You never cease to amaze me, Will. I love this idea, and the questions you've raised. I'll get to other comments, but first, I guess I'll give my two cents...

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1. Ginny finally goes to Hogwarts. What is she looking most forward to? What is she dreading? Who's her favorite teacher?

My guess would be that she is looking most forward to getting out of the house and starting her own life like her brothers have. I think she's anxious to start "finding" herself.

I think she's fearful that she won't make friends and she'll fail classes just like any other student. I also think she'll fear Snape and maybe even McGonagall after tales her brothers have told her over the years.

I would have say that her favorite teacher, in her first year, would be maybe Flitwick. I think she'd love DADA, but I'm not sure how she'd feel about Lockhart. I think she'd be starstruck by him, maybe even have a little crush on him.

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2. Why was she sorted into Gryffindor?

Well, if we look at how she's grown over the years, I would have to say that she was sorted into Gryffindor because very vivacious and lively. She's proven to be powerful and determined, faithful and fierce. She's brave and gutsy. She's got spirit. And..she's a Weasley!

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3. Tom Riddle and the Diary. Why was Ginny such a likely target? What, in her personality, left her vunerable to his mind tricks? Why was she so trusting?

I think the reason that Ginny was such an easy target for Tom was that she's a good and innocent person. She had that trust and faith in people and things, so she felt she could open up to Tom. also, I think one vulnerability she has was a small lack of self esteem. I think she was, at that time, unsure of herself. Growing up with so many brothers, after years of being the youngest, the only girl, and no doubt, teased by her older brothers, I think she was just looking for comfort in the wrong place. I don't think she's ever had someone to completely confide in before. So, I think she just wanted a friend, and anything that would listen and talk with her, she'd be attracted to and therefore confide in.

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4. What effect did the Diary have on her? We see, later on, that she is heavily effected by the Dementors and the Veil, are these scars from the horrors of her first year?

I think that since Voldemort literally took part of her soul to help him regain power, she has become more vulnerable to dark magic. I think the Diary made her feel guilty and maybe even evil that she basically confided and at one point, loved Tom. If that was the case, her memories of that Diary would not only be of horror, but maybe of guilt...that she could have led Voldemort to rise again.

I think her experience with the Dementors, like Harry, is worse than most because she was literally possessed and taken by Voldemort. That would be horrible to relive. Also, Harry can't get into Ginny's head, so he doesn't know if she does or does not also hear or see something behind that veil.

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5. Harry, Harry, Harry! Why does she like him so much? Why can the girl that "never shuts up" become suddenly so mute in his presence?

Take it from a girl, when you're 12 years old, and you come face to face without warning with your crush whom you barely know, you'd be mortified to muteness! I think the reason she started out in CoS liking Harry so much was that he had that heroic essence about him. He was Superman in her eyes, and she was attracted to his legend and his story.

Post OotP and HBP, I think the real reason Ginny loves Harry is that he is a good person who has his priorities in order. He's brave and popular, yes, but I think she fell in love with his heart and his vulnerability. All those years watching him glow in a Weasley household, she got to know his strengths and weaknesses and his personality. He puts others before himself.

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6. Ginny turns down the chance to go with Harry to the ball because she promised Neville. What does this say about her character? What other positive traits does she show during these years that makes her the ideal women for Harry?

It just shows that she's a class act. She's not this bimbo or flake who is boy crazy. She's loyal and true to her word.

I think the reason it was good that H/G didn't happen for so long was because Ginny wasn't as comfortable in her skin as she could have been. I think she realized that it was not good to dwell on a hopeless crush. And I also think she was ready to make her own way in life. She wouldn't follow in her family's footsteps. She would create her own. She swallowed her pride and her silly fantasies and explored herself. She grew self confidence and developed a positive and confident self image. She became comfortable in her abilities and helped them grow and develop. It started, from what we saw, with that ball. She could have had Harry. But, she stuck to her morals and values and did the right thing. And I think that because she's now confident and independent and has her values in order, she is the perfect woman for Harry...and for who she wants to be.

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7. During the first four years at Hogwarts Ginny develops a lot off page. What was your favorite canon moment from these books?

I have many Ginny moments in mind, but my top 2 include HBP moments:

1. When she flew into the stands on purpose and knocked over Smith. She's sassy and has personality and flair. She's got spunk, and I think that really showed after she stuck up for Harry, herself, Ron, and the rest of the Gryffindor team.

2. The break up. She didn't cry. She didn't protest. She didn't ask to go with him. She didn't say "be careful." She accepted it and understood what he had to do. She knows Harry and wasn't going to try to change that. She loves him for him and accepted everything that happened..and will happen. She's poised and a class act.

Wonderful idea, Will! Hope to see you soon and see how you are!

Shannon