DH reread CH 4-5

[happyjoeysmiley]

No: HPFGUIDX 186305

> >  sartoris22:
> > 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. 
> > 
> > Pippin:
> > It's a family quarrel. Ron wouldn't appreciate Harry butting in.
> > 
> > sartoris22:
> > 
> > I'm not convinced of that. I think that Ron would have welcomed Harry's support. Besides, isn't Harry as much a brother to Ron as the twins? It would now be two against two. Harry doesn't even show anger toward the twins about how they treat Ron. Harry could at least have thought of them as jerks, even if he didn't say it. But Harry likes the twins, totally ignoring the way they treat Ron. It is Hermione, to her credit, who doesn't approve of the twin's treatment of Ron; Harry seems oblivious to it. Harry also shows his insensitivity toward Ron by accepting the Maurader's Map, which the twins, rightfully, should have given to Ron and said, "hey, let Harry use it to go to Hogsmeade."
> 
> jkoney:
> I am going to have to disagree. 
> 
> It wasn't that Harry wasn't supportive of Ron, he just didn't jump out and try to protect Ron in some dramatic fashion. Harry's actions were those of a friend who said you're leading in this situation. If you want to stand up to them, I'll be there. If you want to take the abuse and bitch about it later, I'll be there to listen to it. Heck, I'll even get my butt kicked again in chess. 
> 
> That's just the dynamic of adolescent boys. Having Harry defend him to his brothers would have been embarrassing. Having Hermione do it was mortifying.
>

Joey:

Seeing that the way the Weasley twins react to their own troubles (like say George losing an ear) is out of the ordinary, I'm not even sure if they *realize* that they may across as bullies or insensitive idiots to some people. 

I recently read CoS and I was reminded of how the twins try to cheer up Ginny when she was down - they *scare* her (till Percy tells them off)! Also, when Molly is upset about Percy walking out, I remember them saying that they tried to cheer her up "by pointing out that Percy is a git" (or something like that; I don't have the book with me). Honestly! :-) 

I think the twins don't *mean* to bully/hurt - they mean to take things (very, very, ..., very) lightly and yet they do end up bullying/hurting people (at times) all the same.

I think most people (except for rules-oriented ones like Percy and Hermione) sort of understood the extreme sense of humour the twins had - you know, they just gave up the Herculean task of trying to tame them or sensitize them to others' views by shaking their heads and smiling. Harry was also one of them , I think.