It's possible. We know that Hermione spent time with both of them while they weren't talking, after all, and who knows what her talks with Ron during that time were like? Though I don't think even Hermione thinks of Ron that way yet, at this point, nevermind the other way around - not consciously.

It's not the only time that is indicated. The biggest fights are always with Ron, and it's not a coincidence that it's Ron who's taken from Harry in the second task, not Hermione (and no, not just so Krum can have Hermione, either).

Yeah, while Harry's ability to take them in perfectly even when they're fancy Slavic names shows how men can perform astonishing intellectual feats for their favourite sport. If the name had come up in any context but Quidditch, it would have been Hermione who remembered it perfectly and Harry who mangled it.

It kind of reminded me of me, actually, I'm sure some others will recognize it too. The impulse to make that mean comment because he's feeling hurt, even though he knows it's wrong and knows it's pointless - but once it's out of the way, he can turn around fast and accept Ron's reconciliation fairly graciously.

Good old British sportsmanship. Which of course foreigners don't have, perish the thought. A wee bit racist there, perhaps.

I don't know if it's really so similar... I rather doubt Ron's primary emotion during the task was to be afraid for Harry's life or health, really. And the decisive click comes when he stays up most of the night there in chapter nineteen, surely.

Agreed.

Seems Rowling really does want us to believe house-elves like working hard for little pay, and that it's only the excesses and cruelty we're supposed to condemn.

Oh, I hadn't even realized that, the wardrobe thing. Good call. See my own post for my thoughts on her reaction.

That suffered a bit in translation again. But yes, typical.