Ron, Hermione, Time was (Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: DH7 - The Will of Albus

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 179076

Potioncat:
I'm picking up a few questions to answer, and commenting on other 
answers. I've snipped throughout, and rearranged the order of some of 
the questions.


5. This seems odd to me, as Harry has split with Ginny for her
protection. Why would Ron encourage Harry to seek other female
company when he knows how upset Ginny is and how Harry feels about
Ginny? Does Ron actually understand that Harry is not likely to
survive?

Potioncat:
This stood out even as I was reading it. It doesn't seem that Ron 
understands "why" Harry stopped the relationship with Ginny. In my 
mind, Harry had put it on hold, but Ron seems to think it's over. I 
thought Ron was hoping this book would help Harry charm Ginny. Then 
Ron's upset over the kiss. I'm just as puzzled as you. 

But, our knowing that Ron has read "Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm 
Witches" affects how we see his interactions with Hermione in DH. 
There seems to have been some genuine relationsip building tips in 
the book. I wonder if it involves dragon's blood?

And face it. Isn't this one of the funniest lines in the book?
Ron says, "Explains everything you need to know about girls." "I've 
learned a lot. You'd be surprised, it's not all about wandwork 
either." 

6. We have seen Dumbledore's watch, Ron's watch, Molly's clock, and
now Fabian's watch. We have also seen time-turners. What is the
fascination with time?

Potioncat:
I don't know. These books are also about death and grief. About 
having time or no time with loved ones. About wishing you could go 
back and talk to someone who has passed on.

Carol's already mentioned how receiving a Weasley family watch  was 
particularly special to Harry. We see at the end of the book that he 
still uses it. And I can only think that one day it will belong to 
one of his children.


>   KJ writes: 
>It just bothers me that Ron was so cool in the first book.  He was a 
>hero in the chess match. <snip>  Ron got somewhat shafted all 
> through the books, I think compared with the start.

Potioncat:
We almost got him back in "The Elder Wand." Ron squares his shoulders 
and starts to go to the Shreiking Shack after LV. But Harry, of 
course, steps up. Many fans had predicted that Ron would make a 
similar act and die in the last book. Others predicted he'd be lured 
away.


>   KJ writes:
>As above, I felt that as the books progressed, Muggles or 
> Muggle-raised wizards were shown to be smarter or more experienced 
>in general knowledge.  The wizard-raised were only knowledgeable in 
their own area, which was magic.

Potioncat:
Actually, it even goes farther. Most of the really powerful and 
innovative were either Half-blood or Muggleborn: Snape, Hermione, 
Harry(?), Lily. Possibly DD. LV (in his own way) I had some others, 
but they escape me. The Pureblood that stand out are James and Sirius 
and I guess GG.





> KJ writes:  (PC:I've snipped and combined different portions of 
KJ's comments)
> Have we seen Hermione obey Ron like this before?
>The portrayal of Hermione in this chapter just seemed odd to me. 
> She is busy in the kitchen, doing laundry, packing the boys 
clothes, doing the boys laundry, decorating for the party. Forgetting 
to bring food.  This just isn't Hermione.  What changed?

Potioncat:
Well, we have seen Hermione perform housekeeping sorts of things in 
earlier books. I think she's cleaned up after the boys---but I can't 
really remember where I read that.

OTOH, we know why Ron is behaving differently toward Hermione. 
Perhaps that hints a bit at the early birthday gift Mrs. Weasley gave 
Hermione. Molly knew that Hermione's mother wasn't likely to know 
about it, "Twelve Ways to Bewitch your Wizard."