Harry Potter Fans Are Divided Over Harry And Hermione's Deathly Hallows Dance

The "Harry Potter" movies have had their fair share of emotional moments, but one scene stands out above the rest — for better or worse. The film series' penultimate installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1," sees our main wizarding trio of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) on a mission to destroy all of Voldemort's (Ralph Fiennes) immortality-yielding Horcruxes. 

Following an argument between Ron and Harry, Ron leaves the group, leaving Harry and Hermione on their own to take on the grand task. Seeing his friend sulking and listening to the radio, Harry decides to get Hermione off her feet and the two share a goofy little dance with one another, allowing their troubles to dissipate for a few brief moments. 

The tender moment was undeniably made with good intentions. However, for some fans, the wholesome act achieved the very opposite effect, leaving many more frustrated than alleviated. Such is the case for u/Altruistic_Mention_5 on Reddit, who, while originally loving the scene, has come to find it far more off-putting in recent years, feeling that Harry and Hermione's motivation to dance came off more like the two were happy to see Ron leave. "It's stupid, and completely missed the point of the entire thing," the user comments. Ironically, as it turns out, one of the calmest moments in the series has led to heated debates amongst fans.

Harry and Hermione's dance scene in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1" has ruffled the feathers of more than a few book fans, who feel that the moment wrongfully suggests something more than a platonic relationship. 

On Reddit, u/mostly_coherent looks at the segment from the perspective of an average moviegoer, noting that, " ... the dancing scene really does build up a romance ... and this scene sort of leads one to the belief that Harry is a better fit and they'll eventually get together." Redditor u/Not_a_cat_I_promise was frustrated by the sentimental scene, saying, "It is too overtly romantic for my liking." 

Others simply found the moment out of place. Redditor u/curseofablacklion couldn't wrap their head around Harry's actions, commenting, "Harry is a good guy, but he's honestly not the best sort of person to cheer up someone ... It is a very out of character moment for Harry." To u/ykickamoocow111, the scene served a very different purpose in the eyes of the film's creative team, saying, "The movies wanted a 'what if' moment and David Yates even admitted that is what he wanted from the scene."

While director David Yates primarily wanted the scene to showcase Harry and Hermione's friendship, he does mention in a behind the scenes clip, "In the middle of their dancing, they get very close and it starts to get complicated." And yet, another crop of fans appreciate the moment from a more positive point-of-view. 

For a group of 17-year-olds — even magically-powered ones — having the weight of the world on their shoulders is a frightening prospect. So for many fans, Harry and Hermione's brief moment of levity in the midst of the troubling events of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1" was just what the doctor ordered. 

A Reddit thread started by u/Psychological-Fall57 asks fans what their opinion on the scene is, with the user being a fan of the moment. Many were quick to react with their own positive interpretations, such as u/CocoHPFan who comments, "I thinks it's so wholesome and shows the long build on friendship between Harry and Hermione. I also think it shows that opposite genders can be friends with zero romantic connection." Redditor u/ComicsNBigBooks was also able to view the scene without any romantic readings, commenting, "I've never once viewed it as a 'Harmione' scene ... opposite genders can be extremely close friends without being romantic."

Some fans hold the moment in especially high regard, such as u/sweetmagnoliasunrise who calls it their favorite scene in the entire series. "To love and be nurtured by a dear friend is one of the most intimate joys in the world," they comment. "I'm glad it was added, and I'm glad it came out so well." Viewers may never see eye-to-eye on the simple scene, showing just how much weight even the shortest moments can hold.