Ron's big moment? (WAS: Why Ron Loves Hermione)

[scoutmom21113]

No: HPFGUIDX 81347

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ffimiles" <ffionmiles at h...> 
wrote:
> 
> Ron's definately going to have a big 'moment' which'll be pivotal 
for 
> the good side - Hermione's already had so many in helping Harry 
get 
> throught asks/time-turning/figure out the basalisk - sof ar Ron's 
> greatest moment came in the chess game in PS - he's got to have 
> another moment - even if it is to redeem himself from some 
weakness 
> he shows, which might get Harry and others into trouble - but 
he'll 
> come good - and don't even mention him being killed off...

Two things struck me from the fight in the Ministry.  First, after 
Ron, Luna, and Ginny were separated from the others when running 
from the prophecy shelves, Ron was in a very strange state when they 
caught up with Harry again.  

(US Ch 35, p795) "'Harry,' said Ron, giggling weakly, lurching 
forward, seizing the front of Harry's robes and gazing at hinm with 
unfocusec eyes. 'There you are...Ha ha ha ... You look funny, 
Harry....You're all messed up....'

Ron's face was very white and something dark was trickling from the 
corner of his mouth.  Next moment his knees had given way, <snip>

'Harry, we saw Uranus up close!' said Ron, still giggling 
feebly.  'Get it, Harry? We was Uranus - ha ha ha - '"

Neither Ginny or Luna knew what had happened to Ron.  Then, a few 
pages later, Ron (still giggling) called one of the brains from the 
tank:

(US Ch35, p798) "For a moment it seemed suspended in midair, then it 
soared toward Ron, spinning as it came, and what looked like ribbons 
of moving images flew from it, unraveling like rolls of film - <snip>

The moment they made contact with his skin, the tentacles began 
wrapping themselves around Ron's arms like ropes. <snip> But the 
thin ribbons were spinning around Ron's chest now.  He tugged and 
tore at them as the brain was pulled tight against him like an 
octopus's body."

So Ron took a one-two punch during the fight. First was something to 
do with planets, then the brain.  In the infirmary at the end, Ron 
was apparently recovered from the brain - (Ch38, p847) "There were 
still deep welts on his forearms where the brain's tentacles had 
wrapped around him.  According to Madam Pomgrey, thoughts could 
leave deeper scarring than almost anything else, though since she 
had started applying copious amounts of Dr. Ubbly's Oblivious 
Unction, there seemed to be some improvement."  

Notice the qualifiers "according to" and "seemed to be."  And 
nothing was said about his episode of silliness.  This just screams 
*important clue* to me.  Thoughts on what they mean?

Ravenclaw Bookworm