SHIP Harry & Ginny?

[cassandraclaire at mail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15531

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Kimberly" <moongirlk at y...> wrote:

"But Jim's post wasn't saying that's all she would do.  He wasn't 
> focusing at that point on what all else Ginny may do, because that 
> wasn't what his post was about.  That's why I thought your post was 
in  reference to the nurturing aspect specifically, I guess.  
> 
Okay, then, what was his post about? From what I can tell the post  
(and I've reread it a couple of times) was about what Hermione would  
offer Harry as a romantic partner versus what Ginny would, and vice  
versa. If I read it wrong, then correct me, but that's what it looked 
like. Hermione, according to the post "wants an intellectually and  
emotionally strong partner, somebody who will both stimulate and  
challenge her." She'll "keep Harry's head on straight."

Wheras Ginny "will love Harry with the kind of devotion 
and passion that the quiet girls develop. (Note to younger male 
members of this group: remember that.) She will always be there for 
him, a healing balm, a safe harbor; and Harry will be good for her 
because he won't take her for granted." 

The part of the post about Hermione mentioned what SHE might get out 
of the relationship; the part about Ginny just addressed what she 
could, quietly and safely and devotedly, offer to Harry.
And THAT was the characterization of Ginny that I was objecting to. 
Calling her a "healing balm and a safe harbor" and emphasizing 
her "quietness" and her "devotion" just really bothered me. It 
doesn't seem to me to be the Ginny I'd like to see (brave, spirited, 
interesting) and frankly doesn't even seem to be the Ginny we know 
very little about from canon. (Ron says she is not in fact a "quiet 
girl"; she's just quiet around Harry.) 

Nor is it the description of 
any kind of person I can see Harry wanting to be with. Also his not 
taking her for granted seems to be a strange extrapolation. Why 
wouldn't he, since there is no mention in the post of Ginny being 
spirited or self-confident or adventurous; just as being quiet, safe 
and devoted. Note I am not saying that there is anything WRONG with 
being quiet and safe and devoted, just that I can't see that being 
something Harry would want *unless* it was balanced out by 
characteristics like strength and bravery, which were NOT mentioned 
in the post. 

The post described an extremely passive-sounding Ginny, 
which was what offended me (and Carole, and Heidi, and the others who 
mentioned it.) I agree with Heidi "I cannot imagine 
why a guy, in this day and age, would be interested in a woman whose 
major qualities are "safeness" and "quietness".  It's not what he 
(Harry) sought in friends" and I cannot see him seeking it in a 
girlfriend either.


Kimberly:
"I think you and I are closer to agreement than we thought, except 
that  I'm actively looking forward to the possibility of Ginny 
becoming a  great, strong character and being a good match for Harry, 
and you're  skeptical that it will happen, and maybe wouldn't really 
care for it  if it did?  Is that closer to right?

I'm mildly skeptical, albeit hopeful, that it will happen, but would 
be happy to see it if it did. I'd be perfectly happy in that case 
with an H/G relationship. (Not that JKR is waiting on MY say-so. <g>)
What I was objecting to was the matchup of 
a  "quiet" "safe" "devoted" Ginny with Harry, when what I would like 
to see is the matchup of a "brave", "interesting," "spirited" Ginny 
with Harry, and if that Ginny also happens to be devoted to him, 
that's obviously fine (as long as he is devoted back). I can't quite 
get with "safe" and "quiet" but maybe that's just me.

Cassie