Ron, Fleur and Hermione; Weatherby; LONG -- Renovating TOADKEEPER

[bwerschkun]

No: HPFGUIDX 37785

WOW (awestruck) - here comes my first post to this list. NEVER thought 
I'd get that far (clearly begging for mercy in case of any possible 
mistake or misbehavior). I am so impressed with the highly intelligent 
discussions going on around here. Most of the topics will just take me 
ages to mull over. But I thought I'd be safe with throwing in some 
odds and ends of canon that came to my mind while reading some of the 
more recent posts. Here goes:

On Thu, 11 Apr 2002 12:52:14, David wrote:
'IMO, the first thing to understand is that Ron does *not*, in the 
normal sense of the word, have a crush on Fleur, and never has done. 
(snip) At no time does he, when acting normally, express any desire 
for her as a romantic partner.  He loses control at the first feast, 
and then again, when he asks her to the ball.  After that, his 
approach is to try to avoid her, mainly no doubt from embarrassment 
but presumably also for fear he will commit some new solecism.'

However, there is this scene at the end of chapter 26 after Harry and 
Ron returned from the lake with Fleur's sister:

... she [Fleur] turned to Harry. 'You saved 'er,' she said 
breathlessly. 'Even though she was not your 'ostage.'
'Yeah,' said Harry, who was now heartily wishing he'd left all three 
girls tied to the statue.
Fleur bent down, kissed Harry twice on each cheek (he felt his face 
burn and wouldn't have been surprised if steam was coming out of his 
ears again), then said to Ron, 'And you, too - you 'helped - '
'Yeah,' said Ron, looking extremely hopeful, 'yeah, a bit - '...

Would you count Ron's looking extremely hopeful (in hope, no doubt, of 
receiving a kiss, aswell) as expressing desire for Fleur as a romantic 
partner or just, again, as loosing crontol whenever she's around?


On Thu, 11 Apr 2002 22:19:57, Barb wrote:
'I agree that he [Crouch Sr.] probably knows perfect well what 
Arthur's and Percy's name is, and he's doing the "Weatherby" thing on 
purpose.  He knows Percy's ambitious and also a bit of a toady.  I 
wouldn't be surprised if he's turning and smirking every time he calls 
Percy "Weatherby."  Remember, he's not a nice man.'

While having no doubt about the latter, as for the former, I do recall 
a scene, where Crouch also refers to Percy as "Weatherby" when he - 
Percy - is not even present (Chapter 17). Following the revelations of 
the Goblet of Fire, the first task has been explained to the champions 
by the judges. Dumbledore asks Crouch if he wouldn't like to stay at 
Hogwarts overnight.

...'No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry,' said Mr Crouch. 
'It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment ... I've left 
young Weatherby in charge ... very enthusiastic ... a little 
over-enthusiastic, if truth be told...' ...

To me, that seemed as if Crouch absentmindedly really just couldn't 
bother to remember Percy's name correctly. It also strikes me as an 
odd notion that he would care to spend any thought and energy on 
deliberately insulting Percy by calling him by a wrong name. Surely, 
Percy doesn't seem very important to him at that point, being just 
some enthusiastic youngster new to the Ministry.


On Fri, 12 Apr 2002 02:08:35, Cindysphinx wrote:
'As Tabouli mentions, toads are the least desirable of the permissible 
Hogwarts pets.  Even Ron, who has a rat with a missing toe, scorns 
toads.  Yet we are to believe that Uncle Algie is so overwhelmed with 
Neville's admission to Hogwarts, so relieved, so overjoyed, that Ungle 
Algie goes out and buys the *worst* pet that exists.  Yes, I said 
Uncle Algie is bent.  But even Uncle Algie ought to know the 
difference between a good pet and a lame pet.'

As for the popularity of the different species of permissible pets, 
may I humbly remind you of the following little piece of canon (PS/SS 
chapter 5):

Hagrid, when shopping with Harry in Diagon Alley: 
... 'Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animal. Not a toad, toads went outta 
fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at' ...

Now, Uncle Algie, who is more precisely referred to as "greatuncle" 
Algie by Neville, is likely to be the same generation as Neville's 
gran. Having it experienced as a very common phenomenom, in the real 
world, that one's elderly relatives lag behind fashion several decades 
without realizing they do so, I can very well envisage good old Algie 
believing he gave Neville a real treat by presenting him with that 
toad.

Very sorry for being such an unbearable Know-it-all-better, this post. 
I do hope, I'll once also be able of posting such INSPIRED and 
elaborate essays like some of you!
(and, er, since English is not my native language, I hope I have made 
myself sufficiently understandable...)

Barbara
Flying with the canon, tonight.