The Riddled-Romance

I recently saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and was very impressed by it - a brilliant cast, great acting and awesome graphics. Nevertheless, I was sorely disappointed and let down by one thing. The book has been mangled to portray an almost-romance between Harry and Hermione.

As an ardent fan of the series, I was appalled. It is crystal clear from the books that Harry is in love with Ginny, while romance blossoms between Hermione and Ron. To say or even hint at anything else to us Harry Potter fans would be nothing short of sacrilege. The most blasphemous scene was the one when Ron has just left the two after an angry exchange of words, and Harry, to console Hermione, invites her to dance with him, leading to a minute-long dance between the two. Atrocious.

Also, many dialogues clearly showing Harry's relationship with Hermione are not in the movie's script at all. For instance, after the destruction of the Horcrux (Slytherin's locket), Harry tells Ron -

"She's like my sister. I love her like a sister and I reckon she feels the same way about me. It's always been like that. I thought you knew."

In fact, Harry also tells him that after Ron had left them behind, Hermione was always crying and there were many days when they hardly spoke to each other in Ron's absence. The book gives us a warm and endearing picture of the trio's friendship, with little reference, if at all, to Ron's insecurity about a burgeoning romance between the other two.

And if that wasn't enough, the innocent kiss between Riddle-Harry and Riddle-Hermione, who emerge from the Horcrux, has been stretched too far. The scene from the book is as below:

"'Who wouldn't prefer him, what woman would take you? You are nothing, nothing, nothing to him,' crooned Riddle-Hermione, and she stretched like a snake and entwined herself around Riddle-Harry, wrapping him in a close embrace: their lips met."

That's it.

Tactless Ron and sensitive Hermione are so perfect for each other, as are Harry and Ginny. The HP movies have infinitely better ways of attracting huge audiences. Here's a thought - how about sticking to the original? Because that's what we've grown up on and like best. And perfection can't be improved upon.

(Quotes verbatim from the book, images courtesy Yahoo! Movies)

Anusha Rao is 16 years old and has grown up with the characters of Harry Potter. If she had a wand, she'd use the Cruciatus curse on all those who needlessly tinker with J K Rowling's penmanship.