Chapter 1

Sunday 1st September 1991

I woke as my alarm clock went off, it was 8 am. I turned over and turned it off. I sat up and tousled my red hair slightly and rubbed my face. I then quickly grabbed the clothes I had left out last night and my towel and ran quietly to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and got dressed. Once I was completely ready I went downstairs to the kitchen, where mum was already making breakfast.

"Morning Mum" I announced as I sat down at the table.

"Good morning Ginny. Are your brothers awake yet? It's nearly 9" Mum asked me ask as she put some sausages and eggs in a plate and handed it to me.

"I don't know. I think Percy is up" I replied as Percy one of my six elder brothers entered the kitchen. Percy was starting his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it's his OWL year and he has been made a prefect. Mum and Dad got him an owl (Hermes) as a reward. Percy was tall and lanky, he was fully dressed and had his prefect badge pinned to the front of his jumper.

"Morning Percy. Are the others up? And where is your father?" Mum asked offering him some breakfast as well.

"Morning. Yes they are up. Dad's helping them ensure they have everything" Percy replied as he sat down opposite me. Half an hour later I have finished my breakfast, my brothers Fred, George and Ron are finally ready and having breakfast. Fred and George are twins and they are starting their third year. They are also tall but shorter then Percy and have brown eyes like me and mum. They're really funny and can always make me laugh. Ron is starting his first year at Hogwarts and he seems pretty nervous. He is quite tall and lanky with a few freckles on his face. Every one of us Weasleys has flaming red hair, even mum and dad.

"Alright it's 10:15. We should get going" Mum announced checking her watch. Dad got up and hugged all four of my brothers.

"Ok boys, have fun in school but also work hard and behave yourselves. Especially you two" Dad said indicating the twins, they always got into trouble. "Well I'm off to work then. See you later Ginny, Molly". He kissed mum and me and then apparated on the spot. Mum looked at the clock on the wall, which displays the whereabouts of all seven Weasley children, herself and Dad. The hand with Dad's name on it moved from 'travelling' to 'work'. She turned around grabbed a flower pot of the mantel and beckoned us all over.

We arrived at Kings' Cross Station at about 10:35. We grabbed four trolleys and loaded my brothers' trunks on them as well as Percy's owl and Ron's rat (Scabbers), he used to be Percy's but he gave him to Ron when he got his owl, I've never really liked Scabbers. We hurried off towards the platforms.

"It's the same every year, packed with muggles, of course. Come on hurry up, we don't want to be late" Mum said as we arrived at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. "Now what's the platform number?"

"Nine and three-quarters!" I replied happily as I jumped up a little in excitement whilst holding Mum's hand. "Mum, can't I go . . . "

"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first" Mum said and Percy marched towards the barrier. As he was going through a bunch of muggles with big rucksacks passed and once they had cleared Percy had already gone through.

"Fred, you next", Mum said to Fred.

"I'm not Fred, I'm George", he replied. "Honestly, woman, call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"

"Sorry, George, dear"

"Only joking, I am Fred", he replied and ran towards the barrier. George called after him to hurry up. Once Fred had gone through, George followed suit. Now it was Ron's turn.

"Excuse me", said a small boy with messy jet black hair and emerald green eyes. He wore round glasses, was cute and looked nervous.

"Hullo, dear", Mum said to the boy politely. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too". She pointed to Ron as she said this.

"Yes", the boy said quietly. "The thing is – the thing is, I don't know how to –"

"How to get on to the platform?" Mum asked helping him out, he nodded in response. "Not to worry. All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash right into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before Ron".

"Er – OK," the boy replied and pushed his trolley round and stared at the barrier. He started to walk towards it and then he broke into a run and disappeared from view.

"OK, Ron now you go" Mum said and waited for Ron to disappear through the barrier before she grabbed my hand tighter and walked towards the barrier. Once we were through the sight of the scarlet steam engine got me excited again, I really wanted to go. Percy, Fred and George had gone to put their trunks away. We were helping Ron put his trunk away. "Fred? George? Are you there?"

"Coming Mum", called George and then appeared with Fred. Mum took out her handkerchief.

"Ron, you've got something on your nose", mum said. Ron tried to avoid her but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose.

"Mum – geroff", Ron said as he wriggled free.

"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" Fred said in a mocking tone.

"Shut up", Ron replied

"Where's Percy?" Mum asked looking around the crowd for him.

"He's coming now". Percy walked up to us, he had already changed into his black school robes and pinned his prefect badge to the front of them. Mum and Dad are so proud of him but I sometimes get the feeling he doesn't really care about the family and just likes the attention.

"Can't stay long, Mother. I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves –"Percy started to say.

"Oh are you a Prefect, Percy?" George said pretending to be surprised. "You should have said something, we had no idea".

"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it", said Fred. "Once –"

"Or twice –"

"A minute –"

"All summer –"

"Oh, shut up" Percy said.

"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" Fred asked.

"Because he's a Prefect", Mum said fondly. "All right, dear, well, have a good term – send me an owl when you get there". She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then mum turned to the twins. "Now you two – this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've – you've blown up a toilet or –"

"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet".

"Great idea though, thanks, mum".

"It's not funny. And look after Ron".

"Don't worry; ickle Ronniekins is safe with us."

"Shut up," Ron said again.

"Hey Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?" George said.

"You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?" Fred asked

"Who?" Mum asked

"Harry Potter!"

"Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him, Mum, oh please . . ." I asked her pleadingly.

"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in the zoo. Is he really Fred? How do you know?" Mum asked holding my hand firmly so I couldn't run off.

"Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there –like lightning", Fred replied.

"Poor dear – no wonder he was alone. I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked how to get on to the platform".

"Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?" Fred asked. Mum looked slightly angry.

"I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, don't you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school".

"All right, keep your hair on". The whistle went off signalling that the Hogwarts Express was about to leave.

"Hurry up!" Mum shouted and all three of them clambered on to the train. They leant out of the window and mum kissed them goodbye. I started to cry, knowing they would be gone for so long and I would be alone.

"Don't, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls," Fred said trying to cheer me up.

"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat", that made me laugh.

"George!"

"Only joking, Mum." The train began to move, Mum was waving at them, and I was running along with the train half crying, half laughing until it gathered too much speed. I then fell back and just waved. I walked back over to Mum; she wiped away my tears and gave me a hug before we headed for the barrier.

***

Friday 6th September 1991

It had been almost a week since my four brothers had left for school. Percy had sent an owl to let mum know they had arrived safely. Life at the burrow was quiet, at least last year I had Ron to annoy. I was currently sat on my bed with 'Quidditch Through the Ages'. I love quidditch it's an amazing game and I can't wait till I can play too. I had been reading most of the morning; mum was currently in the yard feeding the hens and dad was at work. I noticed the article the Daily Prophet was open at (Dad had given it to me once he finished reading it). I picked it up and read:

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown.

Gringotts' goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.

"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.

It's been over a month and they still haven't figured out who broke in. The rest of the Daily Prophet wasn't interesting. I sat up and looked around my room. It was small but not that small; my bed was near the window with a bed side table right under the window. A large wardrobe was against the back wall of my room. There was a desk next to my bedside table, which had some parchments, a quill and an ink bottle on it. Above my desk two shelves had been put up, which held the few books I had. Most of my things lay strewn on the floor next to my bed. I got up and walked out of my room and down the stairs for lunch.

"Ginny dear, after we've had lunch we need to go shopping, ok?" Mum asked me as I sat down at the table.

"Sure mum", I replied slightly cheerfully, at least I get to go out.

***

Mum and I were currently standing in Diagon Alley; I had convinced her to come here after we had finished grocery shopping. Our groceries were going to be delivered home for us, so we didn't have to carry them around. We were standing near the cauldrons shop and mum grabbed my hand and we set of down the street. We passed the apothecary, Eyelops Owl Emporium, the Magical Menagerie, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions etc. Mum bought me some ink (as I was running out), so that I could write to my brothers. We looked around for awhile longer and Mum got me a small ice cream from Florean Fortecues Ice Cream Parlour. By the time we got back to the Leaky Cauldron it was nearly empty, only two men remained. We said our goodbyes to Tom the barman and walked over to the fireplace. Mum threw in the floo-powder and told me to go in as she followed. We stepped into the fireplace and she said "The burrow" loud and clearly. After a couple of minutes of whirling through fireplaces we landed in ours.

***

Thursday 31st October 1991

Everywhere I looked there were jack-o-lanterns, fake ghosts, witches etc hanging from walls, in windows, on doors. It always interested me how muggles celebrate Halloween. However their representations of ghosts and witches are so wrong. For one their ghosts just look like sheets floating and the witches are always ugly and evil. My mum is a witch and I will be soon but we look nothing like that. I looked at my mum, whose hand I was holding as we walked through the village of Ottery St Catchpole; she just looked amused by the muggles antics. A group of kids walked past us and stopped as they talked excitedly.

"I am gonna get some much more sweets then you, cause my goblin outfit is so cool" said a little boy, who had a mask pushed onto his head so that he could speak. He needed to visit Gringotts so that he would know what goblins really look like. A little girl that was with them was wearing a nice pink dress, which had wings on the back of it and she was holding a silver stick with a star at the tip of it.

"Mine is better, cause I'm a pretty fairy", said the little girl.

"She is right. She will get more sweets cause she's little", said a boy (I think), who had a sheet thrown over him with holes in it for eyes.

"Well we can get her to get a lot of sweets and then we can share them out", suggested a boy who was wearing what looked like long brown robes.

"OK, I don't mind. Who are you supposed to be?" the little girl asked.

"I'm Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. I watched it with my dad, it's really cool", the boy replied as they started to walk away. I really have no idea who Luke is or why stars would have wars, muggles are sometimes rather strange. We walked back home and made a lot of food for dinner, mum even made extra sweets for me cause I can't be at Hogwarts for the Halloween feast. Dad came home at about 8pm and we all sat down and ate. The food was delicious.

***

Sunday 3rd November 1991

I wonder what I should do today. I took my empty breakfast plate to the sink as a brown tawny owl flew in through the window and dropped a letter on the table. I put my plate in the sink and grabbed the letter, it had my name on it in Fred and George's handwriting (they always write together to confuse us, they find it amusing). I opened it up and read:

Ginny

How are you? Not too bored I hope. I'm sure she can find ways to keep herself occupied, she is our sister. Anyway Ginny yesterday was the first quidditch match of the season between Gryffindor and Slytherin. We told you that Harry Potter is our new Seeker, well he was amazing. He caught the snitch in his mouth, funny but great. We won 170 – 60! Take that slytherin. We are now second place in the House Championship. Our next match is at the end of February against Hufflepuff. We will let you know how it goes. Say Hi to Mum and Dad for us. Well best be off, Mischief needs to be managed.

Love

Fred and George (Your favourite brothers)

Wow that is so cool, not only is he cute but he's great at quidditch as well. Fred and George always make me laugh and they just brightened my day. They gave me an idea; I wonder what Ron didn't take with him to school hmm.

***

Thursday 19th December 1991

Dad handed me the Daily Prophet as I sat down next to him at breakfast.

"Morning Mum, Dad" I said as I took the newspaper from dad. "Mum where's the wrapping up paper? I wanted to finish wrapping all of the Christmas presents today".

"Oh there are loads in draw in the living room, as well as some ribbons and tags" Mum told me as I ate my breakfast. A grey owl flew in through the open window and dropped a letter in front of Dad. He picked it up and unfolded it as the owl waited on the table. I recognised the owl she belonged to my brother Charlie, who lives in Romania. It was his 19th birthday last week, we sent him present, cards and mum and I made him a birthday cake.

"Looks like we will be having a change of plans. Charlie has invited us to Romania for Christmas. What shall I say? The boys won't mind staying at Hogwarts for Christmas will they?" Dad asked mum, as I got really excited about going to Romania.

"Of course they won't mind. Percy will be happy so that he can do extra prefect duties, Ron will be happy because then Harry won't be alone for Christmas and Fred and George will be happy about being able to cause more trouble. I will write to them now and tell them and to tell the twins to behave over the holidays" Mum said she was happy about being able to see Charlie. She misses him and Bill (He is my eldest brother, just turned 21 in November), who works and lives in Egypt. Mum got up and got some parchment, ink and two quills. She handed a quill and parchment to my dad. He wrote back to Charlie to let him know that we were coming to stay with him. Mum wrote to my brothers at school to let them know of the change of plans.

I walked to my room quickly and started looking for my trunk. I found it under my bed, there was nothing in it and I gave it a quick clean. I looked through my wardrobe trying to decide what clothes to take. Then I thought better of it as Mum would probably redo it for me. Instead I gathered all the things I wanted to take with me and put them next to my trunk. Then I went and got the wrapping paper, ribbons and tags from the living room. I wrapped all the presents I had got for everyone. I added them to the pile of things next to my trunk. Mum came in and with a wave of her wand placed all my things, the presents and my clothes from my wardrobe into my trunk neatly.

"There you are all ready. Your dads gone to work, he said he will arrange a portkey for us. So we can leave tomorrow afternoon. I have left those for you to wear tomorrow, as well as your pyjamas. I am going to go and pack your dads and my things now," Mum said and walked to her and dad's room. I sat on my bed thinking about what I could do in Romania.