I dont like ginny. to me she is not likeable. the way she had a go at hermione,then ron. and thinks that what she wants she can just have. shes always trying to prove shes just as capable as the trio and people in the year above..when shes not. i think in book 7 JK will let ginny go with the trio which i think is a mistake. she didnt listen to harry when he said she couldnt go to the ministry with them because she was trying to prove she wasnt some incapable kid who couldnt handle herself.she is just a kid,just like the rest of them.but theyve had more expierience.when they search for the horcruxes if she doesnt do as harry says because she wants to prove herself she could put them all in danger.
As for how JK wrote ginny

I apoligize, my quote button is not working, consider the entire paragraph above quoted from dansgal4eva previous post.

I must disagree, she wasn't trying to prove herself a better witch or even an equal toward the trio at any point. She was only trying to help, be part of the assualt agaisnt the dark lord. After all, if Luna and Neville were going, she had just as much purpose of going. All the magic she had performed or attempted had not been out of the orfinary for a witch her age. Just because she created a hex, everyone assumes she is trying to step out in the limelight when all she wants is to be treated like a friend, not a silly little girl with no power or clue. The trio is only one year older than her and Luna and her are the same age. She is definately not out of her element. Harry didn't tell her to stay behind because he thought she was an incompetant witch, but because he wanted to protect her, because he cared a lot about her. At the ministry she was no more useful then Ron, Luna or NEville, they were all the same, except for Harry of course. HEr eagerness to be part of the team does in fact stem from her desire to be with Harry, but not to show that she is self-sustaining, but someone who wants to be part of the team, a friend, not a weak link or ignored no-talent cry baby witch. I haven't seen any canon that supports your theory, and mine is obvious logic, but speculation can come into play. Explain where in the canon that points to your perspective, and I will concur.

I agree Padfoot313.

I think the only reason Ron commented on her spellwork was because he never really thought her to be so capable. It's like he said, being the sixth and seventh children of the family, they're overshadowed by the others. So if they do anything that could be impressive in any other circumstances, it would be ignored. However, here we're talking 'escape from custody' and Ginny happened to make the best escape attempt out of the group. It doesn't mean she did the curse to make herself look good or show off, it's just that her attempt worked the most effectively. This could signify that she is a little stronger than the others with spell-casting, but it doesn't mean she asked to be or rubbed it in anyones face.

She knows and has said that shes had feelings for Harry for ages, but shes put them aside when she has needed to, and been there as a friend or as someone to talk to. A part of her may only want to go with them to be with Harry, but I think she also believes that she could be an asset somehow.

From what we've seen, Ginny is a strong witch, and I don't believe that if she was to go with them she would put them in danger at all. She is bright, and can figure things out clearly, so if something were to happen, I bet she would be able to help instead of hinder efforts.

To be honest, there is no guarantee that the others have got more experience than Ginny has. Afterall, she's grown up in a wizard house with six brothers and two magical parents. I think her brothers could have influenced her at some point, like when she stole their brooms to practice. I highly doubt that her first lesson at Hogwarts was her first shot at magic.

She's bright, loyal, strong and a good match for Harry character wise. She would be able to keep him in check in cases where Ron and Hermione can't. I like Ginny.

I like Ginny. It's kinda tough if you ask me, being the only girl in the family. (Apart from Mrs. Weasley...) She's a complex charactor, and that's why she's my favorite. Very popular with the boys, yes, but she knows her limits.

She's not a bad charactor, and I have a feeling that she can help out a lot for Harry in the 7th book...She's the 7th child...Oh the Weasley's...She's powerful...Special...And there ARE hints that she's powerful. I have the proof. Ask if you want them. I don't know where my book is right now. (Well I do, I'm just too lazy to get it...)

I thought Ginny's "out-of-the-spotlight" development was great because it went along with the fact that she was trying to simply be herself around Harry. I think that made him notice her more after having spent so much time with her on holiday. She has many good qualities and as previously mentioned in another post has shown she is a powerful witch (good point about her being Weasley #7 too). She's (forgive the triteness) smart, funny, attractive, kind, competitive, and speaks her mind when necessary. I think she's very well-rounded. They're enough alike to be very compatible and enough unlike each other to make it work. I, obviously, like the idea of Harry and Ginny as a couple. I like the points made in some of the other posts that Ginny is part of a very loving family. Harry never had that and it helps that her's is the same family who adopts Harry in a way - which is why he struggles with the "big brother" emotions towards her. I see a future there even with the break-up at the end (which didn't make me happy, but still I couldn't argue with the reasoning). I am a supporter of the whole Harry/Ginny relationship which works well with the whole Ron/Hermione drama!

I don't suppose I ever fully thought about the whole child number seven aspect. Seven is an ever-increasingly important number for the series, and could definately hint at remarkable talent for the seventh Weasley child.

I know that a lot of people would find the argument between Ginny and Ron over Dean pretty pathetic and childish, but it just shows the public how close the family is. Ron loves his sister and is very protective of her. She has grown up with the twins (that must have been a challenge in itself), and I doubt Bill and Charlie were angels from what we've seen so far. But she has spent the most time with Ron. Her brothers were at school while she was young, and Ron was home with her from birth as there's only a year between them. Obviously he feels strongly about seeing his 15 year old daughter kissing his room-mate.

Her reaction is a typical brotherly-aimed retort, and it's the same kind of response that Harry would have given to something like that (if it ever happened) in OoTP. She has the same attitude as he did at her age, which illuminates the likenesses between them. The difference is that she has overcome this stage by the end of HBP. She is more subdued and understanding after DD's death, although she can't miss a shot at Ron. These little off-the-topic comments she comes up with when talking to Ron are a part of her character, and symbolise strongly that they are siblings. Some think of this as childish, but I feel it gives us a greater insight into her character, and how she has lived her life. Afterall, six brothers, that's tough luck!!

i think that we are being too harsh on ginny. especially saying that she is insensitive to her brother's feelings and humiliates him in front of others. that "showdown" in the corridor after snogging dean was really understandable. if you noticed, ginny was not only shouting and enraged at ron, she was practically choking back tears...or sounding close to tears. i forgot the exact wording. and i don't know about you, but i probably would feel the same if my older brother practically called me a slu....well umm you know. especially if it's not true. 15 years old and only 2 boyfriends, which have been pracically long term? that's pretty good.

this is also similar to harry's characterization in book 5. he was annoying. that's the way they get.

I liked Ginny's character too, I agree with everything said above, except for one thing...

Oooops!! I'm really sorry about that. I'd had a long day, if I must make a lame excuse for my tardiness. Doubt you'll believe it, but I really did. Coursework and the likes, so I wasn't in a very observant mood when I posted that.

No, I certainly meant to say sister there. But hey, it's proof that someone read my post, so yeah. I'll try reading my posts more carefully next time. My apologies!!

Quickly, I am rer-eading OotP now and noticed something, Ron exploded upon finding out about Michael Corner, hated him when he got the news. This seems to be a pattern in his behavior. She probable eploded on Ron in the Hallway because she finds hin too protective and insensitive to her feelings.

She isn't insensitive, rude or cruel, just defensive, outgoing and was most liekly embarrassed.

Will return later, sometime, I am composing something big, I may have to put it in three seperate posts to spread it out.

Till then

TAH TAH

First, I would like to note that Harry Potter is a very complex character. I don't think Ginny is able to understand Harry. Why does Rowling pair Harry with Ginny? I don't know. To my perception, she is still immature and carefree.

You all may have different opinions. For me, I do not think that Ginny's character is adorable and distinguishable. She has liked Harry since the first time she saw him, for he's famous. You can't attribute her reaction (everytime she sees Harry) to Love or "crush". It's simply admiration! She hasn't spent time looking into Harry's inner personalities, mental conflicts, and virtues as Ron and Hermione have been doing all along. Mind, she must be really shocked upon Harry's good-bye.

H. Potter would be more compelling if it focused on other adventures rather than the romance among the 15, 16-year-old kids. Romance! Harry, a teenage boy endowed with virtues from the start, suddenly finds himself caught in the maze of love, in a time like this! Right, you can say "he's a boy after all." Yet in time like this they should focus on other things. I couldn't imagine it all along. . . Just hang on there, I'll definitely have more to say about this whole issue.

I don't mind Ginny at all except for one thing --- ditch the Pygmy Puff! Cats are way better than pygmy puffs and I always admired Ginny as a cat-person. For her to just give Crookshanks the old cold shoulder --- ergh!

That's true. But it sorta puts a damper on all the different theories about Ginny being somehow specially connected with cats, or having a cat patronus, etc. etc. I rather liked those theories.

If she needed someone for herself, she shoulda gotta another cat. Then, Crookshanks could had a pal.

Your right, a cat does represent Ginny's personality to a tee. I think that she highly represents a younger version on Mcgonagall. SOmetimes pleasant, warm and understanding, then sometimes unbiased, haughty, and intense. I wouldn't be suprised if Ginny was able to present herself in animagus form before the end of the seventh book. Afterall, Jk does talk about her being the most powerful Weasley, well hints at it I guess, she never said in in stone, and there is that seventh child thing and the fact that she is the only girl. Could it be that she becomes Harry's new pet, unknowingly to him. HEHE, just a thought. But I see where you are coming from, a cat would have been more appropriate for her, but the pygmy puff was probably to show he softer side, the love os a furry, almost stuffed animal type creature. Perhaps to show her innocence as a trial, it could be symbolic in a way. That no matter how many people she hexes (although Smith is the only one who hasn't undoubtably deserved it at this moment - even though I thought he got what his nosey, annoying A** deserved ), she will always have that child innocence. How was that?

i agree with you.ginny had been acting very passively near harry.she was shy.but in this book,we come across a different kind of ginny.she became talented,beautiful ( ) and enjoyable girl.mm,i think it shouldnt have been

I am not sure if passive is what Ginny is truely is, I think that is where the dislike for some people come. All that time she was acting one way when in reality the True Ginny was shown in HBP as an independent, powerful, upstanding and confident person with passion and soft ways only once in a while where it counts. Although I prefer this new profounding Ginny to the shy, background one in books one through three (four we see her coming out when she is at the ball, five we see her ambition and power in the DoM and in HBP we see the full frontal that embodies her true character, soft but demanding), most don't want her to be so strong and stand up for herself like hexing Smith (in the wizarding world, it is not that uncommon to hex those that annoy, lus her life is none of his business anyway), or spatting with a brother (yeah that's unnatural ), or running into Smith after his commentating was demeaning her team (Competition is natural in highly active sports - flying on broomsticks is unnatural - isn't that like in the heat of the moment when a foul like tripping is committed in Soccer or something - hmm, not that different).

On a personal level, I adore her ideals and ambitions and excetric mannuerisms. She is a great character and I am glad that she has begun to stand out.

I always thougth that Ginny was a very nice girl but after I finished HBP my opinion about her changed completely.I very dislike her now.The things that she said to Ron were disgusting.It's not a bad or funny thing that Ron hasn't a girlfriend,and I will never forgive Ron for forgiving her in such a short timeangry:

Well, it's been quite a while since I've taken a shot at Ginny so maybe it's time I remedied that...

I can't really relate to a brother/sister relationship because I don't have a brother, but I can certainly relate to a younger sibling relationship because I have a sister. One thing I would agree with, Shelly, is that it is very, very hard to stand by and watch someone you love making mistakes. But what is equally hard is standing by and let them speak to you as though you were something they'd just scraped off their shoe. If my sister spoke to me the way that Ginny speaks to Ron, I'm pretty sure I'd blow a gasket too. Especially in front of other people. But I know my sister would never do that because she respects me - she might think it, she might even say it in private, but never in front of my friends. Aside from anything else, she knows I'd whoop her hide into next week

No, it comes down to Ginny's inate boy-ish aggression that is no doubt a consequence of trying to make herself noticed in a house full of brothers. As a result, she's like a bull in a china shop and has no feminine characteristics in the way that Hermione or Fleur, for example, do. She just comes across as in-your-face gutsy and I'm sorry, but I just find it irritating. It's like JKR is trying too hard to make her worthy of Harry and I don't think that Harry is the sort of person who needs to be 'won'. Either someone fits with him or they don't and in my humble opinion, Ginny has been forced to fit in a completely inorganic way.

I think that Ginny had changed a lot since the small red haired shy girl she was at Book 1. I dont' like her at HBP. She became quite superficial, and I think that she doesnt' take serious her relationships =/... Maybe Harry was lucky of ending that "relationship"... but i agree with many , saying that JKR could make that "cutting" part, more emotive than what she did =(
I was dessapointed of her.

I understand your points of view about Ginny being forced to fit the worthy role of Harry's girl, the little spat between her and Ron could have been left out, because Harry was already having feelings for her. If anything, the spat would show Ginny's immaturity and actually lose her points in Harry's eyes. However, I don't think tha scene was created for Harry, I think it was just added to represent Sibling rivalry, something most younger readers can relate to. However, it was distasteful and not something her readers wanted. I do believe that her major point there was made at a price for Ginny's character.

However, as the older. more mature brother, Ron did not have to confront her in front of Dean and Harry, embarrass her infront of those she loves. He could have been the more mature one and walked right passed them and confronted her in private, out of the listening ears of Harry and Dean. Because Ron was too ambitious to protect her innocence and reputation, and didn't think about how he would embarrass her, knowing that her boyfriend was there and Harry, someone she had feelings for.

I just think that Ron is just as much to blame in that scene than Ginny was. It was exactly what JK was intending, both siblings were defensive and were quick to reply without thinking, both were embarrassed and both said things they probably regret. And besides, wasn't Ron a bit hypocritical, I mean I know the LAvender thing happened after the spat, but he wasn't exactly private with his snogging.

Anyway, I just think that the spat was something that the two of them needed to express what they were feeling, It was probabl;y bottled up for so long that the spat was a necessity to their close sibling relationship.

I agree that the spat was detrimental to Ginny supporters, but I just think that it was needed, not necessarily for her character definition, but for her and Ron to create a stronger relationship.

I hope that I explained that right.

Michelle Dessler I have a younger sibling as well, and I am always telling him to lay off the girls, because that is all he cares about and he always mocks my lonliness, it hurts, but I get over it, I just realize where I am in my career and how pathetic he is in his computer obsession. But, I agree, he would never say that in public and I understand your point of view that the respect for one another is there. Jus tlike with me and my older brother (my older brother would NEVER say anything like that to me, we are way to close). But he may make a comment here and there when we are at home. I accept it, and take it and use what I was told to better myself. That is something Ginny should consider.

I completely agree that Ginny was out of line and should not have done it and that it was completely irritatting. But it was not enough to make me change my opinion of Ginny, she is still one of my more favorite characters, aside from Tonks of course.

I think your right I think that she doesnt seem a very likeable character in the book.
But I have to disagree with you on your other theory I dont think that J.K should have explained anymore about Ginny and Harry because it makes it more real, the beauty of love is that you cant control it, you cant stop it, put a price on it, or explain it.

I think this is what J.K was trying to put across, She has no idea of why they fall for eachother and niether does he(well if he was real duh!! lol)

Well thats what i think.[/

I beg to differ...as usual....

Lust is sudden...hormones are sudden.

Love takes time and has to build from something. You don't just meet someone and instantly love them. What Harry and Ginny have, is anything, is teenage infatuation. I'm hoping he'll grow out of it

I know I'm kind of hopping in here, but I guess I just can't really understand why people don't like Ginny.

Sometimes, I find Ginny a lot like myself (and that's a bit dangerous to say in here since nobody likes her...) so I can easily relate to her. I don't think her personality changed, we just saw a side of her we hadn't been able to see. We can only see what Harry sees, and since she was shy around Harry that is all we got to see. Ron even says they usually can't get her to shut up, so she was just shy around Harry. I know I am shy around people I like, and I talk a lot more when I'm with people I'm comfortable with. It's just my personality and I don't think you can fault someone for that. You don't necessarily have to like them, but that's the way Ginny is.

I don't think JKR switched her around to fit Harry's needs at all. Ginny, in my opinion, is a tough girl. Look what she went through with Tom Riddle. She tried to be tough and flush him down the toilet, but it is kind of hard to know when you are about to be possessed.

I also have an older brother. He doesn't really care about me how Ron cares for Ginny, but I know no siblings can go without a spat. Ron is Ginny's older brother. What did you expect him to do when he saw her snogging Dean?
"Ah, look, Harry," Ron said beaming, "There's Ginny and Dean snogging. Look at her go!"
.......no. It probably freaked Ron out seeing his younger sister doing that. But she's not a child anymore. She's 15. Ginny has always been the same person, but we only saw her through Harry's eyes. After she gave up on Harry and tried to move on, she was able to open up to him, and now we see the real Ginny. Ginny didn't change personalities, she grew up, as everyone does.

I guess I'll stop there.

I honestly never thought Ginny was such a bold girl, so rock & roll, also, i liked her better when she was shy, the quiet type because it would be much more suprising if she shouts at someone or bring out her brave side

Oh, I've explained quite extensively, in far more detail, why I don't like Ginny, Droobles. If you have a look back to the first...ooh...two or three pages of this thread, Westerly, Razz and I discussed all the reasons why we didn't like her. I've recently been re-reading HBP and whilst my opinions of it are changing - I missed just how much JKR did actually mention Harry's grief about Sirius, for one thing - my opinion of Ginny hasn't changed at all.

I don't think you can reasonable deny that she hasn't changed without making some assumptions about her previous behaviour that isn't actually in the canon.

Did you read my post in the Harry/Ginny venom thread, Droobles? Because you're more than welcome to respond to it here, if you want...I know you can't in the venom one, but I'm willing to discuss it if you want to

Michelle has indded discussed it many times, and I agree that if you want her opinion, the first pages to discuss it in full detail, You can also go back and read myself and Muggleview's opinions, which are pretty much the exact opposite. It was quite the debate. Since Repetition is tiresome, I will only state that Michele's view includes the lack of development in the canon of the first 5 books, as well as he shyness not boldness and abrupt change in personality and characteristics. As well as her bully like qualities that out shined her good qualities in the final book. My view however, talked about Ginny's good qualities throughout the first five books, and her qualities in the last as not bullylike, but selfconfidence emerging and independance as a typical teenager in the world.

This thread willnever be one to change points of view, just to state what you think, why and provide examples to support your reasoning. There is a lot of assumptions and personal opinions thrown in as well. Feel free to comment on what you wish, but if you really want someone's reasoning that has been here for a while, go back and read, it was a great debate, really it was.

Bree

*sneaks in and looks around shiftily* 'I like Ginny' *runs like the wind*

But seriously I have to agree with Droobles and Padfoot313. I never really found Harry and Ginny's relationship forced or charactisation flawed or rushed when I read the book the first two times (back to back of course). I do not know why, it just flowed along with the rest of the book. However, now I have found this site and its forums I'm not sure I will be able to go back to any of the books and read them in the same light, I'll notice all the little mistakes and all the things that other people have had a problem with; such as Ginny in HBP. Possibly I won't enjoy them the same as I did before, this is a revelation I've only just had half way through writing this post, sorry it's completely off topic but it's made me kind of sad; in a nostalgic sort of way. I think I should go to bed before I get too depressed about it

Seems like you guys need some help. So I'm gonna jump back in this thread and give my opinion and then say that I am dropping the subject because I don’t find it that big of a deal anyways...... I think I've said this like 4 times hahaha. Go me.

I really think Ginny is a nice person. She is very consciences towards others and is a very independent person at the same time. And I admit, Rowling writes her independency to get in the way of her politeness from time to time, but that is just a simple trait to make her character more 'powerful'.

I don’t really want to start a 'thing' with this here, but I can think of a few examples right off the top of my head that shows that she is a good person. On several occasions she defends Harry when he needs help. She went to the Yule Ball with Neville when other people turned him down, even though she knew that she would be mocked for it. She tells Fred and George off on certain occasions when they are getting 'out of hand'. She tries to comfort Ron during his 'Quiditch slump' or whatever you'd like to call it.

.... Okay, I admit that isn’t too many nice things that she has done, but I'm doing this off the top of my head!

I'd like to say one last thing. If you are going to condemn Ginny for having a couple of character flaws, then you should probably do the same for Harry, Sirius, Snape, Hermione, Ron, and James as well.

I think some of you might be forgetting what its like to be a teenager, your attidude towards people and things constantly changes.

Alec

well i think that the reason that herry started liking her is because that she started to act her normal self instead of kinda going wierd around her.but when he started to like her it only kinda said it and it was a little wierd,but the more we went along it got alot clearer to us and that is all i have to say on that.ginny's charactor has to be the likeable nice and i might say she is very stand-upy,as in she stands up for what she believes in.ex:harry.i think that is why harry started to like her because he likes her the way she started to be when she acted herself.

I didn't really care for Ginny until the fifth book rolled around. She was the only person in OOTP who could snap Harry out of his sulky, moody behavior, which made me believe she was an honest, outspoken person. In comparison to Cho, Ginny seems like a much stronger, mature, and loyal person. She was willing to tag along for the battle at the Department of Mysteries (in spite of Ron and Harry's protests), and completely understood when Harry broke up with her at the end of HBP. I think it shows that not only is she caring, but very strong willed. In fact, she reminds me of Lily.

The more I sit and argue with myself about Ginny's character, the more I like to swing toward liking her. I think she is a very strong girl who has really got a good head on her shoulders. departed_soul said it very well about her. I know Ginny's a bit mean to Fleur, but honestly, Ron wasn't too happy seeing Ginny with Dean either was he? It's the thing where your sibling gets married or connected with someone else and you just kight have a particular dislike for the person they've chosen, but you have to accept it anyway. Kid of like me not liking my cousin;s guy, but there's nothing I can do about it. Ginny is just a typical teenager like the two people before me have said.
And to comment on someone saying Ginny was sort of wrong by calling Luna 'Loony Luna', then backing her up later, I'd like to point out that I think she sort of made fun of Luna before she really met Luna. And it wasn't just Ginny. It was Harry and Ron and even Hermione had her thoughts about Luna. And who in this forum can say they have never made a judgement about someone as these students have done? I sort of mean that as a rhetorical question so we don't go into a debate about it, but just think back to when you were a teen or think right now if you are a teen, and I think it is very easy to seem where all of Ginny's actions have come from.
Plus, she has grow up with six other brothers, so het wit is sharp and she has probably learned not to take anything laying down. I think she is a very strong girl.

I just think that If neville lands anyone in the series, Luna is the most compatible, and her and Harry would never work-Harry finds her to strange and gullable, where Ginny is more strong willed determined, without the wierdness off course.

Back to topic.

I'm sorry but I can't find any reason to like Ginny. She's kind of a [MOD EDIT] and in this one shes so judgemental. She just seems like a huge jerk. I don't know why Harry likes her now that she's more comfortable with him, shes become a really annoying character.

MOD EDIT: The censors picked up a swear word in your post. Please be more careful in the future.

Hmm. I kind of don't know what to think about Ginny because at the beginning she was hardly a part of the book except for CoS where you didn't get to learn about her anyway, and then in OotP she was a likeable character. In HBP she seemed more immature and there was a drastic change of the perception you have of her, it went from shy little girl to all this talk about her being good-looking and popular. I guess I could say she's bearable and I think I like her for the most part.

Sheesh, you guys are just tearing Ginny apart in this thread here, I see. I just looked back at my a post written by me in late October when I just joined the site. I must say that my views on the subject have changed since, although my personal liking of Ginny's character has remained status quo.

What happened to that sweet, innocent, extremely shy, "I love Harry Potter so I am going to stare at him at my kitchen table and hope that he doesn't notice" Ginny!? When, where, and (more importantly) why has she turned into this party-girl!?

I would hate to be annoying and repeat everything that everybody has said thuus far; I have seen so many page-long posts regarding her "sudden" change in characteristics. So here we go, the short, yet 'sweet,' interpretation of Ginny's characterization from Me :

Hormones. Being a teenage girl, she begins to think differently: she began to like boys (possibly obsessively, but I know tons of girls who are far worse than her). She became somewhat self-conscious: she started to care about what people thought of her and how she looked. She began to date, as many girls do.

So, she is really just like any other girl taht you know. I think our major problem (in general) is JK Rowling's overplay of these hormonal emotions. No, I am not saying anything bad about Jo Rowling's writings -- I am obviously a HUGE fan, so do not take me wrong . I just think that she took a teenage girl who likes boys and blew it up a bit too big. Perhaps it is part of where Ginny's character is going in future books. Maybe, although I doubt it. I do not think that JK thought that we would react to her character change in this way. Doing what she does is just part of growing up.

I think our main problem is that we are having trouble accepting her, considering she used to be the sweet, shy girl in Chamber of Secrets. What can we do? This is who she wants to be, so we will either like her more or less than previously. It is the same with any change in a character from story to story.




_daviD

Deja vu ... all over again. Ginny has had her own development, from an energetic little girl in Book 1 into a self-confident teenager in Book 6, with a humiliating lovesick in between. She is a nice descent girl.
Some readers failed to see this beyond the clever writing style of Jo Rowling. We all see Ginny being sidelined, yet adored, from the point-of-view of a teenage boy who was slow to understand romantic feeling, but still found Ginny worth peeking. Harry Potter is not the best narrator when it comes to his love life. He got blackout when received his first kiss from Cho. He tried to suppress his attraction to Ginny, yet managed to steal a laugh or two with her (among all girls in the series). In many cases, we just got wrong interpretation of her actions, all because our narrator was not capable to get it right for us. Unfortunately, some readers just happened to take these literally.
For example: Was Ginny really shy and clumsy all the time in front of Harry?
In Book 2, after the first encounter Harry-Ginny in the Burrow, Harry noticed that Ginny became very clumsy in his presence. However, we don't see other examples of Ginny being clumsy again throughout the series! She was composed when rebuking Draco Malfoy at the bookstore. She was intelligent enough to keep her diary from her family and friends. She was clever to show that she is Harry's number one fan at Hogwarts, yet not obvious to Harry. She was bold enough to send Harry valentine poem. She could find out about Percy's affair. She was brave to enter boys' dormitory to get her diary back from Harry's possession. Those are not indications of a clumsy girl. Ginny in Book 2 had shown traits of being resourceful, brave and intelligent, which we more clearly read later in Book 5 and 6.
Another misinterpretation is that Ginny could not speak in Harry's presence. Yes, Ginny was beside herself whenever she was near Harry, but she was not completely silent. In Book 3, Ginny greeted Harry first (and Harry failed to greet her back, too busy thinking how she was very taken with him since the year before). When Harry was sick, she gave him a "singing" get-well card. She might not overcome her blushing, but actually she utilized her card to "speak" her get-well wish for Harry. That's the only card mentioned by Harry (or the only card he paid attention to).
The next point is "who feels more awkward in the presence of the other: Harry or Ginny".
It's obvious that Ginny was beside herself in the beginning of Book 2, but more and more, it was HARRY who was beside himself when he realized her presence. Harry made a fool of himself, when someone sent him valentine in front of the first-years which included Ginny Weasley. Harry didn't know if Ginny might write a valentine, but he tried to run away anyway because of the thought of seeing her. It was Harry who most of the time suddenly became a good audience, instead of a talker, whenever Ginny entered the scene.
If we want to believe that this is how a boy behaves according to Jo Rowling, then Harry's sudden revelation of his romantic feeling to Ginny should not be a surprise. It was the common assumption that boys realized romance more abruptly than girls, who generally undergo slow build-up. Still, we notice that Harry paid more-than-usual attention to a girl of whom he supposedly didn't feel anything.
It was in Ginny's presence (which Jo Rowling cunningly overshadowed with Mrs. Weasley's attitude) Harry made his straight denial that Hermione was his girlfriend.
Thus, if we want to see Ginny's character, we should first remove Harry's interpretation, and just reconstruct her from the facts only.
So, don't bother to think Ginny to be a shy girl. She was not and has never been. She temporarily lost control of herself due to her hormonal surge as she notice the man of her life, but outside that situation, she was definitely not shy to let people know that she was Harry's number one fan (a practical move to shoo away all possible rivals). Even Parvati and Lavender knew.
On the other hand, is she a bully? Apart from Zacharias Smith, who had been trying to undermine Harry since Book 5, and Draco Malfoy, who has been a bully since Book 2, she was not known to attack anyone else. Besides, she did all in relation to Harry's cause. Generally she was respected even by her love rival (Romilda Vane) and she was not afraid to befriend the pariahs (Luna, Neville). Having 2 former boyfriends adoring her should indicate her good qualities.
Unfortunately, Harry was not able to see those clearly until Book 6.
Fortunately, he didn't waste time too long to get her before another boy might try his chance with her. Ginny is definitely a girl to keep.

I feel sorry for boys that find the type of girl that Ginny has become in HBP desirable. Sorry, but these guys need to re-read HBP. They need a reality check. Ginny is not a very nice girl in HBP. She has an attitude. She is surly with her mom and crass with Fleur. She thinks "she's all that", so this makes her arrogant and conceited. She yells at her friends to impress her boyfriend (e.g. chastising Hermione about Quidditch). She doesn't care about her boyfriends, as she drops them like dirty tissues. She's really a silly little twit. I also pity these guys because YOU are not the type of guy she would choose. She's very shallow and tends to go for the school jock. Like her obsession for the "boy-that-lived". (Geeze-Louise, get over it already!) Guys need to see the 'inner beauty' of a girl and not just the outer package. This doesn't mean that girls with this 'inner beauty' are unattractive. There are girls that are truly beautiful, inside and out. All I'm saying here is that Ginny is NOT this type of girl!

I am a H/Hr shipper, but I am not AGAINST a H/G ship, in fact after reading HBP, I gave up on H/Hr happening. But I would feel alot better about it if Ginny was more worthy of Harry. I mean, I know she is pretty, and belongs to the family Harry loves, but it takes more than that to convince me that they belong together. Although, to be fair, in the real world that is all it would probably need, but this is HARRY POTTER we are talking about. I hate to say this, but Ginny comes off (to me) as a sexually experienced, somewhat callious girl. When I was 15, if I had kissed a boy like Ginny had, I would be so in "LOVE" yet she seems to feel no remorse when she breaks up with Dean, she is described as being the life of the Quidditch team! I also assumed she saw Harry with his shirt off, as they are joking about what tattoo Harry has on his chest. Maybe things have changed, but when I was in High School, the only girls that were that comfortable around guys were the ones who were sexually active, and that is how Ginny comes across to me.

I think that you're right about the intimation of Ginny being sexually active. She has boys eating out of her hand. I suppose they like the fringe benefits of the relationship! JKR would never write it as such though, as (IMO) Ginny is certainly one of her favorite characters. But, even the Chocos must sense this because, there is a thread on this website, about H/G having a baby. ... Excuse me while I puke...

... I really do not like the way Ginny treats her boyfriends, except for Harry. But then again, Harry can do no wrong. She worships the ground he walks on. He is her 'god', her 'idol', her 'rock star'. Always has been. It made me feel so bad for Dean when Ginny flies right into Harry's arms for "the kiss". I just hope Dean didn't require any stitches from having broken the glass he was holding after seeing "the kiss". Poor hapless Dean!

Oh darn, I hate hating Ginny. My last hope is that the OotP Ginny returns in 7. She was starting to become cool, and I'll just write HBP Ginny off as Jo's little mistake. Jo should have improved her, not make her an angry little cat.

It's my only hope, 'cause like you said Louise, it would make the last book more enjoyable if I liked Ginny and therefore H/G. The canon's pretty obvious, so no hope in seeing Harry/Luna (even Harry/Parvati would do ), but I'm on the point of accepting Ginny as long as she undergoes another personality transplant. (For my own serenity while reading the last book - to heck with character development, it's gone out the window already!).

Oh gawsh, I hope Jo doesn't write about Ginny being sexually active! That would be too much, and way out of sync with the rest of the books. I'm puking too on the thought of Ginny's baby! I don't think she is for the sole reason that, imo, Jo's a bit naïve about things like that. She once said that the insinuation of feelings between the three in the CoS movie is too mature for kids of that age. They were 12! I wasn't that innocent/ignorant of such feelings at twelve, and I'm a good girl.

The fact remains though, that I don't like Ginny. If I met someone like her I would think her a *ahem* and feeble at most. I just want to tell her to get over herself! I would have sympathy for someone experiencing unrequited love - I know (and everyone knows) the feeling, but there are limits, goodness.

It's late and I'm getting worked up, so I'll stop right there. Come back some other day with more coherent ranting!