I always thought that it would take almosy losing her and feeling like he has to protect her for Harry to start to realise his true feelings for Hermione. We saw thing in OotP when they came up against death eaters and I think its likely we will see it more as the series progress. I think that the bond is there under the surface, I mean shes always really with him, in his mind, as has been said. But it will take something extra for Harry to realise how much he really does care for and Love her.

You all have good points.
There has to be a reason for why Hermione is the voice of Harry's conscience. JKR isn't one to just throw something like that into the books without there being a reason behind it wheter it's hidden at the time or not.
All that remains to be seen is why Hermione is always in his head/on his mind. The shipper in me is convinced that it's because he loves her on a subconscious level at the moment, but hopefully that'll change soon. Heh.
On the other hand the pessemist in me continues to urge me not to get my hopes up too high right now. There could be other reasons as to why he's always thinking about her.. although what these reasons are, I have absoultely no idea.

Now, as for Voldemort figuring out how much Hermione means to Harry and taking her to hurt him could be a possibility. I mean, how many times has that happened in fics??
Yes, it could happen and as most of you have said it may just be the trigger needed for Harry to wake up and smell the coffee as it were.

Another interesting point I've been mulling over is that "a power he knows not" could well be love as it has been suggested, and perhaps Voldemort discovers just how powerful love can be when/if he takes Hermione.
Now, this is entirely speculation and a complete guess work, but if Voldemort takes Hermione and Harry finally realises just how much she means to him then Harry would obviously do anything and everything to get her back. That could start the "final battle" and Harry fighting to save the woman he loves would most definately be a formidable enemy. With the added power of his love for Hermione Harry could become un-stoppable!

I agree that Hermione being the voice of Harry's is very interesting and possibly very important in the running plot of the books.
Good spotting!

~Bec

GoF US Edition Page 103

Hermione's voice is the thing that pulls Harry out of the trance of the Veelas at the World Cup... not the cut off of the music and not the halting of the dancing. Surely that is something to note, isn't it?



GoF US Edition Page 200

Harry uses what Hermione says to soothe himself. He argues Hermione's arguement inside his head. Maybe I'm reaching here, but it's still her thoughts in his head.


I just wanted to get away from OotP and see if there were any other instances in any other books. (Not to mention I was already re-reading GoF for the kazillionth time) I just decided to note down any instances and this is what I've come up with so far. (Considering I'm only a little less than half way through)

I just can't help but think that he notices her entirely too much just for friends. Like in the exam when he noticed she was sitting "three rows to his right and four seats ahead." If someone is just your friend would you really count the rows that seperate you? I think not.

I agree with you. I mean if he thought of her entirely as JUST a friend then why would be noticing her THAT much. AND be thinking about her as much as he is? And have her voice as the voice of his conscience? I've thought about that sitting "three rows to his right and four seats ahead" thing for ages. I just doesn't seem like something someone who was JUST a friend would notice. And notice too that he doesn't look (or even notice for that matter) where Ron is sitting.

I'm currently rereading GoF, and I just read the part where Harry imagines what his friends would think about his scar hurting. Sadly I can't give direct quotes, since it's a Swedish translation. I don't wanna wait until tomorrow to go to the library and look for the possible existance of a UK-GoF, so I'll just tell you the gist of it.

First off, Hermione came first. Secondly, and this is important, Hermione came on her own accord! While Harry had to try hard to imagine Ron, and only did so to take his mind off of sending Dumbledore a letter, Hermione's voice came as an immediate and natural thought to the situation at hand. Another interesting difference is that Harry saw Ron's face in front of him, while he only heard Hermione's voice. That difference could signify that Hermione had a deeper place in his subconscious, as he had to consciously invent Ron in his mind, face and all, while Hermione naturally sprung up with her voice.

Also adds to the love is blind, and the fact that Harry doesn't hang himself up on Hermione's appearance. Just some food for thought.

I was actually thinking about that too since I'm re-reading GoF also. It's interesting isn't how Hermione came immediately to his mind without him even trying? And he had to think about Ron. I believe he had to think about Ron for a full minute before he imagined his reaction.

That is very interesting me thinks. And then later (this a little ) when he's at the Weasley's and Hermione and Ginny come into the kitchen we get "One, with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth" for a description of Hermione (and mind you again he sees her FIRST) and then we get "small and red-haired" for a description of Ginny.

Back to Topic: It just strikes me that it's Hermione he both thinks of and then later notices first. And I think (I could be wrong) that in that instance when he hears her voice in his head it's the first time that we are aware of that he's hearing it there. Without even trying at that.