Hear, hear! I also think shipping tends to get out of hand in the HP fandom, but I do have ships that I secretly root for. I figure Ron/Hermione is almost a foregone conclusion. fernwithy has me pretty much converted to Lupin/Tonks, although I doubt it will happen in the books. (I also doubt the books will contradict the ship, which is always a plus. The Draco/Hermione shippers and the slashers do not have such solace.) But, I think Harry/Ginny will be the one to watch for. Because Harry is the main character, his relationships are of far more importance to the storyline than say R/Hr. If Ron and Hermione pair up, it will certainly affect him, but not like his own relationship would. And face it, Harry was a little oblivious to what was going on around him in OotP. Ron and Hermione could already be semi-dating and he wouldn't know! (Not that I think they are, however.)
As to Ginny herself, far too many people underestimated Ginny prior to OotP, and those same people are now complaining that practically everything we know about her is secondhand. Well, I think there's a point to that. As has been said so many times, the books are largely (excepting the first chapters of SS/PS and GoF) from Harry's POV. If he doesn't know it, see it, or hear it, then neither do we. Up to and including most of OotP, Harry just isn't around Ginny much, so of necessity, his (and our) knowledge of her must be secondhand. However, his circle of friends has expanded beyond the Trio now, and Ginny is an important part of that new circle. It seems Harry wasn't given the opportunity to really get to know her until he was ready. It is also striking that Ginny is so much like Harry. I think their resemblances to each other will continue to be revealed in the last two books.
I just have two recommendations, as I haven't read much H/G fanfic. It is a bit fluffy, but the characterization is just about perfect for Ginny. The scene is the train ride home where Ginny is doing the upside-down Quibbler quiz. Basil M.'s story "The Quibbler Quiz" can be found here (http://www.phoenixsong.net/basilm/basilm_quibblerq.htm). The sequel "A Long-Term Friend" is also pretty good and can be found here (http://www.phoenixsong.net/basilm/basilm_longtermfriend.htm).
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As to Ginny herself, far too many people underestimated Ginny prior to OotP, and those same people are now complaining that practically everything we know about her is secondhand. Well, I think there's a point to that. As has been said so many times, the books are largely (excepting the first chapters of SS/PS and GoF) from Harry's POV. If he doesn't know it, see it, or hear it, then neither do we. Up to and including most of OotP, Harry just isn't around Ginny much, so of necessity, his (and our) knowledge of her must be secondhand. However, his circle of friends has expanded beyond the Trio now, and Ginny is an important part of that new circle. It seems Harry wasn't given the opportunity to really get to know her until he was ready. It is also striking that Ginny is so much like Harry. I think their resemblances to each other will continue to be revealed in the last two books.
I just have two recommendations, as I haven't read much H/G fanfic. It is a bit fluffy, but the characterization is just about perfect for Ginny. The scene is the train ride home where Ginny is doing the upside-down Quibbler quiz. Basil M.'s story "The Quibbler Quiz" can be found here (http://www.phoenixsong.net/basilm/basilm_quibblerq.htm). The sequel "A Long-Term Friend" is also pretty good and can be found here (http://www.phoenixsong.net/basilm/basilm_longtermfriend.htm).