Changing Sides and Hearts – Cinda Swan

Chapter 1

At number twelve Grimmauld Place Ginny paced in her room as she tried to gather all her belongings. How did everything get all over in such a short time? She thought as she picked up a set of robes trying to determine if they were hers or Hermione's.

There was a knock at the door. Ginny threw down the robes still not knowing to whom they belonged. She opened the door wondering who was actually knocking, no one around here knocked. She found Harry standing there looking as happier than he had all summer.

"Ginny, your mum wants you to come down and eat some dinner, she said you can finish packing afterwards." He sounded as though he might really be happy.

"Oy, alright I'll be right there, I swear that woman will not be happy until each one of us is a hundred pounds overweight." This remark even got a smile out of Harry. He had been so distant from everyone all summer. With everything that had happened last year, it was understandable. Staying in Sirius's house all summer probably didn't help him any. He was looking forward to getting out of this house and back to Hogwarts. That was probably why he was starting to get happier.

They walked down to the kitchen together, chatting about Fred and George's newest invention the Mini Marauder's Map. It wasn't so much for their joke shop, whose business had done very well since they opened last year. This map was much the same as Harry's original, except that it would show anyone within a fifty-foot radius of you no matter where you were. They had designed it for everyone in the Order for protection.

"Ginny, dear where have you been? I know you only have till morning to pack, but surely you can take a break to eat. You'll be skin and bones before long. Now sit down and eat something," said Molly Weasley hustling about the kitchen. "Ron, I put you new robes at the end of your bed. And everyone's new books and supplies are in piles on the table in the den."

Ginny surveyed everyone around the table, Ron was watching Hermione cautiously. He was so obvious, why didn't he just tell Hermione? Then again, if she ever took her nose out of a book long enough, she might notice Ron making googly eyes, put the guy out of his misery and kiss him already. Ginny began to wonder if that was what she looked like when she had that crush on Harry.

After a few bites of chicken and potatoes, Ginny decided she really should get back to her packing. She wanted to get some sleep tonight and knew she would be up very early the next day for the trip to Kings Cross.

"Ginny, you should eat more than that dear." Molly was at it again.

"Mum, I had a big lunch and I really have a lot to pack. I'm fine," Ginny replied giving her mother a quick smile and hurrying from the kitchen. Gods that woman was a worrier. Ginny continued with her packing, eventually sorting out which robes belonged to whom. She slipped quickly into her bed when she heard footsteps on the stairs and pretended to be asleep.

Hermione came in the room quietly, seeing that Ginny was already asleep. She packed her stuff without a sound and climbed in bed for herself. And the two girls fell asleep with their thoughts on the next day and what the year ahead would hold for them.

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"Yes mum, I had plenty to eat for breakfast. Yes, I'll keep an eye on Ron as always and I'll keep up my grades and send owls often." Ginny knew the speech by heart. She quickly hugged her mother and ran to climb on the huge red engine before it left without her. She set about trying to find a compartment she could get some peace in.

All her life there were so many siblings in her house, and now at Grimmauld Place there were always people around. All she wanted was a little peace and quite before she had go join the prefects. Ginny found an empty compartment and sat down wondering how long it would last.

The answer was about five minutes. She had just started to get her head clear when Malfoy popped his head in.

"On, no Pansy. We don't want this one, someone left their trash in here." That snide little drawl he had made her want to scream. She looked up at him, almost stunned for a moment. He looked different. His hair was a little longer, but still the silvery white color that she hated herself for loving. He had more muscles than she had ever cared to notice, but they were very obvious in his black muggle ribbed undershirt. She was so busy taking in his form that she almost forgot to reply to his remark.

"Three words Ferret, Bat Boogie Hex." This time it was her turn to have the small smirk play across her lips.

"Come on Pans, let's go find Blaise." And with that Draco Malfoy was gone. Only to be replaced by Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Was he bothering you Gin? I'll have a go at him if he hurt you." Ron said, as the others took their seats.

"Ronald Weasley, let's get one thing straight right now. If you will remember correctly, last year I handled Mr. Malfoy just fine on my own. As a matter of fact, all I had to say to him just now was 'Bat Boogie Hex' and he couldn't leave fast enough." Stopping to catch her breath she looked around as everyone stared at her with their mouths gaping. "And another thing, I'm not a baby anymore, so you guys can lay off a little this year. I have accepted that my part in last year's events has been ignored but I think I proved to all of you, at least, that I can take care of myself."

Ron looked slightly hurt. "We just care about you that's all."

"I know you do," Ginny sighed," but you have to let me live my life at the same time. Can you just try to keep that in mind this year? Please?" She pleaded with the trio.

They all nodded their heads and with that Ginny went off to the prefect's cabin for the meeting, then took her shift patrolling the corridors. When she returned to the trio's cabin, she put her head back and closed her eyes. She slept for the remainder of the trip, waking only when the train stopped.

She could see the familiar castle on the hill in the distance. As she headed over to the awaiting carriages she noticed that she could see the oddly beautiful creatures that had carried her on their back just months ago. She patted the one closest to her gently. Some of the other students looked at her as though she were crazy, while others gave her looks of sympathy. She climbed into the carriage with the Gryffindor trio, and rode to the castle in silence.