Clarifying Ron's Famous Quote in Harry Potter: The Original Script

In the beloved Harry Potter series, Ron Weasley's famous quote has puzzled many a fan over the years. Ron speaks some heartfelt words to Hermione Granger in the book, but the audiobook version and some media have a different take. Let's delve into the original script to find the truth.

Context of the Quote

These lines are spoken between Ron and Hermione, often in the context of Ron apologizing to Hermione. The exact quote that sparks confusion is as follows:

“Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I have ever met and if I’m ever mean to you again—”

Seemingly, Hermione responds with confidence in Ron's return to his usual self:

“I’ll know you’re back to normal.”

Clarifying the Original Text

The confusion stems from the misinterpretation in how the quote is read, particularly in audiobooks. However, in the original script in the books, Ron does not say 'mean' - he says 'rude':

“Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I have ever met and if I’m ever rude to you again—”

Hermione's response in the books is:

“I’ll know you’re back to normal.”

It’s important to note that many audiobook readers and slightly altered versions by others have misinterpreted the phrase as 'mean' instead of 'rude'. This has given rise to the confusion among fans.

Original vs. Audiobook Interpretation

When studying the audiobooks, readers often slur this line slightly, contributing to the confusion. However, the audiobooks typically distort the exact wording and can change how the lines are pronounced, leading to misconceptions.

“Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I have ever met and if I’m ever mean to you again…”

Hermione's response, as per the audiobook:

“I’ll know you’re back to normal.”

However, this is not the original text as written in the books. Ron clearly says 'rude' rather than 'mean', and Hermione confirms with certainty that she will recognize a return to normal behavior.

Movie Franchise Variance

It’s worth noting that even in the movies, the wording is slightly different but still clear. Ron says:

“If I’m ever **mean** to you again…”

Hermione’s response is:

“I’ll know you’ve gone back to normal.”

This minor difference in wording in the movies does not significantly alter the meaning or the sentiment of the lines. It just aligns slightly differently with the audiobook version but not the book text.

Conclusion

The clarification of Ron's famous quote in the Harry Potter series is important for fans looking for accuracy and authenticity in the works. While the audiobook and movie versions occasionally deviate from the original script, they do not change the core sentiment of the lines. The accurate version is:

“Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I have ever met and if I’m ever rude to you again—”

“I’ll know you’re back to normal.”

Understanding the original text helps fans appreciate the nuance and care displayed by Ron in his interactions with Hermione in the Harry Potter stories.