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Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's First Year at Hogwarts Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 6 Words: 32,456
The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. As Molly and Arthur settled into their normal winter routine, their trip to visit Bill became but a pleasant memory. They promised each other to return to Egypt as soon as they could. 'What an educational experience it would be for the younger children! We must figure out a way to manage it,' said Molly with a sigh. 'But it's so costly, we'd have to save and scrimp for years.' 'We had enough trouble scraping up the fifty Galleon fine for enchanting the Ford Anglia,' said Arthur remorsefully. 'Thank Merlin, they're taking it out of my wages over the next few months.' Arthur's department became more and more involved in the Ministry raids on homes of suspected Death Eaters. The people they were 'dropping in on' seemed to have no compunction about hexing common Muggle objects as well as their usual affinity for Dark Objects. Some of the items were very dangerous and needed to be stored in the Ministry evidence rooms. 'I just wish we could get something serious enough on Lucius Malfoy that would put him in Azkaban,' said Arthur with feeling. "Be very sure before you act against him, Arthur,' Molly replied. 'You know he has a great deal of influence since he's so generous with donations.' 'You're right, as usual, Molly,' Arthur replied with a sigh. 'I just know he is up to no good and is most probably a Death Eater, but I can't prove anything. It is very frustrating.' ***** While Molly and Arthur were eating dinner a few days after the New Year had begun, Hedwig arrived with letters from Ron and his friend Harry. Arthur read Ron's aloud first. Dear Mum and Dad, I hope you had a good trip to see Bill. Thanks for the maroon jumper and the plum cake. I think you will be interested in something that Harry and I overheard about Lucius Malfoy. He has a secret compartment under his drawing room floor that is full of Dark Arts objects. His son was bragging about how the Ministry workers couldn't find it no matter how much time they looked. I hope that you can raid his house again and convict him. Our friend Hermione had something pretty bad happen on Christmas Day and she has to stay in the hospital wing. Harry and I are bringing her our assignments and she makes us stay and do our homework every night. So we are not in the common room much. I'll write when I have more time. We ate all the cake already. Love, Ron 'I wonder how Ron and Harry just happened to overhear the Malfoy boy bragging about what was under their drawing room floor,' mused Arthur. 'It doesn't sound like the sort of subject that would come up in a class. Let's see if Harry sheds any light on the information.' Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley, I really appreciate you making me a jumper like you made for your children. It makes me feel like someone likes me enough to give me something for Christmas. The plum cake was good, too. I liked the Jack Be Nimble card. I know that Ron has written and told you all that we heard about the secret place Draco Malfoy's father is hiding the things he does not want the Ministry to know about. Mr Malfoy just bought new brooms for the whole Slytherin Quidditch team so I know he is very rich. Our friend Hermione has something wrong with her, but don't worry, she's not contagious. She'll be able to return to classes in about a month. She helps us with our assignments and Madame Pomfrey lets us do our work in the hospital wing. I hope you had a good time in Egypt seeing your oldest son. Egypt must have been nice and warm. Sincerely, Harry Molly was a bit concerned about the information that their friend Hermione had something serious enough to keep her in the hospital wing for a whole month. 'I hope that Ron and Harry are correct about it not being contagious.' Hermes brought letters from the rest of the children during dinner later the same week. Molly opened Ginny's letter first and read it aloud to Arthur Dear Mum and Dad, Did you have a good time visiting Bill? What was Egypt like? Does Bill really have a dragon fang for an earring? Charlie says he gave him one for his birthday. The boys and I had a good Christmas. Since Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were the only Gryffindors staying over the Christmas Holidays, we pretty much could do whatever we wanted to in our common room. Fred and George really like to play games that burn people's eyebrows off and Ron is really obnoxious about beating everyone at chess. We had some pretty good snowball fights before Christmas but Hermione and I never won when it was boys against girls. Harry Potter is good at making snowballs so we almost won when it was Ron and the twins against us. I really like my new hair clips and new warm underwear. I didn't realize how bitterly cold it gets at Hogwarts in the winter. I'm glad I have warm socks to sleep in. My new jumper and hat and scarf are all toasty warm. Thank you Something strange happened to Hermione on Christmas Day after the Feast. She has to stay in the hospital wing until she is over whatever it is. No one can visit her except Ron and Harry Potter because she doesn't want anyone to see her with whatever she has. I hope she will be all right. She and I are friends. School has started up again and my roommates are back. I have to study a lot and do lots of homework. I'm trying to get a lot of rest so I won't get sick again. I won't waste any more time writing in that diary so I should have more time to do my schoolwork. I don't think my nightmares are as bad as they were for a while. Maybe I am getting used to school. I hope so! I miss you and will be glad to be home again in June. Love, Ginny 'Ginny does sound more like the girl we sent off to school. I'm glad she has finally adjusted,' said Arthur, sounding relieved. Both parents were glad that she not only thanked them for her Christmas presents but also asked about their trip to see Bill. Fred and George wrote their letter together in their usual fashion all on one parchment. Dear Mum and Dad, Thank you for the jumper and cake. I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO HAVE SOMETHING WITH MY INITIAL ON IT SO NO ONE THINKS I'M FRED. It's Ginny's initial, too, so maybe it isn't even yours. IT'S TOO BIG FOR GINNIKINS. She seems more like she used to be. SHE ACTUALLY SPENT SOME TIME WITH US INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BEING IN HER ROOM. We really want to go and see some of Bill's cursed tombs. DOES HE REALLY HAVE A DRAGON FANG IN HIS EAR? Percy is lording it over us. NOT THAT THAT 'S NEW OR ANYTHING. Love, Fred AND GEORGE 'The twins have a style all their own,' Molly sighed as she opened Percy's letter. Dear Mum and Dad, It certainly has been more exciting this Christmas Holiday than it was last year. So many strange things are happening at Hogwarts. The Professors are clearly worried that something is happening that is quite out of the ordinary. We Prefects have been asked to keep a sharp eye on all of the students. Some students are very disrespectful because they do not understand the gravity of the current situation. Others are very afraid of Harry Potter because he is a Parselmouth. They think he may have turned to the Dark Side. You will be pleased to hear that our little Ginny seems to be making a better adjustment. She seemed to be nearly like her old self when it was just her family and Harry Potter and Hermione Granger staying in Gryffindor Tower over the holidays. I was too busy for much frivolity but noticed that the younger students played in the snow from time to time before Christmas Day. Hermione Granger's odd illness seemed to make people want to stay inside more. A cat, two students, and a ghost have all been Petrified by someone or something unknown. Hermione's mysterious illness is quite the topic of speculation. I appreciate the time you devoted to making our jumpers and Christmas cakes. Thank you. I trust your visit with my oldest brother was a pleasant one. Yours Sincerely, Percy Molly and Arthur looked at each other. 'All their letters together rather remind me of the Muggle story about the blind men and the elephant,' commented Arthur. 'What ever do you mean, Arthur?' asked Molly. 'Surely it is not an elephant that is Petrifying people.' 'I mean that Percy, Fred and George, Ron, Ginny, and Harry each see a part of the puzzle,' explained Arthur. 'Something is causing all of these strange occurrences at Hogwarts, but no one can see the whole picture.' Molly said, 'Someone had better figure it out soon, the Board of Governors will close the school if the students are not safe.' ***** Late in January, Molly made treats to send to all of her children while she listened to Days of Destiny and the new Bedside at St Brigid's. Some of the diseases that afflicted the characters on both shows were similar but Molly thought that the new show about Healers in training was aimed at a younger generation than the one that she and Arthur were in. The musical introduction and the music the trainee Healers listened to were certainly louder and faster than any that Celestina Warbeck ever sang. Maybe they were from the Weird Sisters albums. She'd never understood some of the lyrics that Myron Wagtail sang but Ginny seemed to be able to. She even used to sing along with him. Between the loud music and the thick accents some of the actors and actresses had on the show about Healers, Molly began to worry that she was losing her hearing. She hoped she didn't need to go to a Healer herself.
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