retro_eidas

Poor

augusam has been exposed to a few of my insanely long "Traitorous!Ron" speculations for the past few days. However, I'm putting them in my own journal for once. ;) Since (Traitor) Ron has been on my mind these days, I realized I never actually tried to compile why part of me is so convinced Ron will be Harry's ultimate betrayer.

I also don't want this to seem like I'm Ron-bashing. I admit Ron isn't one of my favorite characters, but I am fascinated with his character. Especially in the the medium of a character who could so thoroughly fall from grace. I do think Ron has many facets to him that could (or inevitably?) lead him in a direction where we are introduced to WHY Voldemort's ideology is so intoxicating to some. A glimpse into the inner workings of Voldemort's network. What are his goals? How does he work?

I think I should start off with a general list of clues. Things that I believe, if combined in a certain way, could point to how and why exactly Ron betrays Harry to side with Voldemort.

Canon Clues:

PS/SS Chess Game (White King = Voldemort)
The Prophecy
Voldemort's fear of death
Malfoy's OotP Song ("Weasley Is Our King")
The revelation of Voldemort being a half-blood
Voldemort's special talents of possession (parasitic possession - Quirrell) and creating distrust
Ron's jealousy (one of his more/most prevalent weaknesses)
Peter Pettigrew's knowledge of Ron and the Weasleys
The Sorting Hat Songs/Warnings

Various speculations that tie into this:

Traitor!Ron
Harry & Ron are opposites
Pettigrew/Percy/Ron Parallel

So... here's the scenario...

Voldemort is afraid of death. He still doesn't know the whole prophecy and now it seems it's even more unlikely he'll ever know it with the prophecy smashed. Unless of course someone who's told the prophecy spills the beans. However, who or why would anyone, given the confidence of the prophecy, dare do such a thing? I'm sure Voldemort realizes the loyalty Harry has inspired in those around him and those who follow Dumbledore. Voldemort would likely have to manipulate and manufacture a traitor who has a very great chance in learning the prophecy ... and this won't be easy. Voldemort, however, does have a very, very handy trump card he can still utilize. Peter Pettigrew. Peter has a vast fount of knowledge in regards to at least ONE of Harry's best friends, Ron Weasley. He would know all of Ron's weaknesses. Things about him, although perhaps alone aren't dangerous, but when fed and aggravated by Voldemort... they could become very crippling. One of the more prominent faults of Ron's character is his immediate and rather volatile bouts of jealousy, usually either in regards to Harry's good fortune & fame and Hermione's love interests. What better way to insure Ron's jealousy and fury than to combine these two very prevalent jealousy issues?

How would Voldemort do this? Since Voldemort isn't the type to do anything himself, he'd likely send a minion (or minions) into Hogwarts and/or as many places he can get away with without raising too much suspicion. This probably would also only be planned amongst Voldemort's very close inner circle (Keeping Snape out of the loop). Bellatrix Lestrange would likely be involved since she does owe Voldemort big time after botching the Prophecy retrieval mission at the DoM. I probably wouldn't be surprised Polyjuice potion becomes useful again. Voldemort gives Bellatrix Polyjuice to change her appearance either to a new student who makes friends with Ron or someone already close to the Trio. Perhaps not too close as not to raise suspicion of this person's change in behavior (even with a brilliant acting job). There are quite a few students around the Trio that we - the reader - know little to nothing about.

Editing to add, metamorphmagus may also be substituted in this theory for Polyjuice. Thanks to

cheeringcharm for the suggestion. ;)

Ginny Weasley may be a very viable candidate for replacement by an imposter. Although Ron would know her very well being her brother, with Peter's information of the Weasleys, one of the Death Eaters may be able to impersonate her well enough to fool even her family. Granted, "Scabbers" was Ron's pet, but he still lived in the house for years and could likely know as much about the rest of the family as he does Ron (barring the two oldest Weasley sons). Ginny is also one of the few female friends we see Hermione has, so Hermione may listen to Ginny's advice (especially considering the ease Ginny apparently has with romantic relationships, OotP. Hermione doesn't play the field, even if she seems to have a lot of knowledge of emotions). Imposter!Ginny would also prevent the chance for Harry/Ginny. H/G would ruin Voldemort's plan on several levels. Incidentally, H/G is something we see Ron *specifically* may want (besides Hermione) noticing his behavior at the end of OotP. Voldemort kidnaps Ginny, replaces her with Bellatrix (in Ginny's form), uses Bellatrix!Ginny to not only prevent H/G, but also uses B!Ginny to play matchmaker to Harry/Hermione. B!Ginny also has the job of planting the seeds of distrust and jealousy in Ron - make him suspicious of his friends. When the opportune moment strikes, B!Ginny realizes that her matchmaking has succeeded and H/Hr are now truly and inescapably in love (it was easy for Bellatrix since just a slight push in this direction, H/Hr already being the best of friends, they could have easily fallen in love anyway... if they weren't already) ... B!Ginny manufactures a huge spectacle where Ron finds out about H/Hr in the most devastating way possible. Ron is furious at both of his best friends for this horrible betrayal. Trio's friendship destroyed. Ron revokes his friendship from both Harry and Hermione.

However, I DO NOT think this would be enough for Ron to side with Voldemort. This merely obliterates the Trio, specifically Ron's trust in his friends. Destroys that love. As angry as Ron is at Harry and Hermione, for his family and the greater good of the war, he wouldn't betray the vital secrets he knows (Which, by the time book 6 or 7 come along, will most likely include the whole Prophecy). Something else needs to happen to compel Ron to leave the good side and join Voldemort. Something to make Ron's corruption complete. Bases Voldemort may already have covered.

Voldemort would want to make sure he not only destroys the Trio's friendship and Ron's trust in his best friends, but also destroy his trust in the rest of his allies as well. Including that of his own family.

What would this probably be? I wouldn't be wholly surprised Molly Weasley is targetted. Why Molly? Because with the estrangement of Percy (persisting and probably becoming more severe in the next book I wouldn't doubt - Whatever the particular reasons for the estrangement)... as of OotP, Molly was looking for a new favorite son to dote on. Someone to take Percy's place. Someone she can use to make up for her perceived abysmal failure in her mothering of Percy. Who surprisingly became a prefect in OotP and honored the family (aka, Giving back her confidence in her mothering skills)? Ron. Who was the son Molly just suddenly noticed after years of ignoring him? Ron. Ron will take Percy's place in Molly's mind. This sudden attention, although Ron says he finds it over-bearing, inside he can't help but like it. After years of neglect, he's just *now* getting the attention from his mother only his older, more talented siblings, Ginny (the only daughter) and even Harry always got. Ron grows closer to his mother and now becomes accustomed to the greater affection she bestows on him. And after Ron becomes his mother's new favorite son... Molly Weasley is murdered. Possibly because of a mistake (or manufactured to look like a mistake) either made by Harry, Dumbledore and/or the Ministry.

Sure it may seem bizarre that Ron would join the faction likely responsible for killing his mother, but Ron - already having a severe hatred for Harry (and Hermione, a muggleborn) - comes to the point his hatred is so extreme for Harry, he decides to side with the lesser of the two evils in his reasoning specifically to hurt Harry. To hurt all of those fools who dared trust Harry and Dumbledore. Hurt everyone, because everyone is to blame for the loss of his mother.

Ironically, hurting Molly Weasley (and a lesser extent, Ginny, but I do envision Ginny surviving her ordeal) would also hurt Harry since the Weasleys are the family he never had. These scenarios would achieve huge multi-leveled victories for Voldemort. It's hard for me to imagine why he wouldn't do something like this if we're to believe him as diabolical as JKR has built him up to be.

However, you may be asking why would this Ron distrust and hatred be so vital in Voldemort's plans? Because I can possibly see a couple reasons why Voldemort would want Ron and not just for the information he possesses. Ron is a pureblood wizard. At the end of OotP, Harry spills to the DEs that Voldemort isn't a pureblood (as he may have been purporting), he is a half-blood. Just like Harry. Some of the DEs may have known this, but not all of them. Regardless, I can see in the immediate future Dumbledore possibly revealing to the world who "Lord Voldemort" really is. The pureblood advocate is actually a half-blood (half *muggle*, not even muggleborn). This would be crippling in Voldemort's recruitment process (which is very crucial post-OotP with the loss of many of his DEs). Voldemort not only needs a decisive victory now to prove his strength and counterbalance the blow he received in OotP (lost the prophecy, lost DEs), but he needs to do something about the bad press he's now received in the revelation of his true disgusting muggle origins. He needs a new body. A pureblood wizard's body to not only rid himself of his connection to Harry (or try to anyway), but cleanse himself of the reminents of his muggle blood. Possessing a pureblood wizard also would be a statement to the entire Wizarding World. It rids Voldemort of his filthy half-blood body, but also symbolizes Voldemort's power over not only muggles, but purebloods as well. You will stand with him or he will make you stand with him (or just kill you).

However, it simply may boil down to Voldemort perhaps fighting Dumbledore again, the Order or Harry and his body is so damaged, he needs a new one. Hence, Ron still is a very good candidate.

Voldemort - in order to possess Ron - MUST be certain that Ron won't revert back to his old self. Won't remember his love for his friends and his willingness to stand by them no matter what. Voldemort can't risk recreating the same incident that kept him from possessing Harry at the end of OotP. Harry's self-sacrificial love for Sirius repelled Voldemort from Harry's body. Of course Voldemort would be repelled by such an emotion... the idea of giving up one's life for something as weak as love would certainly be something he'd want no part in. Voldemort not knowing or understanding the power of love himself and certainly not wanting to die for it... he would not want to be in a body with such suicidal tendencies per se. So... Voldemort squashes the love in Ron's heart... destroying Ron's love for both Harry and Hermione with the romantic betrayal... then destroying Ron's heart even further by having his mother strategically murdered (and blaming Ron's former allies for it). Ron's heart is now full of hate and revenge. Emotions Voldemort can certainly relate to and probably feed off of.

Besides being a pureblood, why would claiming (a la Professor Quirrell) Ron's body (and stop thinking sick guttery thoughts you pervs!) be so beneficial to Voldemort? Because after Voldemort discovers the entirety of the Prophecy and what Harry must do, he will undoubtedly want extra precautions to insure his success and survival. Voldemort and his fear of death would want to take measures to not only make it easier for Voldemort himself to fulfill the Prophecy, but make it much harder for Harry to kill him. What does Voldemort do? Possesses the body of Harry's (former) best friend. How is Harry to kill Voldemort if he's now inside of Ron? Especially with the enormous guilt Harry is still feeling at the betrayal of falling in love with Ron's girl? I seriously doubt he would be able to even touch Ron... unless Rondemort decided to attack Hermione. Which would probably be foolhardy but not unlikely. I could see Harry being the kind of person to lay down his life for the woman he loved, in the case of this theory, this woman being Hermione. This would push Harry to fight Rondemort to the death. "It's your heart that saves you."

Voldemort possessing Ron is a benefit to Voldemort in that it keeps Harry at bay and may also make it easier for Voldemort to kill him... but this would also be seen as a benefit to the corrupted Ron as well. Ron, who always wanted to be in a position of power/honor (Head Boy, Quidditch Captain - Mirror of Erised), the talent and the recognition... would suddenly become perhaps the most powerful wizard in the world, has millions cowering at his feet and gets his revenge against all he feels have wronged him.

I remember Draco Malfoy's song in OotP. "Weasley is Our King". Weasley is the Slytherin King. Who is literally the King of Slytherin? Salazar Slytherin. Who is Slytherin's heir? Lord Voldemort. The White King of the PS/SS chessboard. The heir becomes the King? Weasley isn't the heir, but the "King"... Weasley is Salazar Slytherin? Certainly, if JKR were to up the ante and shock everyone, she could say Lord Voldemort was never the true heir of Slytherin (he isn't a pureblood after all)... but the heir is within the pureblood Weasley family line. Sirius tells us in OotP that he is related to Arthur, allbeit distantly... the Blacks (barring Sirius) were indisputably DARK wizards. The Blacks purebloodedness goes back centuries as does, presumedly, their status as Dark Wizards. Could it be the Weasleys too have origins in darkness? Origin of Slytherin? This would certainly make the Weasleys live up to that rather unfortunate name of theirs, wouldn't it?

Editing to add (5-15-04), according to JKR's recently updated website (debunking some rumors), she reaffirms that Voldemort is indeed the "last surviving descendant of Salazar Slytherin" (via Dumbledore), so there goes my *Weasley is Slytherin's true heir* part of the spec. All of the rest of it, however, about Voldemort possibly exploiting Ron and Ron/Harry's frienship still stands. More specifically, Ron's possible seduction by Voldemort and the possession. Turning Ron into the White King, etc. In this sense, Ron may still be a representation of Salazar Slytherin (Slytherin/Gryffindor = Ron/Harry), just not blood-related to him. Haven't found anything to turn over those specs completely yet. ;)

Ron Weasley is the Heir of Slytherin. This may even make more sense in a parallel with Godric Gryffindor / Salazar Slytherin and Harry Potter / Ron Weasley. Godric and Salazar were the best of friends according to the Sorting Hat song in OotP (Amer. Ch. 11, p. 204-207):

For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

There can't be a similar parallel between Harry Potter / Draco Malfoy because they are NOT "friends" nor have they ever been. I don't conceivably see them being "friends" anytime soon either. Perhaps reluctant allies, but *not* friends. Harry and Ron? They ARE the best of friends. The song continues...

Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.

One of Voldemort's particular talents is to "feed on our faults and fears"... swelling them and causing "discord" even amongst the best of friends (i.e. The Marauders).

It could very well be as such.... Harry is the Heir of Gryffindor. Ron is the Heir of Slytherin. Neville is the Heir of Hufflepuff. Hermione is the Heir of Ravenclaw. Voldemort, however, is that "discord crept among us". That evil that resides in Voldemort could be the very same evil that induced the fighting amongst the original founders and finally forced Slytherin to depart (in order to save Hogwarts?). The fighting did die down after Slytherin left according to the Sorting Hat, but then the founders were down one member and Hogwarts wasn't united as it was "meant to be".

For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within...

"External, deadly foes" in regards to my theory are Voldemort and Bellatrix. The discord they inspire is what will "crumble from within" the foundation of "Hogwarts" (Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione). The friends need to have faith in each other and stand firmly together... but then something tells me this won't happen. If it did, there wouldn't be much of a conflict, would there?

I'd also be very interested to know if Godric and Rowena (Ravenclaw) and Slytherin had anything going on back in the day. Hufflepuff was the unbiased fourth party and would have went along with whatever the other Houses managed to work out. That might have contributed to the dissolve of friendship between these three particular friends... it would also be in parallel to what I described above (H / Hr / R love triangle). Rowena was "fair" according to the GoF Sorting Hat song and she was obviously intelligent. It's possible Godric and Salazar were both vying for her affections. This pre-existant jealousy and conflict is fed by the "external, deadly foes". After Salazar left, the friends were all so "downhearted", Godric and Rowena couldn't bear to proceed in a relationship (They blamed themselves partly - or mostly - for Salazar leaving). Hence, the Houses were never "united as they were meant to be". Slytherin left (before something drastic happened). Godric and Rowena never came together. Hufflepuff just kept on going as always (Hufflepuff contributed to the failure by not speaking up and trying to mend the breach. Quiet = consent). The Houses never settled their differences and they never mixed. The Houses never melded into ONE Hogwarts, but remained segregated into four different houses. *Still* nothing is mended after 1000 years (H / Hr / R would/will only be recreating the same mistakes. Succumbing to the same "external, deadly foes"). There may also be yet another parallel with James / Lily / Snape. Although I'm not an avid subscriber to the Snape-Loved-Lily theories, some of them do have some intriguing ideas. If there are parallels between G/R/S, J/L/S and H/Hr/R... it could be possible the same history is repeating again and again and again. No one is succeeding in bringing together "Hogwarts" as it was "meant to be". James/Lily's generation may have been *close*, but Voldemort got them before they could succeed. Now it's up to Harry's generation to succeed where all the previous lifetimes have failed. Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron do seem to be a cut above their earlier versions (James, Lily, Remus and Peter/Sirius) in almost every sense. In theory, Ron is the wildcard. Harry/Hermione's closeness seemed to be tested and sealed in OotP. Neville was and always has been loyal. Ron, however, is the one in the group that can be corrupted. He is the one the "discord" will target, "feeding on his faults and fears" (once again, in theory).

However, like Slytherin sacrificing his place in Hogwarts, Ron could sacrifice his life... symbolised in the PS/SS chess game... to help Harry defeat those "external, deadly foes" as Harry is destined to. Ron remembers his love for his friends... this forces Voldemort out of his body. Ron can't survive without Voldemort's presence. A cautionary tactic on Voldemort's part to try to make sure Ron wouldn't let himself revert back to his old self. Ron going back to old Ron would mean death. Not so much for Voldemort, he survived Avada Kedavra after all, but most definitely death for Ron. Voldemort is now bodiless and vulnerable... this is the form Harry defeats him. Ron, unfortunately, is dying. Ron, the true Heir of Slytherin, gives his blessing to Harry and Hermione, asking them to forgive him. Of course, they forgive him. 1000 yr old House breach is mended. Ron dies from complications of Voldemort's possession. Hogwarts dissolves the four house system. Meanwhile, Gryffindor/Ravenclaw (Harry/Hermione) are now finally able to be together. Neville (Heir of Hufflepuff) unites with the Weasley (Heir of Slytherin) family through Ginny. If JK Rowling were to continue the franchise, she could do it with the children of these two pairings.

I realize I left out some points in the list (you know what I mean if you looked behind the cut), but this crap is long as it is and my fingers hurt. I'll get to the rest tomorrow.