I looked through the three pages of this subforum and didn't find a topic similar to this so....

Which girl do you think Lily and James would feel is best for Harry? Whom would they warm up to more, Ginny or Hermione?

I've actually been thinking about it, and while I'd like to say Hermione (yeah, I am obviously biased) I can't help but think Ginny being interested in Quidditch would win major points with James, for example. Then again I think Lily would warm up to Hermione more, because (IMO) Lily was somewhat of a clever bookworm herself during her Hogwarts days, though not nearly as much as Hermione is.

While I'm on the subject, I'm wondering what Sirius and Remus thought/think too.

So I'm biased and I want to say Hermione... but I would think that they would think that whoever makes Harry the happiest and really, truly loves him for 'just Harry', then James and Lily would approve.

...I still want to choose Hermione though.

Miss Mady

They'd both just love the girl Harry would choose. Hermoine would definitely win extra points with Lily because of the fact that they were both born into muggle families and are book-hungry. James...I don't know. Sirius would be partial to Ginny and Lupin would be indifferent.

Molly

Maybe because I'm biased, but I like to think that Sirius likes Hermione. I like fanfics that have Sirius prefer Hermione to Ginny for Harry... okay, I am biased...

Miss Mady

okay correct me if I'm wrong (and I most likely am ) but didn't Sirius say something about Hermione being the brightest witch of her age in POA? I read a theory (or comment whatever ) that said he was probaly thinking of Lily when he said it. This could draw the conculsion that Sirius would most likely pick Hermione. In my opinion anyway. Hey I'm trying to be non-biased right now.

Also if Harry's parents ever knew about Ginny rock-star crush on Harry and if they saw how well Hermione knows Harry then I think their descion would be clear.

Besides what do you think they would say if they heard what Ginny said to Harry when they broke up?

"I knew you'd never be happy unless you were fighting Voldemort"

*Somewhere in heaven*

James: Oh yeah he's really happy fighting the person who killed us!
Lily: That wasn't a very smart thing to say now was it?
Sirius: That's because she's not the smart one. Its that Hermione I've been telling you about.
****************

Okay I've made my point and had my fun. I'll go now.

I think Harry's parents would have picked Hermione because she's that type of girl you can bring home to your mom.
I'm sure Lupin, Sirius, Hagrid, and Dumbledore would pick Hermione as well mainly because of her incredible intelligence.
And what parent wouldn't want their child to end with someone who understands him and protects him? Isn't friendship important to having lasting love?

ROFL! I totally agree with Sirius!


I think it was Lupin. I don't have the books right now, but I know it was either Sirius or Remus.


They'd definitely want Harry to be with Hermione.

Miss Mady

Personally I think what a parent looks for in their childs partner, is what sort of influence that person will be on their child. I think it's fairly safe to say that Ginny is a bad influence, she's reckless and she encourages Harry to be too, she thinks Harry can do no wrong and encourages him to think the same. Hermione on the other hand has always been a good influence on Harry, whether it's encouraging him to do his school work or telling him going to the DOM is a trap. I think that Lilly and James would see all of that and appreciate Hermione a lot more than Ginny. After all they would understand better than anyone the lengths Hermione seems prepared to go to to keep Harry alive.

This is an interesting question….at first glance they might like Ginny – the red hair, her “spitfire” personality and that she made Harry happy for a few weeks. But they wouldn’t like the fact that she still has a skewed view of him as the noble hero and basically used other boys to get Harry to notice her (as she admitted as such).

I don’t think Lily would like the reckless side of Ginny’s personality. While fun and spontaneous – Harry doesn’t need someone who is reckless, he needs someone who is responsible and will watch out for Harry’s safety, something that Hermione has made a priority since the beginning.

If L/J are watching over Harry, then they already know how much Hermione cares for him, watches out for him and how she is a positive influence him. I would think that they are just like us, waiting for him to wake up and smell the pumpkin juice (heh!)

At first, they'd think that no one was good enough for their son. Anyone who loved him and was good for him, though, would eventually win their respect. Given Harry's relationship with Hermione, I think they'd say that she'd be best, but who knows. They'd just want him to be happy and be in the best relationship he could be.

I agree that Ginny liking Quidditch would win points for her, but how do we know Lily was a bookworm like Hermione? Sure she was a prefect and head girl but that doesn't mean she is a goody-two shoes (before anyone shouts at me for hating Hermione I absolutely adore her, but you have to admit, she is!). From what Slughorn has told us Lily was quite cheeky and very similar to how I picture Ginny.

I also think that the Marauders (as a whole) would have prefered Ginny, who is much more fun than Hermione! She is obviously like Fred and George, a trouble maker and in fun, a kindred spirit to the Marauders you could say!

Also, I'm sorry but Ginny is clearly better for Harry. She is his 'greatest source of comfort' she obviously makes him happy and she can deal with his temper fair better than Hermione. Isn't that what Lily and James would want?

Harry/Ginny all the way
- I say

Greatest source of comfort? Really? I don't think that was mentioned in any of the books. Hermione's always there for him and she can comfort him better than Ginny can, at least she can to *my* knowledge. I don't believe I've seen Ginny comforting Harry.

The Harry Potter Lexicon has this to say about her:

Underline=mine. "Very talented" doesn't have to mean she's a bookworm, but it clearly shows she's smart. "One of the brightest" shows that too.

Okay, that's all I've to say about this. No debating for me. (Ergh... I think I've gone past that. )

Miss Mady

I wasn't directly quoting the book. However we have seen Ginny comforting Harry.
Remember who it was who pulled Harry away from Dumbledore's body?
Hagrid completely failed at trying to persuade Harry to leave Dumbledore but Ginny manages to with the touch of a hand.

We also know (because it is stated quite clearly in the books) that Ginny made Harry the happiest he had been in a long time.


Oh also, I know you weren't arguing with me over my opinion of Lily. But 'brightest' and 'very talented does not mean 'Hermione-ish'.

Yes, but he didn't even realize that it was Ginny until later... if I'm not mistaken.

Note to self: I need to stop debating. Hmm.

Miss Mady

i don't mean to debate either, but i have been sucked in.

the likely hood is that lily and james will see ginny as harry's ideal woman because that is exactly what jkr made her to be.

don't believe me? this is the mugglenet/leaky cauldron interview:

I'm very well aware of the interview. I think lots of PK-ers here are.

Bolding mine.

"Ideal" does not mean perfect, as is supported by the dictionary definition(s). It's an idea of perfection-- it doesn't mean it's perfect. So, Ginny is not perfect for Harry.

Ginny? Ideal? An idea of perfection? Ginny represents what Harry thinks is ideal. Ginny represents what he thinks is perfect.



Compare/Contrast:
Ginny:
friends with Luna
...
gives Harry singing cards
...
defends Harry


...
chocolate scene


Hermione:
says Voldemort and IT CALMS HIM DOWN, in contrast to Ginny saying it and him NOT NOTICING IT AT ALL

...
gets Harry out of his room... the ONLY one who could get Harry out of his room

...
Hermione is pretty much the only one who believes him when he says he "didn't put his name in the goblet".

...
when Hermione reassures Harry that he's NOT a bad kisser


NOTE: I couldn't have gotten this done without Arthur (Hermione's Hero) and James (The Obsidian Warlock)'s help. Seriously, this wouldn't have been completed.

ANOTHER NOTE: The page numbers might differ. I have SS/PS, CoS, GoF, and OotP in British edition, and PoA and HBP in American edition.

Miss Mady

Maybe this was touched on before but doesn't JKR say part of what made the Harry/Ginny relationship so special was that in book 6 they were each other's equals??

Do I need to recap the number of not so nice things Harry did in book 6?

1. err debasing Hagrid's funeral...aragog wasn't some nothing, that spider was the reason Hagrid got expelled!

2. Cheating like crazy in potions, not listening to one of his two best friends..

3. Becoming so obsessed with Draco Malfoy that even Dumbledore was severly dissapointed with him.

4. Nearly killing Draco Malfoy.

What gets me every time though is that he was in a manner of sense, so worthless, (too harsh?) in book 6 that his team didn't even need him to win, I mean he's the captain, he wasn't even missed.

If this is what Harry is equal to then, then in my opinion Ginny is the perfect girl for him, but if the descriptions of Harry's unsatisfactory behavior are there to show how much more of his potential he reaches in year 7 then that perfect girl either needs to change VERY quickly...or get replaced...

by a lovely bookworm.

I don't think that after all the maturing James must've done to get to Lily, he (or she who disliked book 5 Prongs so much) could like Ginny or the way their son behaved when he fancied her.

see i translate the definition to mean that ginny is perfect for harry. even if she is only harry's idea of perfection surely that is perfect?
it is harry's choice who he ends up with and that will be who he thinks is perfect; his ideal of perfect.




but he still ends up having one of the happiest times of his life because of ginny.

sorry, but hermione's been there from the start and sure the evidence says she's been a great friend to harry, but in the long run being friend's with her has never made him so happy as when he was dating ginny.
she has been there for six years and harry has yet to notice her. meanwhile ginny was only really herself for a year before harry started to like her - and most of that year he liked cho.

and sorry but what is wrong with the way ginny or harry behaves? surely it's exactly the same as they normally are? ginny isn't irresponsible or stupid.
she doesn't pull dangerous tricks or pranks on people.

from what we've seen of her she is mature, sensible, enjoyable company and willing to do anything for harry.

I've edited my post. It's much longer, but it has canon quotes that I used to support the compare and contrast.


She crashed Smith into the Quidditch stands, could've seriously injured him, but still got away with nothing. Irresponsible or stupid? The diary. Sure she was 11, but her dad warned their entire family about it.


Mature?

Mature, all right.

Miss Mady

What about her insulting Fleur all the time??

Her snide unprovoked comments towards Hermione--and proof that Harry was in a deep state of denial about who he was is simply showed by the fact that he didn't feel any indignation on Hermione' s part. Even if it had been Remus who said it, Harry would've regardless at least challenged the tone of what was said.

Ginny didn't offer Hermione any real shoulder to lean on in book 6, though they've supposedly been good friends for several years and left her to Luna who though a very sweet person, Hermione doesn't particularly like and doesn't particularly know.

Part of why Harry was so happy was because he was pretending he didn't have this great path before him, a burdenless life of a normal teenager was something he'd never faced before and she helped him pretend. He felt no real grief for Sirius, a combination of brother and father figure, who he loved very much, and Cedric Diggory, a boy whose good qualities he respected, but was otherwise indifferent to (neglecting of course the cho-cedric animosity) he spent a year torn apart by his death.

I'd also like to add--maybe this doesn't completly count because it's pre-book 6, but in the DoM, Harry sees Ginny smash against a wall, incapciated and he holds no reaction but the strengthened decision to run as fast as he can, he thinks of ron (who's being strangled by brain tentacles ) tops three times (I remember it being 2 but...could be 3) until he sees him again several pages later, but Hermione he drops down beside and is unable to continue without assuring himself of her still having a pulse.

I cite these examples to prove:

1. If Hermione and Ron are equal his reaction to their 'deaths' should be the same. Even if he was forced to keep running from Ron his conscious brain should've spared him a few more instances of concern.

2. If Ginny is the love of Harry's life--sorry, I know how cliche it sounds--shouldn't there be a smidgen, just a smidgen of feeling on his part? Why does he break down when Hermione's dead?

Because his feelings in the DoM (based on the buildup from 5 books) continue in HBP, and the anthisesitcal (word?) way he feels about Hermione is him repressing her because he realizes in those scenes how important she is to him.

Hermione is his best friend, you love your best friend right? you'd be in tears if you thought he/she was dead. Ginny however was only a friend and Ron's little sister - thus no huge reaction.

Ginny doesn't like Fleur, besides, I bet all of us here have been nasty to someone.

Personally I can't remember any snide comments towards Hermione, maybe I need to reread the book. But Ginny isn't Hermione's best friend and vice versa. The fact that she is nice to Luna is a good thing. And the trio are hardly constantly friendly to Ginny, in OoP they kept ignoring her, Neville and Luna's offers of help. Hermione never chooses Ginny over the boys, why should Ginny choose Hermione?

Ginny's snide comment to Hermione:

The trio aren't "friendly" with Ginny because she was barely in the books. And maybe Hermione doesn't choose Ginny because she's hardly in there. Just a thought.

Miss Mady

Justifying that Ginny shouldn't have to always be best buddies with Hermione.

Ginny is a normal teenage girl.

She has a temper, who doesn't? So she flew into Smith, who wouldn't?
If I remember rightly Hermione confunded McLaggen, no one is perfect.

And you cannot blame her for the diary! How many of you would have not been tricked by Tom? She was sheltered and still slightly naive, so she ignored her fathers warning, again, who doesn't? Fred and George trust the Marauders Map. Ginny was in a new place with no proper friends and when Tom started writing back she saw a friend in him.

I don't think Ginny is perfect. Amongst other things she has a temper, when she was eleven she was naive but she has since matured.
Hermione isn't perfect either. She is bossy, a know-it-all etc. Harry also has a temper, he tends to be rash and doesn't think things through. Ron has a temper too! They all have flaws, would we love them so much if they didn't?

I've seen people who don't like Ginny because she is 'too perfect' and refer to 'Ginny Sue' but you are saying that you don't like her because she is in fact a normal teenager whose flaws are actually a lot smaller in comparison to Harry, remember that anger problem he had? or how about the tendency to want to act the hero?
A lot of the things Ginny does are what normal teenage girls do. In fact most teenage girls are much worse.

Everyone will snap to anyone under certain circumstances and I think Ginny's circumstances fall into that category. She was stressed and worried about the match, why shouldn't snap at Hermione, the girl who is basically having a go at one of Ginny's friends.

I think we have probably interpreted the books in very different ways.
It's only natural we have, I'm assuming you're H/Hr, whereas I've never been (I always liked R/Hr thus H/Hr wasn't an option). Maybe I've been ignoring Ginny's worst faults, but personally I think that she is a normal teenage girl. I've said it before and I'll say it again.

She is no worse than the majority of us in this chat. (I'm sorry if any of you find this comment insulting but I highly doubt none of you can name a flaw in yourselfs.)

I am no different to Ginny, I have a temper - though I generally try to control (try, not always suceed).
I tend to say things that can be found offensive without thinking it through or even meaning it (some of you may have already found an example already within this forums, I don't know) and I snap at people a lot when I am stressed.
My friends will tell you I think far to much about what appears on shiny surfaces when I stand in front of it and though I am not superficial or quite a lot of other things people sometimes think I am.

And all of this was an attempt to persuade you that Ginny is not a terrible girl, I don't mind if you don't like her but please don't accuse her of something that loads of people are and is in fact to be expected from any student at Hogwarts.

Yes, I'm not saying Hermione's perfect either. I'm saying that she flew into Smith and did NOT get any form of punishment, not even a beratement from McGonagall.


There are some (me included) that don't like Ginny because of the way she's written. The way she seems so perfect, is so pretty, can do a "Bat Bogey Hex", etc., etc... Of course she has faults. Everyone has faults. They're just not shown that much... except the temper, of course.


We all interpret the books our own way. Harmonians see it one way, Herons and Chocos another.


Okay, I don't like her. You do. It's fine. Hmm, should we stay on the topic of L/J?

Miss Mady

Ginny is not perfect. That is so true but what makes her a mary sue is that she does make mistakes but there are no consequences for the things she does wrong. The other characters in the book do not hold her accountable for those mistakes. THat is what makes her a Ginny sue. Yes we know she did make mistakes and she did do some things wrong as did all the other characters. But the other Characters calls them on it. They recognize the faults. with Ginny everyone seems to praise her mistakes or ignore them. That is what makes her a Ginny Sue. Don't forget while we the readers may see and acknowlege the mistakes it doesn't matter if the characters in the books don't acknowledge them as well.

Now don't get me wrong I actually like Ginny. Probably one of the few H/Hr shippers who does. I just believe that Ginny is not Harry's true love. She was a stepping stone that Harry needed in order to find the meaning of love. Ginny was just a normal teenage girl who finally caught the attention of the boy who she has crushed on since book 1. But that is all it was my dear. Crushes generally do not a great love make. Not when they start at 11 years old. Why even Ginny herself states that she doesn't love Harry so I really don't understand why H/G shippers think it is.

Nothing about their relationship shows love or even a close emotional relationship other than physical satisfaction. Sure I guess it could turn into one but this late in the series it is simply to late.

Ginny was Harry's Girlfriend. Nothing more.

On another note LOL you said:



One of Ginny's friends? I don't know what book you are reading but in my book Hermione is a far better friend to Harry than Ginny ever was or ever will be. Ginny is wrong. You do realize that Ginny is defending what Harry did to Draco right? Harry almost killed Draco. Thanks to Ginny Harry stopped feeling much guilt at all over the incident. Which in my opinion was not a good thing. Ginny is blindly supporting anything and everything Harry does. That my friend is not a good sign for your ship at all.

[quote name='snoopy_pie' date='Feb 26 2007, 06:37 PM' post='306028']
[quote name='Livi Lovegood' post='306019' date='Feb 26 2007, 12:57 PM']

J[quote]She was stressed and worried about the match, why shouldn't snap at Hermione, the girl who is basically having a go at one of Ginny's friends.[/quote]

One of Ginny's friends? I don't know what book you are reading but in my book Hermione is a far better friend to Harry than Ginny ever was or ever will be. Ginny is wrong. You do realize that Ginny is defending what Harry did to Draco right? Harry almost killed Draco. Thanks to Ginny Harry stopped feeling much guilt at all over the incident. Which in my opinion was not a good thing. Ginny is blindly supporting anything and everything Harry does. That my friend is not a good sign for your ship at all.
[/quote]

Ginny has been Harry's friend since OoP, not best friends but still.
Maybe you are not like me, but if someone is having a go at a person (even if it is their best friend and not mine) I will stick up for that person.
The way I see it Ginny was tired of Hermione berating Harry, Ginny doesn't - unless my memory is poor in which case oops! - say to Harry "who cares, Malfoy's a horrid boy who deserved it", she doesn't encourage him to do it again.
Ginny just tells Hermione to shut up. I would, I love Hermione to death but she is extremely annoying at times!

Oh and about that thing that Ginny wasn't punished for the Smith thing - did you honestly expect McGonagall too? 1/ it was an accident *wink/wink* and 2/ i would have thought McGonagall was just as annoyed with him as the rest of the Gryffindors

Miss Mady's right, we should get back to James and Lily.

I am going to say this and only this...

At first glance Ginny may seem to be the perfect girl for harry.. I mean she is full of fire and talented..But she is not really what a parent would call a good choice if they look a little deeper.. I mean she dates random guys and even her own brothers think that she is loose (no none of them used that exact word, but I am). I believe that Hermione would have been their choice. Sweet, muggleborn like Lily, smart, full of attitude, and a constant for Harry..When he has no one else he has Her...What parent could resist this?

In all honesty, I believe their are qualities in both girls that they would find appealing. (please don't kill me) Hermione, being the brilliant witch that she is, would appeal to lily because they are both muggle born and very smart. Ginny on the other hand who is more gutsy. could appeal to james, as he liked lily who as slughorn said, was quite gutsy (and cheeky).etc....

Although, in the end I believe that they would be happy with whoever harry chooses and whoever makes him happy (of course like most of you here I hope it is Hermione! )

I would say they would pick Hermione because James would value her unwavering loyalty to Harry and how clever she is. Lily would value her social conscience and big heart, mixed with a little bit of cunning and drive.

Ginny would be an ideal first girlfriend for Harry in their eyes, the one that teaches him how to treat girls, but keeps him on his toes.

Cho...that poor girl was just trying to fill the hole in her life left by Cedric...I actually doubt she liked Harry all that much.

Yes that pretty much sums up my reasoning.

For all the previous reasons... Hermione, obviously.


I don't know, it kind of reminds me of Jonathan/Martha Kent. (At least from the previous seasons) They know that Clark has always have feelings for Lana, so they support their relationship. But, I do think that Martha would rather have Chloe as daugther in law. Even if that may not happen


Anyway, here I am bringing up again my Smallville obsession.




And about Sirius and Lupin. Even if Ginny knows them both, she has taken her time to get to know each of them well enough.

Sirius would choose Hermione, I believe. Also, she was with Harry when they rescued him from the dementors. That's got to give her some points.

Remus' comment in the PoA movie, refering to Lily, kind of reminds me to Hermione. I do believe he'd be a bit indiferent but, given the case if he had to give his opinion, he'd choose Hermione.

Oh be still my heart...chloe/clark....you are my hero!

One of the best fanfics for Lily/Hermione interaction is

Lily Potter and the Worst Holiday

http://fanfiction.portkey.org/story/5447

That should plainly show why Hermione would be the choice of Lily and James. It's Post OOTP...

I think it is fair to add that any oedipus complex issues would side completely on Ginny's side. Harry knows beyond the shadow of a doubt his mother looks like Ginny...he doesn't know how similar Hermione actually is to her behavior.

I would think Lily and James would see that their son was simply looking for a disposable source of comfort. Something which he wouldn't do with Hermione, but did do with Ginny.

Gradually? Ginny was hardly in books 1-4, then we see her a bit more in book 5, and bam!, in book 6 she's suddenly the object of Harry's desire? That doesn't seem very gradual to me.

Um, kinda off-topic here, but I love that fanfic. It's also on FF.net- it's completed there. Wonderful interaction. Hermione and Lily are eerily similar...

Miss Mady

On a related note....Herons seem to think Ron is more like James as a teenager than Harry is...

What basis do they have for this exactly....

James was a prankster...

Ron can just be a right foul git......

They are both pureblooded wizards that did suffer the issue of becoming too full of themselves....but their reasons for this are dramatically different.....

Anyone else with a though on this matter?

I think they're basing their assumption on this line from OotP (US version, page 704):



LOL, So I'm guessing rumpling ones hair and playing the same sport are all two people need to have in common to be considered like each other.


Another thing is, if you combine the Heron theory of Ron being like James and the H/G shipper theory of Ginny being like Lilly, then that would be one messed up pairing! (It's also the pairing that my dad loves to pretend he ships. )

That is a very....very disturbing thought...and even worse is that I have happened upon fics with this pairing....

LOL, I have too!

The whole Ron is like James argument from the Herons and the Ginny is like Lilly argument from the H/G shippers just proves to me how desperate they are to try to convince us that they're right in shipping what they ship.

Yes and Ron is just pants at Quidditch and magic, isn't he?

He is the incredibly talented wizard doing magic years before he should be able to (James did the animagus transformation)...Ron did.....well...I'll get back to you on that one...Ron still needs to be manipulated to do well his second year of Quidditch....he is a sad excuse for a wizard.

That line is one of those red herrings I am so fond of....that lead us directly to assume RHr and then the rug will be pulled from under our feet...

Let's hope we are correct....

I think given the personalities of the characters, Lily and James would have preferred Hermione. She knows Harry--the real Harry, not the hero--and loves him for who he truly is. She's also believes in him and is fiercely loyal to him, which I think both James and Lily would have appreciated about her. And yes, she's extremely clever, which I think would have appealed to Lily, but she's also extremely courageous, which I think both Sirius and James would have loved. Actually, Sirius probably did. I always got the feeling that he liked Hermione and depended on her to watch Harry's back. I don't remember feeling one way or the other at all about Ginny. And yes, she mostly plays by the rules, but James and Sirius would have been her own private cheering section when she set Snape's robes on fire, broke Sirius out of Hogwarts to escape the Dementors, trapped Skeeter in a jar, encouraged Harry to start the DA right under Umbridge's nose, and so on and so forth. She doesn't pull her punches when it comes to defending Harry, not for anyone.

Now, I'll admit--I don't really like Ginny much. I was mostly indifferent to her in books 1-5, and I JKR suddenly springing her on the readers as "Harry's ideal girl" was just flat-out ridiculous. She hasn't been any of these things for Harry, so I just don't buy her as Harry's equal. When Harry truly needs someone, even when she doesn't agree with him, Hermione has always been and will always be by his side. What parent wouldn't want someone that like that for their child? I would anyway.

Nicely said! I don't think I could have summed it up better myself.

I think Ginny is JKR's obvious attempt at giving Harry what he wants superficially...she is his ideal girl in that sense.

In terms of substance Hermione has always been what Harry needs and they compliment each other while drawing on the other's strength.

Sirius trusted Hermione with Harry....I think that means more than he ever could have articulated. Ginny...she might have been the kind of girl that Sirius thought would have made a good teenage girlfriend...but I doubt he or Lily and James would have seen more to it than that.

I'm going to treat Sirius as one of Harry's parents also, and his opinion is even more important because he was actually *there*, although in OotP he regressed to the sixteen-year-old teen who ran away from home. It's not his fault entirely, so I'm going to look at the Sirius I know and love from GoF, the protective parent Sirius we never got to see again. ( )

Sirius:
-Would have a soft spot for the girl who saved him (Hermione)
-The first time anyone addressed him politely post-Azkaban, it was Hermione (this was so shocking to Sirius that even Harry noticed it in his face)
-Hermione helped to knock out Snape (that's +1,000,000,000 points in Sirius' book)
-Hermione saved Harry's life a million times, especially during the Triwizard Tournament when Sirius was far away, so more points to her
-Realizes that Harry can be rash (just look at his letters and advice!), so he'd probably be very happy if Hermione were always with Harry
-Is best buddies with Crookshanks (LOL)
-Rode on Buckbeak with Harry and Hermione--you can't leave out the symbolism!
-Knows that Hermione started the illegal DA and was over the moon about it (Hermione, a goody-two-shoes too boring for Sirius to approve of? Never!)

Overall, Sirius is pretty well acquainted with Hermione, but he doesn't meet Ginny until OotP, and at Grimmauld Place she can't exactly do Bat-Bogeys or play Quidditch, or any of those things that supposedly make her Harry's "ideal". She can't get Harry out of Buckbeak's room, and she acted rather immaturely when she was sent to bed. That's the Ginny Sirius saw, and I doubt that Sirius would prefer her over Hermione.

Lily:

-Was a Muggleborn and would probably feel sympathetic toward the younger Muggleborn
-Did not care for arrogant bullies (and neither does Hermione. I was astounded to see how James-like Harry was in HBP, cursing people for fun! Ginny is very similar, hexing and flying into people and yelling more than anyone else in this book)
-Was a brilliant witch, prefect and Head Girl, though admittedly more popular than Hermione will ever be. Ginny has never shown any "brilliance" except for the odd off-screen Bat-Bogey Hex, while Hermione IS brilliance. Portable fires, jinxes that can't be removed, Protean Charms, killer logic...need I go on?
-Gave her life for her son. Who saved Harry from the Cruciatus Umbridge was going to use on him? Was it Ideal Girl Ginny? Nope. If nothing else, Lily has to love Hermione for that.

James:

James is the hardest, simply because we only got to see him as an immature, bullying jerk. People forget, though, that eventually he grew up (as will Harry), and what he'd want for his son at age 15 is not what he'd want now. I personally think he would want Hermione, because he can see how much Harry needs her.

I think definetly Hermione. Lily would appreciate that she was Muggleborn yet excels at magic, and both parents would like that she's always stuck by him no matter what.

I have to say hermione (but gee I wanted to anyway haha). I mean Ginny may have the red hair and flaming attitude but Hermione is always there for Harry. She has helped him countless times and its obvious that she loves him for him. She doesnt just have a lustful yearning for him and parents see stuff like this. They want someone who will be there for him, to help and love him when things get tough and who is it usually?? Hermione. Not Ginny. Right now Harry might see ginny as the type of girl he wants..but he will soon see who he needs and if Lily and James were still around I think he would have seen it earlier.Excuse any errors haha.

I completely agree with you.

I find your reasoning for all three to be the best of anything posted yet. I especially love how detailed you went into Sirius; some of those points I had forgotten myself.

Thank you for that post!

Lily would have definitely loved the characteristic's of Hermione. But James might like Ginny a bit more as she is good at making others laugh and quidditch.Also he thinks that a redhead might be good for the Potters...

Well in the POA movie both say it.
~In Shrieking Shack~
Hermione: "He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes."
Remus: "How long have you know?"
Hermione: "Since Professor Snape set the essay."
Remus: "Well, well, Hermione, you really are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met" *Sirius interruts going off about killing*

and then Sirius tells her she is the brightest witch whenever he is getting ready to leave on Buckbeak.


Anyway, I say Hermione. I mean I'm sure they would like whoever he liked, but Hermione was his best friend for 7 years, stuck by him through the war and everything (assuming that Harry's parents survived and Harry defeated Voldy). And plus I can just see him explaining about Ginny:
Harry: "Mum, Dad, this is my girlfriend, Ginny."
*Lily smiles and hugs her and James smiles and shakes her hand*
Lily: "So how did you meet her?"
Harry: "Well when I went to my friend Ron's house one summer she was there. She was crazy about me. She broke dishes around me, and sent me valentines, and completely freaked out when I saved her when she was 12. *Harry beams*
*Lily and James exchange worried looks*
James: "So uh Ginny. You've liked Harry a long time?"
Ginny: "Yes sir, ever since I first read about him when I was 7.
*Lily and James turn to each other and mouth "seven?"*
*Lily, turning back to Ginny says*: And you met Harry when you were seven?"
Ginny: "Oh no!" *laughs* "I met him when i was 10."
*Parents mentally do math, realizing she's liked him for about 8 years* *Both become freaked out*
Lily: "Well it was nice to meet you, but I'm afraid you're going to have to go. We told Remus and Sirius we'd uh meet them for dinner."
Harry: "Mum it's noon!"
Lily: "Well uh...yeah well its a full moon so we have to eat early."