Episode 10 - Fake Friends: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger
Topic of Discussion
In this episode, we discussed the friendship of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
This is a topic we loooooove to discuss! When we took some time to think about these three friends, we realized that the origin stories for each of the characters -- how they were raised, their backgrounds -- all ended up being very important in their friendship.
Harry Potter - an orphan raised in a muggle family who doesn’t want him around, in the muggle world. He had no background in magic, aside from the magic in his veins, and didn’t have any support system -- not even friends.
Ron Weasley - one of seven kids, one of six boys, raised in a magical, pure-blood family. He was never the “best” at anything in the family; simply the most average. He was raised in a magical home and knows very little about the muggle world. He had a fairly strong support system growing up, though after felt the least loved.
Hermione Granger - an only child raised by muggle parents who love her deeply, in the muggle world. She had no background in magic, aside from the magic in her veins, and likely had a support system, though not very many friends due to her need to always be right and perfect.
Each of them has a void in some way that they fill through friendship with each other. And isn’t that sort of what friendship is really all about? While each of them have their merits, we see each of them having downfalls as well. Harry’s is his hero-complex and desire to save everyone on his own; Ron’s is his jealousy that he struggles to control; Hermione’s is her strict adherence to the rules that can sometimes prevent her from being a good friend. But at the same time, Harry cares deeply about his friends and would do anything for them; Ron is such a steady, reliable presence; Hermione is so smart and has the broader perspective that the guys sometimes need.
Ron and Hermione draw Harry into love; Ron and Harry draw Hermione away from rigidity; and Harry and Hermione draw Ron away from prejudice. It’s really beautiful how deep their friendship goes and how each side of the triangle serves the other in some way. They challenge each other in important ways that help one another grow.
Tell us your thoughts on the friendship of Harry, Ron and Hermione at areyoutwostillfriends@gmail.com
Friendship Tip
In this episode, we shared friendship tips from our three magical friends.
Harry Potter: Always be there for your friends, but it’s sometimes okay to not get in the middle of things.
Know when a disagreement or tiff between friends actually involves you and when it doesn’t. Sometimes, letting your friends work out their own drama is the best course of action, to void making things even more complicated.
Ron Weasley: Know your strengths and weaknesses within a friendship and accept the same of your friends.
This is the key to acceptance! When you can accept yourself and your friends as they are, without wanting to change them or yourself (in terms of the things they can’t change) you’ll find you’ll feel so much happier in the relationship. And sometimes, accepting your friend for where they’re at in life requires you to grow.
Hermione Granger: It’s better to have friends than to always be right.
What a beautiful friendship tip! It puts more emphasis on the relationship rather than having the pride or knowledge of being right. But when we can set aside being right all the time, we’re able to be more compassionate and loving toward our friends. And, at the end of the day, you’re not always right! “Rightness” can show up in so many ways. The way someone else does something may be right for them but not for you. And the same in reverse!
What friendship tips do you think Harry, Ron and Hermione would offer? Tell us at areyoutwostillfriends@gmail.com
What questions are we pondering this week?
HG: What classes should I take next term?
HP: What’s Voldemort up to?
RW: What’s for dinner?
We think each of these questions really speaks to the personalities of each of these characters. And you see this throughout the books and movies. If you know these characters, it’s fun to think about what they ponder week in and week out and throughout their time as they move through Hogwarts.
What content are we consuming this week?
HG: Hogwarts: A History
HP: Do-It-Yourself Broomcare
RW: N/A
For Hermione, we feel as though she can never read this book enough times to really understand the fullness of the magic and mysteries that make up Hogwarts. And it’s a book that’s served her time and again throughout her time at Hogwarts and her adventures with Harry and Ron.
For Harry, playing Quidditch is one of the few simple pleasures in his life. So reading a book on how to take care of his broomstick or learn more about how to be better Seeker is likely going to be what he’s into (while he’s avoiding homework).
And Ron...well...he doesn’t really consume content! He plays a lot of Wizard’s Chess, but on the whole, he’s one of those people who don’t dive into reading or watching TV (the latter because he’s not a muggle).
What’s something uplifting you’d like to share with others?
HG: I received 112 points on my Charms Final!
HP: We beat Slytherin in Quidditch!
RW: Gryffindor beat Slytherin in Quidditch!
Again, what’s uplifting to each of these characters really shows you who they are and what’s important to them. And, when your friend feels uplifted, oftentimes, that good feeling is contagious!
What’s something that’s sparked passion in you recently?
HG: Arithmancy and Ancient Runes...a fascinating subject!
HP: My scar burning...again.
RW: Hermione touched my hand.
As nerdy as it may seem, for Hermione, reading a new book or diving into a new subject (or an old one that she likes) really does spark passion in her! She loves to learn and think about and meditate on the subjects she’s interested in. And who doesn’t want that kind of passion?
Unfortunately for Harry, his scar consumes a lot of his time and energy. But usually, when it burns, it refocuses his attention toward discovering what Voldemort is up to and how to defeat him. And at times on how to relieve the suffering he’s experiencing as a by-product of being a Horcrux.
Ron is a simple guy and physical touch really sparks a lot of feelings and emotions. It causes him to think outside of himself and perhaps act in a manner that wouldn’t be the norm. We can all identify with having our passions sparked by interactions and physical touch with someone who has our heart.
In friendship,
Alexis & Lueda
