Blog#2: Ginny & Neville

Two characters that are not necessarily “main” characters come to my mind when I think of characters whose “Coming of Age” broadened my interpretation of the Harry Potter series. Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom both enhanced my interpretations of the storyline. Both Ginny and Neville shed light onto what it’s like for a normal kid growing up during those tumultuous times. Obviously Harry, Ron, and Hermione are tainted; they know absolutely everything. Ginny and Neville are exceptionally ordinary students at Hogwarts, and their world was drastically changed.

We don’t get a lot of background information on Ginny, but we do know the basics: she grew up amongst rowdy brothers and was often overshadowed, but at the same time expected to stand out as much. Ginny went from a shy little girl who would cower in the presence of Harry, to an outspoken girl whose presence is known by everyone. Through her years at Hogwarts, she created a name for herself, and not just by being part of the Chamber of Secrets. I think it is in the beginning of the 6^th book where this transformation really stands out. Ginny is dating frequently and has reached the age where she is equal friends with Harry, Ron, Hermione and the gang. She can hold her own. She was part of the debacles at the Ministry and has been seized by Lord Voldemort before in her time. To Ginny, it was a time to step up. The Wizarding World isn’t as fun and games as we start the series out thinking. Even through book 4, the Lord Voldemort thing is an issue and puts an ominous glow about things, but it is still thoroughly enjoyable being a student at Hogwarts and learning witchcraft.

Neville starts out the series as a shy, awkward boy with no hugely promising talent of wizardry. He continues on with the shy and awkward, but sheds his hermit shell when it’s time to step up to what’s important to him. Throughout the series, we are shown random brave moments where Neville takes a stand for what he believes in, no matter what the consequences might be. Whether it’s stopping Harry and Ron from sneaking out of the portrait hole, or fighting a man’s fight at the Ministry, Neville came a long way from book 1. Ginny and Neville open up the view of a more ordinary wizard’s life to help the readers understand the magnitude of the situation Voldemort has placed upon the Wizarding world. Their points of view prove helpful to a reader and feed into Rowlings “magic realism”. She is very good at working in the “realistic” aspects of Wizardry, which is why readers are so hooked on this series. Coming of age journeys such as Neville and Ginny’s help readers understand what it would be like if they were part of the world, which is no doubt what most readers ponder.