Ginny's Diary
Introduction
The adventures of Harry Potter have become a framework for fans to speculate on. Unimaginative people like me who cannot dream up our own worlds have a readymade framework onto which we can post ideas. What other events not mentioned by the author may have taken place in the lives of the characters? It made me wonder in the framework of the original stories what could be seen from the viewpoint of the other characters. What did Ginny, Neville, Luna, the various teachers, and multitude of other characters think about what was happening? They saw only parts of the story; isolated events, as Harry's life unfolded. It seems a story could be written about each characters reactions and feelings.
I thought it might be interesting to tell the story from one of their points of view and Ginny was the first to come to mind. She appears in all the stories and is in love with Harry. She surely would notice what he did but was not privy to all his secrets. She is shown by the author to be strong willed, tired of being the baby of the family, pampered by her mother who always wanted a girl, and protected by six older brothers who thought of her as a delicate little sister. She is smart, precocious, and knows how to get what she wants; except it seems for Harry, until the 6th book at least. What did she think about Harry's adventures? What might she have been doing that was not covered by the author during those seven years?
The author wrote for a younger audience and avoided most the complications of teen love. They can be tender and cruel to each other. They do foolish things for love; and I think the characters in the stories would not act too differently from the real teens. This story is intended for people who grew up with Harry and the other characters and are now in their late teens twenties.
Ginny's Diary
Chapter 1 The Reason
Sept 20, 1995 My 4th year
I'm not sure this is a good idea. Last time I wrote my thoughts and feelings in a diary it didn't work out that well; but that diary belonged to Tom Riddle and this is my own diary. Besides I have to do something and Hermione thinks it's a good idea.
I have quite a few friends but I only trust Hermione with the secrets I write in here. I didn't get to know her that well in my first year, but in the summer between my 2nd and 3rd years we got to spend time together at the Burrow before and after the Quidditch World Cup. I knew Ron invited her but I didn't know why she came since she isn't really into Quidditch.
It didn't take long to find out she had a crush on Ron since the end of their 1st year when she stayed with, and took care of him when he was hurt on the chess board. She thought he was so brave to sacrifice himself in the chess match and take the chance of being hurt or even killed so Harry could go on to save the Philosopher's Stone. I felt the same about Harry ever since I first saw him and it gave us something in common to talk about.
Even though she is almost two years older than me we get along well and I started to think of her like an older sister that I could confide in. I always talked things over with my mother when I was younger but being away at school I just can't put my present feelings on an owl and send them home to her without seeing her face. I don't even know if I could say to mom face to face some of these things I've been doing since starting to go out with boys. But Hermione is here, and she has hinted that she has gone through and dealt with some of the same feelings.
This year so far has been awful and I didn't know what to do. Hermione has listened to me talk about it. But it is her 5th year; and studying for her OWL's is already taking up so much time. She suggested I talk to myself in the form of this diary. I can look back on the past four years and try to figure out what I can do to get my feelings in order. She is still willing to talk and give me sisterly advice when she thinks it will help.
I have to get to Charms now so I will try to keep my thoughts organized and start with this as soon as I have free time.
Sept 21
About my first year 1992
Looking back; I heard of Harry Potter like everyone else and knew the stories they told about him stopping "You Know Who". The day we took Ron to catch the Hogwarts' Express for his 1st year I actually saw Harry for the first time. I was ten and too young to go to Hogwarts but I thought of how brave he must be to face "You Know Who" and I dreamed about meeting him. During the year, Ron wrote and told us about Harry. At the end of the year he came home and told us about helping Harry stop "You Know Who" again and about saving the Sorcerer's Stone. That summer I read everything I could find about Harry and I knew since he was friends with Ron I would meet him on platform 9¾ at the start of the new school year.
Before my 1st year even started I woke up to find that Harry was at our house to spend the last few days of summer. Ron, Fred, and George rescued him from his muggle aunt and uncle who as I found out later treated him terribly. I was so happy, but also so shy, I couldn't talk to him and only watched him when I didn't think he would notice. I thought if I could get Harry to notice me he would start to feel the same about me as I did about him. As an eleven year old with my first crush I couldn't understand how a boy might not feel the same about me as I felt about him. It took a while but I found that feelings are not always a two way street.
The first few months of my 1st year went by quickly before Tom Riddle's diary began to possess me. I enjoyed school, did well grade wise, and liked my teachers. I found Tom Riddle's diary among my school books and thought it must have been with the used books my parents bought me at Flourish and Blotts and I just never noticed it until that first day of school when I unpacked my things. When I looked through it and saw it was blank I thought it was a wonderful opportunity for me to start my own diary. A lot of my things were second hand and I was used to it, so writing in a diary with someone else's name on it didn't bother me.
As I wrote my first entry I saw the ink disappear into the page and new words appear.
I wrote, "My name is Ginny Weasley and today is my first day at Hogwarts.", and "Hello, Ginny, my name is Tom Riddle.", answered me back.
At first I was not sure I was seeing things right so I wrote again.
"Hi Tom where are you and how are you answering me."
"I am a memory saved in this diary so I can meet new people in the future." came the answer.
"Tell me about yourself and I will tell you about me so we can become friends."
I didn't really understand how it worked, but I knew there were a lot of things about magic I didn't understand. That's why I am in school; to learn about magic. What I did understand was I was making a friend my first day.
Almost every day Tom Riddle and I talked through the diary. I told him of the problems I had and he gave me sympathy and encouragement. Then I started to tell him about Harry and how I felt. I told him the story of Harry's life as best as I knew it and he was interested, asking questions about how Harry lived while "You Know Who" was destroyed. I couldn't answer most of his questions.
Tom Riddle's diary put my plans to get Harry interested in me on hold. After a month or so of talking with Tom in the diary I would find myself somewhere without knowing how I got there. Twice I found myself covered with blood but I wasn't hurt. I didn't know who's blood it was. Each time I was near the third floor girl's loo and was able to go in and wash and clean the still wet blood from my robes. Only Moaning Myrtle saw me and nobody ever talked to her so my secret was safe. I thought of telling
somebody but was afraid of getting into trouble. I even tried to tell once, but Percy interrupted me.
Then I woke up in the Chamber of Secrets with Harry by my side. Seeing him hurt, and knowing he did it all to save me got me deeper in love with him than ever. I was ashamed of what Tom Riddle did to me and still too shy when I was near Harry to even talk. Before I could do anything to show my feelings the year was over and we were home for the summer.
Sept 23
About my 2nd year 1993
Our trip to Egypt over the summer kept Harry from coming to stay with us like he did the previous summer.
Although I met Hermione my first day at Hogwarts; we never talked much and never in private. The short time at the Leaky Cauldron after returning from Egypt and before boarding the train gave me time to talk with her, girl to girl, and get to know her a little; but I still couldn't talk to Harry.
Sirius Black did for my 2nd year what Tom Riddle's diary did for my 1st year. Although what was happening didn't affect me directly, I was worried to death about Harry. He still didn't notice me as anything more than as Ron's little sister. I think he was beginning to feel like a brother to Ron and therefore I was like his sister. I didn't want him to think of me that way. Guys don't fall for their little sister!
As I tried to have a normal year this time and was busy with classes I still would try to think of ways to get Harry to notice me. If I came to a meal late I would sit and eat with Harry, Ron, and Hermione as often as I could. But if they came in after me they would try and sit alone. I was afraid they didn't like me or want me around because they would be talking to each other and look at me like they were wondering if I could hear what they were saying.
Although everyone talked about Sirius Black I noticed Harry was more concerned with him than anyone else and I didn't find out why until this past summer. As he tried to discovered more about his parent's death and about Sirius; he had no time to pay attention to me. Then as far as I knew Sirius Black just disappeared and another year was gone with no sign of progress on a relationship with Harry.
At least classes went well and I was the top student in my year.
It was during this year that I noticed Hermione's interest in Ron. Most people thought that she fancied Harry. Finding out that she thought of Harry as a brother, and that I did not have to compete with her for Harry's attention, made me feel a little better. It helped us becoming friends over the week of the World Cup. The fact that she couldn't get Ron to notice her after trying for more than a year made me feel like I wasn't the only girl who liked a boy who didn't seem to care about her. We agreed that boys are just insensitive idiots; but that wouldn't stop us from trying. I guess misery loves company.
Time flies got to go to History of Magic.
Sept 25
About my 3rd year 1994
Third year started with the trouble at the world cup. After seeing the dark mark and hearing my father talk about the old days; Voldemort actually became real to me instead of just a scary story like
the boogie man. He tried to kill Harry twice, he would try again if he got the chance, and I couldn't sleep with the thought of losing Harry.
Next, Harry's name coming from the Goblet of Fire added to my fear. He could be killed by Voldemort, and he could be killed in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and there was no way to help him.
At first I was angry with him for sneaking his name into the Goblet of Fire and putting himself in greater danger. When he said he didn't do it and didn't know how his name was put in the goblet I was one of the few that believed him. I knew bad things have been happening to him since he was a baby and it's not his fault. It hurt to know that even Ron didn't believe him.
I cried watching him battle the dragon and was thrilled to see that he not only survive but he did so well. To do better than the older competitors at his age made me realize there really is something special about him and I felt better about his chances. Neither the tournament nor Voldemort was going to harm him; I just knew it.
Dinner time, I'll wake down to the great hall with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and pick up when I have some time.
Sept 28
Homework has kept me busy but I have almost an hour before DADA starts. Before I get back to my 3rd year I have to say this. One of the problems bothering me this year is Umbridge. She is the first thing I need to clear from my head. I know there is nothing I can do about her but she drives me crazy. She treats me like a baby; but she treats Harry worse than anyone else. I am afraid Harry will do something stupid if she keeps picking on him. I still have feelings for him even though I am going with Michael Corner now; but that problem comes later on my list.
Hermione mentioned something about getting a study group together to practice DADA spells but I don't see how that will work since I am 4th year and she, Ron, and Harry are 5th. I guess all I can do is avoid Umbridge as much as possible and hope she goes away.