[HPforGrownups] Is it Ron?

[Taryn Kimel]

No: HPFGUIDX 52707

JenD:
I know this has been discussed a million times but I can't shake the 
fear that it will be Ron that JKR offs in OoP. Look at him. He's the 
most flawed of the "good guys." In PoA, he cared more for his rat 
than a friendship. He was so completely jealous of Harry in GoF that 
he walked away from their friendship. He's a really tragic figure, 
short-sighted, painfully and angrily aware of his family's finacial 
situation, quick to judge. He has many good qualities but face it, 
he's provided a lot of the dramatic tension with his flaws. Of all 
the characters I am supposed to care about, he's the one that makes 
me the maddest. And yet, Harry still values him above all else. It 
would be the ultimate challenge for Harry to face life without him. 
Can someone tell me why it won't be Ron? 

Me:
Well, for one thing, there's no reason why Rowling would necessarily off "the most flawed of the good guys." I think he's /less/ likely to be killed because he's part of the trio. Can you imagine two whole books without the trio? If /any/ of them get killed, I'm willing to stake money on it happening in the seventh book. 

I also think you're really exaggerating Ron's flaws next to Harry and Hermione. I, personally, don't see him as particularly more flawed that the other two, who both definitely have their share of shortcomings. In PoA, it was my opinion that the Scabbers/Crookshanks fiasco was Hermione's fault and she was EXTREMELY insensitive about it (purposely /bringing/ Crookshanks into an area she /knew/ Scabbers was in when she /knew/ that her cat would chase and attempt to eat the rat, /even/ if she didn't believe it had a personal vendetta with Scabbers). Ron's reasons for his anger towards Harry in GoF are debateable, and Harry is just as much at fault for their reconciliation not happening sooner.

I fail to see how "painfully and angrily aware of his family's financial situation" is such a great fault. There's no harm in being aware of anything. His complains and anger about it are really scarce (and mostly in GoF) and any bad consequences have yet to occur because of it. Being aware and,  yes, angry, of your situation in life is not a fault, really. It's when you start taking out that anger on others and committing poor choices that it becomes a real fault. Ron has done neither (unless you're willing to stake Jealous!Ron's reasonings on it, and then you'd have to prove Jealous!Ron).

--Taryn

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