Ron splitting with Harry and Hermione

[elizabeth_culmer]

No: HPFGUIDX 38613

Susanne asked if people dislike Ron because they think he will betray 
Harry's trust and join Voldemort.  Penny countered that

>[There] 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 do think Ron's flaws make him at least slightly more susceptible 
>to manipulation by the Dark side.

Susanne also asked if people think Ron will go bad because he's a 
present-day equivalent of Peter Pettigrew, and therefore _has_ to go 
bad.

Actually, wouldn't the most accurate parallel for Ron, as a potential
bad guy, be Sirius?  After all, Sirius did inadvertently betray James
and Lily by talking them into using Peter as their Secret-Keeper.  He
himself says that he as good as killed them, and when Harry accuses
him of murdering his parents, he says, "I don't deny it."  He also 
has established character flaws, as seen in the Prank (which does not
reflect well upon him, whatever his intentions were).  Yet nobody 
seems to suggest that Sirius wasn't worthy of the other Marauders, or 
that James and Lupin should have been more wary of him.

So if Sirius, who is unquestionably guilty of an inadvertent 
betrayal, is not hated, and people don't want to thrust him out of 
the way, why do people distrust Ron for the mere _possibility_ that 
he might someday fall into a situation where he inadvertently harms 
Harry and/or the general side of good?  Why do they harp so much on 
his character flaws, which so far have not led to anything nearly as 
dangerous as the Prank?

Hugs,
Elizabeth

P.S.  New here.  Hi.  *waves feebly and hides*