Ron and Harry Are Inconsiderate Idiots

[serenadust <jmmears@comcast.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50195

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Amy Z <lupinesque at y...>" 
<lupinesque at y...> wrote:
> Calliope wrote:
> 
> > I can't find a time when Ron is actually nice to Neville.  
Ever.  I 
> wish I
> > could.  If someone does, please share it.


Amy wrote:
> GF12:
> 
> "I'll just have to--ooops . . . "
> 
> Neville's foot had sunk right thorugh a step halfway up the 
> staircase.  There were many of these trick stairs at Hogwarts; it 
was 
> secong nature to most of the older students to jump this 
particular 
> step, but Neville's memory was notoriously poor.  Harry and Ron 
> seized him under the armpits and pulled him out, while a suit of 
> armour at th etop of the stairs creaked and clanked, laughing 
> wheezily.
> 
> "Shut it, you," said Ron, banging down its visor as they passed.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> 
> It's one of my favorite Ron moments.  Being kind, but in a 
> characteristically brusque and indirect way.
> 
> Incidentally, it also shows JKR's plotting genius at work.  "The 
Egg 
> and the Eye" would have seem contrived if she hadn't cleverly 
> reminded us about the trick stair several chapters earlier, and 
shown 
> us that when you step onto it, you're good and stuck until someone 
> helps you out.  *shakes head in admiration*

Now me:
GoF Chapter 11

Neville listened jealously to the others' conversations they relived 
the Cup match.
"Gran didn't want to go," he said miserably. "Wouldn't buy tickets.  
It sounded amazing, though."
"It was," said Ron.  "Look at this, Neville..."
He rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the 
miniature figure of Viktor Krum.
"Oh wow," said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy 
hand.
"We saw him right up close, as well," said Ron.  "We were in the Top 
Box.."

Ron's obviously making an effort to include Neville in the 
discussion, even though he was the only one unable to go to the 
World Cup.  We don't see anyone else bothering to make Neville feel 
as if he's not entirely left out.

Also(echoing Amy Z's sentiments), Rowling uses this as another 
opportunity to reinforce Ron's admiration for Krum, and his pride in 
owning the figure of him.  This makes his later jealousy even more 
poignant when Harry finds the tiny arm broken off.  She's really a 
master at sewing everything together seamlessly.

Jo Serenadust, who doesn't like shipping wars, but is happy to 
defend Ron