OOP: Re: Ron and Hermione in OOTP

[aunt_barb1958]

No: HPFGUIDX 64122


Peter wrote:
> > Okay, I have to get this out of my system. I'm disappointed with 
> the treatment of Ron and Hermione in OOTP.
> >  
> > I am glad Ron and Hermione were given prefect status (although 
why Ron was made a prefect is anybody's guess). However, I would have 
> preferred that JKR had allowed some quality time for Ron and 
> Hermione to develop. In GoF we got to see the empathy and budding 
> political awareness of Hermione as well as the psychological and 
> class struggles of Ron. On top, GoF offered a glimpse into a 
> potential intimacy between the forever sparing Friends of Harry.
> >  
> > In OOTP, a year goes by without any sign of their complicated 
> relationship developing. It seems extremely implausible that 
> everyone around them (including Ron's younger sister) has 
discovered dating while the two of them seem stuck in a pre-GoF mode, 
with Hermione talking like a pedant and Ron solely preoccupied with 
> Quidditch.
> >  
> > Comments?

 "txjen70" wrote:
> I too was disappointed by the lack of development of Ron and 
> Hermione.  Yes external things happened to them in the book, but 
> where was the character development?  SUre there was some in 
regards to Ginny and Neville, but still not over whelmingly so.  It 
then dawned on me that 1) - this book was a sign of Harry isolating 
> himself from them.  And 2) - Harry is not a very good friend.  He 
> has his reasons to think selfishly, I know.  And his age of course 
> plays a factor.  But no where does he really get concerned about 
the lives of his friends.  He is mostly impatient with them and/or 
upset with them.  And I think this will lead to bigger reprecussions 
in 6&7. >>>>>

I agree with you both.  I would have like much more development with 
Ron and Hermione.  I also agree that Harry was not much of a friend 
to them or even Hagrid.  Yet even when he was being a Git I admire 
the way they stood by him and from time to time brought him back to 
earth by telling him how they felt and not to take his anger out on 
them or to quit hiding.  Harry says at the beginning that he did all 
these things and he should have allowed to be helping with the OOTP 
but he forgets that in each scrape he got into Ron and especially 
Hermione were there to help him.  Some examples:

SS/PS - Hermione figures out the devils snare and riddle
SS/PS - Ron gets them through the chess game
COS - Hermione figures out what the animal is and how it gets around
COS - Makes the Polyjuice Potion
GOF - Helps Harry learn how to summon his broom

I'm sure there is an example from POA but it's late and my brain is 
mush.  


"aunt_barb1958"