SHIP Why I Hate H/G Attn: Lilac

[Keith Mascarenhas]

No: HPFGUIDX 54520

Lilac wrote:

"I just think that it's very interesting that JKR made sure to mention Ginny's reaction during that scene. It's obviously foreshadowing, but the questionis...for what? (I hope it'sIsStrongerFromTheExperienceAndChoosesToFightBack!Ginny)"

Well, the three of them - Harry, Ginny and Neville - have all had terrifying experiences, thanks to Voldemort. Harry becausge of his legacy, Neville because of his parents and Ginny because of her stupidity!  We know what it does to Harry, but Neville and especially Ginny remain wildcards because they're peripheral characters in the series, as of now.  I'm not much of a fan of JKR's interviews, simply because she had this habit of telling us virtually nothing in her interviews - was Cedric really a main character in the HP series who was going to die?

As you asked, what the foreshadowing is for ? As much as I hate to say it, it could be for weakGinny BUT,  we just don't know yet.  To my mind, it does not necessarily foreshadow a relationship, and if it does,the ground work for a possible relationship has not properly been laid out (as of right now - COS/POA/GOF). 

It could also possibly foreshadow a relationship between Neville and Ginny who were not as badly effected with the dementors as Harry was. Putting Harry in the picture may simply signify that Harry may initially, albeit unintentionally, come in between a future Neville and Ginny relationship because of her feelings for "The Boy Who Lived".



Lilac said:
"That's very interesting, because I don't get that impression at all from Harry.My impression is that he politely endures her blushing and fumbling. He doesn't love it, but he doesn't hate it worse than "eating live scorpions" likeyou suggest...just politely indifferent. Could someone please help me to
understand this impression, backed up by canon?"

Okay, let me try to clarify this - I did not say that he hates her blushing and fumbling worse than "eating live scorpions". I said  that he'd prefer eating live scorpions to having a relationship or dating Ginny. It is not explicitly mentioned in the canon, but certain inferences can be made from the way Harry behaves with her. 

It is very clear that he doesn't want to date her, and , as said before, would probably rather eat live scorpions than go out with her! This is because, he knows that she's got a crush on "The Boy Who lived". He's seen it since the beginning - UKPB PS C6 PG73

'Hey Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train train?'
Harry leant back quickly so they couldn't see him looking
'You know the black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?'
'Who?'
'Harry Potter!'
Harry heard the little girls voice.
'Oh Mum, Can I go on the train and see him, Mum,oh please...'

Prior to this conversation, Molly helps Harry get onto platform 9 3/4, from the muggle platform. At this point, it is obvious that Ginny seen him, but is not crushing about him yet, because he looks like any other boy and because his scar is hidden underneath a mop of hair - so it's not love at first site, for Ginny, is it ? Only when she KNOWS that he is the famous Harry Potter, does she feel the need to see him on the train ? With me so far ? 

We know how Harry himself views his celebrity status with a bit of distaste - he's certainly not comfortable with his celebrity status. In COS, We get to see how he treats fellow celebrity Gilderoy Lockhart because Lockhart goes out of his way to seek fame. We know how he treats fanboy Colin Creevey - okay, I'll grant you that Creevey is a nuisance! Plus we all know what he thinks of 'journalist' Rita Skeeter by the end of GOF.

Now let's get back to Ginny's crush - what's her crush all about - it's all about meeting/knowing the famous "Boy Who Lived". Do you think Harry's comfortable with this ? Do you think Harry would want to go out or have a relationship with someone who has a crush on him solely because he's famous ? And that's the cornerstone of Ginny's crush, isnt it? 

There's a lovely little paragraph in UKPB GOF C22 PG339

'Hermione's words about Krum kept coming back to him.'They only like him because he's famous!" Harry doubted very much  if any of the girls who had asked to be his partner so far would have wanted to go to the ball with him if he hadn't been school champion. Then he wondered if this would bother him if Cho asked him.'

Think about Hermione's lines about the Krum's fans and Krum 'They only like him because he is famous' - now what's the cornerstone of Ginny's crush on Harry ?

I can't resist digging that in a little more, so I'll repeat repeat the extract from UKPB  PS C6 PG73

'You know the black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?'
'Who?'
'Harry Potter!'
Harry heard the little girls voice.
'Oh Mum, Can I go on the train and see him, Mum,oh please...'

So can you ever picture Harry asking Ginny out, willingly, knowing that the basis of her crush is his fame?

Back to UKPB GOF C22 PG345 Harry and Ron are getting increasingly worried about finding dates to the ball:

"And still Harry Hadn't asked Cho to the ball. He and Ron were getting a little nervous now, though as Harry Pointed out, Ron would look much less stupid than he wouldwithout a partner; Harry was supposed to be starting out the dancing with the other champions.

'I suppose there's always Moaning Myrtle,' he said gloomily, referring to the ghost who haunted the girl's toilet  on the second floor."

It is strange that Harry does not even consider asking Ginny out at this point especially since both Ron and Harry openly know that she, Ginny like Myrtle fancies him! Proof : UKPB COS C17 P240

'Urgh!' said Ron, as they left the bathroom for the dark deserted corridor outside. 'Harry! I think Myrtle's got fond of you! you've got competition, Ginny!'

To further prove my point, I take you to the conversation Ron has with Hermione and Ginny asking them to go with Harry and him to the Yule Ball - Notice one thing - Harry's stony silence (and he's not shocked by the girl's attitude, not one bit bothered mind you; even though Ron is) during the conversation and after - Harry seems totally indifferent towards the whole incident, even though it seems evident that Ginny regrets having accepted Neville's invitation! UKPB GOF C22 PGS 348-349. (read it for yourself)

To me it seems evident that he'd rather go out with a ghost or entertain scorpions than go out on a date with someone who has a crush on him just because he's "The Boy Who Lived" - Need I say more ?

Lilac said:
"My impression is that he politely endures her blushing and fumbling"

That's a very reasonable impression you've got there about Harry politely enduring her blushing and fumbling, but have you asked yourself why he politely endures her blushing and fumbling and why he, on the other hand treats the Creevey boys and Gilderoy Lockhart like sh*t ? The reason,  I suspect, is to do with the Weasley family (particularly Mrs. Weasley) who treat him as part of their own - would it be gratitude if he treated Ginny like he treated the Creevey boys and Lockhart? So what does he do ? he talks to her if she talks to him but ignores her otherwise!

Of course, the next question that one might be tempted to ask is - if he dislikes Ginny so much, why save her life? Well, he saved Wormtail's life too, didn't he? Fact is, Harry is a do gooder, he likes saving lives - he'd save Snaps and no Malfoy's life too (no matter what he thinks of them), if it came to it!

Keith


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