For the second time in as many weeks, I find myself in the extraordinary position of defending my opinion on a literary topic: first, it was Stephen King's somewhat inflammatory but painfully truthful comments about Stephenie Meyer's writing ability (or lack, thereof); now, it's my decision to include Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley in my list of 5 most romantic literary couples.
What's funny is that, out of the couples on both lists, I assumed the Harry and Ginny one would be the LEAST controversial. I fully expected to be criticized for my snarky comments about Romeo and Juliet and, especially, Healthcliff and Cathy Earnshaw from the overwhelmingly beloved Wuthering Heights, but Harry and Ginny? If Voldemort himself had shown up at my door selling Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, I couldn't have been more surprised.
Unfortunately, "romance" is one of those nebulous terms that is as subjective as "nice" or "pretty": there are as many definitions of it as there are people walking the earth. It's no wonder that readers differ so greatly in their definitions of what is romantic -- what one person considers fantastical, pulp trash is another person's Cupid-inspired masterpiece. And long may it remain so.
Despite the differences, however, a quick look at the literary romances that are universally agreed as ideal -- Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, for instance -- all share a number of similiarites. The ONLY relationship in the Harry Potter series that consistently exhibits these characteristics is that of Harry and Ginny -- not Harry and Hermione, Ron and Hermione, Harry and Cho, Harry and Luna, Harry and Ron, Harry and Dumbledore, or other interesting combinations That is why, in my opinion, Harry and Ginny belong in the rarefied presence of the great literary romances.
So, let's take a look at these characteristics and how Harry and Ginny measure up to them, shall we? Wands at the ready.
What makes a great literary romance and why Harry and Ginny belong in their number
Great literary romances develop in a believable way
Forget love at first sight, falling in love with an enemy (a favorite of bodice-rippers), or those cop-out, sudden realization romances ("I've loved you all along but only realized it just this second"): for-real romances develop over a period of time in a believable way. Just like Elizabeth and Darcy or Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester, the love between the characters grows slowly as both watch the other in a variety of circumstances. The tremendous span of the Harry Potter series allowed J.K. Rowling to develop Harry and Ginny's relationship over a span of time that most authors don't enjoy, making it that much more true to life.
Great literary romances are based on a mutual admiration and respect for the other's strengths and talents
When was the last time you saw a couple who managed to have a great relationship while constantly arguing about or snarking on the other person's faults/shortcomings/stupidity, etc? You'd have difficulty finding even one, and the best literary romances reflect this: both admire the other person immensely. This is one of the reasons why I could never warm to the Ron and Hermione liasion, which featured pretty frequent bickering, and even closes out the series with Hermione assuming (rightly) that Ron had to befuddle his examiner in order to pass a driver's test. Happily bickering couples tend to be the exclusive domain of not-to-be-taken seriously romance books and 30 minute sitcoms, not the stuff of serious literary love. Harry and Ginny, on the other hand, clearly respect one another as talented and courageous.
Great literary romances are willingly sacrificial
After Harry realizes that he and You-Know-Who are locked in a pas de deux that can only end in death and unhappiness, he does everything in his power to protect Ginny from being hurt by the approaching fracas. His behavior is echoed by the actions of practically every other literary romance of note, from Mr. Darcy putting his reputation and pride on the line to help Elizabeth's family to Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing agreeing to duel with his friend Claudio because he has slighted Beatrice's cousin. Compare that to, for instance, the stormy selfishness of Healthcliff in Wuthering Heights whose possessive lust for Cathy drives him to try to destroy her only child's life. Not as appealing, is it? Incidentally, that is why I could never see Snape as the ultimate love-lorn hero -- sure, he risked a lot in Lily Potter's memory, but his love apparently didn't extend to treating her only child with the kindness a truly sacrificial love would have demanded.
Great literary romances feature a well-matched pair
You'd be hard-pressed to find a great literary romance in which one character is a dope and the other intelligent, or one is courageous and the other a coward. J.K. Rowling spends a good deal of time in the Potter series demonstrating to readers that Ginny's spunky bravery is not only more than a match for Harry, but a hell of a lot better than Cho's idiocy. Dorothy L. Sayers knew this well, which is why the only possible companion for her highly intelligent and witty Lord Peter Wimsey could only be a woman as intelligent, witty, and unconventional as Harriet Vane.
Great literary romances celebrate the steadfast and unwavering love of the underdog
We all love an underdog, and nowhere do we love them more than in a romance: there is something infinitely satisfying in seeing someone who has loved long and in silence finally ride away triumphant with the guy or girl. The unrequited, unrewarded devotion of the lover (i.e. Ginny, Lord Peter, Mr. Darcy, Jane Eyre, etc.) seems to trigger some sort of universal empathetic response from readers. We long with them as they pine for their beloved and we get such a kick when they win in the end.
I've no doubt there are probably quite a few of you with vehemently different opinions on Harry and Ginny as a romantic couple. By all means, let's hear your arguments -- huzzah to literary debates! I love them -- but let's be sure to observe the niceties of a polite literary discussion: be sure to back up any insults you may feel compelled to make with some evidence and straightforward points.
If you're a literary debate aficionado, you might be interested in casting an eye on the detailed and highly intelligent arguments made in the Book Examiner Twilight versus Harry Potter Debate, which featured four readers each representing Team Twilight and Team Potter.
Comments
(this is a horribly small text box in which one must type. And no 'preview' function? Let me guess, I'm about to discover a length limit? :-()
Indeed, lets look at your nominated characteristics of great literary romances:
* "for-real romances develop over a period of time in a believable way" -- but this didn't happen with Harry/Ginny! Harry rescues Ron's sister in the second book; he then ignores her for two years and barely notices her tagging along in the fifth. It's only in the sixth book where Harry *suddenly* notices Ginny as a desirable girl:
"It was as though something large and scaly erupted into life in Harry's stomach, clawing at his insides" (page 196 of book #6).
I'm sorry Michelle, but the H/G 'romance' manifested as a quantum leap of Harry's hormones, a sudden mutation based on teenage lust; not as a slowly-developed romantic relationship.
* "Harry and Ginny, on the other hand, clearly respect one another as talented and courageous" -- but this is a direct contradiction of your next point, that Harry does everything he can to ward Ginny from 'the approaching fracas'. Furthermore there's absolutely no proof in the series that Ginny is 'talented' - we are only *told* this on a couple of occasions, never shown it (indeed, her witnessed performance in battle is sub-par) - and Harry (to whose every thought we are privy) never ruminates on Ginny's magical 'talents' whatsoever.
If you were truely genuine in seeking a girl who is a match for Harry in courage and, most particularly, *talent*, then you would be looking to Hermione Granger to fill the vacancy of that other popular romantic trope, the "leading lady gets the hero". Ginny's 'talent' starts and ends with her ability to cast the childishly-name 'Bat Bogey Hex'.
* "We all love an underdog ... seeing someone who has lived long and in silence finally ride away triumphant" -- this is one of those 'subjective' metrics for a romance, I think. Myself, I believe this is a horrible example of romance for Rowling's readership. The Harry/Ginny lesson for millions of children across the globe? 'If you wait long enough, and cross your fingers, and hope really hard ... maybe one day you'll be lucky and your crush will notice you'. I think it's a sad contradiction, Michelle, that you can applaud Ginny's putative 'spunky bravery' just one paragraph before you then laud her complete romantic passivity.
While I appreciate your careful selection of attributes that might best show Harry/Ginny in a romantic light, I think you've missed the most important one of all:
* Great literary romances ... encompass great *love*.
Nowhere in the series does Ginny tell Harry that she loves him. Nowhere in the seven books does Harry tell Ginny that he loves her. Even more damning, privy as we are to Harry's every thought, at no time does he ever even THINK that he loves the girl. Instead, we *know* why Harry is attracted to Ginny ... his every thought of her, bar one, is of her physical charms (not her absent magical ones :-)) - her hair, her 'firewhiskey kisses'. The sole exception? When he considers how he likes her not crying. Wow. That's true love? I think not. It's teenage *lust*, Michelle. You shouldn't mistake one for the other.
It's a sorry 'romance' that has no actual *love* between the two people concerned, Michelle. I think that fact alone disqualifies Harry/Ginny from being anything more than Harry's first high school fling. Certainly it bars the couple from being a 'great literary romance'.
Maybe this teenage pairing might have developed into a bona fide romance after graduation ... particuarly in Rowling's universe, where marriage to one's high school sweetheart seems mandatory. But we never saw it in the series itself. Certainly the slapped-on epilogue showed no evidence of the 'great literary romance' that you are seeking.
Finally, Michelle, I think you should recognise the trap you fell into with your previous article. As I mentioned in my comment there, you saw the initial crush that Ginny had for Harry as pointing to what could be a great romance. I agree. Harry/Ginny could have been a great romance. But, unfortunately, it never came to be.
You liked the signpost, Michelle. "CLASSIC LITERARY ROMANCE, BEST FRIEND'S SISTER GETS HER CRUSH, THIS WAY, 7 BOOKS --->". It was a *good* signpost, maybe. We all had high hopes that the destination would live up to all of our hopes.
Unfortunately it didn't.
Well done post! I agree with you. I loved how Harry realized he liked Ginny in the later books, and it was because Ginny was finally able to be herself. I like that she got on with her life and didn't wait around for Harry either.
It was in the sixth book, I believe, when he found out how much he enjoyed her company and how funny she was. When he kept laughing at her jokes during the summer, I knew he was falling for her and it was only a matter of time before it became extremely clear, LOL.
On the subject of "romance", one of my very favorite romantic moments in any book or movie happens in the Deathly Hallows book. It's the moment when Harry takes out his map and stares at Ginny's name; her simple name was enough to give him some comfort while he was on the horcrux mission. *sigh* Very romantic.
The pictures you chose remind me of how excited I am to see them in the next movie.
What H/G sorely lacked was development. You sound like you're talking about a completely different couple (and you had to bash Cho Chang while you were at it too. Classy.) If there's one thing the detractors of the couple hate is the ham-fisted way Ginny's so-called good qualities were shoved in their faces in the last two books, and Rowling's interviews insisting that they're so perfect for each other, while in the books there's little to no meaningful interaction between her and Harry that could have made this relationship more than the typical teenage infatuation. Why is it that Harry shared more of such meaningful moments with Luna? Rowling could have easily taken these opportunities to allow H/G to bond, beyond their face-sucking sessions, but never did. To this day I wonder why. What was in the text clearly wasn't enough.
H/G could have been so much better. JKR might be a great storyteller, but she definitely falls down when it comes to romance. She kept *telling* us how great H/G was, but she scarcely *showed* us why.
For the record, I'm indifferent to H/G. Which is probably a bad thing too, come to think of it, since this is supposed to be one of the greatest literary romances. Not.
Well said!
HP fans are nuts, I say this as one of them. There's a lot of people - like Brad down there - who can't believe they didn't see what was obvious enough for 10 year olds to pick up!
Harry and Ginny met under romantic situations - at a train station, just like JKR's parents. Harry's first memory of Ginny is her running after the train, waving after them the entire time. Later, like something out of a fairytale, he rescues her by slaying a monster.
But more than that, the events in the second book brought the two together. From then on, only Ginny could truly understand what it was like to be under Voldemort's power the way Harry was. And while Ginny stays in the background for the next two books, we get hints of this throughout the series. More over, even if Harry doesn't notice her as a romantic partner (while Ginny pines for him) he always describes her in romantic ways mentioning "the fire light reflected in her eyes" and how she was curled up like a cat.
By the 5th book, it's pretty obvious they're going to end up together. Ginny's the only one who brings him out of his bad mood about Sirius, Ginny is one of the few who answers the call to rescue Sirius just like she'll do again at the end of the 6th book and Ginny has joined the Quidditch team replacing Harry as Seeker (showing that they're equals once again) and winning the Snitch (Harry's heart) out from under Cho's nose in one of the games.
Then after all this time of training with her, fighting beside her, playing Quidditch together, spending time in the same House and at her house - Harry finally notices Ginny. They have a few blissful days together before the Death Eaters attack the school. And again, of note, it's Ginny who manages to pull Harry away from Dumbledore's body. She's the only one who can bring him comfort at the time.
When he leaves, she understands. She knows having the Trace on her means she can't join Harry, Ron and Hermione on their journey. Instead of moping or pining away for him - Ginny becomes a resistance fighter along with Neville and Luna. She tries to steal the sword of Gryffindor for him, she helps recruit and train new members of Dumbledore's Army and against her family's wishes she fights in the final Battle just as Harry does.
Like Harry, she has a sense of humor; like Harry, she enjoys Quidditch; like Harry, she knows what it's like to be controlled by Voldemort; like Harry, she's a fighter. She is Harry's match in every way.
Brilliantly stated, Michelle. I agree with you completely. One of the greatest things to do is go back through the books and search for the "clues" in each one. Ginny started out with a crush that introduced the reader to the potential of the romance between Harry/Ginny. It's a common link that is present throughout every book until the fifth when we see Ginny grow into her own and find the courage to interact with Harry. Without the shyness of her initial crush she was able to be herself and Harry was able to finally see her for the person she was and get to know her properly. His growing awareness and increased interaction with her led us to HBP. The closer Harry got to her the more he liked her until he could not deny his romantic feelings. It was beautiful.
And for the person who complained that they never said "I love you" in plain text. It wasn't needed because it was self-evident. Harry said Ginny was his greatest source of comfort, he said she made him "the happiest he could remember being", just looking at her dot on the marauder's map was enough to comfort him on the Horcrux hunt, Ginny was the last thought he had before he "died", when Bellatrix attacked Ginny Harry was willing to turn his back on VOLDEMORT and go after Bellatrix instead because he was so desperate to protect Ginny. Harry's actions all showed that he loved Ginny and she waited for him in the seventh book because she loved him. She tried to steal Gryffindor's sword for Harry (risking her neck in the process) because she loved him and knew he needed it. And to drive all this home, they were still together 19 years later so their feelings were not just a passing fancy. It was lasting and it gave Harry the family he always wanted.
Okay, so you rock again Michelle. I welcome you to Fanforum.com's Harry Potter board where we at the Leo thread (H/G supporters) are celebrating your essays. And we've put you on the honorary Leo list as well. Feel free to stop by.
Clearly the naysayers think that JKR's romance wasn't enough for their liking. Was she writing a romance novel? No. It was a coming of age adventure series where romance was a highlight every now and again to show Harry's development and capacity to love. The purpose of the romance was never to overshadow the journey and conflicts that Harry had to face. And for those who read the books the way Jo had intended, understood that. We accepted the limits of her romance segments. She showed plenty for those of us that didn't want romance to be the central focus anyway. We wouldn't be steadfast supporters if we weren't satisfied.
As you said, romance is very subjective and that's not acceptable to some who need to see "I LOVE YOU" instead of grasping the subtle genius of thinking of the love your life the instant that you die. That means nothing I guess. LOL
Brilliantly stated, Michelle. I agree with you completely. One of the greatest things to do is go back through the books and search for the "clues" in each one. Ginny started out with a crush that introduced the reader to the potential of the romance between Harry/Ginny. It's a common link that is present throughout every book until the fifth when we see Ginny grow into her own and find the courage to interact with Harry. Without the shyness of her initial crush she was able to be herself and Harry was able to finally see her for the person she was and get to know her properly. His growing awareness and increased interaction with her led us to HBP. The closer Harry got to her the more he liked her until he could not deny his romantic feelings. It was beautiful.
And for the person who complained that they never said "I love you" in plain text. It wasn't needed because it was self-evident. Harry said Ginny was his greatest source of comfort, he said she made him "the happiest he could remember being", just looking at her dot on the marauder's map was enough to comfort him on the Horcrux hunt, Ginny was the last thought he had before he "died", when Bellatrix attacked Ginny Harry was willing to turn his back on VOLDEMORT and go after Bellatrix instead because he was so desperate to protect Ginny. Harry's actions all showed that he loved Ginny and she waited for him in the seventh book because she loved him. She tried to steal Gryffindor's sword for Harry (risking her neck in the process) because she loved him and knew he needed it. And to drive all this home, they were still together 19 years later so their feelings were not just a passing fancy. It was lasting and it gave Harry the family he always wanted.
Fantastic stuff here. I pretty much agree with you on everything. I'm not sure why you needed to support your point, you'd think people would be mature enough to let others have their own POV, but I expect more craziness to come around as this passes on in the anti HG communities around.
I do not get the H/G do not share any meaningful moments crap. Please, talking about death once and then being pitied and laughed at is not meaningful moments all the time. Harry and Luna had one very nice meaningful moment. Doesn't mean they should get together even though they are horribly mismatched. Harry and Ginny have their meaningful moments and then have their fun moments as well .. how awful. Surely no one wants fun in a relationship. Meaningful moments in a relationship are not always talking about death .... they are about having fun.
For me, she showed plenty of why H/G was good enough. I'm told R/Hr is good but I don't see it .. but I don't spend my time moaning about it.
I think part of what also amazes me is that people take offence at them kissing. Like seriously ? They have their bonding moments and their kissing moments (which btw, we don't even see that much but apparently 3 moments is enough to say ALL they do is kiss).
It's also very nice to see fellow H/G fans who saw the H/G coming with the subtle development and clues.. was a fun ride wasn't it ?
sorry, but Ginny is the worst caracter in the HP books! She's so boring and never helped Harry in his jornad...Ginny is pretty lame....The most beautiful romance in it is RON & HERMIONE! ...sorry my bad english!
I wholeheartedly couldn't disagree with you more about Ron & Hermione. Even though I like Harry & Ginny, it is very clear that Ron & Hermione are the spotlight couple in Harry Potter. For someone professing to know so much about romantic literature, I'm surprised how superficial you are to the Ron & Hermione relationship dynamic. It goes WAY beyond just mere bickering. All of that is a cause of the underlying tension the two have been experiencing for years.
Ron & Hermione's romance was featured on the Entertainment Weekly year end countdown after OOTP was released in theaters. Everyone and their mama are anticipating R/Hr's big moment in Deathly Hallows! It's unfortunate they you so callously wrote them off on your list. Your loss I guess.
I think I love you ;)
H/G was quite obvious to me by book 5! :)
Seriously people, it's her POV. Yes, R/Hr is a popular pairing. Yet, not everyone will like it and mostly they have their reasons .... whether or not you agree with them. Just let people have their own opinions. If she finds R/Hr lame, so what ? You like it ? Great, go on liking it. She doesn't find bickering romantic ? Not the end of the world is it ?
This is for Brad ... Hermione is talented ? In what ? More than Ginny ? LOL. Okay. She's as couargeous .... I agree. But talented ? In memorizing ?
I respect your opinion regarding Harry and Ginny, but I'm sorry -- saying Harry and Ginny are more similar to Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy than Ron and Hermione is laughable. One of the most famous literary tropes is that of the bickering lovers. Upon careful reading, one can easily see that Jo Rowling very consciously used this pattern in the formation of Ron and Hermione's relationship.
I absolutely agree with everything. I love Ron/Hermione, but my favorite pairing from Goblet of Fire on has been Harry/Ginny. They are, as you pointed out, so very well matched. It's hard to picture Harry with someone like Cho who, as far as we saw, was entirely too emotionally unstable. Harry needs someone a lot tougher than that to handle him and everything that goes with being The Boy Who Lived. And I believe JKR made Ginny out to be that girl perfectly. It's also not like Harry didn't do his share of unrequited love, if even for a short period, when Ginny spends basically all of HBP going out with Dean Thomas. But also, I think that a lot of the people that object to Harry/Ginny saying that it was too sudden, or that Harry even barely thinks of her when hunting for Horcruxes, or that there isn't even a declaration of love in the book, are perhaps overlooking the fact that the series as a whole is not meant to be romance story. It's an action/adventure tale and while JKR has said it in the past that to not have included some romance in the story would have been unnatural because it's what every teenager goes through at some point, the romance isn't necessarily the focus of the story. With everything poor Harry to go through, I think I can excuse a lack of romance on his part when he had tons of life-threatening situations to deal with.
I like Ron and Hermione, but it was when I noticed sparks starting in OOTP with H/G that I stood up and too notice. I favor the H/G romance over R/H any day. It gets really old all the bickering, I mean they did it for 7 years! It was too long and drawn out for me. I felt the passion more with Harry and Ginny as I feel they show their passions in a more romantic and loving way than Ron and Hermione...I am a Harry/Ginny shipper and very proud of it. As I said before, I like Ron and Hermione as a couple but they are not even close to my favorite pairing!
Harry and Ginny more similar to Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth than Ron and Hermione?
Well, Michelle, excuse me one more time, but you not just have to read "Harry Potter" again but also "Pride and Prejudice".
Wow, Brad. That's a whole lot of. . .
I'm not sure what, exactly, all of that is. You do realize that this is not a debate, right? The author of this blog has stated her opinion. Despite the fact that she had no need to do so she explained her reasoning in response to a lot of the criticism she received about her choice of Harry and Ginny. No one is saying that you need to agree with what she has written, but to continue to insist that she explain herself simply because you, personally, disagree with her is not only patronizing but rude as hell. If you are representative of the non-Harry/Ginny faction of the Harry Potter fandom I am very glad that I am not a part of your "group", because I'd hate to be viewed as being that ill-mannered and inconsiderate.
Michelle, don't let all of the hatred and the rude criticism get to you. From what I understand there have been a lot of people that have done nothing but complain about H/G since Half Blood Prince hit the shelves almost four years ago. Talk about sour grapes!
Michelle, you rock. As does your entire post.
You've said your piece eloquently.
I expected the likes of Brad to be whacked out about this but it's disappointing to see some Ron/Hermione fans act so gracelessly.
Jeanne - 'wow' back at you. I guess you can't read too well. Here, I'll repeat part of Michelle's closing words for you, verbatim:
"I've no doubt there are probably quite a few of you with vehemently different opinions on Harry and Ginny as a romantic couple. By all means, let's hear your arguments -- huzzah to literary debates!"
Jeanne, I understand it's much, MUCH easier to close down any debate or slap unwarranted "hatred! rude!" labels on the arguments you don't like rather than actually offer a rebuttal - particularly if the alternative is to try and paint Rowling's H/G as a 'great literary romance', I do understand your reluctance to engage, really - but I don't think Michelle would appreciate your completely inverting her closing invitation for comment. And of the two of us I think you're the obviously 'ill-mannered' one. Do try not to take negative comments about Ginny personally, okay Jeanne?
I'd talk more about your post, Jeanne, but since it was all about Michelle and me, and there was absolutely nothing about Harry and Ginny ...
Hazel, you said:
"I think that a lot of the people that object to Harry/Ginny ... are perhaps overlooking the fact that the series as a whole is not meant to be romance story. It's an action/adventure tale ..."
Good one, Hazel. That's yet another reason why Harry/Ginny should not considered a 'great literary romance'. How can it be if, as you say, the romance wasn't written in the literature in the first place?
Julia - 'it was self-evident. Harry said Ginny was his greatest source of comfort, he said she made him "the happiest he could remember being"' -- I'm sure as a teenage boy Harry was very happy with Ginny and her firewhiskey kisses. There's simply nothing in the books suggesting that their relationship was anything more than a high-school teenage fling. We're looking for 'great literary romance', not 'great kissing'.
Brighid - be careful dealing out that 'obvious' word. I'd say half the people here - including Michelle - are panning R/Hr, despite the 'obvious' fighting-means-true-love trope that the other half seemed to enjoy. Which of these two groups of people missed the 'obvious' there?
Brighid, most of what you've said in your comment is either most distinctly non-romantic - you're simply retroactively superimposing your rosy image of H/G back onto those early scenes - or non-exclusive to Ginny. You should be showing how *Ginny* is the great romantic love of Harry's life, not Luna and Hermione as well!
Hey everybody, it looks like we're actually having a discussion here -- huzzah to that!
I know that a lot of you don't agree with the opinion(s) I've put out here, but almost all have honored my request that disagreements be accompanied with a bit of evidence to back it up and the arguments are good ones. Believe me, I'm no stranger to heated and detailed literary debates: I come from the type of family that will spend 3 hours arguing whether a book's plot was any good or not. In fact, there is a longstanding debate going on between certain Family Members right now over the Ender's Game series (specifically, for those of you who are familiar with the books, whether Ender or Bean is a stronger character). All anyone has to do is say the words "Ender's Game" and we're off with points and examples flying from both sides. No one has changed their position(yet....) but we all know that isn't the point: it's the sheer fun of exchanging opinionsand exercising the little grey cells...and more than one of us has reread the series just to be able to argue more effectively.
Getting rude in a literary debate is just no fun at all -- leave all that for the political and religious crazies. We bookish types need to stick together, whether we agree or not, and think of lit debates as if we were writing a persuasive essay for a college english class. We all have the same goal -- celebrating the written word -- so let's be a little joyful in that endeavor.
By the way, I'm going to be contacting some of you separately to see if you'd like to express your opinions formally on the site, not just in the comments section. It's something I've always wanted to do but haven't been able to do until just lately. If you'd like a chance to expound freely, throw me an email at michellekerns@surewest.net. Frankly, I would have put this invitation on here sooner, but I've spent a good deal of this afternoon scaring myself silly listening to an audio version of Stephen King's The Shining. I'm wondering if I will be able to sleep tonight.
Oh, and thanks to whoever it was...let me see here...ah, Brad, that mentioned the possible limit on the comment text. I actually have no idea whether there is one or not but I will find out. If there is, I will certainly encourage commenters to send lengthy posts directly to me so I can just post them on the site. I absolutely do not want anyone to not say everything they want to say because they run out of space, like on some people's annoying answering machines. By the way, Brad, very nice points. I hope you come back to debate another day. Oh, and if you've read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow -- Brad, or anyone else -- I'd love to hear your opinions on Bean and Ender. As you can tell, this is another one of my literary fixations. If you're a Potter head and you haven't read it, please do -- if you don't love it, email me and debate it. Lol.
"Good one, Hazel. That's yet another reason why Harry/Ginny should not considered a 'great literary romance'. How can it be if, as you say, the romance wasn't written in the literature in the first place?"
Actually the whole point of the story is about Harry growing up in a world he didn't know anything about and having to grow up fast to defeat Voldermort. While yes, the focus of the books is about that, but Harry and his friends while wizards and witches apart of this crazy adventure, are normal teenagers. They are going to date and fall in love. It's part the of life.
Also if you find the clues and hints that JK left you would see that H/G was planned from the beginning.
Harry and Ginny met at the train station, which JK herself had said she considered a romantic place, since that's where her parents met.
Another hint is that Harry had always described Ginny in a romanctic lighting:
"They slipped out of the kitchen and down a narrow passageway to an uneven staircase, which zigzagged its way up through the house. On the third landing, a door stood ajar. Harry just caught sight of a pair of bright brown eyes staring at him before it closed with a snap.
"Ginny," said Ron. "You don't know how weird it is for her to be this shy. She never shuts up normally --" -Chapter 3 - The Burrow Chamber of Secrets
"The moment she saw Harry, Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the floor with a loud clatter. Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over whenever Harry entered a room. She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged with her face glowing like the setting sun. Pretending he hadn't noticed this, Harry sat down at took the toast Mrs Weasley offered him." - Chapter 4 - At Florish and Blotts
"Good one, Hazel. That's yet another reason why Harry/Ginny should not considered a 'great literary romance'. How can it be if, as you say, the romance wasn't written in the literature in the first place?"
Actually the whole point of the story is about Harry growing up in a world he didn't know anything about and having to grow up fast to defeat Voldermort. While yes, the focus of the books is about that, but Harry and his friends while wizards and witches apart of this crazy adventure, are normal teenagers. They are going to date and fall in love. It's part the of life.
Also if you find the clues and hints that JK left you would see that H/G was planned from the beginning.
Harry and Ginny met at the train station, which JK herself had said she considered a romantic place, since that's where her parents met.
Another hint is that Harry had always described Ginny in a romanctic lighting:
"They slipped out of the kitchen and down a narrow passageway to an uneven staircase, which zigzagged its way up through the house. On the third landing, a door stood ajar. Harry just caught sight of a pair of bright brown eyes staring at him before it closed with a snap.
"Ginny," said Ron. "You don't know how weird it is for her to be this shy. She never shuts up normally --" -Chapter 3 - The Burrow Chamber of Secrets
"The moment she saw Harry, Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl to the floor with a loud clatter. Ginny seemed very prone to knocking things over whenever Harry entered a room. She dived under the table to retrieve the bowl and emerged with her face glowing like the setting sun. Pretending he hadn't noticed this, Harry sat down at took the toast Mrs Weasley offered him." - Chapter 4 - At Florish and Blotts
i couldn't agree more with you. you have it spot on. it's the believability and comfort level that makes them equal to legendary characters.i don't find that easy approach or believability, they are not as real. i totally agree about cathy and snape too. snape was still too selfish and that is not sacrificing love.
"Harry and Ginny clearly respect one another as talented and courageous"
-"Her eyes met Harry's for the first time. She looked at him beechingly, but he shook his head and she turned away bitterly"
-"Ginny" said Harry "I'm sorry but we need you to leave too, just for a bit. Then you can come back in"
-"Ginny we'll be back in a moment,just keep out of the way.Keep safe- come on!" he said to Ron and Hermione".
-Ginny comes to Hogwarts to fight along with Lee and her brothers but Harry thinks: "He had never been less pleased to see her"
Clearly Harry respects her as talented and courageous as showen by these quotes from DH...at least Ron dosen't have a problem with Hermione fighting side by side with him.
"Great literary romances celebrate the steadfast and unwavering love of the underdog"
Ginny was a likeable underdog in books 1-4. In HBP when It was time for Harry to notice her she turned into an obnoxious violent Mary Sue.
And why does this great literary romance end with Harry totally ignoring Ginny (when she lost a brother) and prefering to go after Ron and Hermione instead? "he saw the two whose company he craved most".
"Harry and Ginny clearly respect one another as talented and courageous"
-"Her eyes met Harry's for the first time. She looked at him beechingly, but he shook his head and she turned away bitterly"
-"Ginny" said Harry "I'm sorry but we need you to leave too, just for a bit. Then you can come back in"
-"Ginny we'll be back in a moment,just keep out of the way.Keep safe- come on!" he said to Ron and Hermione".
-Ginny comes to Hogwarts to fight along with Lee and her brothers but Harry thinks: "He had never been less pleased to see her"
Clearly Harry respects her as talented and courageous as showen by these quotes from DH...at least Ron dosen't have a problem with Hermione fighting side by side with him.
"Great literary romances celebrate the steadfast and unwavering love of the underdog"
Ginny was a likeable underdog in books 1-4. In HBP when It was time for Harry to notice her she turned into an obnoxious violent Mary Sue.
And why does this great literary romance end with Harry totally ignoring Ginny (when she lost a brother) and prefering to go after Ron and Hermione instead? "he saw the two whose company he craved most".
" In HBP when It was time for Harry to notice her she turned into an obnoxious violent Mary Sue."
You contradic yourself. Here's the
defintiion of a Mary-sue:
"Mary-Sue shortened simply to Sue, is a pejorative term used to describe a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot and is particularly characterized by overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers."
Ginny has flaws and the fact she's not one of the main characters. She's secondary character.
"-"Her eyes met Harry's for the first time. She looked at him beechingly, but he shook his head and she turned away bitterly"
-"Ginny" said Harry "I'm sorry but we need you to leave too, just for a bit. Then you can come back in"
-"Ginny we'll be back in a moment,just keep out of the way.Keep safe- come on!" he said to Ron and Hermione".
-Ginny comes to Hogwarts to fight along with Lee and her brothers but Harry thinks: "He had never been less pleased to see her"
Clearly Harry respects her as talented and courageous as showen by these quotes from DH...at least Ron dosen't have a problem with Hermione fighting side by side with him."
Quoting Michelle-
"After Harry realizes that he and You-Know-Who are locked in a pas de deux that can only end in death and unhappiness, he does everything in his power to protect Ginny from being hurt by the approaching fracas."
That's why Harry broke up with Ginny, why he told her to stay in the Room of Requierment.
Anyway Giny ended up fight in the battle anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Now Ron wouldn't able to stop Hermione if he wanted to. Plus the fact she's been with Ron and Harry fighting Voldermort from the beginning.
" And why does this great literary romance end with Harry totally ignoring Ginny (when she lost a brother) and prefering to go after Ron and Hermione instead? "he saw the two whose company he craved most". "
Because he knew Ginny's mother needed her more, who just lost her son. That's where he saw her with in the Great Hall.
Also Harry, through out his years at Hogwarts and his battles with Voldermort were done with Ron and Hermione. He has a bond with them that no one can break. Not even his girlfriend/future wife can break.
Also the fact that now the war is over he has the time in the world to get together with Ginny again. He though that as much himself:
"Now he could move through the hall without interference. He spotted Ginny two tables away; she was sitting with her head on her mother's shoulder: there would be time to talk later, hours and days and maybe years in which to talk." -Pg 745 Chapter 36 - The Flaw in the Plan, Deathly Hallows.
Anyway it has to be love between Harry and Ginny if he though of her before he died:
" None of the Death Eaters moved. They were waiting: everything was waiting. Hagrid was struggling and Bellatrix was panting, and Harry thought inexplicably of Ginny, and her blazing look, and the feel of her lips on his -" Pg. 704 Chapter 34 - The Forest Again, Deathly Hallows
" In HBP when It was time for Harry to notice her she turned into an obnoxious violent Mary Sue."
You contradic yourself. Here's the
defintiion of a Mary-sue:
"Mary-Sue shortened simply to Sue, is a pejorative term used to describe a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot and is particularly characterized by overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers."
Ginny has flaws and the fact she's not one of the main characters. She's secondary character.
"-"Her eyes met Harry's for the first time. She looked at him beechingly, but he shook his head and she turned away bitterly"
-"Ginny" said Harry "I'm sorry but we need you to leave too, just for a bit. Then you can come back in"
-"Ginny we'll be back in a moment,just keep out of the way.Keep safe- come on!" he said to Ron and Hermione".
-Ginny comes to Hogwarts to fight along with Lee and her brothers but Harry thinks: "He had never been less pleased to see her"
Clearly Harry respects her as talented and courageous as showen by these quotes from DH...at least Ron dosen't have a problem with Hermione fighting side by side with him."
Quoting Michelle-
"After Harry realizes that he and You-Know-Who are locked in a pas de deux that can only end in death and unhappiness, he does everything in his power to protect Ginny from being hurt by the approaching fracas."
That's why Harry broke up with Ginny, why he told her to stay in the Room of Requierment.
Anyway Giny ended up fight in the battle anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Now Ron wouldn't able to stop Hermione if he wanted to. Plus the fact she's been with Ron and Harry fighting Voldermort from the beginning.
" And why does this great literary romance end with Harry totally ignoring Ginny (when she lost a brother) and prefering to go after Ron and Hermione instead? "he saw the two whose company he craved most". "
Because he knew Ginny's mother needed her more, who just lost her son. That's where he saw her with in the Great Hall.
Also Harry, through out his years at Hogwarts and his battles with Voldermort were done with Ron and Hermione. He has a bond with them that no one can break. Not even his girlfriend/future wife can break.
Also the fact that now the war is over he has the time in the world to get together with Ginny again. He though that as much himself:
"Now he could move through the hall without interference. He spotted Ginny two tables away; she was sitting with her head on her mother's shoulder: there would be time to talk later, hours and days and maybe years in which to talk." -Pg 745 Chapter 36 - The Flaw in the Plan, Deathly Hallows.
Anyway it has to be love between Harry and Ginny if he though of her before he died:
" None of the Death Eaters moved. They were waiting: everything was waiting. Hagrid was struggling and Bellatrix was panting, and Harry thought inexplicably of Ginny, and her blazing look, and the feel of her lips on his -" Pg. 704 Chapter 34 - The Forest Again, Deathly Hallows
"Clearly Harry respects her as talented and courageous as showen by these quotes from DH...at least Ron dosen't have a problem with Hermione fighting side by side with him."
Could we have some context with those quotes? Without it, those mean nothing. I could take the line about Hermione attacking Ron in HBP and say, "Look, clearly she hates him and they shouldn't be together," and without context, I may be correct, when in reality, there's a lot more going on in that scene. I don't quite remember a lot of the details from DH, but I have a feeling that much of that unhappiness you just quoted comes not from disrespect or not wanting to see Ginny but from wanting to protect her and keep her out of danger. There's a big difference between "He had never been less pleased to see her because he hated the little wench and never wanted to see her again" and "He had never been less pleased to see her because she was in the middle of this huge battle and he was concerned and didn't want to see her get hurt - or worse, die - because of him." Sacrifice, ding ding ding. I will give up seeing someone I love if that means protecting them.
And to be fair, Harry seems far more protective of Ginny than Ron does of Hermione. Additionally, Hermione has been entangled in the center of the journey in DH (and, well, the rest of the series) since the beginning, therefore asking her to step out of the fight would be ridiculous. It's not about Ginny not being talented enough to fight or Harry disrespecting her. It's about main characters versus secondary characters and two different characterisations. (Ron figures Hermione can hold her own, so he has no problems - in fact, I'm not sure he'd want to be fighting without her there; Harry knows Ginny can hold her own, but is much more protective of her and, again, does not want to see her hurt for his sake.)
I was willing to let your argument go but, as a dedicated fan of the Ravenclaw Seeker, I have to ask: what on earth do you consider "idiocy" where Cho Chang was concerned? She may not have exhibited what you call "spunky bravery" but that's to be expected: Ginny and Harry both ended up in Gryffindor, whose motto might as well be "Spunky Bravery R Us." As a rule, and as I'm sure any fan of JKR (and maybe JKR herself) would concede, Gryffindors aren't the most cerebral house at Hogwarts. That would be Ravenclaw, which includes Cho.
At the beginning of their "fiasco" date in Hogsmeade in Order, Cho is being either idiotic or highly perceptive when she points out to Harry that, even though there's been a mass breakout from Azkaban, no Dementors are doing anything about it, as opposed to the dozens of Dementors chasing after Sirius two books earlier. And when Cho watches Harry watching his Quidditch team practicing, and asks "You really miss [Quidditch], don't you?" is she being idiotic or empathetic?
You see where I'm going with this, I hope. In my experience, of both literature and 23 years of marriage, two people who are carbon copies of each other don't necessarily make the perfect couple. Harry might have turned out better as a character if his impulsiveness were balanced out by Cho's ratiocination. With Ginny, he's a benevolent Babbitt.
Patrick Drazen (a/k/a monkeymouse, a/k/a dungeonwonk)
I need remenber you: THE BOOKS ARE HARRY POINT!
" In HBP when It was time for Harry to notice her she turned into an obnoxious violent Mary Sue."
You contradic yourself. Here's the
defintiion of a Mary-sue:
"Mary-Sue shortened simply to Sue, is a pejorative term used to describe a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot and is particularly characterized by overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers."
Ginny has flaws and the fact she's not one of the main characters. She's secondary character.
"-"Her eyes met Harry's for the first time. She looked at him beechingly, but he shook his head and she turned away bitterly"
-"Ginny" said Harry "I'm sorry but we need you to leave too, just for a bit. Then you can come back in"
-"Ginny we'll be back in a moment,just keep out of the way.Keep safe- come on!" he said to Ron and Hermione".
-Ginny comes to Hogwarts to fight along with Lee and her brothers but Harry thinks: "He had never been less pleased to see her"
Clearly Harry respects her as talented and courageous as showen by these quotes from DH...at least Ron dosen't have a problem with Hermione fighting side by side with him."
Quoting Michelle-
"After Harry realizes that he and You-Know-Who are locked in a pas de deux that can only end in death and unhappiness, he does everything in his power to protect Ginny from being hurt by the approaching fracas."
That's why Harry broke up with Ginny, why he told her to stay in the Room of Requierment.
Anyway Giny ended up fight in the battle anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Now Ron wouldn't able to stop Hermione if he wanted to. Plus the fact she's been with Ron and Harry fighting Voldermort from the beginning.
" And why does this great literary romance end with Harry totally ignoring Ginny (when she lost a brother) and prefering to go after Ron and Hermione instead? "he saw the two whose company he craved most". "
Because he knew Ginny's mother needed her more, who just lost her son. That's where he saw her with in the Great Hall.
Also Harry, through out his years at Hogwarts and his battles with Voldermort were done with Ron and Hermione. He has a bond with them that no one can break. Not even his girlfriend/future wife can break.
Also the fact that now the war is over he has the time in the world to get together with Ginny again. He though that as much himself:
"Now he could move through the hall without interference. He spotted Ginny two tables away; she was sitting with her head on her mother's shoulder: there would be time to talk later, hours and days and maybe years in which to talk." -Pg 745 Chapter 36 - The Flaw in the Plan, Deathly Hallows.
Anyway it has to be love between Harry and Ginny if he though of her before he died:
" None of the Death Eaters moved. They were waiting: everything was waiting. Hagrid was struggling and Bellatrix was panting, and Harry thought inexplicably of Ginny, and her blazing look, and the feel of her lips on his -" Pg. 704 Chapter 34 - The Forest Again, Deathly Hallows
I completely disagree with your points and to that effect wrote a lengthy response at my blog loveromancepassion[dot]com
Interesting essay. I read your earlier work on top 5 best and worst literary romances. I agree very much with your assessment on Twilight and Pride and Prejudice, but I must say I heavily disagree with your opinion on Harry and Ginny.
Firstly, you're right in saying that "Great literary romances develop in a believable way", but Harry and Ginny do not do this at all. Indeed, not only do they not develop beliveably, they don't seem to interact enough to develop at all. So far as I remember, Harry and Ginny have a total of two conversations alone in the entire series pre hooking up. The first was in the chamber of secrets, in which Ginny does not do so much as thank Harry for rescuing her - and the chocolate in the library scene, in which Ginny could be replaced by any number of characters. There is no real personal development between characters in either scene. Secondly, you mentioned "sudden realization romances ("I've loved you all along but only realized it just this second").
Actually, this is exactly what Harry's chest monster is all about. You could reasonably argue that Ginny might have developed real feelings along the way because she's offscreeen (and therefore off Harry's mind) so often, but Harry most certainly did not. His chest monster appeared out of the blue and did not come off as romantic at all. Also the line "we could have had months, years maybe" is a pretty good indicator of sudden!love.
Secondly, once they do get together, I don't see any evidence at all for a deep love, or even a good connection. He doesn't seek her out for anything prior to HBP, he never sees her at her winning quidditch matches, he didn't think to ask her to the Yule Ball, they never talked about anything really important to Harry (death of Cedric, Sirius, Horcruxes & Dumbledore etc) or anything important to Ginny (Tom Riddle, her break ups, her brother's death, the almost-death of her father).
Indeed, the only interaction we see (or hear about) of them as a couple is snogging and Ginny promoting Harry's 'buff' status with the tatoo conversation.
Even the line in the break-up scene "in that moment, they understood each other perfectly" - or something like that - it's quite clear in Deathly Hallows that they don't understand each other perfectly at all. Ginny acts surprised when Harry slips about his intentions to leave the Burrow to try to take down Voldemort, and doesn't agree with the idea.
I would make a side comment about what you said about Cho however. I didn't see her 'idiocy' anywhere in the story, and I think it's quite harsh to call grieving over a dead loved one stupid. Harry clearly didn't want to talk about it, but as Cho said, she thought he would understand that she needed to. It was simply a matter of getting closure on something traumatic in her life. Frankly, Harry was every bit as idiotic in dealing with Cho as you claim Cho was in dealing with Harry.
And you can't say that Ginny is less emotionally run than Cho. Do you really think Ginny would be in a better state if Harry had died?
All in all, I never saw any real demonstrations of trust, build up, intimacy or genuine connection between Harry and Ginny in the whole series.
Wow, do I agree with this, thanks for writing it up. I've always been a fan of this couple. In fact, this made me want to list some of my favorite things about the two and why I like them.
I think most people can agree that Harry needs someone who can offer him some comfort and solace after everything he's seen and been through. I think Ginny gives him this. After he sees his father treat Snape horribly in the pensieve, she's there to listen and let him open up about wanting to talk to the only other person who might have answers: Sirius. After Dumbledore dies, she's the first one who is able to get him to move. In the beginning of Deathly Hallows, the two seek comfort in each other simply by holding hands while waiting for the others to arrive from a deadly mission. Along with offering comfort, she also snaps him out of his bad moods.
Another thing I think Harry really needs is someone with a similar sense of humor. Hermione, as much as I love her, does not share Harry's humor. Harry relies heavily on having a good time (he didn't miss Ron so much in Goblet of Fire for nothing!) - he even gave his winnings in the fourth book to Fred and George because he thought they could all do with more laughs. It's clear in the books that Ginny not only likes many of the same things Harry does (Quidditch), but that they have the same sense of humor. There are many instances in the books where they're both laughing together, before and after they are a couple. This is why I think Harry and Ginny work so well: they're able to comfort each other in dark times and lighten up and have some laughs during the good times.
And of course, like you said, it all started with Ginny's crush. That was what clued me into the fact they'd eventually hook up back during my Chamber of Secrets read. Like you said, people love to root for the underdog. Hermione, Cho, whoever else... they were not the underdogs concerning romance when it came to Harry. I was rooting for Ginny to get with Harry for this reason and I was lucky enough to enjoy the ride JKR set up for them. I'm sorry others weren't, but that's their view and they're welcome to it like anyone else.
In regards to Ron and Hermione, I respect your opinion, although I don't agree with it. I also enjoyed them but for different reasons. I do think the Ron and Hermione fans should relax and let you have your own opinion, though. Thank you again for writing this!
I totally agree that Harry and Ginny are amazing. But a lot of people don't get that Hermione and Ron bicker because they care SO much about the other's opinion of them.
I have a few things I wanted to say...
I loved your list!
I admit I am a Ron/Hermione fan more so then a Harry/Ginny fan, and would have loved to see them on the list as well, but I was reading over the comments and I can help but be disappointed in some of the other Ron/Hermione fans.
Everyone has the right to their own opinions about each of the fictional (key word being: Fictional) characters. I am surprised to see how many people have taking this almost as an ‘attack’ on Ron and Hermione. I find it kind of embarrassing to be honest.
I just needed to get that out.
Well said! I have been a long-time supporter of Harry/Ginny. It's just because that they are so uniquely matched and perfect--in some ways they have so much of the same values, but also in the way that they are complementary to each other. Glad to know I'm not alone in this belief!
www loveromancepassion com/why-harry-potter-and-ginny-weasley-are-the-least-romantic-literary-couple-of-the-age/
I agree that Harry-Ginny match up is one of a kind.It's unique!And its uniqueness will embarass 'oblivion'!If we try to think of it, their relationship was never anticipated due to the fact that theirs is not a nostalgia.That is why Harry-Ginny team-up will never be forgotten and will always be picked up as one of those relationships that literary addicts will always consider. It is that simple, indeed!
While I have no problem with you defending your position, I have issues with the lack of specific support. You are entitled to your opinion, but with the lack of strong support, and using generalities, such as "both watch the other in a variety of circumstances." You support for other arguments also contradicts the first, in the that they spend a great deal of time growing together, yet in reality is only the sixth book. You can't count the seventh as they spend probably ninety percent of it apart.
Again, I would rather see specifics, like you offered for the other couples, then what you've placed forward here.
This isn't a criticism, exactly, but I've never seen it. Oh, I saw it coming -- it wasn't exactly subtle -- but there simply wasn't enough character development in the books to support Ginny as a Great Love for Harry and not just a coming-of-age love interest.
I can't provide direct evidence to support what IMO doesn't exist, but then I think people tend to "read into" these characters intuitively rather than objectively. Me, I adore Hermione and like Ron but cringed when they ended up together. I definitely like Harry but have never connected with Ginny enough to care much about them as a couple. (Plus I really wish she didn't physically resemble Harry's sainted dead mother; that's just creepy.)
My point is that these opinions probably say more about me than anything else. If you have enough imagination and the willingness to envision their budding relationship as a great literary romance, well, like I said: I don't see it, but I won't object to your enjoyment of it.
i dont agree with this.Has Ginny sacrificed anything for Harry?...not at all...yes HARRY sacrificed at hogwarts bt not just for Ginny bt for all the people he loved who ws there at hogwarts..
Wt did ginny really fall in love with...the boy who loved or harry...the person underneath the image?....the boy who lived...she was smitten by the great harry potter....
Did Ginny ever know the real Harry potter or she did she take the time to learn him?....no she just knew the boy who lived...
Has ginny ever stood up for Harry...yaah she did against hermione...one time...bt a real person who loved harry would have stood up with hermione because hermione was looking out for Harry..bt had ginny ever stood up against the whole school or voldemort and stood up with Harry no matter what like Hermione had?
Yes...ginny had the unique ability to soothe harrys anger SUDDENLY after 5th year...bt did she really understand Harry...n his emotions...like hermione had....again no...
//cont...
Where was Ginny when the whole school including her brother stood against Harry...only sirius, dumbledore, hermione supported him in the strongest possible ways...
could ginny ever understand the pain that harry was in?...no never...because she was not with him in the battles...(excluding the dep of mysteries....)
Did ginny ever go against her brains and hearts wishes and supported harry like hermione had?...no...hermione knew when harry was wrong and tried to make him understood bt irrespective of that she went with him everywhere and supported him....
Did ginny ever truly liked him enough to make harry understand irrespective of knowing he was wrong?...yes one time i the oftp...bt that was to attract his attention rather than wishing for his welfare....bt Hermione always tried to make him understand...
//cont....part 3
we speak of great romances with the underdog...bt ginny was never an underdog...she was just a FAN GIRL.....the underdogs were luna and hermione...hermione who was born to muggle parents...hermione who had to face mockery because of her intelligence and muggle status...luna who was secluded because for her ability to see things wt others who couldnt...
wt has harry and ginny really got in common with each other...yeah they accidently met in the chamber...bt other than that what? could ginny ever understand harrys muggle side...could ginny ever understood wt he had to go through as a kid or at hogwarts?...no because she had not been there with him...
and the funniest thing is this..that HARRY DIDNT GET ATTRACTED TO HER FOR WHAT GINNY WAS....HE GOT ATTRACTED TO THAT GIRL ONLY AFER THE SAID GIRL FOLLOWED HERMIONE'S ADVICE...."...really love happens when u get attracted to a real person....
//cont...part4
if u really loved a guy..would u even go after other guys like ginny did?
if u are a good person would u go out with other people knowing that u loved some one else?...no....if u really loved a person u would wait for them..instead of playing the field...ginny never cheated on these guys...bt ginny did waste the time and life of these guys...
the biggest question...."IF U TRULY LOVED A GUY...WOULD U ALLOW HIM TO FIGHT EVIL WITHOUT YOU AT HIS SIDE.?"...IF A GIRL TRULY LOVED A GUY...SHE WOULD FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO BE WITH HIM ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS LIFE WAS AT RISK...BT DID GINNY EVER PROTEST AGAINST THIS LIKE HERMIONE AND RON DID....NO..NOT ONCE...
AND FINALLY ...
think about the answer to this question...
"who never left harry's side no matter how worse the situation was?"
1) Hermione2) Dumbledore3) Sirius.....
bt sirius and dumbledore couldnt be with him completely..sirius because of askaben & death...dumbledore in ootp n death... so that leaves HERMIONE.
//CONT PART 5
the answer to all my questions lie with hermione....not only mine...the answer to all your questions too can be hermione...think about it...
JKR could have created one of the greatest romances in fiction if she had paired Harry and Hermione...they truly understand each other and are truly made for each other.....
I just wanted to remind everyone that Ginny is a CHILD/TEENAGER. In DH she's 16! There are valid points for and against her relationship with Harry, but disliking her because, at 16, she doesn't defy her beloved family's desires for her safety (even though she wants to, and eventually does, in the battle-plus in the Department of Mysteries and Astronomy Tower battles)to attempt to stop what is basically the worst evil ever with her boyfriend does not make her a bad girlfriend. It makes her 16! I don't understand why people keep treating the HP characters like they're totally mature, rational, but crazy-in-love adults. They're teenagers! It's a coming-of-age story, people!
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