Harry Potter and his frugality with the Weasley family
By Sam Friedman
As a 12-year-old, having tons of galleons is a lot to handle. Harry Potter did well not to splurge it all but failed when it came to the Weasley family.
Within the first few chapters of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry goes from having to wear hand-me -down-clothes, to inheriting a small fortune from his late parents. As a 12-year-old, having tons of galleons is a lot to handle.
What I don’t understand is why Harry never helps the Weasley’s? Harry is not the most in tune person, he actually comes off as a bit naive throughout the books. He thinks that he would split it with them, in a heartbeat if asked, but figures that the Weasley’s would never accept money from him.
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This may be true, but he never even offers…
There are plenty of instances where Harry should have helped out the Weasley’s, but mainly during the second installment of the books.
Chamber of Secrets
Ron, who never receives a proper wand in the first place, breaks his during Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This poses a multitude of problems:
- Ron was already struggling with magical incantations, due to the wand not being his. The wand chooses the wizard… unless you’re poor. Ron’s feel must have been off from the beginning.
- The wand breaks, and the only solace Ron can muster is to put clear tape around it. All the teachers tell him he should get it repaired, but how does that help at all?
Harry, Ron’s “best friend”, should have helped. Harry has enough moxie to order the entire trolley of sweets during Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. At this point, he barely knows Ron! When Ron, who truly needs help with his wand, needs Harry most, he doesn’t do anything? That’s rough.
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Right off the bat, I can think of two ways Harry could have sent money to the Weasley’s without offending them.
- Say that breaking the wand was his fault, send the money, be done with it.
- Say that the money came from Professor McGonagall. The lie could easily say Gryffindor’s grant money through the school, paid for it.
Despite what Harry does, Ron always goes to bat for his best friend. In just the Chamber of Secrets, Ron breaks Harry out of his house with the flying Ford, saving him from the Dursley’s. He commandeers the same car, and flies Harry to Hogwarts. Finally, even though Harry knows Ron’s wand is broken, Ron is the one who tries to curse Malfoy with slugs.
This is an extremely one-sided friendship.
Despite what Ron does, the Weasley’s take Harry in, similar to how the James Potter took in Sirius Black. I know there are ways that Harry could have compensated Ron, Molly or Arthur Weasley, he just chooses not to.