DH reread CH 4-5

[sartoris22]

No: HPFGUIDX 186255

 Alla:
>
> You know, totally did not remember that Ron's insecurities show up here. And frankly, find it, well annoying. I mean, really Ron it is not like you conduct things like this on the day to day basis. You participated in what? Two battles so far? Hermione isn't allowed to be surprised that you did something that Auror praises you for?


sartoris22:

In my opinion, Ron's response is appropriate because Hermione consistenly underestimates him. She's not one who fills Ron with confidence. Early in the novels, she explains words to him that she thinks he doesn't know, and is always surprized when he has an idea, as in HBP when Ron tells Harry to take the lucky potion to get the information from Slughorn. Compare how Lavender treats Ron to how Hermione treats him. Clearly, Ron, at times, doesn't exhibit confidence (Quidditch is a prime example, but he has people around him--his brothers, Hermione, later even Ginny--who treat him badly and undermine his confidence. You know, it always bothered me that Harry never said anything to the twins about the way they treat Ron, because Ron would have said something if someone was mistreating Harry. And Ron consistenly sticks up for Hermione, too--remember the backfired slug attack against Malfoy in COS. In DH Ron knows he loves Hermione, but he also feels that she doesn't respect him. In fact, he thinks that she really likes Harry. Ron has to get the basilisk fangs and recognize the elves before Hermione thinks he is worthy. Funnily enough, Hermione doesn't have to do anything extra to gain Ron's love. So I think we can see why a weary, insecure Ron might finally say to Hermione, in effect, "get off my back."