Was it a back-handed compliment?

[ladyofmisrule2000 <lorischmidt1@juno.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50945

Hey, all!

During the course of my lurking, I read that there is some evidence 
that Harry's and Hermione's magical talents are beginning to eclipse 
those of Ron. One piece of evidence that was cited in this argument 
was that Barty Crouch, Jr. (in the guise of Moody) told Harry and 
Hermione they'd make good aurors, but did not extend the 
same "compliment" to Ron. 

My question is: was it really such a compliment? Remember that much 
of what Crouch, Jr. said has proved to have a double meaning. For 
instance, when he tells Harry, "If there's one thing I hate...it's a 
Death Eater who walked free." (Harry assumes its Moody speaking as a 
disgruntled auror, but we later discover that it really Crouch, Jr. 
voicing his anger that he is the only Death Eater who stayed loyal.) 

Also, remember that as a loyal supporter of Voldemort, Crouch, Jr. is 
not likely to have met an auror he really liked. 

That's as far as I've gotten in my theorizing, however. Anybody want 
to help me figure out what it is about Harry and Hermione that 
Crouch, Jr. finds objectionable?

Lori