[HPforGrownups] Re: SHIP: JKR Interview (what she said and what she didn't say)

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 52082

Angua:
> <snip> she is preparing a similarly perfect partner for Harry (not
>necessarily comedic).
>It is fairly easy for me to see the ways JKR has portrayed Hermione
>as NOT a suitable partner for Harry, and to hypothesize the qualities
>that the girl who IS a suitable partner for Harry will have.  She
>will be, for instance, less bossy and argumentative than Hermione is,
>and will have a subtler, more continuously-active sense of humor.
>She will be a better listener and less judgmental than Hermione is,
>and will be able to get Harry to confide in her about the feelings
>and fears he currently keeps secret from both Ron and Hermione.
>Harry will feel entertained and comforted around her in a way he does
>not feel with Hermione (see the Ron-Harry fight in GoF, for
>instance).  And Harry will find her far more sexually attractive than
>he finds Hermione.
>And, come on, let's state the obvious -- her name will be Ginny
>Weasley.

That *MOUSE*?! Why....*pauses, sits back down, and takes a death breath*
Um..Sorry. *looks a little embarrassed*

But, *honestly*.  She even squeaks.  Admittedly, she *did* make progress in
GoF, but I've yet to be convinced that she even has a personality (which is
very understandable, given that we know so little about her, and what we do
know suggests -- let's face it -- a certain spinelessness).  I'm not saying
she can't grow...but, so far, I am not much encouraged by Jo's description
of her.

So.  Let's say that all of Angua's hypotheses on What Harry Needs are,
indeed, true.  Yes, Ginny is less bossy and argumentative.  No, we have seen
little evidence of a sense of humor.  Is she a better listener?  Hard to
say.  I expect she is more inclined to stare quietly (with some blank
adoration) as Harry pours out his heart's secrets, but I don't generally see
that as "good listening".  Less judgmental?  In a hero-worship kind of way.
And then again, what of the fact that she fell in "love" with Harry before
she even knew him?  Isn't that pre-judging someone?  Making up who you think
they should be without their input?  How will she feel about Harry when he
ceases to live up to her fantasy?  In my opinion, this is the worst form of
pre-judgment.  Not only are you treated inappropriately, but there is also
the pressure to live up to expectations that you *can't* meet (no one is
perfect, after all).  Harry is supposed to tell this girl his deepest
darkest secrets?  Not with *that* hanging over his head.
Anyway...entertaining?  Hardly.  Comforting?  Not in the least.  Harry seems
anything but comfortable in her presence.  More sexually attractive than
Hermione?  I can't seem to remember Harry even thinking that Ginny was
pretty (it doesn't quite matter if he has, anyway, as I know he has thought
so of Hermione, so at the very least, it's a tie) -- and given his several
opportunities to look at her in a romantic light, this seems telling.

So.  That's 5 No's, 1 Yes, and 1 Maybe.   Not too good.  My point being, of
course, that even if those were the correct criteria, Ginny's present
character hardly measures up to them.

Now, I would like to take issue with the criteria itself.

"She will be, for instance, less bossy and argumentative than Hermione is."

First, does Hermione really deserve the negative connotations of "bossy" and
"argumentative", anymore?  I will give you that she *is* a leader, and that
she does have a strong personality.  I suppose you are hypothesizing that
her very strength would overwhelm Harry's personality and smother and
intimidate him -- yet Neville, the most timid of them all (in this regard),
obviously found her not only approachable, but sensitive enough to be
trusted with his feelings.

Secondly, why does everyone assume that Harry's personality is so weak?  I
think dating a famous wizard *requires* Hermione's strength...and I think
that as Harry ages, he will realize this (as Krum did).  It seems to me that
the sweet, accepting, gentle type that so many people propose for Harry is
exactly the kind of trap that he needs to avoid.  Yes, Harry has a hard
life, and a girl like that might *seem* easier...but to paraphrase, what is
easy is not always what is right.  Furthermore, in the long run, Harry is
going to need someone who can stand up and fight his battles with him -- not
someone who can lick his wounds for him when it's all over.

As for the "better listener and less judgmental bit."....

Yes, Hermione has been insensitive in the past.  But compared to the rest of
the school -- I mean, really....if *Hermione* is the one who comforts,
helps, and listens to Neville...what must the rest of them be like ^_~?
Continuing with the Neville example, I think it's pretty clear that she
doesn't judge him -- otherwise he would be terrified of her.  I think she
does, like Ginny, expect a lot of Harry -- which causes her to give him a
hard time sometimes -- but, unlike Ginny, her expectations are based on her
knowledge of Harry and what she *knows* he is capable of.  I think her
behavior in regards to Neville proves that she doesn't push those who don't
need to be pushed.

Is Hermione entertaining?  Mm..well, you're right.  Although your discussion
of TE have convinced me, not of bantering, but of the existence of
Hermione's sense of humor, I do agree that her comments are not usually
laugh-out-loud funny.  And Harry does need laugh-out-loud funny once in a
while.  We all do.  But really, what more do you need when you have Ron?  So
many people assume that one's romantic partner must complete fulfill all
needs in one's life.  This is simply not true and is, IMO, a dangerous
assumption.

Is Hermione comforting?  We know that she *can* be comforting, when the
situation calls for it.  Furthermore, I certainly wouldn't say that Harry is
*uncomfortable* around her.  I think, in general, when a crisis occurs
Hermione is much more likely to be out there coming up with a solution than
commiserating.  (note that when Harry was so upset about Ron in GoF, she
took both routes...she tried to encourage communication while still
emotionally supporting Harry and, presumably, Ron).

As for being sexually attractive...well.  One, I have found that when you
fall in love with someone, physical attraction has a tendency to follow (I
don't contend that Harry is in love with Hermione), and thinking that things
out to happen the other way around is generally a bad thing.  Two, he *has*
shown the ability to appreciate her asthetically (Yule Ball).  Really, at
this point, Harry has shown little physical attraction to anyone but Cho
Chang.

As a side note, I admire Cho Chang -- her behavior throughout GoF was
nothing less than noble.  However, I was irked by Harry's reaction to her.
He did *not* know that she was a decent person before he became obsessed
with her.  tsk tsk.

Anywho.  I really don't mean to offend any Ginny fans out there.  I know
that you will probably violently disagree with me, but please understand
that I don't mean it personally. *always feels like she's tramping on
people's feet when she disses such a popular character*

Laura (Who will be severely distressed if anyone asserts that Ginny is
"feisty".  Can see no support for this theory other than the red hair.  Is
unimpressed with this support, as she has known a number of redheads that
were downright timid.)