Whenever Dobby came up with a brilliant plan to push Harry at Ron, Dumbledore would always come around with a brilliant plan to push Harry at Hermione! Every time one of them gained some progress the other gained some too. It soon became a moderately friendly competition to see who Harry would end up with – Ron or Hermione. Instead, thanks to some deft maneuvering behind the scenes, McGonagall had somehow managed to get Ron and Hermione together, leaving Harry out entirely! Both Dobby and Dumbledore agreed that she had done it solely to spite them.