Ron and Quidditch (was Re: Umbridge, detention, scars etc)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 126167


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Hannah" <hannahmarder at y...> 
wrote:
<SNIP> 
> Hannah now:
> 
> Katie Bell is one year older than Harry, so will still be at 
> Hogwarts - and presumably on the team - in HBP.  But I would say 
> that Harry, not Ron, is the obvious choice for captain, and, these 
> being the 'Harry Potter' books, I'm sure it's Harry that will get 
> the honour.
> 

I agree that seems the most logical progression.  JKR has sent us 
some curve balls, however.  I wouldn't be stunned by anything at 
this point.

However, if I had to bet I would tend to agree with you.  I think it 
more likely that Harry will become Captain than that Ron will.  The 
main arguments against him being Captain are

A) that DD might feel it would be too stressful and;
B) some feel that Seeker is not a good position for a Captain.

As you point out, we have plentiful precedent for Seekers being 
Captains, so I think we can safely dismiss that argument out of 
hand.  As for the first argument, I think being Captain would be 
different than being Prefect.  The responsibilities would be more 
limited, and Quidditch per se is something Harry enjoys very much.


> Harry is a very talented Quidditch player, and has been on the 
house 
> team since the first year - a huge achievement in itself.  Ron, 
> however, is a mediocre player who's already had a bad year where 
> he's struggled to motivate himself, let alone a team of people.  
> 
> Although he's supported Quidditch for longer than Harry, he has 
four 
> years less playing experience on the team.  Harry has also already 
> shown leadership skills, and many of those on the team are DA 
> members, so they are used to following him.  Even if Ron was 
> captain, I think the others would turn to Harry naturally, 
creating 
> problems for Ron.

I think this is true.  Ron showed a capacity for hard work and 
dedication, but he certainly has not demonstrated any great genius 
for Quiddicth maneuvers or Quidditch strategy.  Some make much of 
Ron's "strategic skills" at chess.  The problem is we don't know if 
chess skills translate into Quidditch coaching/planning skills (they 
certainly wouldn't in real life, you don't see a football team 
trying to hire Bobby Fischer or Garry Kasparov).


<SNIP> 

> I very much doubt Ron will be captain or Head Boy.  But I agree 
with 
> bboymin that he will have a successful school career.  I just 
think 
> that he will discover there are other ways to do that without 
having 
> to be Head Boy, or captain of Quidditch.  Like helping to save the 
> world from the forces of evil.
> 

At this point I think the whole head boy situation is entirely up in 
the air.  I see the following candidates:

1) Ron.  He certainly hasn't shown any Head Boy potential so far, 
but being a prefect may put him on track for it, although I would 
find it contrived;

2) Harry.  Probably the most logical choice, although DD may well 
not want to overburden him.  Then again, DD may feel he made a 
mistake thinking that way, it's hard to tell from his speech in 
OOTP.  Also, Harry may very well not want to be Head Boy even if DD 
offers it to him.

3)  Draco.  I can't think of any reason whatsoever this would come 
about (barring DD dying and a completely new administration coming 
into power), except that a lot of people think it would make for an 
interesting set of conflicts.  I think it would be silly, myself.

4)  Ernie MacMillan.  This name comes up a lot in the fandom.  Once 
again I can't really think of any good arguments for him other than 
that he seems vaguely Percy-ish.


Lupinlore