All rights go to the ever amazing J.K Rowling. My story is Ginny's version of the books so it is as faithful to the books as I can make it and some dialogue will be very recognised but at those times it will be in italics to show it crosses over. Please review as this is my first fan fiction I appreciate the feedback.

Chapter One – At last!

"Ginny! Come on time to get up!" Mum shouted.

I sat up in bed trying desperately to get my eyes used to the light that flooded my room. The room is a cosy size and made even more comfortable by the soft blue coloured walls covered in posters. I looked out into the orchard outside my window waking up gradually, then I realised what today was. I jumped out of bed excitedly and got changed. Today was the day I had been waiting for as long as I can remember. I finally get to go to Hogwarts! The disappointment of watching my brothers board the Hogwarts Express without me was over.

I brushed my long red hair quickly, pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and started to rush across the hall. Then stopped in my tracks. Distracted by my happiness I completely forgot. He was here. In my house. All too familiar butterflies filled my stomach. I wish he didn't have to see me this early in the morning. I just couldn't get used to the idea that Harry Potter has been here, since being rescued by Ron Fred and George from his house a few weeks ago. I took a deep breath to steady myself. Sounds of the hustle and bustle greeted me as I walked through the hall, desperately avoiding Harrys gaze as he and Ron rushed past me upstairs. I walked into the kitchen to mum, red in the face waving her wand frantically at the self-washing dishes.

"Ginny dear, what's taken you so long? Quick grab some toast and go and get your stuff together." She ordered, gesturing towards the toast that was multiplying on a plate next to her.

"Is everyone packed? Where are those spare quills! Fred, George will you PLEASE MOVE this rubbish out of my kitchen! We'll never make it to Kings Cross in time!"

"Don't worry mum, I'm sure with perfect Percy's new prefect badge he'll just order everyone out the way, no one dare stop us." Fred and George laughed, even more at the scowl they received from Percy, who was carefully placing his new badge on his neatly ironed robes. Giggling at my older brothers I grabbed a slice of toast and rushed to get my trunk ready, eager to not be mom's next target. I threw in my odd bits and pieces that I hadn't already packed over the last week. I was so determined to be a hundred percent prepared. But I was still so sure I was missing something. Dad watched as I panicked, frantically trying to remember what I'd forgotten.

"Come on, it can't be that important" he said, red faced from the heavy lifting. "Here sweetheart I'll carry that out for you". I reluctantly handed over my trunk and joined my family who were piling in the car one by one. Secretly hoping I would be placed next to Harry I noticed our old Ford Anglia looked a bit bigger than usual. Mum ushered me into the front seat next to her (to my disappointment) and with all of the family sitting comfortable we were off.

After two U-turns back to the house to get the twins forgotten belongings I was extremely glad we had left early. I had been looking forward to this day for such a long time, and it had been made even more exciting with the arrival of Harry over the summer. I looked in the rear-view mirror, he was deep in thought. His beautiful green eyes that I dreamt of night after night, looking at the passing houses. I convinced myself I was being silly, that he could never look my way. I mean he is the boy who lived! Plus he had this stupid effect on me that I become a blundering idiot around him. So not me. I've only been able to stay sane confiding in my new magical diary for the last few weeks. It has been nice to be able to let my thoughts out. Wait! That's it!

"Dad! I've forgot my Diary we have to go back!"

We were now running so late that by the time we got to platform nine and three quarters we only had five minutes before the train. I remember last year Harry was so nervous, I guess I could understand why growing up with muggle's but I knew the entrance to the platform nine and three quarters so well because I had ran through that wall every year for as long as I can remember. After all Bill was a student there before I could walk.

Percy rushed through the entrance first, shortly followed by dad and then Fred and George. I took a deep breath as mom grasped my hand and we practically sprinted through to the platform. Without a second glance behind we ran across the platform quickly getting our trunks and animals onto the train (Percy had just been bought a new owl for being made a prefect). Then Mom grabbed me and pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

"Be careful sweetheart and write as soon as you settle in." She smiled affectionately at me, fighting back tears.

"Don't worry mum, I'll watch out for her." Percy stated importantly.

"Yea mum, Ginny is totally and completely safe with us, we'd never get into any trouble with pinhead around" George said sarcastically gesturing towards his big brother.

"Where's Harry and Ron?" asked dad as he quickly squeezed me whilst the boys boarded the train.

"Oh you know those two" said Fred from the window. "Wouldn't find a troll in a broom cupboard. They've probably got on further down in the panic." I jumped on the train and joined Fred and George in their compartment waving at my dad and now sobbing mum as the train left the station.

We spent the train journey playing exploding snap and testing out Fred and Georges latest inventions, only interrupted to get something to eat from the old witch who pushed the trolley. It was dark outside by the time that the train slowed to a stop. I looked out the window at a large dark figure (must have been about 11 feet tall) standing in the doorway to the station.

"George, who is that out there? He's huge!" George walked up to the window tightening up his red and gold striped tie.

"Oh, that's Hagrid. Have we not mentioned him? He's the game keeper here, nice enough, not half as scary as he looks. We've got passed him loads of times going into the forbidden forest. Guess it's that half giant side, they're really not that bright ye' see sis."

I pulled on my robes and followed the others onto the platform.

Hagrid greeted the first years and ushered us all out of Hogsmeade station across to the lake. I looked around at the scared faces as we waited to filter into the boats. They looked how I felt, although I knew what to expect from the countless stories about Hogwarts from my family. It was a shame for those who were muggle born or from a different background who were headed for a whole lot of unknown. I heard worried whispers of how we were sorted into houses. Stupid ideas like troll fighting and something called a writing entry exam. I joined a boat with three students that I had never met before.

"Where are the oars? They can't expect us to row can they?" a pale faced boy was looking around the boat for any sign of what was moving the boat.

I placed my hand gently on his shoulder.

"It's magic, you won't find anything". He looked round at me with a worried look on his face.

"Oh right, yea, of course, its magic. Sorry. I hate boats, and still kinda' getting used to all this, my dad's a wizard by mum isn't and was very shocked by the news. So to keep the peace he's always kept the magic on the down low for her sake."

"I know what you mean, I'v grown up around magic but self-moving boats are new to me too. I'm Ginny by the way. Ginny Weasley" I smiled at him.

"Hey I'm Callum Brown." He smiled back, a bit more relaxed.

"So coming from a magical family then about you're an experts on all this."

"Err, no. Not really." I answered. "I've grown up around it yea, but never really been allowed to use it. I've practiced simple stuff that Iv copied off my parents but nothing very exciting until we got my spell books a couple of weeks ago."

"Yea, as soon as me and dad got my books we shut ourselves in my room every night to talk about simple spells, Hogwarts and what my lessons will be like. It was nice to hear him talk about magic. Think he was relieved to talk about it a bit too to be honest."

We carried on discussing the different spells we knew and what to expect from our new school when the boats started up. Making us both jump out of our skin and then laugh at how stupid we looked.

The boats slowly made their way down the lake and round a large bend until streams of light reflected beautifully across the lake, getting open mouthed expressions of every single student. Hogwarts towered over us, warm and breath-taking. You couldn't help but be impressed at the old stonework, many different sized towers, and high glass windows. It was surrounded by acres of grounds and a glimpse of what looked like a small hut between the lake and the castle.

All the first years rushed from the boats when we reached land. Trying desperately to keep up with Hagrid's long strides we went up the castle's large steps, through the enormous deep coloured oak front doors into the entrance hall. I'd never seen anywhere more beautiful. Floor to ceiling covered in white marble, antique paintings that moved in the frames and stone gargoyles and suits of armour everywhere you looked. Callum tugged my arm pointing up at the ceiling where there must have been a dozen ghosts floated through the doors behind us and over our heads. I laughed as he had stopped dead to look in fascination. Pulling his arm I dragged him through the hall.

Waiting for us on the marble steps was a witch dressed in black from head to toe. The stern look on her face told me this had to be Professor McGonagall. Percy had talked about her in admiration all summer and how he looked forward to working with her as a prefect. We all stopped at her feet and silence swept across the hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" she said in a stern but not unkind voice.

"In just a few minutes you will enter the great hall behind me to be sorted into your houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The houses determine who your class mates are, where you sleep and they compete for house points to win a cup at the end of the year. So I trust that you will each do your new house proud." I looked at Callum, grinning from ear to ear with excitement. McGonagall gestured for us to follow her up the marble staircase through a second set of huge oak doors. As they slowly opened I held my breath. At last, I'm finally here.