Ron WAS: Re: DH reread CH 4-5

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 186369

Shelley wrote:
> <snip> Yes, honestly, I only ever saw Hermione and Ron as divorced- I don't know how Hermione, a strong, confident woman, would ever put up with a bungling and disappointing Ron. I don't know how Ron would be able to put up with, even in joking, the idea that "she doesn't have confidence in me". That's a match that doesn't work, IMHO. <snip>

Carol responds:
If it weren't for the scene in which Ron destroys the Horcrux, I would agree with you. Much as I like him, he's just too insecure. He praises Hermione for her brilliance, but I can't think of any occasion when she praises him (or isn't surprised when he does well). And I'm not sure that Hermione will ever change (though she does become more rational about the House-Elves). But she does love Ron, and he *does* change. That's the whole point of the Horcrux destruction scene. How can a boy (young man, if you prefer) who has dived into icy water to save the Chosen One and retrieve the Sword of Gryffindor and who has used that Sword to destroy the Horcrux that mocked him (and which symbolically represents his insecurities) ever feel insecure again? He's been judged a "worthy Gryffindor" by the Sword of Gryffindor itself, which puts him in the same category as Harry, a full-fledged hero.

From that point on, he doesn't become any more brilliant, but his humor returns, as does his optimism. He even takes the lead in trying to get Harry to focus on Horcruxes instead of Hallows, IIRC. He participates in the adventure with the Cup Horcrux and the dragon without ever expressing fear or messing up, he fights bravely against the DEs in the battle of Hogwarts, and he has the confidence to let *Hermione* destroy the cup Horcrux after he has had the resourcefulness to get them into the Chamber of Secrets in the first place. A Ron who still lacked confidence would have wanted to destroy the cup Horcrux himself to show Hermione that he was "worthy."

And Ron stands up to Hermione after he destroys the Horcrux and she's hurling tears and screams and insults at him. Before Harry places a Protego between them, she starts "punching every inch of him that she could reach." 

"You--complete--*arse*--Ronald--Weasley!" she begins. 

Admittedly, Ron at first just tells her to "Gerroff!' and starts backing away, but even Harry doesn't blame for retreating several steps when she starts pointing at him and screeching what sounds like a malediction. 

Ron apologizes and she laughs like Bellatrix Lestrange, completely out of control with rage. Ron looks to Harry for help, and Harry helpfully grimaces with helplessness. 

But when Hermione shouts "You came back after weeks--*weeks*--and you think it's all going to be all right if you just say you're *sorry*?" Ron stands his ground and shouts, "Well, what else can I say?"

Hermione gives a sarcastic retort, Harry, who's glad that Ron is fighting back, tries to intervene by pointing out that Ron has just saved his life, Hermione screams, "I don't care! I don't care what he's done! Weeks and weeks, we could have been *dead* for all he knew--"

Ron interrupts with a "bellow" that drowns out Hermione's voice (doesn't sound as if he's afraid or insecure to me): "I knew you weren't dead!" and he comes as close to Hermione as the Shield Charm will allow. He starts off by mentioning the articles in the Prophet and after one interruption by Hermione (whose indignation then conveniently renders her speechless), he explains that he wanted to come back the minute he Disapparate but was prevented from doing so by Snatchers. Hermione listens angrily, but the information is new to her and she lets him speak.

When he's finished, she returns to her sarcasm: "Gosh, what a gripping story." She mentions that she and Harry were nearly killed by Nagini and narrowly missed encountering Voldemort. Ignoring Ron's astonished "What?" she continues with her rant. "Imagine losing fingernails, Harry!" 

Harry reminds him that Ron just saved his life, but she ignores him, asking how Ron found them, at which point he tells the story of the Deluminator, and when Ron mentions that he heard Hermione speak his name in connection with a wand, she turns scarlet. Ron has touched a chord. She remembers, apparently, how much she missed him and from that point on is quiet and reasonable.

Ron has won the round. She doesn't hug him and, after he says that at least she hasn't set birds on him again, she does say from her bed that she hasn't ruled it out, but she is no longer screaming, sarcastic, and irrational.

Ron's next tactic is to behave with dutiful solemnity around Hermione, but that this behavior does not reflect his real mental state is indicated by his cheerful optimism around Harry. His final tactic is to side with Hermione against Harry, casting the deciding vote that they will go to see Xenophilius Lovegood.

Harry calls him on the move, pointing out that he only agreed with her to "get back in her good books," and Ron responds with "All's fair in love and war."

IOW, Ron now knows exactly how to deal with Hermione. And he no longer  worries, at any point in the remaining chapters, about his own worthiness, nor does he ever at any point doubt Hermione's love for him.

Carol, with apologies for going into such detail and for being temporarily obsessed with Ron's triumph over the Horcrux