Ginny Weasley

Ginevra Molly "Ginny" Weasley is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Ginny's presence early in the series is minor: she is identified solely as the younger sister of Ron Weasley, Harry Potter's best friend, and harbors a crush on him, while bashful in his presence. Ginny's role is greatly expanded as the storyline progresses, with Rowling developing her character and eventually including her as an active participant in Harry's adventures and the quest to defeat Lord Voldemort, and as Harry's principal love interest.

Character development

Ginny is the youngest of the seven Weasley children and the only daughter; she is "the first girl to be born into the Weasley clan for several generations."^[1] Rowling's official site states her birthday as 11 August, 1981.^[2]

In a joint interview with The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet, Rowling revealed that she "always knew" that Ginny and Harry "were going to come together and then part."^[3] The author explained that, as the series progresses, Harry, and by extension the reader, discovers that Ginny is in fact the ideal girl for him. Rowling stated that Harry "needs to be with someone who can stand the demands of being with Harry Potter, because he's a scary boyfriend in a lot of ways." By the later part of the series, Ginny and Harry "are total equals" and "worthy of each other." The author also commented that she enjoyed writing the "big emotional journey" that both characters go through, and that she really liked Ginny as a character.

Appearances

First four books

Ginny is introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in which she appears twice. When Harry and four of her brothers leave for Hogwarts, she begs her mother to let her attend as well, though she is too young to enrol at the time.^[4] At the conclusion, she is excited to catch a glimpse of Harry upon his return.^[5]

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ginny is a first-year Hogwarts student, having been Sorted into Gryffindor House. While she initially plays a behind-the-scenes role, looking mysteriously ill and having a crush on Harry,^[6] she is later essential to the overall plot. Following a series of unexplained attacks that have left several Muggle-born students petrified, Harry eventually discovers that a magical diary once belonging to Tom Riddle (the young Voldemort) is possessing Ginny as a means to access the Chamber of Secrets and unleash a basilisk within the school grounds. After Ginny naively tells "Tom" (the memory residing inside the diary, in which she writes) about Harry's survival and Voldemort's destruction, Riddle brings her to the Chamber of Secrets, intending to restore himself to full life by killing her.^[7] Harry foils this plot by destroying the basilisk and the diary, thus saving Ginny's life.^[8] It is later revealed that Lucius Malfoy was responsible for planting the diary amongst Ginny's new school books,^[9] in hopes that her actions would discredit her father and lead to Albus Dumbledore's removal from Hogwarts.^[10] Rowling explained that Ginny did not owe Harry a life debt in return.^[3] When asked what would have happened if Ginny had died and Riddle had escaped the diary, she replied that this "would have strengthened the present-day Voldemort considerably."^[11]

The climactic scene in which Harry saves Ginny from Riddle's diary and the basilisk was compared by several Christian writers to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, as in this scene, "Harry descends to a deep underworld, is confronted by two Satanic minions (Voldemort and a giant serpent), is saved from certain death by his faith in Dumbledore (the bearded God the Father/Ancient of Days), rescues the virgin (Virginia [sic] Weasley), and ascends in triumph."^[12]

Ginny has little involvement in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In the latter, Ginny honours a promise to attend the Yule Ball with Neville Longbottom, despite Ron's telling her to go with Harry.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ginny has "given up on Harry months ago,"^[13] and introduces the trio to Luna Lovegood on the Hogwarts Express. Harry and Ron later learn that she met current boyfriend Michael Corner at the Yule Ball, but Ginny does not tell her overprotective brothers because she knows that they will "take it badly." She displays a talent for Quidditch that was not previously known to the reader nor the Weasley family; Hermione Granger reveals that Ginny had been secretly practicing with their brooms since the age of six, since her brothers would not let her play with them.^[14] When Dolores Umbridge punishes Harry with a "lifetime" Quidditch ban, Ginny replaces him as Gryffindor's Seeker. She proves a good replacement for Harry as she catches the Golden Snitch in two important games.^[14][15]

Ginny becomes a more important character in Order of the Phoenix, as she joins Dumbledore's Army and is one of five D.A. members who join Harry's attempt to rescue Sirius Black from the Department of Mysteries.^[16] During the fight, a Death Eater breaks her ankle and she is knocked out, but she is restored to full health by Madam Pomfrey back at Hogwarts.^[17] Ginny breaks up with Michael due to his displeasure of Ravenclaw losing the Quidditch Cup final to Gryffindor, and she starts dating Dean Thomas.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Early in Half-Blood Prince, readers learn that Ginny has become "too popular for her own good."^[18] After seeing her cast the Bat-Bogey Hex on Hufflepuff Zacharias Smith,^[18] new Advanced Potions professor Horace Slughorn respects her magical abilities enough to invite her to join his "Slug Club", an exclusive group of students handpicked by Slughorn as promising young achievers or students from influential families. Ginny spends more time with Harry when she becomes a Chaser (her preferred position) for the Gryffindor Quidditch team,^[19] and substitutes for Harry as Seeker when Severus Snape puts him in detention during the Quidditch Cup final.^[20]

Harry jealously feels the urge to jinx Dean after witnessing him fiercely kissing Ginny in a private hallway,^[21] but he tries to chalk up his emotions to her simply being "like a sister to him."^[21] However, he eventually accepts the fact that he fancies Ginny, but since Ron vocally objects to Dean dating his sister, Harry interprets this as his not wanting any of his friends to date her. This leads to a shouting match and cold relations between Ron and Ginny until Ron is poisoned, after which all is forgiven. Meanwhile, Ginny's relationship with Dean sours after Christmas, and ends altogether in April following an accidental "nudge" from Harry under the effects of Felix Felicis, which Ginny interprets as Dean unnecessarily trying to help her through the portrait hole.^[22] Though worried about Ron's reaction, Harry now takes advantage of any chance to spend more time with her away from the prying eyes of their classmates.^[20] When Harry returns to the common room after Gryffindor again wins the Quidditch Cup over Ravenclaw, Ginny rushes to him and hugs him in victory, during which Harry kisses her, thus instigating their relationship.

In the absence of Harry and Dumbledore, Ginny joins the other D.A. members from the Department of Mysteries battle, along with several members of the Order of the Phoenix, to protect Hogwarts from Death Eaters who entered the school with the assistance of Draco Malfoy; Ginny escapes without injury, and takes Harry to the hospital wing after the battle ends.^[23] After Dumbledore's death, Harry decides to end their relationship as he fears his feelings for Ginny would place her in danger; he is surprised at how well Ginny handles his decision.^[24]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Ginny is first seen in Deathly Hallows after Harry is escorted by members of the Order of the Phoenix to Places in Harry Potter#The Burrow#The Burrow to hide out before his seventeenth birthday. Propelled by the revelation that Harry, Ron, and Hermione are leaving to seek the remaining Horcruxes, Ginny asks Harry to come into her bedroom, where she gives him a passionate kiss. After Ron "accidentally" walks in on the moment, he tells Harry that Ginny was "cut up" when Harry previously ended their relationship, and asks that he promises not to "go snogging her again," as she will "get her hopes up." Harry reluctantly agrees, but he constantly dwells on Ginny's absence during his journey for the Horcruxes, comparing it to having a "constant stomach ache." He also frequently takes out the Marauders' Map to search the school for Ginny's labeled dot.

For much of the novel, Ginny's experiences are revealed only indirectly, as she is at Hogwarts in the absence of the three lead characters. The reader only learns of her activities as the central characters hear news of what is happening at the school. Through the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black, they learn that she — along with Neville and Luna — worked on reuniting the D.A., and was banned from Hogsmeade trips. Ginny participates in a plot to steal Gryffindor's sword from Snape, whom she thinks is working for Voldemort.^[DH Ch.15] However, Ginny leaves Hogwarts and goes into hiding with her family following the revelation of Ron being on the lam with Harry and Hermione.

After not having seen her for nearly a year, Harry marvels at her beauty when she returns to Hogwarts, but with danger looming, he notes that he "had never been less pleased to see her."^[DH Ch.29] Though being underage, Ginny wants to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts, much to Mrs. Weasley's dismay. Remus Lupin suggests that Ginny stay hidden in the Room of Requirement, close to battle but out of harm's way; Ginny reluctantly agrees.^[DH Ch.30] Later, when Harry needs to change the setting of the room to secure a Horcrux, Ginny gladly leaves the room and joins in the fighting.^[DH Ch.31] After Fred's death during the battle, Ginny retreats to the castle grounds to help other students, and she, Hermione, and Luna later take on Bellatrix Lestrange. When Ginny narrowly avoids a Killing Curse,^[DH Ch.36] Harry diverts his attention from Voldemort to take on Bellatrix, but Mrs. Weasley beats him to the fight and slays Bellatrix herself.^[DH Ch.36] When the battle ends and Voldemort is defeated, Harry sees Ginny with her mother and decides to not interrupt, thinking that "there would be time to talk later, hours and days, and maybe years".^[DH Ch.36]

Epilogue

In the epilogue, set nineteen years after the events of Deathly Hallows, Harry and Ginny are married and have three children: sons James Sirius and Albus Severus, and daughter Lily Luna. Rowling extrapolated on Ginny's future after the release of the book, saying that after leaving Hogwarts, she joined the Holyhead Harpies and, after spending a few years as a celebrated player, retired to start a family with Harry. Ginny later becomes the senior Quidditch correspondent at the Daily Prophet.^[25]

Film portrayal

Ginny has been portrayed by Bonnie Wright in all of the Harry Potter films to date. Wright has described the character of Ginny as "outgoing, friendly and confident."^[26] In an interview with The Telegraph prior to the release of Order of the Phoenix, Wright revealed that she got the role because her brother had read the books and told her she reminded him of Ginny, and recommended that she audition for the part.^[27] Wright also commented that she wanted Ginny to end up joining Harry in his quest to defeat Voldemort, as she thought Harry should not "have to go it alone."

While speaking about Ginny's character development in Order of the Phoenix, Wright stated that she "definitely enjoyed" doing the film, as Ginny is more confident and it was "really interesting to be a part of" the trip to the Ministry. When asked what she felt about "being a Weasley," Wright answered, "The humour in the Weasley family brings things more alive."^[28]

Attributes

Outward appearance

Ginny is described in the series as being small in stature, having long red hair^[29] and bright brown eyes.^[30] In the sixth book, Pansy Parkinson states that many boys consider Ginny attractive.^[18]

Personality

Rowling characterises Ginny as funny, "very warm and compassionate", and "tough, not in an unpleasant way, but... gutsy".^[3] During the first books, Ginny is portrayed as shy and quiet in Harry's presence, but according to Ron, she actually "never shuts up".^[6] As Ginny's character emerges, she becomes more confident, especially after Hermione's advice to give up on Harry, and begins dating other boys. Readers see evidence that she is assertive and hot-tempered, but also that she is thoughtful and comforting when her sympathies are aroused.

Ginny is one of the few characters who can speak Voldemort's name without fear,^[24] as well as being able to address Harry calmly during his worst moods. Rowling drew some comparisons between Lily Evans and Ginny, as she said that both characters were equal in popularity.^[3] The author also commented that Ginny and Harry "are real soulmates" and that "[t]hey're both very strong and very passionate. That's their connection, and they're remarkable together."^[31]

Magical abilities

Little is known about Ginny's magical abilities during the first part of the series, but as she joins the D.A., she displays formidable power. As stated by Rowling, Ginny is a gifted witch, and George Weasley claims that "size is no guarantee of power" as he recalls being "on the receiving end of one of her Bat-Bogey Hexes", making this one of her signature spells.^[32] Professor Slughorn invites her to join his Slug Club due to her magical prowess,^[18] and she held her own in the Battle of Hogwarts despite being only sixteen years old at that time.^[33]

Under the influence of Tom Riddle's diary in the second book, Ginny is able to use Parseltongue to open the Chamber of Secrets. Rowling revealed that, as the part of Voldemort's soul inside the diary is destroyed by Harry, Ginny is no longer a Parselmouth nor possessed by Voldemort.^[3] In the film adaptation of Order of the Phoenix, her Patronus Charm takes the form of a horse.

Family tree

Main article: Weasley family

References

External links

• Ginny Weasley on Harry Potter Wiki, an external wiki
• Ginny Weasley at the Harry Potter Lexicon