Character Analysis
Like Hermione, Ron kind of takes a backburner in this film, because the major drama is about Dumbledore and Harry's attempts to take down Voldemort. However, Ron is definitely dealing with some ch-ch-changes in this film.
The World's Most Unlikely Sportsman
Ron makes the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Keeper this year, but he's—how should we put it?—less than confident in his abilities.
And hey, we get it. After all, Hermione was so worried about Ron's ability to make it through tryouts that she jinxed his competition. If Miss Morality herself would go to such ethically-questionable lengths, you know the situation's not great.
The thing is, though, Ron's confidence is the whole problem: he plays just fine when he's not nervous.
Harry figures out a perfect way around the issue: He makes Ron think that he's given him a potion that makes failure impossible (aka liquid luck). Harry hasn't actually done that, but when Ron thinks he has Felix Felicis on his side, he relaxes and shows just what a great Keeper he can be. All by himself.
So, at the end of all that, Ron ends up feeling pretty good about himself. Which ends up leading him into a new drama/complication...
Girl Talk
In this film, Ron's got more romance going on than he can handle. He's had this ongoing "Will they? Won't they?" thing with Hermione that you probably remember that from the other films, right?
Well, at the celebrations after his first big turn as Gryffindor Keeper, he gets a big ole smooch from someone else: a girl named Lavender Brown. Weird, right? We thought he and Hermione were totally headed for "happily ever after" (or at least "bickering ever after"). Hermione is, of course, devastated.
Near-Death Experience
As if Ron didn't have enough to deal with between Quidditch and girl drama, he accidentally ingests a love potion (which was intended for Harry) that makes him cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs for Romilda Vane. And then he gets poisoned. #yikes
You see, Harry takes Ron to Professor Slughorn to treat the love potion part—and then, when that little problem is cleared up, Slughorn gives them a drink to celebrate. Sure. Which turns out to be poisoned. Oops.
Harry's quick thinking saves Ron's life, but our favorite ginger still has to spend a bunch of time in the hospital wing. These kids really know how to get into trouble, don't they?
Oh, but something good does come out if it: guess whose name Ron calls out in his dozey, sick state? Hint: it's not Lavender's.
RON: Hermione…Hermione…Hermione…
Yup, the near-death incident finally reunites Ron and Hermione as friends...and maybe more than friends in the near future...who knows?
Later, he doesn't remember calling for Hermione from his sickbed, or the fact that she held his hand a whole bunch that day...so, we're going to have to wait a bit longer (grrrr) for them to get together for real. Back to the whole Moonlighting vibe between them, we guess.
But at least everyone's alive and friends again, right?