I’m sure you’ve heard.

J.K. Rowling, author of the popular (huge understatement?) Harry Potter series, regrets Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley’s relationship. This news has caused much controversy, especially because she has chosen to admit this now, several years after the completion of the series.

What do I think? Hermione and Ron belonged together. And, regardless of what Rowling may think, I believe their relationship was believable and entirely authentic. Rowling said, “I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment.”

(What does that even MEAN?)

She continued, “That’s how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron.”

If she’s implying Hermione/Ron just didn’t make sense, or weren’t exactly compatible, I think many people would agree on some level. However, that’s exactly why their relationship was so beautiful.

Though Rowling describes her decision to pair the two characters as “wish fulfillment,” I think there is something to be said for going with your gut. Though she wasn’t entirely convinced Hermione and Ron made the perfect couple, something stopped her from pairing Hermione with the somewhat obvious mate (Harry). Sometimes you have to ignore your head and go with your heart.

I’m not angry or disillusioned with Rowling. She remains my favorite author. In my opinion, her regrets make her more human. She looks back at her work and isn’t entirely satisfied, because she notices something she wishes she had done differently. As do many of us. We are often our worst critics.

So I admire her for her honesty.

What are your thoughts? Hermione/Ron? Hermione/Harry?