Ron

Biodata

Appearance

• Red hair: His face becomes almost the same color as his hair when he flushes with jealousy during Flying Class 25.

Personality

Ron is talkative and eager for recognition, but increasingly resents being overshadowed by others. He dislikes being known primarily as Harry’s friend and envies the attention and respect Argus Grindelwald receives. Seeing classmates comfort Argus after his failure to fly—rather than criticize him as they had criticized Ron—pushes that resentment into open aggression 23 25.

His hostility toward Slytherin leads him to judge classmates by their families and house. He accuses Draco of theft without evidence, dismisses Argus’s teaching as hypocrisy, and argues that having a Dark wizard for a father makes Argus a Dark wizard too 10 21. He also struggles to admit fault: after Trevor is found, he suggests Draco might still have arranged the disappearance before reluctantly apologizing 11.

Ron’s bravado often collapses under pressure. He hides behind Harry when reprimanded, fears his mother’s Howler, and retreats beneath his bedcovers when Pansy confronts him. Nevertheless, concern for his public image can override that fear; he refuses to return Argus’s stolen textbook because other students are watching 13 26 27 41.

Abilities & Skills

Spellcasting

Ron knows a small selection of spells, but his performance in combat is unreliable 40.

• Casts Densaugeo at Argus before the Trophy Room duel formally begins 39.
• Repeatedly uses the same few spells, sometimes stumbling over their incantations and nearly striking himself 40.
• Is subdued by Argus’s Levicorpus without landing an effective attack 40.

Broomstick Flight

Ron can summon and ride a school broom, though Draco is explicitly the more talented flyer 25 26.

• Uses a broom to take Argus’s textbook and evade Draco around the castle 26.
• Struggles to maintain his distance from Draco and nearly falls when startled 26.
• Is barred from Madam Hooch’s lessons for his conduct during the chase 26.

Academic Performance

• Transfiguration: Ron and Harry are the only students whose matches remain unchanged after the first lesson. Ron discourages Harry from accepting Argus’s help 21.
• Potions: Ron and Seamus attempt their first brew without having read their textbook. Their cauldron explodes, injuring them, nearby students, and Snape 24.

Equipment & Pets

• Wand — Used during his attacks on Argus in the Trophy Room; its materials are not specified 39 40.
• Scabbers — His pet, whom Fred and George seek to borrow as the stake in a bet. Ron suspects they want an experimental subject and later snatches Scabbers back 19 20.

History

Accusation on the Hogwarts Train

While helping Harry and Neville search for Trevor, Ron encounters Draco looking through the train compartments with Crabbe and Goyle. He insists that Draco stole the toad, citing the Malfoy family’s association with Death Eaters and rejecting Draco’s companions as credible witnesses 10.

Argus summons Trevor from a nearby compartment, clearing Draco. Ron tries to leave without apologizing, then proposes that Draco might have secretly arranged for someone to hide the toad. Neither his brothers nor Harry supports this accusation, and he finally mutters an apology before returning to his compartment 10 11.

Early Lessons

During Hermione’s Sorting, Ron quietly calls her strange and expects Harry to agree. Instead, Harry looks displeased, and McGonagall reprimands Ron for speaking ill of another student 13.

Ron and Harry arrive late to their first Transfiguration lesson and lose house points. Later, Ron’s opposition to seeking Argus’s advice leaves both boys behind the rest of the class 20 21. In Potions, Ron chooses Seamus as his partner because he fears being caught up in Snape’s targeting of Harry. Their disastrous brew sends them to the Hospital Wing and costs Gryffindor points 24.

Flying Class Incident

Ron becomes furious when students from both houses comfort Argus over his inability to ride a broom. Despite Harry’s objections, he takes Argus’s textbook and flies away. Draco pursues him, and Ron eventually throws the book aside. Draco’s worn school broom snaps as he tries to recover it, forcing Argus to transfigure the grass into mattresses to break his fall 25 26.

Argus secretly casts Finite Incantatem on Ron’s broom, causing him to fall without a cushion and suffer severe arm injuries. Unaware of Argus’s intervention, Madam Hooch deducts fifty points from Gryffindor, bars Ron from her lessons, and promises to report his behavior to McGonagall 26.

In the Hospital Wing, Harry is Ron’s only companion, while numerous students visit Draco. Molly’s Howler publicly condemns Ron’s theft and classroom disruption, warning that further trouble could bring him home. Percy, Fred, and George subsequently apologize to Argus and offer to replace the textbook 27. Madam Hooch later brings Ron to the Slytherin Common Room to apologize personally 39.

Trophy Room Duel

After Ron insults Draco’s new Nimbus 2000, Draco challenges him to a late-night duel. Harry accompanies Ron, while Argus serves as Draco’s second. Ron attacks Argus before the formalities begin, but his repeated spells achieve nothing, and Argus suspends him in midair 39 40.

When Mrs. Norris appears, Ron calls out for Filch, hoping to have Argus caught even if it means being caught himself. Filch instead treats Argus as a friend and takes custody of Harry and Ron. Ron calls Filch a Squib, and Argus drops him to the floor before leaving with Draco 40.

By the following morning, Gryffindor’s hourglass has fallen to zero, and both boys face their housemates’ scorn. Molly and Arthur come to Hogwarts, where Molly warns Ron that another incident will result in his parents taking him home. Arthur apologizes to Argus and Draco 40 41.

Continuing Resentment

The consequences do not end Ron’s jealousy. When the Daily Prophet celebrates Argus’s Diagon Alley businesses, Ron is distressed to see his rival photographed with influential figures, including Minister Fudge. Harry notices his mood but avoids addressing it 50.

Relationships

• Harry Potter — Ron’s closest supporter at Hogwarts. Harry stays with him in the Hospital Wing, asks Argus to forgive him, and accompanies him to the Trophy Room. His repeated defense of Ron strains his friendships with Argus and Draco 27 39 40.
• Argus Grindelwald — Rival and target of Ron’s jealousy. Their conflict escalates from the train accusation to theft and magical attacks; Argus retaliates by sabotaging Ron’s broom and later restraining him during the duel 10 26 40.
• Draco Malfoy — Antagonistic classmate. Ron distrusts him because of his family, falsely accuses him of stealing Trevor, and later accepts his duel challenge 10 39.
• Molly and Arthur Weasley — His parents. Both hold him responsible for his misconduct rather than defending him against Argus and Draco; they threaten to withdraw him from Hogwarts if it continues 27 41.
• Fred, George, and Percy Weasley — His older brothers. Fred and George tease him, but refuse to support his false accusation. All three apologize to Argus after the Flying Class incident 11 19 27.
• Ginny Weasley — His younger sister; accompanies their parents during their visit to Hogwarts 41 48.
• Seamus Finnigan — Classmate and Potions partner in the cauldron explosion 24.
• Hermione Granger — Ron disparages her during the Sorting. His behavior on the train also contributes to her loss of enthusiasm for Gryffindor 11 13.

Role in Dumbledore’s Plans

• Intended support for Harry: Dumbledore had selected Ron as Harry’s companion because he believed the Weasley family’s talent, strength, and influence would help Harry develop into an opponent of Voldemort 30.
• Loss of confidence: Ron’s behavior makes Dumbledore fear that he will encourage jealousy and showing off in Harry rather than provide dependable support 30.
• Argus as an alternative: After the Trophy Room incident, Dumbledore concludes that Ron should no longer be Harry’s closest friend. He negotiates for Argus to guide Harry at important moments instead 41.