I have so many opinions on this, but, alas, what is done is done.

I'm pretty sure JKR didn't say the Harry/Hermione shippers were delusional. I believe that was the word used by an interviewer, and she demurred, although she did make it clear H/Hr wasn't the end game. This particular accusation crops up fairly often, but it was just an interviewer doing their best to stir up shit.

Good heavens, can Albus and Merva get any cuter? What a charming pic!

Aww look at Albus and Merva <3

Also from a PR/marketing perspective, such news re-ignites the ship wars and brings HP back to front page. The timing is almost perfect for the new Orlando WW of HP expansion.

Now, who do Ron and Ginny end up with in canon?

Awww, Albus and Merva are adorable.

As for the interview... ~shrugs~ 
I'll stick to fanfic.

Endgame aside, I don't see how being a "personal decision" and a "literary decision" are mutually exclusive. I mean, if she decided that Hermione should end up with Ron, didn't she then go on to write the story in a way that would lead to that? I really don't see much indication in the text that Hermione liked Harry more or would have done better with him (let's face it, he's pretty surly and lazy himself). Seriously, if JKR really had some kind of subconscious feeling that Hermione should marry Harry, or the characters decided that for themselves, the story would be very different. As it is, it kind of feels like she's retconning herself.

Anyway. Not the weirdest news of the weekend, but close.

I think JK has a lot of issues on her own and she projects that onto her writing, therefore when people see things differently than her she gets a wee bit defensive.

But it's her tale, she can tell it as she wishes, but even so....I think there is more to it than meets the eye.

Anyway, doggeh!!!!! Kitteh!!!!!

You know, it's nice to see a big-selling, published newbie author go through and make the same newbie writer mistakes and have the same regrets as the rest of mortals.

Tons of us have plotted out our fic with particular goals in mind and screw ourselves over when we refuse to let go of a cherished idea when the voice of the characters change on us.

The better writers are able to subtly adjust things via the plot, whilst the less adept push on towards the end, somewhat heavy-handed in our attempts to make our vision work.

I really don't mind the fact that she's replaying things in her head and sharing. It doesn't change canon for me, but it does show that she's grown and is a bit more flexible in looking at her own work and world that she constructed.

As for whether Harry would be the more logical pairing? Well, I suppose one could make it work. He was academically/intellectually adept at the things that actually interested or held significance for him. He was also socially adept enough to know that outshining Ron in everything would be bad, while letting Hermione do a large portion of the heavy lifting made her feel special and needed - let's face it, Harry was starved for companionship. Harry also spent all that time alone with Hermione during 4th Year and the camping trip from hell during Year 7. It could be done.

Personally, I've always been more of a Harry/Luna type - they were really connecting in OotP. :P Let's see - Ron/Lavender, Neville/Ginny... Let's go for broke and say Draco/Hermione!

*smoochies*