I was reading some semi-crap fic today entitled Shake Me (I found it on jbern's favorite list) and it struck me that in most fics where Harry doesn't attend Hogwarts and transfers in, Ron and Hermione are illustrated as the leaders of Gryffindor, and sometimes the school.

Given that the Golden Trio is only really renowned for their adventures, that Harry brought Ron and Hermione together, and that Ron is pretty worthless, I think it would be interesting if an author decided to actually explore the relationships between Harry's year mates.

I can see Hermione either getting a little more relaxed and being friends with Parvati/Lavender while also a good student, or alternatively being friends with Neville and boosting his study / ego when he learns from her. Seamus and Dean would probably be the same as canon, and I can see Ron as a loner or tagging along with the twins.

What I can't see, and I don't see why authors keep doing this, is Ron and Hermione as friends or a couple, and leading the house, or Hermione being good friends with Ravenclaw's in the library. Acquaintances, study partners, yes, actual good friends? No.

Opinions?

 

For the most part people read Harry Potter fan fiction to read about Harry Potter, not to learn that random Ravenclaw #26 likes the the smell of freshly cut grass.

Backstory is good, if its interesting.Try and keep it Harry centric.

 

The way I see it, Ron would tag along with Fred and George before he gets fed up for being the butt of every joke/prank. This would lead to him to either seek friendship with Dean and Seamus. If so, he'd just be some regular student who would only care about deadlines and passing marks. On the other hand, he could be a loner who'd still be the but of every Gred and Forge joke/prank (think of Snape and Marauder interaction). Hermione sees Ron's predicament, and having a strong moral compass, chooses to defend Ron against his brothers. This can then lead to either Ron resenting Hermione (because of his pride) or Ron maturing earlier than he did in canon and gain a friend in Hermione.

Neville will be same old Neville getting picked on by almost everyone. Depending on which Ron (among those stated above) emerges, the relationship dynamics between Neville and Hermione could vary. If Ron doesn't end up friends with Hermione, then there's a chance Neville will be really close friends with Hermione (who always defends him against other people) and seemingly come out as a timid/laid back personality but in actuality is silent but confident. In this situation he and Hermione would likely end up as a couple.

On the other hand, if Ron and Hermione became friends then Ron, Hermione and Neville would be the Gryffindor Trio who would be confident/responsible.

Other than that I really don't want to think anymore. This just wasted me 15 minutes of productive time writing my thesis paper.

 

The only way I can see Hermione being without Harry to be her friend is as a loner for the most point. Ron, for all his failings, at least has some common ground with his year mates with his Quidditch obsession. Hermione has a grand total of absolutely nothing in common with anyone else in Gryffindor, that I can see at least.

In the later years she might be a bit more popular but I just can't see her and Ron being friends in any way shape or form... At least until she grows some funbags . Harry was literally the glue that kept them together in the early years, and without him to act as that Ron would likely as not have continued bullying her.

 

Personally, If it had happened as per canon -

Hermione would be dead and in eighteen pieces after being brutally ripped apart by the troll in the girls dunnies, and sharing an S-bend with Myrtle.

Ron would be in St Mungos with his memory permanently removed, and Lockhart and Ginny would both be dead in the Chamber...unless Neville grew some balls in the interrum and saved the day... otherwise Ron and Ginny would have both died.. Ginny from no way out of the chamber with out Fawkes or Harry, Ron from not having Fawkes when he stabbed the dairy with the fang he had to yank out of his buttocks. (assuming he didn't just try and stare down the basilisk like the complete moron he is).
"I love you Ron, but I am NOT going to suck the venom out of THAT" cried Ginny.