SHIP Re: Harry, Ginny, and age appropriateness

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 136050

lebeto said:
>>Then the true love of his life suddenly appears and the
same stages take maybe three chapters. One could look back and say
Ginny had a crush on him and they both have seen the darkness of
Voldemort, but there was no reciprication of her feelings until this
book. There would be nothing wrong with this except JKR herself said
that Ginny was the perfect woman and such a fast relationship seems
more like an infatuation.

CathyD now:
Geez, I really have been trying to stay out of this SHIP business, but...

Ginny *did* have a crush on Harry, from the very first book.  When Fred and George told Mrs. W that they had met Harry on the train, Ginny wanted to go meet him.  Yes, possibly she wanted to meet the 'famous' Harry that all the WW had talked about for years, but still, she wanted to meet him.  She chased after the train, and yes, she wanted to go to Hogwarts and not be left alone with just her Mom and no brothers at home. At the end of PS we have Ginny shouting and pointing "Harry Potter, look Mum I can see..."

In CoS we find out just how far the 'crush' went.  She wouldn't speak to him, was different than usual ("you don't know how weird it is for her to be this shy, she never shuts up normally --"), had 'accidents' (perfect forshadowing to Tonks/Lupin).  She sent Harry a Valentine that was sung in front of half the school, not to mention Fred & George singing it later in the Common Room.  And horror of horrors, Harry saves Ginny's life.  

She's not around much in PoA though she did make Harry a get well card which sang if he didn't keep his bowl of fruit on top.  Maybe she's doing what Hermione told her, getting on with life and going out with other boys.  Same for GoF.  She goes to the ball with Neville, she wasn't even in their compartment on the train on the way back to King's Cross. 

In OotP she's the one who can tell Harry what possession by Voldemort is really like.  She's the one who takes his place on the Quidditch team and tells him he won't be banned for life, only until Umbridge is gone (and since Umbridge is the DADA teacher...).  She initiates the first 'diversion' to get Harry into the fireplace in Umbridge's office so he can talk to Sirius.  She arranges the situation for the second visit to Umbridge's office.  She insisted on going with HRH to London.  She was there in the DoM.

There may have been no 'reciprication' until HBP, Harry clearly saw her as a friend, as the sister of his best friend, and didn't want to cross any lines or ruin any friendships.  We do watch Ginny grow from an infatuated little girl to a very strong young woman (IMO).  She's taking no guff from either Fred and George or Ron, about anything. Nor did she mince words with Hermione.  I don't think Mrs. Weasley is going to be able to stop her going to fight with Harry if that is what she decides to do in book 7.

I think one thing some of us are forgetting is that this book is written, for the most part, from Harry's point of view. That precludes us knowing what is going on in Ginny's head, although we do find that out, a bit, during the break-up scene.  She'd never really given up on Harry, just waited until they were both ready. 

I've wanted Harry and Ginny together since CoS.  Not because he saved her, but from the beginning of the book: "Life at The Burrow was as different as possible from his life in Privet Drive....What Harry found most unusual about life at Ron's.....it was the fact that everybody there seemed to like him."

Oh, and just for the record, I had a first date with my husband on June 30th, we married on Oct 12th and we'll be celebrating our 21st anniversary this year. Fast doesn't necessarily mean infatuation.  It's being able to sort the wheat out of the chaff.

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