[HPforGrownups] Ron & Quidditch

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 11996

SML said:

"Why isn't Ron on the Quidditch team?  He's so avid about Quidditch; his
brothers Charlie, Fred, and George are/were all on the Gryffindor
team... Why, after four years, is Ron still sitting in the stands
during the games?

Amanda said:

"Ron's not on the team because he doesn't have a broom up to standard. So
far as we've seen, the players on the teams provide their own brooms,
however they obtain them."

BB said:

"I assumed he wasn't on the team because there hasn't been a
position opening. Wood graduated though, so maybe we'll see
him trying out in the next book."


I agree that Ron may have missed out simply because there hasn't been an
opening on the Gryffindor Quidditch side.  A school rule was bent so that
Harry could join the team in his first year and since then we have seen not
one change in the team.  They even played as a six-piece when Harry was
injured, which suggests that they don't have a subs bench.  I've mentioned
before that it seems strange that there isn't a Quidditch team for each year
of the school; IMO, the fact that there isn't supports the view that the
number of students is quite small and that Harry's year has barely enough
students for a single Quidditch team, let alone more good players.

In GoF, we would have seen a new player to replace Wood, but that wouldn't
necessarily have been Ron.  Leaving aside the ineligible "firs' years,"
there would be a pool of potential replacements from the second, third,
fifth, sixth and seventh years, not to mention Dean or Seamus from Ron's own
year (even Neville, but that seems unlikely).  Despite his wide-eyed
enthusiasm for the sport, we can't be sure that Ron has any talent for it.
There has been very little mention of his flying ability and there have been
no Quidditch lesson scenes since the one in which Harry was 'discovered'; we
see the Gryffindor Quidditch team in training, but we have hardly any clue
whether, or how well, the other students have continued with Hooch's
lessons.  Genuine talent in Quidditch seems to be a rare thing (which is why
Draco - despite having bought his way onto the team - needed to have the
talent).

I've just finished reading the part of PoA [Ch. 13] where Harry receives the
new Firebolt, and there is a poignant scene where he finally allows Ron to
"have a go" on the esteemed broom, following his practice session:-

"'Here you go,' said Harry, handing Ron the Firebolt.

Ron, an expression of ecstasy on his face, mounted the broom and zoomed off
into the gathering darkness while Harry walked around the edge of the pitch,
watching him."

Isn't that a moving scene?  It's almost as if Ron hardly dares dream of
playing team Quidditch himself, and is happy to grab and treasure moments
such as this.  Let's face it, if he'd really shown any talent, he'd have
been given a half-decent broom by some means, and one of the existing team
members would have been ousted from the team.  McGonagall and Wood were
almost rabid with excitement in PS when they realised they'd found a new
Seeker.  Despite having what appears to be a 'dream team,' I can't believe
they haven't both kept a close eye on other potential players over the
years.

In lieu of OotP, I can't wait for "Quidditch Through The Ages" - it might
give us more clues on Quidditch played at Hogwarts.

Neil
_____________________________________

Flying-Ford-Anglia
Mechanimagus Moderator (engine off)

"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's Shrivelfig..." [Severus Snape, PoA]

The moderators say: "Check out our netiquette tips!
Read all the things you never knew you were doing wrong!
Avoid spending the rest of your rulebreakin' life as a ferret!":
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/netiquette2.txt