Ron & 2nd Task

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 16512

Penny:"I have a very hard time thinking that JKR was sending a direct 
message that Ron is more important to Harry than Hermione.
I disagree quite strongly that this hostage situation makes Hermione 
2nd in Harry's heart.  I think it's a bad idea to go down the road of
wondering which of his 2 best friends is the most important to him..."
They both have important strengths that they bring to him ... so I
always go with the position that they are both equally important to
Harry.  He's 14, so his male best friend is important to him in ways
that Hermione can't fill (she can't talk about Quidditch like Ron 
can and he finds it less fun to be spending so much time in the 
library). By the same token, Hermione has been more loyal to Harry IMO 
and she fills a role that Ron can't (she's the brainiac who finds all 
the spells/curses that he *needs* to use in the 3rd Task (and 
ultimately help keep him alive) for example).  They're both quite 
important to him, and I sure wouldn't want to engage in a debate of 
which one is more important."

As you point out, they're 14. I think Ron *is* number one to Harry -- 
*today*.  That's the point, and why debating who is more important 
doesn't go anywhere.  Who's more important is likely to change 
anytime, and go back-and-forth as well.  Hermione certainly has done 
more for Harry in any kind of practical terms than Ron has -- she's 
his coach and personal trainer.

And Harry has done more for her than he has for Ron.  She might still 
be a bossy little priss if it wasn't that she's discovered the higher 
purpose of keeping Harry in one piece.  She's learning more about 
friendship, loyalty, and courage than she ever would have if she'd 
just been a Ravenclaw. She's grown amazingly in four years.

On the other hand, it's arguable that Ron brings Harry some normalcy 
that he badly needs. Harry's got a buddy, and that goes a long way to 
helping Harry deal with shell shock. And Ron brings Harry into the 
--oh, no, here we go again!! -- OBHWF, which is a treasure to Harry 
beyond gold or jewels.  

What's Harry done for Ron? He's added to Ron's burden finding some 
esteem for himself, with two Head Boys and a Quidditch Captain in the 
family already.  Ron must feel like the guy who towels off Tiger 
Woods's golf bag sometimes, both good and bad.