Ron/Sirius parallels

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 11178

Hi --

drmm at fuuko.com wrote:

> On a completely unrelated note (well, maybe slightly R/H related as it's a semi-defense of Ron, but not really), I've decided to come up with a bunch of parallels between Ron &
> Sirius to confuse the
> Ron-dislikers but Sirius-likers . . .

Not sure where I fit as I like both Ron and Sirius (to different degrees & for different reasons) but ...

> 1.  They both have tempers.  We've seen *tons* of times that Ron has gotten upset, and Sirius' actions in the Shrieking Shack don't show a whole lot of calmness of mind IMO.  A
> person with a calmer temperment (and I don't understand why Lupin went along with Sirius) would have
> realized that taking Peter to the authorities would be a better action than killing him . . .

Someone posted a nice analysis of how PTSD could have been the driving force behind Sirius' persona in PoA (Monika maybe?).  Anyway .... I'm not so sure that Sirius really does have
a hair-trigger temper.  He's portrayed that way in fanfic land quite often (including mine & Carole's ASA), but I think he is considerably different in GoF than in PoA.  To be sure,
he's still very protective of Harry and impulsive (flying north at the first hint of trouble), but you don't really see the same violent, temper-flaring actions from Sirius in GoF.
He's much more the stable, wise, self-sacrificing, protective godfather.

So .... all in all, I'm not so sure we can definitely ascribe a hot temper to Sirius.

> 2.  Fiercely loyal to their friends.  Ron *always* loses his temper when his friends are insulted (Malfoy calling Hermione a mudblood, etc.) and when they're in danger (trying to
> get Harry to leave in PoA when they think he's a killer, sacrificing himself in the chess game so that Harry & Hermione can continue).  Sirius is willing to risk his life to save
> Lily & James and is willing to kill the person who betrayed them (although I don't think that's terribly wise or
> thoughtful of him).

Yes, but the same parallel can be made between Hermione and Sirius.  I'm one of the few who paralleled Hermione to Sirius back when we were trying to compare the Trio to the
Marauders.  Most people paired her up with Lupin because of intellect, although I maintain that since McGonagall said James & Sirius were the brightest students of their year, Lupin
must be slightly less intellectual (if relying on grades alone anyway).  So .... I think Hermione & Sirius are more alike -- bright, fiercely loyal & steadfast, etc.

Hermione is loyal in what I deem a more traditional way than Ron.  She behaved poorly in the PoA Crookshanks fight incident, but she was under alot of stress.  And, her actions that
precipitated that fight were motivated by loyalty/friendship/concern for Harry's welfare.  I view Ron's inability to see (or believe when he was presumably specifically told by
Hermione) that Harry didn't enter himself into the Tournament as a breach of friendship & loyalty.  I think Ron must have been told this by Hermione, since she did initially tell
Harry that Ron was jealous.  So, I'm guessing she likewise spelled out Harry's position to Ron.

I don't dispute that Ron is a loyal friend to both Harry and Hermione.  But, I don't think he's *as* loyal (in my traditional interpretation of loyalty) as Hermione is.  I think
loyalty is one of her principle strengths.

Penny