You know, even JK Rowling let Hermione ends up with Ron because that's what she wrote, that's what she developed, although she planned Hermione for Harry. Writers. What do I know about your mind?
With Rowling, it's a bit different. She had planned Hermione/Ron in the beginning, and stuck to that plan despite the way the characters grew together in the later books, as "wish fulfillment." Hermione was her self insert character. Ron was based off an old childhood friend of hers. I think her editors wanted Harry/Hermione because it had a huge fandom, but she said no and stuck to her guns. Unlike Kishi.... Her acknowledgment of it later was that she could, with some distance from the series, see why people like Harry/Hermione so much, but the way she wrote Ron and Hermione's interactions in the series it was pretty clear (to me, at least) how she envisioned the story ending.
I had picked out Ron/Hermione as the endgame couple by the 2nd book. It was solidified for me by the 4th book. I was surprised it didn't go any further until the last book. I was VERY surprised by Harry/Ginny, which kind of came out of left field. Now there's a pity ship if there ever was one.... But it served a very important purpose, by allowing Ron to truly become Harry's brother (in-law) and by giving Harry the huge comfortable family he'd always wanted.
Edited by Catwho, 14 December 2014 - 04:19 PM.