On September First, Fiona dropped Ginny off at Kings Cross to board the Hogwarts Express. By the barrier between platforms nine and ten, there was a large family about to go through. They were all red-headed except for a young boy about Ginny's age, who had jet-black hair. Other than the mother, who looked an awful lot like Ginny, they were all boys.
Ginny walked up to the mother and asked, "Er, excuse me ma'am, but could I go through with one of your sons? It's my first time at Hogwarts."
The mother replied, "Of course, dear, it's Harry's first time at Hogwarts as well." She spoke in a very motherly tone as she gestured toward the black-haired boy. He smiled at Ginny, and she smiled back.
"Why don't you go through with Harry?" she said.
Ginny nodded and stood by Harry while waiting their turn to go through.
There were four other boys, all fiery haired like their mother. In fact, to all others around, it probably would look as though Ginny was their sister, instead of Harry being their brother.
When they were finally on the train, Harry and Ginny ended up in an empty compartment at the end.
"So, what's your name?" Harry asked.
"Ginny, Ginny Weasley."
Harry's jaw dropped.
"The Ginny Weasley?"
"Yup," Ginny said offhandedly, hoping that he wasn't going to treat her as though she were an animal in a zoo.
"So, do you really have the," his voice softened, "scar?"
Ginny pushed her bangs out of the way to reveal the lightning bolt shaped scar.
"Wow, oh I'm Harry by the way, Harry Potter."
He extended a hand and she took it.
"So were all those red-heads your brothers?"
He nodded.
"No offense, but none of your family really look like you at all," She then noticed his brilliant green eyes, which she had seen on his mother earlier, "Except the eyes, you have your mother's eyes."
"I'm the only one in the family to look like my dad. Everyone says I look exactly like him, but my mother's eyes. All my brothers look like mum."
"I wish I had brothers. I'm an only child, and you have four!"
"Six actually." Ginny's eyes widened. "Bill and Charlie are already out of Hogwarts. Then there's Percy, he's a Gryffindor prefect this year. The twins Fred and George are in third year and Ron's in second."
"Wow! Wait, you said Percy's in Gryffindor, what are all the rest in?"
"Oh, all Gryffindor, and mum and dad were in Gryffindor too. I just hope I am, I don't think the twins'll let me live it down if I'm in Hufflepuff, but at least that's better than Slytherin."
"I know what you mean, my parents were both in Gryffindor and my aunt Fiona too. Your mother seems nice, what‘s your dad like?"
"Oh, he's the best, a real practical Joker, just like the twins. When he was at school he and his friends called themselves the Marauders. There was Sirius, or Padfoot, Remus, or Moony, James, that's my dad, he was Prongs and Peter was Wormtail..." His voice suddenly seemed angry.
"What?"
"Oh, Wormtail became a Death Eater after they finished school and he almost turned my parents in to Voldemort."
Ginny gasped.
"What?"
"You said You-Know-Who's name!"
"Oh, I always have, my parents always taught us that fear of a name only increases fear in the thing itself. My whole family uses his name. I'm surprised that your afraid of it, you defeated the guy!"
"Yeah, well my aunt always said You-Know-Who, so I always said it."
"What's your aunt like?"
"Actually, she looks a lot like your mum."
"So do you."
"Really? I didn't notice."
"Right."
"Have either of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." A bushy haired girl stood in the door.
"No" said Ginny, and Harry shook his head.
"You're Ginny Weasley!"
"Guilty."
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. And you are?"
"Harry Potter"
"Potter? Do you have a brother with red hair, about her shade?" She gestured toward Ginny.
"Six, four that you could be talking about."
"This one's about second year, tall for his age, incredibly annoying, and eats like a pig?"
"Yup, that's Ron."
"He's in my compartment and he won't shut up. Well, if you haven‘t seen the toad, I‘ll see you at the school. And you should change into your robes soon."
"Hope she's in Gryffindor." Harry said.
"Why?"
"I think Ron likes her. He never shuts up when he likes someone."
Ginny giggled.
"I bet you'll be in Gryffindor," he said.
"Why?"
"The girl who defeated the Dark Lord, anywhere but Gryffindor? I think not."
Ginny laughed.
"I'm serious."
"I thought Sirius was your dad's friend?"
Now they both laughed.
"You're funny." Harry complemented her.
"So are you."
At about twelve-thirty a lady came by pushing a cart of candy.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?"
"I haven't got any money." Ginny said sadly.
"I'm starved, I'll take some of everything." said Harry. Ginny was shocked when he pulled a handful of gold out of his pocket.
"Ginny, you want half? I can't eat all this by myself."
"Definitely."
So Ginny and Harry started eating all the different kinds of wizarding treats. Harry opened a chocolate frog and laughed when he saw the card.
"What's so funny?"
"See for yourself." He said and handed her the card.
"Who's Virginia ‘Ginny' Weasley?" She asked jokingly. She turned over the card and looked at the picture of herself. It looked like it was taken today.
"Do these things age? Cause this looks like it was just taken."
"Yeah." She handed him back the card and opened her own frog.
"Dumbledore again," she said.
"Do you collect them?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, you?"
"I do, but I'm nothing compared to Ron, he's only missing…" He thought for a moment. "two."
They sat and talked until the train arrived at Hogsmeade station. When they got off they heard a booming voice with a loud accent call, " Firs' years, firs' years this way!"
"That's Hagrid." Harry told Ginny.
"You know him?"
"Yeah, I've come up here to visit a few times over the years."
"Right"
"'ello, 'arry nice that yer finally startin' school eh? Who's this?"
"Oh this is-"
"Ginny, Ginny Weasley." Ginny cut Harry off.
"Nice to meet yeh, Ginny. I‘m Hagrid, Keeper o‘ the Keys an‘ Grounds up at the school."
He held out a large hand and Ginny shook it as best as she could.
"'arry you an' yer brothers come see me any time, an bring Ginny along as well if she like."
"Sure" said Ginny.
"Now," Hagrid whispered, "you'd best watch out aroun' the Defence agains' the Dark Arts teacher, you too 'arry.
Harry started laughing and couldn't stop.
"What's so funny?" asked Ginny.
"You'll see."
So they all got into the boats to take them across the lake. Ginny shared a boat with Harry and the bushy haired Hermione. Once they all got inside, a stern looking witch led them into the great hall. Hermione told anyone who'd listen about how the ceiling was enchanted to look like the sky outside.
As they took their places in line to the side of the hall, Ginny realised that she was really beginning to like Harry Potter.