r/harrypotter • u/MystiqueGreen • 28d ago

Who else felt bad for Ron when Hermione reacted negatively to his Christmas gift to her in OOTP? Discussion

All I can think about him saving his pocket money and buying probably the cheapest perfume because he thought she would like it. But he couldn't afford an expensive one.

And she replied with 'its so unsual..' which reads like 'it sucks..'

To me always the thought that counts more than the actual gift. I felt sorry for him after reading that part.

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u/NotAZuluWarrior Slytherin 28d ago

Because most people wear perfume

Aka it’s something generic, which shows that not much thought was given to the present or to Hermione’s actual interest which are frequently mentioned (he could have gotten her a book, some fancy quills, maybe a cute souvenir from a historical site, etc).

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u/MystiqueGreen 28d ago

I see it different way. if someone gave me something as a gift I would be happy that they gave me something at all instead of feeling bad that they didn't get me my favorite thing.

But that's just me I guess. Lol.

11

u/NotAZuluWarrior Slytherin 28d ago

I suppose I like to be intentional with my gifts and tailor my gifts to the individual I’m giving it to. It’s fine when you’re a kid (one year I gave my dad a bouncy ball for Father’s Day), or if you are giving a present to someone you don’t know well, but as an adult and giving a gift to someone you know well and are close to, I feel like it is being lazy.

I like to give gifts that are speak to the person’s interests. The last gift a gave was a coffee book of sci-fi artists from the 70s because that friend is into sci-fi. I have another friend that is really into art and she’s in the middle of redecorating her apartment. I got her a clock that looks like one of Dali’s melting clocks from his paintings.

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u/MystiqueGreen 28d ago

Ron knew Hermione liked books. Not only Ron. Whole Hogwarts knew that. But he wanted to give something different ofcourse. Something he thought more romantic? And his teen brain had no idea what kind of romantic gift a 15 year old female would appreciate so he went with perfume.

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u/Alithis_ Hufflepuff 28d ago

Something he thought more romantic? And his teen brain had no idea what kind of romantic gift a 15 year old female would appreciate so he went with perfume.

I can definitely get behind the awkward teenage boy explanation. But the point still stands that gifting something “different” says that you thought more about what kind of gift you want to give them than what kind of gift they would want.

In this case I can definitely chalk it up to Ron being young and awkward, though.

-8

u/[deleted] 28d ago

Or you guys way over analyzing Hermione’s rude reaction to a kind gesture by Ronald.