He became famous when he was all of 11, as Harry Potter’s best friend Ron Weasley in the film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. British actor Rupert Grint has gone on to do several films and shows post-Harry Potter, like Moonwalker (2015) and Servant (2019-present), but it is as one part of the invincible wizarding trio from Hogwarts that he is remembered most, even as he turns 33.

Here are our five favourite moments from the Harry Potter films featuring the red-haired, freckled-faced Ron, the youngest of the Weasley boys.

Sacrifices himself in wizarding chess

From the moment Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) befriends Ron on the train to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, we know that we are in for a wild friendship. The first movie initially sets the Weasley boy up as an average 11-year-old, more interested in having fun with friends than learning tricks in class. He lacks the intelligence that his classmate Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) exhibits. However, when Harry, Ron and Hermione come across the secret obstacles on their way to the sorcerer’s stone, Ron shows his mettle. He plays the high-stakes game of wizarding chess and does not think twice before sacrificing himself so that Harry can make it to the end.

Defends Hermione and ends up spewing slugs

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Ron comes to the rescue of his friends more than once. He is at his heroic best when he steps up to defend Hermione after Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) calls her a “mudblood”—a derogatory term used to describe a witch/wizard with non-magic parents. Even though Ron gets hit with the spell directed at Draco, as his wand is broken, he comes out of the fray as Hermione’s knight with flaming hair. We can’t help but feel sorry and proud of Ron as he sits in Hagrid’s hut, hunched over a bucket and intermittently vomiting slugs.

Accidentally asks Fleur to the Yule Ball

Grint is a delight to watch in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) as he struggles with his friendship. Of all the memorable Ron moments in the fourth part of the film series, including the one where he comes out wearing the frilly dress robes, his ordeal of asking Fleur Delacour to the Yule Ball is the funniest. Ron is too scared to approach Fleur, but he blurts it out when he spots her. Grint does an excellent job of looking like he has been traumatised for life as he is guided into the Gryffindor common room by Ginny Weasley (Ron’s sister) where they narrate to Harry and Hermione how Fleur ignored Ron after he accidentally shouted and asked her to the dance.

Reveals his feelings for Hermione

The romantic tension between Hermione and Ron peaks in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). Ron starts dating Lavender Brown, and to make him jealous, Hermione takes the pompous Cormac McLaggen to potions professor Horace Slughorn’s Christmas party.

This does not deter Ron from revealing his true feelings for Hermione. When he is unconscious in the infirmary after being accidentally poisoned, he murmurs Hermione’s name in the presence of Lavender, other students and even professors. This leaves a smile on Hermione’s face as Lavender storms out of Ron’s life.

Monologue after destroying a Horcrux

Ron’s insecurities get the better of him in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). Under the influence of the Horcrux in Salazar Slytherin’s Locket, he leaves Harry and Hermione only to return to destroy the Horcrux with the Sword of Gryffindor. After Hermione admonishes Ron for leaving, Grint delivers a passionate monologue which makes Ron’s friends and us fans forgive him. He reveals that he heard Hermione’s voice whisper his name, which made him use the magical Deluminator that led him to them. This monologue gives us an understanding of the bond between Ron and Hermione, and their romance culminates in their kiss in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).