Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the new characters. Everything you recognize from the Harry Potter Universe belongs to J K Rowling…

Fighting Fate, Fighting Friends

Last Time…

"Settle down please. Anna, if you would." Dumbledore seated himself again and Anna sat down.

"Hmmm, Sly and cunning, yet quite brave. Yes…I think it would suit you to be in…"

Chapter 2

"…Slytherin!" At this announcement, Anna got up, and silently walked over to the Slytherin table and seated herself right next to Draco Malfoy. The rest of the Great Hall stared in silence as Draco Malfoy shook her hand calmly after shoving Pansy to the side.

"Well, what a surprise, let's move on now. Carter and James Evanston are twins from Florida as well and, boys you know how it goes, who first?" Dumbledore exclaimed a bit too cheerfully. James walked to the stool with trepidation and sat down slowly. Before the hat had even situated itself onto his head, it had already come to a decision.

"Gryffindor!"

James jogged over the Gryffindor table and sat down amidst the cheers of his fellow housemates.

Curiously, Carter sat and before the hat had even touched his head, he declared a "Slytherin!"

Carter sat next to Anna and they struck up a conversation with Draco Malfoy as the food appeared.

After the feast, Dumbledore rose and began his customary speech. "Welcome all of you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I would like to extend a personal welcome to all of the new students this year. And with the return of the infamous Weasley twins," At this, he nodded toward Fred and George. They got up amidst the cheers of the Great Hall and bowed. Dumbledore continued, "May I please remind you to be wary of the use of their products. Also, The Forbidden Forest is, as always," "Forbidden," The seventh years recited. "Correct. Please allow me to introduce this year's Head Girl, Carla Cambridge, the Head Boy, Draco Malfoy, and also the assistant heads, Ginevra Weasley and Carter Evanston, and of course we will have a group of students this year that will be recognized in a later ceremony. These students will assist the professors this year and hopefully take over for some of them once they have graduated and the professors, decided to retire. I do believe that I have been going on for much too long, Prefects, please lead your fellow housemates to the dormitories. And to all, have a wonderful year!" With that, all of the students rose and headed off to their respective dormitories to rest up.

Ginny walked up to Gryffindor tower with Meagan and entered her friend's dorm. As she sat down, she realized that she was assistant head girl and had her own dorms. At that, a letter materialized in front of her summoning her to the Headmaster's office. Scanning it quickly, she ran out realizing that she was probably late.

Arriving at the gargoyle, she recited the password, Snicker-doodle, and ran up the staircase. Walking into the room, she noticed the only available seat was next to Draco and sat down, not caring about the closeness. She found quite pleasant actually.

"I extend my personal congratulations to the four of you. I understand that Carla and Carter are new and I hope that you, Draco and you, Ginny, will please help them out. Your rooms are located on the 6th floor. Passwords will be set at your discretion. Heads, your rooms are behind the portrait of the phoenix. Ginny, Carter, your rooms are behind the picture of the unicorn. Draco, if you would please show Carter to his room before looking for yours, I need to speak with Ginevra for one second."

Draco nodded and motioned for the three of them to exit. Dumbledore got up and walked over to Fawkes and whispered something to the phoenix. Fawkes nodded and disappeared and Dumbledore turned and walked toward his desk again. Ginny sat up and paid closer attention as Dumbledore sat down again.

"Ginny, your OWLS were wonderful and I would like to offer for you to take classes with the 7th years this year. I will also extend my invitation to include you in advanced potions with Draco, Carter, and Carla. Please think this over and send me your answer via owl tomorrow morning so Professor McGonagall can arrange your schedule accordingly."

Ginny sat there dumbfounded before nodding and replied, "I would love to accept Professor. Thank you."

Ginny walked out of the office with a slight spring in her step and practically ran into her common room. Entering the room, she gasped in amazement. The common room was probably as big as the Gryffindor Common room. She noticed that half the room had red and the other half, green and silver. Her door was open and she saw that she had a large bed and a huge sitting room. Entering her room, she saw the amazing furniture, all things her family could never afford. Turning around, she noticed the time and figured that she should probably go to sleep. She grabbed her PJs from her bag and walked into the bathroom. As she got ready for bed, she noticed that the bedrooms were connected by the bathroom and that Carter's room looked very similar to hers. Deciding to explore tomorrow, she quickly retired and fell asleep immediately upon falling on to the silken sheets.

Carter woke to a bright room, decorated in green and silver. He glanced at the clock, 6:30 am, not bad. Pulling on a t-shirt, he made his way through his room to the kitchenette.

Ginny had already woken up and was sitting in the common room reading. She looked up as Carter stepped out of his room and into the kitchenette.

"Want anything? Or are you going to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast?" Ginny said, rising and walking over to the counter.

"How about this? You sit and relax, we still have an hour, and I will make you pancakes." Carter said this before rising and grabbing several bowls, and fruit out of a muggle refrigerator.

"Alright," Ginny sat back down and watched him 'do his magic' as he mixed the batter and poured it onto a heated pan. As he did this, Ginny was reminded of her little fling with Harry over the summer. He had left his only family after 3 weeks in the company of his aunt and uncle. Somehow, Harry had managed to find his way into the nearby wizarding town where Ginny had been shopping that day. He had hotel reservations; she had a lot of time on her hands. She had accompanied him back to his suite where he had unloaded his groceries and set about making a light post-lunch snack.

Carter set the plate of pancakes in front of Ginny as she snapped back to reality. Ginny took one look at the plate and devoured the whole thing.

"Well, you must be hungry," Carter hoped to strike up a conversation to fill the awkward silence.

"I'm a Weasley, I love food!" Ginny wiped her mouth before continuing, "Thank you. Those are some of the best pancakes I have ever had!" Ginny hopped off of her seat at the same time Carter did. "Race you to the bathroom!" Ginny sped off leaving a chuckling Carter lagging behind.

Anna, Carla, Ginny, Carter, James, and Draco had gathered in the Head's common room and were chatting on their last free day before they would be swamped with homework. It seemed to Ginny that Carla and Malfoy had gotten along really well and that Carter was constantly staring in to space.

"So, Carter, Carla tells me that you are a wonderful swimmer," Malfoy said, astonishing Ginny with his friendliness.

"Yeah, I was on the swim team, although I'd have to say that James is much better at it than I. But, I could beat you hands down." Carter replied, just as calmly.

"Really now, in that case I challenge you to a race…we'll see who's the faster swimmer. I hear that Dumbledore had an Olympic pool built for a certain red head in here…but we can take advantage of this." At this comment Ginny blushed. She had gone to Dumbledore at the end of last year to ask for a pool to be built so she could swim on the weekends. It was her way of letting stress out. And her way to get Ron off of her back. He had never learned how to swim.

Draco smirked upon seeing Ginny blushing. Yeah, so he promised not to tease the red-head, but he couldn't make her feel very uncomfortable. This would be an exciting year indeed.

"Alright, we'll meet at the pool in an hour. James, Draco, and I will race. This will prove who is faster..." Carter exclaimed, filling up the awkward silence.

A/N

I hope you guys like it!

R&R