Ron WAS: Re: DH reread CH 4-5

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186267

> sartoris22:
> 
> But in HBP Harry bluntly tells Ron that he lacks confidence in Quidditch, which prompts Ron to ask, "Are you calling me mental?" If Harry can show concern for Ron's lack of confidence concerning Quidditch, then why can't he show the same concern for Ron's lack of confidence concerning the twins. Hermione shows that concern. Admittedley, Quidditch is important to boys, but so is bullying. Harry hates Malfoy because he's a bully, but accepts the twins bullying Ron. I'm sorry but that troubles me. I think that Ron is a better friend to Harry then Harry is to Ron, and Harry's attitude about the twins is only one example of it.
>

Alla:

I am replying to your post, but also in general to the thread, so if there are lines here that seem irrelevant, please disregard. :)

Do we really want to make it a context of who is the better friend to whom?  I can sure remember several instances of Harry acting like a jerk to Ron, but to me **nothing** what Harry did ever tops what Ron did when he left him and Hermione. Frankly, to me it was akin to betrayal. Yes, I know he came back and saved Harry's life, and that is why I still love Ron. However, after Harry and Sirius he used to be my third favorite character in the books. I cannot say so anymore. And I am now realizing that there is after all one character whose fate I am slightly bitter about, and it is Ron. Oh no, I am not denying author's right to take the character where she sees fit, but as a reader, boy oh boy I hoped that Hermione will learn her (IMO) much needed lesson in humility. And IMO she never did.

I was mad at Ron when he IMO abandoned Harry in GoF for so long, but really I know what it means to feel insecure and I cut him a slack, after all fourteen year old kid who stood by Harry for so long allowed his weaknesses and should be forgiven.

But stakes were so raised in DH IMO that I was just shaking my head. I  did not really find Ron's being good at Quidditch and then not again to be that inconsistent for reasons that many already explained. But boy I hoped that Ron would learn something after GoF, that being that even if  you feel jealousy towards your best friend, you do not act upon it if you know that it is completely irrational IMO.

No, Ron Harry does not love Hermione, no Ron Hermione loves **you**. Yes, we cannot help how we feel, but I maintain that we can not act on our worst feelings if we choose to often enough.

And the reason why I found the passage that I quoted to be annoying is not because I thought Hermione's behavior was great here. Of course not! I always said that Hermione is my least favorite member of the trio and I wanted her to be slapped and badly. I was annoyed **for Ron**, I wished he would get over it already. I wish I could read this passage like Shelley did, but unfortunately I agree with Carol, I think it is just foreshadowing of what is to come later in the book.

JMO,

Alla