Defending Ron ? (was: Defending Ron (was Re: SHIP: kiss on cheek before quidditc

[aamonn2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 77514

Jo Serenadust wrote : Well, now *I'm* offended! <Snip>
> As for his rift with Harry in GoF ::sighs::, where does it indicate 
> that he wants success to Harry's detriment?  He's upset with Harry 
> because he (wrongly) believes that Harry has put his name in the 
> goblet without telling Ron in advance how he plans to do it, and 
> then refuses to admit that he did so. 

I have to advise you to reread the end of chapter 17 of GoF (sorry, I 
can't quote it myself because I've got a foreign - non UK/US - 
version of it, but if you follow my advice you will surely be able to 
notice that Ron is "quite" bitter : he really lets things out when 
Harry goes back to sleep in his dormitory.
Let me paraphrase it that way :
[Ron is talking to Harry] "Of course you didn't mean to do it ! You 
didn't want those thousands galleons cos' you don't need them, you're 
already sooooooooooo richy !!! And now you've just insulted me [Harry 
said something like "you're a moron" to him], go to sleep, you lucky 
boy, you have to sign autographs to the screaming crowd tomorrow 
(aka : Gilderoy Lockhard's old grievance against Harry in Ron's 
mouth)".

OK, I have to admit that I may amplify things a little bit too much, 
but Ron does not only harbour resentment against Harry simply on 
account on what he considers being Harry's refusal to tell him what 
really happened and how he managed to dupe everybody (something that 
even Fred and George couldn't achieve). Definitely not. There is 
something more, and that "something more" is described in the book. 

Talking about GoF, remember what he said after the second test : I 
fought plenty of merepeoples that were trying to capture me (which 
was not true as we all know, but Harry was supporting enough to let 
Ron enjoy his moment of fame... He, for once, wanted to be at the 
center of attention). 
Same thing with OoP : after his triumph as a Quidditch goal-keeper he 
keeps talking about it again and again until the next day so that he 
isn't even aware of Harry and Hermione's unforgettable trip with 
Hagrid into the forbidden forest. 

> No where does it suggest that Ron thinks that he should be champion 
instead of Harry.

Yes you're right. But this is not what I said. It has never been 
suggested that Ron thinks that he *should* be a champion. But he 
certainly *would like* to become one (Which is normal. It just 
becomes more complicated when you have got a strong desire burning 
inside you and when your best friends are Harry Potter and Hermione 
Granger...). 

> Does he join the Slytherns in making fun of him? 

Fortunately not (had it been true, we wouln't be discussing that 
point)!!!!!!

> Does he wear a "Potter Stinks" badge? 

Same answer.

> Does he short-sheet Harry's bed? 

Ibid.

> He doesn't even really refuse to speak to him.  

Hey, wait a minute. You really like Ron, don't you ?

> As for the assumption that Hermione is destined to be MoM, I 
> sincerely doubt that is likely unless the office is automatically 
> awarded to the witch or wizard with the most NEWTS.  Her people 
> skills and political instincts are not nearly as well developed as 
> her intellect.  Frankly, I can see Ron being MoM more easily than I 
> can see Hermione in that position, but it's purely speculative.

Now, *I* am offended. Hermione sometimes "offends" people (as we all 
happen to do ;-) ) but you cannot say that her "people skills are not 
nearly as well developped as her intellect". Not only is she always 
telling Harry and Ron why other people do behave the way they do, but 
she also explains to the two of them how these people, and how they - 
R and H - are feeling. Of course, she sometimes acts like a bull in a 
china shop but she's becoming more and more full of empathy for 
everyone (I won't work out that precise point here but it would be 
something worth discussing at length IMO : Who is Hermione beyond the 
caricature ? Another topic coming soon ?).

See you. AAm (Hermy for MOM).