Ginny's dress, Ron's Attitude (was: Saving Every Sickle)

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 59530

"Morgan D." wrote:
> 
> Anyway, I don't remember any description of Ginny's dress in the 
Yule 
> Ball chapter, and a quick page-flipping through it failed to spot 
any 
> mentions to Ginny's presence besides her "wincing frequently as 
> Neville trod on their feet" as they danced (GoF, ch 23, p 365, UK 
> paperback). You guys seem certain that Molly bought her one too. 

Me(Finwitch):
 
I don't think that Molly bought her one - but Neville might have.

Ginny might have used her _allowance_ to buy a dress from Hogsmeade 
or save money by conjuring a temporary dress. Only thing about 
conjured dresses is that they don't last long. Or, turning a work-
robe into a dress-robe... they're not THAT much apart, after all.

Morgan D:
> I remember being taken aback when I first read that passage in GoF. 
> Because I was already becoming very fond of Pigwidgeon and because 
> Sirius is my favourite character, but moreover because Ron was 
> calling "rubbish" a present from Sirius *in front of Sirius' godson!
* 
> I've been wondering if this is a cultural thing, maybe this is not 
> such an appalling faux-pas in England, but I can't help thinking of 
> it as a horrible, horrible gesture.

Not to me it's not - it's just a burst of emotion. And well, Ron's 
irritation is more to that dress-robe with laces than anything else - 
this time. Harry knows how Ron is - speaking 'ill' of pets and people 
he truly loves when he's irritated about something - constantly. He 
can be quiet when it's needed to avoid giving offence, when he's 
angry - "not in speaking terms" - or even just out of respect for the 
other's feelings (like when he stops talking about how much he liked 
the way that spider just died for Harry's sake).

If Ron would have hold back his irritated emotion about 
enthusiastic 'Pig' (that seems to be much like Ron) in silence, Harry 
would have thought Ron was upset with _him_ rather than just 
irritated over an Owl... You know - if your friend suddenly starts 
behaving very formally, it means he's mad at you...

-- Finwitch