Ron and the Trouble with Veela

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50350

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ladyofmisrule2000
<lorischmidt1 at j...>" <lorischmidt1 at j...> wrote:
> Hi, all!
> 
> Does anyone have any theories as to why Ron seems to be affected
> to a greater extent by the veela than Harry is?
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Is there some character trait that makes some more resilient to the 
> veela than others?
> 
> Sincerely,
> Lori 


bboy_mn:

Others have given very good replies to this question, and I'm not
going to try to subtract or discredit their input, because for the
most part I agree, but I do want to add one more thing. I think it is
a very valid point, but perhaps only a minor point.

Ron has grown up in a big loving outgoing expressive family, so Ron
doesn't hold back. He's not guarded in this emotions or his speech
(withing reasonable limits). When you grow up in a large outgoing
house like the Weasley house you learn to speak loud and fast, if you
want your voice to be heard. Also, Molly is very simpathetic, while
she may seem a firm disciplinarian, she is also loving, inviting, and
comforting. I'm sure as is reflected in Ron's short fuse, Ron has
never felt like he couldn't speak his mind around the Weasley house.
So we have keyword here; outgoing, expressive, and spontaneous. Ron
has never had reason to be reserved in this thought, speech, or
emotions. As soon as he feels it or thinks it; it comes out. He's, to
some extent, uninhibited.

Harry, on the other hand, has always live in an environment that
oppressed him, suppressed him, and inhibited him. He needs to think
before he reacts. He needs to weigh the risk. Sort out the danger.
Because every minute of his life was lived with an axe hanging over
his head, ready to fall at the slightest miscalculation. Harry is very
guarded. He's emotionally defensive in his interaction with others. He
really only has two friends. In them, he's found his comfort zone. He
has his nice contained controlled predictable little world (regarding
his friends). A popular and famous guy like Harry could have a lot
more friends. Friends from every house that he could hang out with,
but a life that complex has too many variables, too hard to control,
too hard to predict. So he keeps his social life simple. Keywords;
inhibited, guarded, contained, defensive, insecure, withdrawn.

Ron let's it out freely and quickly. Harry holds it in until he has
had time to assess the risk which doesn't make him very spontaneous. 

That's not the whole picture, but I'm sure as far as social
interaction, that's part of why Harry isn't affected by Fleur.

Not to say he isn't affected at all, however. Whenever she is
mentioned in Harry's narration, he always mentions some attractive
aspect of her. The way her hair flows, or the way she brushes it back
over her shoulder. And there are hints from Harry's perpective as
narrator, that indicate a lot of other guys are very attacted to
Fleur. Since her charms are magical, it's probably difficult for any
man or boy not to be affected by them. 

All the boys feel it, but not all of then are uninhibited enough to
respond to what they feel.

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn