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

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 179776

> a_svirnwrote:
> Ron is drawn to the "cool" and famous, there is nothing inherently
> wrong with that. He has lots of likable qualities to make up for it.
> 
> Steph:
> Again, Ron thought that the twins were pulling his leg about who 
Harry
> was and just wanted to confirm it. He didn't know for sure that 
Harry
> was indeed Harry until Ron asked him directly.  

a_svirn:
So what if he did? He could just verify this information and proceed 
to another compartment with his brothers. Or he could even wait until 
the sorting, and then he would know for sure. But no, he had to 
capitalise on this knowledge and strike friendship with the famous 
Harry Potter. Nothing wrong with it in itself, but his motivation is 
self-evident. This is the same reason he wanted to sit near the 
famous Victor Krum.

> Steph:
I think he did think
> it was cool that Harry survived Voldie's AK, but I don't think that 
he
> wanted to be friends with Harry just because he was famous.  I just
> don't see Ron as being that calculating.  

a_svirn:
Is it really such a complicated calculation? Here is *the* Harry 
Potter, and wouldn't it be cool to be friends with him? You don't 
have to Lobachevski to add this up. 

> a_svirn:
> Ron hasted to claim a seat into the same carriage with Harry under 
the
> pretext that everywhere else is full.
> 
> Steph:
> There's nothing in SS to support your statement that Ron had the 
pick
> of compartments but chose to sit with Harry because he wanted to 
make
> friends with the famous kid.  We do know that the Weasleys were the
> last to get on the train which means it probably was the only place
> left for Ron to sit. 

a_svirn:
Do we? One of the last, yes. And still Ron could follow his brothers 
to their compartment.  

> Steph:
 We've seen in later books that if you don't get
> on the train early it's hard to find a compartment that's not 
already
> full.  The trio has to share a compartment with Lupin in PoA, and 
with
> Luna in OotP.   

a_svirn:
And interestingly enough there were no other kids in Harry and Ron 
compartment, even after the news spread. Draco came to offer his 
friendship, but was spurned, and Hermione came because she was 
curious, and simply had to see for herself, but naturally the boys 
failed to be impressed with the bossy know-it-all. No one else 
come "to confirm" anything (unless you count Neville who wanted to 
confirm his toad whereabouts), even though most of them must have 
been dying from curiosity.  


> a_svirn:
> Not at all. His jealousy was on account of Harry's fame. That's what
> Hermione says in GoF...
> 
> Steph:
> Harry's name getting pulled out of the goblet is the only occasion
> where Ron is jealous of Harry's fame, and he quickly gets over it. 
> Hermione never says that Harry is *always* jealous of Harry; <snip>

a_svirn:
Yes, she does. 

"Look," said Hermione patiently, "it's *always* you who gets all the 
attention, you know it is.  <
>  Ron's got all those brothers to 
compete against at home, and you're his best friend, and you're 
really famous - he's *always* shunted to one side whenever people see 
you, and he puts up with it, and he *never* mentions it, but I 
suppose this is just one time too many. . . [emphasis mine – 
a_svirn]".


> Steph:
she says
> that he's used to getting pushed aside by his brothers and by people
> who just want to pay attention to Harry, he usually blows it off, 
but
> this was just one time too many. 

a_svirn:
Look, if you aren't *always* jealous, how on earth *one* time can be 
one too many? 

> Steph:
 He doesn't stay jealous of Harry -
> who could be friends with someone of whom you're continually 
jealous?

a_svirn:
Who could stay married with someone of whom you are continuously 
jealous? Yet it's been known to happen.