GOF: Ron's a real twit (git)

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 110307

JoS writes:

<snip quotes>
> 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 sez:
You make a good point about Harry being happy in Ron's presence.
With Ron, Harry often has fun, something he's experienced in very 
short supply during his life. I don't know that I agree Ron is the one
who *gets* Harry, because Hermoine often has her insights into
Harry also. But I can see that Harry would value Ron as the one 
with whom he can just be a boy. Admittedly, with her strong sense
of responsibility, Hermoine doesn't appreciate the importance of  
Harry being able to act like a typical boy ;-)

JoS also writes:
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 sez:
I agree in GoF it is Ron who acts out of sorts over her date, and shows
signs of being romantically interested her. I do think Harry also pays
attention to Hermoine's well-being, though it is sort of a rotating thing
with Ron and Harry. They tend to take turns being insensitive, not
unusual for teenage boys. 

JoS writes:
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 sez:
Like I noted above, they seem to take turns. I just noticed as I 
reread GoF that the "attraction" between Ron and Hermoine
seemed to suddenly pop up with the Yule Ball business. I
never sensed any changing feelings between them. (Not that 
I've ever noticed any changing feelings between Hermoine and 
Harry either). 

Julie previously wrote:
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!). 

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

Julie sez:
I don't. It was just a figure of speech. At that moment in GoF
I just felt Hermoine would be better off making a play for Harry,
should she be interested, and should he be interested. This
is from GoF, mind you, which is not Ron's best showing. I'm 
getting to my second read of OoTP soon, which I recall is not 
Harry's best, when it comes to attitude and sensitivity ;-)

Also Meri writes:
Well, if your best friend is someone with whom you can never 
ever argue with, then how many among us actually have a best friend 
in that definition? I mean, if you can't fight with them what are 
they good for? Besides, sometimes fighting and making up makes the 
friendship stronger. After their arguement, Harry and Ron are closer 
than ever, and Ron is most definately there for Harry in Order, when 
he needs it the most. And remember, it was both Ron and Harry who 
were being stupid about their arguement, Ron for letting his 
jealousy get away with him, and Harry for being to proud to admit 
how much he missed Ron. 

Julie sez:
I certainly am not arguing that a best friend is someone you never
fight with. Harry and Hermoine have had falling outs too. I just felt
in GoF that Ron acted like a twit. OoTP is Harry's turn ;-)

Meri also wrote:
Actually, I think that Hermione's best friend would probably 
be Ginny. Who knows who Hermione's going to the Yule Ball with? 
Ginny. Who shares a tent with Hermy at the QWC? Ginny. And who does 
Ginny tell things that even her brothers don't know about her? 
Hermione. So, Harry and Ron are probably two of her best friends in 
the world, but I think that Ginny is being undervalued in the BF 
sense. 

Julie sez:
I don't think she's being undervalued through GoF. Hermoine spends
almost all of her free time with Ron and Harry, from PS/SS through
GoF. While Ginny is her closest female friend in GoF, and may
well be on her way to being Hermoine's best friend, she isn't there
yet I don't think. (Though certainly there will be things girls will 
discuss with other girls, and boys with other boys, I don't think
that this truth negates the ability for a boy and a girl to be best
friends.)

Meri also adds:
Well, let's think. Ron's tall, good looking (in my 
imagination, anyway), has a good sense of humor, is fun to be 
around, is loyal, sweet (he gave her perfume for Christmas) and a 
good stand up guy in general. So, what's not to like? I mean, yes, 
he's a bit immature, but girls grow up faster than boys, after all. 
And why should Hermione judge Ron's worth as a boyfriend because of 
something his mother does? Not that I think that Mrs. Weasley 
wouldn't be a good mother in law (and she better be, with seven 
kids), but that seems like a silly reason to not have a relationship 
with a guy, because his mom doesn't like you. And remember, Mrs. 
Weasley does like Hermione, she was just clouded by the Daily 
Prophet smear campaign, and I'm not getting into another debate over 
Molly here. 

Julie sez:
Er, where did I state any opinion on Mrs. Weasley, or imply that I
thought she would/should be an impediment to a R/H relationship?
My focus was on Ron's reaction. At that point, given Ron is 
attracted to Hermoine and cares for her, I was a bit annoyed that
he didn't notice Hermoine's hurt feelings, or wasn't a bit annoyed
with his mother over the tiny egg. Not to mention he's stuffing his
enormous egg in his mouth without offering her any. It just didn't
seem like something a guy who's looking to be a girl's boyfriend
would do. But Ron is only fourteen, so he's got some maturing
to do.

Meri finished:
Again, maybe this is just me, but I am a confirmed H/R 
shipper, for a couple reasons. First of all, that is just the 
dynamic that works in these types of stories. You get ther hero 
(Harry), the hero's best male friend (Ron) and the hero's best 
female friend who ends up with the sidekick (Hermy). Secondly, I 
just don't think that Harry and Hermione make a good match. There 
are times when she simply doesn't understand him, and I think that 
someone who has had more similar experiences (like loss of a parent 
(Luna) or a brush with LV (Ginny)) would be better suited for our 
boy hero. And then there's the fact that Harry looks at Hermy as his 
friend, and just his friend. That could change, but I don't see it 
happening. This isn't Dawson's Creek, and JKR has better things to 
write about than love triangles (Harry trying to steal Hermione from 
Ron is a sublot that I can live without). 

Julie sez:
I agree, no love triangles! Any romantic relationships should be
sidelines to the main story. These are teenagers after all, and it's
hardly likely they're picking out their life mates at the moment. I
can actually see reasons for R/H or H/H, as well as H/G and 
others. But then, it's not only two people who make a relationship,
it's often the circumstances. And until we see how the story
concludes, and how each person is affected by the events leading
to that end, I don't know that we can accurately predict who might
discover signifcantly altered feelings for whom. 

Julie 











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