Ron splitting with Harry and Hermione

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 38567

Hi --

Actually supposed to be doing something entirely different but feel the need to chime in here briefly --

Susanne posed a series of questions relating to Ron, mostly it appears soliciting opinions from people who are not necessarily Ron fans.  I fall into that category, so I'll have a go quickly:

<<<<reading the comments from several people who seem to feel
pretty strongly that Ron will betray Harry's trust in the
future and join the dark side, made me wonder.

It sounds like some people would welcome this development,
and I'd like to find out why <g>.>>>>>>>>>

I wanted to again emphasize that I rarely see very many people who assert that Ron *will* betray Harry knowingly or *will* join the Dark side.  I'm certainly strongly on record as saying that is is a *possibility* that Ron *could* betray Harry *unintentionally.*  There's a huge difference though in saying that you believe Ron will join the Dark side of his own accord and saying that you think there's a chance that Ron's problems with Imperius Curse are a possible set-up for an unwitting betrayal.  <g>  I also think there's a *chance* that a love interest (Hermione) who spurned him for Harry might cause Ron to take rash action.  Ron is an emotional person after all.  Again though, I see this as more likely just a rash deed that goes awry rather than a calculated betrayal.  I'm not a huge Ron fan, but even I don't see too terribly much to indicate that he's *evil* or that he would knowingly go against his friends.  Indeed, his loyalty is fairly strong by all accounts.  

<<<Is it, so Ron is out of the way and Harry and Hermione can
be "a couple"?>>>>>

Not from the perspective of this strong H/H shipper.  I'd much, much rather see H/H get together romantically even though Ron's alive & well & on the side of Good & Light.  <g>  IMO, it's not a prerequisite at all for Ron to be dead or teamed up against the good guys for H/H to become a couple.  It'd be great actually if Ron & Hermione did date for a time & realize how completely & utterly wrong they are for each other (the "greatest literary mismatch of all time" as Jim F put it recently) & break up amicably.  I do think Hermione has her heart set on Harry rather than Ron, and I think a love triangle presents all sorts of interesting plot points.  Ron's not my favorite character by any means, and I think he's absolutely, positively all wrong for Hermione.  But, he's not just an inconvenience.  He is their best friend after all.  :--)         

<<<Is it because you really dislike Ron as a character?>>>>>>

I do dislike Ron more & more.  But, Book 5 could totally change that.  I just didn't like him much in PoA or GoF.  I don't necessarily *want* to see bad things happen to him though.  I just recognize that there's *potential* for this, and I don't see why voicing these potentialities or noting his flaws is such a bad thing.

<<< He doesn't deserve to be part of the trio because of his
flaws (temper, envy)?>>>>>>>>

Nope.  I just like it when people realize he has flaws.  Just like Harry.  Just like Hermione.  I do think Ron's flaws make him at least slightly more susceptible to manipulation by the Dark side.  And, Ron's flaws happen to bother *me* more than those of some of the other characters, like Harry & Hermione for example.  But, I don't have to like all the characters.  I imagine most of us have at least one character that we dislike or would reform somewhat if we could.  Ron is that character for me.  :--)

<<<<<<He's the present day equivalent of Pettigrew and therefor
*has* to go bad?>>>>>>>

I don't think he's anything like Pettigrew actually.  I somewhat buy the Lupin/Hermione parallel, but prefer the Sirius/Hermione parallel really.  I don't see an obvious parallel for Ron though.  It's certainly not Pettigrew.  I also really like the Lily/Hermione parallel that someone (Rohit?) postulated last month.  There's not a perfect parallel for Hermione either though -- she's some of Lupin, Sirius & Lily I think.  

Penny
(who doesn't like Ron but doesn't necessarily want him dead or Evil either)





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