July 6, 2006 at 2:00 pm
I thought Ron and Hermione were an excellent couple. They in fact, have passion. They trust eachother enough to argue with eachother even though they may hurt eachother. There will always be conflict in a relationship. And .. Harry. Well I agree with you there, Hermione would end up deciding what Harry can and can’t do. Which, he obviously wouldn’t be able to handle. I find him a bit childish and immature, which Hermione isn’t. In some cases this can balance out but this one I don’t think could only because it would clash too much and no one likes to be bossed around anyways.
Harry and Ginny sort of confused me. He always acted as if she was just some kid, not to be bothered with. He never once showed any reaction to her. So that definately bothered me. But, since she acted younger than him, it’s a possibility that it works because he is able to act a little more mature.
I also do not understand why there had to be relationships anyways.. Some people are perfectly happy single. And I don’t think Harry was ready for any sort of relationship.
Mark said,
July 6, 2006 at 7:23 pm
I think that Harry will either die defeating Voldemort, or that he will end up with Ginny. When Harry kissed Ginny, there was some sort of electricity between them, you could sense it while you were reading. I also believe that Hermione and Ron is a given, just because of the tension becoming less and less between them lately, and clues that JK gives us when they are together. For example, in movie number 4 (i think?) while Harry is competing in the Triwizard tournament, Hermione becomes scared and grabs ron’s hand. Could that be froesahdow? As for who dies, well, Voldemort is a given, and i think that the two unexpected deaths will be either Hagrid, Neville, One of Ron’s brothers, McGonnagell, Lupin or perhaps Ron’s parents? Any wizard or witch is also a possibility. I also belive she will allow either Snape or malfoy to survive. However, I do not think that Snape and Dumbledore planned Dumbledore’s death. I think this because of the shear terror and hopefulness in Dumbledore’s voice as he says “Please severus.” i just can’t see that, but, that’s just my opinion.
P.S. I have a question, does anyone know who’s intials were in the locket Horcrux that Harry and Dumbledore found? I also wonder where the other horcrux’s are? Possibly Hufflepuffs ornament? or Ravenclaws?
Please reply, Thanks
Mark
harrypotter_lover35 said,
July 6, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Well, I inderstand that you all have your own..ummm…’versions’ of how the novel should go. I really like that shipping has been brought up. I have always wanted Harry/Hermione to get together, but after reading the HBP I knew that may not be possible, but I still have a lot of evidence on my ‘version’ of the novel. I thought about the comment on Harry/Ginny(which I never liked) coming back together after Voldemort dies, how do we know he is going to die, more-so, Harry.He might have to sacrafice his life for Hermione or Ginny. But it was obvious about when Ginny met Harry… just a little hint. But if Ron/Hermione get together(which I don’t support) things will have to change, like they will have no more fights ..at least as much as they used to.If anybody recalls in book 6,Harry was worried that if they did end up together that he might be left out,I don’t think the author would want that to happen.But there are many ships that can be together(init. I will think about all your comments and make my mind up!!
Charlotte said,
July 7, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Perfect couples?
I’d say Harry & Ginny and Ron & Hermione. Harry and Ginny remind me of James and Lily Potter who were obviously meant to be. Ron and Hermione… they act like an old married couple since they met each other… so yes, I’d say they could get married and live a happy life together (if JKR doesn’t plan to kill them off in the 7th book).
But there’s always Hagrid & Madame Maxime who are a rather amusing couple. Then there’s Filtch (the caretaker) and Madam Pince (the librarian). Who I also find pretty amusing. And there’s Remus and Tonks who I really think should be together. It took me as a big suprise though at the end of HBP when Tonks said she loved Remus, despite all the clues we had throughout the book. Also, there’s Bill and Fleur who really makes me want to laugh because they act so mushy in love that it’s almost sickening in a halarious sort of way. And last, there’s Draco and Mytle who’s relationship we were introduced to in HPB. Mytle seems like she’s the only one who can truly understand Draco’s feelings. But I don’t think their relationship could last as a romantic one unless Draco gets killed and becomes a ghost, (which I’m pretty sure would scar the lives of Draco fans)… though there’s also the Draco and Pancy pairing, though I don’t think that could work out either.
Snowy-owl said,
July 24, 2006 at 6:06 am
I am a fan of H/HR as long and long ago! In my opinion, Hermione is always mean to be with Harry. it’s Hermione is Lilly for me. She is very intelligent and properly the most in her school, this match with HERMIONE. She always stand up to stop Harry get trouble with the Malfoys and all that suff just like the way Lilly did for James in HP5! And J/L ends up in the 7th years. Hermione is the one and ONLY one who and sstop Harry’s furious, is the one who stop him do stupid things to get him in danger! IS THE ONE who always be there with him from book 1 to 6, who is with him in the second last test to touch the Stone in HP1, who help him to find out about the sneak, who is the only one with him to go back in time and EVERYTHING, that I am sure u can see that is show up how much important Hermione needed for Harry for FULL OF HIS LIFE! She sacrified herself for him and forever like that! I waiting for the date between them in 7th book just like James and LIlly!
leena_guer said,
July 30, 2006 at 3:30 am
snowy owl you rule!!!
i totally agree with you
i couldn’t care less about hermione/ron… it’s just pure nonsense
hermione has been there for harry.. in every single book until the end..
i have a theory about pairs and odd numbers…concerning books
i mean in books 1, 3 and 5… h/hr is way more obvious than in books 2,4 and 6… 1(at the end with the philosopher stone) 3 (riding buckbeak together to save siruis) 5 (grawp time and in the department of misteries)
and what about 7!!! OH YEAH AN ODD NUMBER!!
HARRY AND HERMIONE FOREVER
sara said,
August 8, 2006 at 7:52 am
only what i want to say that i totally agree with you and i support harrys\ginnys and ron\hermione ship veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeryyyyyyyyyyyy much and only what i wish that j.k.r wont kill any one of them because this would be a very awfel end.
xoxoxoxo said,
August 15, 2006 at 6:56 pm
well i think that hermione and harry should end up together… they make such a cute couple!!!
Billy said,
August 20, 2006 at 1:13 pm
well, i think that harry/hermonie will hook up together , i have many reasons for this, like harry’s dad was a half blood and it was harry’s mother which was a mudblood . again i think harry hermonie make a good couple beceause like hermonie , she has the knowledge and the brain and harry who is brave and hero kind of. if harry defeats voldemort , harry’s scar will vanish and in the end he will marry hermonie.
Billy said,
August 20, 2006 at 1:20 pm
The Reasons
Well duh! Because its meant to be. Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek in fourth book. Their names start on H that’s gotta mean something! Because its true love. It’s friggin destiny! Because the hero always get the girl. Not the Hero’s friend! *cough cough* Ron *cough cough* Because the hero needs a heroine and Harry needs Hermione badly. Harry & Hermione never fight like Ron and Hermione do. The way Harry looked at Hermione at the Yule Ball ; even though he had a crush on Cho Chang, he thought Hermione looked astonishing. They both have Muggle blood in them & that made them a match made in HEAVEN!!! Because a child of theirs would knock the wizarding word on it’s ass! Think about it a kid with Harry’s power and Hermione’s brains… I wouldn’t wanna mess with them. Hermione pays so much attention to Harry. In some odd way Hermione knows more about Harry than he does. Because Hermione always tells Harry to be careful. *Why wouldn’t she* Harry is growing with her by his side, and they are sharing so many important things.
The best friend makes the best lover. But it wouldn’t work with Ron and Hermione. Because Hermione writes about Harry in the letters to Ron. *we did not know that!* Harry never ?improves? Hermione like Ron does. Harry and Hermione never had a terrible dispute. Hermione stayed with Harry and believed him when no one else would. Because they are loyal to each other. Hermione seems to touch Harry at every possible occasion, never Ron. She hugged him, she grabbed his arm so many times, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, and finally she kissed him!!!Hermione Granger is H.G: Harry?s Girl.
mary said,
October 5, 2006 at 7:18 am
i don’t know why some people think that ron/hermione is wrong?harry and hermione are like brother and sister,but ron and hermione are totally made 4 eachother…..i thought many people figured it out in book 6 but isee that there are some people that still think about harry/hermione.besides in most of the stories, i can see that hero doesn’t need a girl,hero is hero to be hero .that is my opinion ofcourse.i hope it end up good.
mary said,
October 5, 2006 at 7:24 am
by the way i really amire ravenclawwit and i’m completely agree with her/him
ekkostar said,
December 9, 2006 at 4:50 pm
I’m posting many months later, but I agree that shipping really is a waste of time and energy.
I don’t support any ship in any fandom because they’re all dumb. Especially the slash ones.
bhavna said,
December 30, 2006 at 1:52 am
i would really like harry/hermonie,draco/ginny,cedric/cho,and so on
syang9 said,
March 16, 2007 at 5:31 am
Harry and Mione 4eva. They fit perfectly….But Ron?????????????*coughs* I don’t think so…
sari_malfoy said,
May 31, 2007 at 1:26 pm
This thread was started so long ago that I don’t know if anyone will ever read my take on it, but reading everything above this, I had to comment.
My first ship was Hermione/Draco. Never canon, yea, but I can live with it. Especially in hindsight I realize that the biggest reason my ship was/is dramione was that the canon-ship Ron/Hermione fanfic-wise is quite boring, fluffy and adolescent. Even then I said my fanfic ship is Dramione but what comes to the books, it’s Ron/Hermione.
Everything about Harry Potter-ships depends on interpretation and embellishments of the chosen facts. In Dramione fanfics Ron is portrayed as really really thick and unlikeable for various reasons. Very often fanfics claim Ron doesn’t even see Hermione as a girl at all -something that the books heavily prove otherwise from the start. While I can agree to some extent, that Ron being quite a hot-head with a dangerous inferiority complex, could potentially (if a bit unlikely) lead to some sort of unhealthy realtionship pattern (even spousal abuse), I think the mere age-factor means that everything read in the books should be taken in with some grain of salt. Ron IS a hot-head, he has hurt Hermione’s feelings many times (usually after he has felt hurt by Hermione; like in the case of supposed Felix Felicis use) but I don’t see canonRon as his purest to ever attack Hermione in a fit of rage. If he was prone to, he already would have. In fact, the fits of rage he has gone through in the books (and movies) have always been FOR Hermione, against Draco or Professor Snape etc.
As for Harry/Hermione, yea…I have to agree with RavenclawWit that Harry really does detest authority and the rules, and having sucha temper I could picture HIM attacking Hermione in a relationship a lot better than Ron. Harry does NOT like being told what to do, being told he is wrong, being told…well, practically anything. Ginny is (like Rowling has stated) the only one to get away with that, really, and Ginny having her own experience with Tom Riddle/Voldemort she can stand her ground better. Plus,Ginny isn’t so fixated on the rules, as she shares so many personality traits with the twins. Most of the Harmony fics I’ve read have diminished Hermione’s bossyness/know-it-all-traits greatly (even the ones still happening in Hogwarts) and made her more gentle and understanding, the silent woman behind the great man…even a bit opinionless.
As for real life relationships, of course couples argue. In my personal experience I’ve found that NOT arguing (and letting it fester perhaps YEARS and turn into passive aggressiveness or even worse, killing all the positive feelings beyond repair) is often worse for a relationship. Arguing does not have to mean screaming their heads off without listening to what the other one is saying.
There’s my two cents.
molly said,
June 8, 2007 at 11:50 am
In shipping you must keep fanon and canon separate. Fanon is what you want to happen, canon is what will happen. If you think that Harry and Snape getting together is a good idea - that is fanon. Knowing that Ron and Hermione get together is canon.
coolie said,
June 30, 2007 at 10:04 pm
I agree 100% with you. I felt, as though Harry and Ginny’s relationship just appeared out of thin air, Harry never acknowledged Ginny until HBP. I just found it weird, with the Harry and Cho relationship we knew Harry had a crush and she possibly may have too since Book 3. I also thought the idea of paralleling Lily and James Potter with Ginny and Harry is well kind of lame. Ginny doesn’t have the same charm Lily has to me. I still need some time to warm up to them; maybe I can in Book 7. I also thought Harry and Luna were the ones who would be a couple. They seemed to have many similarities and Luna was the only one who could relate to Harry when it came to personal loss. She also heard the voices behind the veil and always stands up for what she believes in, like Harry. Even though Harry seemed a bit put off by Luna, I thought he would warm up to her.
As for Ron and Hermione, I like them as a couple. They enjoy fighting amongst themselves, which I find entertaining and Ron’s humorous and laid back attitude loosens Hermione up a bit, she can be a bit uptight at times. But I enjoyed your commentary.
Linda said,
January 19, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Coming late to the party here but I just read this and I did enjoy it.
I do disagree with you though a bit. When I was reading OoTP … I was like wow Harry’s really becoming aware of Ginny. He always seemed to be aware of her in the room and was always describing her in a very positive way. He acknowledged her so much in that book and then when she was the one stood up to his anger every time and she tried to reunite him with Sirius instead of seperating him from Sirius. And since PoA they’ve always had these moments where you can see they have the same sense of humour and enjoy the same things and I always found that to be a very important thing. I confess I never once considered Luna as a possible love interest because I wasn’t and still am not too impressed with her character, she still seems rather cartoonish to me and I find the idea of her being introduced just to be a love interest to be very lame, and that I found Ginny and Harry’s connection of being able to relate to being possessed by Voldermort to be far more important of being able to relate to personal loss. Yes, till that time it was only Luna from his friends who had lost someone but I just found it more important that he knew of one other person who was possessed by Voldermort at a very young age and who tried to cope with it and survived.
I liked that he just enjoyed her company so much and started noticing her more and more and when she refused his company he still didn’t get why he was annoyed. I though JKR did it very well .. Harry had a crush on Cho for a few books and it didn’t work. Ginny, once he got to know her, he just fell for and didn’t realize it till it was shoved in his face.
Ron/Hermione — I don’t really like it. I used to when I first started shipping but I am rather meh on them now. I do agree that they can be very good for each other though, they balance each other out.