So the book ended on a sick fanficish note. We lost, Harry/Ginny married with kids.......Ron/Hermione married with kids.


SPOILERS










But please let us not forget the two most beautiful chapters JK herself wrote full of the more H/HR goodness than we can imagine. Harry holding Hermiones hand at the grave in Gordrics hollow, Hermione summoning a wreath, them leaving together while his arm is around her shoulder and Hers around his waist, Holding on to eachother, Hermione cleaning his face after the attack, Him worrying that she had got no sleep, and my favorite part....

Her touching his head and him closing his eyes at her touch......so beautiful....In my opinion these chapters were the most romantic in the book. Please dont bash it when it has given us this tribute to H/HR, we should never forget...

Yeah...I...I'm not sure why Rowling included those moments if they weren't gonna end up together!!!

I totally squeed with the whole hand touching his head and the whole Godrics Hollow scene in the graveyard. It was so romantic snowy...and she looked up to his face and whispered (or said) that it must be christmas eve.

I think it's one of the most romantic scenes they've had. They gripped each other's hands without a worry. No awkwardness.

I'm just disappointed that they were in their Polyjuice state...no Dan/Emma love...

I really hope they include that Horcrux scene with Horcrux-Harry and Horcrux-Hermione kissing

Yeah...I was kinda disappointed at the way Ron and Hermione got together. It could've been better. They could've at least been more considerate towards Harry.

Never mind. Roll on the H/Hr scenes in HBP...and DH.
We can still squee about those

xxx

Oh I forgot to add

Please NO RON BASHING

After page 310 I was very... Very surprised. I honestly thought things were gonna go in a different direction than H/G.

Alas, I was wrong. Still, very nice 'service' in those chapters.

It's kind of ironic that JK is most romantic when writing a pair she doesn't intend to be 'romantic'.

I am writing again what I wrote in my review of the book. The best written, most romantic scenes in this entire book were HHr Does JKR realize she does that, I wonder?

Ain't that the truth?
Every H/Hr mentioned above was beyond romantic.
Alas, theres always fanfic!

Plenty of room for fanfics, really.

There was, after all, a huge stretch of time where Harry+Herm were left alone in the wild. For all JR says about writing teenagers 'realistically'... That part where NOTHING HAPPENED or was glossed over seemed pretty unrealistic.

So go to it!

Well I think that it would be better if they weren't in the Polyjuice state. If the director doesn't think it's important enough to keep them in that state, then they might go as Harry and Hermione (or Dan and Emma).

Yeah I wish the Horcrux scene would happen too. They should put it on the trailer. The movie would sell.

Oh and IMHO, it's completely pointless to put in all of these scenes if Harry and Hermione weren't going to end up together. Hmmm.... maybe JKR intended for them to have an affair. Or maybe it's just my delusional mind.

It's your delusional mind.

I'm pretty sure JR put in those scenes so as not to TOTALLY put off those who like H/Hr from buying the next book series she puts out.

i hate jkr right now for what she did. how could she kill distory such a beautiful friendship and love

Finally somebody that feels the way that I do. I don't get how the H/Hr shippers can be happy about this book or accept it. I just don't.

yeah i loved the harry and hermione mments in the book. it made me realize exactly what i have always like about these characters.even though they didnt get together im still happy. its weird

I hated the epilogue and I feel cheated. Will never reread the HP series except for Books 1-3. Who wants my copy of Deathly Hallows?

Hi! It's my first time to post on this forum - normally I'm just a "stalker" who loves to read everyone's shared opinions about HARMONY because I'm totally a HHR shipper! But after DH came out the Epilogue totally left me feeling empty and cheated.

I guess there's no point in b*tching and moaning because what's done is done but that doesn't mean HARMONY is dead! Let JKR have her ending because we can stilll have ours in fanfiction!

I implore all of the wonderful authors to PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE continue writing your fabulous HHR fictions! Don't let DH disenchant you from the truth and love that is HARMONY -- let's have them live on in our own creative writings and imaginations. The HP train might have made it to the final stop by the HHR engine still has plenty of steam!

(Besides, who says that H/G and R/Hr can't divorce?)

if her plan was to stop fanfic, IT BL**DY BACKFIRED! if anything, this book has fueled the minds of authors (i actually already have ideas) to write BETTER stuff than she has... it's like she tried to put a fire out with alcohol... oh yeah, people on portkey are so gonna give her a run for her --no, OUR-- money!

Well, after getting the book & finding that the spoilers I read were true, I think it help to soften the blow when I read the real book.
But it was so surprising to see all the most wonderful H/Hr moments of the whole series in that book.Who would of thought that, she could write such wonderful stuff about the H/Hr ship that didn't happen. I wonder if any of it was to try & make us delusional people feel better, it certainly worked for me.
I hope these uplifting H/Hr moments keep you wonderful authors going cause it will be our only way of keeping what we trully beleive is the best ship in the series alive.

There are some great fanfic's out there containing book 7 spoilers. I guess When I read the Epilogue it didn't quite hurt as much as it did now, it hit me like a bunch of blocks.
Who cares about the ending? Load of crap anyways.

Also Affair fics, are HOT!

Btw- R/HR, AND H/G was badly written and H/hr though they didn't end up with eachother is a beautiful example of love. And I sure hope as hell that The Horcrux scene is filmed, the chemistry between Emma and Dan will have us sweating!

I'll tell you what I'm happy about. JK wrote such a romantic scene between H/Hr. THeir wasn't any such scene between H/G or R/Hr and that exactly is wat makes me happy.

I'm actually glad she didn't write H/Hr.. I mean look at the way she's written H/G

We had our HHr moments. Ironic that the song on my mp3 is Hold On by Jet

What irks me is that the ending seemed so fanfiction-ish. Am I the only one? Some of the scenes left me creeped out. Kind of like "didn't that happen in that other fic?". I'm not saying the book is a fan fiction rip off. She *is* the author. But some parts did make me stop and check if I was reading the book or a computer screen...

I'm torn between continuing fanfiction or not. That was it wasn't it? I'll continue reading and reviewing. But I don't know if I feel like or can write much more after this.

It was a good way to end the series. I may not agree with the ships. I may not like the whole OBHWF consept. I'd be lying if I didn't say I didn't like the rest. Ron really grew in this one. In fact they all did. It was a good book.

I'm willing to admit it's one of her better ones. Yes it is going on my most liked HP book list. The only thing I have to say is that book six seemed a bit rushed. A bit let's just get this one over with-ish.

I totally refused to be brought down by the epilogue in DH. For me, true love which means H/Hr prevails forever.

I did read the spoiler ending and when I got the book, I just flipped to the end (I know.. I know.. couldn't help it). When I saw the spoilers are true, my heart dropped. I glared at the book for 1 hour before I begrudgingly started.

When the H/Hr moments came, I was so giddy with happiness that my roommate thought I had gone mad! But those little moment between Harry and Hermione proved how they truly are made for each other.

I've came up with a lot of reasons but I still can't make up my mind on why JKR would write such romantic scenes between Harry and Hermione if she didn't want them to be together. I guess I'll never know.

You glared at the book? Well, I cried like a baby and could barely read the first chapter when I realized that the crappy epilogue "spoiler" was actually the real deal. Albus Severus? Scorpius? Lily part deux? James part deux? Waaaaa...

The funny thing is, there were so many beautiful H/Hr moments in this book. It's almost as if JKR had Ron leave just so she could give us delusional H/Hr shippers something to hold on to. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The real ending of DH was the graveyard scene in Godric's Hallow. H/Hr was so beautiful and intimate and loving in that scene. That's the way I chose to remember DH instead of that crappy epilogue.

I didn't stop AWW-ing for about 10 minutes. These moments, the ones that truly made an impact in Harry's life, were only known by Hermione and himself. Even if Ginny ended up with Harry, she (Hermione) is a person whom Harry cannot continue to survive if lost.

oh and HHr-Quotes from DH v.o1:

You know I'm seriously considering if I should tear the epilogue away! Maybe then when I have kids, I can read it to them and add my own epilogue!

I just finished. I feel... I don't know how I feel.

In a way I really want to say that I hated that book. That JK should be punished forever for what she's done to the idea of true love. But I can't.

I liked the book - I actually liked it. It was actionpacked, clever, excititing and it answered all of our questions. Right until I read the epilogue.

That really was The Epilogue From Hell. I've never read anything so cheesy (including all of the fics I've read.)
But the rest of the book - wow! And I think we got our share of Harmony moments - I really think she portrayed the relationsship between Harry and Hermione beautifully!

So it didn't end up Harmony or Red Moon - but I still think that she wrote Harry and Hermione beautifully. That is true love. All those moments they had. That is true love. They didn't end up together, so what?
At least she didn't ruin the amazing friendship they have - they're still our Harry and Hermione, married or not married. I don't care. I love them just as they are.

I tottaly agree! She didnt write anything as romantic as these scenes in the entire series! Its brilliant that one of the most emotional moments for Harry was shared with Hermione...holding onto his hands...comforting him. I was so pleasantly shocked that I had to stop reading a squee for a bit. After it all came crashing down. I cried at first, but then I realised that it was us Harmonians who got the most romantic scenes! Its hard to be depressed while we know that.

I guess that all we can say, with a good reason BTW, is that JKR wasn't coherent enough towards such a beautiful scene she wrote herself.

That particular scene ECHOES IN ETERNITY by its natural beauty and unique display of romantism. Of course I'm not satisfied with the ending, but I guess somebody WILL soon ask that question about why she didn't give (or want to give) a better shot at H/Hr if she was able to write such a memorable scene for them.

i still cant bring myself to read it well i have done some checking on ebay and amazon and in total their are 1345 used copies for sale after saturdays release i though you guys should know

It is with a heavy heart that I finally make my way onto the forum to post about my heartbreak over the ending of the series, and H/Hr not happening. In my opinion I was convinced that when Ron left Harry and Hermione to go on the rest of the journey alone, secluded in a tent mind you, that something was bound to happen. But it seems again that J.K. wanted us to get our hopes up just to throw R/Hr and H/G at us in the end. As much as I loved the book, and I teared up at parts it felt like a big cliched let down at the end to have it be OBHWF in the end. I mean I just couldn't help but picture it H/Hr and their kids meeting R/L's. I just feel like the way she ended the much heated shipping question was predicatble, and disappointing. How can one of the best relationships in literature have gone without it ending the way it was supposed to? H/Hr are soulmates as far as I'm concerned and I just can't understand why J.K. ever wanted to end her beautiful book series this way. It was my fault really for getting my hopes up and thinking I was right. I really believed she was fooling everyone, but alas, I was wrong. It's just as well...my favorite book series of all time, and my favorite ship couldn't possibly have ended the way it should have...that would have been too convienent haha.



I agree to that...here here for good fanfics to look forward to! We'll just call ourselves "The Delusional Ones Who Were Forced Into Delusion By The Cunning, Deceptively Brilliant Though She Is, Author J.K. Rowling." I will always love H/Hr, and I will forever believe that everyone who read the series was misled on how it really ought to have been.

When I first found out that the book would end in the way it did i was somewhat devastated. I was mad as hell. But then after I read the chapter titled "Godrics Hollow" I realized that it was the most comforting thing i had
ever read. It made me realize that it didnt matter anymore. The shipping war is over sure, but In a subtle way everyone wins. I really rather admire Rowling for this. I'm not sure if all of these affectionate little moments had been planned from the beginning, or if she slipped them in to tell us Harmony shippers that she does respect us.

I still think Harry's heart truly belongs to Hermione. The ending to the series only made my beliefs stronger. Many people would try to tell me, no no harry and ginny ended up together as did hermione and ron. You lost, its over. Its there in writing. But honestly I have the right to interpret the books the way i want to. And I choose to think that Rowling ended the series the way she did because she herself was truly a H/G and R/Hr shipper. And I really cant blame her. It was her decision and she chose the way she did because of the way she sided. But it really makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that she kept our spirits alive with these small entries of affection. She let the reader stop and interpret it the way they wanted to.

The ending to this seven series adventure was truly based on the authors shipping. She wanted Harry and Ginny and Ron and hermione together from the beggining and we must respect it because in the end the only truth to it lies in her hands and writing. However I think instead of being angry and depressed we should be rather joyful that she managed to please everyone in this last installment. She easily could have directed all romantic interest toward the ships that would end up together. Instead she put these subtle friendly yet romantic moments in for our enjoyment.

So I say we throw aside our hurt and anger and focus on what JK did for us. Whether she knows it or not she kept our spirits alive. Not with the lustful relationships in which the book ended with but with the rather subtle romantic point of view that is HARMONY!

I think a lot of people, including myself, felt cheated and confused about the ships is because while the most obvious is R/Hr, H/Hr had a lot more and more significant scenes.

Part of this is because most of the story is in Harry's point of view and therefore, he does not witness the romantic sides of R/Hr that supposedly develops their relationship up to DH. And the problem is that we, the readers, only see the scenes of with Harry and Hermione which can be interpreted as relationship-worthy when JKR meant this to be seen as friendship.

As the closest girl to Harry, Hermione is the one who shares most of his experiences in the books, while Ginny barely does anything that is important to the plot of the books and does not share his experiences with him. [Funnily enough, we don't get nearly as much romantic imagery from H/G as we do H/Hr, even when looking through the books without shipping in mind. H/G would also be easier to accept and more believable if she helped him more along the way but we don't really see much of her for someone who has so much talent and could help Harry so much...]

As a reader, I felt so confused in the first half of the book because JKR seems to alternate between R/Hr and H/Hr scenes. The part that convinced me that it was going to end R/Hr was when Harry said that he loved Hermione like a sister. I hadn't read the spoilers before DH though I got the gist from the atmosphere around Portkey. After I read that part, I put down the book for a couple of hours until I couldn't stand it anymore (I wanted to know exactly how it finishes). I was so disappointed because I had been so sure that it would end H/Hr.

What cheered me up though was reading someone's comments from Portkey saying how there were more Harry/Luna and Harry/Draco moments in DH than Harry/Ginny... LOL. (remember Draco "clambered up [the broom] behind Harry" and Draco "screaming and holding Harry so tightly it hurt" and Harry rescuing Draco TWICE.

since English is my second language, I've just finish DH. I'm H/Hr Shipper and I love trio, so I have to say I like most of the book except chapter of 19 years later and some "Ginny" forgive me, I can't stand Ginny from the very first

the book was written pretty well - I have to admit, even though the fact about Albus D. is a litte bit shock, but I like that way, after all Albus is a good person he knows how to fix his mistake

But I don't like JK anymore, she killed Sirius, Albus and now Fred, Lupin, Tonks ( so bad after they have their first son) .... My heart is too heavy, and terrible thing is how JK build H/G ... I feel like throwing up everytime I read Ginny's line

and how come Draco is end-up like that, where is Draco I used to know

Forget that stupid epilog. I didn`t even read it. Lol.

I mean who really wants to know what happens 19 years later? Besides that`s year 2016 anyway. So plenty of time for JKR to change that chapter.

And yes! Harry and Hermione have the most romantic scenes in the book! Godric`s Hollow and those two chapters after that are simply amazing!

I read some comments in other threads when people talk about the "destruction" of H/Hr frienship... I don't understand. I don't see that.

What I see is two persons who are placed in a very difficult context, having to hide all the time, under constant threat, with troubles finding something to eat and being deprived of sleep, and for a good part with a Horcrux playing with their minds. This is extraordinarily stressful. Yet both stick together. Hermione could have decided to go with Ron and leave Harry alone. She did not.

They are together the whole time, they help each other, they have hard times but they get over it, and they have very intense moments. The strenght of their relationship totally pushes OBHWF aside. Totally. Except for a few parts parts, you can almost forget about it.

Because, if you except the epilogue (which is what, 4 pages over 600-so), and the short paragraphs about the H/G kiss, the R/Hr kiss and when Harry tells Ron that Hermione is like his sister, DH pretty much revolves around Harry and Hermione. OK, not romantically, which is a shame, but still... there is something they share that they don't share with anybody else.

So, yes, despite the crapilogue, I liked DH. And you know what? Look at the way JKR wrote her romantic pairings. Poorly written, at best. She's way better at writing friendship, so maybe it's better that she kept H/Hr that way. (Although I would have liked to really see them together... really.)

I agree that the Godric's Hollow scene is pure gold. This is the heart of the book, and my favorite part.

Mod-Note: This is cleary a topic that belongs to the DH Forum. Considered a lot of us still haven't read the newest book yet. Please respect this in future....we do have a special Forum for Spoilers. I move it

~PhoenixWtiter

I agree with blueangel. its best that Rowling focused more on the friendship aspect of the trio than the romantic parts, because honestly, the romantic scenes were pathetic.
I think its more like "that's the way things are..." when it comes to the romance. actually, the more I think about it, the romantic relationships were rather shallow in all of the series. My theory is that Rowling simply does not understand romantic relationships as well as friendship, thus she kept it that way, and the romance was something that was a secondary-tertiary plot line (if there is such a thing)
but the action, even goosebump scenes (like house elves running around with knives and the DA returning to fight) made Dh worth it

Well look at the imagery of the H/HR scenes at Godrics Hollow. She writes the friendship scenes romantically and the romance scenes unromantically? Doesnt make sense...

I like looking at the Godrics Hollow scene and the headbrush scene as finnaly being something more than just friendship. I feel that both of them finnaly realise that they need eachothers touch to feel comfortable. They need eachothers support. Though the whole thing was short lived...if Ron hadnt come back Im sure there would have been so romance epiphanies.

The best tribute we can give to Harry/Hermione is that we never gave up. We gave OBHWF a real fight, a proper run for their money and scared them to death. We didnt get it in the end but I for one have taken more from this experience and this corner of the fandom than just UST and chest monsters. Shipping aside, DH was good, far superior to HBP. I think it is more romantic that we all see H/Hr because, as JKR didnt mean it, it just happened naturally, influenced by unseen forces. I like the thought of that

'ear 'ear. Though to be honest I wasn't expecting a good ending to H/Hr. I did think their friendship wasn't important once Ron returned though.
But hey, people are still writing fanfics and that is what is important.

I agree also that Godrics Hollow is the most memorable and beautiful chapter of nearly all the HP series. Harry and Hermione, whether romantically involved or just platonic friends, are obviously easy for Jo to write about. Actions don't have to explained and dialogue is sometimes not needed.

I also noticed that while Harry is at King's Cross, the in-between place, he barely talks about the other characters, there is however a mention of Ms. Granger, lol

And that is the essence of Harry and Hermione's realationship.

Well...the only thing I can do to honor Harry James Potter and Hermione Granger's (Whatever her real middle name is....) long-lasting love that could have developed into this era's greatest love-adventure story, is to explain what could have gone wrong?....why was that closeness at Godric's Hollow turned into total coldness at the end chapters, not only the epilogue, but the nearly end chapters, when we all know that it's Ron and Hermione.

The one thing that make their relationship goes into the state of retreat and no recovery is that accident at Bathilda's house. It was not necessary, we get that Voldemort has been trying to kill Harry all the time, however, I do believe that this was put in by JK as a way to break Harry off Hermione.

I've been trying to sell this theory since yesterday....hear me out!!!
**************************
They were *this* close to come to the long-awited epiphany of their non-platonic, rather romantic, love on each other...or at least on Harry's part...at Godric's Hollow...but then she(J.K.) threw in the wand-breaking incident, then the Ron coming back saving Harry's life, Ron and his 'insecurities', then of course...Harry didn't have enough time to process all these new incidents into his usual discourses with himself....before he blurt out Ron's comfort with the "I love her like my sister" comment. And locked the epiphany room and throw away the key.....Only to comfort Ron.

His wand is significant.....In my opinion, it both signifies the only thing left with him that he has since the first trip to Diagon Alley, Hedwig dies out off the blue...I think this is why she dies....so that when someone breaks his wand...he can go all mental about it.

But this is not just someone, this is HERMIONE!!! Of all people, or any living being in this universe.....We all, along with Harry, thought that it could never be Hermione to, by accident or not, break something that important to him. That's probably make him feel all mad and disappointed, that's why he blurt out the "I love her like a sister" comment, apparently he is seeking some comfort from Ron.

Had the wand still remain....because they didn't have that fight in that Bathilda's house...I think Harry and Hermione would elope and get married right there! in that church!!! Right on a white-stary-christmas eve....and then share a kiss that will make everyone goes "Ginny who?", or perhaps not the marriage, but they'll be snogging the living daylight off each other at that statue of his family.....

So sad that she manipulate the situation with such tact, and such sly method to break them apart.
*************
For Hermione also, although not really effected by the wand incident, I believe she still loves him...but just can't say it, because her guilt from actually broke his wand....so she could just get around and says that, just leave us with the head-brushing.

Then we have suddenly the Return of Ron!....And to her amazement, Harry took HIS side.....this would as well as equal to what wand-breaking does to Harry.....After all...it's her who stayed with him. Hermione must have been so disappointed with Harry too, she stayed with him, she CHOOSE him, couldn't he CHOOSE her?.....I'd be mad if I were her.

So those events led them to withdraw their love to each other, and when we hit the torture at the Malfoy Manor, I think Harry subconsciously put Hermione into Ron's hand more than his, and swallow the fact that they are together in the battle of Hogwarts.

They must have love each other so much to turn those into disappointment, and hurt themselves so much. I feel so sorry for them to never reach to the long-awaited epiphany. The characters may have their own lives and courses, but it was the author's intent. She's smart to make it natural...Give them too much of something to process.....then there!!! We have Ron, the best friend who left,......superRon, parseltongue, and elves-lovers.

All I'm trying to say is, they DO love each other too much to be "just" siblings. But this series of disappointments, planted by JK Rowlings, is what torn them apart, and give turn those love into some angsty tension we had in the later half of the book. They weren't even talking after the war's over!!!..let alone the epilogue.
***********************
All I can do to honor their love, that never get to happen is this....to spread this hypothesis out far and wide in the Harmony world as possible. Get people to talk about it, think about it, nullify it, and present us with better theories.

But above all, to prove that for the past 10 years, we weren't wrong, it just that JK never makes us right. She takes such a low road taring H/Hr apart (Put us on the side with Voldy????...come on!!!!) We've been holding higher moral fibers than her for the past 10 years.

Be proud, fellow harmonians, Be very proud.

*21 gun salute*

I agree with 90% of what most of you stated regarding DH (Which I call Definitely Harmony!)

The one sad issue I have with DH is the handling of the Lupin's.

She willingly (again!) caused an infant child to lose his mother and father and be raised by a relative. Granted this time around - Teddy is raised (I'm assuming since we are not TOLD) by his grandmother Andromeda and spends quite a bit of time with his Godfather Harry.

How could she do that to Teddy (and to Harry) she created a Harry the Next Generation!

I'll continue to write H/Hr ... I think that DH is much more romantic than HBP which was really bad.

My last comment is that Ginny told one of her children to give Neville her/our love ... that was the first proclaimation of love for the teens and it came from Ginny TO NEVILLE!!!! *rolls eyes*

There's more passion in a glance or a look between Harry and Hermione than there ever was between any one else in the series of books.

this jumped at me when i first saw it he thought of her first. a small squee moment for me

Um exactly. Does JKR do this on purpose? She could've easily written it this way.




Why isn't Ginny listed first if she's his true wub? Loves her like a sister, my a**. Anyone want to write an essay mocking this ridiculous line?

I'm glad someone else spotted this. I mentioned on another thread that this apparantly blatant Harmonising of the text seems quite cruel. The author picks the words order, constructs the make-up of scenes and character thoughts. It peeves me that as Harry is going to die JKR has his first remorseful thought directed at Hermione. I can see no good reason for it to be this way besides a sly taunt

100% with you on that one. We Harmonians read between the lines and based on that we grew to love this most harmonious couple. And as someone else said on this thread, someone WILL eventually ask; "Hey, why Not H/Hr?"

I quite agree with you. I almost dare say she was tempted to go HHr in those chapters...



I completely agree with you especially on the friendship thing...never seen it crumbling, really...and yes, i'm sad HHr didn't romantically ahppen...but in some scenes, like the graveyard, the atmosphere is so romantic, it's almost like it happened. Then we also have our HHr kiss thanks to dear ol' Tom...

As for her writing romantic relationships badly...well, we should advice her, "Hey JK, when you want to write a romantic relationship, just write a friendship like Harry and Hermione's, and then you add a little kiss, and it's done"

Thankx for reminding us of these scenes. I couldn't stop squeeing after reading them these were according to me the best H/Hr scenes written in the entire series. They were a beautiful example of their relationship. Harry and Hermione share a special relationship and it's too bad that Rowling didn't realize what a strong relationship she was writing about.



I absolutely loved reading these parts!!!!!!!!

Scenes between Harry and Hermione were written way better than H/G or R/Hr.

Libra





That's what I noticed on a number of ocassions in DH. If Ginny is his true love why think of Hermione first

Ginny didn't even have much to do in DH. And the part that I loved reading was how in the end Harry confides in Hermione and Ron!? .....NOT Ginny

Libra

Absolutely. Right up to the end of Chapter 36, I also held out that hope. Hermione "just a sister" to Harry? So was Ginny once. Hermione kissing Ron when he suggested evacuating thehouse-elves? Out of character for her to be so impulsive; plus the gesture didn't necessarily represent a sea change in Ron's basic attitude toward the creatures (someone in another thread pointed out that he said nothing about rights or freedoms for them).

And I said this previously in my Chapter Discussion post on the "crapilogue," but it's also rather ironic that there, she had two people who were supposedly meant to be only friends behave as less than that.

Harry and Hermione, in this scene, were practically invisible and inaudible to each other! Was this to emphasize that they belonged with the spouses they had -- that they had outgrown their clearly more-than-siblingly-or-friendly feelings toward each other? Or, as I asked there, was JKR not quite as sure about the rightness of this ending as she might profess, and therefore projecting her doubts onto those two?

I said there, too, that their sense of honor and duty would probably prevent them from cheating on said spouses -- but that I wasn't sure about Ron or Ginny. Would opportunity be all those two needed?

Yes, it's very interesting that Harry and Hermione were looking at each other when the officiant at Bill and Fleur's wedding declared the latter pair "bonded for life"!

And JKR might not presently be planning a Book Eight, but as I reminded Chaos_Rise in another thread, there was also a time when Francis Ford Coppola wasn't planning a GODFATHER III.

I'll tell you how I see the premise. A band of -- wait for it -- neo-Death Eaters, hitherto shrugged off as comic-opera figures by the Ministry (sound familiar to you history buffs?), go on a bloody rampage throughout wizarding Britain. Their principal targets are known "blood traitors" -- like the Weasleys! Not only Ron and Ginny, but a few other members of what someone on this site called "the Holy Family of the Wizarding World (Jeanas compares them to the "sacred" cows of Hinduism)," fall by their hand -- probably including at least one each of Harry's and Ron's children. Harry and Hermione, of course, help defeat the miscreants and in the process discover, as we've done, that the bond they had with each other was something far beyond what they'd had with their respective spouses. Maybe they think back to Bill and Fleur's wedding...

Hitler's been gone for 62 years, but neo-N@zis (why must Portkey censor that word?) have been with us for most of that time. Why then, a scant 19 years after Voldemort's fall, could neo-Death Eaters not exist in Harry's world? Didn't Dumbledore tell him in Book Six that "evil never dies"? Of course, this begs the question of who would lead that bunch -- Draco, maybe?

Also in that Chapter Discussion post, I wondered whether Harry wasn't a bit like Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler), the titular hero of THE WEDDING SINGER. Those of you who have seen the film remember that Robbie's fiancee Linda left him waiting at the altar, then a day later broke their engagement, explaining in part that Robbie was "so anxious to get married, you didn't care who you got married to." So I fear it was with Harry: between the horror of his life with the Dursleys and the losses of Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Fred and possibly Dumbledore, Harry was so anxious to have a family that he put too little thought into whom he should have said family with. This might explain why his attitude toward girls seemed to someone in another thread to be just as shallow as Ron's ("gotta be lookers").

And others might think JKR has made the Weasleys a "Holy Family" or a herd of "sacred cows," but to me she's been elevating them to the status of a royal family. Harry's marriage to Ginny has come to remind me of a prince who marries more out of duty than out of love: they were his favorite family, they'd all but adopted him, so aside from not looking too far beyond them for his life-partner, perhaps he also felt an obligation (albeit misplaced) to them...

Could agree more with you.....I explained that to a Heron friend of mine and, of course, she adamently denied it. But the fact remains, the Herons wouldn't admit it if it crawled up their arses and came out their mouths.