SHIP Ron/ Hermione /Re:Prefect Ron

[Bex]

No: HPFGUIDX 151452

> Betsy Hp:
> Oh, yes.  Definitely.  Hermione isn't a machine by any means, but 
> she does have a hard time putting herself in someone elses shoes 
> (something Ron does without thinking)

Agreed, somewhat - Hermione has a hard time puttingherself into
people's shoes and getting it right - she thinks Tonks is upset over
Sirius, she's convinced that the elves need freedom, and she assumes
in GoF that Ron is "just jealous" of Harry, when he's really betrayed,
and not in on the secret of getting into the tournament, among the
examples. When it comes to facts she can look up, she's perfectly
fine, but emotional analysis is something she hasn't got a firm grip
on - though her analysis of Cho in OotP was dead on.

> Betsy Hp:
> An excellent example.  Hermione didn't have a single conversation 
> with a single house elf.  Because *they* weren't important except in 
> what they stood for, in *her* opinion.

Dead on!

 
> > >>Susan:
> > The girl who sits besides Ron's bedside white faced and jaw       
> > clenched? 
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Yes, that same girl.  As I said, she's not a machine.  But she's not 
> the empathetic member of the trio either.

That was one of her more human moments, I think. And a lot of it is
regret, I'm sure - Ron is one of her closest friends, and she has
barely spoken to him in ages (granted, he was usually wrapped around
Lavender). The thoughts of "What if..." keep running through one's
mind when one faces that sort of situation.
>   
> > >>Susan:
> > Ron is SO immature.

But he did some major growing up in HPB, emotionally - the shift from
Lavender (a relationship which he admitted didn't have much talking in
it) to Hermione (which has much more depth) shows that, IMO. And even
though he initially hides from Lavender when he wants to break it off,
eventually he steps up, (be a man, durn you!) and does it. Some
emotional growth, for sure. He has matured.

> Betsy Hp:
> Oh, I think Ron has behaved well within his age bracket.  Both he 
> and Harry were bad dates at the Yule Ball.  But then, neither of 
> them had mothers telling them the proper way to treat a date.  
> (Harry because his is dead, Ron because his is Molly.)
 
They were 14 at the time. And neither one was with the one they wanted
to be with. Usually makes for a rotten time; I speak from experience.
 
> But, speaking of GoF, as we are: I think it becomes strongly 
> apparent that Ron is a rock for Harry.  His loyalty and support (and 
> sense of humor!) is something Harry needs, and misses, and is 
> relieved to get back.
> 

HEAR HEAR!

Ron is definitely Harry's solid support. Up until HBP, Ron was willing
to follow Harry's lead almost unquestionably when it came to "Who's
the bad guy in this book?" or "Something bad's gonna happen! What
should we do?" I think that Harry's obsession with Draco in HBP stems
in part from the fact that both Ron and Hermione dismiss his worries
throughout the entire book. Harry probably wasn't surprised by
Hermione doing this; she'd done it the previous year too. But Ron?
That was extremely unnerving - Harry spent so much time concerned with
Draco to prove that he was right all along (for once <g>) to his
friends; mostly Ron.

> > >>Susan:
> > <snip>
> > He has NO interest in Lavender as a person -- actually he just    
> > uses her to get sexual experience -- and uses her to inflate his   
> > own ego.
> 
> > >>Joe: 
> > Surely you mean in your opinion? Because I don't think we ever get 
> > a look inside Ron's head regarding the entire issue.
> > <snip>
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> I'm going to agree with Joe here.  How can we assume that Ron is 
> just after Lavender for the sex?  He's attacked, rather ruthlessly, 
> on just about every level by Hermione.  And meanwhile, there's 
> Lavender making it very plain that she sees something fairly smoking 
> in Ron.  Why would he not decide to take what's being offered?

But Ron does admit that the relationship with Lavender is mostly
snogging (HBP, A Very Frosty Christmas, I believe, maybe). And
Lavender spends most of the time that Ron is in the hospital talking
to Harry about her relationship with Ron - that tells me that it's
something she and *Ron* don't talk about. I think Ron was more in it
for the fun of it (which I'm sure it was /very/ fun), and Lavender was
probably on board that ship for the same reasons at first. I think
that Ron starts looking for more in the relationship at hand after
Christmas (and *My Sweetheart*) and comes up lacking, and starts
wanting to move on.

> Betsy Hp: 
> On the other hand, Hermione goes out with a boy *specifically* to 
> hurt Ron's feelings.  She even takes a few moments to hem and haw 
> over which date would sting the most.  (Did it even work?  I can't 
> recall Ron reacting to it at all.)

I don't recall seeing his reaction - he wasn't at the ball, but if he
was, I am **sure** it would have had a pronounced effect on the
evening. Again - neither one with the one they wanted to be with.
Usually makes for a rotten time. Would have been interesting.
 
> > >>Susan:
> > I have NO clue what Hermione sees in him.

I like Ron as a character (but don't get me started on Rupert Grint -
ugh). He does seem to have an old fashioned sense to him. I think,
though, that Hermione seems to not have much faith in him - the
Quidditch tryouts were a good example of that. I don't doubt that
McClaggen would be a horrible addition to the team (he was, in fact)
but Hermione Confunded him so that he'd be less competition for Ron
(and it helped calm Ron's nerves a bit, I'm sure, so he could perform
better). I am 150% certain that Harry would have chosen Ron over
McClaggen for keeper, even if both had saved all five, but Hermione
wasn't going to take that chance. Letting him (and Harry) copy off her
notes? Not very Hermione-like, IMO, unless she was concerned that her
friends would fail. She doesn't bail them out in the Golpagott's Law
class, but that was because she was annoyed at them relying on the
Prince (and cheating). Hermione underestimates Ron, but I don't think
it is so much disrespect as just not giving him enough credit.

~Yblitzka, who hasn't posted in forever (or a year and 8 months)