Sibling rivarly, shipping and the rest of us...

[Heather Edmonds]

No: HPFGUIDX 8562

 Scott wrote:
 How many of you Ron-fans out there are part of a large family, i.e.
lots of brothers and sisters, and also the babies of the family?

> > I am an only child and perhaps that's the real reason I don't
> > particulary like or relate to Ron. If that holds true do the other
> > Harry/Hermione types come from smaller families, or are perhaps the
> > older of siblings?

I'm an H/H shipper and certainly not an only child but I am the eldest of
three, two girls and a boy and frequently longed to be an only child while
growing up. Still do on occasion. I was an only child until I was 5 and did
not respond well to the arrival of my brother.

> Ron hit the nail on the head in PS/SS when he told Harry if he did as
> well as his brothers it wouldn't be a big deal, but if he did worse it
> would be.

To a certain extent I would go along with this but I have always been the
academic achiever in my family and attended a selective school etc.  My
brother who has so far failed do well at school definitely feels that this
is a big deal and somehow my fault. He blames me and my parents for his
inability to get a's or even c's. However I can still remember when I was 16
my parents praising my brother for getting 40% when yet again I had brought
home an average of 85% and it was ignored. I of course kept telling them
what I'd got because I wanted to be told "Well done" only to be told not to
boast. I now understand that my brothers 40% was far more of an achievement
than my 85% (he has several specific learning disorders) but even now it
still rankles.

I suppose that is why I sympathise with Hermione (and to a esser extent
Percy)her identity at least initially comes from her academic achievements
and like me she ended up a victim of her own succss once you achieve a
certain standard it becomes expected of you and you have to live up to it.
Therefore you end up working harder and harder desperately wanting someone,
anyone to be pleased with you. I imagine her parents have very high
expectations of her although interestingly JKR never mentions her parents
attitude.

I suppose what I'm saying is while I'm sure it is humiliating to perform
worse than your siblings being a high achiever isn't all its cracked up to
be either.

Look at poor Percy ( I do sympathise with him ) his siblings treat him
appalingly and nobody stops them. Mrs Weasley is proud of him but she
doesn't stop the others from making his life  a misery. Again I speak from
personal experience in an atteempt to make himself feel better my brother
called me 'swot' 'boffin' and would run around the house chanting 'Heather
hasn't got a life' and it hurt especially as my parents didn't stop him.

So here is another question How many of Percy's more unfortunate traits self
importance, bossiness etc stem from his siblings unkind treatment?

Strangely Bill and Charlie don't suffer in the same way I think it is
possible that they are both hero worshiped by the other Weasleys because
while the implication is that they achieved above average academic results,
their strengths verge towards the heroic, star quidditch player, dragon
breeder/trainer and treasure hunter. Abilities the younger Weasley boys
admire far more than mere cleverness. Indeed i would say teh wizarding world
as a whole would admire these qualities more.

Sorry if this has become a little garbled.

Heather