Defending Ron ? Ultimate Betrayal vs Jealousy

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 77599

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Erica" <cymru1ca at y...> wrote:

<snip discussion supporting the idea that Ron's character isn't 
consumed by jealousy with links to old posts with analysis of the 
GoF rift>


> When Harry returns from his trial at the MoM, Ron is ecstatic to 
> learn that Harry 'got off', however, what I find interesting is 
the 
> way that he puts it:
> 
> 'I knew it!' yelled Ron punching the air.  'You always get away 
with 
> stuff'.   Do you suppose there is anything 'lurking' in the 'You 
> always get away with stuff'?

Yeah, I noticed that too and I admit I wondered about it.  It 
reminded me of the conversation in PoA with R & H in Florean 
Fortescue's ice cream parlor.  Harry is telling them about Fudge 
letting him off the hook for the Aunt Marge blow-up and wondering 
why he did.  Ron responds with, "'Probably 'cause it's you, isn't 
it?", shrugged Ron, still chuckling.'"  He then goes on to speculate 
about what would happen to him if he did something like that, and 
concludes that Molly would kill him before the MoM could take any 
action against him.

The thing is, there's no resentment at all in either of these 
statements on Ron's part.  IMO he's quite aware that Harry gets 
special treatment very often, and we know, as readers that it's 
true. I think that he would probably resent it if he and Harry got 
in trouble for the same thing, and his (Ron) punishment were more 
severe than Harry's.  However, the only time I can think of where 
they are both in trouble for the same thing at the same time is in 
CoS, and they both get detentions for the Flying Ford Anglia 
escapade, so Harry doesn't get any special treatment there.

Don't forget that Ron helps get Harry off the hook with Snape in 
PoA, when he backs him up concerning the illegal trip to Hogsmeade.  
If Ron were secretly nursing resentment towards Harry, he could have 
easily failed to get back to Snapes office in time, and let Harry 
twist in the wind, with no risk to himself.

Anyway, I think that while Ron is certainly aware that Harry's 
likely to receive special treatment in the WW because of who he is 
(hello? TWO anonymous gift brooms in 3 years?), he's also well aware 
of the downside of being Harry. In other words, there's no evidence 
of ongoing jealousy/envy/bitterness toward Harry.  He's just his 
very best friend.

Jo S.