Ron’s treatment of Hermione, while it has already been talked
about in great detail we have yet to mention the supreme idiocy
it reaches in this book. And this is the book in which we
supposedly witness Ron rising to her level, he finally earns her.
...
What?
How?
All I see is a very jealous person get jealous and treat his very
best friends like horse do-do.
Ever since the summer hols, has Ron spent any extra time with
Hermione alone, any special treatment of her? Heck, did any of
the four teens spend any time in couples? Any couples?
No. It’s the four of them hanging out together, in blissfully
ignorant peace. Since they’ve been in school, it’s the trio and
Ginny spending time with Dean. Or Ginny, Ron and Harry as
Hermione is off with the Slug Club.
Since the beginning of term, Harry and Hermione have been paying
each other compliments (Hermione tells Harry he’s fanicable and
Harry tells Sluggy how smart his best friend is)...Ron gets
grumpy and jealous in both instances.
What pulls him out of his funk and brings that strut into his
step? Lavender. Lavender smiling at, rooting for and paying
attention to him. Now, Lavender may be a cow and a bit trivial,
but this is the first time Ronnie has ever received any special
attention from...anyone, really. (Aw, ok, I do feel a little bit
bad for him...but not enough to forgive or wipe clean the slate
of his complete dunderheadedness.)
Ron is not man enough to go after the woman of his dreams, whom
he’s fancied for years. He does not pursue her after their blow-
out in the common room, not during the summer they spend
sequestered together, not over the course of the next year, or
the following summer that’s all sunshine and roses without a care
in the world.
If men are hunters and women their prey, he’s either a really bad
shot or missed the memo that you actually should do or say
something to get the girl and not that they just miraculously
understand your odd grunting and jump in your arms.
He can’t even get it together when she asks him out! He’s
sensitive about not being included in the Slug Club. She invites
him to the Christmas Party. What’s the next thing he does? He
treats her like crap and then snogs Lavender in a grand
performance in the middle of the common room.
Even thinking he’s been slipped lucky juice, he doesn’t sweep
Hermione up in his arms and profess his love. No. He picks a
fight. Smooth, Ron, real smooth.
He treats both girls like crap, without any respect at all. And
yet, he’s finally at Hermione’s level, finally deserves her
affection?!? I must really be blind, deaf and dumb because I just
don’t get it.
Am I wrong? Did these things not happen? In your copy of the
book, dear reader, was Ron nice to Hermione, considerate of her
thoughts, needs, convictions? Did he go out of his way to support
her? Did he dress smartly and await her arrival by the Portrait
Hole, eager to show everyone he was the lucky bloke who got to
escort the most beautiful girl in the whole school to Slughorn’s
exclusive invitation-only Christmas Party?
Did he do anything remotely humane towards her? Um, no. Not in my
book anyway. So I’m at a loss here. A total loss.
Ron is a prat. That’s pretty much it for me. I don’t like him,
it’s nearly impossible for me to say anything nice about him. I
wish I could. You have no idea how much I wish I could like Ron
Weasley. How I’ve tried...but I just can’t. It’s not within me to
excuse his idiocy. Just like I can’t breathe under water...I can’t
like Ron.
Let’s take for instance all his redeeming acts in the rest of Book
6...all the things he does to finally deserve Hermione’s affection
and Harry’s friendship...are you ready? Good. Cause there’s
nothing.
That’s it from Ron the whole rest of the book. He abuses two girls
he supposedly cares about and then goes and gets himself poisoned.
And that’s it, folks. That’s his grand character growth...
Marvelous, isn’t it. Makes you weep...make me weep, at any rate,
from sheer stupidity.
It’s like he’s not even friends with them and when he does catch
up to Harry, he’s dragged Lav-Lav along for the ride and it’s all
Harry can do to get away from them.
He virtually falls off the face of the Earth in this book. He’s
really only mentioned when he’s aggravating Hermione. That and
getting doped up on Love Potion, and subsequently poisoned.
He’s also present for the horrifically abysmal battle in the halls
of Hogwarts. Let’s not forget, this is Ron’s forte. This,
theoretically, is his purpose (if he has one at all). He’s good at
strategy. And this fiasco couldn’t have been more of a mess.
There’s not much more I can say about it. Ron really doesn’t do
much. First, he’s not man enough to ask Hermione out and then he’s
not even man enough to dump Lavender. I know it’s an unpleasant
thing to do, but sometimes it’s the only way to be nice to the
person. Instead of having the poor girl chase him all over the
castle and/or just ignore her, he should have just come clean.
No, let’s string Lavender along because, after all, she’s not
worth any real consideration and then let’s yell at Hermione for
something you’ve never spoken to her about that happened years
ago, string her along because you may like her, but then you
don’t, but then you do... Ostracize her, publicly humiliate her,
use her as a crutch so as to finally break up with the girl you
are dating, ignore Hagrid because you don’t have even a smidgeon
of care for anyone other than yourself, ignore your best friend
except for the dirt on what went down in his secret meetings,
treat your own sister like she doesn’t exist – that is until you
get into an altercation with her in the middle of the hallway that
almost descends to physical blows – and then fail at the one thing
in which you’ve always been a success.
Yeah, you’re right. I totally see how Ron his risen to a higher
level and grown in this book. His character arc is basically a
flat line.
He does offer comic relief – after all, the love potion bit with
him falling over himself for Romilda Vane was quite hilarious if
we’re being honest. (I do try to give credit when it is due.)
was about to be sick.
calling Lavender "Lav-Lav," he would have to put his foot down.
sunlight.
Genuinely funny. I did laugh. I still laugh every time I read it.
And then he hits Harry for insulting her...it's a great scene. I
did feel like I was losing my mind (actually through the entire
book) but this was the first time I kind of enjoyed it.
And I think it's very significant that Harry immediately assumed
it was Lavender Ron's talking about when we're all supposed to
know -as sure as an anvil crushes the skulls of those it falls
on- that Ron lurves Hermione.
Indeed, I freaked slightly dreading that this would be where Ron
confessed his supposed feelings for their mutual best friend.
What would be the point of no return. The "All ye who enter here,
abandon all hope" moment. But it seems even Harry (who believed
all the anvils thus far and convinced himself of anvil validity
since Book 4) sees no signs of that happening.
However, other than that Ron is a lost cause. To tell me that by
the end of this he’s anywhere near Harry and Hermione’s level,
whether it be emotionally or magically, is just a complete
travesty. It’s a total betrayal of character and to constrict the
text to fit into this ‘OBHWF’ model is what causes the writing to
feel forced and unauthentic. It’s also what makes the characters
seem, well, out of character.
When I think of how this storyline ended, I become monumentally
enraged...but we’ll talk about that more when we get to the next
book.
about in great detail we have yet to mention the supreme idiocy
it reaches in this book. And this is the book in which we
supposedly witness Ron rising to her level, he finally earns her.
...
What?
How?
All I see is a very jealous person get jealous and treat his very
best friends like horse do-do.
Ever since the summer hols, has Ron spent any extra time with
Hermione alone, any special treatment of her? Heck, did any of
the four teens spend any time in couples? Any couples?
- Harry and Hermione?
Harry and Ginny?
Harry and Ron?
Ron and Hermione?
Ron and Ginny?
Hermione and Ginny?
No. It’s the four of them hanging out together, in blissfully
ignorant peace. Since they’ve been in school, it’s the trio and
Ginny spending time with Dean. Or Ginny, Ron and Harry as
Hermione is off with the Slug Club.
Since the beginning of term, Harry and Hermione have been paying
each other compliments (Hermione tells Harry he’s fanicable and
Harry tells Sluggy how smart his best friend is)...Ron gets
grumpy and jealous in both instances.
What pulls him out of his funk and brings that strut into his
step? Lavender. Lavender smiling at, rooting for and paying
attention to him. Now, Lavender may be a cow and a bit trivial,
but this is the first time Ronnie has ever received any special
attention from...anyone, really. (Aw, ok, I do feel a little bit
bad for him...but not enough to forgive or wipe clean the slate
of his complete dunderheadedness.)
Ron is not man enough to go after the woman of his dreams, whom
he’s fancied for years. He does not pursue her after their blow-
out in the common room, not during the summer they spend
sequestered together, not over the course of the next year, or
the following summer that’s all sunshine and roses without a care
in the world.
If men are hunters and women their prey, he’s either a really bad
shot or missed the memo that you actually should do or say
something to get the girl and not that they just miraculously
understand your odd grunting and jump in your arms.
He can’t even get it together when she asks him out! He’s
sensitive about not being included in the Slug Club. She invites
him to the Christmas Party. What’s the next thing he does? He
treats her like crap and then snogs Lavender in a grand
performance in the middle of the common room.
Even thinking he’s been slipped lucky juice, he doesn’t sweep
Hermione up in his arms and profess his love. No. He picks a
fight. Smooth, Ron, real smooth.
He treats both girls like crap, without any respect at all. And
yet, he’s finally at Hermione’s level, finally deserves her
affection?!? I must really be blind, deaf and dumb because I just
don’t get it.
Am I wrong? Did these things not happen? In your copy of the
book, dear reader, was Ron nice to Hermione, considerate of her
thoughts, needs, convictions? Did he go out of his way to support
her? Did he dress smartly and await her arrival by the Portrait
Hole, eager to show everyone he was the lucky bloke who got to
escort the most beautiful girl in the whole school to Slughorn’s
exclusive invitation-only Christmas Party?
Did he do anything remotely humane towards her? Um, no. Not in my
book anyway. So I’m at a loss here. A total loss.
Ron is a prat. That’s pretty much it for me. I don’t like him,
it’s nearly impossible for me to say anything nice about him. I
wish I could. You have no idea how much I wish I could like Ron
Weasley. How I’ve tried...but I just can’t. It’s not within me to
excuse his idiocy. Just like I can’t breathe under water...I can’t
like Ron.
Let’s take for instance all his redeeming acts in the rest of Book
6...all the things he does to finally deserve Hermione’s affection
and Harry’s friendship...are you ready? Good. Cause there’s
nothing.
That’s it from Ron the whole rest of the book. He abuses two girls
he supposedly cares about and then goes and gets himself poisoned.
And that’s it, folks. That’s his grand character growth...
Marvelous, isn’t it. Makes you weep...make me weep, at any rate,
from sheer stupidity.
It’s like he’s not even friends with them and when he does catch
up to Harry, he’s dragged Lav-Lav along for the ride and it’s all
Harry can do to get away from them.
He virtually falls off the face of the Earth in this book. He’s
really only mentioned when he’s aggravating Hermione. That and
getting doped up on Love Potion, and subsequently poisoned.
He’s also present for the horrifically abysmal battle in the halls
of Hogwarts. Let’s not forget, this is Ron’s forte. This,
theoretically, is his purpose (if he has one at all). He’s good at
strategy. And this fiasco couldn’t have been more of a mess.
There’s not much more I can say about it. Ron really doesn’t do
much. First, he’s not man enough to ask Hermione out and then he’s
not even man enough to dump Lavender. I know it’s an unpleasant
thing to do, but sometimes it’s the only way to be nice to the
person. Instead of having the poor girl chase him all over the
castle and/or just ignore her, he should have just come clean.
No, let’s string Lavender along because, after all, she’s not
worth any real consideration and then let’s yell at Hermione for
something you’ve never spoken to her about that happened years
ago, string her along because you may like her, but then you
don’t, but then you do... Ostracize her, publicly humiliate her,
use her as a crutch so as to finally break up with the girl you
are dating, ignore Hagrid because you don’t have even a smidgeon
of care for anyone other than yourself, ignore your best friend
except for the dirt on what went down in his secret meetings,
treat your own sister like she doesn’t exist – that is until you
get into an altercation with her in the middle of the hallway that
almost descends to physical blows – and then fail at the one thing
in which you’ve always been a success.
Yeah, you’re right. I totally see how Ron his risen to a higher
level and grown in this book. His character arc is basically a
flat line.
He does offer comic relief – after all, the love potion bit with
him falling over himself for Romilda Vane was quite hilarious if
we’re being honest. (I do try to give credit when it is due.)
- "Harry!" said Ron suddenly.
"What?"
"Harry, I can't stand it!"
"You can't stand what?" asked Harry, now starting to feel
was about to be sick.
- "I can't stop thinking about her!" said Ron hoarsely.
Harry gaped at him. He had not expected this and was not sure
calling Lavender "Lav-Lav," he would have to put his foot down.
- "Why does that stop you having breakfast?" Harry asked, trying
- "I don't think she knows I exist," said Ron with a desperate
- "She definitely knows you exist," said Harry, bewildered. "She
- Ron blinked. "Who are you talking about?"
"Who are you talking about?" said Harry, with an increasing
- "Romilda Vane," said Ron softly, and his whole face seemed to
sunlight.
- Page 392, US Hardcover Edition
Half-Blood Prince
Genuinely funny. I did laugh. I still laugh every time I read it.
And then he hits Harry for insulting her...it's a great scene. I
did feel like I was losing my mind (actually through the entire
book) but this was the first time I kind of enjoyed it.
And I think it's very significant that Harry immediately assumed
it was Lavender Ron's talking about when we're all supposed to
know -as sure as an anvil crushes the skulls of those it falls
on- that Ron lurves Hermione.
Indeed, I freaked slightly dreading that this would be where Ron
confessed his supposed feelings for their mutual best friend.
What would be the point of no return. The "All ye who enter here,
abandon all hope" moment. But it seems even Harry (who believed
all the anvils thus far and convinced himself of anvil validity
since Book 4) sees no signs of that happening.
However, other than that Ron is a lost cause. To tell me that by
the end of this he’s anywhere near Harry and Hermione’s level,
whether it be emotionally or magically, is just a complete
travesty. It’s a total betrayal of character and to constrict the
text to fit into this ‘OBHWF’ model is what causes the writing to
feel forced and unauthentic. It’s also what makes the characters
seem, well, out of character.
When I think of how this storyline ended, I become monumentally
enraged...but we’ll talk about that more when we get to the next
book.
Jealously has always been a huge issue for Ron. He’s just as
jealous of Hermione as he is of Harry. Having them both be
invited to join the Slug Club, and being totally ignored, sets
him off.
Even Sluggy, a brand new professor who’s only just met them, has
easily, if not rudely, assessed that Ron doesn’t have much to
offer.
Harry has detention and so will miss the first meeting which
Hermione laments, she would have preferred to have company. Pissy
Ron reappears, upset about not having been invited at all.
It’s interesting. Whereas we see the stunning appearance of
SuperGenius Harry and SuperSpy Hermione, the only new
version/qualities of Ron we see is Pissy Ron. Aside from not
being anything new, it does seem kind of crappy that he doesn’t
get any cool new super powers like the other two. Unless it’s
SuperPissy Ron. ;)
That actually might explain his stupidity throughout this book.
They read in the news that Arthur’s raid on Malfoy Manor did not
uncover anything. Even when Hermione reminds him that they were
searched upon entering the school, Harry remains convinced Draco
has whatever it is at school with him. Things are not looking
good for Harry’s theory, even his ‘yes man’ is skeptical.
Ron is the unsuspecting victim of Harry’s new magic stolen from
the pages of the HBP book. It’s all a big joke to the boys who
still defend the textbook. Though, Ron didn’t laugh so hard as he
was hanging in the air.
Hermione, however, is not as cheerful about the potential danger
Harry has carelessly embraced. She reminds them where else they’
ve seen that same spell: hanging Muggles above a jeering crowd of
Death Eaters at the QWC.
Ever the sensitive one, Ron brushes off her concern as resentment
and jealousy at being bested by a book. She insists it’s not
about jealousy.
As a Muggleborn, she is in greater danger than the others. The
boys scoff at her statement. Ron, of course, is highest priority
being a blood traitor and all.
most of them are half-bloods pretending to be pure. It’s only
Muggleborns they hate, they’d be quite happy to let you and Ron
join up.”
brandishing at Hermione and hitting Ernie Macmillan on the head.
“My whole family are blood traitors! That’s as bad as Muggle-
borns to Death Eaters!”
Yet given Malfoy’s comments in 4th Year at the QWC, the way Ron
himself reacted to those comments, and seeing first hand the way
Death Eaters treat Muggles/Muggle-borns, I’d have to agree with
Hermione.
During their first visit of Hogsmeade, the kids notice how
different the town is, it’s dark and gloomy now, but they run
into Sluggy at Honeyduke’s. Slug tries to convince Harry to
attend his parties.
Hermione takes the opportunity to talk to Harry about it, that
the parties aren’t that bad, that is until SuperPissy Ron
returns. Like the parents of a sulking child, Harry and Hermione
change topics to discuss Sugar Quills...yum yum, Ronnie.
We learn that Harry has purposely scheduled Quidditch practices
to be during the parties to have a reason to miss the parties and
so Ron will not be alone. And so Ron has been enjoying making
jokes at Hermione’s expense, when she’s stuck at the parties by
herself and he gets to spend time with Harry and his friends on
the team. Yes, very mature. Ron has clearly grown.
They follow Katie Bell and her friend back to the school and
witness Katie’s odd attack. Ron is of no use as Harry runs for
help and Hermione addresses the situation at hand, waiting for
back-up.
Harry insists that Malfoy had something to do with it. Both Ron
and Hermione are annoyed with him at this point. Neither one see
much validity in his case. McGonagall informs them that Malfoy
wasn’t even in Hogsmeade today. They agree with McG, which
incites Harry further.
quite keen to put a bit of distance between herself and Harry.
They vow not to argue with him about it anymore. The conversation
then switches to who was targeted. Hermione fears that it may
have been Harry.
Harry relates the latest info from his session with Dumbledore.
Ron wonders why Dumbledore is concentrating so much on Riddle’s
life story. Hermione tells them that it is important to
discovering LV’s weaknesses.
Talk during Herbology turns once again to the Slug Club. Hermione
reveals she met yet another Quidditch star and is still
thoroughly unimpressed. This, however, catches Ron’s attention.
Ron is impressed by celebrity, always has been. Again, he’s
jealous of what Hermione gets to do.
There’s a Christmas party, which Harry must attend, Hermione
informs him, because Slug went out of his way to plan it for a
day Harry would be free. Ron immediately throws a hissy fit.
He insults poor Hermione by telling her she should just go off
and become Queen Slug with Cormac MacLaggen. Hermione says she
was going to be nice and invite him before he started carrying on
like a child, but now why should she.
try hooking up with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you Kind and
Queen Slug –”
ask you to come, but if you think it’s that stupid then I won’t
bother!”
That shuts Ron up right quick. This is a bad relationship, folks,
however you look at it. Ron would never feel worthy of Hermione.
Would always feel insecure and second-rate. He would always be
jealous of the attention she would get, and the people she would
meet without him.
And instead of being happy about the invite and making it
official with Hermione, Ron is only marginally nicer to her until
he finds out Hermione’s heinous crime. (“...Ron and Hermione did
not seem any different except that they were a little politer to
each other than usual.”
After trekking back to the castle after practice, they run into
Ginny and Dean having a snog right in the passageway. Ron becomes
enraged. He and Ginny go at it. Ginny practically attacks Ron.
Abuses him for being the least experienced of the group.
He later treats Hermione like crap for a supposed wrong she
committed years ago. And then he goes off and snogs Lavender with
gusto for the whole common room to see.
jealous of Hermione as he is of Harry. Having them both be
invited to join the Slug Club, and being totally ignored, sets
him off.
Even Sluggy, a brand new professor who’s only just met them, has
easily, if not rudely, assessed that Ron doesn’t have much to
offer.
Harry has detention and so will miss the first meeting which
Hermione laments, she would have preferred to have company. Pissy
Ron reappears, upset about not having been invited at all.
It’s interesting. Whereas we see the stunning appearance of
SuperGenius Harry and SuperSpy Hermione, the only new
version/qualities of Ron we see is Pissy Ron. Aside from not
being anything new, it does seem kind of crappy that he doesn’t
get any cool new super powers like the other two. Unless it’s
SuperPissy Ron. ;)
That actually might explain his stupidity throughout this book.
They read in the news that Arthur’s raid on Malfoy Manor did not
uncover anything. Even when Hermione reminds him that they were
searched upon entering the school, Harry remains convinced Draco
has whatever it is at school with him. Things are not looking
good for Harry’s theory, even his ‘yes man’ is skeptical.
Ron is the unsuspecting victim of Harry’s new magic stolen from
the pages of the HBP book. It’s all a big joke to the boys who
still defend the textbook. Though, Ron didn’t laugh so hard as he
was hanging in the air.
Hermione, however, is not as cheerful about the potential danger
Harry has carelessly embraced. She reminds them where else they’
ve seen that same spell: hanging Muggles above a jeering crowd of
Death Eaters at the QWC.
Ever the sensitive one, Ron brushes off her concern as resentment
and jealousy at being bested by a book. She insists it’s not
about jealousy.
As a Muggleborn, she is in greater danger than the others. The
boys scoff at her statement. Ron, of course, is highest priority
being a blood traitor and all.
- “The Death Eaters can’t all be pure-blood, there aren’t enough
most of them are half-bloods pretending to be pure. It’s only
Muggleborns they hate, they’d be quite happy to let you and Ron
join up.”
- “There is no way they’d let me be a Death Eater!” said Ron
brandishing at Hermione and hitting Ernie Macmillan on the head.
“My whole family are blood traitors! That’s as bad as Muggle-
borns to Death Eaters!”
- Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 12
Yet given Malfoy’s comments in 4th Year at the QWC, the way Ron
himself reacted to those comments, and seeing first hand the way
Death Eaters treat Muggles/Muggle-borns, I’d have to agree with
Hermione.
During their first visit of Hogsmeade, the kids notice how
different the town is, it’s dark and gloomy now, but they run
into Sluggy at Honeyduke’s. Slug tries to convince Harry to
attend his parties.
Hermione takes the opportunity to talk to Harry about it, that
the parties aren’t that bad, that is until SuperPissy Ron
returns. Like the parents of a sulking child, Harry and Hermione
change topics to discuss Sugar Quills...yum yum, Ronnie.
We learn that Harry has purposely scheduled Quidditch practices
to be during the parties to have a reason to miss the parties and
so Ron will not be alone. And so Ron has been enjoying making
jokes at Hermione’s expense, when she’s stuck at the parties by
herself and he gets to spend time with Harry and his friends on
the team. Yes, very mature. Ron has clearly grown.
They follow Katie Bell and her friend back to the school and
witness Katie’s odd attack. Ron is of no use as Harry runs for
help and Hermione addresses the situation at hand, waiting for
back-up.
Harry insists that Malfoy had something to do with it. Both Ron
and Hermione are annoyed with him at this point. Neither one see
much validity in his case. McGonagall informs them that Malfoy
wasn’t even in Hogsmeade today. They agree with McG, which
incites Harry further.
- “I think Draco Malfoy gave Katie that necklace, Professor.”
On one side of him, Ron rubbed his nose in apparent
quite keen to put a bit of distance between herself and Harry.
- Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 12
They vow not to argue with him about it anymore. The conversation
then switches to who was targeted. Hermione fears that it may
have been Harry.
Harry relates the latest info from his session with Dumbledore.
Ron wonders why Dumbledore is concentrating so much on Riddle’s
life story. Hermione tells them that it is important to
discovering LV’s weaknesses.
Talk during Herbology turns once again to the Slug Club. Hermione
reveals she met yet another Quidditch star and is still
thoroughly unimpressed. This, however, catches Ron’s attention.
Ron is impressed by celebrity, always has been. Again, he’s
jealous of what Hermione gets to do.
There’s a Christmas party, which Harry must attend, Hermione
informs him, because Slug went out of his way to plan it for a
day Harry would be free. Ron immediately throws a hissy fit.
He insults poor Hermione by telling her she should just go off
and become Queen Slug with Cormac MacLaggen. Hermione says she
was going to be nice and invite him before he started carrying on
like a child, but now why should she.
- “’Slug Club,’” repeated Ron with a sneer worthy of Malfoy.
try hooking up with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you Kind and
Queen Slug –”
- “We’re allowed to bring guests,” said Hermione, who for some
ask you to come, but if you think it’s that stupid then I won’t
bother!”
- Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 14
That shuts Ron up right quick. This is a bad relationship, folks,
however you look at it. Ron would never feel worthy of Hermione.
Would always feel insecure and second-rate. He would always be
jealous of the attention she would get, and the people she would
meet without him.
And instead of being happy about the invite and making it
official with Hermione, Ron is only marginally nicer to her until
he finds out Hermione’s heinous crime. (“...Ron and Hermione did
not seem any different except that they were a little politer to
each other than usual.”
After trekking back to the castle after practice, they run into
Ginny and Dean having a snog right in the passageway. Ron becomes
enraged. He and Ginny go at it. Ginny practically attacks Ron.
Abuses him for being the least experienced of the group.
He later treats Hermione like crap for a supposed wrong she
committed years ago. And then he goes off and snogs Lavender with
gusto for the whole common room to see.
| Half-Blood Prince |
He’s still a bum! Possibly even worse than before. No wait. Not
possibly. It’s definite! He is definitely worse!
No one sees fit to actually ask him what it was like to be
attacked by a brain, or if he was hurt by it or suffers perhaps
some residual nightmares caused by the horrific memories
implanted when the long tentacles wrapped themselves so tightly
around him.
I find the negligence of their friendship odd to say the least.
They don’t ask Hermione if she’s okay, after being half-dead for
all we knew just a few short weeks ago!
That however does not give him the excuse to mistreat his very
best friends and basically discard the bond of their friendship
like he does in this book. It’s like they’re not friends at all.
His reaction to the prophesy, when Harry tells them privately of
it, is generally calm – a much calmer reaction than Ron is known
for – both he and Hermione were expecting something of the sort,
or rather Hermione had figured on it and told Ron about it later.
However expected the news may have been this marks a radical
change in behaviour for both Ron and Hermione. Throughout the
book, they both seek out and go about attaining the easy
answers/gratifications as opposed to what is right or what is
needed in the situation.
We see that even two years after their meeting, Ron is still
affected by Fleur. Since no one else reacts to her Veela-ness
anymore, he might actually have a full-blown crush on her. After
all, Harry hasn’t been affected by her since Hermione told him to
sit down at the Quidditch World Cup.
He takes to making fun of Tonks in defense of Fleur when Ginny
starts ragging on her. Hermione is quick to defend Tonks.
around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn’t doing stupid
things to her hair and her nose, but –”
Though she’s been around all summer, Ron’s still in a stupor. And
still finds marvelous ways of insulting Hermione, without even
trying to.
Let’s flash forward beyond this deliriously happy summer of
Quidditch and bonding. It wasn’t important enough to go into
deeply in the book, it’s not important enough to discuss here.
They follow Malfoy into Knockturn Alley and though we see the
emergence of SuperSpy/SuperGenius Harry and Espionage Hermione,
we do not discover any new side to Ron. He just criticizes
Hermione’s attempt at gaining information.
So now they’re at school. None of the trio is taking Hagrid’s
class. Ron seems the least upset by how Hagrid will take this.
Harry and Hermione decide they will visit Hagrid after Quidditch
tryouts. Ron doesn’t understand why they’re so upset by not
having seen Hagrid until now. Ron says they hated his subject.
Hermione corrects him. She didn’t hate the subject; she hates not
seeing Hagrid. She looks stricken when Hagrid refuses to open the
door for them. Though they apologize, it takes Hagrid a while to
forgive them. They all attempt to cheer him up by saying Grubbly-
Plank isn’t as good a teacher as he is.
Quidditch tryouts were much more popular this year than any
other. Hermione informs Harry that it’s because he’s more
fanciable than ever. He blushes; Ron stews. He tries to make
himself comparable to Harry; Hermione ignores him.
However, on their way to the pitch, Lavender flirtatiously smiles
at Ron and wishes him luck. Suddenly, Ron’s walk turns into a
strut. And as Ron takes to his position, Lavender is the one who
shouts for him.
At the tryouts, MacLaggen was going to outperform an already
nervous and self-conscious Ron. Hermione, we learn later, cheated
for him and confunded MacLaggen into missing his last goal. This,
she confesses, was to prevent a jerk like MacLaggen from being on
the team and to keep Harry from having to choose between the jerk
and his best friend.
In Slughorn’s first potions class, both Ron and Harry have to
take old textbooks to work from until they can order their copies
since neither one had expected to be able to get into NEWT level
potions. Unluckily for Ron, Harry got the HBP text and is able to
benefit from the added information.
Ron and Hermione don’t like that Harry beat them through
cheating...that is until Harry starts feeding Ron tidbits from
the book to help him as well. That’s when Ron starts to defend
the book as much as Harry does when Hermione warns them against
it.
Ron does not, however, appreciate that Hermione positively
radiates when she learns that Harry has been speaking her praises
to their professor. Ron grumbles under his breath that anyone
would know she’s smart, but Hermione shushes him.
He doesn’t understand how important it is to Hermione to have
someone she respects compliment her, outside of her presence and
without prompting, to a distinguished person like Slughorn who,
as a professor, is symbolic of something very special to her.
you spoke, Harry?”
expression and whispered, “Did you really tell him I’m the best
in the year? Oh, Harry!”
I’d’ve told him so if he’d asked me!”
disgruntled.
And thus we witness the start of another major bone of contention
between the three of them this year, the Slug Club.
possibly. It’s definite! He is definitely worse!
No one sees fit to actually ask him what it was like to be
attacked by a brain, or if he was hurt by it or suffers perhaps
some residual nightmares caused by the horrific memories
implanted when the long tentacles wrapped themselves so tightly
around him.
I find the negligence of their friendship odd to say the least.
They don’t ask Hermione if she’s okay, after being half-dead for
all we knew just a few short weeks ago!
That however does not give him the excuse to mistreat his very
best friends and basically discard the bond of their friendship
like he does in this book. It’s like they’re not friends at all.
His reaction to the prophesy, when Harry tells them privately of
it, is generally calm – a much calmer reaction than Ron is known
for – both he and Hermione were expecting something of the sort,
or rather Hermione had figured on it and told Ron about it later.
However expected the news may have been this marks a radical
change in behaviour for both Ron and Hermione. Throughout the
book, they both seek out and go about attaining the easy
answers/gratifications as opposed to what is right or what is
needed in the situation.
We see that even two years after their meeting, Ron is still
affected by Fleur. Since no one else reacts to her Veela-ness
anymore, he might actually have a full-blown crush on her. After
all, Harry hasn’t been affected by her since Hermione told him to
sit down at the Quidditch World Cup.
He takes to making fun of Tonks in defense of Fleur when Ginny
starts ragging on her. Hermione is quick to defend Tonks.
- “Yeah, that’ll work,” said Ron sarcastically. “Listen, no
around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn’t doing stupid
things to her hair and her nose, but –”
- “She’s a damn sight nicer than Phlegm,” said Ginny.
“And she’s more intelligent, she’s an Auror!” said Hermione
- Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 5
Though she’s been around all summer, Ron’s still in a stupor. And
still finds marvelous ways of insulting Hermione, without even
trying to.
Let’s flash forward beyond this deliriously happy summer of
Quidditch and bonding. It wasn’t important enough to go into
deeply in the book, it’s not important enough to discuss here.
They follow Malfoy into Knockturn Alley and though we see the
emergence of SuperSpy/SuperGenius Harry and Espionage Hermione,
we do not discover any new side to Ron. He just criticizes
Hermione’s attempt at gaining information.
So now they’re at school. None of the trio is taking Hagrid’s
class. Ron seems the least upset by how Hagrid will take this.
Harry and Hermione decide they will visit Hagrid after Quidditch
tryouts. Ron doesn’t understand why they’re so upset by not
having seen Hagrid until now. Ron says they hated his subject.
Hermione corrects him. She didn’t hate the subject; she hates not
seeing Hagrid. She looks stricken when Hagrid refuses to open the
door for them. Though they apologize, it takes Hagrid a while to
forgive them. They all attempt to cheer him up by saying Grubbly-
Plank isn’t as good a teacher as he is.
Quidditch tryouts were much more popular this year than any
other. Hermione informs Harry that it’s because he’s more
fanciable than ever. He blushes; Ron stews. He tries to make
himself comparable to Harry; Hermione ignores him.
However, on their way to the pitch, Lavender flirtatiously smiles
at Ron and wishes him luck. Suddenly, Ron’s walk turns into a
strut. And as Ron takes to his position, Lavender is the one who
shouts for him.
At the tryouts, MacLaggen was going to outperform an already
nervous and self-conscious Ron. Hermione, we learn later, cheated
for him and confunded MacLaggen into missing his last goal. This,
she confesses, was to prevent a jerk like MacLaggen from being on
the team and to keep Harry from having to choose between the jerk
and his best friend.
In Slughorn’s first potions class, both Ron and Harry have to
take old textbooks to work from until they can order their copies
since neither one had expected to be able to get into NEWT level
potions. Unluckily for Ron, Harry got the HBP text and is able to
benefit from the added information.
Ron and Hermione don’t like that Harry beat them through
cheating...that is until Harry starts feeding Ron tidbits from
the book to help him as well. That’s when Ron starts to defend
the book as much as Harry does when Hermione warns them against
it.
Ron does not, however, appreciate that Hermione positively
radiates when she learns that Harry has been speaking her praises
to their professor. Ron grumbles under his breath that anyone
would know she’s smart, but Hermione shushes him.
He doesn’t understand how important it is to Hermione to have
someone she respects compliment her, outside of her presence and
without prompting, to a distinguished person like Slughorn who,
as a professor, is symbolic of something very special to her.
- “Oho! ‘One of my best friends is Muggle-born, and she’s the
you spoke, Harry?”
- “Yes, sir,” said Harry.
“Well, well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor,
- Malfoy looked rather as he had done the time Hermione had
expression and whispered, “Did you really tell him I’m the best
in the year? Oh, Harry!”
- “Well, what’s so impressive about that?” whispered Ron, who
I’d’ve told him so if he’d asked me!”
- Hermione smiled but made a “shhing” gesture, so that they
disgruntled.
- Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 9
And thus we witness the start of another major bone of contention
between the three of them this year, the Slug Club.
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