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GILDEROY LOCKHART Updated August 20, 2005        

GINNY WEASLEY  Updated August 20, 2005

GODRIC GRYFFINDOR Updated August 20, 2005

GOYLE, (GREGORY GOYLE'S DAD AND DEATH EATER)

GREGORY GOYLE

(PROFESOR) GRUBBLY-PLANK

GILDEROY LOCKHART

Is he a half-blood prince locked away in a gilded cage?  Or does he lock away the memories of other princes of noble deeds so that he may claim them as his own?  Well he most certainly can be accused of the latter.  As for being a half-blood, well, if he is then you’re reading a different version of HP books. He, himself, is locked away nonetheless in St. Mungo's Hospital in the mental ward.  Indeed the key to his own memories are locked away too, perhaps permanently, unless Harry discovers a spare skeleton key hidden away in some closet.  J.K.R. has denied that Gilderoy will get his memory back. Nevertheless, read on for some gilded ideas.

Gilderoy was a master at memory charms and managed a humdinger on himself with his “obliviate” charm using Ron’s incapacitated wand.  I’m really glad it didn’t hit Harry.  That would have been the end of the HP series right then and there.  Phew!  But we can see the power of Lockhart’s one magical expertise. 

When Lockhart had all his brain cells in order he claimed to be an Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League.  And just what does the Dark Force Defense League do?  Who else is a member?  Is he the only member?  Well I wish we could jog his brain a bit so he could tell us.   I don’t think he’s really, really a bad guy, but rather like Ludo Bagman – looking out for himself without thinking of the long term consequences to himself or others until it’s too late or nearly so.  I really want to believe he has a redeemable soul, probably because I also really like Kenneth Brannagh who played him in the movie.  So what memories do we need to glean from Gilderoy’s gilded mind?  He had to have learned a lot about defensive arts if only by taking notes from the experts for his several published works.  Here is a list of known Lockhart books for your own investigative deductions: 

Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests - Molly refers to the Guide to Household Pests in both CoS and OotP.   

Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart - Seamus Finnegan is always talking about Banshees and I wonder if we’ll be seeing one soon.  I don’t think that’s such a good thing given a Banshee’s reputation for never being the life of the party. 

Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart - Remember the ghoul that lives in the attic of the Burrow?  I wonder how he got there and if he ever will come out?  And here’s a far-fetched idea… if the Burrow is connected to Godric’s Hollow, does the Weasley Ghoul know anything we should know?  I think Ron needs to lure him out of his tower. 

Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart  - Ah, Hags.  We’ve seen a few prowling the dark lanes Knockturn Ally and in Hogsmeade village.  Now I think we’ll learn more about their reformation led by Honoria Nutcombe.   

Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart - Professor Quirrell let a Troll loose into Hogwarts in PS/SS.  What did Dumbledore do with the unconscious fella?  Is he in the Forbidden Forest? So we’ve not seen nor heard of Trolls on the loose since CoS.  Are there any more trolls near Hogwarts or do they live near or with the giants?  Wherever they are I am sure Voldemort will find them and recruit them… if they aren’t too dim. 

Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart - Has Snape read Voyages with Vampires?  Does he even like water? 

Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart - Is Lockhart's immensely complex Homorphus Charm a real charm? Or is it just a blithering idiot's mumbo-jumbo?

Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart - I’m not sure yet but a Yeti must have some magical importance. 

Is Gilderoy’s life in peril while he is in St. Mungo's?  As long as he doesn’t remember anything of major importance then I’d answer no.   He appeared to be remembering a few tidbits in OotP like signing autographs and that somehow Harry seemed vaguely familiar. We’d better keep a sharp look out for any more potted plant deliveries. 

When Gilderoy said he was exceptionally talented in performing memory charms does that include restoring memories as well as obliterating them?  I really am seeing a growing connection between Lockhart and the Longbottoms aside from the fact that both last names start with “L”. 

Gone to visit Gilderoy in St. Mungo's to see how his memory is.  Don't forget to come back later.

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GINNY WEASLEY

What do we really know about Ginny Weasley? Ginny is the 7^th child of the Weasley family and the only girl born for several generations.  Is she the seventh child of the seventh child?  How many brothers did/does Mr. Weasley have?  Don’t know but back to Ginny....

Up to OotP we haven't really been given any indication how Ginny does in her studies, although I think she takes after Bill and Charley and most likely achieves high marks on her homework and exams.  It’s possible she could get at least twelve OWL's in her fifth year at Howarts (and we should know her scores in book 7).  

I wonder how she does in Potions?  We have no idea what Snape thinks of her... which is interesting because we do have a clue about how Snape feels about the other Weasleys, i.e. Ron, Fred and George.  Actually, I can't recall  anything having been stated specifically abou the twins but I think we can assume Snape has little regard for them and their antics.  Being that Ron is Harry's best friend, Shape would not be  inclined to give him too much leeway but he certainly doesn't hate him like he hates Harry.  And as far as Hermione is concerned... well we all know Snape considers her a  'know-it-all' and loses patience with her fairly quickly. 

But back to Ginny...

Ginny is bright, clever, and not above breaking rules to achieve her goal... or the goal of some one she likes, like Harry.  She quickly came up with a plan to distract and divert Umbridge in OotP so that Harry could use "the toad's" fireplace to try to talk to Sirius.  She also admitted to Harry that she learned how to play Quidditch by secretly flying her brothers' brooms when she was younger.    So she has brains and resourcefulness at the ready for when she needs them and it's more than likely she'll be included more often in Harry, Ron, and Hermione's adventures from now on (based on her being included in the Ministry of Magic/Sirius rescue in OotP). 

Will Ginny be Harry’s future girlfriend and wife?  The set up is pretty good.  Ginny’s had a crush on Harry since she first laid eyes on him in PS/SS.   Harry has black hair like his father and Ginny has red hair like his mother. Finally, in HBP, Harry and Ginny both realize they like each other more than just a little, but don’t forget that Harry is destined to pursue his noble quest of vanquishing Voldemort.  It looks like Ginny and Harry’s short-lived romance but wait yet again.

 Voldemort possessed Ginny in CoS so both she and Harry share a connection with the Dark Lord.  Like Harry, Ginny has some of Voldemort's powers in her too; maybe not as much as Harry since her experience was with Voldemort’s memory and not the real thing.  But then what’s real and what’s a Horcrux?Check out my section on Horcruxes in Magical Miscellany. Then again the difference between a memory and a real person may not matter at all.  Whatever the case may be, I’m sure she’s got a few tricks up her witch’s sleeve we have yet to see. 

Ginny is a really good Quidditch player.  She tells Harry that once he’s back as seeker on the Gryffindor team in HBP she is going to go out for chaser; and she does, when she’s not still playing keeper. 

GODRIC GRYFFINDOR

He was one of the founding fathers of Hogwarts along with Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and the original Parseltongue, Salazar Slytherin.  Besides being pure, honest, and true, his other claims to fame are a sparkling sword that is great for slaying big snakes and a grubby and torn yet wise-beyond-his-tears ancient singing hat.  He is seemingly the God-like figure bestowing benevolent kindness to all while Salazar Slytherin, who dwelt in the bowels of the castle, can be likened to the fallen angel/serpent/devil whose ambitions cannot be satisfied under Gryffindor's rule.  Is Harry related to Godric Griffindor?  Perhaps the answer is buried under the rubble at Godric’s Hollow.

GOYLE, (GREGORY GOYLE'S DAD AND DEATH EATER)

Like son, like father... dum-de-dum-dumb...

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GREGORY GOYLE

I'm out taking in the sights and studying gothic stone carvings on ancient British and European cathedrals.  They don't do much except look hideous and stare at you blankly just like Malfoy's crony.  I'll try to find out more about them and let you know when I do.

(PROFESSOR) Grubbly-Plank

Nice, old substitute teacher.  She has filled in for Hagrid twice now and much to Harry's consternation (out of his loyalty for Hagrid) and Hermione's approval, she has taught excellent Care of Magical Creatures lessons.  She likes Dumbledore as she tells that toady Umbridge woman in OotP.  She could be back, as well as useful, in later books.

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Just taking a chewing gum break and checking the wrappers for hints.  More to come later.