Harry Potter should have married Hermione, admits J K Rowling

The Harry Potter author said pairing off Hermione and Ron was a 'form of wish fulfillment'

Emma Watson plays Hermione in the Harry Potter films, flanked by Ron (Rupert Grint) and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) (AP)

Avid Harry Potter fans will be familiar with the slow-burning romance between Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, which finally culminated in their marriage at the end of the wizarding series.

But now author J K Rowling has said that her famous protagonist ought to have ended up with Hermione instead.

In a rare interview given to Wonderland magazine, she said: "I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfilment."

"That’s how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron."

Rowling, 48, was quizzed by 23-year-old actress Emma Watson, who played Hermione in the Harry Potter film franchise and was guest-editing the new issue of the magazine.

In excerpts printed in The Sunday Times, ahead of the issue’s publication on Thursday, Rowling even went so far as to say that Hermione and Ron would have ended up needing relationship counselling.

"I know, I'm sorry, I can hear the rage and fury it might cause some fans, but if I'm absolutely honest, distance has given me perspective on that," she said.

"It was a choice I made for very personal reasons, not for reasons of credibility. Am I breaking people's hearts by saying this? I hope not."

But Watson agreed with the author’s sentiments. She said: "I think there are fans out there who know that too and who wonder whether Ron would have really been able to make her happy."

On Twitter two camps emerged. @sleepydorkharry said: "I honestly think Harry and Hermione should have ended up together. I knew it from the start that they're made for each other @jk_rowling".

Meanwhile, @miss_vic81 tweeted: "Always thought Hermione should have ended up with Harry too! #shipneversailed."

However, @eemaalous disagreed: "So apparently Ron & Hermione weren't meant to be together...serious JK? Harry and Hermione getting together wld [sic] have been predictable & boring."

Her thoughts were echoed by @fairmegwyn, who tweeted: "Never once did I pick up any sort of romantic vibe between Harry and Hermione during any of the 7 books. This pairing would've been awful."

It looks like the verdict is still out on this one…

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Watch Harry and Hermione dance together in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows