And on the right, that Raven-Tressed Ravenclaw, that Sought-After Seeker: Cho Chang!

Athletic Ability:

Ginny is a capable and competitive Chaser, keeping her skills sharp by stealing her brothers’ brooms from the shed and practicing in secret. Eventually plays for Gryffindor, beats Cho to the snitch in the Quidditch Cup in her fourth year.

Though bested by Ginny in that Quidditch Cup, Cho was a Seeker talented enough to get her team to the final. Once used a strategy of following Harry to locate the Snitch, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

Advantage: Weasley. By virtue of being a Gryffindor, Harry would never have to play directly against her when it really counted. Having a girlfriend playing the exact same position on the opposing team could only end badly.

Intellect:

Weasley is known to be a powerful witch with a sharp wit and a mean Bat-Bogey Hex. Also showed prowess with the Disarming Charm and Reductor Curse. Once spent several months writing in a cursed diary (which led to the petrification of multiple students and one cat, and the murder of a rooster).  Let Harry break up with her for her own protection. Was able to produce a corporeal patronus. Writes terrible poetry. Allowed her daughter to be named Lily Luna.

Chang is a Ravenclaw, indicating a leaning toward the intellectual above all else. Produced a corporeal patronus, known to be a difficult spell. Was one of the first students unrelated to the Order of the Phoenix to believe Harry when he said that Voldemort had returned.

Advantage: Chang. The sorting hat doesn’t lie.

Awkward Romantic Interludes:

Ginny Weasley once hired a dwarf in a diaper to recite a poem to Harry Potter publicly, on Valentine’s Day. The poem, which Weasley herself wrote, likened the color of Potter’s eyes to that of a toad. The poem was delivered in front of Draco Malfoy, while Ginny Weasley herself was present.

Cho Chang arranged to meet Potter in Hogsmeade, at a fussy tea shop where her deceased ex-boyfriend had been known to take her on their dates. Over cups of confetti-filled tea Chang attempted to engage Potter in conversation about the dead ex (Potter’s former rival in Quidditch as well as Chang’s affections, and for whose death he had been present), cried hysterically, and openly displayed jealousy over his friendship with Hermione Granger.

Advantage: None.

Temperament:

Weasley is courageous, funny, and independent. She’s known for her jokes and blazing look of determination, fought bravely against Bellatrix Lestrange at the Battle for Hogwarts (despite being saved by her mummy).  

Chang is sensitive, subtle, and loyal. She refused to wear a Potter Stinks button, was kind to Harry when she declined his invitation to the Yule Ball, pursued him indirectly (offering to show him to Ravenclaw Tower), and defended her friend Marietta to the detriment of her romantic relationship with Harry. Dated “down”, seeing as Harry was a year behind her at school.

Advantage: It’s a matter of taste.

Proximity to Potter:

Ginny Weasley had literally years for Harry to get to know her. He spent summers at her house, traveled to the Quidditch World Cup with her, and spent both holidays and times of crisis with her family. During the school year they were part of the same house and Quidditch team. By book 7 he had seen her in every imaginable type of situation.

Cho Chang interacted with Harry during a few chance meetings, stolen glances during mealtimes, while turning down his romantic advances, and while in direct competition with one another playing Quidditch. Their first chance for prolonged contact came during D.A. meetings, with Potter’s longtime admirer Ginny Weasley present, at a time when Chang was still grieving the loss of her ex-boyfriend Cedric Diggory (who appeared dead in the center of a maze with Harry Potter draped over his body).

Advantage: Weasley.

The winner and still champeen: Ginny Weasley

I honestly believe that nintey-five percent of the reason Harry wound up with Ginny is that he really wanted be a Weasley, and she was their only daughter (and had it bad for him). Which is not to say that Cho was a better fit, just that she had worse luck and timing. It’s a shame Cedric died because he and Cho seemed just right for each other.

Who do you think Harry should have ended up with? Do you even care?