Someone else has already pointed out all of the neat things that Ron does in this book (I'll just add, figuring out how to use the Deluminator to find Harry and Hermione, all on his own). Ron was never going to outshine Harry or Hermione when it comes to spellcasting; his best qualities are in other areas. And its for those *other* qualities that Hermione falls for him: he's brave, he's faithful to his friends (mostly), he cares about what happens to innocent bystanders (remember the look Hermione gives Ron when he worries about the wizard he impersonated in the Ministry, and his wife), and he does come up with the occasional good idea (like getting into the Chamber of Secrets).
I was very struck by the scene of Ron overcoming his fears to destroy the locket; we see that not only is he jealous of Harry, and worries about losing Hermione to him (as would be expected) but he is also resentful of Ginny's place in the family, which is a brilliant bit of characterization on Ms. Rowling's part, I thought. And two little lines in the Epilogue show that Ron has overcome his anxieties: first, where he tells young Rose "Thank God you inherited your mother's brains", and later, when he says "I'm extremely famous", to explain why everyone on the train is staring.
I'm very impressed with Ms. Rowling's writing on this one, can you tell? :-)
J.K. Rowlings surprised us in this final book by not emphasizing Ron’s most amazing gift....he’s a SEER!
In the previous books, Ron would make a funny, dread-filled remark and it would come true.
fanfic writers, get busy!!