Defending Ron (was: Do we really get our closer?)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 177125

> Sharon:
<snip>
> I believe Ron had almost as many demons as Harry.
> As we saw in the Locket scene in DH, he was always
> second best to Harry, he feared his mother wanted
> a girl instead of him and that in the end she
> preferred Harry and that Hermione did too (which I
> suspect is why he found it hard to make his move
> on her). 

Jen: That was a emotional scene, wasn't it?  I was a little shocked 
to realize the level of conflict going on underneath Ron's funny 
exterior, the problems he brushed away to be a good friend, brother 
and son.  At least that's how I see him now, having underestimated 
him myself throughout the series!  The Horcrux amplified his feelings 
but it was clear all were his own inadequacies and fears.

Loyal to a fault, brave, funny, willing to pitch in whenever he's 
needed - he has so many good qualities that often get pushed aside as 
the one nobody notices when Harry is around, or Hermione, or Fred, 
George....etc. etc.  I think of Charlie as the brother most like Ron 
even though there's not much to go on.  He seems like a guy quietly 
going about his business, maybe more independent than Ron because 
he's not as much of a follower.

One of the first posts I read when joining this group was a 
description of the Trio as Mind, Heart and Soul with Ron exemplifying 
the Heart (although there were counterarguments of course lol, Ron as 
the soul I believe).  That image stuck with me as I read the next 
couple of books and it still fits very well.  Well, Hermione as the 
Mind is hard to dispute anyway. ;)


Sharon: 
> Understanding all these things, one thing I do
> fail to understand is what took Hermione so long
> to kiss him? Poor guys really must have thought
> she didn't like him, especially after all the
> hints he kept giving her.  I would have thought
> Hermione was reflective enough to umderstand what
> was going on in Ron's head - -she certainly was
> smart enough to unravel Cho's feelings for Harry
> in OOP. It seems incinsistent to me that she
> wouldn't be able to do the same for Ron.  No
> wonder he was insecure!


Jen:  You know, this fit for me because Hermione acts so superior to 
the guys all the time as part of her regular characterization.  I 
really think she was trying to decide if Ron was worthy of a kiss!!  
That moment when Ron sympathizes with Kreacher makes him finally good 
enough in her eyes.  That's how I read it anyway.  That negative part 
of her characterization is eye-rolling to me yet it fits for someone 
as smart as she is:  being a little too sure of herself, acting 
superior and arrogant at times - it's a downside to her 
intelligence.  Plus, for all her hanging around with Harry and Ron, 
sometimes she doesn't get guys at ALL.  Not saying I'm superior in 
this area since I often don't get my DH and son hehe, but I felt like 
JKR wrote this realistically into Hermione's character to have two 
best male friends and then be clueless at the same time about things 
like Quidditch, the Potion book, the Firebolt, etc.

Jen, who thinks Hermione makes a good character but might be pretty 
scary as a person. ;)