How do the books affect children? (was: Why down on all the characters?)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 179545

> Magpie:
> When did Harry struggle with wanting to be friends with anyone 
> because they had connections? What connections has he really wanted 
> in canon? I can think of far more times where he rejects other 
> peoples' advances.

a_svirn:
Exactly. But I think *Ron* did want connections. He certainly was 
keen on making friends with Harry because Harry was such a celebrity. 
Same way as Draco did. He also wouldn't have minded to make friends 
with Krum for the same reason (though that was before the Yule ball). 
Again, same way as Draco did. So how Ron was so different from Draco 
in terms of friendship values? 

(I feel a disclaimer is needed at this point, since I was already 
accused of "bashing" Ron. I actually rather like Ron, and don't 
particularly like Draco. But although I believe Ron is a better 
person, I don't think it because of the "values" Alla named.)

> > Alla:
> > 
> > That's your intepretation. Mine is that this moment ( and this is 
> of 
> > course the moment I was thinking of) is one of the defining 
moments 
> > in the book, when Harry instead of choosing pureblood ideology, 
> > instead of choosing everything Malfoys stand for, chooses Ron and 
> > what Weasleys stand for as I perceive it - love, loyalty, 
> > friendship, putting blood purity as something very unimportant on 
> > their list of values. I view it as very symbolic. IMO of course.
> 
> Magpie:
> Yeah, it's defining and symbolic. That doesn't make it any real 
> temptation for Harry whatsoever. There's not a single moment where 
> Harry is ever even close to thinking of making a friend in Draco 
> Malfoy. 

a_svirn:
And, frankly, I think saying that Harry chose one ideology over 
another is a bit of overkill. Harry didn't even know much about 
the "pure-blood ideology" at that point. He simply disliked Draco on 
sight and he liked Ron. He didn't choose Ron as a representative of 
the "Weasley values". He was fascinated with this completely new word 
and Ron was a part of it, and the part Harry definitely liked. I 
agree it was symbolic, but at the time it wasn't a conscious choice 
between the two ideologies.