Shame on you, JK Rowling

If there is one thing that could have brought me out of hibernation, it's JK Rowling's horrific news that she "regrets" pairing Ron and Hermione, and that Hermione should have married Harry.

When I read this on the train this morning, my fists actually balled up. I wanted to punch something, or someone, mainly her. Here's why:

She had time to change her mind

Ever since Philosopher's Stone was released in 1998, we saw the first inklings of a Ron and Hermione relationship. From that first "You've got dirt on your nose" and "Honestly she's a nightmare", it was the classic case of first impressions gone awry. Rowling had nearly a decade to shape the characters of these stories, develop their relationships and decide where she wanted them to go. The lengthy breaks between publishing Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows gave her time aplenty to think about what was going to happen and not once did she deviate from the Ron - Hermione pairing. By essentially "taking this back" Rowling, to me, has lost her credibility of an author.

Ron deserves Hermione

Hermione settled? I beg to differ. Ron Weasley is one of the greatest characters in the series. He's insecure, loyal, brave and not afraid to stand up to Harry when he was being a dick (which was frequently).

He was fiercly protective of Hermione, from as early on as Chamber of Secrets where he got a nasty case of the slugs after he tried to curse Malfoy for calling her a Mudblood. Yes he buggered off in Deathly Hallows, but that was Voldermorts doing and as soon as he could he was back by their side.

When Hermione was being tortured by Bellatrix, Ron was unwavering in his attention to her - calling out her name and thus keeping Hermione sane. 

Time and time again Ron proved his worth as a member of the "Golden Trio" and he deserves Hermione.

From Hermione's perspective..

In Goblet of Fire, Viktor Krum is added to the mix, just to spice things up. His interest in Hermione leads Ron to see her as a woman for the first time, instead of just a good friend (I'll point out here that Harry just continues to see her as good old Hermione). Hermione is obviously flattered by all this Quidditch Celebrity attention, but really she just wants Ron to notice her - leading to their infamous post Yule Ball argument in the Gryffindor Common Room - "Next time ask me before someone else does and not as a last resort"

Hermione is also completely unmoved by Harry kissing Cho (more evidence she doesn't have feelings for him) and instead getting more upset by Ron's reaction to the event, citing he has the "emotional range of a teaspoon".  To further cement this, Hermione actively encourage Ginny to pursue Harry (even though he's a knob), and likewise encourage Harry to go after Ginny - which she wouldn't have done if she had any inclination to the boy-who-lived.

When Ron stook up with Lavender in Half Blood Prince (because he was convinced Hermione had no faith in him), Hermione sent flying yellow canaries at him. Why - because she was bloody falling in love with him.

From the time when she first discovered her feelings for our ginger hero, she was completely unwavering. Never looking sideways at another man except to make Ron jealous (and Cormac MacLaggen was the right choice for this).

And finally, when Ron was posioned and unconscious, Hermione never left his side, despite the fact he had been grossing out the student population with excessive PDA with Lavender Brown. And equally he called out for her in semi-consciousness.  

Hermione and Ron need each other. They balance each other, love each other unconditionally, and have a passion for each other that we never see with Harry and Hermione - their infamous fights around Hogwarts are proof of that. Even Dumbledore knew what was going on when he gave Ron the Deluminnator.

Loyalty  

Their feelings for each other aside, one of their uniting character traits of the Trio is loyalty. Considering this, I fail to see how either Harry or Hermione would EVER end up together if they were so inclined. Hermione, knowing that Ginny, her only female friend, was desparately in love with Harry, would never have pursued him. Likewise, Harry knew from quite early on that Ron fancied the pants of Hermione, and I don't like to think that he would betray his best friend by taking up with her. Although he is self-centred so we can never be sure.

JK Rowling should know better

Whether this is a stunt for publicity to renew interest in herself as an author, or she just feels like being vindictive, Rowling should know better than to make such revelations as this.

Fans of the books are loyal (Even after all this time.... Always) to the world that she created. We've invested time, tears, laughter and love into them.  Her books have a following that few authors in the world have ever managed to sustain.

What good does it do to shatter your fans beliefs about a series that we considered perfect, 7 years after it's conclusion?

Why would you spend a decade writing these characters, to only come out 7 years later and take it all back?

Why would you discredit your own writings and piss of millions of loyal fans in the process.


What next? Will you reveal that Neville should have stayed a bumbling loser and should never have been the one to kill Nagini or lead the DA. Or that Molly never had the strength to kill a witch as powerful as Bellatrix? Or perhaps reveal that Lilly was having an affair with Sirius?

Please, just keep your opinions to yourself in future.


Rowling, I'm not sure I can ever forgive you.


(Disclaimer: I don't actually want to punch JK Rowling nor would I punch anyone. I'm just suffering from fangirl heartbreak)