I thought Arthur's reaction was important, because he not only knows the seriousness of an attempt on Harry's life (however clumsy), he knows how the Ministry works, the way the bureaucracy ticks. If he'd known of another avenue that wasn't being explored, he could have suggested it. And it's a lovely excuse to show Arthur's brains. He's a very intelligent guy. The twins get their instinctive sense of the mechanics of things from their mum AND their dad.
I loved showing Ron swallowing down his anger, even though Harry getting hurt does upset him a great deal. He's in a relationship with an Auror. Being an Auror is a very dangerous job, and things are hardly going to work out if Ron goes off every time Harry comes home a little worse for wear. Ron confronting Campester in Accusation was different; it was charging Campester with failing to protect Harry in what should have been a safe training sitation. But this...well, Ron's having to learn to pick his battles. When is it fair to get steamed up and shout, and when is it time to step back and take deep breaths?
If Harry had gone into the situation with the snake deliberately, maybe to show off, then Ron would have shouted, and quite rightly so, about Harry being lax with his personal safety. But this is something Harry had no control over, and the attempt to speak Parseltongue was completely instinctive, a self-preservation measure that he would have known wouldn't work if he'd had a moment to think calmly. Shouting won't do anything but make them both feel bad. Harry, because he didn't have a choice about being attacked, and Ron because he's not really angry, he's worried and frightened.
So yeah, I loved being able to show Ron's growing maturity in the way he holds his temper...in the same chapter where he kicks his sister under the table and talks with his mouth full.
It's so sweet and affectionate, but a little hot and posessive at the same time. I love Harry like this.
I loved showing Ron swallowing down his anger, even though Harry getting hurt does upset him a great deal. He's in a relationship with an Auror. Being an Auror is a very dangerous job, and things are hardly going to work out if Ron goes off every time Harry comes home a little worse for wear. Ron confronting Campester in Accusation was different; it was charging Campester with failing to protect Harry in what should have been a safe training sitation. But this...well, Ron's having to learn to pick his battles. When is it fair to get steamed up and shout, and when is it time to step back and take deep breaths?
If Harry had gone into the situation with the snake deliberately, maybe to show off, then Ron would have shouted, and quite rightly so, about Harry being lax with his personal safety. But this is something Harry had no control over, and the attempt to speak Parseltongue was completely instinctive, a self-preservation measure that he would have known wouldn't work if he'd had a moment to think calmly. Shouting won't do anything but make them both feel bad. Harry, because he didn't have a choice about being attacked, and Ron because he's not really angry, he's worried and frightened.
So yeah, I loved being able to show Ron's growing maturity in the way he holds his temper...in the same chapter where he kicks his sister under the table and talks with his mouth full.
It's so sweet and affectionate, but a little hot and posessive at the same time. I love Harry like this.
That's what I was aiming for!
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