Well…we’re definitely not alone in this opinion.
Most people and we’re definitely assuming or conjecturing here when we say most people, but MOST people, at some point, believed that Harry and Hermione were meant to be together. The reasons range from frivolous, to clear evidence that they had chemistry. But despite mixed interpretations of their interactions, they undoubtedly had the same aura; serious, passionate, and avidly invested in becoming great wizards—though of course, we all know Hermione was the better wizard. Let’s not forget J.K. Rowling herself said that they should have been together! In fact, she said Hermione and Ron might have needed couple’s therapy 👀
We thought long and hard about why. Why those two? What a random pairing. There were hints of Ron’s interest and their “romantic tension” when they had their awkward handshake in the Chamber of Secrets, and of course, when he raged green as Victor Krum asked Hermione to the Ball, but even as we think of their personalities, they just didn’t make sense. She was sharp and astute. He seemed sensitive, and a bit boyish. Harry and Hermione had this energetic alliance of dissatisfaction with the state of affairs, almost like Hamilton and Angelica (for any Hamilton fans, apologies for getting Satisfied stuck in your head again).
Then we guessed that maybe Ron didn’t really have that pivotal character arc. There’s usually a “realization” or a badass moment that most major fictional characters have, that Hermione and Harry definitely had in the series. Ron was the lackey, loyal sidekick from a chaotic family who never got the spotlight or recognition, and often felt resentful of Harry’s fame. He was quietly powerful and helpful but always came off less bullish to take risks than the other two. Maybe him ending up with Hermione was just to add some more layers to him? A quirky subplot. He won the heart of one of the bravest, talented wizards in the school—that’s got to be something notable right? We know this is sort of turning into a bash Ron Weasley segment, but we can assure you, we have a case for Harry and Hermione that’s convincing.
Here are 4 reasons why Harry and Hermione should have been together:
They were the two main brunettes
Surface-level, we know. We got a goofy, sensitive red-head, a bubbly blonde (Luna), and a platinum blonde sniveling jerk (Malfoy). It’s only fitting that the two scruffy-haired young brunettes make the handsome couple that unites at the end, right?
They had a charming “meet-cute”
Usually, when we get a meet-cute in any movie, it serves as a foreshadowing moment that these two characters are going to be romantically involved in some way. There’s never a guarantee they end up together, but they always fall in love and change each other’s lives in some way.
When Hermione met Harry on the Hogwarts Express, she was supposed to help Neville find his missing toad, but instead cast a spell to help Harry repair his broken glasses. From then on we only get glimmers of a fledgling romance that took no shape. Their interactions were friendly, but always had far more depth than her flirtations with Ron. Even when in Half-Blood Prince when both were dealing with their crushes leaving them for other people, Harry suggested going with Hermione to Slughorn’s party, but by then she’d ask someone else to be her date. Like ships passing in the night.
They both channeled their “Dark” sides
A significant theme in Harry Potter, as many literary critics and Jordan Peterson have pointed out, is “inner darkness.” Characters who were able to acknowledge and become acquainted with the malevolent parts of themselves were different. The ones who ended up on the side of good used their darkness as a tool, or as a weapon to fight the forces of evil. Every character had their capacity to harm. The question was, would they use it for self-gain, or for the greater good? We all know Harry’s moment: When his Patronus saved him and not his father’s, when he confronted Voldemort in Goblet of Fire, when he “died”, but only his Horcrux died.
Remember that juicy, AMAZING moment went Hermione punched Draco in the face? That was her moment. It was the moment when Hermione Granger was more than a bookworm and was willing to pull up her sleeves and get scrappy. From then on, she only became more ruthless, but in the best way possible.
They were each other’s biggest supporters
When Harry was entered into the Tri-Wizard tournament, he was openly reviled. People thought he was cheating because he was technically too young to be a competitor. Even RON who was supposed to be his best friend was angry with him. Hermione on the other hand feared for the life of her best friend, and quietly visited Harry’s tent right before he was ready to participate in the tournament. As they engaged in a tight, hearty embrace, even a muckraking journalist like Rita Skeeter could pick up that there was some chemistry going on between them, which she used as newspaper headline bait.
Everyone saw Harry Potter as some sort of demi-god. They either revered him or feared him. Hermione was unabashed by his presence. She saw him for exactly who he was, and not by his “status”. They had the same values, they fought for the same ideals, and they were each other’s best friends. If Rupert Grint and the author of the whole darn series can agree that this is the wrong coupling…you know good well the fanbase was onto something.
Harione FTW. Or Hermarry.
