How many Rons per Hermione - numerical analysis of Ron's alleged decline

[ratalman]

No: HPFGUIDX 81883

Dumbledad said:
>I'm just finishing my second reading of OotP. I read it once 
>fairly quickly and then again, more slowly, as episodic bedtime 
>reading to my kids. One thing that really struck me second time 
>through is the absence of Ron.

Robyn:
Yes, I would definitely agree that Ron's importance to Harry 
diminished in OotP, and for many reasons.  One important 
reason, IMO, is that the plot required that Ron give way to Sirius, 
as the most important person in Harry's life.  In GoF, Ron was 
the thing that Harry would most miss, during the second task.  In 
OotP, however, it wasn't Ron that LV tricked Harry into believing 
had been taken captive, and which ultimately lured him to the 
Ministry of Magic, it was Sirius.  I think that Ron will return to a 
more prominent role in the remaining books, unless, gasp, JKR 
is preparing us for Ron's demise.