Ron and Hermione's Relationship

By Nina T.H.

    Okay.. Today I'm analyzing the possible couple Ron & Hermione (obviously). It's probably the most "popular" possible couple in the Harry Potter books and the opinions are many. I think they have a really good chance and are "meant to be", but today I'm looking at the situation from many different angles!

    As mentioned before, I think they will get together. I did not just get this idea out of the blue, no; I have evidence!! Let's start with The Goblet of Fire: When Ron found out that Hermione had a date for the Yule Ball, he got angry. Of course, he could see Hermione as his little sister, and therefore don't want her to date at all. This on the other hand, wouldn't make much sense since he suggested that Ginny could go with Harry. Then, he desperately tried to find out who Hermione was going with. Sure, she's his friend, he'd be curios, right? Well, I think he was a bit tooooo enthusiastic. I mean, Harry really didn't care that much did he? And at the Yule Ball, when Ron found out about Krum, he was, well, even more angry (cough*jealous*cough). Ron's behaviour in GoF is pretty much the same towards Hermione all the way to summer vacations. There are also many more specific clues like; Harry finds one of Krum's (Ron's action figure) arms under his bed. Little things like that also tend to "pop up" in GoF. But then, after the summer, it seems as if everything's back to normal. At least for a while… It would take a long time for me to sum up every little clue, especially if I comment all of them. So, I'll only take on a few: Ron asks Harry: "Are you that bad at kissing?" Harry answers: "I don't know" Hermione adds: "Of course your not!" "How do you know?" Ron asks sharply. This has two very possible meanings: 1. Ron doesn't think before he speaks and just automatically ask the question. He has a crush on Hermione and wouldn't want her to go around kissing Harry (or anyone else for that matter). I think, however, he realized how stupid the idea of Harry and Hermione kissing each other was, seconds later. 2. If you thought for a second that your two best friends had been kissing, you'd probably be pretty shocked right?

    Ron cricks his neck because he turns it to fast when Hermione mentions Krum, and when she leaves the room, Ron asks Harry: "What does she see in Krum?" This on the other hand has, as far as I can see, only one explanation: Ron is jealous!

    Ron looks puzzled when Hermione KISSES him on the cheek. I think this is one of "the key moments" in their way to a romance, so I'll get back to it later.

    Ron gives Hermione PERFUME for Christmas. This also has two meanings, but one is (in my opinion) more possible than the other: 1. Ron gives her perfume because he's trying to show her how he feels. 2. Well, I've got perfume from my girlfriends for Christmas. There's no rule that says "you can't give a girl perfume without being in love with her", but then again, Ron is a boy, and they have different rules…

    Okay.. Now that we have looked at some of the clues, I can start going over the possibilities. They will not get together Looking over the clues, it looks like this is very unlikely. But, since I have to be fair to those who believe this, I'll look over some possibilities. I think we can all agree that Ron likes Hermione (if you don't, explain to me why here), but maybe she doesn't like him and then the relationship obviously won't work. It could also be that Ron's crush is… well… only a crush. It could just pass before anything gets done. Hermione could also be involved with Krum and therefore she can't be involved with Ron. There aren't many clues to back up any of these theories, but hey, maybe we'll be surprised...

    They will get together This is the possibility I find more likely than any other, and the clues agree with me. Ron likes Hermione, Hermione likes Ron.. J. K. Rowling basically sets it straight in every online interview she does. Here are a few of her comments to back me up: Question: Is it just me, or was something going on between Ron and Hermione during the last half of Goblet of Fire? Answer: Yes, something's "going on," but Ron doesn't realize it yet. Typical boy.

    Harry and Hermione are very platonic friends. But I won't answer for anyone else. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

    As you can see Rowling is (in both books an chats) hinting strongly to a Ron-Hermione relationship…

    If they do get together, will they break up?` Well, since we haven't seen them as a couple yet, this is kind of hard to predict. They do argue a lot, but enough to break up? I don't know. But I think that since their relationship would be based on a very strong friendship, they have a really good chance of succeeding. This is of course just my opinion, but basically I'm only guessing.

    They are already together It has come to me that a lot of people think that they are already together. Well, I'm neither against or with this theory.. It just confuses me actually, because there are many things that supports this strongly (the perfume), but also so many things that's breaking the theory down (When Ron asks Harry what Hermione sees in Krum). On one hand, this seems very reasonable, but on the other, very unlikely.. I am however, leaning mostly against the last possibility, but I can't explain why. I need help here!

    The situation right now Okay.. This is a headline you'll see in basically everyone of my future articles. Here I will only use my opinion about the possible couple's situation so far.

    I think Ron has had a crush on Hermione since the middle of GoF. I also think that Hermione knows this very well. This is why I think so:

He climbed into the common room and found Ron and Hermione having a blazing row. Standing ten feet apart, they were bellowing at each other, each scarlet in the face. "Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?" yelled Hermione; her hair was coming down out of it's elegant bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger. "Oh yeah?" Ron yelled back. "What's that?" "Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!" Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls' staircase to bed. Ron turned to look at Harry. "Well," he sputtered, looking thunderstruck, "well -- that just proves -- completely missed the point --"

The underlined part shows that in some way Hermione knew Ron wanted to ask her. Apart from the places Hermione gets angry when Ron gets all fuzzy when he sees Fleur, this is one of the few clues that shows that Hermione likes Ron. So, I think she knows, but wants him to say it to her face (It's a girl thing). And as J. K. said "he just doesn't realize it yet", well I think he does know… This is where we go back to the kiss. When Hermione kissed him he looked puzzled, which means confused, surprised or shocked. I think that this is where he realized that he is in love with Hermione. Think about it… I've read the book a dozen times and it becomes more obvious every time: Ron's behaviour towards Hermione changes after the kiss. I can't explain how, but the mood between them just… changes. Is it just me or what? Now the question is why the mood changes: Is it because Ron is now aware of his feelings and acts nicer, or is it because he told her how he felt and they're now a couple? Well, That's something for all of you to speculate on.

    Any questions, comments or complaints? Please mail me and let me know (in a civilized way).. Hope you enjoyed!! I'll hopefully "see" you all in my next article.

P.S: Still not sure what to believe? Check out this question from a JKR interview: Question: Does Hermione like Ron as more than a friend? Rowling: The answer lies in the Goblet of Fire…

So keep on reading folkz ;)