So In The Changeling You Describe How Ginny Keeps The DA Safe In Her Sixth Year As Part Of Her Role As

So in the Changeling you describe how Ginny keeps the DA safe in her sixth year as part of her role as the Slytherin leader. In canon, however, Ginny is a Gryffindor like Neville and there are in fact no Slytherin leaders to advise caution. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how that changed the situation.

I don’t really, honestly. I made a decision with the Changeling to keep everything basically the same in terms of general events and deaths and outcomes. I wanted to show that it actually makes sense that Slytherin must have been part of the DA, that they would have been vital. And to show that canon wouldn’t have to fundamentally change to encorporate school unity. I wanted to give alternate explanations for how things could have ended up that way. Like the fact that it’s Ginny’s legiliemncy that keeps Neville from being killed. That it’s Hannah’s loyalty that keeps the room of requirement safe. That it’s Luna and Terry’s creativity that drives the DA’s successful rebellion. We knew the role Gryffindor leadership and drive and bravery of would play from the text. But the others are missing. I suppose I’m questioning the viability of the outcomes with a DA that wasn’t unified when it comes down to it.

In the changeling, what was it that made the hat decide Slytherin over Gryffindor? Do you think it was purely ginny and what being in Slytherin house would bring out in her and how necessary it would be, or did it sense the part of Voldemort’s soul she possessed like it did in Harry and what that might turn her into?

I made a very conscious decision to not have Ginny write or interact with the diary until after her sorting. I wanted to sorting to be about her, no about what would happen to her. Even more, I did want it woven in that the hat sorted her not just for who she could become, not just for her cunning and her ambition and ability to be ruthless, but what Hogwarts needed. The hat showed a lot of prescience throughout the books, and I think it’s totally reasonable to assert that the hat suspected troubled times were coming--Voldemort just having made an attempt to get back in his body a few months before, Harry Potter being at the school. The hat, having seen generation after generation go by, would know how essential unity would be to the survival of Hogwarts and the students within. I like to think Ginny’s sorting wasn’t out of character, but it was also a careful gambit on the part of the hat. It couldn’t know who she would become, but her potential, oh yes, that is where the hat’s strength lies. And what a choice it would become. 

Stay with me !!

later

secret full version of this post that i never posted cuz i was like ooooh im gonna color the sketches 🤡 lol that never happened but its fine in this house we post unfinished art

Did the Aurors following Harry around ever notice his relationship with Ginny?

Ha! I assume you mean the ones in England after he gets back. Good question. Most of them, no. They weren't around each other very often, and Harry was really good at ditching his tails. But there was one auror who definitely noticed. And yes, you've met him. :)

my favorite boys are watching the sunset sky 💖