Harry Potter and author's remorse

[rthstewart]

In case you missed it, last night JK says that Hermione and Ron were a mistake she regrets, that Hermione should have married Harry, and that Hermione and Ron was a form of wish fulfillment.  One of the stories is hereI wasn't really part of those shipping wars, and wow, really do not want to relive those ever.  But I do remember the hurt over the

Comments

[hungrytiger11]

Personally, I'll be very interested to read (or watch?) the full interview (which doesn't come out till Thursday). I think there will be a better context for what and why she is saying what she is and the fact that Emma Watson is the one interviewing her might also have influenced what topics and questions were asked. I have a feeling that with the context it will (hopefully) be clearer why she is talking about it when, since she did seem to follow what was happening at least somewhat on HP sites, she had to have known that would upsetting news to many.

Like you, I'm not sure it really changes anything- the relationship she wrote and foreshadowed from at least book 4 on, was that of Ron and Hermione. I find it interesting that now she would change it (and would love to know more of why). I enjoyed reading fanfiction about Harry and Hermione more than R/H, but that is at least partially because you knew you were going to see what would really happened with those two in the book (and partly because I found Harry my favorite charavter, so I read whatever pairing or gen story with him).

As to the counselling, I don't think she meant right away or as a result or the war (though, yes, they should get counseling for that!). Just at a guess, a highly driven, intelligent woman like Hermione might end up making more money than Ron, though he is really is no dummy either. Ron showed through out the series a lot of jealousy/envy issues over others' achievements. That could bring tension to the relationship, especially once children are in the picture. Plus not only do they have the magical family/non-magical family thing, but Hermione came from a home where both parents worked and Ron where his mother stayed at home (and possibly educated her children? I've never been clear on what education options magical families saw as viable or not.). I could see that being an issue, not just between Ron and Hermione but as viewed by in-laws on both sides. None of which are deal breakers, but maybe things to go to counseling for, especially since neither is great at listening to the other when mad. Actually, that could all be an interesting fanfic story..

TL;DR version: I'd like to read the full interview to get more context, but, whatever the author says, R/H is what she wrote. Also while maybe those two would have needed counseling, that's not the end or the world or a relationship.

[rthstewart]

Yes to all this. Animus made a similar point that it will be useful to see the whole thing in context. As a philosophical matter, I am interested in this issue of revisiting old work. My concern, such as it is, is the wisdom of it, given that people who espoused the view JKR now purports to espouse were openly mocked as delusional. Not cool.

Starbrow told me that there's lots of fanon that Ron and Hermione get divorced. I think there is GREAT fodder there for a marital counseling piece -- no, I'm not writing how Ron feels about that muggle thing known as therapy, and how Neville berates him for being silly about it because how does Ron think Neville handled his parents' condition for so long and so well? And Hermione's parents, being medical professionals, are gently encouraging it for their daughter. And gosh, I see one issue right away being how Harry and the war were the glue that held their relationship together and what happens when those two topics of conversation are gone? It would be really fun. (Also, stopping now).

[elouise82]

"But Neville, HARRY never got counseling after Cedric, and Sirius, and-"

"Yes, and we all remember how well THAT turned out, don't we?"

"Er ... right. So who would you recommend, then?"