Why are they even friends?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 154664

Amiable Dorsai wrote:
> I've been reading, with some dismay, about how badly Hermione let 
> down Harry, and about how Ron betrayed him, and I've been thinking 
> about what a prick he was to both of them in "Order of the 
> Phoenix", and I was wondering about why each of them considered 
> the other two bastards friends.

<big snip>

> And maybe, just maybe, a thousand nights in the common room, 
> laughing and crying, playing and studying, and yes, arguing and 
> apologizing, add up to something special, something that belongs 
> to the three of you, something that goes beyond broomsticks and 
> tantrums and misunderstandings, that can survive jealousy and 
> slights and snits.
> 
> And is way more important than who "let down" who.
 

SSSusan:
Absolutely that adds up to something special!

I may well have missed some posts that you were thinking of as you 
wrote this, but I know that I participated in the "letting down" 
thread, arguing about the creation of the DA and why I believe Harry 
felt let down by Hermione at that first meeting.  And yet I totally 
agree with your conclusion, AD.

In fact, I'd like to note that the *point* of that discussion, from 
where I joined in the thread anyway, was that sometimes people trust 
others precisely *because* they value their friendship so, in spite 
of times when they'd been (or felt they'd been) let down.  

As Alla mentioned in one post, it's often true that friends let each 
other down at times.  Heck, it's part of being human!  I don't think 
that pointing out such times where we see that in the text means 
that there's any questioning of the base of the friendship.  Not at 
all!  Like I said, the main point, for me anyway, was that the trust 
is there because the friendship is DEEP and REAL.  And when the 
friendship is deep and real, then it survives the occasional 
letdown, even if it's a fairly major one.

There are a couple members of this list, even, who have been let 
down by me and yet still remain my friends, thankfully. :-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan