Other than Ron having a "brotherly" bond with Hermione , I agree. I think the final book will anticipate and exude the importance of love, friendship, and loyalty: Everything that resides between Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

I absolutely agree. Ron IS underestimated. (This certainly shows in the film adaptations where Ron is literally torn down to be just there for a good laugh. But that is another rant entirely.)

My theories are as follows: (NOTE: I love Hermione Granger dearly as a character. Everything I say is not meant to insult Hermione in any way. Unless you are discussing the film!Hermione...which is an exception.)

What I think is most important to remember about Harry and Ron's friendship is that, as shown in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, RON is the thing Harry would miss most in this world.

That is HUGE. That is THE telling point of how Harry feels about Ron. Sure, they have had their fights, and Harry even, during his horrible moody phase during OotP, thought himself above Ron. However, that does not undo that Ron is the thing Harry would miss the most. (Could this foreshadow death for Ron? MOre on that in a moment.)

Then, you have other clues to their bond. When Ron and Hermione go off in OotP to the Prefects' compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Harry "felt a sense of loss. He had never traveled on the Hogwarts Express without Ron before." Notice he didn't say anything about Hermione. Likewise, in GoF, when Ron and Harry were in the middle of their fight, Harry thought that Hermione was great, but "she wasn't the same as Ron." This does not diminish Hermione's worth to Harry. Harry definitely loves Hermione (as a sister/friend) and values her as his best friend. But he shares that bond with Ron that he doesn't quite accomplish with Hermione.

Harry depends on Ron. This is a fact. Ron is also the only family Harry has ever known. NO, Harry doesn't love Ron because he loves the family. He loves Ron for Ron. (This goes for Ginny as well.) Ron was the first real friend Harry ever had. He was the first person to ever treat him with kindness and respect...besides Hagrid, of course. That makes a huge impact on Harry's life. Just imagine if Harry had not met Ron on the train. How different the books would be! Harry needs Ron...and Ron needs Harry.

But what about Ron? I think this is obvious. We have constant and undeniable evidence of Ron's undying, unwavering loyalty toward Harry:

1. In PS/SS, at age 11, Ron is willing to die, to sacrifice himself so that Harry can live and move on.

2. In CoS, at age 12, Ron is, once again, willing to risk his own neck to (certainly save his own sister and avenge Hermione's attack, but...) accompany Harry into the Chamber where there is an overwhelming chance that he may get killed by the Basilisk...or Riddle.

3. In PoA, at age 13, RON IS REALLY THE ONE who says to Sirius Black (when they believed him to be a mass murderer, of course), "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too." THIS WAS NOT HERMIONE'S LINE! THIS WAS RON'S LINE! And, in following Harry, Ron also was in danger of losing his soul during the Dementor attack...as was Hermione, fairly.

4. In GoF, at age 14, for the first time, Ron and Harry have their first big fight. (And they make up...surprise, surprise.) This is where Ron is solidified as the thing Harry will miss the most...and is one of the first to believe his story after returning from the graveyard.

5. In OotP, at age 15, Ron is Harry's right hand man, like always, fellow member of the DA. He and Hermione (mostly Hermione, though) encourage Harry to develop the DA. Ron (with five others) go with Harry to the DoM to presumably save Sirius from Voldemort. During this quest, Ron is attacked by a brain and is mentally and physically harmed. (He still displays scars from the incident.) Once again, Ron puts his life on the line to aid his best mate.

6. In HBP, at age 16, Ron, after taking Felix Felicis, helps defend Hogwarts on Harry's orders during the Death Eater invasion. However, we all know that Ron would have done that for Harry with or without the lucky potion. Potion or not, Ron is once more in life-threatening danger.

We have seen the role Ron has played in Harry's life. It is enormous and, as Mythie states, is underestimated in his abilities and role by many. But will he die?

No. I don't think so anyway. (I'm also praying he won't. Kill everyone, JKR! Kill anyone you want! Just DON'T KILL RON!!!) But no matter how much I don't want him to die, I dont' think he will anyway. Here's why.

I think that Hermione has more of a chance of dying than Ron. Why? Let's look back on Ron's sacrificing and bravery he has displayed in Harry's honor:

Book 1: Ron sacrifices himself at chess for Harry.
Book 2: Ron risks his life by accompanying Harry into the Chamber.
Book 3: Ron almost loses his soul and says to Sirius Black, "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."
Book 5: Ron risks his life to go with Harry to the DoM to save Sirius. He gets attacked physically and mentally by a brain that leaves lasting scars.
Book 6: Ron (potion aside) defends Hogwarts on Harry's orders during the Death Eater attack.

Also, Ron almost died when he was given poisoned mead by mistake. This was not, however, in the name of Harry, but it still counts as a near-death experience for Ron.

With so many of these incidents to his name, Ron has done more than enough. We have seen him, on the edge of our seats, time and time again getting himself in serious danger that lead to his almost deaths.

But what about Hermione?

Book 1: Hermione was almost killed by a troll before Harry and Ron saved her. She did go down the staircase, but she was never in real danger because she 1. figured out the Devil's Snare, 2. Harry got past the key, 3. They didn't have to fight the troll, 4. Ron saved them all from the chess board, 5. She figured out the potion...and went back.

Book 2: Hermione was Petrified...but was not dying. She had figured it out and took precautions against it.

Book 3: She almost had her soul sucked out when the Dementors came.

Book 5: She escorts Harry and the others to the DoM to help save Sirius. She gets hit with a serious curse and has to take a daily potion to recover.

Book 6: Felix Felicis aside, Hermione helps defend Hogwarts during the Death Eater invasion.

So, it's Ron=8; Hermione=4

I think Ron's proven himself more than a few times he's willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his best mate. Hermione is willing too, but she hasn't shown it to that extreme as many times. Could Hermione be the one to finally pay the final price? Possibly...just AFTER she kisses Ron please!

I think Ron will be an integral part of the final book. I think that he will surprise even the Ron-obsessors with an unexpected and overwhelming display of loyalty to Harry.

Okay...I'm done....for now.

Shannon