Ron=Dumbledore If the chess game in PS/SS is a metaphor for the series as a whole, and the pieces the characters play a metaphor for their roles in the series, how do we reconcile the fact that Ron Weasley plays, not only the role of the Knight, but also that of the King - the same role played by Albus Dumbledore in the larger war? Pretty simple, really -- Albus Dumbledore is Ron Weasley. Rowling is rather predictable in how she introduces various magical concepts to us. She never springs anything on the reader. For instance, we are introduced to the concept of Animagi in chapter one of PS/SS in the form of McGonagall who can turn into a cat, only to have this very same concept used once more in Prisoner of Azkaban (PoA) with the Maurauders and in Goblet of Fire (GoF) with Rita Skeeter. We are introduced to the polyjuice potion in Chamber of Secrets (CoS) with the trios fruitless attempt to prove that Draco Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin, only to later have it revealed to be crucial to the plot of GoF with Barty Crouch Jr. posing as Mad Eye Moody. We are introduced to the properties of the phoenix in CoS, and we see them displayed once again in GoF. In CoS, we are introduced to the house elves and their plight, and these downtrodden magical beings take on even more importance in GoF and Order of the Phoenix (OotP). In OotP, we meet a Metamorphmagus... does anyone want to bet against a repeat of this one? We could go on (parseltongue, prophecies, dreams, magical moving portraits, chocolate frog cards, chess, etc.), but as observant readers already know, JKR doesnt simply use these concepts and toss them aside -- she recycles. In PoA, we are introduced to the concept of time travel with the Time Turner. So far, we have yet to find another example. It would be unlike JKR to introduce us to something (especially something so big) and not bring it back into the plot with even greater significance. She has given us a subtle reminder of time travel with the time room in the Department of Mysteries in OotP. In a 2000 interview, when asked if Harry would travel in time again, JKRs answer was Not telling! Time travel is coming back... and it will be instrumental to the plot. What does this have to do with Ron, Dumbledore and the chess game? Everything. Ron, our loyal Knight, will become a time traveler. He will be sent back in time to some point in the 19th century to live out the rest of his days at Albus Dumbledore, our venerable King. The exact mechanics of his journey in time are unclear, though we do believe it is unavoidable, and that it will in fact be the very move that enables Harrys eventual defeat of Voldemort (the checkmate) and that it will also have something to do with the White Queen (Bellatrix). Though you may think us a couple of nutters for making such an outrageous claim, we do indeed have evidence. Lots and lots of evidence. 1. Uncanny Resemblance We often joke about how unobservant Harry is, and though he hasnt made the connection we have, he does indeed dutifully describe for us both Ron and Dumbledores appearance. Harry describes both Ron and Dumbledore as tall, thin and possessing a long nose (though Dumbledores has been broken a couple of times). These three characteristics are repeated by Harry when he meets either of these two characters for the first time in almost every book. Dumbledore is described as having long fingers, while Ron is described as having large hands and feet. Unless Ron is a mutant, having large hands would also mean having long fingers. Dumbledore is very, very old with white hair when we first meet him, but when Harry visits a fifty years younger Dumbledore in Riddles diary, he is described as having auburn hair. In other words, Dumbledore was once a redhead just like Ron. While we know Dumbledore has sparkling blue eyes, JKR has very curiously neglected to have Harry mention Rons eye color for five whole books now. We know nearly everyone elses eye color, including Arthur Weasleys (blue), but we dont know that of Harrys best friend. Dumbledores one other key characteristic, the scar above his left knee, is mentioned in the first chapter of PS/SS. While Harry hasnt noticed any tell tale scars shaped like the London Underground on Ron, we do indeed know from PoA that Ron has sustained a serious injury to his left leg. Though JKR curiously, and very pointedly, dances around which leg exactly it is that Ron has broken, we have determined that it is indeed his left leg. When Sirius conjures the manacles and attaches Peter to Ron and Lupin, he attaches Peter to Rons left side. If you are injured and using only one crutch, you would, of course, use the crutch on the side of your injured leg. Sirius shackled Peter to Rons injured side - his left. 2. How sweet it is... Though on the surface Ron and Dumbledore seem to have little in common, they both have a great love for sweets. When we first meet Dumbledore he offers a lemon sherbet to Professor McGonagall. When we first meet Ron he introduces Harry to the wonderful world of wizarding candy. In PoA, he goes into a blissful trance describing to Harry and Hermione the wondrous confections to be found at Honeydukes, the magical sweets shop in Hogsmeade. In CoS we learn that Dumbledore likes to use the names of sweets as his office password. In PoA, Ron suggests to Hermione that they bring Harry back some Cockroach Clusters from Honeydukes. In GoF, when Harry returns to the castle to alert Dumbledore of Crouch Sr.s strange appearance on the grounds of Hogwarts, he must guess the password to Dumbledores office. He goes through a whole list of normal sweets, but to Harrys disbelief, the password ends up being, you guessed it, Cockroach Clusters. But that is not all... In the last chapter of PS/SS, Dumbledore tells Harry that he lost his taste for Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans after eating a vomit flavored bean in his youth. There is one problem with this... Bertie Bott was born in 1935. While Dumbledore is over 150 years old, and for him, youth is a relative term, he could not have possibly eaten a Bertie Bott Every Flavor Bean until the 1950s, most likely even later, making him well over a hundred years old. Even in Dumbledore terms this is hardly his youth. Before anyone makes the brilliant observation that the Bertie Bott card isnt canon, be sure to read the statement from Wizards of the Coast concerning their collaboration with JK Rowling on the making of the cards posted to The Leaky Cauldron. 3. Dumbledore knows pretty much everything anyway -- JKR Dumbledore really does seem to know pretty much everything, even for a very wise old man with an army of pictographic spies. In PS/SS, he knows precisely what Ron saw in the Mirror of Erised and exactly why Ron saw what he did. He tells Harry that there are other ways of being invisible, but are we to believe that Dumbledore was really waiting around every night for Harry to show up in front of the Mirror? He either knew exactly when to show up, or he was there the first time as Ron. When Harry asks Dumbledore what he himself sees in the Mirror, Dumbledore tells him he sees himself holding a pair of socks. What is it that Rons mother is always giving him, but he never appreciates? Socks. Dumbledore also knows the exact moment to show up and save Harry from Quirrelmort. In fact, Harry leads us to believe that Dumbledore orchestrated the entire thing. Now, we know Dumbledore lets Harry do some things he wouldnt let an ordinary student do, but isnt keeping a Pawn of Voldemort around for an entire school year a very dangerous thing to do? Why yes it is... unless of course Dumbledore knew that everything would turn out okay in the end. In CoS we learn that Dumbledore never really trusted Tom Riddle, even before the murder of Moaning Myrtle. In the Chamber scene, Riddle tells Harry that Dumbledore never liked him as much as the other teachers. When Fudge comes for Hagrid and Lucius for Dumbledore, Harry and Ron are hiding under the invisibility cloak. Dumbledore knows exactly where they are and gives Harry a message. Not only that, but does anyone else think it odd that Dumbledore wasnt worried about what might happen to Harry after he leaves? Once again, Dumbledore sets Harry up to complete a very dangerous task. Either Dumbledore is truly mad, or he knows how it all turns out. In PoA, Dumbledore very readily accepts the innocence of Sirius Black. One might come to the conclusion that he knew Sirius was innocent all along. In fact, many have. The only testimony he hears comes from Sirius himself (a convicted felon). He has already made up his mind to send Harry and Hermione back in time before they get a chance to tell their side of the story. When Harry and Hermione do go back in time, you will notice that every single thing happens in exactly the same way both times. There was never a time through in which Buckbeak was killed or Harry didnt cast his Patronus. JKR is even very careful to put in the door slamming from the second time through in the first time through. Yet... it is Dumbledore himself, as his first time self, who ends up saving Buckbeak - he distracts everyone inside Hagrids hut so that Harry and Hermione can make off with Buckbeak. Later, when Harry tells Dumbledore about Trelawneys prophecy, Dumbledore is not in the least bit phased. In fact, Harry is surprised he can take it so calmly. In addition, Dumbledore seems to be very adamant about Peter getting away being a good thing. Oh sure, Peter owes him a life debt, but Dumbledore is just a little too convinced that it is all for the best. GoF is a special case. Though we do find one really huge piece of evidence of Dumbledores ability to know what he really shouldnt, we think that this was one of the times that Ron/DD may have actually tried to change the course of events. He goes to great lengths to prevent the younger students from entering the Tournament (the age line). He goes to great lengths to find the most trustworthy DADA professor possible (for only one year, and as a special favor) - Mad Eye Moody, someone he knows really, really well. Still, in the end, we believe the end result was exactly the same (except, perhaps, the death of Cedric). So, what are we left with? Crouching Death Eater, Hidden Moody. When Dumbledore discovers that Moody is an imposter, he shows up with Snape and McGonagall in Moodys office. He tells McGonagall to go fetch Padfoot. He tells Snape to go fetch Winky and some Veritaserum. Oh wait... go fetch Winky? How did he know to fetch Winky? Barty Crouch Jr. still looked like Moody. Perhaps Dumbledore really is a super genius, and figured out there had to be a connection to the Crouches. However, Crouch Jr. was thought to be dead and Crouch Sr. was present with Moody the night the names came out of the Goblet. Oh wait, you say, perhaps Dumbledore suspected Crouch only began impersonating Moody AFTER Halloween. Or maybe, just maybe, he was able to figure out that Crouch Jr. wasnt really dead between the maze and Moodys office. Maybe... but he tells Harry you never knew the real Mad Eye Moody. Everything else aside... this is something he could not possibly know with any certainty. In OotP, Dumbledore knows from the very beginning to avoid Harrys gaze. While three years have passed for us, only one month has passed for Harry and Dumbledore. How does Dumbledore know when to begin avoiding Harry? He avoids his gaze from the very first time they meet in the courtroom (despite telling Harry later that he sensed something behind his eyes - he never looked Harry in the eye, something Harry was exceedingly peeved about). This is BEFORE Dumbledore knows about the dreams. This is BEFORE the attack on Arthur Weasley. Dumbledore absolutely can not know that Voldemort is already in Harrys mind. Later on, when the attack on Arthur does take place, Dumbledore knows the precise questions to ask Harry about the nature of the attack. We now know that Dumbledore is a Legilimens, however... Dumbledore could not have used this on Harry as he could not make eye contact for fear Voldemort would spy on him. Speaking of which... the issue couldnt have been spying as such. After all, Harry is still observing Dumbledore. He still hangs out at Order headquarters. He still knows the identities of most of the members of the Order. While he is left largely in the dark (with disastrous consequences), he still observes much that would be useful for Voldemort and his followers. Dumbledore does, however, give us a hint as to what it is he doesnt want Voldemort to see: I was sure that if he realized that our relationship was - or had ever been - closer than that of headmaster and pupil, he would seize his chance to use you as a means to spy on me. (US OotP Ch27 pg 828) Now, we do know that Dumbledore really loves Harry. He tells him as much in that same scene. However, it is curious that JKR would emphasize (by placing it between dashes) the phrase or had ever been. It is not as simple as Dumbledore not wanting Voldemort knowing his true feelings for Harry and therefore be able to use them against him. After all, Voldemort now knows that, and his not knowing that ended up putting Harry and even more danger (the possession in the MoM). No, the significance is in the phrase or had ever been. The truth is, as far as Harry is concerned, they really arent any closer than Headmaster and pupil. Why was the line referring to a past relationship? Harrys relationship to Dumbledore has been constant all through the series. Dumbledore orchestrates hoops for Harry to jump through, Harry jumps, they chat about it at the end of the school year. We believe this had ever been refers to Dumbledores prior relationship to Harry as his best friend Ron. Dumbledore, of course, would not want Voldemort to know of this prior relationship because that would make Ron a target as well, messing up EVERYTHING. Without Ron, without Dumbledore, the game and the war are lost. 4. Foreshadowing Ron makes it very clear on several occasions that he hates the color maroon. Could it be because he will eventually be marooned in time? In OotP, Ron is nearly strangled by some purple wizard robes while cleaning up Grimmauld Place. Who do we know wears purple robes? Dumbledore, of course. Socks are a running theme throughout the series. They are used as symbols of freedom, redemption and love. Ron, however, doesnt ever really fully appreciate the socks his mother gives him. In PoA, he tosses them aside to gush over Harrys Firebolt. In GoF, he gives his Christmas socks to Dobby. Socks are also seen attached to Molly specifically - she is seen fussing over socks, looking for socks, folding socks, packing socks. And if Molly wasnt mother figure enough, Tonks tells Harry her own mother has this special knack for magically folding socks. In fact, the first time we see Harry, he is in his cupboard, looking for a pair of socks (though he has to knock the spiders off of them, not having a mother to fuss over them for him). Dobby is set free with a sock. Hermione knits socks for the house elves. Dumbledore, the man who clearly has all of the fame, power, respect, possessions and wisdom one could hope for in a lifetime, sees himself holding a pair of wooly socks in the Mirror of Erised. If you read this scene with Dumbledore being Ron in mind, it takes on a whole new and really huge significance Ron indeed becomes greater than all of his brothers, yet as an old man, he is still wistful for those socks his mother gave him and he never fully appreciated. Rons vision in the Mirror of Erised is rather curious. He sees himself as Head Boy, Quidditch Captain and holding both the House and Quidditch cups. We know that Ron has this uncanny knack for predicting the future. If, indeed, he is a Seer as many suspect, might he able to see his future in the Mirror? As of OotP, he seems to be on his way to this future - Prefect (its the first step towards Head Boy!) and he is on the Quidditch team. Currently, he plays Keeper, a very appropriate position for a Knight, guarding a castle. If he does indeed end up becoming Quidditch Captain, he would also get to play out that dual role once more on the Quidditch field - Knight, as Keeper and King, as Captain. In a few different places in the series, Ron is shown to hero- worship Dumbledore. Of all of these scenes, the most striking is at the end of PS/SS where Ron is extremely impressed with Dumbledores orchestrating the rescuing of the Stone. Dyou think he meant you to do it? said Ron. Sending you your fathers cloak and everything? Well, Hermione exploded, If he did - I mean to say - thats terrible - you could have been killed. No, it isnt, said Harry thoughtfully. Hes a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I dont think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. Its almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could... Yea, Dumbledores off his rocker, all right, said Ron proudly. In OotP, Draco composes a lovely song - Weasley is Our King. If that isnt foreshadowing, I dont know what is. One line in particular is given significance by Draco. He is heard singing it loudly during the game by Harry, and Draco later quotes it in italics - born in a bin. While Draco likes to make fun of Rons poverty, the phrase has a double meaning. Bin is also a prefix meaning double or two - think binary. Was Ron born twice? Leading a double life? Is Draco trying to tell us something important? Movie!Canon, but worth mentioning anyway... in Dumbledores office on the CoS DVD, there is a hidden Easter egg that reveals a portrait on the wall of two wizard chess masters. One wizard is in red, the other in green. The floor beneath them is checkered like a chess board. As the camera pans towards the picture, ominous music is played. In another part of Dumbledores office, there is a portrait of Dumbledore (there are two Dumbledore portraits in all) where he is depicted in maroon robes standing next to a chess set. Fancy a game of Chess? Part 3Chess Pieces & Play 1US Sorcerers Stone: Ch 1Pg 8 Dumbledores Description Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet Drive. He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice. This mans name was Albus Dumbledore. back to essay 2 US Chamber of Secrets: Ch 13 Pg 245 Dumbledores description from Riddles Diary They didnt see another person until they reached the entrance hall, when a tall wizard with long, sweeping auburn hair and a beard called to Riddle from the marble staircase. back to essay 3 US Sorcerers Stone: Ch 6 Pg 93 Rons 1st Description She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose. back to essay 4 US Order of the Phoenix: Ch 4 Pg 62 Rons most recent description Let him breathe, Hermione, said Ron, grinning as he closed the door behind Harry. He seemed to have grown several more inches during their month apart, making him taller and more gangly looking than ever, though the long nose, bright red hair and freckles were the same. back to essay B) Scars, Sweets, and Secrets 5)US Sorcerers Stone: Ch 1Pg 15 Dumbledores scar above his left knee Even if I could, I wouldnt. Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well -- give him here, Hagrid -- wed better get this over with. back to essay 6 US Prisoner Of Azkaban: Ch 17 pg 335 Ron breaks his leg All they could see now was one of Rons legs, which he had hooked around a root in an effort to stop the dog from pulling him farther underground -- but a horrible crack cut the air like a gunshot; Rons leg had broken, and a moment later, his foot vanished from sight. back to essay 7) US Prisoner Of Azkaban: Ch 17 pg 377 Evidence of which of Rons legs is broken And two of us should be chained to this, said Black, nudging Pettigrew with his toe. Just to make sure. Ill do it, said Lupin. And me, said Ron savagely, limping forward. Black conjured heavy manacles from thin air; soon Pettigrew was upright again, left arm chained to Lupins right, right arm to Rons left. Rons face was set. He seemed to have taken Scabberss true identity as a personal insult. Crookshanks leapt lightly off the bed and led the way out of the room, his bottlebrush tail held jauntily high. back to essay 8) US Sorcerers Stone: Ch 17 Pg 300 Vomit Flavored Bean ...I suggest you make a start on these sweets. Ah! Bettie Botts Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomitflavored one, and since then Im afraid Ive rather lost my liking for them -- but I think Ill be safe with a nice toffee, dont you? back to essay 9 US Prisoner of Azkaban: Ch 10 Pg 197 Mention of Cockroach Clusters:1 How about these? said Ron, shoving a jar of Cockroach Clusters under Hermiones nose. Definitely not, said Harry. Ron nearly dropped the jar. back to essay 10) US Goblet of Fire: Ch29 Pg 579 Love of Sweets and 2nd mention of Cockroach Clusters Harry had walked right past the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledores office without noticing. He blinked, looked around, realized what he had done, and retraced his steps, stopping in front of it. Then he remembered that he didnt know the password. Sherbet lemon? he tried tentatively. The gargoyle did not move. Okay, said Harry, staring at it, Pear Drop. Er - Licorice Wand. Fizzing Whizbee. Droobles Best Blowing Gum. Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans ... oh no, he doesnt like them, does he?... oh just open, cant you? he said angrily. I really need to see him, its urgent! The gargoyle remained immovable. Harry kicked it, achieving nothing but an excruciating pain in his big toe. Chocolate Frog! he yelled angrily, standing on one leg. Sugar Quill! Cockroach Cluster! The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. Harry blinked. Cockroach Cluster? he said, amazed. I was only joking. ... back to essay 11) US Order of the Phoenix: Ch 5 Pg 95 Chocolate Frog-Cards But Dumbledore says he doesnt care what they do as long as they dont take him off the Chocolate Frog Cards, said Bill, grinning. back to essay 12) US Sorcerers Stone: Ch 12 Pg 213 Dumbledores knowledge of Rons desires So, said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit on the floor with Harry, you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I didnt know it was called that, Sir. But I expect youve realized by now what it does? It -- well -- it shows me my family -- And it showed your friend Ron himself as head boy. How did you know --? I dont need a cloak to become invisible, said Dumbledore gently. back to essay 13) US Prisoner Of Azkaban: Ch pg Secret Keeping So Black was the Potters Secret-Keeper? whispered Madam Rosmerta. Naturally, said Professor McGonagall. James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himself... and yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters Secret-Keeper himself. US Sorcerers Stone: Ch 12 Pg 201 Rons presents from his Mom Every year she makes us a sweater, said Ron, unwrapping his own, and mines always maroon. back to essay 15) US Sorcerers Stone: Ch Pg Dumbledores deepest desire Sir -- Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something? Obviously, youve just done so, Dumbledore smiled. You may ask me one more thing, however. What do you see when you look in the mirror? I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks. Harry stared. One can never have enough socks, said Dumbledore. Another Christmas has come and gone and I didnt get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books. back to essay 16) US Prisoner Of Azkaban: Ch 11 Pg 222 Another sweater from Mum... maroon again... see if youve got one. (then later) Whats that? said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand. back to essay 17) Order of the Phoenix: Ch 9 Pg 168 Rons Prefect Badge and use of socks Only when Fred and George dropped in and offered to attach it to his forehead with a Permanent Sticking Charm did he wrap it tenderly in his maroon socks and lock it in his trunk. 18) Order of the Phoenix: Ch 6 Pg Rons Future robes Mundungus redeemed himself slightly in Mrs Weasleys eyes by rescuing Ron from an ancient set of purple robes that had tried to strangle him when he removed them from their wardrobe.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:22:51 +0000
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