Ginny Weasley's Opening Statement

[JK Rowling]

Ginny, you have 48 Hours to post your opening statement.

[Ginny Weasley]

~Ginny's Opening Statement~

Hey everybody! Haha, I guess you can tell from the title of this thread, but I'm Ginny, and I'll be one of your final 3 this semester at Hogwarts. I'm really happy to be standing here before you guys! It's been a long and crazy time here, and next to the powerful Susan and the clever Draco, you have meek me. ... At least as far as I looked on the outside.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it; I didn't have the sheer strength Susan did with Challenges. ... Frankly, no one did, since, as she can say herself, she's won all but 2 of them. But, I do believe I played a smart game. In all honesty, I expected I was doomed from the start-- a half inactive tribe, and a losing streak on Gryffindor that only got worse as the other tribes got to selectively play with active people... While me and Jeff were struggling to keep from being pulled under by the rest of our tribe. At the same time, that tribe was almost a blessing for me, for two reasons... Two rounds straight passed where simply breathing made me an asset to my team; and perhaps more importantly, allowed me time to watch my competition without showing off much of what I could do myself.

Early on, I knew there were strong players in this game. Seamus, Draco, Susan, and Myrtle jumped out immediately; and aside from Draco, I knew they were all most likely alligned, right off the bat. But, I also knew something very important about the mechanics of Survivor... When multiple strong players are in the merged game, with only 1 immunity between them, odds are they're going to start to be picked off sooner or later. Knowing that was the basis of a lot of my strategy in this game... I could be strong when I wanted to; I even let that slip a bit in one or two of the team challenges when it was Slytherine vs Gryffindor. But, in order to keep the targets off of me, I downplayed my own strength. I was never the weakest person when we were in teams, but made sure never to seem 'ambitious enough' to try and take the crown for myself. I had the perfect image for it-- An initial tribe that seemed cursed, awful luck of my own, and a bit of 'naivete'. Susan trusted me to tell me about plans while I always acted so distressed. Frankly, I didn't think I was in too much danger when I was a 'weak link' after the merge, at least not until it came down to Susan's allies, but being a trustworthy non-threat payed off for me more than using my energy trying to catch up to Susan; knowing I'd be shot down if I caught up and ever slipped.

Now, for my part as an actress, it may be surprising to say, but I actually played a very honest game. The only time I ever outright lied to anyone was to Susan. The round Myrtle left, when Draco showed me Susan's conversations with him, it wasn't hard to believe Susan was lying to me-- she'd tried to convince me before then that she didn't have an idol, Had no idea if Seamus did, and that the game had turned into boys vs girls. ... And expected me to believe this after telling me early in that Seamus was her ally, after I'd seen the portrait gallery with no prizes left having been announced empty only 1 round after Seamus left, and while the boys spontaneously voted themselves out. Needless to say, I wasn't convinced then, and I wasn't jumping to believe she was un-falteringly on my side at that point, either. So, I told Susan that Tonks was trying to use reverse psychology on her, to make her give the idol to Myrtle so Tonks could vote Susan out... While I was just trying to make Susan so paranoid for her own safety that she would keep the idol, and leave her main ally open to being voted out.

Personally, I always knew who would be voted out; and didn't just follow Susan(Since, lord knows Myrtle and Seamus might still be here if I swallowed every word she said and didn't act for myself). No offense to Draco on this one, but he can't really even claim credit on Seamus leaving when he threw his vote away on Tonks instead. If I hadn't stuck to the plan on that one, I'd have been gone, then Tonks, and Draco himself may well be sitting in 4th place as he's said himself.

All in all... I represent an extreme underdog factor in this game. I started out on a half-dead tribe, moved to the tribe that had all the strong people jump ship to go to the portrait gallery, went to expulsion 8 out of 12 times and got 3 votes against me... *Gasp for air* ... Was the only player upwards of the final 7 not even to have won anything in the auction, and survived all three of the expulsions that Hidden immunity idols were pulled out in. Hell, I even came out okay with all the pre-game friendships and alliances that came into play. Don't get me wrong, though-- I'm not asking for sympathy at all. I had a looong string of bad luck, for sure. But I survived all of it, and made it to the end anyway. I played a good game-- fair, strategic, and honest to anyone who didn't try to lie to me first. And I'm honored for it, to be sitting in front of you all now... Thank you.

... So, uh... With that said, let questioning begin!

~Ginny

[Susan Bones]

*Claps for Ginny*

Good Luck in the Vote!!! You definately deserve to be here

[Anthony Goldstein]

Ginny for the winny! <3