Ron WAS: Re: DH reread CH 4-5

[happyjoeysmiley]

No: HPFGUIDX 186302

> Carol wrote:
[snip]
I seriously doubt that Ron lives in terror of Hermione's disapproval or that she rules his life--as you say, he's learned to stand up to her and she's learned how to take a tease. Ron is just being Ron, not above cheating a little and being amused by it, but confident in his ability to use both a Confundus Charm and a Supersensory Charm.

Joey:

I certainly agree. I always see Ron as a person who takes a relaxed view about life. *To him*, using a Confundus Charm in this case is just a joke and I also think Hermione viewing it in a serious light will make him chuckle to himself or just roll his eyes with an amused expression on his face. And, I feel Hermione *knows* this and, in a way, enjoys this opposite-of-her quality in him. :-)

In the epilogue, I saw a pretty relaxed Ron, his natural humorous self shining brightly, relieved of all the tormenting thoughts he had underwent during his teens, totally happy with the girl he loved who is now his wife (and happy with their children, nieces, nephews as well), totally happy with the forever friend he found in Harry. :-)

My opinion differs from yours in only one point: You've said Ron learnt to stand up to Hermione while I think Ron always voiced his opinion in front of Hermione and never weakly/wearily gave in to her pressures/demands - he has always stood his ground from day 1. 

Carol wrote:

> All this discussion has come out of one little quotation in Alla's post about rereading DH. We're all just reacting to Ron's annoyance at Hermione, early in DH, for being surprised that he Stunned a DE while he was riding on a broom, and jumping from there to his deserting Harry and Hermione and trying to return. I seem to be the only one discussing his battle with Horcrux!Tom and what I consider to be his victory over the demons that caused both his self-doubt and his jealuousy, culminating in his walking out in anger and being unable to come back. 
[snip]

Joey:

Oh, you are not alone in that track - just that I'm posting only now. :-) "The Silver Doe" was *the* chapter that made Ron one of my favourite characters. I really, really liked the way he said (something like) "I'm not making excuses for what I was like, Harry but that thing is not good for me - it affects me worse than it affects you and Hermione" - I think that is a very honest, courageous, touching confession. To me, it speaks volumes of the emotional trauma he had underwent. I also liked the way Ron overcame his insecurities and triumphed (yeah, that is the right word :-)) over the Horcrux. In fact, when narrating what had happened to Hermione, I think Ron almost told her what the Horcrux did to him before he finished it off - he was only hesitating and Harry had to cut in! Hmmm... Interesting kid, this Ron. :-)  

In fact, after understanding that the Horcrux made Ron "think stuff" and learning that it was "stuff he was thinking anyway," I was pretty impressed that Ron never even tried to prevent Hermione joining Harry in the Horcrux hunt! He could have say tried to emotionally manipulate Hermione or even Harry just by whining that she should stay back as he has serious concerns about her safety (but deep down actually trying to just keep Harry and Hermione apart) - it would have touched Hermione and made Harry feel more guilty. Considering the extent of self-doubt and jealousy he had, I thought it was pretty decent and fair on Ron's part not to have tried such a (horrible) thing. 

Carol wrote:

> I also think we're judging Ron prematurely without closely examining the reasons for his behavior, but I don't want to ruin Alla's thread by getting too far ahead of her. Maybe we can wait till she gets to "The Silver Doe" and analyze the canon in detail then. Just a suggestion. :-)

Joey:

I agree. :-)