While Ron and Hermione might be one of the main couples from the Harry Potter series, there are many people that don’t think they would have worked well together. Some fans find their relationship cute, others feel like they wouldn’t have worked out together in the end. In fact, even J.K. Rowling herself has mentioned that the couple doesn’t make a lot of sense in hindsight. While Ron and Hermione have some things about them that make them a good couple, they also have some toxic traits in their relationship.
Here are five ways that Hermione and Ron had a good relationship and five ways that it was toxic.
10. GOOD: THEY HAD BEEN CLOSE FRIENDS FOR MANY YEARS
For many relationships, having a foundation of friendship is one of the most important things. This is an area where Ron and Hermione show they could make it work for a long time. They were friends for many years, even during some of the most traumatic and stressful events people can go through, and they still liked each other a lot. While they might have had their issues at times, they still always worked it out and remained good friends.
9. TOXIC: THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME ARGUING
While it’s true that Ron and Hermione are good friends, this doesn’t mean their friendship was always a healthy one. These two were always arguing throughout the books. Their arguments could range from something rather small to a bigger issue. They would sometimes go days or even weeks without speaking to one another. Their bickering was so prevalent that Harry often remarked on it and asked them to knock it off. Arguing this much really isn’t healthy for a relationship.
8. GOOD: HERMIONE WAS GOOD FOR RON IN MANY WAYS
While this is a bit of a complicated point, the fact is that Hermione was rather good for Ron overall. Of course, a relationship shouldn’t be one-sided, and in many ways, Ron probably didn’t deserve her help. However, for Ron, Hermine was a great support system. She would help him with his homework for one thing. But, even more importantly, she helped Ron see injustices in the wizarding world that he was blind to having grown up around them. While he might not have always appreciated this perspective, it was good for him.
7. TOXIC: RON WAS INSECURE AND JEALOUS
While Hermione did have her flaws, and they were also really young, Ron was definitely more immature than Hermione and Harry. He was really insecure about who he was, and he could also be really jealous. He overreacted when Hermione went to the Yule Ball with Krum, and then he took his insecurity and jealousy out on her. The way Ron reacted because of his insecurities wasn’t attractive, and it definitely wasn’t healthy either.
6. GOOD: THEY COULD HELP EACH OTHER BE MORE OPEN-MINDED
In many ways, Ron and Hermione have nearly opposite personalities. While Hermione is extremely organized and serious, Ron is lazier and goes with the flow. In these ways, they can complement one another. Ron is able to help Hermione enjoy life a little and take time to laugh and have a good time. On the other hand, Hermione is able to help Ron take things more seriously in order to be more mature and focused.
5. TOXIC: HERMIONE FELT SHE WAS SMARTER THAN RON
While Hermione might not have meant to be condescending, there were times when she definitely was. Given that Ron was immature often, this might be understandable, but it definitely didn’t make him feel good. Hermione sometimes assumed that Ron wasn’t as capable or intelligent as she and Harry were. While Ron sometimes took these moments and blew them out of proportion, Hermione sometimes needed to be a little kinder.
4. GOOD: THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER
The things that the trio in Harry Potter went through are quite immense. They were only preteens and teenagers when they faced things such as monsters and even Voldemort himself. Ron and Hermione were there for Harry through so many things. This bond that they forged through supporting Harry and each other through these traumatic events is definitely a strong one. Because of this, they likely would be able to navigate the tough things that come up in their relationship, too.
3. TOXIC: RON COULD BE MEAN TO HERMIONE
Ron was honestly kind of a jerk sometimes. He was a really tactless person all around, and he often took out his anger and annoyances on Hermione. His insecurity and jealousy could also make him mean. This isn’t a healthy dynamic to have, and it continues the harmful trope in media that men who like women will show it by being mean to them. This is definitely one of the most toxic things about their relationship.
2. GOOD: THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT EACH OTHER
While their relationship was far from perfect, the truth is that Ron and Hermione did care about one another a lot. They might have had their bad moments where they didn’t get along, but they always stayed friends in the end. This is because they both cared about one another and making sure that the other was okay. Caring about another person and their wellbeing is one of the most important things in a relationship.
1. TOXIC: THE CURSED CHILD SUGGESTS HERMIONE WAS NOTHING WITHOUT RON
One of the strangest things about the exploration of the adult characters in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was showing what would have happened to Hermione if Ron hadn’t been with her. Many fans felt like this characterization wasn’t fair to Hermione at all, and they don’t think that being with Ron was what inspired her to be an accomplished career woman and happy person. This development of their story is a good indication that the way their relationship is written isn’t that healthy.
