Ron's contribution (was SHIP: JKR & Ron/Hermione, H/H converging)

[pippin_999 <foxmoth@qnet.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49977

> Penny :
> <<<<<<< I think Jim's right: Hermione is an integral part of 
Harry's success, and IMHO, Ron *is* falling behind the other two.  
As one commentator in the Ivory Tower book I read recently said, 
"Ron is  wrong so often that you can almost be certain that 
whatever Ron says, the opposite is true" (that's a rough 
paraphrase from  memory).  As I've said before, I think Ron is so 
anxious to "keep  up" with Harry's talents, etc. and Hermione's 
intellect, that he  grasps at straws.  <<

<snip>
David:
> In terms of companionship, emotional support, magical ability, 
> commitment, faith in the others, loyalty, and all those other 
things that go into friendship, do you think Ron is behind the 
other two, particularly Hermione?
> 

(me, too, David) I'd like to add that usually when Ron opens his 
big mouth and Hermione jumps on him, Harry is just as 
clueless as Ron is. Harry doesn't know why Lupin is sick all the 
time either, nor does he have the slightest idea what happened 
to Mr. Crouch.

 It's only that Ron has a tendency to think out loud, whereas 
Hermione, as we all know, keeps her theories to herself until 
she can prove them and Harry would just as soon not think 
things out at all, if he can help it.

Another talent Ron doesn't get credit for is leadership. It may be 
a result of movie contamination that people forget Wizard Chess 
is more than a game of strategy. It's a game of negotiation, like 
D&D, contract bridge or Diplomacy...you have to persuade your 
pieces to co-operate with each other and you. Ron, Harry has 
noted, is good at that. 

Penny earlier said:

>>But, more importantly, I see lots of impatience with Ron from 
Hermione.  How many times does she utter "Oh, Ron!" or tut-tut 
about something he offers up as a possible factor or solution.  
She's very dismissive of him really.  Yet
another reason why I think R/H would be an incredibly bad 
match-up.  She'snot shown much interest so far in pumping up 
his self-esteem (low already)and he isn't actually going to shine 
or come into his own if he's constantlybeing overshadowed by 
both his best friend the Hero and his girlfriend the
Over-Achiever.<<

I think Ron *likes* it that she's impatient with him. She expects 
him to keep up with her, she obviously thinks he can, (which has 
to be a boost) and that's probably a pleasant change from being 
"ickle Ronniekins" at home.

Besides, why does it have to be Hermione's job to improve her 
boy-friend's self -esteem? Sure, she has the ability to be a  
nurturing person, but why does her romantic interest have to be 
focused on that? If she needs to baby someone--well, that's 
what babies are for, IMNSHO. 

Maybe it's the feminist in me that doesn't like H/H. Ginny would 
already melt into a pile of goo if Harry looked at her. Why does 
Hermione have to be the same way?

Pippin