Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various
publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books,
and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is
intended.
Author Notes: Thanx to my Beta Readers: moodyflower
Lara aka Rose
Steffanie
Rudydh18

Let The Games Begin

It was the first day of classes, screams and laughter filled the usual quiet halls of
Hogwarts as a sea of black robed students flowed towards their classes.

Ron smiled as he walked down the hall, a grinning Harry trailed behind him allowing Ron
to do the work of clearing a path to class.

"Harry!" shouted a familiar voice.

Turning quickly Harry smiled as Hermione jumped into his arm, returning Hermione's hug
Harry looked into her bright cinnamon eyes. "What's with the hug?" Harry said blushing.

"Well I haven't seen you all day," said Hermione grinning from ear to ear. "Besides can't
one of your best friend give you a hug for no reason?"

Shaking his head Harry turned into an always-smiling Ron. "What no hug for me?" he asked
playfully.

Hitting him on the shoulder with her fist Hermione laughed, "That's what you get you big
brute, now why are you tormenting Lavender again?"

Harry smirked, Hermione never approved of Ron's treatment of girls but she and Ron had
come with this neutral truce that they wouldn't interfere with each other's relationship.
Though Ron has crossed that line continuously by scaring away potential boyfriends for
her, Hermione kept her side of the bargain.

"Well you see Hermione," said Ron as he feinted a look of deep thought, "Lav was trying
to get to know me again and well I'm allowing her the chance tonight."

"You mean you have a corner picked out?" teased Harry.

Ron at least had the decency to blush as he looked at his two friends, "You guys are
always on my case," giving both his famous sly smile and a wink, "Of course I do it's
the one near the Astronomy tower."

"You mean the one where you dragged Pavati to?" asked Hermione amused.

Nodding Ron turned around, "Laugh at my expense but tonight at least I won't be alone."

Laughing Hermione slipped her arm into Harry's, "Let's go to class."

Nodding Harry looked at his towering friend, "Let's go Ron, or as Hermione says, you
big brute, make a path for us."

"Yes sir, Prefects sir and ma'am," said Ron saluting as he began to walk towards class
again.

"So how's your day going?" asked Harry.

"Not bad," said Hermione leaning closer to Harry she sighed, "you where right though
Harry, I booked myself up again though with all the clubs I'm supervising and classes
I'm taking I barely have any free time again."

"What about our deal?" asked Harry concerned.

"Don't worry I set aside two free periods every night like you guys so I can spend them
with you two," said Hermione looking into Harry's eyes, "You guys are the most important
people in my life I'm not going to ignore you two for the entire year."

"Well during the third, fourth, and fifth year, we occasionally did," quipped Ron.

"That was because you ignored me!" protested Hermione.

"Details, details," said Ron with a laugh, "Don't worry Hermione this year will be
different, we won't ignore each other."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," said Harry smiling.

"No, I mean it Harry, even if I hate both of you two and can't stand the sight of
you guys. I'll still spend those two periods with you two," said Ron proudly, "I'll
just be yelling or sulking for the entire two periods."

With a laugh the trio walked to their potion class with the warmth that they had each
other.

*******************************

Draco watched as a Slytherin first year slowly picked up his books, every year it was
the same thing. Slytherin first year, usually the weakest one, the one that didn't
show enough Slytherin ideas, or if they were a muggle born would be picked on. Abused
and pushed they usually never returned for the second year. The Prefects of Slytherin
usually looked away because it was tradition and Professor Snape never knew because he
only knew what the Prefects told him. Draco studied the poor Slytherin first year, blond
hair, with blue eyes, the boy was doing his best. He already took the abuse of the first
day with good grace but Draco could tell that the boy was cracking. Away from home the
twelve-year-old boy was scared and with no one helping him, he was being pushed around
even by the first year Slytherin. Last year the first year lasted a month before she
broke down to cry. Draco smiled she had a strong character, this new boy was nothing
like her, he looked like he was going to break down crying any time now. He sighed at
least it was only two first years this year, when it came down to it he never liked
this tradition but he never stopped it. He always thought it was a waste of energy, but
as the Prefect before him said, they had to keep the Slytherin house pure.

Sighing the first year finally got his books together into a neat pile, lifting them he
started down the hall again. Suddenly he felt a shove from behind and heard a laugh as
he went sprawling to the floor, turning around he saw his attacker, Goyle was his name
or was it Crabbe, it didn't really matter thought the boy he couldn't tell the two apart.
Slowly the boy closed his eyes he started to cry, he didn't know why everything was not
turning out right. He hadn't done anything wrong but he was being picked on, even his
friend Talia was being picked on but she wasn't around she had been able to get away.
A shadow fell on him, flinching he expected another attack. Instead he felt a comforting
warm hand on his shoulder, opening his eyes he found himself looking into a beautiful
fifth year and Talia. With flaming red hair her dark robes had Red lining which meant
she was a Gryffindor.

"Are you okay?" she asked smiling.

Shaking his head he started to cry again.

"Shhh," she murmured as she gathered him up in a hug. Rocking him back and forth he
sobbed in her arms. "What's your name dear?"

"Thomas," he whimpered.

"Well Thomas," she said smiling, "my name is Ginny, your friend Talia came and got me."

Looking up in surprise Thomas whispered, "Why are you helping us were Slytherin you're a
Gryffindor."

Smiling Ginny hugged him, "You're a first year, you need some help I'm here to help you."

"What are you doing Weasley?" asked a cold voice.

Looking up Ginny saw Draco Malfoy standing over her, "I'm helping a few first year."

"They're Slytherin," said Draco coldly.

"Do you want to take care of him?" she asked lightly.

"Why should I?" sneered Draco, "they're muggle born and they barely shows any Slytherin
spirit."

"Then I will," said Ginny smiling, turning to Thomas, "Let's get your books and help you
to your class then I'll meet you and Talia afterwards okay."

Nodding Thomas wiped away his tears and began to gather his books with Talia.

"What are you going to do with them?" asked Draco.

"I'm going to take them with my cubs," said Ginny.

"No, you cannot they're Slytherin," said Draco as he turned, "They will stay with
Slytherin."

"You don't want them," said Ginny, "I do I'll take them."

Draco turned around quickly, "I said you can't take them, the conversation is over Weasley"

"Draco you're being unreasonable," said Ginny, "I'll talk to Professor Snape and
McGonagall. I'm sure we can work something out."

Draco stood back stunned, not only was someone arguing with him, it was a Weasley but
she also used his first name, nobody used his first name. Grabbing Ginny arm he glared
at her, "You can't do this Weasley."

Suddenly Draco found lift him by the robes till his feet weren't touching the ground.
Turning his head to face his attacker, he found himself looking into a face that had the
same colour of his hair.

"What are you doing Malfoy," growled Ron, "You know laying an hand on my sister is off
limits to you."

"Ron!" commanded Harry, "put him down."

Turning his head Ron stared at Harry seconds passed as Harry and Ron had a staring match.
Looking back he saw Draco's bodyguards, Goyle and Crabbe take up positions to pounce on
him. In the past they would just pull out their wands and start hexing each other. But
lately since they were larger fist cuffs were more to their liking again. Calculating in
his head Ron still believed he was in good odds, Crabbe and Goyle were Slytherin's beaters
but he was still bigger then both of them. He could take both of them while Harry took on
Malfoy. However Harry wanted to resolve this peacefully, so with a sigh Ron put Draco
down, smoothing out Draco's robes Ron stood back, "Sorry about that Malfoy, I shouldn't
have done that, I should have just ripped out your arms and beat you with them."

Pushing Ron back with one hand, Harry stood toe to toe with Draco, "What do you want
Malfoy, you know putting your hands on a Gryffindor is dangerous."

"Tell that to Ginny," said Draco coldly as he straightened his hair, "she's messing with
two of my first years."

"What are you doing Ginny?" asked Hermione looking at Ginny curiously.

Ginny stood with two first years Slytherin holding her hands on either side of her. "Well
Talia," began Ginny nodding at the little girl, "bumped into me down the hall crying, so
when I asked what was wrong she said that her friend was in trouble. So I came to take a
look."

Sighing Hermione looked at her two friends that was the problem with Ginny she could
never turn down a person who needed help, especially when it came from a first year.
"Ginny they are not cubs, they're Slytherin first years, we don't take care of them.
The Slytherin's are suppose to look after their own first years."

Looking at the ground Ginny whispered, "I'm going to talk to Professor McGonagall and
Snape, about them."

Nodding Hermione put a hand on Ginny's shoulder, looking at the two tear streaked first
years she sighed, "Well whatever you want Ginny, Harry and I'll back you up if you need
to talk to McGonagall, but Snape your on your own."

Smiling Ginny looked at the trio, "Thank-you."

"Is that okay with you Malfoy?" asked Harry.

Draco scowled, looking at Ginny he knew his answer, but instead he heard himself saying,
"If she gets Professor Snape to agree with her plans then I don't see a problem."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron's eyes widened in surprise, Draco turned away quickly to walk
into class.

"Draco?" called Ginny tentatively.

Turning around Draco looked at Ginny disturbed on what he had said.

"Thank-you," Ginny said warmly.

Turning quickly Draco quickly walked into Potion's class shaking, "What the bloody hell
was that?" he thought, "Why did I bloody agreed to allow Ginny to do that."

Ron turned to his sister, "Well get those two to class we'll talk about his later," he
said gruffly but his eyes was filled with love for his sister, "and Gin, if he ever comes
near you again, let me know... He won't know his arse from his head."

Smiling at Ron, Ginny lead the two Slytherins to their class.

"That was a change," said Harry opening Potion Class's door, "Draco agreeing with
something a Gryffindor, a Weasley said."

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger, your late," said a cold voice, "Ten points
each from Gryffindor."

Sighing Ron stepped passed Harry into class, "Something's don't."