[HPforGrownups] Re: SHIP: Why I dislike H/G

[Jesta Hijinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 54243



[gently turns off rant mode :-)]

I find that I *do* like the possibility of a long-term Harry=Ginny coupling, 
either in the books or projected beyond, because I can't help but see a very 
different and more positive spin on some of the points raised here:

>1) It implies that there is nothing attractive about Ginny other than
>herfamily, and that Harry would *only* be with her for her family.
>That's exactly the same as saying if she were rich, he would be with
>her for her money.

At *this* point, yes.  However, we only have four of the books to go on - 
just over halfway "there", "there" being the end.  That's still a long way 
in which we can have some development of Ginny's unique and special 
qualities.  And I'm kind of old-fashioned:  for me, in fiction or in life, 
there *has* to be something *other* than "attractiveness" to make me believe 
there's love and longevity there.  We haven't seen a lot of Ginny so far, 
but what we've seen indicates that there is a loving heart, a devotion to 
family, and a budding ability to speak out even when she might get laughed 
at or attacked - sending Harry a very public valentine was a great way to 
open the door on being ridiculed by a large portion of the school, including 
her numerous older and creative brothers.

Personally, I believe that someone having a large, loving, accepting family 
is just about the exact opposite of the monetary example of wealth as a 
motivating factor.  Modern values would have us think of marriage as 
something only intensely personal and selfish, and it really isn't:  it 
connects two families - especially if there are children - that 
mother-in-law you can barely tolerate now is your child's grandparent, and 
you are tied for the rest of your lives whether you like it or not.  I 
personally think that Ginny's family is a huge positive attractor and a big 
plus if we're speaking long term.

Short term crushes, first kisses, there I could see "cute" as the only 
factor.  ;-)

>2) It implies that Harry is so desperate for a family he would be
>with a girl only for her family, not for who she is and what is
>special about *her*.

Ummmm...I realize I may not have much chance of succeeding long term, but I 
always have to ask where I can:  is there any possibility of flushing the 
term "desperate" from the lexicon of human relations to one another?  ;-)  
It tends to put a very negative spin on positive, intense feelings and leads 
to games of chasing the ones who run away.  (I'll get off my 
socio-psychological soapbox now.  ;-))  Anyway:  Harry probably *would* 
really like a loving, supportive family.  So?  Something positive that he 
wants is supposed to *not* be appealing to him?  I don't think that's very 
reasonable in terms of human emotion and motivation - no slight intended to 
you in the least.

>3) It implies that the Weasleys, in the long term, would not be as
>affectionate to Harry unless he's officially a "part of the family" -
>which is ridiculous, because they obviously love him tons now.  I
>think Harry could run off with Fleur or Cho or just about anyone
>short of Mrs. Lestrange and the Weasleys would still love him.

And here, I agree.  Of course they will.  I doubt they're trying to maneuver 
Ginny and Harry together - they're both too young at this point.  As I 
alluded earlier, I rather suspect Ginny gets merciless teasing about it.  
And I don't think that Harry would allow anything other than a powerful 
feeling to make him serious in pursuit of Ginny.

One thing you're not mentioning here is Ginny's feelings about *him*.  I, 
for one, strongly believe that him saving her will increase her feelings for 
him over time.  And I think Harry would be a sensible young man to allow 
someone having strong feelings for him be a factor in his returning them and 
coming to love someone who loves him, rather than chasing the unattainable - 
like Cho.

>In addition, there has been *no* development of Ginny's character in
>four whole books.  Zip, zilch, zero.  Harry is going to need a girl
>with backbone, someone who can take care of herself and him too, not
>a damsel-in-distress type.  I'm not saying Ginny *can't* be that way,
>but we don't know anything about her one way or the other yet.

As you say, not yet.  :-)  But there may yet be.  This series if pretty 
tightly focused on the main trio.  It would take a lot more text to do all 
of the development on the other characters.  I have this vision of the three 
central juvenile characters as being "the ones" JKR has focused on, and the 
supporting characters as factors who influence, guide, impede and assist 
them in achieving their goals.

>Obviously that objection would disappear if JKR actually *does*
>something with Ginny besides have her fawn over Harry from afar in
>book
>5. If she waits till after this book, IMO it's too late.
>Just my two knuts.

My view?  It's never too late.  :-)

Felinia

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