(bolding mine)
Well, that was prescient.
Likewise at the end of the 2nd movie when Hermione comes back from being Petrified – she comes running into the Great Hall and gives Harry a huge hug, and then she and Ron kind of blush, and shake hands. It’s soooo cute.
He’s 18 at the beginning of the year, during the World Cup.
BTW, the Ron/Harry comparison is considered by Harry himself in book 5, when Harry is miffed at Ron being made a prefect. Harry concludes that Ron has the same marks in schools as he does, which are above average.
And look at it, Ron duels Death Eaters in Book 5 and 6, and does fairly well. He is in most of the engagements Harry is in in DH. He also wins the Quiddict Cup, twice.I think the popular view of Ron as a loveable goofball is from Rupert Grint’s portrayal of him, in the books he is able and competent and quite shrewd. And brave.
Ron’s main flaw seems to be insecurity. He feels like he’s got a lot to live up to – his brothers were all prefects (well, except Fred and George, but they were still popular and talented), two were Head Boys, Charlie and the twins were star Quidditch players, they all have big exciting jobs. And he’s like the one at the bottom, and he feels like he’s kind of lost in the shuffle. Remember, his big problem playing Keeper was his nerves. When he felt confident, he kicked ass.
(Also in the books, he has quite a pottymouth. Rowling said he swore a lot more when she first wrote the books, but her editor had her tone it down)
In both the book and the movie, Ron was a lot more macho and warrior-like than Harry. Or maybe Hermione just likes tall guys. I mean the airhead in her pops up from time to time. Remember that date with Maclagen?