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[darknessdolly]

I think that Ginny is nice, She's cute and funny and very teeny-bopperish. It's is just too bad that we don't get as clear a picture of her as we do of some of the other characters. But maybe we'll get more of that in the next book.

[muggleview]

Ginny is made the best kept secret in HP series by the author. She was deliberately put in the background, yet every reader know she is there all the time and how she feels about Harry. Isn't it brilliant? Kind of subliminal message. Sometimes we wonder whether Hermione likes or loves Harry (according to Jo Rowling, she loves another boy). We speculate whether Luna may take interest in Harry (apparently Neville gets more attention lately). We question if Cho sincerely wants to be with Harry (Harry already decided not to want her). We search other girls whether they can be Harry's girlfriend. But there is never any doubt that Ginny loves Harry. She dated Michael (or Michael asked her out once or twice), but she was willing to risk her life and reputation for Harry during the raid to Umbridge's office and to DoM. She dated Dean, but she was reluctant to leave Harry to go to him. Ginny was persistently a shadow of true love throughout the series. One can still doubt, but cannot really deny the commitment she shows for Harry.

[mayfair]

But there is never any doubt that Ginny loves Harry.

I am afraid I must disagree with that statement. Ginny hero-worshiiped Harry and what she thought was love was nothing but a manifestation of her starry eyed hero-worship. This has been so obvious throughout the series and became kind of official during the final scene of HBP where she tells him "I knw you'll not rest till you hunt down Voldemort and that's one of the reasons why I love you". I mean there could be no grater proof than that of her true feelings. She was extremely taken in by the stories of the boy-who-lived and I am sorry to say, but she has never seemed to come out of that fold. Harry-Ginny romance is one of the most unnatural and unromantic instances of romantic liasons I've ever seen, but this is not the place to discuss that so I won't elaborate on that.

she was willing to risk her life and reputation for Harry during the raid to Umbridge's office and to DoM.....................
..............Ginny was persistently a shadow of true love throughout the series. One can still doubt, but cannot really deny the commitment she shows for Harry.

Again it was nothing but hero-worship. Ginny has been brought up believeing in fairy tales being the youngest sibling that too a girl of 7 children, six of whom are male and all elder to her. She wanted to be different and surpass them all just like Ron, but in a different way. So when se came to know of Harry Potter story, she immediately liked the idea of him being her Prince Charming and latched onto it. I believe JKR messed up big time in making the H/G pairing in contrast to the lovely way in which she has built Ron/Hermione story. Ginny is a lovable character no doubt but all that you have pointed out, she was never alone in this. There were four others who stuck with Harry out of more solid reasons than you give. In my opinion she definitely is not shadow of love, of obsession maybe. Hermione and Ron had a greater role to play in all those events and Neville stood up for her at Hogwarts. Does it mean Neville and Ginny should get together? There are certainly more hints towards that. Ginny has certainly grown as a character especially in the last two books but does she love Harry the person and not the hero? Arguable and definitely NO in my opinion.

[muggleview]

Mayfair, don't you realise that the whole "hero-worship" thing is interpreted by Harry?
We read Ginny's infatuation from Harry's point-of-view. He picked up those related to "hero-worship" because that's how the boy of his age thinks. As an objective reader, we must be able to see through this. What is the sign of hero-worship? To help us, Jo Rowling provides us with Colin Creavey. He followed Harry everywhere, making pictures of him all the places. Never fails to show his great admiration to Harry. That's hero-worship. We also read how Viktor Krum's fans reacted. Harry's interpretation is not correct, because Ginny doesn't behave like that. Jo Rowling has given her a chance to defense herself. When Draco said Harry liked the spotlight, Ginny replied Harry doesn't like all that. Ginny knows Harry as a person, not a high flying god nor hero.

...became kind of official during the final scene of HBP where she tells him "I knw you'll not rest till you hunt down Voldemort and that's one of the reasons why I love you".

Regretfully some people distorted the meaning of this statement. What makes Ginny loves Harry? That he will hunt down Voldemort? No way. It's a suicide.
Ginny stressed the point at: I know YOU'LL NOT REST TILL... Ginny likes Harry because he never gives up, even his chance of success is deemed very little. As Harry, Ginny never gives up in whatever she tried to do. In the Quidditch finals, with the seemingly unsurmountable goals to overcome plus without Harry, she succeeded as the Seeker.
I don't see Ginny worships Harry as a hero. Ginny is a forceful girl. She likes a guy who will not go back from his stand. She likes Harry because of this. Isn't it a sign for a high-quality girl, who doesn't fall for the look or name alone?

Ginny and Neville, a possibility?
If Harry doesn't exist, it can happen.
Neville is the son of brave Order members. He is very unique, but doesn't mean he's a bad guy. His late growth was due to the memory charms applied too much on him so he won't remember the tragedy befalling his parents (murdered before his eyes!). However, he turns out to be a well-behaved wizard with an average talent, but his heart is in the right place.
If the Weasleys and the Longbottoms wish to have arranged mariage, Ginny and Neville can be a couple. I don't think Jo Rowling will go to this way.

Neville asked Ginny to be his date for Yule Ball. He doesn't mean to make Ginny his girlfriend, because Neville clearly has interest on Hermione. With Hermione already taken, Neville risked coming to the Ball without companion. Luckily Ginny was nearby, so he asked her for the sake of accompanying him. Ginny accepted, so she can join the dance. Mutual benefit.
However, it doesn't work well. Neville's inaptness in dancing hurt Ginny the whole night (as witnessed, or more likely monitored, by Harry). After the Ball, Ginny accepted to be Michael Corner's girlfriend. Thus, Neville and Ginny are just a one-time Yule Ball date. Nothing more than that. Later on in Book 6 we read that Neville is being tended by Luna most of the time, while Ginny was with Harry. I think this may be the exit sign of Neville-Ginny ship.

I have to remind the readers not to feel more clever than the author. We know Jo Rowling is a genius. Who are we with mediocre mind to understand what she thought to be the best. Let's enjoy her writing, analyse it, discuss it. Of course, she can make mistakes. She admitted it. Even the editors from both sides of Atlantic cannot help to find and correct the mistakes. However, with Harry and Ginny she doesn't make mistake. She has clearly planned it before Book 1, and executed it according to the plan until reaching the climax in Book 7. Ginny has definitely a gem for Jo Rowling.

[mayfair]

I have to remind the readers not to feel more clever than the author. We know Jo Rowling is a genius. Who are we with mediocre mind to understand what she thought to be the best.

Well it's not the fault of the readers if some of them are cleverer than the author herself and are able to spot inconsistencies, that the author may have missed or deliberately overlooked. Authors are not gods and neither are their writings sacrosanct. In a democratic setup, she wrote a piece of fiction and there's bound to be some feedback. Like I have reiterated in some of my posts, forgive me if I do not consider her potrayals to be sacrosanct. Iam entitled to my opinion as the others are to theirs. Just because I do not agree with a written piece of work doesn't mean that I have committed some sort of a blashphemy. In my opinion Harry/Ginny as a pairing sucks, while Ron/Hermione makes much more sense and appears to be headed for a good finish. I have my own reasons to believe that Ginny is definitely not the gem you speak of so reverently and I do not begrudge you or for that matter anybody for it.

[muggleview]

Mayfair, I'm sure 100 readers will have 100 opinions. That's normal.
Jo Rowling has outwitted many readers with her brilliant writing styles. That's genial.
I don't worship her as infallible. She clearly made progress as a new author from Book 1 to 6, because you can see how her styles improve with time. But she is still far from perfect.
Not everyone will agree with what she wrote. In this thread, we try to discuss disagreements related to the character Ginny. I have posted many of my reasons to conclude that Ginny is a gem, based on what I read in the books. That doesn't mean the next person will agree completely. Still, it will be fun to share the reasoning and discuss it based on the books. Feel free to discuss your reasoning. Unlike the impression you may have got from other threads, we are not trying to kill each other's ideas here. Please try to use the books for your proof, don't use rumours or baseless accusations. There are also threads focusing on Harry/Ginny or Venom Harry/Ginny in the SHIP section.

[k_weber08]

I think she's likeable, because I loved it when she stood up to Hermione in HBP, and has attitude, even though it's aggresive, but still likeable. Ginny is a hot, fiery redhead fine by me.

[kool kat]

I don't think I've ever commented on this topic, but now that I've gathered my thoughts on Ginny, I think I'll speak.

Ever since the 5th book began, I noticed a weird kind of change in Ginny, more bold, more social, and I thought that was great then. I mean she's growing, of course she'll change a little, but in the 6th book I thought her characterization crossed the line. I mean, making out in hallways, comments on how popular she is and how boys love her? I think we all knew she'd grow up, but I think this change was too rushed and very very out there. In two years she went from practically never saying a word to being Miss Popularity, and I thought that it was just an attempt to make her suitable for Harry, which I rather resent. All in all, I'd give her characterization a , but all we can do is hope for better in the next book.

[muggleview]

Hot and fiery redhead.. Hmm, have we read it elsewhere for another lady? Good description, anyway, K_weber08.

A valid observation, Koolkat.
Let us see from another perspective. Is Ginny changing or her observer is changing?
- Ginny is more bold.
In book 2 she dared to send Harry a Valentine poem in front of the whole Hogwarts.
In book 3 she dared to deliver her self-made singing get-well card to Harry.
Then, Harry showed his interest to Cho, paid less attention to Ginny. Ginny apparently understood her position (Harry doesn't like her) and didn't do anything "bold" anymore to Harry.
In book 5 Harry realised that Ginny was not so awkward in his presence (she can be herself). Once Harry heard she had a boyfriend, he started to give the readers more information about Ginny's actions. Now the readers can see more of her.

Is Ginny bolder since book 2 or even book 1? Hardly. I think she is always bold (or "forceful").
It was Harry who didn't convey enough information to us, so we didn't see how bold Ginny is (except for occassional events as listed above), until Harry paid more attention to her.

- Ginny is more social
One thing we didn't see much about Ginny is that she has to cling to her brothers during free time. Apparently Ginny doesn't need to be around her brothers so much. She has her own world. The absence of Ginny in Harry's close circuit is an indication that Ginny has found her own place in her own environment, separated from Harry's. It's not Ginny that is not social. It's more Harry that tends to isolate himself from other students, except Ron and Hermione. We realise that Ginny can easily be a friend of Hermione, whereas Hermione is difficult to make friend in her own year. Hermione's best friends are Ron, Harry and Neville. Her relation with Parvati and Lavender are just classmates, although she shares dorm room with them for years. In Book 5, Harry paid more attention that Ginny didn't usually sit with them during meals, but she has been like that for years. She has her own friends to sit with.
I think Ginny is social for years.

- Making out in hallways.
This is a misinterpretation. First, Harry and Ron found them in a deserted hallway. Harry and Ron were the one bursting in at the wrong time and the wrong place. Second, Harry couldn't see Dean and Ginny making out again after the incident.
I think Dean and Ginny are discreet enough not to kiss in public like Ron and Lavender.
They have been caught only once by Harry and Ron. The purpose of the author is to show Harry's jealousy.

- Comments on how popular she is and how boys love her
The first comment about popularity was made by Ron and Harry agreed with it.
The second comment came from a joke by the Twins, teasing Ginny that 5 boys are waiting in line for her love.
So, these labels are given by her own brothers who magnifies the reality to much bigger issue. There is no indication in the books, that Ginny can attract boys' attention the way Fleur did. Harry has never said Ginny is pretty.
The comments are an expression of Harry's fear, that Ginny may not be available for him anymore.

In two years she went from practically never saying a word to being Miss Popularity

I hope we can see that it's not Ginny who stopped speaking to everyone. It was Harry who didn't record Ginny's words, because Ginny didn't say much IN HARRY'S PRESENCE. Ginny is talkative. We know this since Book 2.
Also, Ginny is not Miss Popularity. She doesn't have fan club or followers. She hangs out easily with Luna, the pariah of her year, and not with the rich and beautiful people.

It can't be denied that Jo Rowling has increased Ginny's status tremendously in Book 6. She insists that everything is according to her original plan. She also lamented that there was not enough space in previous books for all she wanted to write. This is thus the limitation Jo encountered. I think, after clarifying the misinterpretations, Ginny's character development is not too abrupt. It's just too condensed compared to other main characters, even if Jo deliberately hid her in the earlier books. Whether we agree with Jo's idea, it's a personal matter.

[Spencer Potter]

I can say this, Ginnys character has not fully developed, we haven't learned enough about her as we have Hermione, Ron and Harry. We know plenty of them, but not enough about Ginny so we cant really say anything about her because as I repeat myself again, we have not learned enough.. Maybe we can see her develop in the movies but not in the books, you cant see someones attitude by reading it. Im sure none of you understood what Harry was feeling until the actual Character was made. Same goes for Ginny, shes like a understudy but for a movie. She'll back up a big role, and she takes Hermiones spot in the Half-Blood Prince. You dont see Harry and Hermiones friendship as much as you did in OotP but for Harry and Ginny its different.

I hope I explained myself well here.

[Harpy]

You know, I was seriously put-off by Ginny's character in the sixth book too. I thought she came off as a bit brazen, if I'm using that word correctly, sometimes. She's responsible for the whole Ron and LavLav fiasco. I never imagined that she would sidle in to the 'trio' like that. I don't know, I think it just wasn't done very well.

I always thought Ginny would be more quiet and subdued, with an underlying humour and sense of fun. They're always comparing her to the twins, but does anyone agree with me when I say that she was nothing of the sort? The twins were charmingly playful, you could tell when they were joking and that they didn't mean any harm.

I don't know, Ginny is certainly not a compelling H.P. character for me. I agree that Harry's sudden attraction to her was not covered thoroughly enough, but hey, she's (J.K. Rowling) got the seventh book to handle so we can't expect perfection. Besides, the sixth is my fav. one, along with book three.

We'll see, hopefully one can warm up to Ginny in the seventh book.

5 minutes later...
Mugglehead, you made a very level-headed observation of the Ginny situation, it's made me rethink things a bit.

Maybe Ginny has always had this personality, we've just never had the oppurtunity to see it.

[Mistress of Magic]

I like Ginny a lot. She is such a cute character. However, I have seen a lot of people (Harmonians) that hate her and call all kinds of nasty things. I guess it all comes down to if you trust JKR, and she likes Ginny as a character. Whatever she says goes, I like Ginny and quite frankly I cannot stand people who hate her.

If Ginny or any of the Trio dies, I am going to go on an angry rampage:angry:

[Louise]

Forgive me for saying so, but it is rather intolerant and somewhat silly to hate people for having opposing views to your own.

I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, so I'll overlook it this time, but it might be an idea to phrase yourself a little differently the next time. People will always have different opinions and you should learn to respect that, otherwise it becomes very difficult to have a civilised conversation.

As I've said many, many times before, I love HP and I love JKR's work, but my love is not blind. I have a mind, and am capable of forming my own opinions and as such, whether or not JKR likes Ginny, I do not, for many very logical reasons that I have outlined many times before.

I can assure you though that those reasons are very valid, based on literary considerations rather than personal ones, and are also shared by many other people, not just Harmonians.

[phoenix_song]

Maybe I'm the only one who sees it but I think Ginny is very strong, independent, and headstrong. Of course I saw this mostly after she was taken into the Chamber. Before that Ginny wasnt mentioned a whole lot, therefore, not really giving her much character. But after that, she was mentioned a lot more, and she seems very up on her jinxes and spells, making her seem a bit older, and she hangs out with Fred and George a lot. That can only lead to a better sense of humor. I really like Ginny's character. She's very different than all the other Weasley's, well more like all the Weasley's rolled into one super Weasley....sorry...

[big_al]

Ginny is exactly what Harry needs and is an awesome charecter. She is loyal, fierce and funny. And I feel that her charecter developement has been perfect.

People seem to resent Ginny becoming one of the trio because we don't know much about her, but I ask - how much do we know about Hermione? Seriously.What crucial information do we have about Hermione's background? We know that her parents are dentists and they went skiing one Christmas. I actually think that JK Rowling has spent an awful lot of time building up the charecter of Ginny Weasley.

We were given a snippit of her fiery personality way back in Book 1when she begged her mum to let her go to Hogwarts. She was then a pretty crucial element in Book 2. Admittedly, in Book 3 and 4 she slightly went under the radar - but this showed that she was popular and had her own friends to hang around with. Then in Order of the Pheonix, she came back into the picture and became a funny and fiesty charecter whos few paragraphs on page were filled with entertainment. And of couse in Half Blood Prince, she became even more prominant and went out with Harry. This is a continous progression towards becoming a major charecter and I think JK Rowling timed it perfectly.

Some are saying that what she feels towards Harry is simply 'hero worship'. No. It's not. Hero worship is following someone around all day and nodding vigourously at their every comment - it is not regularly disagreeing with them and bringing them down a notch when their becoming to self-involved...like Ginny does with Harry. Hero worship is fluttering your eyelashes and giving a cheesy grin - it is not fighting Death Eaters. Ginny has regularly risked her life for Harry.

Ginny is a great charecter, not some fawning fangirl, and she is going to play a big part in Book 7. Because, like her or loathe her, Harry Potter loves her.