Weighing in on the HBP
You know, it wasn't entirely unexpected that Ron and Hermione would hook up. There were certainly "anvil size" hints that Ron liked Hermione. I take serious issue with the size of the hints that she liked him back. There were as many "she likes Harry" hints, and probably the dumbest point anyone made in the JKR/TLC/MN interview was that it was so obvious. If...it was so obvious, then why didn't Jo just come out and say so. She intentionally dropped red herrings in many directions in order to keep us guessing. That is the obvious thing. What folks are insulted about is that she fooled us on purpose and appears to be laughing about it. I love the books, and thought HBP was a wonderful read. My take on this is that the young man from Mugglenet got overenthused and led Jo into a very inelegant place; a place she would not otherwise have gone. She is normally very careful about her words. It's too bad. I loved the H/Hr thing-still do, will still read everyone's stuff, but I can take Harry/Ginny, and thought she might be going there. As many have said, I just didn't expect it to be that obvious.