It's been implied by several H/Hr shippers that Hermione's lack of reaction to Rita Skeeter’s first article (that mentions Harry & Hermione as a couple) is due to the fact that it's true. Umm... then how can that be paired with the belief that the reaction to the second article is because it holds fundamental truth?? Yes, Hermione remained casual about the first one--probably because it was a ridiculous jump to conclusions. Obviously the woman was exaggerating (I mean, I'm sure Hermione knows she's not stunningly pretty, either, or that Harry's not really at the top of his class!). She all ready knows that Rita uses partial truths to make a story, based on the events of Chapter 10 (“Mayhem at the Ministry”).

No, Hermione doesn't really get interested in the articles until they really start hurting people. She stands up and challenges Rita (after Harry has been defending Hagrid), and calls her on it: "..anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they?" (p. 451, U.S. ed.) And that's when foreshadow rears its ugly head. Ron tells her to watch out, and Hermione replies: "My parents don't read the Daily Prophet. She can't scare me into hiding." Right then our stomachs dropped and we moaned, wondering what would happen...

Hermione's reaction to the second article is muted. She's astonished, but then she casually brushes it off, saying that Skeeter could've done better. It's not until she realizes the Krum-truths (which, I agree, was revealed in a Hermione's-inner-monologue kind of way at first, until Ron jumps in) that she becomes upset. And then Snape uses the whole thing as an excuse for Harry/Gryffindor-mocking--and now she realizes how awful the article is, since it sounds "ten times worse," according to Harry. She's mortified, and blushes. (note: the blushing occurs only in the U.S. edition.)

But is it blushing because the truth has been made clear, or because Snape is turning into a mockery of Hermione and Harry? I mean, she was embarassed when people teased her about being the thing Krum missed most--why wouldn't she be embarassed with an entire class of Slytherins encouraged to laugh at her Harry-n-Krum "exploits"--even when they're not true. Even Harry is blushing, and he hasn't voiced one embarrassed opinion about the article since it was first read.

And now we get to the point I've been meaning to address with all of this: the hate mail.

What does it say? "You are a wicked girl. Harry Potter deserves better. Go back where you came from Muggle." We're supposed to believe that this hate mail made her blush about her association with Harry, when thus far she hasn't necessarily reacted to Harry at all? She's probably red with anger, not blushiness. Let's look at the hate-mail line-by-line.

You are a wicked girl: She's being accused of being wicked because of something she hasn't done. She has every right to be angry because she is certainly *not* wicked, and hasn't been brewing love potions to get famous boys. What about this would make her blush in regard to Harry? Nothing.

 
Harry Potter deserves better: If blushiness is going to come in, this would be the line. But why would a girl get blushy when a stranger accuses her of not being worthy of that crush? Hermione knows that she's smart enough, and good enough, and that Harry cares about her--and more importantly, she knows Harry's not perfect! He cheats on his homework, sneaks out with his invisibility cloak, he blew up his Aunt Marge and he had troubles learning a simple summoning spell! Despite being "the famous Harry Potter" and being a great wizard, he has weaknesses. He's not perfect--she is certainly worthy of him! But Skeeter has glorified Harry and demonized Hermione to the point that this reader sent hate-mail. I think it would anger her whether she liked Harry or not.

Go back where you came from Muggle: Ugh. This is probably the one that made her turn red (with anger). This person has done everything short of calling her a "mudblood!" (S)he has implied that Hermione is not a witch, and deserves being shunned from the Wizarding World. Plus (s)he threw out the word "Muggle" as a final insult, knowing Hermione is Muggleborn. That's insulting her *and* her family! Hermione has been dealing with this for over two years now from Draco, and now she has to hear it from some *stranger* because Rita Skeeter lied in order to get revenge?

Hermione's reaction is a sputtered "oh really" as she "goes rather red." Do you truly think she is blushing because the nasty letter-writer has learned of her secret crush on Harry and is telling her she's not worthy? Or could it possibly be a display of anger because this reader has believed a bunch of lies and told her that she was wicked and should go home? It's a disgusting note, and reading it makes *me* furious on Hermione's behalf--why wouldn't Hermione get angry?

In true Hermione-style, she tries to pass it off as rubbish with her "oh really" and "oh how ridiculous," but we can see with her red face and desperate voice (as she opens all the letters) that she is very upset.

I am willing to concede that there might be H/Hr indications in GoF, given a different interpretation of the reading, but even with H/Hr in mind, it doesn't make sense (to me) for Hermione to blush because of her feelings for Harry, then thrust the letter at Harry for him to read.

And to top it all off--when Hermione blushes, it'll say so: "Hermione blushed scarlet as she said this..." (p.513--the Krum-conversation w/Ron). When a character "goes red" there is usually some use of the word "blush" before or after it in the scene. (in the Krum-discussion, it later goes on to say that she was "so red that Harry could almost feel the heat coming from her.")

Are there other scenes that have characters blushing with only the color indicator? And do they ever involve "sputtering?" I did a quick flip through my GoF (which is falling apart, thanks to the DT! ) and found a few blushing scenes (and a sputtering scene) with which to compare.

-- Hermione blushes without any indication of redness during the 2nd Yule Ball date discussion, then Ginny "goes scarlet, too."(p. 400)

-- "pink in the face from dancing" leads to the pink patches "glowing more brightly" and is finished up with a "blushed so deeply" during the Yule Ball conversation (pp. 421-422)

-- "Hermione let out a sputter of indignation." (troll comment, p. 394) This was the precedent for sputtering as I saw it, and always thought her sputtered reaction to her hate mail was indignation and anger...

-- "each scarlet in the face" -- Yule Brawl. Whether through anger or the mere physical taxation of bellowing (it's debatable) this is a facial-coloring moment that indicates anger all around.

These things alone, of course, do not set up a pattern that provides my interpretation of the hate-mail reaction, but in combination with the other factors (like what the letter says), I think it is more likely that Hermione is red with anger and indignation.

There are plenty of other moments that serve as potential evidence for H/Hr, but this one just *isn't*, and it's rather ridiculous (to me) to think that Hermione would read such insulting, bigoted words and blush about Rita Skeeter uncovering her affection for Harry. I imagine that her feelings for him are the last thing on her mind when someone tells her that she is wicked and unworthy and that her actions (which have not even happened!) are reason for her to be banished from the Wizarding World.

May, 2003 – originally posted on Fiction Alley Park in the R/Hr vs. H/Hr Debate Thread