In the sixth Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, several storylines are planted for the upcoming finale. Yet, one significant plot never fully develops. Among the seven Harry Potter books,
The Half-Blood Prince is arguably the least action-packed. Unlike other installments with incredibly high stakes, such as Chamber of Secrets or Goblet of Fire, The Half-Blood Prince serves as the calm before the storm. Harry spends his time at Hogwarts learning all he can before his showdown with Voldemort. Meanwhile, his personal relationships and social life begin to transform.
Though the plot is somewhat relaxed, The Half-Blood Prince includes a few important storylines. Firstly, there’s the reveal that Snape is the Half-Blood Prince, a shocking discovery made just after Snape kills Dumbledore. Additionally, this book jump-starts Harry’s quest to find Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes. However, The Half-Blood Prince is not all dark revelations. A major aspect of the sixth book is the rising romantic tensions. As Ron and Hermione inch closer to declaring their feelings for each other, Harry forms a newfound relationship with Ginny.
Harry & Ginny Cannot Be Together
During Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry develops feelings for Ginny. The romance builds from the book’s beginning and peaks when Harry unexpectedly kisses Ginny in the Gryffindor Common Room after a successful Quidditch game. From there, they begin dating, but soon face a major obstacle. After Dumbledore’s death, Harry decides he must not return to Hogwarts next year. Instead, he plans to search for Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Consequently, he breaks things off with Ginny, fearing that being his girlfriend would make her a target.
This turn of events is intriguing for several reasons. After focusing heavily on Harry’s social and romantic life, the book’s end shifts quickly to the action-packed search and battles in The Deathly Hallows. The focus changes dramatically, and Harry’s relationship with Ginny is easily discarded. However, the logic behind Harry’s decision is strong. Voldemort could easily target Ginny, making Harry’s breakup feel like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just as Harry finds love, he is placed in a position where he could lose it.
Deathly Hallows Completely Wastes Harry & Ginny’s Relationship
Unfortunately, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows does little with Harry and Ginny’s relationship. Although The Half-Blood Prince suggests rising danger for the couple, the final book doesn’t explore this at all.
Both Harry and Ginny are certainly in danger, but not because of their relationship. The entire wizarding world is under threat from Voldemort. In reality, The Deathly Hallows lets Harry and Ginny’s relationship go to waste. Aside from a brief make-out session early in the book and the epilogue, the pair are completely separate.
Overall, the lack of development in this plotline is disappointing. Harry is already in danger at the end of The Half-Blood Prince due to his Horcrux hunt, but his relationship with Ginny should have raised the stakes further. Their breakup implies that Ginny is in danger because of her connection to Harry. Therefore, while Harry is on his Horcrux quest, he should have been worried about Ginny’s safety. However, this storyline seed never grows into anything significant. Ginny ends up being fine and plays little role in Harry’s final conflict with Voldemort.
Why Voldemort Should Have Targeted Ginny in The Harry Potter Books
Ginny has already been Voldemort’s pawn once before. Harry and Ginny’s breakup in Half-Blood Prince should have signaled a dark future for the couple. In Deathly Hallows, Voldemort should have targeted Ginny, using her as a pawn to lure Harry back to Hogwarts. This would have brought their breakup plot full circle and made sense for Harry’s story. It wouldn’t have been the first time Voldemort used Ginny as a pawn. Her role in Deathly Hallows could have directly paralleled her story in Chamber of Secrets. This would have improved Ginny’s story and her romance with Harry.
In the end, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opened the door for a darkly intriguing plot point in The Deathly Hallows, yet the storyline went to waste. As a result, Harry and Ginny’s relationship feels rushed and insignificant. Ultimately, because very little time or plot was invested in their relationship, Harry and Ginny pale in comparison to other Harry Potter couples. There was an opportunity for their relationship to be great, but it was ultimately disappointing.
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