Rupertised!

Or how Ron and Hermione came to realise they were in love

By Lorelai

At first, he thought she was a nightmare of a know-it-all and that it was no wonder that no one could stand her. Well, it didn’t really matter, did it? He had the emotional range of a teaspoon, anyway.

Even so, they grew to be our favourite couple ever – and we grew with them. As the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows wraps up, we wave goodbye to another chapter of the wizardry world we all love; however, sadness is greatly eased by the anticipation of catching the last two films on the big screen (next November and July 2011). And let’s face it – much of that anticipation is due to them and their imperfectly perfect love story. For who could be more clearly in love than Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger?
When they first met, he had dirt on his nose (by the way, did he know that?); he was obnoxious and rather unkind to her. Ever since the beginning, she would insist on bossing him and Harry around and, well, she was quite obnoxious and unkind to him, too. Even so, “there are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them” – especially if your wand gets troll snot all over it during the process. And all of a sudden, after stating that she had no friends, he was the one to became her best one; sure, she was still slightly, well, mental, and she still needed to sort out her priorities – which she would do (eventually) over the years. Mind you, how could Hermione Granger do any different with such bad influences in her life as Ron Weasley and Harry Potter? But from then on, no one would ever dare to call Hermione a know-it-all – no one besides Ron, that is, for he owns the sole right to do so. Just ask Professor Snape.
Despite their constant bickering and feistiness, it was clear from early on that the simple thought of losing each other daunted both of them – even if they didn’t admit it to themselves. Real-life wizard chess did the trick for Hermione and basilisk petrifying poison did it for Ron: for the first time they were faced with the fear of the other’s death. However, that was only the beginning; together, they faced broken legs, lost pets(better said, Animagi), splinched arms, Cruaciatus Curse and numerous other tortures, countless duelling encounters with Dark wizards, namely Death Eaters and Voldemort himself.
All in all, being best mates with the Boy-Who-Lived took a toll in Ron and Hermione’s relationship (life was meant to get busy!); even so, at the end of the day that was not what kept them apart. The biggest obstacles Ron and Hermione ever had to conquer to be together were both their insecurities and their jealousy – of Fleur, of Krum, of Lavender, of McLaggen… by Merlin’s beard, even of Madam Rosmerta and Professor Lockhart! The insecurities that both feel about themselves are rather alike: quite simply, they don’t hold themselves as attractive individuals to the opposite sex. When it comes down to Hermione, it can’t have helped that it took Ron three whole years “to notice” she was a girl… but even so, Ron is by nature even more unconfident, first of all due to the fact that he’s constantly outshined by his older brothers and his best friend (at least in his head, if nowhere else).

For the first three years, even though there’s clearly a tension growing between the two of them, Ron and Hermione are mainly good friends who so happen to bicker a little too much. Nevertheless, during their fourth year at Hogwarts it becomes crystal clear that something more is going on – goes without saying that even then they won’t admit it to themselves. Ron’s delusional crush on Fleur only contributes to make his insecurity grow deeper, whilst Hermione’s liaison with Krum widens her horizons, makes her feel worthy and boosts her confidence. Even better, it finally gets to Ron, although it will take him quite a while still to get in touch with his real feelings. These events aggravate deeply Ron and Hermione’s relationship, for instead of dealing straightforwardly with their feelings, they continue to ignore them, trying (and failing…) to conceal them which inevitably leads to an intensification of their constant bickering.
At a certain point, their communication is such an arguing one-note that Harry snaps back at them quite angrily midway through their fifth year together. Nevertheless, they are seeking at all times the other’s approval – when Ron becomes prefect and Keeper and numerous times when Hermione lights up as Ron praises her brains and ingenuity. If the other doesn’t show great attention, they are instantly put out; this is particularly true when it comes down to Ron, who allows these small details to feed his inner insecurities throughout the years.
It is no good either that Ron’s low self-esteem and lack of knowledge on how to behave with girls drives him straight into Lavender Brown’s arms (and long, long snogging sessions) by their sixth school year. It is clearly a relationship based on Ron’s wish to make Hermione jealous and on his own lack of self-confidence (exacerbated by Ginny’s scornful comments concerning his – and Hermione’s – love life). As his sister confides him that Hermione has kissed Viktor Krum, Ron gives into Lavender’s flirtation as a sort of “revenge” to his real love interest. Hermione feels hurt, especially because she had finally spotted in Professor Slughorn’s Christmas party a chance for them to swirl out of the pattern their relationship had fallen into through the years. Also, she cannot understand what caused Ron’s behaviour change – first off, she doesn’t know about his conversation to Ginny and secondly, how could she realise that he was punishing her for something she had done two years ago? Well, of course Hermione engenders a little revenge of her own and get together with McLaggen – or, better said, she makes Ron think she did so. That really is better than actually putting truth down on the table, isn’t it?
Bad timing through their entire relationship. Insecurities taking the best out of them. Sarcasm and irony concealing something more. Fears arising scared to make the first move. Until they finally manage to somehow work it out. Well, it did take Ron some reading to do so. Once he finally learns that there is more to girls than witchcraft (thanks, Fred and George!), Ron starts being more successful at showing his true feelings to Hermione – and therefore Hermione feels more at ease in doing so as well.
As the scariest mission of their lives approaches – the Horcrux hunt with Harry – Ron and Hermione become an even stronger support for each other, no longer in the constant fear of expressing their real feelings. Even so, Hermione is apparently more certain and secure of Ron’s feelings for her than the other way round. Inside of him, Ron is still afraid that he is not good enough for Hermione and that her affection is not directed at him, but at Harry. This grows inside of him to such an extent that the locket Horcrux the trio has to carry with them at all times feeds from it and messes even more with Ron’s ideas – which eventually leads him to leave their two best friends halfway through their quest. This breaks Hermione’s heart and without Ron, she and Harry become quieter and quieter, apart from Hermione’s occasional sobs.
The moment Ron leaves, he regrets it but there is no way he can find the others due to their protective spells. In the end, it is solely Hermione who leads his way back – as his name uttered by her for the first time since his departure lights Ron’s Deluminator and indicates him the right path back to her and Harry. A definite turning point for Ron is the moment he reunites at last with Harry, saving his life and destroying the locket Horcrux. Before it is destroyed, though, it tortures Ron by re-enacting his worst and deepest fears: a mother who would have preferred a daughter and the girl he loves closely entwined with his best friend. Ultimately, Harry tells him he thinks of Hermione only as a sister and that he reckons she feels the same way, telling him she cried for a long time after Ron left. Only then does Ron believe at long last that Hermione might be in love with him too. After that, there is no turning point and he stands by her side at all times, through thick and thin; his devotion and love of her is so complete that he tries to exchange his life for hers at Malfoy Manor, so Hermione won’t be tortured into telling Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters what the trio already knows.

Quite appropriately, the crucial moment for Ron and Hermione comes in the middle of the final battle – it had all been quite a tumultuous ride to get them to this point, hadn’t it? Even more appropriately, it springs from Ron realising at last the importance of defending other creatures, namely house-elves. After her S.P.E.W. crusade (and an even harder one to convince Ron), Hermione can’t fight his charm anymore once he tells the others they should warn the house-elves to leave Hogwarts during confrontation; so she flies into his arms and they share a passionate kiss – and all over the world voices everywhere chanted: FINALLY!

This is certainly one of the moments that people are most excited to catch on the big screen once Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reaches cinema theatres.
Everyone talks about it, everyone asked Rupert Grint and Emma Watson about it – but fact is we won’t be satisfied until we see it ourselves. Oh, and of course, we can’t wait to see the trio all grown up and surrounded by their children – how cute is a miniature Ron? Deathly Hallows is without a doubt the most anticipated adaptation for all of Ron and Hermione fans; until it comes out, however, we’ll have to satisfy our curiosity with the brand new trailer and the fantastic behind-the-scenes pics. Enjoy!