[HPforGrownups] Re: Magical notions of prejudice

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 10910

lj2d30 at gateway.net wrote:

> I think Ron's acceptance of Hagrid's giant heritage is an example of
> how he has matured in the year between the Shrieking Shack and the
> Skeeter tell-all article.  He learned that werewolves and escaped
> Azkaban prisoners were not the terrors he thought they were. Plus he
> had known Hagrid for a longer period of time, so the trust was
> already there.

A good point. When Harry suddenly was revealed as a Parselmouth, Ron's
concern was all for what this meant to Harry, not that Harry was a
danger. Ron's take on Hagrid seems of the same type--that it's a bad
thing for Hagrid to have to deal with, in that others will treat him or
think of him badly.

Again, though, being a werewolf is not something inborn. It's a disease,
which removes self-control from the victim, and is terrifying, incurable,
painful (as Lupin said), and rather contagious. I can totally understand
Ron's reaction. He comes around rather quickly, give him a break.

--Amanda