HRH and their Prefect badges

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 72168

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Arya" <jdq53562 at a...> wrote:

> > <greatelderone at y...> wrote:
> >  
> > > Just because I say that the fellow is immature and isn't 
> deserving 
> > of the badge does not mean I'm a "Ron-basher".>


Jenny replied: 

<snip>
> > First, why in the world do you insist that the prefect position 
> should 
> > be taken away from Ron and *now* given to Harry?  Can you please 
> > please please show me, using canon and not your own opinions, 
where 
> in 
> > the book Ron failed so badly at being a prefect?  Contemplating 
> buying 
> > firewhiskey isn't enough for me, so sorry.
> > 
> snip

Arya replied:

> Reasons that may make a case for why Ron could lose his prefect 
badge:
> 1.  Inability and reluctance to perform duties ascribed to 
prefects.  
> He was not willing to enforce rules he was responsible to uphold 
such 
> as those that Fred and George were breaking.  Even when Hermione 
only 
> wanted him to stand beside her to give her moral support, Ron 
refused 
> and stayed away from it.

Me:
What makes you think that Harry would have done any differently?  I 
can't remember any point where he says (or thinks) that if only *he* 
had that badge, he'd really put the smack-down of F & G.  Come to 
think of it, I can't think of any point in any of the 5 books when 
Harry has any problem with the twins hi-jinks.  He certainly 
wouldn't want them to accuse him of being like Percy any more than 
Ron does. They already know that Hermione is a swot, and fully 
expect her to try to stop them, but they manage to outsmart her 
fairly easily in the end, so she's not very effective in stopping 
them either.

 Arya continued: 
> 2.  Engaged in maliscious attacks upon other students and fellow 
> prefects.  Granted, it was against Malfoy and his gang but he led 
> both a revolt against them in Umbridge's office when Harry and 
> Hermione were leading the Evil One into the forest.  Also, Ron was 
> involved with other unnamed DA members in the hexing of 
> Draco/Crabbe/Goyle on the train returning from Hogwarts.  (No, you 
> cannot just make a case that they were defending Harry, because 
many 
> of the hexes and curses used were not meant to only impede or 
hinder 
> or prevent attack but to form a counter attack and ended with them 
> being unconscious.


Me:
This point has already been addressed well by Pshemekan.  Ron was 
*not* involved, although he sure did approve of the action taken by 
the other DA members, thereby strengthening inter-house bonds <vbg>. 
Pretty good way to top off his first year as prefect, if you ask me.


Arya continues:  
> 3.  Inability to prevent Harry from leaving the school and going 
to 
> the Ministry.  Yes, Hermione also is guilty of this.  However, Ron 
is 
> the one who has the pattern of not considering the 
responsibilities 
> ascribed to him as a prefect. 


Me:
Since you admit that Hermione was utterly unable to influence 
Harry's decision, what on earth did you expect Ron to do?  If his 
crime is that he's not Hermione, well neither is Harry.  If Harry 
*had* been a prefect, he'd have still left school for the ministry.  
You can't possibly be suggesting that he'd have thought, "Gee, I'd 
really like to go save Sirius from Voldemort but goshdarnit, I'm a 
prefect, so I'd better not."  Right. 


Anya continued: 
> Overall, I think Ron is just happy about the badge because of the 
> status symbol it connotes and he is eager to use the little power 
it 
> grants to his own end and amusement (wait until I get Malfoy).  
Ron 
> acts no differently than he did when he was not a prefect and this 
is 
> a problem.  He still follows Harry and whatever he wants.  Ron 
> demonstrates he is incapable of indenpendant thought (unless you 
> count the attack by a brain). Harry, on the other hand, would see 
the 
> responsibility as just that-- something to live up to and 
something 
> to consider with every decision he makes at school.  This is why 
> Dumbledore thought it would weight too much on Harry's mind and 
> conscious but it is also why Harry would make an ideal prefect.  
When 
> Dumbledore named Ron a prefect over Harry, Dumbledore chose to 
serve 
> Harry the person over serving the school and Gryffindor house.  

Me:
You are entitled to your opinion, but that's all this is.  In 
addition, the charge that Ron is incapable of independant thought is 
patently untrue, as demonstrated many times throughout the books.  
Harry wouldn't be any better a prefect than Ron is, and could 
arguably be worse since he's so full of bitterness toward 
Dumbledore, and preoccupied with his own problems.

> I admit it-- I hate Ron and hope he dies early in book 6 but I do 
> have my reasons.  Poo.

How very eloquent and persuasive.

Jo S.