It was easy to assume, at first, that Harry and Hermione were destined to be together, but it wasn’t long before we realised who Harry truly belonged with: Moaning Myrtle. Just kidding – it’s Ginny, obviously.
Ginny and Harry kiss
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1
Here’s how Ginny and Harry’s relationship blossoms from book to book, because when it comes to true love, we’re very weird and like to nitpick every moment.
Chamber of Secrets
Ginny Weasley doesn’t get the coolest introduction to Harry’s life. She’s 11, she’s awestruck and she has the biggest crush ever. There’s a lot of running away, squealing, staring at Harry from behind doors and generally being mortified at existing in the same four-mile radius as him. It’s the classic life of a pre-teen.
Ginny is part of Harry’s life right from the start – from her first appearance on platform nine and three-quarters as a young, fiery girl who wants to go to Hogwarts desperately. She becomes a regular feature and part of his growing bond with the Weasley family.
It’s not long before he becomes more aware of her and what’s she’s doing. And there’s nothing like saving someone from the grip of the world’s Darkest wizard to cement a life-long bond.
‘Ginny!’ Harry muttered, sprinting to her and dropping to his knees. ‘Ginny! Don’t be dead! Please don’t be dead!’ He flung his wand aside, grabbed Ginny’s shoulders and turned her over.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry crouches over Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets while Tom Riddle watches.
© JKR/Pottermore Ltd. ™ Warner Bros.
Prisoner of Azkaban
After not the greatest first year at Hogwarts, Ginny comes back for her second year far more relaxed. Although there are still bouts of turning scarlet (she is only 12, after all), there are also giggles, in-jokes and astute observations about people and life. Much like her cheeky older brothers, Ron, Fred and George, Ginny is starting to develop that same wicked sense of humour.
‘Ah, there’s Penelope!’ said Percy, smoothing his hair and going pink again. Ginny caught Harry’s eye and they both turned away to hide their laughter as Percy strode over to a girl with long, curly hair, walking with his chest thrown out so that she couldn’t miss his shiny badge.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Goblet of Fire
By the time Harry hits his fourth year, Ginny is like the honorary member of the Harry, Ron and Hermione circle of trust.
Thanks to a summer at the Quidditch World Cup, a more mature Ginny slides into the friendship group easily. She seems thick as thieves with Hermione, who heaven forbid could do with a bit of female company after hanging out with two boys for so long.
Ginny is lightyears away from just being known as 'Ron's little sister' (boo!) – although she still looks ‘extremely miserable’ when Ron suggests she go to the Yule Ball with Harry, but has already said yes to Neville.
Bill and Charlie fight with tables in the Burrow's garden.
© JKR/Pottermore Ltd. ™ Warner Bros.
Order of the Phoenix
In Order of the Phoenix, Ginny and Harry spend nearly an entire summer together at Grimmauld Place, headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Not the most romantic of venues of course, but the cramped atmosphere and the endless cleaning tasks bring them closer together.
Now 14, Ginny’s abilities are hard not to notice. She is fantastic at magic: her Bat-Bogey Hex is the stuff of legend; she loves Quidditch as much as Harry, if not more, and on top of all that she is smart, inventive and not afraid to stand up for herself anymore. A great case in point being when Harry mopes away after seeing Voldemort’s snake attack Mr Weasley.
‘Well, that was a bit stupid of you,’ said Ginny angrily, ‘seeing as you don’t know anyone but me who’s been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels.’
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Half-Blood Prince
By book six, Ginny has a comfortable rapport with Harry – she is often catching his eye, and it isn’t long before that begins to look like something more than a cheeky inside joke Harry could have with any of the Weasleys. After another summer together, Harry gets a little confused about his feelings for her.
They had lived, had they not, like brother and sister all summer, playing Quidditch, teasing Ron and having a laugh about Bill and Phlegm? He had known Ginny for years now … it was natural that he should feel protective … natural that he should want to look out for her … want to rip Dean limb from limb for kissing her … no … he would have to control that particular brotherly feeling …
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Up to this point, since Harry has virtually been an honorary member of the Weasleys for six years and thought of Ginny as a sister. Harry realises what Ginny has come to mean to him, and so begins a fun year of frustration as he wrestles with his feelings and worries about what Ron might think if he acts on those feelings