Harry's attitude to Ginny (was: It's time to defend Ginny!)

[ArtsyLynda at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 52443

Shauna:

> Harry isn't *contemptuous* of Ginny, he 
> just prefers not to think about her.

This statement kind of jumped out at me -- it's quite true, from what we can 
read.  But what's going on here?  Harry knows about Ginny, he's noticed her 
"existance," he knows she has a crush on him, and he's very kind and caring 
toward her when he pays attention to her -- just not "romantic" -- but he's 
too young for that anyway.  Right now, he's at the age where he's just 
beginning to notice girls a little bit, and he didn't even notice Hermione or 
Ginny, but a girl other boys would also be attracted too -- "pretty and 
popular" Cho.  It's rare (in my experience from years of working with kids 
the age of Harry and Ron and older) that boys notice girls in their immediate 
surroundings when they first start noticing girls - they more often are 
attracted to the "unattainable" ones like Cho (or the head cheerleader, when 
they themselves are young, shrimpy, not so well-groomed, not "jocks," etc.).  
Also, Ginny's his best friend's baby sister.  Imagine the ribbing Harry would 
get from Fred and George, and the red ears Ron would have, if Harry went out 
with Ginny.  I doubt Harry's thought about those things yet, but at some 
point he will.  Sometimes dating your best friend's sibling is the hardest 
thing to do -- it can endanger your friendship.  And at that age, which is 
more important, best friends or girlfriends?  I think they'll be quite a bit 
older before girlfriends replace best friends as the most important things in 
their lives.  JMHO

Lynda 
* * *
"Don't let  the Muggles get you down." Ron Weasley PoA


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