R/H vs.H/H-Theory (wasFanfic Ships)

[Kimberly]

No: HPFGUIDX 7847

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Ebony " <ebonyink at h...> wrote:

> But can we attribute Ron's characteristics to all the Weasleys, Kim?  
> I'm not sure that we can... I see a family where each individual has 
> their own personality.  I also think that a lot of their behavior 
can 
> be attributed to conventional birth-order wisdom.

Ebony,

I wasn't meaning to attribute Ron's traits to anyone, just neelessly 
tacking on the fact that I love the rest of the Weasley family as 
well.  Sorry for the confusion.  But you bring up another reason I 
relate to Ron. Birth-order wise, I'm right up Ron's alley.  And my big 
sister was the pretty, talented, graceful one.  But I grew out of the 
living in the shadow thing, I'm sure Ron will too.

> 
> > I can't identify too much with Harry, as I've never been a hero, 
> nor have I had the kind of scrutiny or expectations that Harry 
> endures.
> 
> Can you identify with a younger Harry, perhaps?  Feeling all 
alone... 
> desperately wanting to fit in and be liked... wanting friends and 
> fun?  Also, the weight of the world is on Harry's shoulders, and he 
> feels it.  Upon first reading GoF, I felt (among other things) very 
> sorry for Harry.  Here's this kid who wants desperately to be a 
> normal 14 year old... a kid who has never had a real childhood, and 
> as he's moving into manhood despite his troubles, a kid who most 
> likely will *never* have a real childhood.

But that's precisely what I mean.  Of course I feel for Harry - I love 
him to pieces and want to scoop him up and hug him like Molly Weasley 
did - he's a wonderfully strong, courageous child.  But I've never had 
the weight of the world on my shoulders.  I had a reasonably normal 
childhood with much more ordinary kinds of problems.  So I relate more 
to Ron than to Harry.  I don't mean I don't like Harry, or sympathize 
with him - just that I don't have a frame of reference from which to 
understand his perspective quite like I do with Ron.

> 
> > And Hermione is the kind of girl that I always envied just a 
little 
> > bit.  Best friends with the heros, super-smart and capable of 
> calling on her knowledge in a crisis, and on top of everything, able 
> to clean-up and be beautiful and elegant.  I just can't identify 
with 
> > her.  She's almost too perfect.  
> 
> Hermione was definitely my "entrance point" into the books, and I 
> think most women (and some men) in the H/H camp would agree.  I 
don't 
> think she's perfect, though.  I think you've given a very accurate 
> outside view of Hermione... but I rather think she'd laugh at most 
of 
> the above.  Hair that's less than ideal, oversized teeth, being 
> thought of as an insufferable know-it-all and having no visible 
close 
> female friendships is no picnic.  When you're a kid that others 
> always speak of in superlatives, you'd give just about anything to 
> be "normal". At least, that's my take on things.

I do see what you mean - I did relate to her more in the first and 
second book, when she seemed more like an awkward, smart, well-meaning 
girl with poor social skills.  But that's not who she is anymore.  At 
14 she's already gotten rid of the big teeth and can control the hair 
if she so chooses.  Maybe she doesn't have tons of female friends 
(maybe they're intimidated by her), but she does seem to be opening up 
to Ginny to some extent by the Yule Ball. As for the know-it-all 
thing, she could easily downplay that, but I don't think she should - 
she's very bright and there's no reason why she should have to hide 
that.  To me that's not a negative at all.   So I don't relate to 
Hermione as much because (deepest feelings, anyone?) I'm not quite on 
her level - she's more together at 14 than I am at 30.  

I'm afraid I'm on the defensive here because I feel like you've gotten 
the impression that I was saying I didn't like Hermione and Harry.  
Please let me assure you that none of what I was saying was meant to 
say that I didn't like them, just that perspective-wise I can relate 
easier to someone like Ron.  My attachment to Ron and the rest of the 
Weasleys aside, the book is about Harry, and I wouldn't be reading if 
I didn't love him to death.  Honest!  In fact the reason I take the 
Ron and Hermione/ Harry and Ginny position is because I like them all 
and don't want anyone to be left out.  I still think it works out well 
for everyone involved.

I hope I made sense,
kimberly


> 
> BTW, while we're revealing our deepest feelings, I would have given 
> anything to be a Ron growing up.  How's that for self-disclosure?  
;)
> 
> --Ebony