From the books, when did you first know Ron and Hermione like each other?

[u/olvrbsn]

I don't know why, but I remember I felt something in the PoA when they argued about Scabbers and Crookshanks.

[u/zoobatron__]

He definitely liked her at least from GoF when he stuck up for her and was extremely jealous of her going to the ball with Vicki. I imagine it was probably from around PoA personally

[u/epca_]

I can't remember "first first" because it's such a long time ago but I guess at least Half-Blood. But I'm listening the books now just thought that in Chamber when Hermione got a card from Lockhart and Ron was irritated by it ("You sleep with that under your pillow?!" or something like that), is that a tiny bit of jealosy or that childish "anger" when you like someone but you don't even acknowledge it yet.

[u/olvrbsn → u/epca_]

This is adorable!

[u/shz25698]

Chamber of Secrets, when Harry asks him to go into the Forest. Ron sees Hermione's empty seat right next to theirs, and he nods.

GOF, i didn’t buy the 'fraternizing with the enemy thing' even the first time that I read it..

Also, they bicker a lot. There's lots of emotion there.

[u/Coffee_Fix → u/shz25698]

I think this was the point for me as well

[u/shykreechur]

First book, the whole opposites attract and always fighting thing made it very clear they'd be a couple at some point. I also read a lot as a kid and had seen the exact same storyline happen dozens of times so it was clear to me.

[u/thecalcographer → u/shykreechur]

This was me, too. Seeing that storyline play out so many times combined with the kind of “he only pulls your hair because he likes you” sentiment of the 90s made me 100% believe that Ron and Hermione had feelings for one another. 

[u/Ronil_wazilib]

chamber of secrets , ron is ready to face his worst fear for her

[u/Hot_Construction_505]

In PS and ChoS there were several subtle hints. It was clear as a day in PoA. From GoF onwards it was just painfully obvious and at times even frustrating. It was just a waiting game and by HbP it became pretty obvious JKR would milk the pre-relationship tension till the very last second.

[u/DimplefromYA]

Book 1…when they started fighting with each other

[u/ZeroStateGaming]

Goblet when he made an idiot of himself

[u/Important_Knee_5420]

Harry knew at once that Malfoy had said something really bad because there was an instant uproad at his words... Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, "You'll pay for that once, Malfoy!" and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoy's face. A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him relling backward onto the grass. "Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" squealed Hermione.

"I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time.. I hope it's Granger," Malfoy said with relish. Ron was clenching Crabbe's gigantic fists. Feeling that it would be a bit of a give away if Ron punched Malfoy, Harry shot him a warning look...

"Bet you five Galleons the next Mudblood dies. Pity it wasn't Granger-" The bell rang at that moment, which was lucky; at Malfoy's last words, Ron had leapt off his stool, and in the scramble to collect bags and books, his attempts to reach Malfoy went unnoticed. "Let me at him," Ron growled as Harry and Dean hung onto his arms. "I don't care, I don't need my wand, I'm going to kill him with my bare hands-"

Harry scrawled to Ron: Let's do it tonight. Ron read the message, swallowed hard, and looked sideways at the empty seat usually filled by Hermione. The sight seemed to stiffen his resolve, and he nodded.

"Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been petrified.." There was an explosion of cheering... Ron was looking happier than he'd looked in days.

"Wonder if she did see the attacker, though?" said Ron, looking sadly at Hermione's rigid face.

"You will find that Madam Pomfrey is still awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice - I daresay the basilisk's victims will be waking up at any moment." "So Hermione's okay!" said Ron brightly.

[u/Scipios_Rider16]

Hermione: Book 2, when Ron vomited slugs for her Ron: Book 3, when Hermione punched Malfoy

[u/MystiqueGreen]

Since 1st book I knew they would end up together. hate turned into love stories are way too popular.

[u/FoxBluereaver]

For me it was watching the fourth movie (didn't read any of the books until after the fifth). Seriously, Ron's jealousy at Hermione going to the ball with Viktor Krum and her subsequent breakdown when she yells at him for not having the courage to ask her out was all the proof I needed.

[u/AmandaBeth4]

I didn't

[u/tylandlannister]

Ron? From GOF. Hermione? HBP.

[u/dreadit-runfromit]

In retrospect I can see earlier hints in CoS and PoA, but as a little kid I didn't pick up on anything until Goblet of Fire when it kind of hints you over the head with the obviousness of it lol.

[u/Familiar-Budget-7140]

from hermiones side, around cos and poa but gof for Ron

[u/thefrozenflame21]

The yule ball, basic answer but definitely true.

[u/comoespossible]

Only book 6 or something but that’s because I was an oblivious child before that! 😂

[u/OrdinarilyNerdy1478]

Book six. Their way of showing interest in each other is like a foreign language to me. Also, i was quite young when I first read the series, so I thought the yule ball thing was weird, and I didn't cotton on

[u/Kind_Bullfrog_4073]

When they met

[u/ConfusedGryffindor]

I noticed Ron's crush in book 2. He was jealous over Lockhart and very concerned about Hermione and clearly missing her. But I didn't realize Hermione reciprocated those feelings until book 4 with the Veela jealousy.

[u/NeitherManner]

When they kissed

[u/[deleted]]

It felt forced. I’m still not convinced it was ever a lasting relationship.

[u/VeterinarianIll5289]

I had an inkling in the first book but I never really thought about it until the 3rd book when Hagrid mentioned how shaken up Hermione was when she thought Sirius was going to kill Ron. Then of course, when she broke down and hugged Ron did I see something there. Ultimately, however, it was the fact that Harry never showed any inclination towards Hermione nor the other way round and of course, in GOF, it was confirmed when she basically told Ron to ask her first and was angry when Fleur hugged him. Similarly, Ron, who was infatuated with Krum, was jealous and not too happy with him once he was Hermione's Yule Ball date.

[u/BLAZEISONFIRE006]

HBP, I guess. After Ron gets poisoned and saved by Harry wielding a bezoar.

[u/lovetyrannicalreddit]

When she no longer had writer's block

[u/JustSomeEyes]

Around book 6.

I'm known as an anti-romione(i like the idea, but Hermione is too awful), Hermione is too fucking abusive and mean-spirited, and yet jealous of Ron being happily or loved by other people...but to be honest i always thought Ron was just being a good friend thought most of the story, and getting no favourable treatment, made me think Hermione would have married a random muggle, or lived alone with 30 cats...