Prefect Ron (was DD on the Dursleys).

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 151270

Sandy:
*(snip)*
> But, since GoF, I have formed a totally 
> negative position towards Ron... *(snip)* ...he shows no care, 
concern or respect for Hermione at all. I consider his treatment of 
her to be abusive and chauvanistic. 

Ceridwen:
I do agree that R/H seems to have been foreshadowed since PS/SS.  But 
I have to disagree with the rest of your assessment.  Not because you 
aren't seeing these things, as you may have noticed, everyone has a 
different vision of what is happening in certain areas.  The reason I 
disagree is that, until near the end of HBP, there has been nothing 
serious between Ron and Hermione on a romantic level, in my opinion.  
For the first two books in particular, they are very young, eleven 
and twelve, to be having romantic thoughts about each other.  True, 
some people do get crushes at that age.  Okay, most people do.  But 
usually just crushes, and I tend to think that these crushes are 
on 'safe' targets, people they know deep down will never 
reciprocate.  Like crushes on teachers or celebrities, or other 
students who have never given them a second look.  Ron was 
disappointed that Hermione had another date for the Yule Ball, and he 
seemed to be jealous after that, but I can imagine that he thought 
Hermione wasn't interested after all by the end of GoF, and he moved 
on.

I don't see Ron as abusive to Hermione.  I don't think she would 
allow it.  Also, she appears more competent than he is with her 
magic, he would have to be dumber than some areas of fandom presume 
to get in her face and risk her wrath.  My opinion, of course.

Sandy:
> First there is his reaction to the veelas and Fleur, and then the 
Yule Ball fiasco in GoF. And then there's the 
> Lavender thing in HBP, which I find the most disturbing of all. 

Ceridwen:
Again, we seem to see things differently.  I think Ron is behaving 
like any young male at the threshhold of his coming of age.  And 
again, the Veelas have a power over men, if I recall correctly - and 
they would certainly qualify as safe objects of a crush who wouldn't 
give Ron the time of day.

Yes, the Yule Ball was a fiasco for Ron.  He should have asked 
Hermione immediately rather than waiting until she had a date.  But 
he is new at this sort of thing, and it is possible that he might 
even be lagging behind the other fourth years at this point.  
Everyone matures at a different rate.

As for Lavender, why shouldn't he go out with her?  Hermione doesn't 
seem to be showing an interest in HBP (that I could see), and it has 
been two years since the Yule Ball.  Many people have boyfriends and 
girlfriends before they settle down to their one true love.  Some 
people even have wives and husbands before they settle down to their 
one true love.  I see this as just part of growing up.

Harry worries at one point about what would happen to the friendship 
if Ron and Hermione start dating.  It would certainly change the 
dynamics of the group!  And, what if they break up?  That would 
change the dynamics negatively.  We don't know that Ron worries about 
this, but we don't know that he doesn't, either.  What does become 
obvious is that hurt feelings are already present in Hermione, though 
I sincerely believe Ron is clueless, at least until the pecking birds 
episode.

Sandy:
> He knew he was hurting Hermione but he kept right on doing it. 

Ceridwen:
Here, I think you are giving Ron too much credit.  When Hermione 
unleashes the Canaries of Doom on him, he is completely mystified.  I 
think he sees Hermione as a friend, much like Harry is a friend, not 
as a potential partner.  Canaries do not equal romantic feelings to 
him at this point (though I am sure that he either got it later or he 
will get it one of these days).  Of course, I could be reading with 
different ideas in mind.  Most of us come from very different 
backgrounds which color the way we read the books.

Sandy:
> I have to wonder if Ron could ever be truly faithful to Hermione, 
and it has crossed my mind that he could  possibly even be physically 
abusive to her. Unless Ron undergoes a major change of attitude in 
the next book I don't see him as ever being a suitable mate/partner 
for any woman, much less Hermione.

Ceridwen:
I do hope that Ron turns out well.  He has reasonably decent role 
models at home.  His father doesn't seem to be abusive to his mother, 
and he strikes me as loving and caring, though a little obsessed with 
Muggle things.

Ron is still young.  He has just turned seventeen, so he has a lot of 
emotional maturing left to do.  People go out with a lot of different 
people before settling down, and they are able to remain faithful.  I 
don't think Ron will be any different.  I think he will do a lot of 
maturing in book 7, wars do that to people.  But, that's the way I 
see it.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

Ceridwen.