[HPforGrownups] Re: Why buy Ron Maroon? (Was: Why buy 5 sets of Lockhart's book?

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 113837

--- Alex Boyd <alex51324 at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Magda wrote that Molly was "hateful" to give Ron sandwiches and
> sweaters in varieties and colours he didn't like, and dress robes
> that would expose him to mockery by the school.
> 

No, I said Molly was hateful about the dress robes incident, not the
sandwiches and sweathers.  She's just being insensitive there.

It's actually worth re-reading the whole dress robes page to show
just how goaded Ron is before he erupts:

**********************************************
Goblet of Fire, end of Chapter 10:

...Ron made a loud noise of disgust behind him.

"What is *that* supposed to be?"

He was holding up something that looked to Harry like a long, maroon
velvet dress.  It had a mouldy-looking lace frill at the collar and
matching lace cuffs.  

There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Weasly entered, carrying an
armful of freshly laundered Hogwarts robes.

"Here you are," she said, sorting them into two.  "Now, mind you pack
them properly so they don't crease."

"Mum, you've given me Ginny's new dress," said Ron, holding it out to
her.  

"Of course I haven't," said Mrs. Weasley.  "They're for you.  Dress
robes."

"*What?*" said Ron, looking horror-struck.

"Dress robes," repeated Mrs. Weasley.  "It says on your school list
that you're supposed to have dress robes this year...robes for formal
occasions."

"You've got to be kidding," said Ron in disbelief.  "I'm not wearing
that, no way."

"Everyone wears them, Ron!" said Mrs. Weasley crossly.  "They're all
like that!  Your father has some for smart parties!"

"I'll go starkers before I put that on," said Ron stubbornly.

"Don't be so silly," said Mrs. Weasley, "you've got to have dress
robes, they're on your list!  I got some for Harry, too...show him,
Harry..."

In some trepidation, Harry opened the last parcel on his camp bed. 
It wasn't as bad as he had expected, however; his robes didn't have
any lace on them at all; in fact, they were more or less the same as
his school ones, except that they were bottle green instead of black.
 

"I thought they'd bring out the colour of your eyes, dear," said Mrs.
Weasley fondly.

"Well, they're OK!" said Ron angrily, looking at Harry's robes.  "Why
couldn't I have something like that?"

"Because...well, I had to get yours second-hand, and there wasn't a
lot of choice," said Mrs. Weasley, flushing.

Harry looked away.  He would willingly have split all the money in
his Gringotts vault with the Weasleys, but he knew they would never
take it.

"I'm never wearing them," Ron was saying stubbornly.  "Never."

"Fine," snapped Mrs. Weasley.  "Go naked.  And Harry, make sure you
get a picture of him.  Goodness knows I could do with a laugh."

She left the room, slamming the door behind her.  There was a funny
spluttering noise from behind them.  Pigwidgeon was choking on an
overlarge Owl Treat.

"Why is everything I own rubbish?" said Ron furiously, striding
across the room to unstick Pigwidgeon's beak.
************************************************

So first she tries to tell him that everyone wears them, then that
he's being silly, then that they're just like Harry's, before she
finally admits that he'll have to settle for this dress-thing because
its the best they can afford - supposedly.  But Harry gets robes that
match his eyes.

I really wonder if she'd remember Ron even exists if he weren't Harry
Potter's best friend.

Magda


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