[HPforGrownups] Ron and Neville (was Re: Ron and Harry Are Inconsiderate Idiots)

[Maria Kirilenko]

No: HPFGUIDX 50212




Ebony, I loved your essay! I am leaning towards R/Hr myself, but I thought your analysis on why it doesn't work was incredible.

However, one of your points is that even through R---->Hr is obviously present, Hr---->R isn't, and, taking into consideration Ron's behaviour in the 'trolls' scene and during the Yule Ball, is not likely to happen. I want to argue with this.

Yes, Ron is *such* a jerk in the middle of GoF - to loads of people (Hermione, Neville, Padma, Krum), and he has no excuse for it. You simply can't tread on everyone in sight because you're in a bad mood. And the fact that's he's 14 is also no excuse. BUT - he is trying to cope with his feelings of jealousy and his growing crush on Hermione, which he doesn't realize he has - he mistakes them for other feelings. So, instead of saying to himself, "I like Hermione and am jealous," he yells at her about fraternizing with the enemy, implies that she is not at all attractive, etc. He is hot-headed and speaks before he thinks about consequences, and all that taken together could kill whatever feelings Hermione might have for Ron, and prevent their development - IF the only things Ron said or did were insults. 

But they aren't. First of all, Hermione *knows* Ron can be nice. Even though the two nice-to-Neville episodes happened before the ball, they are still significant *because they happened*. The same goes for other examples of Ron being nice.

Hermione saw Ron being nice to Neville. She's also seen Ron defend her and other people when Malfoy insulted them. Ron, *not Hermione*, has been the first person to take steps towards making up after the Scabbers fight.

Granted, it was before the Yule Ball. But I don't believe that a person can change so quickly from being nice to Neville in the beginning of GoF to becoming a complete git. He can, of course, but a *pattern* won't appear so quickly.

I stick to the opinion that all Ron's rudeness was caused by the fact that he suddenly saw Hermione in a new light and didn't know how to deal with it, especially since he didn't realize what that light was.

However, after his 'blazing row' with Hermione Ron is never rude to her again. I think that even though Ron didn't get 'the point' right away, he *must* have thought it over and gotten it, because the change in his behavior later on.

He has loads of opportunities to insult her further (when she says Krum invited her to Bulgaria, for example), but he doesn't. Yes, he grinds the pestol into the table and is obviously dying to say something not-too-nice (and Hermione must know that) - but he doesn't! The change in his attitude towards the end of GoF is very noticeable. IMO Ron asking Krum for an autograph is also very significant - and Hermione notices it too.

So, um... my point. I don't think Ron has no chance of winning Hermione's affections. 

Regards,

Maria



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