Ginny and Cats

[Neila Weiss]

Hey everyone.. I'm somewhat new here, so if this has been brought up before, I apologize.

I couldn't help but notice that all throughout OoTP Ginny was consistently described as either cat-like or associated with cats in some way (i.e. her affinity with crookshanks.) There are so many references that I'm now doubtful that it could just be a coincidence... Finny making a noise like an angry cat, Ginny curling up cat-like on the couch, Ginny swooping down towards the pitch with all the grace of a cat, just to name a few... but maybe it is all just a coincidence and I'm just babbling, but either way, I just thought I'd throw that idea out there.

[Carbito]

Maybe she will join the trio and they will all learn to be animagi and Ginny will turn into a cat...then again maybe not!

[too_wicked]

Well, Ron says she loves cats so maybe the cat thing will be revealed in the next books. I'm sure we'll be learning a lot about her in the upcoming books.

[majo]

I noticed the same thing too, Neila. I mentioned a little about it in the "Ginny" thread, and the idea came up that she will become an animagus in future books. I like that idea.

[~BrandyTook~]

Well it's always a possibitlity, but you can't just turn into an Animagus out of nowhere. It takes years of study. Did it take James, Sirius, and Peter until their fifth year to do it. And they had been trying for a very long time. Ginny couldn't just suddenly be a an Animagus. She would need to study it secretly for a long time before she could do it. I just don't see it happening. But I agree that if she was an Animagus, she would be a cat.

[ObsessedHarryFreak]

Great observation skills. I never noticed that before...perhaps it is foreshadowing in a way...

But it could be a coincidence as well...but I doubt it, with all those examples and incidences where Ginny was compared to a cat...yeah, it must mean something...

That would be a good question to ask J.K.!

[moon_lit_raven]

but JK said Harry would be to busy to become an animagus but it didn't mean the other's couldn't, i think hermione could probably do it aswell.Ginny could already be an animagus or at least studying for it cause when JK writes about sirius' laugh she said it sounded like a bark, so maybe ginny is already one?

[Mega]

I don't think Ginny is an Animagus right now. Why would she hide it? But I definatly think that all those cat refrences forshadow something. Didn't notice myself. Well done.

[caroline40]

The other person connected with cats is Mrs Figg.
Maybe theres a connection between Ginny and Mrs Figg after all I dont think weve ever seen them together!!

[ChaliceInnana]

Well, if Ginny were trying to become an animagus...how would Harry know? If she didn't want to tell him, or was unable to tell him, he wouldn't.

He does notice certain feline traits of hers, as he noted certain canine traits of Sirrus.

I think that Ginny maybe training to be an animagus. She spent the summer with Sirrus. He may have given her some advice.

[Cheetah]

Ginny's animagus form might be a cat in the future. And Jo said something will be revealed about the cats in HP, so it just might play more of a role with the last two books.

[Thyme_of_Change]

Does It ever say what Ginny's Patronus is? I don't remember. Was it a cat?

[Nickel]

Maybe Ginny will be a prefect in the next book and the Weasley's will buy her a cat.

[SnowyOwl]

Thyme, I don't think it ever said if Ginny could produce a patronus. I seem to recall only Cho's and Hermione's named. I like your line of thinking. I think I would choose Ginny to produce a patronus from the cat family, rather than become an animagus cat.

[familiar]

Maybe she used some of her time with Sirius to find out more about animagi. I think she is studying in secret to be one. Perhaps she didn't think seriously about it until she met Sirius, so it will still be a few years before she accomplishes it.

[Malfoy'sMistress26]

I noticed that too, when describing an action of Ginny's, J.K always refers to it as being cat-like. Maybe she will be animagi, it's a possibility. Also in CoS she was concerned about Ms. Norris, and Ron said she loves cats.

[sierra_sand]

Originally posted by SnowyOwl (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=413931#post413931))
Thyme, I don't think it ever said if Ginny could produce a patronus. I seem to recall only Cho's and Hermione's named. I like your line of thinking. I think I would choose Ginny to produce a patronus from the cat family, rather than become an animagus cat.


I completely agree. I think it would be really cool if Ginnys patronus
were a cat. It would also make perfect sense. I like the idea of the patronus taking on an animal shape, of course I'm weird, I like to figure out what animal each of my friends(and enemies come to think of it)is most like ( actually I sometimes do this without even thinking about it :D )

[MadMagic]

Now that I like Ginny, I would enjoy seeing her as an animagus. And all the cat references certainly are curious.

[aggiemuggle]

ginny was much more of a major character in OotP than she was in any of the other books, even CoS. i think that the cat stuff is emphasized just b/c ginny is more emphasized.

hmmm i don't think that ginny is already an animagus. if she ws, she could have snuck around umbridge's office or something usefull in OotP. but there definately is something important. does it only comoare her to a cat when she is really mad/upset/involved in something? maybe thats important.

[GilyAnn]

Finally somone that notices. Something is up with the cats and it has to be big since when someone ask JKR what was up with cats. She said it was an excellent question but she couldn't say because it will ruin it for us! :grumble:

Off what little I know. Witches and Cats have always been associated and in the egypt mithology they had devine status and were considers witches familiars. According to superstition also. Cats could spy on Witches and they had nine lives so withches could take the form of their cat nine times.

I'll do a little bit of searching in one of my free moments and see what else could I find.

Gily Ann

[danwilkie]

Ginny could well be training to be an Animagus, it wouldn't be the first time she practised in secret (Quiddicth, anyone?)

These references about Ginny like "with the grace of a cat" remind me of the ones about Snape, "unless he can turn himself into a bat", etc. There are noticeably large amounts of references to bats involving Snape, so as you probably know people thought he was a vampire. I don't think so, but there's something fishy going on with both Snape and Ginny. Those references aren't just coincidence.

Someone mentioned Mrs Figg and cats, but I noticed "Figgy" being described as "bat-like" a number of times too in Ootp as well. Interesting.

The same again with Dolores Umbridge and toads. Where did Trevor go anyway?

[FredRocksMySocks]

I dunno, but if they did become animagi (!!! HOW FUN WOULD THAT BE) she could take the form of a cat, to agree with an above poster. I wonder if it really does play a significance in what's going on with her now though? Hmm...

[kkkb]

I don't think Ginny will be an anamagi...but I wonder if she can 'talk' to animals? If that's maybe a special wizarding skill, like being a parseltounge. I'm just throwing an idea out there...it seems like we're being led to believe that Ginny is very powerful indeed.

Just an idea to throw into the mix.

[ana_banana]

That's actually something JK Rowling mentioned, as Gilly Ann said it.
She said that, as all the good questions, she couldn't answer it.
I have a feeling Ginny is not a wasted character....plus....cats rule.

[Lestrange]

I love the idea that she could be trying to become an animagus in secret. She has no problem keeping secrets for long periods of time, and Fred and George are always mentioning how powerful she is throughout the book, so she definetely has the potential.

...But I keep getting this nagging feeling in the back of my head of all the "good" theories that have been believed in, but never came true (Snape being a vampire, Crookshanks is: .... Trevor is: ...).

[rons-lover]

Personally I wouldn't be suprized if Ginny was sneaking around studying to be an Animagi. (Secret Quiddich practice anayone, secret BF's? Well secret from Ron, lol) Anyways point being from what JK's been writing for Ginny as a character it would very well be in her character for her to have been studying secretly to become one. I wouldn't be suprized and I would be HIGHLY pleased.! I'd *Love* it.! I like Ginny and I think she needs even more to set her up as an individual as a member of "The Six"(Hello! They're no longer "The Trio" they are "The Six", remember the train to Hogwarts in OotP what six were in the train compartment together and what Six made it out alive together after visitin the DoM? "The Six"!!!).! So yeah.!

And while your at it, visit my thread on it.! :D http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=446647#post446647

So yeah she will play a bigger role with "The Six" I do believe. Maybe become an Animagi, maybe not....

[paperflowergirl]

Well, I would just like to point out that some people are just born animagi - they dont have to learn it in secret, it is a talent just like being metamorphmagi and parseltongue. I think it still requires practice, but being an animagus is something innate. However, we should also remember that professor McGonagall is not described as having cat like qualities (if this is not right, please correct me). It might be that rowling just uses animal likenesses to describe peoples personalities, but knowing rowling, there is probably a lot more to it than that.
Good work picking up these things!!!

[RedCape]

I completely missed those cat references for Ginny. You absolutely have to read OotP many times to catch everything.

Good idea. I agree she could be studying in secret since she has a past history of that. Not sure what her driving force would be to do that though. The Marauders obviously had a reason and a reason to be secretive about it.

[MagiCils]

I'd love her to be an animagus. I too think it would be utterly in character for her to surprise everyone with her secret skill at the opportune moment!

[Kizz]

Originally posted by Lestrange (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=449944#post449944))
...But I keep getting this nagging feeling in the back of my head of all the "good" theories that have been believed in, but never came true (Snape being a vampire, Crookshanks is: .... Trevor is: ...).


Umbridge toadlike, Trevor, Voldemort snake like, Snape being described as a bat...if one of these turns out to be true they all might. I've only been able to notice that JK uses adverbs and verbs alot to give us the heads up, and there's something like 10 a page of them. After OotP we can't discredit anything as far as Ginny is concerned - if she's already an animagus :clappy: then great. In OotP Ginny went to the DoM, so I think she's going to be alot more involved and being an animagus can't not help out.

[Riku]

Yeah, she could be an animagi/training to be one, if she is then thats cool lol. But JK tends to use the same descriptions over-and-over in OotP (Eg. she says "Turned on his heel" a lot) so I can't help but think this is nothing but her using the same descrition many times.

[RavenLady]

I'd love to see Ginny become an animagi. With her obvious magic talent it's extremely possible.

I can just see her turning into a pretty little ginger tabby.

[geojac]

We've just been listening to tapes of POA and in there Hermione states that records show only 7 animagi in the last century. Of course, we already know of 4 more unregistered, so who is to say how many... Not that many could learn how to do it on the sly.

Now, we believe Ginny is incredibly smart (she IS a Weasley). Since she is not a first year student like the mauraders, perhaps she could get it a bit faster than them, but she'd need coaching or some sort of help to pull it off this fast.

We like the idea of Ginny, Hermione, and Luna working on this together in DA next year. Wouldn't that be fun??

Geo and Jac

[Mutant for Hire]

As I noted in the "Ginny and Sirius" thread, Ginny goes on record as caring about Sirius very much, despite the fact that she only knew him for a summer.

To sum up that thread, given how Fred and George were spending all their time together working on the joke shop, Ron and Hermione were likely spending time bickering together, I expect that Ginny drifted to Sirius, who was as bored as she was, for company I figure the two of them must have spent quite a bit of time talking and grew very fond of one another.

Remember Pettigrew couldn't manage the transformation on his own, James and Sirius had to help him become an animagus. I don't see that it is impossible that Sirius helped Ginny, who is far more intelligent than Peter, become an animagus over the summer, or at least give her instruction on how it is done..

[Evilrabbit]

This is a really good theory! I think yes, Ginny will become an Animagus. She has proved she can keep a secret. And I think she will perfect it in the next book, because the Maurauders finally perfected their Animagi in fifth year. I think this would explain the train chasing parallel (that is, Ginny chases after the hogwarts express in PS, Sirius in OotP) much better than Ginny's death, as some people are saying.

[Bee]

I agree that there is probably something about Ginny and cats, but I'm sure it's something none of us have even dreamed of. I'm willing to bet JKR is totally messing with our heads and it's something we wouldn't have even thought. It is interesting with all the cat references, though. Also how Crookshanks is ginger-haired and so is Ginny. Then again, so are Ron, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Percy, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley. I just don't know...

[the 5th Marauder]

I think Ginny being an Animagus is quite plausible. There's lots of evidence for it. But, i think she'd have to tell someone soon... if it's not one of the trio, it could be Fred and George perhaps? They seem quite close...
hmm... interesting thought though!

[smartypants]

Well, cat lovers are nice people and dog lovers are not, so it's just proof that Ginny is nice. :)
[ Puts on my asbestos suit ]

[Eruanna]

i agree smartypants!! lol cat lovers are the best people in the world!

i don;t think anyones mentioned this yet but when Ginny asks Molly where her jumper is in the film of CoS she says its on the cat....ooh..more cat/.ginny stuff..interesting...although i'm not sure what relevance her jumper being on the cat has! :)

[ginnybatbogeysyou]

Didn't JKR said in some interview that she didn't like cats?

Has that got something to do with the plotline or has she thrown it overboard for the series?

[The Quibbler]

Cats are everywhere in these books. Not only to describe Ginny, but just as little unnecessary comments, like there was no one insight not even a cat.

And, as much as i like the idea of Ginny learning to turn into a cat (that would be really cool, and i think it would come in handy for Harry Hermione and Ron), i am really getting sick and tired of practicaly everyone being an animagus (although the concept of turning into an animal is really cool).

However, it is true that she is always described as cat like. That must mean something. I am sure that JK would not put all those cat like descriptions in there for nothing. She always has a reason. But we'll just have to wait and see until the next books i guess.

[rayrayjohanna]

I noticed the frequent cat references with Ginny also, still wonder where that is
leading. And delaney dursley above mentions Crookshanks as being ginger
colored, along with Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys. Lily Evans Potter had
red hair also.

[Cish_hp92]

ginny as a tabby.......
cute. very cute. love the idea!!!

[Fairydust]

i think she might be an animagus or is on her way to becoming an animagus because she did spend moments with Sirius. no doubt he told her about all his adventures or whatnot and probably helped her become an animagus. if she is one she'd most definitely be a cat. the next McGonagall anyone?

[Evilrabbit]

Earlier I posted that Ginny may perfect becoming an Animagus in fifth year. Then again, it takes years to become an animagus and presuming Mutant is right about Sirius being the one who inspired her, she'd only have started learning in te summer of 1995. But I'd say that would give her enough time to become one by the summer of 1998 when the series ends. Perhaps in time for the final battle in which Harry/Voldemort/Both are defeated, anyone?

In one of the earlier books (think it was CoS) Harry jumps down the stairs at 4 Privet Drive and lands cat-like. It could be a coincidence but I'm sure the Ginny/Harry shippers will have fun with it. :p

[Mutant for Hire]

The question is, what breed of cat would Ginny turn into? Any ideas?

[SnowyOwl]

ginny as a tabby.......
cute. very cute. love the idea!!!

Hmmm...I was thinking something a little more dangerous. Perhaps a lynx?

[paperflowergirl]

Ginny - a tabby? Does JKR ever describe her as cute, cuddling, or things like that? My guess is that she would turn into something less cute and more dangerous. Fred and George described her as very powerful compared to her size, and we know she is more of a wild person than a cute person - flicking dungbombs for 1/2 hour and then lying about it without a second thought, stealing her brothers brooms, etc. I think a lynx is a good idea, but because of the color of her hair I would rather guess something like a tiger. Any references to ginny and black stripes?
Writing "with the grace of a cat" is somewhat less suspicious than writing something like "with the grace of a tiger," but for all we know Ginny might be a cat animagus, but not a cute little one, please..........

[Mrs. Biggerstaff]

yeah but it took the maduras like ages to learn how to become aniamgus.....they became them in the 5th year

[Drusilla]

Maybe it's just a personality description.I mean,cats are usually portrayed -as far as I've seen-as being graceful and secretive-among other things.Ginny certainly was secretive in Phoenix-powerful hexes(ok maybe that wasn't so secret),Quidditch practice from age six and (I doubt if anyone but Hermione knew this before she told the boys)-a BOYFRIEND! And if Ginny were to be an Animagus,I agree she'd probably be a cat-she must really like them,if she felt sorry for Mrs.Norris after the Basilisk attack in her first year.

[GilyAnn]

Ok here is the info about cats that I promise:

Take in mind that this part is consider part of history.

Cats used to be Witches companions. It's the reason why Hermione picked the cat over the owl that she originally wanted. Before the Inquisition the mithology consider cats to be deities. Killing one was punishable with death. Cats were the object of Religious devotions for quite a long time. This began by the Goddest Bastet that was usually portrayed with the body of a woman and the head of the cat, she was worshiped as the personification of fertility and healing. All cats came down not only to be remember not only as symbols of Bastet but as Gods themselves. Killing one by even accident was as I said punishable by death.

Some say Egyptian cat worship frenzy stemmed from the facts that cats protected granaries and other palces where food was stored from becoming overrun by rodents. And having observed cats killing deadly vipers. (which hints you out at something of CoS) Egyptians came to believe the cat was the natural enemy of the snake , a traditional symbol of evil. The cats excellent night vision, and the way it's eyes can eerily reflect light, led to the idea that cats were clairvoyant. If they could see in the dark, why couldn't they read minds or look into the future.

Witches used to be consider to take the form of cat (animagus in JKR world) but unlike McGonagal and the other people. They were able to do it only 9 times. One for each live that her cat had.

Cats were consider able to seek out good hideaways in JKR world they can sense a lie.

7th children:

Although the myth is the seventh son. It doesn't necessarily has to be that way. (I know I'm going to get people that say it has to be 7th son but I'm sure it doesn't has to be.) 7th children of 7th children used to be consider special. They had the the power to heal, and had the gift of 'Second Sight' so it shall be written, so it shall be done. Anything that they could predict was bound to come true.

Now if you want to attached to HP and Ginny. Ginny is a seventh child and the 9th of a family, which apparently is consider important. Ginny was previously with the twins before they found out the QWC result. Also in the Waters book they reminded people that on the chapter of the dark mark were she dissapears with Fred and George that was planned. Cats were followed during times of storms and weather problems because they were able to find the perfect hideaways and ketp safe. I agree with him. Perhaps the twins know what is 'going on' with Ginny and Ron probably will began to question it now.


Up until this book we don't have any kind of foreshadowing of Ginny being a healer but she certainly does seem to get by without anything happening to her. Remember how Harry said that Michale was either bad or unwilling to jinx her perhaps there could be a posibility that he jus wasn't able. I don't know if JKR used this part on Ginny but that part kind of jumped at me as strange.

Also 7th children were alegedly born as divine and chosen ones. They used to be used or said to be able to fight Evil and Corruption and even had the power to destroyed it.

In the gypsy culture little girls with Red hair were consider to be able to see the future.

I bold it the parts that I consider very relevant.

Gily Ann

[ana_banana]

I posted this at another forum so I'm gonna write what I wrote there....On the "Harry and me" special there are some photos of pictures that JK Rowling drew, I found a picture called "the weasleys" and it showed Percy in his uniform with his P badge (so it must have been in harry's first two years) and then there was Fred and George and Ron, and next to Ron, a black cat (the pic was in black and white) and there were suitcases behind them so it was at the Hogwarts Express. That made me think, the only other sibling there was Ginny.....
Also, Steve Kloves knows more about the stories because he needs to know it....On the CoS movie when Ginnys walking downstairs she says "Mommy have u seen my jumper?" and she says "Yes it was on the cat dear". First of all....how can a jumper be on cat and then have Ginny wear it?? And also...the Weasleys dont have a cat...And the several references of Ginny-cats and also the fact that there are some cats drawn in The Burrow that seem to be made by the kids (in this case, Ginny sinceshes the youngest) for example, notice the cat on the fireplace when Harry is saying diagon alley....Too many cat references for Ginny to not notice them.
By the way, and this is not very probable but still lol, in the american version, at the last chapter "the second war..." theres a drawing of Lupin, Moody and Tonks, and next to Lupin theres a trunk with a cat on it....and they never mention one being there..plus Harry never says goodbye to Ginny....so it could have been her....ignore this last theory cuz its not very probable lol.

[MadMagic]

Are there any kind of Wizards that are not necessarily animagus, but just have the natural ability to turn into an animal. Because while there are many cat references regarding Ginny, she is a bit young to have mastered transfiguring herself into a cat.

I always thought it was funny that Ginny's jumper was on the cat :lol:

[Mireille]

Rowling uses animal imagry to describe a lot of the characters. Professor Sprout is comparied to a hawk, Umbrige to a toad, now Ginny to a cat. I don't think that the animagi form will be taken, but anything is possible. Personally, I think it's just a way for the reader to get an image of the character and who they are. A lot of people are cat people and have qualities of a cat. IT could end up that Ginny's cat like actions will come in handy in later books.

[ana_banana]

Why is she too young? She's 14 or 15 at this time of the books, and I believe Harry doesn't know everything that happens around the world, so Ginny could have been taking animagi lessons and no one could have noticed.

[Marhana]

Um, excuse me, but can't you all give JKR a break? Just
because :rasp: she uses the word 'cat' or 'cat-like' more than ONCE in a book doesn't mean that she's a cat. She's probably just graceful. gimme a break. :rolleyes:

[ana_banana]

If she had only used "cat-like" a few times and only that, then yes, you would be right.But there are many clues, not posted here though. Even JK said it herself, so yeah.

[Kia]

The other person connected with cats is Mrs Figg.


Actually Hermione has shown a certain affinity to cats - getting Crookshanks (despite wanting an owl) and being poly-juiced into a catgirl in CoS. And there is always McGonagall the cat-animagus.


But personally I have enough of secret animagi after the James, Sirius, Peter and Rita. It becomes a bit repititive.

[GilyAnn]

Are there any kind of Wizards that are not necessarily animagus, but just have the natural ability to turn into an animal. Because while there are many cat references regarding Ginny, she is a bit young to have mastered transfiguring herself into a cat.

I assume there has to be. We didn't know about Methaphorfagus until book 5 so perhaps in book 6 we will find out.

Um, excuse me, but can't you all give JKR a break? Just
because she uses the word 'cat' or 'cat-like' more than ONCE in a book doesn't mean that she's a cat. She's probably just graceful. gimme a break.

Excuse me! :td: :rasp: but one thing is to mention it once and another one to be constantly reminding the reader about it.

Over all even the references that Ginny got on her actions also reflected a cat like behaviour. Considering that JKR said that there was something really important about cats. I wouldn't doubt that Ginny is on something along those lines.

Gily Ann

[dorcasderr]

Intriguing ideas...Ginny may indeed be studying to me an animagus and perhaps was way before she got to know Sirius, but I doubt that she has achieved her purported goal as yet. If she had, we would have seen evidence of a new animal lurking about. It would have been mentioned, if only subtley.

[harry-james-potter]

I also noticed that she seemed upset about mrs norris in COS.

[paperflowergirl]

yeah - Ron says that this is because Ginny is a great cat lover. The other explanation is of course that she is the one who let the basilisk out and who also must have hung Mrs Norris up by her tail (as the basilisk has no arms). While she doesn't remember doing this, she is of course suspecting that something funny is going on, as she cannot remember not doing it, finds her robes covered in blood, etc.
I am wondering whether Ginnys strange association with cats (I defenitely believe that there is one) can have some relation to her being posessed by Riddle. I mean, he transferred some of his powers to Harry, so why not Ginny? (he actually says that he poured parts of his soul back into hers... ) but I think her cat-ness is more related to the fact that she quite possibly spent a lot of her summer with sirius, who knows how to become an animagus.

[[Pretty]_[Unicorn]]

If she ever studied to be an Animagi, my guess would be she would turn into a cat. Following this information, JKR says that the animal a person turns into represents them, so maybe Ginny has a cat personality: cats are loving to their masters (she won't betray DD), show warning by puffing up their tail and hissing (she has good defense against the dark arts), effective in combat (very good with her wand), and are sly (she could be good a spying). Her love for cats makes me guess that she would be a cat animagi and the following information would pertain to her. She probably will be useful for the OotP.

[ginnythecat]

I messed up, and am now two for two, I began a new thread today, Is ginny an animagus, and thought I searched thoroughly enough, I apologize to all.
I am thrilled to read this discussion, which brought up more points that I missed, my thread did mention all the cat references, plus how very strong ginny is clearly becoming. I think it is something JKR is beating us over the head with, so to speak, similar to Sirius and the dog references. Does anyone know of any famous cats with the name ginny...? :blush:

[Masterfroggy]

I messed up, and am now two for two, I began a new thread today, Is ginny an animagus, and thought I searched thoroughly enough, I apologize to all.
I am thrilled to read this discussion, which brought up more points that I missed, my thread did mention all the cat references, plus how very strong ginny is clearly becoming. I think it is something JKR is beating us over the head with, so to speak, similar to Sirius and the dog references. Does anyone know of any famous cats with the name ginny...? :blush:

I don't know any cats name Ginny but a few days ago I posted this on another Ginny topic

Quote Me
Has any one yet settled in canon just what Ginny real name is (thats if it's not Ginny) I was messing about with names and things and came up with this, If her name is the familiar form of Guinevere the Welsh spelling of Genevieve King Arthurs wife, the reason I have included the modern Welsh spelling, is long before the English got their hands on the legend of Arthur, the Welsh had their own legend all about Urther Pendragon, he also had a wife called Gwenhwyfar, who was always seen as either a silver cloud, a tree, or a hunting dog, could this mean that Ginny might just turn out to be very good at transfiguration. Just my random thoughts at 0130gmt 1km from JKR birthplace
Quote me

She might be an animigus ;)

www.masterfroggy1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[Geneva]

Well, I would just like to point out that some people are just born animagi

Hermione would know. Remember, she said (in the Shrieking Shacka) that she had looked at the list of the animagi for the century, and Peter Pettigrew wasn't listed? Ginny, if she was a born animagus, would be registered with the Ministry of Magic (the Weasleys wouldn't keep it secret, there'd be no reason to, and besides.. COULD you?), and therefore I'm sure Hermione would've said something about Ginny being a registered animagus.

[Liselle]

apologies if someone has said some of this already, am making my way though the thread but I wanted to get this on paper as soon as I could before I forget it!



cats:

Cats pop up all over the place in all the books, from Madame Hoochs eyes to crookshanks, to Mrs Figg to Ginny being described as cat like

I found some of the names of Mrs Figgs cats

*Tibbles

*Snowy

*Mr Paws

*Tufty

*Prentice/Mr Prentice (sounds like apprentice!)

something thats been bugging me since the ootp, was the cracking sound someone apparating to/from privet drive in the form of a cat (the cat that streaked across the road) or did it just scare away Mr Prentice who Mrs Figg had stationed there?

We also know that Hagrid doesn't like cats as they make him sneeze.....has hagrid sneezed around Crookshanks? not that I can recall....if he hasn't wouldn't this be an indication that Crookshanks is knezale and not a cat??

JK doesn't like cats either, she said so in an interview in 2001(bbc online chat transcript March 12 2001
What or who would you send into Room 101?)
Cats - I don't like them, and certain journalists.

Liselle

[Sheffers]

I think that there is foreshadowing taking on here. The constant links with cats seems to be a delierate chain of thought. Although if Ginny did become a animagi by money would strongly be on her becoming a cat.

I don't think we are going to see the routes of all the foreshawing with Ginny though until the final book. She does have a tendancy to keep secrets and lets face it who wouldn't with six brothers.

What kind of cat she would be, I kind of like the image of her as a tabby. Very sweet and cute to look at but also very cunning, careful, gracefully and calculating.

[HPreader09]

i doubt this means anything, because all the weaslys have been in gryffindor, but ginny is in gryffindor, whos mascot is a lion, who is a member of the cat family...just something that might have a connection, i dont really think so but i figured i would toss it out there anyway

[ravenclaw02]

I agree, Ginny is always strongly identified with cats, which is interesting. There are many characters identified with strong animalistic tendancies though, and not all of them turn out to be animagi (for example, Umbridge/toad, Mundugus/cat, Crabbe and Goyle/apes). It will be interesting to see if Ginny does indeed become a cat animagus - it could be useful to Harry, i suppose - or if she is just imbued with feline qualities without reason.

[SamIAm]

hmmmm....maybe JK Rowling just enjoys using cat descriptions on Ginny??:huh:ive never actually noticed this before. But it would be pretty cool if Ginny got to be an animagus later.

[OrlisGrape]

The whole Cat and Cabbage and sock thing is all through the books. Does it have a meaning? I don't know, but those things are always all through the series.

[MonicaG]

I definitely agree that Ginny just might be practicing to be an animagus- and I like the idea of her sitting and talking with Sirius before Harry arrives at Grimmauld place.
ANother Ginny quote keeps keeping pooping into mind- In OoTP, when Harry wants to talk to Sirius, and Ginny tells him something like- the thing about having brothers like Fred and George is that you start to think nothing is impossible if you have enough nerve-

Ginny defintiely has nerve, intelligence, and a secretive streak- I definitely could see her training in private to be an animagus- and, if that's true, I think she'll master it soon. The Marauders took five years to figure it out- but they started at 11, not 14, and didn;t have the advice of a full-grown animagus wizard to help them along (assuming that Sirius helped Ginny) - This might cut the study time down- to 2, or 3 years. A book 7 surprise? It seems very possible.

[MagicianGirl]

Let's also not forget that cats are considered as sensual creature. Maybe Harry was viewing her as such :D , after all it the scene were Harry describing her curled like a cat with the fire reflecting in her eyes are romantic imagery, in my opinion.

Also, when she first appeared in OOTP, she was described as having a long mane of red hair, think of lion's mane.

[smartypants]

I agree, Ginny is always strongly identified with cats, which is interesting. There are many characters identified with strong animalistic tendancies though, and not all of them turn out to be animagi (for example, Umbridge/toad, Mundugus/cat, Crabbe and Goyle/apes). It will be interesting to see if Ginny does indeed become a cat animagus - it could be useful to Harry, i suppose - or if she is just imbued with feline qualities without reason.

Ginny is probably just catlike.

[whizbang121]

Ginny does have an affinity for cats. And JKR did mention in an interview that cats would play a part in the future books.

[Silkeng]

Ginny does have an affinity for cats. And JKR did mention in an interview that cats would play a part in the future books.

Yes I agree she has an affinity for cats but I don't think it means she has to be a cat animagus. JKR seems to describe many people with animal qualities, it would seem to obvious to put those throughout the book then make them an animagus. I hope it is more of a surprise if someone becomes an animagus.

[Kidney Pie]

"Mama, have you seen my Jumper?"

"Yes dear, it was on the cat!"


I was just watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and this kind of jumped out at me. I know this isn't the book so comments like this might not be cannon. But the staff who makes the movie might be privilaged with choice bits of information and it would make sense to include this in the movie if it foreshadows anything. In the books there are several references to Ginny curling up cat-like in a chair or hissing like an angry cat. There are too many to just ignore and well, I've watched the movie before but I never picked up on this before. But I've heard this theory so this time when I watched the movie I heard it. Is this line in the book? I bet it isn't. But it is a very odd little line to add to the movie now isn't it, seeing as how Ginny brings and owl to school. The line was said kind of fast and without anyone laughing, so I don't think it was meant to be a joke. People kind of pause a little after a joke so you have time to laugh. And I never even caught this before. So I don't think it was really meant to be a joke either.

[Manu]

very interesting thread, I am rereading Ootp at the moment and have noticed the references to cat. I like the idea of Sirius teaching Ginny during the summer, but somehow I found it difficult to believe that if Ginny was to be a self taught animagus then she will be a cat. The animagus-cat position is already filled by professor Mcgonagall and somehow I find it difficult to believe that JKR's imagination could produce twice the same twist. I would be more tempted to believe that Ginny could turn into some kind of feline such as a lion although I suppose a lion roaming the English countryside would not be very discreet and therefore no use to Harry and the order... :huh:

As for the fact that Hermione has check up on the animagi list, I would think that even if Ginny was one she would not be recorded as 1) it would be too recent and the list would not be updated and 2) to be appearing on the list she will have to have been registered

I do although believe that Ginny will have a significant role to play in the next too books ,as too many clues point out to the fact that she is a great witch, and also the fact that she is the first girl to be born for generatuions in the Weasley family...

On the subject of animagus, has anyone else wondered why Hermione has not given it a go?? after all we all know how bright she is and she has self learnt different very advanced spells such as the protean spell... :eyebrows:

[RemusLupinFan]

I really think Ginny is probably not an animagus. We have seen surprise animagi pop up throughout the story, mainly with McGonagall, Wormtail and Rita Skeeter, not to mention James and Sirius. Therefore, I don't think we'll discover very many more animagi in the books.

I think the cat references being used to describe Ginny are more for characterization purposes rather than to hint at Ginny being an animagus or becoming an animagus in the future (though I don't really doubt her capabilities to become one). Ginny's being identified with cats is like Snape being described as bat-like, Umbridge as toad-like, etc, as ravenfeather said. This is just a way for JK to give her characters defining qualities, and for us to better visualize the characters as having their own special traits that are identified with a certain animal. This way, JK can describe the characters without necessarily using their names, and we will still know who she is talking about.

Edit: I've just also found that cats signify independence as a totem animal, so perhaps JK's descriptions of Ginny are also a bearing on her personality. She does seem a very independent person who can hold her own against all of her brothers. In OotP, she really begins to develop as a unique and strong individual. Therefore, I do think that having cats represent her is very appropriate.

[Kimmetje]

I don't think Ginny is an Animagus as it is really difficult to become one and it takes like five years and all. I am not saying that Ginny is stupid, but it seems a bit like it's not going to happen.

I think that maybe like Crookshanks is a Animagus or Mrs Noriss, but not Ginny. It seems a bit too far-fetched and all.

Now the cat connection could be bigger, it could be that like Ginny's, maybe, in the future Patronus could be a cat! I like that idea and all, but it probably isn't destined to happen with the whole Animagus thing...

[_courtly]

I've just finished reading this thread and I do say, people have some very good theories on Ginny. Of course, I've always been a fan of Ginny and for something to happen with her would be a pleasant surprise. I've just got a few things to say about certain posts I've read.

Not sure what her driving force would be to do that though. The Marauders obviously had a reason and a reason to be secretive about it.

Now, it may not be obvious to anyone else, but I think that Ginny would have many reasons to want to become an Animagus. For the past five years, Ginny has not had a very important role in the books, not even in CoS, but all of a sudden, she seems to pop out of no where in OotP. She jumped out of her shell and was suddenly a big part of the group. No one ever went into the final battles with Harry, besides Ron and Hermione. Now granted, Luna and Neville were there as well. That's not my point. Ginny may have decided to become and Animagus to really stand out, or maybe she has her own views on the last battle. It could really be her way of trying to help.

Now, I also don't think you have to have a reason to become an Animagus in the first place. Professor McGonagall doesn't seem to have a good reason for being one. She did spy on the Dursleys, but it wasn't her jpb too. Dumbledore said so himself.

Umbridge toadlike, Trevor, Voldemort snake like, Snape being described as a bat...if one of these turns out to be true they all might.

Well, one of them happens to be true. We found out that Voldermort can inhabit the bodies of any one animal he wants. He prefers snakes though. It happened in OotP, when Harry had his infamous dream about Mr. Weasley...


I don't know any cats name Ginny but a few days ago I posted this on another Ginny topic

Quote Me
Has any one yet settled in canon just what Ginny real name is (thats if it's not Ginny) I was messing about with names and things and came up with this, If her name is the familiar form of Guinevere the Welsh spelling of Genevieve King Arthurs wife, the reason I have included the modern Welsh spelling, is long before the English got their hands on the legend of Arthur, the Welsh had their own legend all about Urther Pendragon, he also had a wife called Gwenhwyfar, who was always seen as either a silver cloud, a tree, or a hunting dog, could this mean that Ginny might just turn out to be very good at transfiguration. Just my random thoughts at 0130gmt 1km from JKR birthplace
Quote me

She might be an animigus

Well, I'd like to point out that Ginny's full name is Ginerva Weasley. It says so somewhere on Rowling's website. I'm not sure what Ginerva means though. I think I'm going to go and look it up...

I've searched through the web and not one name website seems to have Ginerva in their database. Someone would have to chop the name up and figure out what it means that way.

I don't think Ginny is an Animagus as it is really difficult to become one and it takes like five years and all. I am not saying that Ginny is stupid, but it seems a bit like it's not going to happen.
I think that maybe like Crookshanks is a Animagus or Mrs Noriss, but not Ginny. It seems a bit too far-fetched and all.

We don't know for a fact how long it takes for one to become and Animagus. For all we know, Sirius and James could have mastered it in their third or fourth year. They all could have been waiting for Peter to get his right. I think it all depends on the witch/wizard. They all probably have a different process, depending on which animal their animagus takes.

In my opinion, I'd like to see Ginny's patronus become some sort of feline. I could see her's being a tiger, or a lion. I would love to see that Ginny has been studying to become and Animagus for years, that would really shock Harry now wouldn't it?

Sorry for all the quotes, I really had a few ideas. :)

[atherella]

We don't know for a fact how long it takes for one to become and Animagus. For all we know, Sirius and James could have mastered it in their third or fourth year. They all could have been waiting for Peter to get his right. I think it all depends on the witch/wizard. They all probably have a different process, depending on which animal their animagus takes.

From PoA, American hardcover page 354
..."They became Animagi."
"My dad too?" said Harry, astounded.
"Yes, indeed," said Lupin. "It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it. Your father and Sirius were the cleverest students in the school, and lucky they were, because the Animagus transformation can go horribly wrong - one reason the Ministry keeps such a close watch on those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our Fifth year, they managed it."

So, there you have it, the cleverest students took three years to learn how to do it.

Since this thread is dealing with cats, I want to post a quote by JKR about the importance of cats. Maybe somebody can make heads or tails of it, because I've been racking my brain, and can only seem to make a connection between cats and squibs, and all the cats that belong to squibs have names with Mr. or Mrs. :wow:

Is there something more to the cats appearing in the books than first meets the eye? (i.e. Mrs. Figg's cats, Crookshanks, Prof. McGonagall as a cat, etc.)

JKR - Ooooo, another good question. Let's see what I can tell you without giving anything away....erm....no, can't do it, sorry.

[_courtly]

I didn't remember that...

Ginny is a smart witch, there is no doubt about that. She is prolly just as clever as Sirius and James were when they were her age. I think that maybe, she might have started in her first year after the CoS incident. I know it's a stab at nothing, but it could have started it all there.

[Kathy Potter]

Someone mentioned Mrs Figg and cats, but I noticed "Figgy" being described as "bat-like" a number of times too in Ootp as well. Interesting.


I never noticed that before! In OotP Ginny uses her bat-boogey hex. Somehow she has something to do with cats.


Gwenhwyfar, who was always seen as either a silver cloud, a tree, or a hunting dog, could this mean that Ginny might just turn out to be very good at transfiguration.


That is interesting about Gwenhwyfar being a silver cloud. You see silver clouds when it rains. When it starts to rain then comes lightening. Harry's scar is in the shape of a lightening bolt. Silver clouds & lightening, symbolism perhaps? Maybe that's why Tom Riddle never did kill Ginny. He had her in the chamber for a long time & he could have killed her before Harry came, but he didn't. There is a reason why Lucius must have given Ginny the diary instead of Hermione or Ron. And then there is the connection between Harry & Ginny through Harry's brooms. His first broom was a Nimbus 2000. Nimbus is a dark gray cloud bearing rain. So if Gwenhwyfar means silver cloud it goes back to the whole H/G connection of silver clouds & lightening. As of PoA Harry has had a firebolt. Ginny's hair is described as 'flaming red' and harry has a lightening BOLT scar. So that makes FireBolt!

[prongz]

Ginny is a pureblood as Weasleys are pure bloods. Assuming Voldemort / the heir of Slytherin only kills half-bloods and muggles, Ginny would not be a target for death

[dracosdiviner]

this was posted by someone on mugglenet who attended the Edinburgh Book Festival...

Edinburgh Book Festival Reports
I also took the opportunity to ask J.K. a few questions when she signed my book. Firstly, I asked if there was a reason why Ginny Weasley is always associated with cats (she is described by Percy in COS as being a cat lover, is often described as being curled up like a cat and once made a noise 'like an angry cat') but J.K. answered 'No, there's not, although you are obviously a very careful reader'. This to me sounded slightly hesitant as though there is something more to Ginny than we realize yet. She might of answered me further if I had not immediately asked her what would happen to Kreacher and 12 Grimmauld Place now that Sirius has gone. Although she dodged this question well she did say that we will find that out very early on, right at the start of the next book...
Sent in by Joanna
what do you think of this?

I personally think that there are some very evident clues in OotP that shows that Ginny might actually become an animagus in the future. :) Also, remember that harry has described Ginny to have a "long mane of hair" and "mane" is usually termed with lions=cat family. (I'm thinking lion because she's in Gryffindor...and no i'm not saying her animagus [if she is one] is a lion, just something from the cat family):)

the link is here if anyone wants reference:
http://www.mugglenet.com/mediasp/2004/august/edinburghreports.shtml

[Darynthe]

I think that Ginny is often discribed catlike has something to do with the fact that Harry dislikes cats. He hated Mrs Figgs cats, and also Mrs Norris. Plus he hated the gamboling kittens in Umbridges office. (as I've pointed in a couple of other threads).

Not ending here: He always thought Crookshanks very ugly and although this extraordinary cat was always very wise and loyal, Harry misunderstanding the situation was about to kill him and kill Sirius.

I dont' think GInny will be an animagus but I think there is a hint of antagonism towards Harry because of his personal dislike of cats.

Plus another reason why GInny won't be animagus cat: We already have one cat animagus who is McGonnagal. Why having so many animals would you have two women close to Harry be cats? I don't think so.

[Lucybird]

Maybe it's her patronus... I dn't think we were told it. Cat's tend to be pretty indepenadant but they always come home. Maybe it means Ginny will do something by herself which will help Harry to win in the end?

[srenne1982]

We know that Ginny has been able to keep a secret in the past (Can anyone say CoS). I don't see why she couldn't be animagus or maybe even metamorphmagus. She did seem to connect with Tonks on OoTP. I'm very interested in how this is going to play out. Especially if Tonks isn't as good as she appears to be. I for one wouldn't want Ginny on my bad side and if she feels betrayed. ooh , watch out.

[dorcasderr]

I personally don't see a problem with there being two animagi who are cats. Perhaps, however, rather than suggesting that Ginny could (or HAS) become an animagus, the cat imagery is hinting at a personality similarity between Ginny and professor McGonnagal.

[dracosdiviner]

I personally don't see a problem with there being two animagi who are cats. Perhaps, however, rather than suggesting that Ginny could (or HAS) become an animagus, the cat imagery is hinting at a personality similarity between Ginny and professor McGonnagal.
Very true dorcasderr. There is nothing wrong about the fact if there are two cat animagi in the HP series. We know that one thing that McGonnagal has in common with ginny are their first names: Ginny's is Ginevra while McGonnagal's is Minerva (there is some kind of similarity..not that much but still the names are quite similar) so there may be a possiblity that Ginny (if she does become an animagi) would be a cat. Also maybe this suggests that ginny's patronus is a cat, not her animagi form (if she is to have one)

[emmawoodhouse]

[QUOTE]Some say Egyptian cat worship frenzy stemmed from the facts that cats protected granaries and other palces where food was stored from becoming overrun by rodents. And having observed cats killing deadly vipers. (which hints you out at something of CoS)[B]Egyptians came to believe the cat was the natural enemy of the snake , a traditional symbol of evil.

Not to mention, the thing about weasles being an enemy of a basilisk. . . One plus one equals two??? We do have that nasty snake of Voldemort's that attacked poor Arthur ...

Also, very catlike is her ability to catch that snitch right from under the other seekers' noses- not once but twice! That always reminded me of a cat toying with a mouse.

Are there any ties to cats or the 7th child theory that would link Ginny's strange attraction to the time jar and the hummingbird?

[tarachristwen]

she's probably a cat lover..would love to see her as an animagus though..that will be so cool!!

[Corbin Dallas]

emmawoodhouse and GilyAnn,
the Egypt connection is even stronger with the fact that Bill used to work in Egypt too. In Egpyt mythology, there was a Cat-Headed Goddess, Bast, that would slay the serpent of Seth every morning so that Ra, the Sun God, could fly accross the Sky every day. The Ocelot, is a cat in Egypt which is noted as an efficent snake Killer and is reveard by the Egyptians.
Cheers
:tu: :cool: :tu:

[Cheri]

I hope she learns how to be an animagus and turns into a cat- that would be really cool!