GOF: Ron's a real twit (git)

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 110214

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, juli17 at a... wrote:

<snip>
 
> So why is Ron considered Harry's best friend, including by Harry 
> himself? Because Ron's family has taken Harry in several times, or
> because Ron is a boy? I think it's probably the latter, since best 
friends
> are usually of the same sex--despite the fact that Hermoine's two 
best
> friends are Harry and Ron. Though it's understandable that Harry 
sees
> Ron as his best friend, I'd love to see him acknowledge at some 
point
> that the one person who has stood next to him through 
*everything,* and
> has proven to be his truest friend of all, isn't Ron, it's 
Hermoine.


Here's why.

"That's chess!' snapped Ron. "You've got to make some sacrifices!  I 
take one step forward and she'll take me - that leaves you free to 
checkmate the king, Harry!' PS, Chapter 16

'Stop gibbering,' said Ron, 'we've come to take you home with us.'
CoS, Chapter 3

Right on cue, Ron came bursting into the office.  He was completely 
out of breath, and stopped just shor of Snape's desk, clutching the 
stitch in his chest and trying to speak.
"I - gave - Harry - that - stuff." he choked.  "Bought - it...in 
Zonko's...ages - ago..." PoA, Chapter 14

"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" he said 
fiercely, though the effort of standing upright was draining him of 
still more color, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.  PoA, Chapter 
17

"We're coming for you whether the Muggles like it or not, you can't 
miss the World Cup, only Mum and Dad reckon it's better if we 
pretend to ask their permission first.  If they say yes, send Pig 
back with your answer pronto, and we'll come and get you at five 
o;clock on Sunday.  If they say no, send Pig back pronto and we'll 
come and get you at five o'clock on Sunday anyway." GoF, Chapter 3

"Come and have a game of Quidditch in the orchard, Harry,'...
<snip>
"Ron," said Hermione, in an I-don't-think-your're-being-very-
sensitive sort of voice, "Harry doesn't want to play Quidditch right 
now..."
<snip>
"Yeah, I want to play Quidditch," said Harry suddenly... GoF, 
Chapter 10

"She's taken points off Gryffindor because I'm having my hand slice 
open every nigh! How is that fair, how?"
"I know, mate," said Ron sympthetically, tipping bacon onto Harry's 
plate, "she's bang out of order."  OoP, Chapter 15


Sorry to bombard the list with canon quotes, but there seems to be a 
persistant sort of amnesia that overcomes many readers who can't 
understand why Ron is the one Harry would miss the most.  It's 
debatable as to whether Hermione has stood next to him through 
*everything* but it's not debatable that Harry is always happiest in 
Ron's presence.  It's not because he's a boy, it's because he's the 
one who really *gets* Harry, and he's the one who has provided 
refuge from the Dursleys, whenever he possibly can.  If you look at 
things from Harry's POV, it makes perfect sense for him to value the 
friend whose company he actually enjoys most.  

Julie writes: 

> In the meantime, I have a hard time seeing what Hermoine sees in 
Ron, 
> especially after Molly sent Hermoine that tiny Easter egg. 
Hermoine 
> asks if Ron's mother reads the Daily Prophet, and Ron says "Yep" 
while  
> stuffing his mouth full of his toffee egg. It's Harry who actually 
notices 
> Hermoine's sad expression and quickly brings up another subject to
> take her mind off it.
 

But who takes on Malfoy when he insults her (and ends up coughing 
slugs, for his trouble)? Who stands up to Snape when he insults her 
(and gets detention for doing it)?  Who notices that she's taking 
more classes than she can possibly have time for?  Who cares whether 
or not she's eating?  Who notices that her teeth have changed?  Who 
cares who her date to the Yule Ball is?

Hermione is no fool.  She knows which boy actually pays attention to 
her well-being on a day to day basis.


Julie continues:

> These two reactions have been repetitive throughout the books. Ron 
> usually ignores or dismisses Hermoine's feelings, while Harry is 
the
> one who often notices and sometimes tries to alleviate her fears 
or 
> sadness.

Funnily enough, it's been my impression that Harry rarely takes time 
to notice Hermione's "feelings" at all.  I really can't recall him 
trying to alleviate her fears or sadness, either (the Easter egg 
example has more to do with setting Mrs. Weasley straight about 
himself, than Hermione).  Ron, on the other hand... ;-)


Julie concludes:

 I don't have strong 'ship preferences for either R/H or H/H, but
> I have yet to see any reason Hermoine should go for Ron. (Take 
Harry, 
> you fool, take Harry!). 

Why do you think that Harry is available for Hermione to "take"?

Jo S., charter member of C.R.A.B.