small rant on DV Hermione

[sarea]

Wow. Read Cassie's DV14 cookies and have been reading the comments ... I had no idea so many people loathed DV Hermione the way I do! It's such a wonderful feeling! I thought I was the only one who couldn't stand the bitch. Actually, DT Hermione in general makes me want to kick her until all the bones in my foot break. She's just so ridiculously perfect (and I mean in the sense that none of the characters except Ginny think she can do any wrong). Oh yes, Hermione could never be wrong.

Hermione is beautiful and smart and serene and has all three heroes in love with her. Puuuuuuke. The worst thing about it is that she's a complete hypocrite (my biggest pet peeve), and so far from deserving the pedestal both Harry and Draco put her on that it reflects poorly on them. Everything about her makes me roll my eyes. I had ceased hoping that Hermione would ever get her come uppance (and perhaps she still won't, not really), thinking that this was just Cassie's preferred characterization of her. It's surprising and gratifying to think that I was perhaps not giving Cassie enough credit.

However, I'm going to table that until I see the actual scene. Just because Rhysenn has exposed what I consider a truth about Hermione (her unbelievable, unending selfishness), doesn't mean that that's actually the conclusion that will come out of it. It's very possible that Hermione's status as She Who Can Do No Wrong will only be affirmed, with Rhysenn shown as being "wrong." Bleah.

Comments

Re: even more ranting ahead ... heehee

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Even a Draco in love with Hermione wouldn't lose his edge of perceptiveness, wouldn't become so complacent where she's concerned.

Yessssssss. Exactly. And that's where my hate of Draco/Hermione comes in, I think. Like sydney_lynne, I think DS/DV is the source of my dislike for that ship. Because Draco and Hermione both turn into different characters -- unrecognizable -- when they're paired in the DT (and I freely admit that the DT, being the reason I got into HP fanfic in the first place, has a lot of clout where relationships between the characters are concerned). I honestly cannot reconcile the two of them having any romantic interest in one another, but that's a personal thing and really has no place in this discussion. <g>

Unless that's exactly what they're supposed to be, and she's doing it on purpose toward whatever goal.

I hope so. I think Cassie's a fantastic writer, actually. Better than that, she's a gifted storyteller. This whole Rhysenn confronting Hermione with her faults thing has therefore given me hope that Cassie isn't blind to the way Hermione's been characterized; that there's a reason for it all, other than that she personally likes Hermione.

The one hope that I have about the whole H/D/Hr triangle is that it somehow has to do w/ the H/D bonding from DD. I can't remember now whether Draco showed any interest in Hermione whatsoever previous to switching into Harry's body. We know for a fact that even after they switched back, remnants of one another's personalities/traits remained. Couldn't Draco's love for Hermione and vice versa be explained by that? I mean, why does Draco love Hermione? We know why Harry loves her; even if we hadn't been told in DD, it's not that far a stretch to go. But for Draco Malfoy to love Hermione Granger? I need some serious evidence/reasoning. Have we gotten that?

Re: Oh I've got your ranting right here, baby

[jade-okelani.livejournal.com]

Because Draco and Hermione both turn into different characters -- unrecognizable -- when they're paired in the DT

This is also my biggest complaint with the 'ship. It's my biggest complaint with most 'ships I don't like -- when the two principal characters involved become totally different people. The integrity of their characters are sacrificed for the sake of the 'ship, because unless you make concessions and twist their characters around, the 'ship doesn't work.

That's what D/Hr is to me in the DT. And I think it does have a place in this discussion, because it goes back to the root of my dissatisfaction: Hermione's character.

I didn't always feel this way. I was fine with her in DD. I hated D/Hr on sight, the 'ship never, ever worked for me (I'm not pretending otherwise) but I still liked Hermione. I understood her confusion, and her desire to have Harry, the boy she'd been in love with for years. I wanted her to have him, because it broke my heart that he didn't love her back the way she wanted him to. I think she was written as being too physically beautiful, and not nearly annoying (to others) enough, but I could forgive it because she wasn't worshipped to the degree she is now.

The first time I began to dislike Hermione was in DS. I thought the "charmed to be in love with Draco" plot was ridiculous, and it felt like something being done for the sole reason of prolonging the D/Hr. To my mind, the D/Hr story was played out in DD, and never should have been touched on again in DV. DV belonged to H/Hr, D/G, and H/D (in whatever forms those relationships take). If DV has a weakness, to me, it's the continued presence of D/Hr. It weakens both Hermione and Draco (and not in a good way) and for me, drags the entire story down.

And DV is a good story. I don't think it deserves it.

However, I will say right now, that these are my feelings about a WIP that isn't yet complete. I don't know where Cassie's going. It could all have a purpose. Which is why I detest WIPs, and passionately hate that I'm addicted to one. *g*

Re: Oh I've got your ranting right here, baby

[(Anonymous)]

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To my mind, the D/Hr story was played out in DD, and never should have been touched on again in DV. DV belonged to H/Hr, D/G, and H/D (in whatever forms those relationships take). If DV has a weakness, to me, it's the continued presence of D/Hr. It weakens both Hermione and Draco (and not in a good way) and for me, drags the entire story down.

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*claps* My thoughts exactly! I'm so sick of scenes suggesting D/Hr in DV now. They are over. *stomps D/Hr to death*

*waves D/G flag*