Whose Book is it Now?
Earlier this month, J. K. Rowling, the bestselling author of the perennial favorite Harry Potter series, revealed that she regrets pairing Ron and Hermione together, to the gasp and outrage of Potterheads all over the Internet. Though Rowling acknowledged that she may be “breaking people’s hearts,” what does this collective reaction say about the greater question of ownership in creative work?
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After all, this isn’t the first time that new information about the characters and their relationship has come to light. In 2007, she confirmed Dumbledore’s homosexuality, never explicitly stated in the books, generally calming fans’ is-he-isn’t-he-gay furor while opening the discussion about the representation of homosexuality in the media. However, this newest interview has generated the most controversy to date because it doesn’t confirm, but completely rewrites, major plot and character arcs of the series.
In a special issue of Wonderland, a UK based pop culture magazine with a circulation of around 65,000, Emma Watson interviewed J. K. Rowling about her newest venture in the Harry Potter universe, a screenplay for the movie based off the spin-off book, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." In the course of the interview, they naturally discuss Watson's character in the series, which leads to speculation about Ron and Hermione's relationship as described in Deathly Hallows’ epilogue. Both women agree that Ron and Hermione were not necessarily the most compatible match, and that Hermione and Harry would have had a more equal relationship.
