Even though I know that they’re going to be friends again after the first task, it makes me so sad to see Ron and Harry fighting. Because even though they’re fighting, we can see that they still love each other deeply. Harry misses Ron, and Ron misses Harry, but being fourteen year old boys they don’t know how to express their feelings properly [Ron being upset that Harry always has all the glory and he’s put in the shadow; Harry feeling it’s unfair of Ron to be annoyed at that as it’s not Harry’s choice] and so the only way they know how to express their feelings are fighting and arguing. I adore Ron and Harry’s friendship more than I love any romantic relationships in the books, and so when they “break up” in GoF I feel so sad for them.

Of course, although I feel sad when they fight, I also think it’s necessary. For both character development and realism. Firstly, the split between Harry and Ron here is necessary for them both to learn how important they are to each other. Ron learns not to control his jealousy [part two of this lesson is in Deathly Hallows, of course] and Harry learns how Ron feels and so they learn how to communicate about these things.

Secondly, from a “realism” perspective, it’s necessary for Harry and Ron to have a fight through out the books. Many friends who are friends for seven years have fights, but especially friends who spend as much time together as Harry and Ron. During Hogwarts they pretty much spend 24/7 together - they share classes, a common room, they sleep in the same dormitory, and they spend most of their free time together. Being around each other so much for seven years mean they will undoubtably have fights.