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Ron Weasley - Blog Posts

1 month ago

Dumbledore as a Mentor

Dumbledore is the most well executed mentor figure for Harry in the series, for two reasons.

First is what he represents. Since the very beginning of the series, he trusts him absolutely, and is along with the Weasleys the only adult with whom he shares that title. But Harry trusts Dumbledore even though he doesn't know anything about him. Harry, who has a pathological mistrust of adults, always feels that he can rely on him. He's the only wizard that Voldemort ever feared, and his very presence at Hogwarts makes it so that there is at least one place which Harry knows is safe.

And then he's killed. Just before the final book, before the last confrontation Harry and the Dark Lord will have, the man whom Harry though he could most rely on dies. The warm blanket of comfort and safety that Dumbledore provided is suddenly gone, and Harry must face Voldemort as his own man, no mentors to guide and protect him. His final challenge. "The last and greatest of his protectors had died, and he was more alone than he had ever been before" Of course, there was another protector left still, but Harry didn't know that at the time.

Dumbledore is also unique among Harry Potter characters in that he's the one who most understands the Harry Potter settings supernatural elements.

Fantasy and supernatural are not the same. Fantasy is when things that would not be possible in our world, indeed, what in the real world would be classified as supernatural, are mundane elements of the setting, as real and part of nature as anything else. Magic, dragons, spells, potions and house elves and all, is part of the nature of the world. They are not considered supernatural elements for wizards, the way they are for muggles. Supernatural elements are those that surpass what is perceived as natural in any given setting. Harry Potter as a series has both, and Dumbledore is the only character who truly understands them.

What am I talking about? Mainly (though not exclusively) Love, capital L. In Harry Potter, Love, unconditional, true, Love is more than just an emotion. It has magical reality, it tangibly affects the world. While it falls under the umbrella of magic, It is the most mysterious and least understood of the magics. It is ancient, and powerful beyond belief. It is what made Harry's mind agony for the Dark Lord to touch. What permitted Dumbledore to trust Snape absolutely (and if you want a more detailed analysis of how Love and Snape are fundamentally intertwined, and how his arc is among the most important in telling the message Rowling wanted to tell, read this meta by rex-luscus), what allowed Harry to survive the unstoppable Killing curse, when no one had ever done it before.

Most powerful mentor figures in fiction teach the protagonist powerful spells and magic. It's expected. After all, in most stories, the hero defeats the villain by growing to match them in power. Not so in Harry Potter. Harry, while a powerful wizard, and very talented in DADA, is nothing out of this world. He never approaches Voldemort's league. Whenever his killing curse fails, it is by supernatural mechanisms, that Voldemort cannot fathom but that neither fully understand. Lily's protection. Priori Incantatem. The supernatural phenomenon of the magical world. In both these scenarios, the first to understand what truly happened and explain is Dumbledore. In their private sessions, Dumbledore never teaches Harry powerful spells, or Potions, as many would expect him to (that role is left to other mentors of his, mainly Lupin and Snape). He teaches him philosophy, how to understand the mind of Tom Riddle, and about the nature of magic itself as a phenomenon. He teaches him wisdom, to understand the world. That's why, when Harry comes into his own, it is no surprise that he defeats him by understanding, on a deeper level, the Deathstick. Another of the myths and legends of the magical world, that is nonetheless real. When Voldemort casts at Harry his third and last killing curse, he dies, with only Harry understanding why. He has learned all that Dumbledore wanted to teach him. He has taught him to be wise.

Voldemort's main flaw is that magic only has value to him in so much as it is a tool that he can bring under his control to increase his power. He views it almost like a scientific discipline. And in those areas, the non supernatural ones, he is unrivalled. Dumbledore is at most his equal, but probably not. When they fight, they are evenly matched, even though Dumbledore has the Elder Wand. Dumbledore acknowledges him as the most brilliant student that Hogwarts has ever seen, a tacit admission that he is his superior. And yet, Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer to ever live. Why? Because he understands the mysteries of magic, knows that magic is a fundamentally supernatural force. Voldemort opened his mind to the power of magic, but could not see what lay beyond. His mind remained shackled, and he never did understand magic beyond what is conceivable by science. Dumbledore did, and that's why he's the only one he ever feared. And it's what makes him the perfect mentor for Harry.


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2 years ago

One of the things about Harry Potter that always bugged me is the treatment of Ron Weasley in the fandom. Like jeez people hate this man more than Voldy. Ofc everyone has their own opinions but hating one of the most wholesome people is just straight up stupidity. I know, Ron isn't perfect, he has flaws; he is insecure, he can get jealous easily, but being in his brothers and later his friends shadow can really suck. But hey so does Hermione, she gets insecure about her appearance (teeth), she feels jealous too ( whenever Harry outperformed her she was livid) Not only her but Harry as well is insecure and gets jealous (When Ron became prefect). These flaws is what make these characters so real. It makes them human.

Hermione is smart but she is also conceited and isn't very accepting of people less smart or different than her. She is just as flawed as Ron is.

Harry is a sassy lil bitch, he has his moments of judementalness and lack of trust. He too isn't perfect (Harry's inner monologue honestly tells a lot about his cynisim) (also he wished Snape's death upon becoming the new DADA teacher)

So, why Ron? What's so disgusting or cruel about Ron? The same Ron that took Harry as a brother and shared his small room with. The same Ron who broke Harry out from his abusive family's house as a 12 year old. The same Ron that stood on his broken leg and said "if you kill Harry, you have to kill us too" (f u Steve Kolves for giving that to Hermione). The same Ron that made sure Harry got a present on Christmas. The same Ron that took on stunning spells so Harry could practice for the tournament. The same Ron that choose to be by Harry's side when the entire class turned on him. The same Ron who despite his jealousy never made Harry feel any less good and kept all those feelings to himself.

Yes, he had some misteps. He fought with Hermione, but they were young. He fought with her and fought for her. When Snape made a comment on Hermione being a know it all he defended her (f u again Steve Kloves). He vomited slugs for her. He defended her when Malfoy made her teeth grow. He wanted to make sure she was eating. That she was okay.

Ron Weasley in my opinion is the most important part of the trio. He is the bridge that keeps them together. There is no Harry Potter without Ron Weasley

Ps: if Harry ever found out how Ron was treated in the fandom he would have killed everyone.


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2 years ago

Hermione: do you know people are mostly killed during the night by their own spouses ?

Ron: why the fuck would you say that?

Hermione: it's a fun fact....and facts are true.

Ron: .....

Hermione: you actually don't think I would kill you right?

Ron: Mom, come pick me up I am scared.


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2 years ago

Harry: guys, I think snape is up to something

Hermione: Dumbledore trusts him, Harry

Ron: I agree to disagree

5 minutes later...

Harry: guys, I think Malfoy is up to something

Hermione: in your dreams, Harry

Ron: what do you think he is? A death eater? Haha

5 books later

Hermione: Snape killed Dumbledore!!! Malfoy is death eater!!!

Ron: who saw that coming?

Harry *calmly*: I did.

Ps:I do know it was never confirmed in the books if Draco became a death eater or not. Still confused.


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