SHIP: Harry, Ginny and me accepting Del's challenge

[John Kearns]

No: HPFGUIDX 136317

I haven't participated in any shipping discussions yet - too busy 
defending my ideas on Horcruxes.  But the recent conversations 
enlightened me and gotten me thinking (the reason I joined the 
group!  Bravo!) and so here I am, burning my final post of the day 
in response.

> > Del Wrote:
> > So now I feel very much liberated. I feel that it's OK for me to 
> > not overly care for that romance, or to not consider that Ginny 
> > has suddenly taken that *huge* place in Harry's life. I'm not 
> > worried anymore about missing something important in Harry's 
> > life, and it makes sense now that so little of his romance 
> > should be shown: it's because it doesn't matter that much.
> 
> Max responded:
> Like Lynn, I believe we were witnessing the beginning stages of a
> relationship that might very well become more serious in Book 7. We
> don't have enough of a feeling for H/G yet to be able to 
> definitively state that the relationship will continue to grow, 
> but I think enough of the groundwork has been laid so if JKR does 
> decide to deepen the relationship (which I believe she will) it 
> will feel like a natural progression. 

John K now:
While reading all of this, I was pondering teenage relationships, 
and have a couple of insights that I hope are pertinent.

First, as Lynn originally said, this relationship isn't that old.  
As a result, as Del said, I think it's probably not too important - 
right now.  I think laying the groundwork for it, though, IS 
important, for the role the relationship could play in the next book 
(once we've seen more of it, hooray!), as Harry and Ginny grow and 
mature in regards to each other - whether they're together or apart.

Second, I think it's worth remembering that at Harry and Ginny's 
age - and most especially with their experience - while we adults 
who have been in serious relationships or marriages know that they 
are far from being deeply in love, they have no perspective on it.  
So they feel like it's a HUGE thing - after all, it really is the 
happiest anyone's ever made them feel! - but they have no sense of 
what could be to come.  I think there are hints that Harry thinks 
he's falling in love, but I think it's also pretty clear that he 
hasn't, at least not yet.  But try telling any high schooler in a 
committed relationship that it's just 'puppy love,' and you might 
want to watch out for items flying at your head. ;)

JMO,

John K