The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one brimming with brilliant characters and their relationship possibilities, and the shipping of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger has long been the subject of debate for fans. There are those who love the idea of the two together as a couple, the "Harmony" and "Harmione" shippers, and those who see them as nothing more than a supportive platonic relationship.
Although Harry ends up with Ginny and Hermione with Ron, fans can't help but create their own content, fan fiction, memes, and text posts about what could have been between The Chosen One and The Brightest Witch of Her Age.
Goblet Of Fire Book Expectations Vs Movie Reality
Movies that stick closely to the books are mostly winners in the eyes of fans, but they always miss something. In the case of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, some small details concerning Harry and Hmerione's interactions were either omitted or changed in the film.
In the novel, there are more intimate moments between the two. For example, Hermione bringing Harry breakfast because she knows he doesn't want to sit in the Great Hall with the entire school, and Hermione teaching Harry the summoning charm for the first challenge. Although Harry's reaction to Hermione's Yule Ball entrance wasn't exactly a jaw drop, it was definitely adorable. As chazhhrmemes points out, there was the expectation and then there was the reality.
Hermione's Laugh
Harry and Hermione are best friends - two of The Golden Trio. Great romance finds its roots in friendship - first liking the person and then loving them. Harry and Hermione supported each other through their ups and downs, bonded over their muggle upbringing, gave each other advice concerning almost all of their experiences and challenges, respected each other, and had natural chemistry.
They warmed each other emotionally with their presence. Slick-as-hell's textpost here brings up Harry's fight against Voldemort's possession in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and how Hermione was there for him, fighting for him, even if she didn't know it, and all it took was the thought of her.
The Missed Opportunity
Shippers of Harry and Hermione knew it all along and saw all the signs, and yet, Hermione and Harry weren't endgame. Even after the books were finished and the films released, "Harmione" fans stood strong. And years later, they were told that what they wanted actually should have been what happened.
When even J.K. Rowling admitted that they should have ended up together, it's almost like a win, but as isabellekillian mentions, it's a bittersweet one.
So Close Yet So Far
There are seven Harry Potter novels in the series: seven books of content, descriptions, moments. To a fan who loves a couple that isn't canon, this makes for seven books of opportunity. Harry and Hermione had plenty of "Harmione" moments in the last two books of the series, especially when it came to their time hunting for Horcruxes.
If J.K. Rowling hadn't been writing with Hermione and Ron in mind, the last two books would have been crucial to Harry and Hermione's relationship. Chazhhrmemes summarizes this with, "We were on the verge of greatness. We were this close." Harry and Hermione's friendship was capable of easily transitioning to something more, as their friendship was already on the brink of being romantic, for many reasons.
Hermione Noticed
Hermione and Harry's relationship is one of mutual adoration, admiration, and respect. The two are attentive to the small actions and differences of the other. When Harry's scar irritated him, Donnastroy points out that Hermione noticed and she was the only one who did.
Hermione saw something was affecting her friend and she didn't brush it off. The books and films are full of these moments - small instances of connection that only the two share.
Right Order Of The Universe
Fanfics are an extension of any universe. It allows for a fan's imagination to go wild, where anything is possible. Fleshed-out characters are given endless scenarios and fans write their own stories, expand on given moments in the series, and use gifs and stills from the films to make all their shipping dreams possible.
To many, "Harmione" feels natural - more natural than Harry and Ginny or Hermione and Ron. Petiteetgamine uses Harry's reaction to Hermione at the Yule Ball to justify their feelings.
Harry Noticed
The fight against the troll is one of the earliest and most pivotal moments for The Golden Trio. When Harry and Ron first meet on the train, there is an instant connection, but their friendship with Hermione needed a push in the right direction.
They couldn't see how brilliant she was, especially Ron. But it was Harry who thought of her at the crucial moment, Harry who saw the possible danger she was in. His mind went to her when the panic of a troll overtook the school and its students. Hms-harmony-discord quotes the Philosopher's Stone text, showing that Harry was the only one who noticed.
Fanciable
When Harry became Quidditch Captain in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, he didn't understand why so many people were attending the trials to get on the team. Hermione's response? "It's not Quidditch that's popular, it's you! You've never been more interesting and, frankly, you've never been more fanciable."
At that moment, Ron "gagged on a large piece of kipper." Ron expresses his jealousy several times throughout the novels and films in subtle ways, but it was the Horcrux that finally broke him, making him further suspicious of Harry and Hermione's close bond. Chazhhrmemes uses this popular meme format for this easy-to-forget yet canon "Harmione" scene.
Harry & Hermione
Emotions that cannot be placed into words find their home in music. Slytherinfiction gives this incredibly beautiful piece called "Harry and Hermione," by Nicholas Hooper its rightful attention.
The instrumental song transcends what could be seen in Harry and Hermione's relationship - the ethereal tones, the harp, the wistful longing, the great tragedy, the harmony of the simple notes, and subtle extremes of depth and fragility. It's a friendship of support, a relationship on the brink of romance if it was written to be so, and a shared longing for someone else they cannot have.
The Dance
The dance scene between Harry and Hermione inside the tent after Ron left wasn't in the novel, but it was something Rowling approved of in the film. For "Harmione" shippers it was a gorgeous moment that showed their doomed chemistry - two characters whose stories were already written, yet their pull towards each other too difficult to deny.
As Chazhhrmemes shows here, "Harmione" shippers were loving the moment, while canon shippers looked on in cringing bewilderment.