Ron Weasley

Ron Collection

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Ron is sitting in the Great Hall in his Quidditch robes. He is holding a goblet about to take a drink. 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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Learn more about Ron Weasley

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Complete the quote quiz: Ron edition

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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and the Chamber of Secrets

Complete the quote: “Why spiders? Why couldn’t it be follow the _____?”

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Complete the quote:  “Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat _____”?

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Finish the line that Ron wrote to Harry: “Don’t let the Muggles _____!” in a letter. 

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Fill in the blank: “If you want to kill Harry, you’ll have to kill ____ too!”

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Complete the quote: “One person can’t feel all that at once, they’d ______.”

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Complete the quote: “Can you believe our luck?” … “Of all the ____ we could’ve hit, we had to get one that hits back.”

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Fill in the blank: “All she wants to do is snog me. My ______________ “ 

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Complete the quote: “You’ll pay for that Malfoy! Eat ____!”

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Complete Ron’s prediction of Hermione’s Boggart: “A piece of homework that only got ____ out of ten?”

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Fill in the blank: “Hello, ____, tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?”

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You'll never quite be Hermione, but how well can you finish Ron's sentences? 

Ron's Quidditch wordsearch

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Birthday party tips from Ronald Bilius Weasley

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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When you come from a family of 9, every day’s a party, right? 

OK, perhaps not, but you’d certainly have enough ready-made (if unwilling) event planners, decorators, and caterers on hand. So we like to think Ron Weasley would throw a great little shindig – with a little help from his friends (and family.)

## The invitations 

First thing’s first – your invitations will set the tone for the whole event, so no Howlers. We appreciate the Muggle world offers quicker methods of communication, but if you want to make your guests feel special you just can’t beat a good old-fashioned embossed invitation, delivered by Owl Post. Maybe find a reliable owl to do the job first, though. Errol would be too slow, and you don’t want a Pigwidgeon-style mess on your hands. You need a bird that’s regal and reliable. Hedwig would be great.

## The dress code

Outfit-wise we imagine Ron’s parties to be anything-goes sort of affairs, but still, nobody wants to show up looking like their Great Aunt Tessie, so it’s worth taking time to consider your clothing ahead of any big do. Mouldy lace cuffs, no. Smart dress robes, yes. Singed eyebrows, no. A magical accessory of your choice, well, why not? The decision is yours, but we’ll just remind you Ron’s not really a fan of maroon. May we suggest a nice midnight blue?

## The music

As a (usually) easygoing kind of guy we reckon Ron’s party playlist would cater to most musical tastes, but we’re pretty sure Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday Party favourite – an orchestral piece featuring thirty musical saws – would not make the cut. Instead, we suggest sticking on some Weird Sisters. Ron himself might have spent a large portion of the Yule Ball in a sulk, but the Weird Sisters certainly got most of the party guests up and dancing. And if Dumbledore booked them, they must be good.

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Professor Umbridge being chased through the Great Hall by a fireworks in the shape of a large dragon.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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## The entertainment 

Not everyone knows a pair of jokers as capable of setting off a colourful firework display as Ron’s brothers Fred and George, but – whatever the occasion – fireworks certainly make a fantastic party pièce de résistance. If you can’t get your hands on a set of Weasley’s Wildfire Whiz-bangs or Dr Filibuster’s exploding fireworks, regular Muggle fireworks can be just as impressive. But do make sure you follow all the correct safety procedures. Sparklers and firecrackers and Catherine wheels might be pretty, but no Wizard Wheeze is worth risking your party guests’ safety for.

## The presents

We’re not sure gift-giving was one of Ron’s skills – anyone fancy a copy of *Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches?* – but when it came to presents, he did understand the importance of knowing your audience. He didn’t give Harry that book in front of his mother now, did he? Basically, when getting someone a gift, just make sure it’s something they will like and not something you will like. Sounds simple, we know, but let’s not forget Ron was once given a thick gold chain bearing the legend ‘My Sweetheart’ that literally revolted him. Perhaps he and Lavender were better suited than we thought: she definitely didn’t have the best gift-giving skills, either.

## The food

And now we come to the most important part of any party. Yes, we’re talking about the food. Ron was lucky to have his mother, Molly Weasley, as caterer-in-chief for most of his parties – you know, the woman who frequently fed a family of 9 (plus assorted guests) meals to rival even the most extravagant Hogwarts feast, all of which she prepared almost entirely single-handedly. But we appreciate not everyone has a chef in the kitchen, let alone one armed with a magic wand. Still, it’s important to consider your party menu ahead of time. Preparation is everything, even if you do have magic at your disposal – as Ron himself discovered on the Horcrux hunt, nobody can conjure tasty meals out of nothing. So what we’re saying is, get the supplies in…

## The after-dinner chocolates

…with one exception. You can take Chocolate Cauldrons off the party food list. Ron had a very bad birthday experience with a box of Chocolate Cauldrons once. We wouldn’t want to remind him of that.

Why Weasley is our king

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Ron flying Harry's Firebolt from the Prisoner of Azkaban 

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Arguably the funniest and most outspoken of the trio spent much of his time trying to emerge out of the shadows of his sprawling family and remarkable best friends. 

He was the second-youngest child in a whopping-great family, and the least academically accomplished of his friendship group (yup, Harry got better marks even if they both copied Hermione). Plus, with the whole ‘my best mate is the Boy Who Lived’ deal, life could sometimes seem a bit of a bummer to Ron.

Feelings of resentment did pop up occasionally (hello Triwizard Tournament exile and that time that Horcrux plunged him into a never-ending pit of insecurity), but for 99.99999 per cent of the time Ron was the bestest of best pals.

He delivered witty insights in any situation, brought fun when all those around him were in fear of their lives, was loyal to a fault and found humour even when certain death looked, er, fairly certain.

His generosity of spirit, boyishness and silliness gave Harry back some of his childhood and reminded us quite how young the three ware despite the dangers they faced.

Ron also quietly became one of the biggest heroes of the story, proving his intelligence and bravery countless times. Yet, like Neville whose lack of ability as a student made his leadership all the more surprising, sometimes Ron’s achievements were more impressive for being unexpected. 

There were several key occasions — from his chess prowess hunting the Philosopher’s Stone to the time he opened the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve a Basilisk fang — when it became obvious that without Ron’s help Harry might not have defeated You-Know-Who.

The lyrics to ‘Weasley is our King’ might claim he ‘cannot save a thing’ but, Quidditch aside, he saved Harry, Hermione, and even Draco Malfoy on more than one occasion. 

‘Always the tone of surprise,’ he complained grumpily after one such instance. Harry might be the Chosen One, but Ron was the one Harry chose as his best friend. The youngest Weasley boy was definitely a Keeper – in the Quidditch and other sense. Here are a few special moments that definitively proved that Weasley is our King…

__Firstly, he made us laugh__  
‘Accio brain!’ 

*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

__He had a hilarious view of the Muggle world__  
From being bewildered by ‘felly-tones’ and referring to the non-magical community as ‘those Muggle nutters’, it’s interesting to note that by the end of the story Ron had two Muggles as parents-in-law. 

__He did listen to Hermione__  
‘Yeah, well, food’s one of the five exceptions to Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration,’ said Ron, to general astonishment.

*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

__He was totally not bothered by Blood Status__  
A true Weasley, Ron couldn’t give a stuff whether he was half-blood or half-anything else. In fact, he merrily called his family ‘blood traitors’. 

__He recognised his failings and – crucially — atoned for them__  
‘He – well,’ Ron’s ears turned bright red and he became engrossed in a tuft of grass at his feet, which he prodded with his toe, ‘he must’ve known I’d run out on you.’
‘No,’ Harry corrected him. ‘He must’ve known you’d always want to come back.’ 

*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

__His inner struggle, as Dumbledore explained, was revealed by the Mirror of Erised__  
The usually-cheeky Ron’s true insecurities about the achievements of his siblings were revealed when he looked into the one place that showed your heart’s desires – and saw himself, a success, and standing alone. 

__He was brilliant at cursing (the kind that made Molly mad, not just hexes)__  
‘And what in the name of Merlin’s most baggy Y Fronts was that about?’ 

*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

__After seven books, he finally said the thing that made Hermione want to kiss him__  
Took him long enough.

__He was nice about house elves__  
As everyone should be!

Discover the films

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to Fantastic Beasts

The Ron Weasley crossword

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Will you find our puzzle easy-Weasley? Or as difficult as Ron finds Divination homework?

Let's see! Good luck.

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Visit our [puzzles page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) for more magical brain teasers.

Seven times Ron Weasley was a brilliant friend

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A close-up of Ron standing in his pyjamas and smiling

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## The time he sacrificed himself on the chessboard
Ron was always willing to join Harry on his many adventures (despite the risks they posed) and their journey through the trapdoor was no exception. When they reached the giant chessboard, Ron proved himself to be an excellent friend. Not only did he make sure that Harry and Hermione were kept out of harm’s way, but he also sacrificed himself so that the other two could get to the Philosopher’s Stone before it was too late. 

>‘We’re nearly there,’ he muttered suddenly. ‘Let me think – let me think...’
>
>The white queen turned her blank face towards him.
>
>‘Yes...’ said Ron softly, ‘it’s the only way... I’ve got to be taken.’ 
>
>‘NO!’ Harry and Hermione shouted.
>
>‘That’s chess!’ snapped Ron. ‘You’ve got to make some sacrifices!
>
>I take one step forward and she’ll take me – that leaves you free to checkmate the king, Harry!’
>
>‘But –’
>
>‘Do you want to stop Snape or not?’
>
>‘Ron –’
>
>‘Look, if you don’t hurry up, he’ll already have the Stone!’
>
>There was nothing else for it.
>
>‘Ready?’ Ron called, his face pale but determined. ‘Here I go – now, don’t hang around once you’ve won.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*


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Harry, Ron and Hermione walking across the giant chess board

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

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and the Philosopher's Stone 

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## When he rescued Harry from the Dursleys
When Harry was locked in his bedroom after the incident with the Hover Charm, Aunt Petunia’s pudding and a rogue house-elf, he had no way of getting in touch with his friends. However, Ron was not going to stand for that. After not hearing from his best friend, he took matters into his own hands and decided to rescue him. He most certainly broke the rules (and risked the wrath of his mother) but proved himself to be a true friend to Harry. 

>‘What’s been going on?’ said Ron. ‘Why haven’t you been answering my letters? I’ve asked you to stay about twelve times, and then Dad came home and said you’d got an official warning for using magic in front of Muggles...’
>
>‘It wasn’t me – and how did he know?’
>
>‘He works for the Ministry,’ said Ron. ‘You know we’re not supposed to do spells outside school –’
>
>‘Bit rich coming from you,’ said Harry, staring at the floating car.
>
>‘Oh, this doesn’t count,’ said Ron. ‘We’re only borrowing this, it’s Dad’s, we didn’t enchant it. But doing magic in front of those Muggles you live with...’
>
>‘I told you, I didn’t – but it’ll take too long to explain now. Look, can you explain to them at Hogwarts that the Dursleys have locked me up and won’t let me come back, and obviously I can’t magic myself out, because the Ministry’ll think that’s the second spell I’ve done in three days, so –’
>
>‘Stop gibbering,’ said Ron, ‘we’ve come to take you home with us.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

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The Weasley's blue flying car in the air, with a rope tied to the bars on Harry's window at Privet Drive.

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## When he stood up for Hermione against Malfoy 
Draco Malfoy was often incredibly foul, and this incident was no exception. Calling Hermione a ‘Mudblood’ was an awful thing to do. Ron clearly felt the same way and stood up for her… despite his broken wand and the slug-filled consequences. 

>‘At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to *buy* their way in,’ said Hermione sharply. ‘*They* got in on pure talent.’
>
>The smug look on Malfoy’s face flickered.
>
>‘No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood,’ he spat.
>
>Harry knew at once that Malfoy had said something really bad because there was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to dive in front of Malfoy to stop Fred and George jumping on him, Alicia shrieked, *‘How dare you!’* and Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, ‘You’ll pay for that one, Malfoy!’ and pointed it furiously under Flint’s arm at Malfoy’s face.
>
>A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron’s wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backwards onto the grass.
>
>‘Ron! Ron! Are you all right?’ squealed Hermione.
>
>Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he gave an almighty belch and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

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Harry and Ron standing side-by-side with their wands raised. Both look determined.

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## His willingness to follow the spiders into the Forbidden Forest despite his fear
Ron was terrified of spiders. So much so, his Boggart even took the shape of a giant one. Yet, he forced himself to get over his fear after Hermione was Petrified in *Chamber of Secrets*. He and Harry were determined to find out what had hurt their friend and the other students, so they went to Hagrid for some help. Unfortunately, they witnessed Hagrid being wrongly arrested, but not before he managed to leave them the cryptic clue to ‘follow the spiders’. Though we have no doubt that Ron was terrified, he still did it – because that’s what makes a good friend.

>Instead he contented himself with scrawling a note to Ron: *‘Let’s do it tonight.’*
>
>Ron read the message, swallowed hard and looked sideways at the empty seat usually filled by Hermione. The sight seemed to stiffen his resolve, and he nodded.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*

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Harry and Ron walking together in the Forbidden Forest at night. Harry holds a lantern and both look nervous..

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## When he stood up to Snape
Ok, Ron and Hermione might not have always seen eye-to-eye, but that didn’t mean Ron was going to let anyone else say anything about her. Despite the fact that he would happily call her a know-it-all, he still instantly stood up to her against Snape – and landed himself in a lot of trouble for his efforts. 

>‘That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,’ said Snape coolly. ‘Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.’
>
>Hermione went very red, put down her hand and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. It was a mark of how much the class loathed Snape that they were all glaring at him, because every one of them had called Hermione a know-it-all at least once, and Ron, who told Hermione she was a know-it-all at least twice a week, said loudly, ‘You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don’t want to be told?’
>
>The class knew instantly he’d gone too far. Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath.
>
>‘Detention, Weasley,’ Snape said silkily, his face very close to Ron’s. ‘And if I ever hear you criticise the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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## How he refused to sever ties with Harry
When Voldemort returned not everybody was willing to believe it. In fact, many decided that Harry was lying. Not Ron though. He stood by Harry the entire time and never questioned his story. When his brother Percy suggested that Ron should stop hanging out with him, Ron wasn’t having any of it. He was furious. Yet again, this proved that he could be a wonderful friend. 

>Harry looked up at Ron.
>
>‘Well,’ he said, trying to sound as though he found the whole thing a joke, ‘if you want to – er – what is it?’ – he checked Percy’s letter – ‘Oh yeah – “sever ties” with me, I swear I won’t get violent.’ 
>
>‘Give it back,’ said Ron, holding out his hand. ‘He is –’ Ron said jerkily, tearing Percy’s letter in half ‘the world’s –’ he tore it into quarters ‘biggest –’ he tore it into eighths ‘git.’ He threw the pieces
into the fire.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

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Harry and Ron next to each other at their desk in a lesson. Both are facing forward and listening.

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## When he came back after leaving Harry and Hermione
Yes, Ron was completely in the wrong for leaving Harry and Hermione behind. And yes, that is an example of him being a terrible friend. But he immediately realised that, swallowed his pride and tried his hardest to return to them. He was eventually successful – and saved Harry’s life in the process. Owning up to your mistake is something that takes a lot of courage. Ron being willing to fight for two of his most important relationships demonstrated that, at his core, he was truly loyal.  

>‘I’m sorry,’ he said in a thick voice. ‘I’m sorry I left. I know I was a – a –’
>
>He looked around at the darkness, as if hoping a bad enough word would swoop down upon him and claim him.
>
>‘You’ve sort of made up for it tonight,’ said Harry. ‘Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcrux. Saving my life.’
>
>‘That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was,’ Ron mumbled.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

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Hermione and Ron outside in a snowy wood. She is angrily hitting him with a bag and Harry is stood in the background.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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How Ron Weasley’s wizard chess match showed his true potential

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The Ron we meet in *Philosopher’s Stone* isn’t exactly brimming with self-belief. He’s embarrassed about his hand-me-downs, overshadowed by his older brothers and burdened by the weight of family expectation. It’s really no surprise that the Mirror of Erised shows him basking in the glory of being the best Weasley boy – something, he gloomily tells Harry, is unlikely to happen in real life:

> ‘Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it’s no big deal, because they did it first.’  
<br> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* </br>

All that sibling rivalry, plus the added factor of being the best friend of the incredibly famous Harry Potter, all seems to contribute to knocking Ron’s self-esteem, and it can lead him to being pretty jealous at times. But in his very first year, Ron shows poise and bravery while battling Professor McGonagall’s huge enchanted chessboard, one of the many obstacles protecting the Philosopher's Stone. He’s even willing to sacrifice himself by being knocked unconscious by the giant chess pieces so Harry and Hermione can move on. It's a hugely mature decision for someone so young, especially for someone who can be a bit immature at times like Ron.

Here’s why Ron’s chess match was so important.

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## He’s in control

Ron’s part of a big family, constantly jostling for room. At Hogwarts, it’s even worse: not only does he have the legacy of his two eldest brothers to contend with, he’s also got perfect Percy and practical jokers Fred and George on his case.

If everyone expects certain things of you, it’s hard to feel in control of your own choices. Chess might be an unpredictable game, but when Ron is directing his pieces around that chessboard it’s just him and his opponent.

## It’s all about strategising

Ron can be impulsive, reckless and irrational – such as stealing his dad’s car in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*, for instance – or falling out with Harry over his Triwizard Cup entry in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*. Chess, however, is a long game with only three possible outcomes. Chess forces Ron to think strategically, and quickly. This is where he’s at his best. He thrives on action and at the very least he likes a plan. In *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*, he initially struggles with the randomness of his Horcrux journey but later, during the Battle of Hogwarts, he has the idea of gathering Basilisk fangs to destroy the remaining Horcruxes — the kind of thinking on the spot that chess encourages.

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## There are no expectations

He says it himself — at every point in Ron’s Hogwarts journey, from the Sorting Hat to his lessons to the Quidditch pitch, he’s burdened by expectation: all his family were Gryffindors, Bill was Head Boy, Charlie was Quidditch captain, Percy’s a prefect and Fred and George make everyone laugh.

But a game of chess demands nothing of you except that you play, and in Ron’s case, he plays well. To lose is disappointing, but not devastating (or at least until he comes to play Professor McGonagall’s giant set), and in any case, he doesn't often lose.

## He can be instinctive, without feeling self-conscious

It’s precisely because nobody expects anything in particular of him that Ron can play wizard chess without feeling self-conscious. When Ron makes it on to the Gryffindor Quidditch team, his anxieties about becoming the new Keeper become so overwhelming that they affect his ability to play – especially joining the team years after Harry did. His insecurities really play havoc with his intentions in *Deathly Hallows*, when he abandons Harry and Hermione after one too many Horcrux-influenced bad thoughts. He has no such insecurity when faced with a chess board so he just plays instinctively, analysing nothing but his opponent.

## He knows he can do it

In *Half-Blood Prince*, Ron’s pre-Quidditch match nerves get so bad that Harry pretends to add a drop of liquid luck to his pumpkin juice. It’s only then that Ron starts to feel confident. But when he comes across Professor McGonagall’s chess set in *Philosopher’s Stone*, he already has the confidence to know he doesn’t need luck. He wastes no time telling Harry and Hermione what to do — he knows he's the best chess player, so he takes charge and says so.

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The giant wizard chess on the way to get to the Philosopher's Stone

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The giant wizard chess on the way to get to the Philosopher's Stone.

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## It’s all his

Above all, wizard chess is Ron’s game. Elsewhere he is overshadowed and sometimes entirely overlooked, but when faced with a chess board, he knows he’s playing to his strengths.

This is what gives him the confidence to face McGonagall’s merciless white queen. When he steps across the square knowing he will be attacked by a large stone chess piece, he does it so that Harry can checkmate the king. Sure enough, Ron is knocked out with rapid brutality, but his strategising works and Harry and Hermione can move on.

Ron’s a Gryffindor, so of course there are many moments where he proves his bravery and determination — attempting to save his sister in *Chamber of Secrets*, ignoring a broken leg to challenge Sirius in *Prisoner of Azkaban*, battling Death Eaters in *Order of the Phoenix*, to name a few. But off the chess board, he generally works best as part of a team.

He has a family full of high-achieving siblings and friends like Harry and Hermione, so the moments that Ron gets to singlehandedly save the day are few. Chess gives him an opportunity to shine, and the things it teaches him — strategy, quick thinking and the importance of self-belief — are pretty important lessons.

Fifty points to Ron.

The Ronald Weasley Challenge Quiz

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Why the Yule Ball was crucial for Ron and Hermione's relationship

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The Yule Ball was supposed to be an evening of fun, dancing and even romance. For many it was, but for Ron and Hermione the night was more about anger, jealousy and arguing. Yet, without all that unpleasantness, they might not have ended up together. It was arguably the event that showed that they potentially were more than just friends. 

Firstly, while Ron’s behaviour was in no way acceptable – Hermione had every right to attend the ball with Viktor Krum – seeing Hermione go with someone else did wake him up to the fact that she wasn’t just his pal, but someone who he might have different kinds of feelings for (even if he couldn’t recognise it yet). He had always relied on Hermione just being there and didn’t see her as ‘a girl’. In fact, it seemed that particular detail took him by surprise when he asked her to the dance as a last resort – what a charmer. 

We also think it was important that Viktor Krum was the one to ask Hermione to be his date. Not only was he someone that Hermione seemed to have a crush on, but Ron also happened to be a massive fan of his. He had even bought his own miniature version of Krum at the Quidditch World Cup. We reckon that if someone else (like Neville for example) had asked her, Ron’s response upon seeing her in the Great Hall wouldn’t have been quite so pronounced.

There’s no doubt that seeing these two together brought a lot of feelings to the surface. To him, it might have almost seemed like a betrayal that his sporting hero would ‘take’ one of the people he was closest to. He probably also felt rather embarrassed about his own previous adoration of Krum. It must have been tricky to come to terms with the idea that neither Viktor nor Hermione had done anything wrong.

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Though rather than address things maturely (in all fairness he was only fourteen at the time), Ron tried to deflect his anger by suggesting that Hermione was ‘fraternising with the enemy’ and causing a fight. However, during the screaming match the pair of them had afterwards, Hermione hit the nail on the head when she yelled: ‘Next time there’s a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!’. Due to his embarrassment, Ron tried to play that off, but it was the first time that either of them had acknowledged out loud that there could be something between them. Without Ron’s envy, or Hermione reaching boiling point, they may have left that unsaid, or might not have realised that there was something deeper going on.

You might still believe that without the Yule Ball Ron and Hermione would have eventually realised what they meant to one another. Nevertheless, according to *Cursed Child*, it was that one night which proved vital to their story. As we discovered, it was crucial that the pair of them didn’t attend the dance together but did allow the green-eyed monster to bubble to the surface. In an alternate reality where they had been each other’s date – they never went any further than being just friends. Instead, they danced together in a purely platonic way. Ron then went on to dance with Padma Patil and realised that there was a spark between the two of them. Rather than ending up married to Hermione with two kids named Rose and Hugo, he married Padma and ended up with a son called Panju. If nothing else, that just strengthens the argument that the entire foundation of their romantic relationship was hinged on this one event. 

Ultimately, the Yule Ball was the turning point for both Ron and Hermione. Though Ron had the strongest reaction initially, it also led to Hermione acknowledging that there might be something more between them. It forced feelings to the surface that they had probably tried to suppress. And without this one night, Ron and Hermione may never have existed as a couple at all.

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The Hermione and Ron crossword

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Let's see how you do.

<iframe width="550" height="700" allowtransparency="true" style="background: #FFFFFF" src="https://bridgecard.wizardingworld.com/crossword/20230129/00145/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Visit our [puzzles page](https://www.wizardingworld.com/collections/potter-puzzles) for more challenges!

The Ron and Hermione quiz

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What did Hermione compare Ron’s emotional range to? 

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What are the names of Ron and Hermione’s children? 

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What book did Ron buy to try and help win Hermione over? 

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Who did Hermione Confund to help Ron become Gryffindor Keeper? 

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What lesson were Ron and Hermione in when she nearly asked him to Slughorn’s party? 

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In the Deathly Hallows book, what was Hermione holding right before she kissed Ron? 

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Who had Hermione turned down as a date to the Yule Ball before Ron clumsily asked her? 

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Ron and Hermione are certainly quite the pair. From their bickering to their cuter moments, what can you recall about this duo?

What if Ron didn't get in the carriage on the Hogwarts Express with Harry?

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Before we dive into what could have been different, let's consider why Ron and Harry’s friendship was so important to the series. 

As soon as Harry and Ron met, the pair of them seemed to get on like a house on fire. They quickly bonded over sweets, their mutual dislike of Malfoy and the excitement of starting a new school. That initial connection only strengthened over time and by the end of the series they were family as well as friends. Without this very important relationship the story could have looked quite different indeed.

If it wasn’t for Ron, Harry would have found the wizarding world a much trickier place to navigate. Having grown up with his Muggle relatives, Harry had no understanding of how the wizarding world worked – despite his fame amongst the wizarding population. It was Ron that gave Harry so many of the useful insights that helped him to integrate into this magical world. He also stood up for him, frequently risked his life on their many escapades and quickly made him an honorary Weasley – which meant everything to Harry. 

And Harry helped Ron in many ways too. Having always felt like he lived in his siblings’ shadow, Ron had been insecure and prone to jealousy. But after he became Harry’s best friend, and went on many adventures with him, he became a hero in his own right. Not only was he instrumental in helping to save the wizarding world, but he also became a Hogwarts Prefect and a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Ron’s friendship with Harry certainly helped him mature and undergo a positive transformation.  

Their relationship may have had ups and downs – like when Ron’s jealousy in *Goblet of Fire* caused him to turn against Harry – but without each other’s support, the two of them could have been very different people with very different stories. 

So how important was that day on the Hogwarts Express? Would their friendship have survived without it? What would their relationship with Hermione look like? And without that encounter, would Harry have been a Gryffindor?

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## Would Ron and Harry have become best friends?
We would like to think that if Harry and Ron hadn’t been sat together on the Hogwarts Express, they would have still ended up as friends (if not best friends). As two Gryffindor boys in their first year, they still would have shared a dormitory and would have spent many hours together. Their personalities would still have been compatible, and we can definitely see the pair of them still having plenty of fun.

However, there is some question over whether their bond might have been quite so strong. A lot happened on that train ride, despite it being one of the less dramatic parts of the story. It was in those quieter, smaller moments that these two really gravitated towards each other. 

For instance, when Ron let slip that his family didn’t have much money (with his hand-me-down pet rat, second-hand wand and a dry corned beef sandwich as his lunch), Harry sensed his vulnerability and didn’t tease him because he understood where Ron was coming from. Harry had never had anything of his own until he became a wizard, so he wanted to share what he now had with Ron. The second he responded by explaining what it had been like to live at Privet Drive and offered to swap his pasty for Ron’s rather unappealing sandwich, a fledgling friendship was formed. The two of them opened up to one another, despite being virtual strangers, and the rest was history. 

Therefore, it would be easy to assume that if the pair of them had not had this moment on the train and had not walked through the doors of Hogwarts together, they wouldn’t have been so close. Yet, we like to think it probably wasn’t the case. We imagine they would have had that interaction at a different time – whether it was days, weeks or months later. Harry and Ron had a lot in common and their friendship seemed to come so naturally to them. It would have taken an awful lot to keep these two apart and we reckon that one missed day together wouldn’t have changed much.

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## Would Harry have been less resistant to being sorted into Slytherin?
By the time that Harry and Ron came face to face, Harry had heard a few things about Slytherin house… specifically that Voldemort belonged to it and the unpleasant boy he met in Madam Malkin’s wanted to be in it. We think that at this point Harry was already forming his opinion of Slytherin and wasn’t keen on the idea of being one. So, it would be easy to assume that even without meeting Ron, Harry would still have told the Sorting Hat not to place him there. 

Yet would his aversion have been so strong without meeting Ron? They did discuss houses and Harry did find out that all of Ron’s family had been sorted into Gryffindor. He also discovered that Ron would be unhappy to be sorted into Slytherin, so that could have influenced him as well. Not to mention the fact that they had a run in with Malfoy – where he immediately insulted Harry’s new friend. At that moment, everything seemed clear to Harry. He knew that he would always choose someone like Ron over someone like Malfoy – which would have only strengthened his anti-Slytherin resolve.

Ultimately, we believe that Harry would have asked to not be sorted into Slytherin, whether Ron had sat next to him on the Hogwarts Express or not. But we also think that his interactions on the train cemented that feeling. If Harry hadn’t heard about Ron’s background, or seen Malfoy’s treatment of him and others, he might not have been quite as adamant when it came to The Sorting Ceremony.

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## Would Harry have been more open to becoming Malfoy’s friend?
We reckon Malfoy and Harry would not have been friends – even without the skirmish on the Hogwarts Express. Harry already had a negative impression of Malfoy long before he heard him make any comments about Ron’s family. As soon as Malfoy called Hagrid a savage in Madam Malkin’s Harry had got the measure of him. 

So, if Ron hadn’t been in the carriage when Malfoy extended his hand to Harry, we believe he still would have had plenty of reasons to refuse his offer of friendship. Sooner or later Harry would have discovered the truth about the Malfoy family. He would have realised that they had been followers of the Dark wizard who had killed his parents, would have seen their pure-blood mania, would have seen Draco bully those he saw as weak and would have had plenty of exposure to his awful, entitled attitude. Harry would have rejected such hatred and would not have wanted any part in it.

All that happened with Ron being in the carriage that day was that Harry’s impression of Malfoy was reinforced more quickly. Whether that was when Malfoy said that Ron’s family had more children than they could afford. Or when Scabbers bit Goyle after he, Malfoy and Crabbe had tried to take their food. Or when Malfoy made a comment about the death of Harry’s parents. The train journey was a good example of why Harry didn’t want to be an ally of the boy with the snooty nature and nasty attitude.

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## Would Harry, Ron and Hermione have become friends sooner?
While Ron and Harry’s first impressions of each other were nothing but positive, the same can’t be said for how they viewed Hermione. On the occasions that she burst into their train carriage, told them all about the books she had read, ridiculed the spell George had given Ron and pointed out the dirt on his nose, they seemed to find her… annoying. 

Though while Harry was a bit taken aback by her, it was Ron who really seemed riled by her presence. The two of them started to bicker immediately – which we later came to discover was just their dynamic. But by the time they arrived at Hogwarts, Harry and Ron were already becoming fast friends and Hermione joining their pair was not close to being an idea in either of their heads. It was so far from Ron’s mind that he groaned when he heard the Sorting Hat announce that she was a Gryffindor.

So, would they have all become friends sooner if they had met under different circumstances? It could be argued that if Harry had met Hermione without Ron being there, he might have been more open to the prospect. We could imagine him reaching out to her when he realised that she didn’t have any friends after a few weeks of term – it would be in keeping with Harry’s desire to look out for the underdog. But Harry’s patience only stretched so far, and he did struggle to warm to her at the beginning, without Ron’s input. 

We also believe that Ron would have needed to have Harry there to have become Hermione’s friend in the first place. Even if she had still overheard him saying mean things about her at Hallowe’en, and she had hidden in the girls’ toilets, it was Harry who convinced Ron that they needed to try and rescue her from the troll. Without the dynamic of Harry and Ron we highly doubt Hermione would have become part of their group.

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Harry, Ron and Hermione by the Hogwarts Express. Hermione and Ron are leaning out of one the doors while Harry is next to them.They are all smiling slightly. 

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## Would Harry have been able to reach the Philosopher’s Stone?
The answer to this all depends on whether Harry, Ron and Hermione still became friends without having first met on the journey to Hogwarts. We don’t think that Harry would have been able to reach the Philosopher’s Stone without help, and Ron and Hermione were vital in this adventure.

The obstacles that the teachers set to protect it were no joke. While Harry was a talented flyer who could take on the enchanted keys with no issue, that alone wasn’t enough. It took a combination of all three of them and their skills, including Ron’s excellent chess ability and sacrifice along with Hermione’s cool logic and problem-solving, for Harry to reach the Mirror of Erised. 

So, we think that if the journey on the Hogwarts Express was needed for Harry and Ron to become such good friends, and it never happened, then Harry wouldn’t have had the support he needed to retrieve the Philosopher’s Stone.

However, as we have said before, we still reckon that the golden trio would have found their way into each other’s lives. And while it may have taken them a little longer, we imagine they still would have forged a strong enough friendship to take on what was through the trapdoor.

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Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione is casting Petrificus Totalus.

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What do you think? Do you agree with our musings about Harry, Ron and the train compartment?

If this has made you wonder about other ‘What if’ scenarios – then explore some of our others, such as…

[What if Sirius Black had cleared his name in the Prisoner of Azkaban?
](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-sirius-black-had-cleared-his-name-in-the-prisoner-of-azkaban)

[What if Snape had never been in love with Lily Potter?
](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-snape-had-never-been-in-love-with-lily-potter)

[What if Ginny Weasley had never possessed Tom Riddle's diary?](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/what-if-ginny-had-never-possessed-tom-riddles-diary)

***
Find out how we are celebrating heading Back to Hogwarts this year, be it physically or digitally, [right here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/back-to-hogwarts). You can also sign up to our handy newsletter at the [Harry Potter Fan Club](https://my.wizardingworld.com/register), to be kept constantly in the loop.

Red hair, freckles and a whizz at wizard chess? It can only be Ron Weasley. This Quidditch King was one of Harry’s best friends and a master at the art of keeping things light. As one of seven siblings he sometimes felt a little overlooked, so we think it’s time we shone the spotlight on him with his very own page…

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