Ron had been waiting for me outside the Hogwart Express. He pulled me to the side and began his long and complex questionnaire. He demanded to know what happened, how it happened, what happened afterwards, who was I with at the time, why had they gone to get Hermione instead of him or any of my brothers... I tried to remain calm, answering the questions I could, but as his curiosity and suspicion increased, so did my frustration and anger.
"Ron, it doesn't matter. I'm feeling better right now, I promise."
"How can I be sure of that?!" he asked, raising his voice. A couple of first years passing glanced at me, both curious and worried.
"Because I'm saying so." I replied through gritted teeth.
He snapped his tongue, shaking his head.
"Why is there always something going on with you? Why can't you..."
"I didn't ask for any of this to happen, you arse!" I yelled, interrupting him. "Plus, I wasn't the only one. Didn't Harry faint himself?"
Someone chuckled. From the corner of my eye I could see Malfoy smile, amused at our quarrel, but decided to ignore him.
"I swear I'm okay Ron. Can you please let it go?" I could feel myself tearing up with anger and I couldn't stand to start crying in front of him.
Ron opened his mouth to reply, but Percy appeared at his side, eyeing us both, suspicious.
"Is there a problem?" Percy asked.
"None whatsoever." I replied, picking my stuff up from the ground.
"Excellent. Now, move along, we have a schedule to follow." He rushed us, and so I did, without looking back, trying to hold back the tears.
I took a seat next to Hermione. Harris was sitting across me, and next to him sat Ron. Hermione asked me in a low whisper if I didn't want to sit next to someone from my year, and I shook my head no. I was still too embarrassed to admit I hadn't gotten a chance to bond with anyone the year before.
A group of students stood in front of the teacher's table - a choir, I realised later, once they began performing, conducted by professor Flitwick. They sounded nice, and I couldn't help but wonder how they managed to rehearse together over the break.
Once they finished, Dumbledore moved towards the podium, prepared to begin his speech. As soon as the applause died out, his voice echoed through the entire Great Hall.
"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I would like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome professor R.J. Lupin, who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher."
A man with light-brown hair rose from his chair and bowed, thanking both Dumbledore and the students applauding him. He soon sat down, facing his empty plate. Something told me he didn't exactly like to be in the spotlight.
"Of course. That's why he knew to give you the chocolate, Harry!" Hermione muttered.
Harry smiled back at her.
"Potter!" Before he could speak, Malfoy's voice came from the table next to ours. The platinum blonde guy was facing us, an amused smile on his lips. "Is it true you fainted?"
Malfoy's friend pretended to faint, letting out a delicate whine, which seemed to further entertain him.
"I mean, you actually fainted?" He sounded as if he was about to burst laughing.
"Shove off, Malfoy!" Ron muttered, bringing Harry's attention back to the table.
"How did he find out?" Harry asked us three.
"Just forget it, Harry." Hermione hushed him.
I tried not to look him in the eyes, incapable of owning up my mistake. Malfoy, behind him, made eye contact with me and raised his eyebrows with a victorious expression on his small, oval face.
"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire," Dumbledore proceeded to tell. "in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our very own Rubeus Hagrid."
Professor McGonagall elbowed Hagrid, and he got up quickly, as the students clapped and cheered him on. After an appropriate interval, McGonagall pulled on his sleeve and, on cue, Hagrid sat down again, making her smile.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, silencing the few who were talking.
"It has also been brought to my attention, by a very hard-working and interested student..." His eyes laid on Hermione for a split second, who straigthned herself proudly as she smiled. "That some of you feel like you could put your free time to better use."
"Really?!" Ron squinted his eyes towards Hermione, who shushed him straight away.
"And because Hogwarts is meant to be a place of personal growth rather than just a school, I am happy to announce we have expanded our extracurricular activities beyond Quidditch. These will span from other sport activities for the more energetic of you, to music classes, for those of you who long to become virtuosos. You may consult the Head of your House to know your options and how to join. I must let you know, however, that for security reasons the Duelling Club will no longer take place this year."
"Are you thinking of joining an extracurricular, Hermione?" I asked her.
"I'm afraid I rather focus on my studies." She answered. I looked at her confused. "Just because I suggested Dumbledore that Hogwarts could use more activities that do not involve a sensationalist sport, it doesn't mean I am obliged to join, does it? Besides, my schedule is quite busy as it is."
"True that." Ron said. "I don't even know how it's physically possible..."
Hermione shushed him again. Ron crossed his arms, upset, and his mouth moved into a pout that made him look at the very least five years younger.
"Finally, on a more disquieting note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured."
Harry took a deep breath, his lips tensing. I resisted the urge to hold his hand above the table - I could only imagine how he felt on the train. However, something told me there was something else bothering him about the news Dumbledore laid upon us.
"The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities... A word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in their nature to be forgiving. But you know... Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times... If one only remembers to turn on the light."
With that, his speech finished - and the Feast began.
Two of the Gryffindor prefects got up at the end of the meal, ready to take the first year students and whoever else felt like it to the dorm. Both Harry and I got up, while Ron and Hermione fell behind, discussing their schedules for the school year.
"I still don't see how can you have both Runes and Divination..." My brother's face was the illustration of confusion someone would find in a dictionary.
"Will power." She retorted, with a smug expression.
"No, I mean, physically possible for you to be in two places at the same time..."
"Don't be silly, Ron!" The brunette laughed. "Do you actually think I'd take classes with conflicting schedules?"
I exchanged a look with Harry, who shrugged. An amused smile took over his lips, and I smiled back, feeling my cheeks warming up.
By the time we reached the group of students, we still hadn't said a word.
"So... Egypt, right?" Harry scratched the back of his head. "Did you have a good time?"
"It was cool." I answered. "Well, actually, not. It was extremely hot, definitely not cool, but you know what I mean."
The words kept rolling out of my lips, fast and all scrambled up - it was as if my brain was on break, and my lips decided to party with the manager out of the store. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, trying to hide my shaky, nervous hands.
Harry chuckled.
"Yeah, well..."
"Excuse me." A voice came from behind me. I turned around, expecting it to be some first year Gryffindor asking for information. To my surprise, I was facing the same dark-haired Ravenclaw who had helped me in the train. "Ginny, is that it?"
"Yes, it is." I replied. "You're Yasmin, if the... situation... didn't interfere with my memory."
She nodded, with a kind smile.
"That is correct." She confirmed. She didn't look much older than me - her round face and big black eyes gave her a somewhat childish appearance -, but her deep voice and perfect diction made her sound like a proper adult. "I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but I wanted to check up on you. Are you feeling better?"
"A whole lot. Thank you for the help, by the way, and I'm sorry for anything."
She moved her hand, as if throwing my apology to the side. "You've got no reason to apologize or thank us. I'm glad to see you're feeling better, really." She then pointed to the Ravenclaw table, from where some girls waved. "I know this is a tad random, but we were wondering if you'd like to join us. Me and my friends have this tradition, in the first night we stay up late catching up and playing board games, and we thought you could use some fun."
"Oh." Was all I could say for a few seconds. I was a surprised - though excited - to have such an invite from someone whose existance I wasn't even aware of until that very morning, and it took me a while to collect myself. "I don't want to intrude or anything."
"Nonsense!" She laughed. "We are asking you, remember? And we'd be very happy to have one extra player."
I smiled and nodded, yet before I pronounce myself, I felt an arm around my shoulders.
"Hi, I don't think we've met before." Ron said, extending his hand in Yasmin's direction. "I'm Ron, Ginny's brother."
Yasmin shook his hand, introducing herself. He looked at her from head to toe, squinting his eyes.
"I believe it may be better for Ginny to rest tonight." He spoke in my behalf. "So why don't you go back to your friends?"
I opened my mouth to protest.
"Come on, now. Go away." My brother insisted, shooing her away with his free hand.
"Ronald!" I complained, elbowing him. He groaned in pain and I ignored him. I looked at Yasmin. "I'm so sorry, I..."
"Don't worry." she gave me an understanding look, glacing quickly towards my brother, who was now bending over his side, right where I had struck him. "Some other time, maybe. I'll see you around, Ginny."
Yasmin smiled at me with sympathy, before directing my brother a slightly sarcastic grin.
"Nice to make your acquaintance, Ronald."
Ron's face grew redder and hotter at the sound of his name and I laughed as Yasmin made her way back to her friends. She winked before sitting down.
"Who the hell does she think she is, calling me Ronald?!"
"Who do you think you are, treating her the way you just did?!" I argued back.
He looked at me surprised.
"What the hell did I do wrong?" He asked, making me roll my eyes. "I was just looking out for you! Do you really know if you can trust her?"
"Oh, I think I'm quite capable of choosing who to trust or not, thank you very much!"
"Are you?" he raised his voice again, making the few students around us go quiet and stare. He let out a sarcastic laugh. "Last time you decided who to trust, you almost died. Have you forgotten?"
"Ron, don't..." Harry put himself between us both. He shook his head, and spoke calmly and in a hushed tone. "It wasn't her fault."
"Whose fault was it, then?"
"Don't bother, Harry." I stopped him from answering. I looked Ron straight in the eye. "Shove off, Ron. Don't even dare to make decisions for me ever again."
I walked faster to join the rest of the Griffyndors who were being led to the dorm. Ron stood behind, looking shocked, while Harry spoke to him.
I had a hard time falling asleep. I was mad at Ron and his attitude. Of course he didn't know, but he could have ruined my first chance at making friends ever since I kept the diary. What else would he interfere with, in his ridiculous attempt to "keep me safe"? And why did he believe that he, of all people, knew what was best for me?
My blood was boiling with anger and I kept turning in my bed.
The worst part was that I actually had believed that once I got to Hogwarts, things would go back to normal.
I sighed loudly. Someone complained in their sleep, but I ignored it.
I needed things to go back to normal if I wanted to keep my sanity. I needed everyone, especially Ron, out of my hair.
Suddenly, it came to me. I sat up in my bed and smiled into the darkness. It wasn't much of a plan, and it probably wouldn't do much in the greater scheme of things. But there was a way to make sure no one had anything to say about what I did.
No one could criticize or interfere with any decision I took if they didn't know about them. Secrecy, in my situation, was the answer - the key to my freedom.
And right there, in my room, I took my first decision without consulting anyone. It wasn't a big, life changing decision - but it was my own and I could rejoice in the fact that no one else had a say in it: I was going to take an extracurricular, because I wanted to.
