“Shipper wars” are an integral part of any rabid fandom, and Harry Potter has one of the most active fandoms of them all. Born out of repeat readings, movie marathons, and so much fanfiction, basically every character who’s set foot at Hogwarts has been paired with another at some point. Seriously, everyone. Even the giant squid and the castle itself (DO NOT CLICK. NOT SAFE FOR LIFE). The internet is very, very weird.
One of the most popular relationships from the series is between Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, underachieving ginger and the brightest witch of her age. Even though J.K. Rowling has spoken out against the pairing, calling it “wish fulfillment,” there is really no denying the fact that these two belonged together. While classic storytelling dictates that Harry, as the hero and alpha male, should get the girl, it was nice to see Rowling subvert the norm, creating a partnership that had both people encouraging each other to be better. While the relationship was allowed more room to breathe in the novels, the movies still made it clear that Ron and Hermione are meant to be. Today being Rupert Grint’s birthday, let’s evaluate the signs that solidified a Weasley-Granger love connection.
The Yule Ball
In The Goblet of Fire, everyone hit puberty and emotions ran wild. Because Ron has “the emotional depth of a teaspoon” (don’t all teenage boys?), he doesn’t view Hermione as anything more than a friend until he’s lost his chance. Quidditch star Viktor Krum asks Hermione to the Yule Ball, she says yes, and Ron handles it very poorly. He has an unfortunate tendency to lash out at those around him when he’s really disappointed in himself, and it takes him a while to outgrow that bad habit.
Dumbledore’s Army
Most of romantic angst-ing in The Order of the Phoenix is devoted to Harry and his first crush, Cho Chang, but there are some subtle Ron and Hermione moments, as well. As Dumbledore’s Army continues their under-the-radar training, they delight in each other’s accomplishments as any good couple should. Also, while it is not technically canon, there is a lot of online discussion about the nature of their Patronuses: Hermione’s is an otter, and Ron’s is a Jack Russell terrier, historically known to chase otters and other members of the weasel family.
Lavender Brown
Despite two installments rife with tension with Hermione, Ron decides to hook up with Lavender Brown once he gets a taste of popularity in The Half-Blood Prince. Much like Ron when she dated Krum, Hermione is devastated by this relationship. Though she handles it with more maturity, it is obvious that the constant snogging is a painful thing for her to witness. However, as is the case with most relationships based solely on the physical, she just had to wait for this coupling to run its course. The above scene really drives home the platonic nature of Harry and Hermione’s relationship, as well, and demonstrates how important that friendship is to both of them.
Ron’s Hospital Stay
I mean, obviously, he was going to pick Hermione. She’s got nice skin. After being inadvertently poisoned, Ron ends up in the infirmary, and Lavender and Hermione both rush to his side. As Ron drifts in and out of consciousness, he murmurs Hermione’s name instead of his girlfriend’s, which goes over about as well as you’d expect. While there is obviously some tension between the two girls, it is commendable on Rowling’s part that they weren’t really pitted against each other. It was just the organic nature of teenage relationships.
What The Horcrux Revealed
As the youngest of six brothers and best friend to Harry Potter, Ron deals with the lion’s share of insecurity. Despite some tender moments at Grimmauld Place, Ron and Hermione’s relationship is still on shaky ground for a significant portion of The Deathly Hallows: Part I. As the locket horcrux takes its toll on the group, Ron is the most susceptible to its darkness as the one with the weakest will. As a result, he leaves Hermione and Harry behind in a rage. When he does return and helps Harry destroy the locket, all of his deepest fears are thrown into his face. While she has never insinuated such a thing, it is clear that Ron doesn’t feel worthy of Hermione’s love. However, when he finds his courage and smashes the horcrux, Ron finally gets out of his own way in his pursuit of his true love.
Ron Comes Back
After he returns to the group, Hermione isn’t necessarily pleased to see him. Yes, deep down, she’s glad that he’s returned, but she is still hurt and disappointed by his betrayal. However, when Ron tells his tale and speaks of destiny and following a light back to her, she is obviously moved. She’s not made of stone. While the film version of Hermione tends to be a bit too perfect (I mean, it’s Emma Watson) and Ron isn’t given as many moments to shine as he did in the books, this is a nice moment of understanding between the two of them. She never gave up on him, and he did everything he could to make it up to her.
At Malfoy Manor
At the end of The Deathly Hallows: Part I, the trio has a terrifying encounter with Bellatrix Lestrange, leading to Ron’s imprisonment and Hermione’s torture. Not to sound like a broken record, but Ron’s anguish is a bit more apparent in the book. Despite coming back and taking up their cause again, Ron still feels impotent, unable to help Hermione or Harry. While they do eventually escape, this was a close call and further reminds them how close they are to losing it all.
The Final Battle
By the time The Deathly Hallows: Part II is in full swing, Ron and Hermione have worked things out and are together. Facing death tends to do that to people. As Harry has left them to take the last leg of his quest alone, Ron and Hermione are primarily focused on each other’s survival. With a kiss tinged with longing, desperation, and seven years of intimacy, these two cement a relationship that was a long time coming.
