Is The Size Of The Parlor In The Changeling (at Least In Ginny's Fifth Year) About What It Would Be At

Is the size of the Parlor in the Changeling (at least in Ginny's fifth year) about what it would be at any given period, or would it's size change based on the number of potential sisters? And as someone not super familiar with harry potter beyond the movies, how big is the population of Slytherin and Hogwarts in general supposed to be (or at least how big do you imagine it in the Changeling/Armistice)?

Well, I would say that The Parlor is not something with a quota to fill or anything. There aren’t a set number of spots to be filled, or a limit as to how many. One of my favorite things to think about in the magical world is that nothing is inert. Even the castle itself is a living being of sorts, something that adapts and changes to the needs of the students living there. Like, imagine all the magic and emotions and experiments all concentrated in that one space for millennia. The castle lives and breathes and adapts, and The Parlor space is no exception. If there were more girls who needed it, it would get bigger. If there was a smaller group of girls for a few years, it would become intimate and perfect for their needs. And since in the fic we saw both the Room of Requirement and The Parlor adapt to Ginny’s needs when she was in hiding her sixth year, allowing her direct access, I think it wouldn’t be completely beyond imagining that if there was a girl in another house that desperately needed it, that maybe other passages would open. Though, in my head, I probably think of the Sorting differently than most. I wonder sometimes if the Sorting is about predicting what the students might need, the possible paths forward for them, rather than an announcement of who they already are fully formed. It’s about who they could be. It’s about what the Sorting might make of them. (But also who they want to be, even if it’s bad for them. Freewill after all.)

As for the overall population of students, I think we are meant to believe that there are ten students in each house, so forty students in each grade, so 280 students. Though, honestly, the idea that there will be twenty boys and twenty girls exactly each year either means there is a larger population of wizarding children and only a specific quota of students get in (which, honestly, when Hagrid says in the first book that Harry’s name has been down for Hogwarts since he was born is a weird statement. If it’s open access, wouldn’t all kids’ names be down for Hogwarts who are magical?). Alternatively, there were five Gryffindor boys and five Gryffindor girls Harry’s year and we all just extrapolated that it must hold true for all other years/houses. Maybe it’s more variable than it appeared.

As for the Changeling verse, I went with the second interpretation (although the first makes more sense to me now, that there is limited admission at Hogwarts, and it allows us to imagine a larger world). Mostly because if Ginny went into Slytherin, are there only four Gryffindor girls her year? Or did she swap with someone? Also, I only gave Ginny three roommates (Bridget, Helena, and Smita). Laziness at that time, probably, but also me side-eyeing the Exactly Forty Magical Children Are Born Each Year In England (And Exactly Half and Half Boys and Girls)!!!

Slytherin girls who offer to wing each other’s eyeliner. Slytherin girls who stay up late in quiet groups in the common room and everyone thinks they’re plotting something but really they’re just studying because Ravenclaws aren’t the only ones with good grades. Slytherin girls who complete mock unbreakable vows that they’ll never share each other’s deepest darkest secrets. Slytherin girls who always have each other’s backs and aren’t afraid to go after anyone who disrespects them. Slytherin girls who act dark and mysterious but have lip synching battles in their underwear late at night.

Gryffindor girls who climb the trees on the edge of the forbidden forest and just talk for hours. Gryffindor girls who can and will take down the boys who sit in the common room and make sexist remarks. Gryffindor girls who all wear bright red lipstick and always braid their hair when there’s a Quidditch game. Gryffindor girls who don’t understand what’s up with all the attention Harry and his friends always get because any of them would be just as willing to stand up to Voldemort. Gryffindor girls who stay up all night, drinking smuggled fire whiskey and ranting in drunken slurs about how much they hate Slytherin house.

Ravenclaw girls who have struck fear into their enemies’ hearts because no one should be that intelligent. Ravenclaw girls who paint each other’s nails while discussing the new book they’ve all been reading. Ravenclaw girls who cover for each other when one of them forgot to do homework because they were too busy working on a brilliant idea they had for a new piece of music they were composing the night before. Ravenclaw girls who never go to the bathrooms alone because they’ve figured out that bad things happen. Ravenclaw girls who lay on each others’ beds and play with their hair while having deep 3am conversations on a school night.

Hufflepuff girls who vow to remain friends even after they’ve all graduated and gone their separate ways. Hufflepuff girls leaving random inspirational notes in each others’ school books. Hufflepuff girls who are usually well-tempered until someone from another house makes fun of them, then all hell breaks loose. Hufflepuff girls who come up with secret languages so that they can pass notes during potions class and giggle when Snape tries to decipher a note about how terrible his teaching is. Hufflepuff girls who always make plans of growing a giant garden full of magical plants together, but just end up eating their body weight in desserts they’ve swiped from the kitchen.

you can't have daddy issues if you don't have a dad

I'm really surprised they've never done a body switching episode!!! that's a cartoon staple 🤌

been thinkin about pre-reveal marichat....

Ginny Weasley’s Social Life

There’s a huge idea in the fandom that Ginny Weasley is popular. And this isn’t exactly incorrect.

By HBP, she’s well-liked and appears to have friends in a variety of circles. Boys find her attractive. She’s a member of the Quidditch team. People laugh at her jokes.

But before anyone imagines that Ginny’s Hogwarts years were a cakewalk, let’s look back on how she got there.

First year (CS)

Ginny starts out a bit nervous, but hopefully makes some fledgling friendships with her dormitory mates. But before those friendships could get off the ground, Ginny is drawn in by Riddle. Her dormitory mates/classmates (hopefully) continue to be friendly to her, but she’s becoming more and more moody and withdrawn. Her dormitory mates, who barely had a chance to get to know her, shrug and let her be.

She establishes a friendship with Colin Creevy, but he’s petrified two months into the year. She’s distraught, and it’s hinted that this is when she starts to suspect her own involvement. Ginny withdraws further into herself.

Those who’ve had classes with her see her as quiet and slightly odd. Her class performance is spotty and her confidence has never been lower.

Second year (PA)

Ginny’s starting from scratch. She almost certainly has no friends.

The alliances within her dormitory have already been established, and she’s the odd one out. Her dormitory mates probably see her as the moody secretive unfriendly girl with whom they share a room. She’s the Neville of her dorm, and has had her confidence dashed by her past experience. Hogwarts was where she was violated, and it takes time to be comfortable again.

But instead of wallowing, she starts slowly building friendships and building a social network for herself.

Among the Gryffindor second years who had shared all of their classes with her the previous year, she’s quiet Ginny Weasley. And she never really feels like she can escape that first impression.

But to a Gryffindor third year or a Ravenclaw second year, she’s largely a blank slate. So she gravitates toward people that are not in her year, not in her house, or both. People that are less likely to have known Ginny Weasley circa first year.

Third year (GF)

By third year, she’s doing significantly better. She’s probably still the odd one out in her dormitory, but she’s got the twins, Ron, Hermione, and (probably) Colin. She’s also establishing friendships with people like Neville, who is similarly isolated from his year mates. She doesn’t view herself as having particularly high social currency and she’s probably right, but she’s happier and that’s what’s important.

You’ll notice that Ginny tends to have a higher than average number of male friends. This is partially opportunity (she meets male friends like Neville via her brothers), but it’s mostly a matter of comfort level. Ginny is neither a complete tomboy nor a girly-girl. She’s comfortable interacting with boys, but she’s also comfortable with being the only girl in a pack of boys and doesn’t feel the need to give up her identity as a girl just to fit in.

She continues to broaden her circle during third year, and by the end of the year she has a bonafide boyfriend, Michael Corner. This transition also coincides with the beginning of her transition from a cute young girl to a beautiful young woman.

Fourth year (OP)

She’s still getting her feet wet with her relationship with Michael Corner. She quickly establishes herself as friends with Michael’s friends Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein. Through Michael, she’s strengthened her social network in Ravenclaw.

When the first meeting of the D.A. takes place, it’s pretty clear that her invited guests were Michael, his friends, and probably Luna as well. She might have been the one to invite the Creeveys, if they didn’t find out on their own.

She also starts playing Quidditch for Gryffindor, which raises her profile further. And like Luna and the others, she benefits from the cross-house interaction the D.A. provided. The D.A. also provides her with a major confidence boost.

By this point, she’s starting to resemble HBP Ginny. She’s comfortable speaking in front of large groups, has a variety of friends across houses, and people see her as someone who’s fun/vivacious.

Fifth year (HBP)

Ginny comes back onto the scene full force.

She’s still on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and has quickly become one of the most talented members of the team. She’s struck up a few new friendships with people like Demelza Robbins. At this point, she’s also dating Dean Thomas. Dean is a better fit than Michael, and she’s much more public/official about the relationship. She doesn’t bother hiding it from Ron or anyone else. She also seems to become friends with Seamus via Dean.

And this is where Harry (and therefore the reader) takes notice. He sees a vivacious, talented, clever, funny, confident 16-year-old girl. But Ginny’s social journey has actually been a step behind everyone else.