On Moral Compasses/Slughorn & favoritism

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 168629

> Magpie:
> Yeah, I thought Hermione's reaction to the Slug Club was kind of wonderfully 
> repulsive, especially knowing Slughorn. And one of those places where I 
> thought maybe Rowling was being true to the character and showing a weakness 
> without giving any authorial judgment in the text as she might have if it 
> were, say, Blaise. Certainly she has Harry and Ginny both reject what 
> Slughorn is offering. That could on the one hand just show that they're in 
> sync in their beliefs that way (though Harry as the Chosen One naturally 
> would see the Slug Club as small potatoes and Ginny is so effortlessly 
> superior in all ways that she could easily dismiss it too).
<snip> 
> It's ironic, actually, because Ron himself has always been so completely 
> associated with not having this kind of blood prejudice despite being in a 
> Pureblood family--(his family doesn't show up on Slughorn's radar despite 
> being Pure). He's the one who explains how "most of us" know that this stuff 
> is rubbish, and there's something kind of interesting about Hermione's 
> reaction to the club. Hermione has always had a very different relationship 
> to praise than Ron, obviously. Sometimes this leads to bad behavior from 
> Ron, but other times Ron's instincts are better.

Montavilla47:
I wondered if the Slug Club wasn't even more of a factor in Ron and Hermione's
relationship problems than is obvious.

The obvious thing is that Ron is jealous that Hermione is invited and he isn't.  But 
I could imagine there being more to it than simple envy.  I seem to remember
a moment between Ginny and Ron's fight and Ron's glomming onto Lavender (and
vice versa) when Ron is looking at Lavender appraisingly.

Going out on a limb, I think Ron might have been wondering whether Hermione
was simply out of his league--romantically speaking.  Her life is on an upward
trajectory--and his is not.  Slughorn couldn't make that clearer if he painted a 
big LOSER sign on Ron's forehead.  

So, maybe Ron isn't appraising Lavender's physical assets in that moment.  Maybe
he's thinking:  why take the risk of losing a friend who is posed to leave you 
behind socially anyway?  Why not pick the girl who is obviously attracted and not 
so demanding in either academic or social standards?  Maybe it's time to stop going 
for the top prize and settle for something easier?

Montavilla47