Seething sarcasm... I LOVE IT!!!

I never really saw the point in having everyone related to the Weasleys. Why don't they just rename all the books "Ronald Weasley and..." or "The Weasleys and..."? Clearly, they are not the focus of the story - Harry is - and so they mustn't be the centre of all the relationships; it, to put it plainly, just doesn't make sense. And the whole bickering being cute... not floating my boat. More like annoying.

Krum will definitely be the downfall of Ron and Hermione. It's kind of interesting how you can piece this all together just from the scant information we've been given. Why else would J. K. Rowling include him (and announce it, on top of everything) unless he was important to the overall plot in some way? We know that Karkaroff is dead, so he cannot be called back for something relating to that (unless that was vitally important?! which I don't think...), which leads us to reason that he has some bigger role to play. Even as a mentor to Harry to teach him Dark Arts or defences will put him in the general vicinity of the other two, and he is liable to cause trouble. Besides, Fluer is bound to invite him to the wedding anyway... (how ironic would that be if there was a separation on the wedding day?)

I love Harry Potter.

Thank you, thank you...I do try.



Couldn't have said it better myself!
I really don't want to read another book where half of it is devoted to the non-stop bickering between these two! We want to read about HARRY. As in Harry Potter. And the whole idea of the Weasleys being related to each other...I mean....why would JK Rowling do that?? She isn't. She musn't. JKR is going to throw us all by surprise and leave us with our mouths open. But whatever it is, she is not going with the whole OBHWF!!

they really should not go out hat is a teribble thing if they do. i think hermione is wasting her time with him. she can do wayy bettr than him!! she had viktor for crying out loud. they shouldnt go out!!

I agree that Hermione is wasting her time with Ron. They are so incompatible. Besides, does she really want to be with him? IMO, no. I have never believed that she actually loves him other than as a friend. And, even then, I believe she cares more for Harry, than for Ron. I have said this before, but I believe that if it wasn't for their friendship with Harry, neither Hermione nor Ron would be giving each other the time of day!

As for Viktor. I liked him fine in GoF, but I don't think that there is anything more. I would be surprised if he shows up in the final book and becomes involved with Hermione. Unless of course, JKR is using this relationship as a means to make Harry (not Ron!) jealous. But, I just don't see Viktor reappearing in the text of book 7. Viktor may be mentioned in the epilogue that JKR supposedly is writing. I guess she wants people to know what became of the other characters. Of course, this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I think Viktor will make another appearance (besides that I think J. K. Rowling said something about it, but I could be wrong...) just to end Ron/Hermione. It is sort of a negative way at looking at his role in the books, and I think if re-introduced in Deathly Hallows he will serve a more significant role to Harry, but I just can't help but think that if he reappears, he will in some way cause jealousy on Ron's part, which will cause Hermione to tell him to grow up, which will get him mad and bug Hermione, which will... You get where I'm going with this: endless bickering between the two that can, in no way, support a healthy relationship. Besides, I think that Viktor will be along for the "ride" too, helping Harry fight or learn about the Dark Arts or collect Horcruxes (could he be the dragon? just a thought... ). I think any appearance of Viktor will essentially destroy the hope of Ron and Hermione reconciling because it will just cause "ancient grudge break to new mutiny" (to steal from Romeo and Juliet! ). The two of them can never stop fighting - both because it is in Ron's nature to be jealous and Hermione's nature to try to discover love on her own - even if it isn't with Ron - and because Ron and Hermione wouldn't be Ron and Hermione otherwise. Maybe a little less bickering would be nice, especially when it gets out of hand, but it really defines their characters (at least for me).

Kudos!

I agree. TEver since I found out that JK said Viktor would be in Book 7 I immedialtely thought "yes!! he's going to be the downfall for any "romantic" relationship between Ron and Hermione!"
II'm thinking that he's going to be at the wedding, he was friends with Fleur....

I liked Viktor Krum. He doesn't go by appearances alone and thats what makes a man...a real man! He preferred bookworm Hermione than pretty, giggly fangirls! That's admirable...a man who doesn't care about looks! So...hopefully when he sees Hermione at the wedding he'll be friendly but Ron will get jealous and he and Hermione will argue and Ron will say mean things to her....and Harry will console her!!

Well, to counter your statement bellarosa, I have to disagree on the point that Ron will say mean things. I think he will act very immature about the whole thing by getting jealous, and cause a really tense situation to arise on what is to be a joyous celebration. I even think it possible that, after this display of immaturity, he will really confess to Hermione how he feels, but she will feel uncomfortable and awkward about it with Krum and Harry around, not to mention the fact he (Ron) was just acting like a total jerk about a friend and really doesn't have the maturity in their relationship to make it last. (note: I think he has the maturity to hold a relationship, and I believe he will show it, just not with Hermione; he get's too worked-over about things concerning her).

Well, not mean things, but he does tend to insult her quite a bit. He can say some pretty hurtful stuff without even meaning it and thats probably a cause, like you said, of immaturity. I agree TheHarryinMe when you say Ron doesn't have the maturity to hold a relationship with Hermione.
Wow! How awkward it will be for Hermione if he confesses his interest in her with Harry and Krum!! Agh! I'm so anxious to know how JK wrote it all out! I really hope she doesn't have Ron and Hermione form a romantic relationship. I want them to work out thier differences but not become romantically involved! It will send a bad message I think to readers. A message stating that extreme jealousy, insults and attacking with canaries will get you the girl/guy. I think not.

Especially when the story is marketed, at large, to a younger audience either going through or yet to go through these experiences. Painting a poor image of relationships with Ron and Hermione just doesn't work. Sure, the bickering could have meant something when kept to a minimum, but after Half-Blood Prince and the sheer vehemence within, I'd have to say that they've crossed the line and are beyond liking - they loathe. And, as Dumbles pointed out, contempt for something is often worse than outright hatred. And having Hermione humble herself and submit to the higher authority of Ron... now that's just disgusting, considering how he's treated her in the past and how much she had to brush off for the sake of their friendship. It reeks of some television drama where the girl goes running back to the guy and apologies for everything and wants to be with him forever... A cute scenario, I know, but having a strong female character like Hermione is far better, as any relationship she enters would have respect flowing both ways giving her determination, and any attempt to have her submit to Ron is wrong and completely out-of-character.

I just hate the thought of R/Hr together, I will rather stick pins in my eyes if I read up they kissing in the books or in the 7th movie.

*throw up*

Anyway, the R/Hr shippers always thought ' Ron is jealous, so he loves Hermione'
Well, I think Love is not based on JEALOUSY, isn't ? Plus, they don't match anyway, according to ALCHEMY in relation to the new Deathly Hallows covers - UPDATED, they don't match. And it is very weird that it is too clear.....that they get together.

*Sorry, I think I insulted the R/Hr shippers a bit* *bow*


Mod Edit: Yes, it is strict rule for both ends of the ship spectrum that shippers be left out of the Venom conversations. Please remember to keep the comments on the ship and not the shippers.

Too true. Playful picking at each other could be seen a tension between two people and a possibility for a relationship, but outright contempt for another is not. Ron and Hermione don't have playful moments - they go right for the other's throat. Watch any modern-day television drama or movie, and you will almost always find some type of tension between two characters. Sometimes it's playful, and sometimes it's serious. The times where the characters yell and each other and are separated from one another are not, under any means, displays of affection - they are usually displays of disappointment, disgust, etc. Ron and Hermione have many of this instances where they are constantly bickering, yelling, and being downright mean to one another - clearly displaying loathing and disgust rather than the playful tension of a healthy relationship. Sorry, just not happening. Otherwise, J. K. Rowling would be sending a negative image of relationships to young, impressionable minds, and I hardly believe she wants to nor intends it.

I think in HP7, Ron + Hermione will either start going out (please NO!!) or they will drift apart. Ron is way too dumb to go out with someone like Hermione. Draco is more her type!

To be fair, it think there's "a healthy relationship" and "what people perceive as what a healthy relationship ought to be". Oh, and "a successful relationship". And all sorts of other definitions and labels that are assigned in regards to relationships. I'm sure J.K. Rowling is not writing an unhealthy view of Ron and Hermione's relationship. But being health conscious about it could also make things, well, clinical and "inedible". At least, insofar as her writing may go.

For me, all I know is that Ron and Hermione just doesn't satisfy me as a storyline in the Harry Potter Universe. It all seems so contrived.

And just to give this thread a bit of pep, TheHarryinMe inspired me to post this song:

HERMIONE:
What is this feeling,
So sudden and new?

RON:
I felt the moment
I laid eyes on you;

HERMIONE:
My pulse is rushing;

RON:
My head is reeling;

HERMIONE:
My face is flushing;

BOTH:
What is this feeling?
Fervid as a flame,
Does it have a name?
Yes! Loathing
Unadulterated loathing

Thanks! I think...

I never really caught too much onto the Ron and Hermione relationship. Before coming to the on-line fandom, I just naturally assumed that something was going on between them, but they would always grow out of it. Needless to say, I've been convinced of the opposite now, both by fans and the story, and I just don't see the two together. Granted, Corpus_Agnelli, your point is well valid: what is a 'healthy' relationship may only be a matter of perspective, but to me Ron and Hermione have crossed the line of respectful bickering to loathing, which is redeemable but unlikely to happen, and possibly even hatred at the other for times. So, I see that anyone who displays these feelings towards another that they have a personal relationship with as a deep negative and, thus, 'unhealthy' from my perspective. Yes, I'll grant it's tension and cute in the early stages, but I have witnessed first-hand relationships where two people seem to get along fine but they have real nasty bits in-between that get extremely ugly. The relationships work, yes, but I often wonder if there could have been someone better matched to each person. Thus, I feel the same way about Ron and Hermione: it works, but there are much, much better matches for each of them in the series. I think J. K. Rowling deserves major points for this if she intends it, and a shake of the head and slap on the wrist if otherwise for letting something wonderful go for the sake of the story - something, I see, as ultimately inferior to a host of other relationships and possibly negative to the extreme, given the way Ron and Hermione bicker constantly.

Nice song, though! I first read it and was a little confused, but now I understand it as against Ron and Hermione!

Im not sure if any one has brought this up. But I was think you know how ron/hermione shipper say that harry and hermione are like brother and sister and us harry/hermione say that ron and hermione are like brother and sister. Well let as look at a typical brother and sister relationship, and the only brother and sister relationship we (well I have seen so far in the books) is ron and ginny's relationship. Now compare there relationship to harry/hermione and ron/hermione and you will find that ron/hermione is more like ron and ginny's brother and sister relationship.

Whoa... I never really thought about that Inazuma. Ron and Hermione do fight a lot, like brother and sister. Harry and Hermione almost never fight unless Harry is sticking up for Ron and Hermione gets mad that Harry took his side... I'm sure everyone has realized that... Oh well.

Ron does come across as being possessive and jealous of Hermione at times. As for example when he realized Viktor Krum was actually taking Hermione to the Yule Ball. Suddenly, Krum was an enemy and his hero worshipping for him ceased. However, I agree with most of you in that Ron behaves more like an older brother than a romantic suitor.

Let's be honest, Ron has had numerous opportunities to ask Hermione to be his girl. But, he hasn't taken advantage of them. And, a shy wallflower, he certainly is not! Why on earth did he bother with Lavender if the love of his life (said with tongue in cheek!) was right there in front of him standing with bated breath waiting to be asked out!

Could it be that he just isn't interested in her in a romantic way at all? And, I don't believe that Hermione would reciprocate in kind, even if Ron was interested her in this way. Hermione has her eyes set on someone else!

I've been wondering that too Dumbledore's Widow!

Ron has had MANY oppoturnities to ask Hermione out!
They had prefect duties all throughout 5th year and if Ron had really liked her since 4th then one of those times wandering the corridors wouldve have been a perfect time.
And also their times at the burrow, their times at Grimmalaud place before Harry got there, beginning of 6th year...so many opportunites!!

Also like Inazuma said Ron and Hermione are so much more like older bro and sis! I argue ALL the time with my sister but Im not secretly in love with her! (eww) Ron acts with Hermione how he acts with Ginny.
And also has Ron ever blushed with Hermione like he does with Fleur and Madame Rosmerta???
I think they just misunderstand each others feelings thinking the other likes them.

Oh and people have said that Lily and James argues nonstop just like R/HR and they actually loved each other. But carefully analyzing that...
only Lily argued! Not James

i dont think that ron hermione mesh together. they certainly have this attraction told eachother. witch harry sees. but i really hope they dont go out just [because] i think ron is bile and shouldnt go with her.


Mod Edit: Hi there, netspeak is not allowed on the forums. It can make it difficult for some people to read the posts. Have a look through the Rules if you need to.

Viktor krum is meant to return isnt he?
well maybe he'll go with hermione ha be wuite funny if ron and lavender get back together wouldnt it?

Just my opinion of course, but, I just don't see Viktor as a love interest for Hermione. I think that Hermione likes him just as a friend. But, of course, Harry will see it differently. He will assume that Viktor likes Hermione, and that she will use Viktor as a way to make Ron jealous. And, of course, Ron will become jealous, as he always tends to do since I feel that Ron has some serious self esteem issues. BUT, this is from Harry's POV, which we will find out in the final book that his assumptions have been WRONG.

BTW, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Ron and LUNA get together. They will make a fun, non-bickering couple!

Yay, another supporter! Check out over here please! (And see my Avatar!)

But, on topic, I think that Krum will re-ignite the jealousy of Ron to the point that Hermione will realise he is just being a prat about it. Honestly, he would need to be less overly protective and trust Hermione if their relationship was to work...

Krum will most definetly ignite Ron's jealousy. I think that unfortunetly Ron and Hermione do like each other. I'm just hoping Hermione and Viktor will get together. Maybe if Ron died Hermione would get together with Viktor because I seriously don't think all three will live.
To sum it all up, I hate Ron and Hermione and Ron annoyed the heck out of me in HBP maybe that's just what most boys that age are like though, no offense anyone.

Boys without experience are like that at any age. I would say I was more of a prat at 18 than 16 (unlike Ron), but that's just my personal opinion. I have been re-reading the books for this coming weekend, and I have found many new things that suggest Hermione may actually feel something for Ron... but that doesn't mean I have to like it. In fact, I've found so much by picking over the books with a fine comb that I find it entirely possible that Hermione may like Ron, Harry and Krum all at once for various qualities they each possess. I just don't want these two together because of their somewhat murderous attitudes mutually felt in Half-Blood Prince, coupled with the fact that I think Hermione makes a better and more peaceable match with Harry or Krum any day.

But that's just my opinion...

I really don't think Ron should be with Hermione either. It doesn't seem right...Ron was her friend first, and most relationships like that don't turn out well...and I don't really like to picture them together...sick. J.K. Rowling - please explain why anything like this should ever happen?!

As others have said, I can see that there is evidence that Hermione and Ron are attracted to one another - God knows why they are; it seems quite contrived to me.

But I simply cannot see them maintaining a healthy relationship with one another. They kind of remind me of George and Martha from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" -- just give them some more butterbeer and they'll do.

Of course, we all know that some people become enmeshed in unhealthy relationships and end up with someone with whom they are entirely incompatible. I just really hope that doesn't happen to Ron and Hermione.

Ahh, where to begin, where to begin...

Oh, my, the things I have to say about this terrible pairing....

To begin, they are completely incompatible. All they do is bicker constantly, and beneath the fighting, there is no relationship!! They have nothing in common, and both end up jealous much to easily. Ron in particular. It's a completely unstable relationship that truly shouldn't have continued for such a great amount of time.



But then again, if this were real life, their relationship never would have lasted for so long. And that, my friends, is why this is a fictional book.

AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to bash something really good! This - relationship - was - horrendous!!!

...

Okay, I've calmed a bit.



I'm going to go sulk in a corner now...

Lmao!! My thoughts exactly, TheHarryInMe. The relationship was attempted to be fixed, even though it was beyond the point of being "fixable". Therefore, we have one giant mess full of OOC characters. Oh, this is making me appreciate OotP so much more!!



I'm beyond the point of sulking in a corner; I'm now turning to fanfiction, which is surprisingly becoming more realistic that canon.

I personaly will be sulking in the corner until there is no one else to discuss the ridiculousness that is Ron and hermione with.



I wish I could speak intelligently about the horridness of this ship but I think it makes so little sense to me and makes me so angry that I dont even really know where to start.

I honestly think that Rowling was going Harmony the first five books but then decided to change it to OBHWF. This is my thought even though some people have said that she has always wanted OBHWF right from the start.

I have to ask why Rowling had to wait until the very last book to have R/Hr reveal their true feelings for each other. Why did it take them so long to mature? I've always thought that perhaps Ron may have had suppressed feelings for Hermione, but I never - in my wildest dreams - thought that she felt anything other than friendship for Ron!

All of the flirting ("...you've never been more fanciful..."), all of the hugging and sticking to her man (like she did in GoF and DH) type of behavior as demonstrated by Hermione towards Harry just made me believe that she had feelings for Harry. And, they weren't just as friends! Come on!

But, it was all for naught! I should have been hit by all of those flying anvils I was told were out there, because I just never really saw it all coming. That is, until book 7 when I found out that Hermione was washing Ron's dirty laundry! Ewww!

Saw this on another web site. Post is by FenrisWolf. I agree with what he says and thought I'd share it with you. The bolding is mine.

"... it takes more than satisfying 'chest monsters' to make a lifelong commitment. Ron and Hermione have virtually nothing in common beyond their shared friendship with Harry. Prior to book seven they bicker constantly over everything. What changes to stop the bickering? Hermione does, undergoing a massive change in character in order to justify her burgeoning relationship with Ron. (I defy anyone to look at her character in the first five books and make it jibe with the 'happy housewife' at the beginning of book seven, talking chirpily about washing Ron's underwear!?!)

As for Ron, despite fits and starts, his personality doesn't change until the last half of Book Seven, and then it's so profound I wanted them to check him for polyjuice potion. JKR suddenly gifts him with new sensitivity, new powers, and new intelligence, while at the same time reducing Hermione to a squealing fangirl. Maybe she was under the Cruciatus curse after all."

Well I think no matter how we didn't want it to happen we all knew that r/hr were going to get together. Because of that interview from Emerson and Melissa I think JK made it clear that she was heading for OBHWF which is a shame because Harry and Hermione are very strong characters and could have made a beautiful relationship.

Rowling had given Hermione the middle name of Jane. She said this in an interview, from what I hear. But she never did write it in canon that Jane was Hermione's middle name. After DH, in another interview, Rowling said that she had changed Hermione's middle name from Jane to Jean because she had given Umbridge the middle name of Jane. So now, whenever I think of R/Hr I see Hermione Jean as Ron's better half. The Hermione that I came to love and adore as being Harry's soul mate was Hermione Jane. It's how I separate the two Hermiones, as I feel I should.

The Hermione that got together with Ron was clearly not the heroine that I had come to love so much. The heroine that I felt was falling for Harry, and he with her. I have often said that Hermione Jane died in that scene in OotP where she get's hit by a spell by Dolohov. The Hermione that was resurrected was Hermione Jean. It's how I deal with the discrepancy, the contradiction that Rowling throw at us in the final two books. And, all because she wanted to make it OBHWF!

To be truthful, I don't care much for Hermione Jean. Ron can have that one!

At the Q&A period during the New York City reading a couple of weeks ago, Rowling said that her husband was like Harry and that Ron was like some of the guys she dated years before. I paraphrase here, but that is the gist of her comments. She didn't just walk away from her relationships with the Rons, she ran straight for the hills!

In this reading, Rowling said that Ron was "insensitive and immature" like the guys she had dated. So, why then did she go and pair off Hermione with Ron? Seems to me that she doesn't like Hermione much if she goes ahead and gets her together with Ron, when she herself wouldn't stay in a relationship with someone like Ron.

Oh well, I guess she just had to have her OBHWF epilogue!

If I would have seen Ron mature a bit throughout the books, then I may not have had a problem with this ship.
This does not mean that I'm a H/HR supporter.
I would have seen Hermione with someone more mature, and like her. I know that there's the saying that 'opposites attract', but the two of them are from different galaxies.

I understand slightly that there wasn't much time for their relationship to grow, because the Harry Potter series are books of adventure. But I think we needed to see a bit more of them getting along.
That doesn't include Ron putting his arm around Hermione whenever she was stressed out. That's what best friends are for - Harry's just a bit slow on the uptake, I suppose.

But we can't lie to ourselves. We all knew that the two would be together in the end. It was set up since they started bickering in the first installment. As much as I dislike it, I've accepted it.

Italics mine.

I have to disagree. The only reason that people (other than the Herons obviously) may have realized that the bickering between Ron and Hermione was any indication that the two would end up together is because of the interviews Rowling gave.

It's like you said in your post, "... Ron putting his arm around Hermione whenever she was stressed out. That's what best friends are for ...". I agree here. Little things like this only show that he cares for Hermione as a friend. To me, the bickering part is similar. But, Rowling dragged out the bickering between them so much so that it just got quite maddening and boring for me! If I myself had ever been in such a relationship (which I doubt I ever would), I would have pulled my hair out by the roots with sheer frustration, and may even have committed murder (i.e. killed Ron)!!
I just don't think that their bickering meant that Ron and Hermione were falling for each other. Let alone, marry and remain married for the number of years Rowling wrote.

As an H/Hr shipper, I kept waiting for Rowling to make Ron and Hermione realize that they cared for each only as friends. I kept waiting for Rowling to come to her senses! Which, of course, she never did - much to my dismay!

I guess in a way, I have accepted the fact that Rowling paired Hermione with Ron, but it's hard to swallow! In real life, a relationship like theirs just wouldn't gel!

Well, I read an interview with J.K. Rowling and she said that Ron and Hermione are perfect for each other because Hermione's so serious and Ron's jokey. Hello, but they bicker every single day! I felt sorry for their kids, those bickering must be horrible.

Also, Rowling said that before, she married Ron. But now, Harry(Just some kind of person who is like Harry and Ron). So... maybe thats a hit that Hermione won't stay with Ron? Anyway.... R/Hr sucks!

That is something that baffles me. Why would Rowling have Hermione marry "a Ron" when she herself might have dated them (maybe even married one! [her first husband]) but ended up with someone like Harry [her present husband]?! This is all puzzling to me, and I think she contradicted herself as well, by saying all of this in the first place.

I have always thought that despite the way her so called "romances" (let's face it, it has been established that she stinks at romances!) were actually heading, i.e NOT OBHWF!, that she resorted to her original plan of OBHWF in the end. Apparently she had already invested so much work and time into developing the "family trees" and writing that gawd awful epilogue before she even wrote the first few pages of book one. What a rotten shame!

This just isn't plausible! Who constantly fights with somebody then marries them and has kids 19 years later? No one in the real world! Not even JKR could handle it.

Everyone talks about H/Hr being more brotherly-sisterly like, thanks to JKR's comment through Harry , but Ron and Hermione seem more brotherly and sisterly like to me because....
1) They argue all the time
2) Just can't seem to get along
3) Yet will defend and fight for eachother
That is exactly how my relationship is with my older brother and younger sister because we don't seem to get along all the time either and we fight constantly, but if someone were to say something about either of them I wouldn't hesitate to react. The same goes for the relationship between Ron and Hermione yet somewhere along the line a dull flame of romance was ignitied that we anti- R/Hr shippers just can't extinguish.

There's a discussion on another website that asks why Hermione "loves" Ron, i.e. what is it about him that makes her prefer him? I thought I'd bring the topic to this thread.

I never have understood why Hermione would end up liking Ron, especially since I really, really did see Harmony in the books. But, that's beside the point, and I won't discuss this. I do wonder why other readers saw R/Hr early on. To me, it wasn't until book 6 that I realized what Rowling was doing. I guess you can blame that on the fact that I unwittingly was dodging those anvil size hints she said were out there! BUT, I never once thought that it would end up R/Hr.

Ron and Hermione were constantly bickering with each other. Some say that it is this that makes Hermione prefer Ron. As a female, I find it difficult to accept that Hermione found this to be an attractive attribute in a boyfriend. It would drive me nuts. I realize that she also gives it back, but, can you imagine going through life (and marriage) with someone who is so immature and silly? I don't. There comes a time when you have to grow up!

I really don't want this to turn into Ron bashing, because I don't dislike Ron. I just don't see that he should be with Hermione. Quite frankly, I felt Luna was better suited for Ron. But, that's a different thread!

So, again, what do you think Hermione sees in Ron? His charming personality? Does she feel sorry for him (when compared to Harry)? Does she like red haired boys, and the shampoo that he uses? Or is it that she wants to be part of the Weasley clan. Having grown up as an only child she may very well want to be part of this large and happy family. Will we ever know? (other than THAT'S what Rowling wanted from the get go!!)

I needed a good laugh! Found this photo of the comedian, Carrot Top. Ron and Hermione's boy could look like this:
(Ron's) red hair + (Hermione's) 'bushy' hair = Carrot Top look a like!

http://www.nrbinc.com/Las-Vegas-Shows/Carr...ot-top-main.jpg

Lol, that could indeed be Hugo!

In Human Sexuality this week we learned about relationships such as marriages, and when they fail etc, and realistically it doesn't look good for R/Hr (whatever JK might claim with the whole "19 years later" business)--in a happily married, stable couple, there should be 5 positive things said to your partner (and vice versa) for every 1 negative thing said--which given how cruel and demeaning and disrespectful Ron and Hermione are towards one another, is definitely not the case! There's also the fact that marriages in which people marry really young *cough* R/Hr! *cough* are much more likely to fail...And the fact that the whole "opposites attract" deal is a myth--in reality "birds of a feather flock together," and "like is attracted to like"--and since Ron and Hermione really aren't much alike at all, and the "opposites attract" deal is their whole argument...

Another thing we learned is some of the things that women want in a man (that make a woman prefer a certain man) based on evolution, and there too it doesn't look good for R/Hr. Here are a few main ones....

Females want a mate:

1) who is able to invest. (ie with a good earning capacity, resources, and social status)
2) who's willing to invest (ie commited, stable, dependable)
3) who's able to protect you and your children.
4) who's COMPATIBLE!!!! (ie similar ideas and beliefs, which REDUCES potential for CONFLICT so relationships LAST long-term! Aka conflict is NOT a good thing! )

None of these things (esp. 1, 3 and freaking 4) don't apply to Ron much at all....meaning he has pretty low mate value--Hermione really shouldn't want him!

Yay for science chipping away at the ridiculousness that is R/Hr....

Here is a link to an article titled, "Things that Kill a Marriage".

http://www.helium.com/items/549575-things-...-couples-stayed

I've taken some excerpts to comment about:

"The inability to communicate effectively and responsibly is one of the leading causes of marital dead-end. Too often, couples do not know how to speak to one another. They become skilled at tossing insults and avoiding conflict."
This made me think of the R/Hr relationship. When did they start to actually speak to one another without tossing insults at one another?

"Dependency is yet another situation that can lead to marital death. When a couple begins their relationship, they come together as two separate entities with two separate lives, experiences, traits, and personalities. Then the relationship melts the two of you together, and sometimes each member forgets who they were and can no longer see that individual aspect of themselves. If the couple loses their personal identities, or one member of the couple loses their identity, it can and will cause resentment to form. All too often, you see one member in a relationship that completely gives up everything that made them who they are, and they allow the relationship to define them. ... if you cannot be happy in your individual self, you cannot expect to keep and maintain a happy relationship. If this is not addressed and resolved, it will kill the marriage."
I bolded the section that I think applies to Hermione. I believe that she is the one that gave things up about being herself just so that Ron would want to be with her.

"Ultimately, marriage is two people willing to put in the effort and time."
Personally, I believe that only Hermione "put the effort and time" into this marriage. It is clear in the epilogue that Ron hasn't changed much over the 19 years.

After all these 19 years, Hermione has gotten herself into a rut, one with children no less. So, for her, the children is the major reason why she stays in her marriage to Ron. I also see H/G this way, but I should discuss that in another thread.

Ah, HeRon -- another one of my favorite ships to denounce! Needless to say, I was so, so disappointed that JKR put these two together (shoulda been Harry and Hermione), and I still say there are no anvils big enough to convince me otherwise. They have no chemistry as a story-book couple, and it is utterly unbelievable that a girl as clever as Hermione would be attracted to a boy like Ron. Nonsense!