The Influence of the Goblet of Fire Movie on Harry/Hermione Ship: Debunking Misconceptions

Did Steve Kloves and David Yates Really Add Non-Conon Harry and Hermione Scenes?

In the film adaptation of the Harry Potter series, particularly in the movie The Goblet of Fire, there have been debates whether Steve Kloves and David Yates added scenes involving Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, who are ship fans refer to as "Harry/Hermione" or "H/Hr." However, it is often overlooked that many scenes featuring Harry and Hermione were cut from the books. Let’s explore this in detail.

Compared to the Books, Do the Movies Add or Remove Scenes?

Yes, the movies do include some non-conon scenes, such as moments like Dumbledore asking Harry about Hermione. However, they also remove many scenes from the books that many fans really appreciate. Some of these scenes include:

Hermione helping Harry prepare for the tournament Christmas at Grimmauld Place, where Harry and Hermione are together The department of mysteries fight Joking about Filch The fanciable scene where Harry and Hermione discover a secret Reading Lily’s letter Hermione freeing the muggleborns in the Ministry Discussion about Dumbledore’s book in detail

While Kloves and Yates were known to be fan of Hermione (they both worked on the series and dedicated to capturing the characters accurately), one cannot say they have a poor job at showing the relationship because they did add some scenes. Still, it is clear that many canon scenes were cut from the movies, which raises questions about the overall portrayal of their relationship.

The Timing of the Goblet of Fire Movie

Another interesting point is the timing of the release of the Goblet of Fire movie. It was released in 2005, after the sixth book was already published. This timing makes it impossible for the movie to have influenced fans to ship Harry and Hermione, as the fandom discussions were already happening during and after the releases of the fourth and sixth books. Between 2000 and 2005, the biggest shipping discussions occurred, with fan communities passionately debating the characters. Thus, the argument that the movies made the H/Hr ship happen is a misconception.

The impact of the Goblet of Fire movie was more on the chemistry between the actors and the growing popularity of Harry and Hermione among fans. This increased awareness of the characters led to more discussions based on both books and movies. After the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (HBP) in 2005, some fans and websites celebrated the end of the Harmione fandom, believing that the shared screen time would cause it to die out. However, the movie helped reignite the ship, fostering a new generation of fans who considered both books and movies in their fanfiction and discussions.

The "You Must Have Only Watched the Movies" Argument

One of the most prominent arguments in the fandom is the claim that anyone who sees potential in Harry and Hermione must have only watched the movies. Hardcore canon fans argue that they would be annoyed if other fans didn't understand the books. However, this argument is flawed for several reasons:

H/Hr is not the only popular non-canon ship for Harry and Hermione. There are other ships within the fandom such as Harry/Dr. Granger (H/Dr) and Harry/Potter (H/Pot), which also have significant fanbases. Every fandom has its diverse range of ships and interpretations. Fans often have different preferences and see different possibilities, just as many book-centric fans still appreciate the movie adaptation for its own merits. JK Rowling, the author, accepted that the ship can exist and even referenced it in her works, making it a valid interpretation of the story.

Overall, it’s important to recognize that ships and interpretations are subjective, and passionate discussions based on both the books and movies enhance the depth and richness of the Harry Potter universe. The debate should focus on respectful and constructive engagement rather than dismissive claims.