a bit o' R/H analysis

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 89363

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dorapye" <helenhorsley at h...> 
wrote:

Dorapye:
> Immediately I read that, I was reminded of the scene when they 
first 
> meet aboard the Hogwarts Express - Hermione says to Ron as she 
> leaves the compartment (he's seen her off with his rudeness)
> 
> "And you've got dirt on your nose by the way, did you know?"
> 
> I always wondered what the point of that remark was - it doesn't 
fit 
> as a "Well, sod you!" kind of retort, as I can't believe Ron would 
> be really that bothered about dirt on his nose. But what it does do 
> is have Hermione repeating Mrs Weasley's last interaction with her 
> youngest son.... 

Geoff:
I don't see any rudeness on Ron's part in the /first/ meeting. If 
anything, Hermione is rude in her dismissive comment about Ron's 
spell.

"'Are you sure that's a real spell?' said the girl. 'Well, it's not 
very good, is it?'

(PS "The Journey from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters" p.79 UK 
edition)

She then rabbits on about having tried a few spells, learned all the 
set books off by heart and then tells Harry that he's in all the 
books.

"'Am I?' said Harry, feeling dazed.
'Goodness, didn't you know?'"

(same page)


..which is a trifle patronising if anything.

The only comment Ron makes at this point is that he hopes that 
Hermione is not in the same house as him - and that is /after/ she 
leaves the compartment with Neville in tow.

It is on the second occasion, she comes back in and starts trying to 
organise and Ron asks her to leave while they change that he scowls; 
but she hasn't exactly been reading "How to Win Friends and Influence 
People" has she?