King's Crossing Station - September 1, 1991
Hydrus, his father, and his aunt Bellatrix appeared in the train station with a pop of apparition. They exit the designated apparition point to find the station crowded with muggles and wizards alike. As they walk towards platform nine and three quarters, Faustus decides to pop out of his master's shadow. Hydrus narrowly manages to keep from stumbling thankful that his father had placed a notice-me-not spell on them. Hydrus grabbed his familiar on the back of the neck and leaned down to talk to him.
"I told you before," explained a slightly exasperated Hydrus. "If you don't stay in my shadow then I'll have to put a leash on you." Faustus whimpered at hearing that "evil" word. He hated being leashed but he was too curious about the new places they were going to just stay in Hydrus' shadow. He whined as Hydrus hooked a leash his father conjured to his collar. "Sorry buddy. I had to."
The Black family found themselves in between platforms nine and ten, when Sirius decided to stop him son before entering the portal hidden in a brick column. "Before we go in," began Sirius. "I just want you to know that whatever happens, I'm proud of you." Hydrus simply hugged his father in a silent thanks for the support. "And I know that you mother would be proud of you and would be so excited to see you off to Hogwarts." Hydrus cried a little bit into his father's coat trying to hide how much those words meant to him.
When the father and son break apart, Hydrus is stoic as normal and all oversentimentality is finished. He runs through the portal, the first thing he sees is the scarlet train, the Hogwarts Express. The second thing he sees is much less pleasant, Cassius Potter and his father, Lord James Potter. Sirius and his cousin walked through the portal only to scowl at the family that Hydrus ran into.
"Lord Potter," scowled Sirius. "I see today is a glorious day for both our families." Sirius extended his hand to his former friend in a formal greeting though he felt no true desire to do so.
"It would seem so," replied James, scowling as much as Sirius. "Though I take no pleasure in sharing this day with you."
"I couldn't agree more," replied Sirius as the two families parted ways; though not before the two children exchanged words.
"Heir Potter," grudgingly stated Hydrus. "No offense but I hope we are sorted in different houses." Faustus growled softly at the boy his master seemed to dislike.
"I couldn't agree more," responded Cassius. "Heir Black. I hope to beat you in the house cup of course." The two heirs shook hands briefly as neither wished for more than the necessary amount of contact. After all the necessary pleasantries were complete, the two families separated in order to put distance between them.
Hydrus hugged his father and aunt one last time before entering the train that would take him to Hogwarts. They promised to exchange fairly frequent letters. He boarded the train and began to search throughout the train checking to see if any compartments were available. He passed his cousin Draco in a compartment with a few other pureblood children. He decided to let his cousin make friends without him so as not to allow his fame to steal their attention. Eventually, he came upon a compartment with only his fellow heir Hermione inside. Her head was buried in a book; he was finding out that this was the usual for her.
"Do you mind if I join you Hermione?" asked Hydrus. He waited for her response having learned that she would answer when she had reached an appropriate point to mark her spot and close the book. Instead of verbally answering him she just waived him in indicating she was too interested in her book than conversation at the moment. Hydrus didn't mind as the silence would allow him to relax after the earlier confrontation. He took a page from her book and decided to read in companionable silence with her. Eventually, their quiet reading time ended with the arrival of Cedric.
"Hey, Hermione. Hey Hydrus. Mind if I joined you two?" asked Cedric. "You two are much better company than my big-headed cousin." Hydrus couldn't help but chuckle at Cedric.
"How is the young master Smith anyway?" asked Hydrus. "I'm sure your inheritance must have really bothered him." Hermione chose this moment to finally close her book and listen in on the conversation around her.
"He is in denial," responded Cedric. "My aunt had to stun him when I told him because he thought I stole it from him and tried to attack me." Hydrus' chuckle grew into a full-bellied laugh at hearing about the Smith heir's tantrum. "His attitude has gotten even worse. He acts like everyone owes him something, if for no reason other than he didn't get the Hufflepuff inheritance."
"Let's be real," began Hydrus. "Zacharias Smith has been a pompous blowhard since he could walk." Cedric could only answer with a sigh and shrug. Hermione's perplexed look was only increased by Cedric's unwillingness to defend his cousin, telling her just how accurate Hydrus must be.
"Wait a second," began Hermione. "I thought you two had only met for the first time this past June. How is Hydrus so familiar with your cousin."
"Zacharias is the heir to the Smith Marquisate, just as I am the heir to the Black Marquisate," explained Hydrus. "Basically, we are both the same political rank, if you don't count my title as Boy-who-Lived and the Founder inheritance. We have been invited to nearly all the same Parties and Balls since we were old enough to dance and associate in society." Cedric took over in explaining the rest.
"I am the heir of the Diggory Barony," explained Cedric. "The Diggory Barony however is newly bequeathed to us by the Wizengomat. I haven't been subjected to nearly as many societal parties as Hydrus or my Cousin. Hydrus tends to keep to himself which is why we didn't know each other beforehand. But enough about us and high society, how have you been Hermione? Have you found what you are looking for?"
"Not yet," replied Hermione, her tone implying how irksome that fact left her. "Rowena Ravenclaw was only known to have one child, Helena Ravenclaw. Helena is known to have been killed by a scorned suitor after having stolen her mother's diadem." Hermione huffed, showing her displeasure while the two boys solemnly nodded their heads. "One of them probably had a squib which was hidden from the magical world; otherwise the line would be dead and I wouldn't even exist apparently."
"If you already knew that than why have you been reading the magical genealogy book just now?" asked Hydrus. In answer, she handed him a parchment with a list of family names.
"Those," explained Hermione, "are names of muggleborn witches and wizards who were known for intellectual pursuits with English origins that were born between now and the Founders' time. I plan to investigate the families and see if I can detect if I'm related to any of them thus showing that my family tree has magic deep in its roots and maybe I can use the names to search for potential squibs in the muggle world. It's a long shot but the reveal of our inheritances will go smoother for me if can prove I'm from a long-lost squib line rather than a muggleborn who just claimed a dead line."
"Sounds like a great idea to me," exclaimed Cedric. He beamed her a smile and she returned one glad to have his encouragement. She then turned to Hydrus, knowing he was more pragmatic and more likely to give her a straight answer. Hydrus thought it over for a small time; calculating in his head the odds of any of the old families believing her.
"It can't hurt," answered Hydrus. "Even if you could produce some magical family tree showing every relative between you and Rowena herself, it wouldn't sway most of the old families; especially the more traditional and blood-purist ones. However, the effort would go a long way to show you are respectful of their ways which will win you some points. You will have a difficult time when our inheritance is made public, but this could help smooth some of the transition." Hermione sighed some relief, hearing confirmation that she wasn't wasting her time with this research.
The train lurched forward starting them off on their journey to begin their magical education. Hydrus looked puzzled as he wondered where Ginny was as she had told him before that she planned to sit with him. He hadn't seen her yet so excused himself to go looking for her. Before leaving the compartment to address his familiar hiding in his shadow.
"Stay with Hermione and Cedric," commanded Hydrus. The response he received was a disembodied whine from his hidden familiar as green eyes appeared in the shadow giving him a begging look. Hydrus rolled his eyes at the dog's attempt to stay with his master. He pointed his wand at his shadow and cast a lumos getting rid of his shadow and forcing his grim to emerge. The whining dog turned to the other two passengers in the compartment seeking affection. Luckily for Faustus Hermione took pity on him while his master went to look for the other Female of their foursome.
It took Hydrus two train cars to find his ginger-haired friend. The argument she was having with her youngest older brother seemed to be why she had yet to find his compartment. Her brother's face was doing a good impression of a tomato as he seemed seriously upset. He walked into their compartment to find Ginny gripping her wand as if she was about to use it on her brother. "Am I interrupting something?" asked Hydrus.
"Yes," answered Ron in a voice he obviously thought was intimidating. "This is a family matter, Black. You can see yourself out." He then turned back to Ginny to continue arguing only for her to point her wand at his throat menacingly.
"Say another word Ronald and you'll be vomiting slugs till we get to Hogwarts," threatened Ginny. "I am tired of you trying to control me. I will go and be with my friends and enjoy my first trip to school. If you try to stop me again then I will tell mum, or worse." She then walked out of the compartment, Hydrus following her with a perplexed look, leaving her idiot brother white-faced and thoroughly cowed. "I'm sorry about my idiot brother by the way. He thinks that you'll turn me evil or something." Hydrus could only shake his head at how stupid that sounded.
The two returned to the compartment and as soon as she sat down Ginny was treated with a giddy grim trying to climb into her lap. "Sometimes I think he likes you more than me," joked Hydrus.
"Well maybe if you were nicer to him he would like you more," replied Ginny with a faux smug voice. Hydrus simply scoffed, trying to hide his smile, while his friends laughed at him. "So how have you two been?" asked Ginny toward Hermione and Cedric.
"Ladies first," stated Cedric, indicating for Hermione to go first. She filled Ginny in on her search for her blood connection to Ravenclaw. She expressed that it would be very difficult and would probably just be a something she did mostly when she had free time and wasn't working on anything else. Cedric was about to tell Ginny about how angry his cousin was about his inheritance when Hermione decided to share something that she hadn't earlier.
"I just wanted to thank you guys," began Hermione, her voiced filled with strong emotion. "You all have been so kind to me this summer. You all calmly explain anything I'm not sure about even though you all pretty much grew up knowing things that I can only guess at. When I was a kid I thought, I was some kind of freak or something, then I found out about magic and it made so much sense. Then I entered the Diagon Alley for the first time and I realized that this was just another world and it just felt like another world where I didn't belong." She started to cry halfway through her speech but was determined to finish what she was saying. Cedric wrapped his hands around her shoulders for support. "You guys have been so nice to me and I don't know if I would be able to handle all this without you." Hermione looked to her friends and saw not pity but understanding and acceptance; the four of them were destined to work together as the Founders' Heirs. The rest of the train ride was filled with chatter about the school and what they expected of the school year to come.
When the train arrived at Hogsmeade station, the arriving students were greeted by a giant of a man with wild hair and a massive beard. This was the children's first introduction to Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts' gamekeeper, as he shouted for the first years in his thick accent. He lead all the bright-eyed first years to the docks and ushered them into a bunch of dinky boats to take them to the castle. As the four heirs followed the half giant, Hermione began to feel a wave of giddiness begin to rush over her as they neared the lake. She held her hands tight to stop herself from shaking as the four of them got into the same boat. Luckily, the excitement of soon seeing the castle kept anyone from noticing her extra enthusiasm. The boat ride was silent except the quiet gasps let out when the castle finally came into view. When the boats arrived at the docks, the children were met by a very stern looking woman.
"Greetings children," began Professor McGonagall. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Please follow me so that you can join the older students." She leads them through the castle until they arrived at a large set of oaken double doors that leads into the Great Hall. She waited for all the children to catch up and pay attention before she continued her introduction. "In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you're here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup."
McGonagall scanned the new first years expecting to see the usual wonder and fearful expressions she was used to receiving. The majority of the students were as she expected. She caught a few students with bored, glazed over expressions that she immediately guessed indicated the underachievers of this new generation. She found a few students who seemed more determined and she wondered which of these were the founders' heirs. She knew of their existence like all the other professors; however, their specific identities were a mystery that Dumbledore had deigned to keep a secret from even her, his deputy. The secrecy irked her far more than she allowed to let on. She hoped that the heirs were at least decently attentive as she would hate to have to deal with pompous slackers thinking their titles would get them everywhere. If they were she would work hard to nip it in the bud, at least for the Gryffindor heir, with whom she would have the most contact.
Professor McGonagall was broken out of her reverie to hear a shout of "Trevor" by one of the students. Her fierce glare caused the boy to blush as he hastily scooped up the toad that had sat near her feet during her introductory speech. She felt the magic of the school tell her that it was time to bring them in. "The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily," she intoned as she leads them through the double doors into the great hall. The first years were trying to take it all in, the other students, the magical ceiling, the floating candles, the hall itself, and finally the professors and the stool with an old hat on top.
McGonagall lead them to the bottom step in front of the professors. The Deputy Headmistress instructed them to wait there as she continued to stand next the hat topped stool. "Before we begin, Professor Dumbledore has a few words," Explained Minerva McGonagall.
The students watched with bated breath as the old wizard with a magnificent white beard stood up from his place in the center of the professors. Many were surprised by his choice of periwinkle robes which stood out among the black robes worn by the other Professors. "I have a few start of term announcements I wish to announce," began the Headmaster. "First Years please note that the forbidden forest is as named, forbidden. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bands to any who do not wish to suffer a terrible death. Thank you!" Finished with his speech he sat down and motioned for Minerva to begin the sorting ceremony.
Minerva glanced at the rolled parchment in her grasp as she began to address the first years once again. "Now, when I call your name, you shall come forth and I shall place the sorting hat upon your head and you will be sorted into your houses." She then read off the first name on her list. "Hannah Abbott!" exclaimed McGonagall. Hydrus watched as House Abbott's Heiress Secunda was sorted into Hufflepuff. He barely remembered her from some social gatherings, her family having an Earldom; he wondered if she and Cedric would become acquaintances as her father was the current Earl Abbott. Hydrus was broken from his thoughts when he heard his name being called, having missed the sorting of a Gryffindor and another Hufflepuff. "Hydrus Black"
The crowd of students became deathly quiet waiting to see what would happen during the sorting of the Boy-Who-Lived. Some believed he would become a Gryffindor like both his parents. Others hoped he would become a Slytherin like the majority of his father's family while some hoped he wasn't due to the impurity of his blood. Hydrus cared little about what people wanted or believed of him, when he donned the Sorting Hat. Hydrus suppressed a surprise reaction when he heard a voice in his head address him as Heir Slytherin.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" began the hat speaking in Hydrus' head. "It's so wonderful to finally meet one of my creators' heirs. Quite an interesting mind you have here, if you don't mind me saying." Hydrus wondered if the pun was intentional. "Now, let's see what we have here. Courage, enough to do what you feel needs to be done. Cleverness and intelligence, how wonderful to see a young one so learned. Loyalty, but only to those who have earned it. Finally, ambition and a thirst to prove yourself. Had you not been the old snake's heir I would have trouble knowing where to put you, each of them could fit except for perhaps Hufflepuff. While you are loyal that loyalty is hard to earn. The others, however, could fit but of course you were made for Slytherin. I hope the castle proves to your liking and please feel free to wear me again if you should need to. I'm always willing to serve." The hat ended his weird diatribe before announcing to the room his house of "Slytherin."
The hall was quiet save for the polite clapping of Hydrus' new housemates as he sat among the snakes. The clapping was then interrupted by a gasp that confused Hydrus until he looked down to see his familiar, out of his shadow. Hydrus hoped not to have to reveal him to the entire school so soon but Faustus seemed to enjoy the spotlight. He looked up to see Professor McGonagall raise one eyebrow the question on her mind was easy to guess so Hydrus decided to give an explanation before more people had time to think about him possibly being a rulebreaker.
"This is my familiar, Professor," explained Hydrus. "I have had him for a while he is a magical dog." Hydrus felt no need to tell them exactly what type of magical dog as he wanted as little unnecessary attention as possible. "I know the letter said either a cat, or a toad, or an owl but I know that familiars are an exception." He looked at her hoping she wouldn't pry too much. She seemed to take his explanation at face value and motioned for him to take his seat with his house; his troublemaking familiar in toe. He looked at the Professors' table after sitting down and noticed the Headmaster's eyes looking at him with an amused twinkle.
Hydrus paid slight attention as Susan Bones a girl he grew up knowing was sorted into Hufflepuff. The next three went to Ravenclaw. Then the Brown girl went to Gryffindor. Millicent Bulstrode was the next student to get sorted and she ended up in Slytherin with him. He gave her a cordial nod of greeting as she was a distant relative and her family had been on good terms with his for generations. Hydrus continues to watch the sorting taking note of two more Ravenclaws being sorted. Then another of his distant relatives, Vincent Crabbe, is sorted into Slytherin. He gives a shorter nod as he's unsettled by the Crabbe family's support of Lord Voldemort.
Hydrus then takes note of the next sorted student, Tracey Davis, a half-blood he remembered seeing with Daphne Greengrass. He decided to strike up a small conversation with her as Cedric was being sorted.
The Sorting Hat greeted Cedric in a very similar way to Hydrus. "Welcome to Hogwarts," began the hat upon Cedric's head. He was not shocked by the voice so much as he sensed the hats magic before hearing the voice. "Just as with young Heir Slytherin, I am glad to finally see the heirs of my makers. We both know that you would do best in the house of your ancestor; but before I sort you, there is some advice I would like to give you. Your previous training in occlumency would be useful in helping gain a better control of your magical sensing ability. Helga could sense magic as well. She may have left information on controlling it in her grimoire if you find it. That should be all! Good luck young Heir Hufflepuff." The rest of the hall heard his placement as Cedric got up to walk to his house's table.
Cedric made a mental note to take the hat's advice and find the grimoire of his ancestor. He sat at the table and addressed Susan Bones first, as he was already familiar with her. "How have you been Susan?" asked Cedric.
"I've been well," responded the redheaded Bones Heiress. "My aunt has been allowing me to practice some before the start of term. It's exciting to finally have my own wand. How have you been? I haven't seen you since Zach and Sally's birthday last spring."
"I've been great," responded Cedric. He was excited to have someone to talk to in his house. "I've flown as much as I can since I won't be able to much here. I also made a few new friends." Cedric paused unsure of how much he should or even could share with Susan. He knew he should keep their secret but Susan was much more familiar with Hydrus than he was and he was curious to learn more about his fellow heir. "You know one of them actually." Susan was a little confused but asked who he was talking about. "I've recently become closer to Hydrus Black and I was curious to hear what you knew about him since you've known him much longer than me."
Susan was a little surprised to hear of his new friendship with the young Black heir. "He's a nice boy honestly. He's a little reserved and doesn't exactly open up much. He's closer to Daphne Greengrass than me but I have no problem with him." Susan paused to clap for another student being sorted before asking her now burning question. "How exactly did you two get acquainted?"
Cedric took a second to think about his answer. He knew he had to lie but wasn't sure how to do it convincingly. "We met at Gringotts. He was surprised about how much nicer I was than my cousin." They both then chuckled about how true that statement was. Cedric continued to have a light-hearted conversation and included more of his fellow Hufflepuffs.
Hermione was next to be sorted and was quite nervous. She had been holding on to Ginny's hand for support since Cedric had been called knowing that she was the next of them to be sorted. She watched as the bulky Goyle kid was sorted into Slytherin and she couldn't help but think that he must eat a lot of junk to have gotten that big at their age. Her inner monologue about healthy eating was broken when she clearly heard the professor call her name to be sorted. She jumped a little hearing the voice of the hat greet her.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," began the hat as it always did to students it felt the need to speak with. "There's no need to be nervous child. Hogwarts will be for you a place of learning and knowledge the likes of which you could only dream of, especially for a young Ravenclaw. You have wonderful mind so full of wonder and a desire to seek knowledge for knowledge's sake. Your ancestor loved students like you. If you wish to know about your ancestry then it would behoove you to seek out the Grey Lady, the house ghost of Ravenclaw. She can be quite a handful but once she knows about you she should be a fountain of knowledge. I know you will have a wonderful time here at Hogwarts young Heiress Ravenclaw." The last word being shouted to the hall indicating her placement.
Hermione joined her house's table much less nervous than she was before. She was excited knowing now that she was soon to learn so much. She sat down, politely greeted her new housemates before turning to see Miss Greengrass sorted into Slytherin. She watched as Daphne sat with Hydrus and the Davis girl sorted earlier. She wondered if the girl knew Hydrus from somewhere.
Daphne was surprised to see her friend Tracey talking with Hydrus of all people. He was usually quite nice and they talked a lot when the marquesses and other lords got together for parties and such. They were fairly close due to both of them being heirs of marquessates but she had never known him to easily talk with others. "Hello," greeted Daphne. "I didn't think you two knew each other."
"Oh, we didn't," responded Hydrus. "At least, we didn't before today. I introduced myself as I had seen her sit and speak with you on the train."
"He had wanted to know if we were friends," added Tracey. "We've been talking about some of the parties that you two have attended without me. I didn't know that you had accidently turned Cassius Potter's hair green when he had made fun of your name once." Daphne simply raised a brow unamused with the stories her friends seem to enjoy sharing. They were eventually joined by Hydrus' cousin whose sorting had taken shorter than most. He was introduced by Hydrus and they continued talking eventually including Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson as they were sorted.
The conversation stopped as Cassius Potter was called up to be sorted. The others were quiet noticing how Hydrus seemed to stare straight at the boy glaring daggers at him. The others looked at Daphne and Draco looking for an answer as they knew him best. They both shook their head knowing how rude it would be to disclose Hydrus' secrets. The tension eased after the young Potter heir was sorted into the lion house. Draco sighed in relief happy that he wouldn't have to deal with his cousin or his uncle's rivalry with the house of Potter; at least not within their house. Conversation seemed to die out some while the rest of the sorting occurred.
Cedric watched as the students waiting to be sorted dwindled down to so few left then the Smith twins were eventually sorted. Cedric had mixed feelings about where his cousins would be sorted. Sally was okay to be around and he wouldn't mind having her around so much. However, he dreaded having Zacharias around. His cousin was used to being the important one the heir to a marquessate and a proud descendant of Helga Hufflepuff. Zach was closer to Susan and the others and he felt like his cousin would attempt to ostracize him from the rest of his house.
Sally joined her cousin at the Hufflepuff table and felt bad for her cousin. She felt no differently about her cousin after the news of his inheritance. As a daughter, she never expected to inherit the family titles but her brother had always loved knowing how important the heir role was. He was quite angry with his cousin for 'stealing' the inheritance of Hufflepuff from them. Sally just stayed out of it to keep from feeling her twin brother's scorn. She clapped along with the other Hufflepuff as her brother joined them.
Zacharias Smith was unsure of himself when he joined the Hufflepuff table. He saw his damned cousin chatting along with Susan Bones. His father had told him to be on good terms with her as she was to be Marquioness Bones one day. His father had filled his head with dreams of betrothal to her and wielding the power of two marquessates. It would set the Smith family to greater political power within the Wizengomat. He wanted to follow his father's orders but couldn't keep himself from seeing red when it comes to his cousin. He could have been so much more powerful but his cousin took that from him.
"Hello Susie," greeted Zach is a smarmy voice. "How have you been? I see you've been getting along well with my cousin." Susan was annoyed. She hated that he called her that. Her older cousin who had been lost in the war had gone by that name and she felt disgust at replacing her.
"I've been good," responded Susan in a stilted voice before she decided to mess with Smith heir. "Oh, your cousin is great to talk with. He's very funny; he must get that from his father's side." Cedric was confused. He hadn't said anything particularly funny while talking with her but just chalked it up to girls being weird sometimes.
"He can be," responded Zacharias smoothly. He decided to keep quiet after being insulted. Cedric looked up after hearing the name of his final friend, Ginny. The hat greeted Ginny the same way it had to the other heirs before talking about her.
"Ah the final Weasely child is here at Hogwarts," began the Sorting Hat. "You certainly are an interesting brood. You my dear are by far the most interesting though. Had you not inherited from Godric I would seriously consider you for Slytherin. You have plenty of cunning and ambition in you. But alas the courage and boldness of Gryffindor will win out. I look forward to seeing how well you do Heiress Gryffindor." She then joined her brothers in Gryffindor, glad to finally be at Hogwarts with them and not stuck home while they learned magic. She had little time to talk with her new housemates as the sorting soon ended with the sorting of another girl in Gryffindor and a boy in Slytherin.
With all the new students sorted, Dumbledore announced the start of the feast with all the food just appearing on the tables. The students ate and conversed in enjoyment. Hermione enjoyed conversation with Padma Patil. The Indian girl got along well with her and she was glad to know that she wouldn't be alone in her house. Cedric enjoyed his new housemates and tried to avoid more confrontation with his cousin. Hydrus was quieter, more enjoying listening to the conversation around him. Though at one point he gazed at the professors' table and felt a painful sensation in his scar when he saw a turban wearing man talking to Professor Snape.
Ginny however, had the least pleasant feast as Ron tried to get her to talk with the Potter Heir amicably. While she personally had no problems with him he seemed arrogant and she knew of the feud between houses Potter and Black. She tried to be polite before exploding on her brother to leave her alone. On top of her brother's meddling she had to contend with the annoyingly, gossipy Brown girl, who was a little too interested in the Boy-who-Lived. Ginny did her best to ignore her.
Ginny ended up being led by her prefect brother, Percy, to Gryffindor tower with all the other first-years after the feast was over. She couldn't keep from rolling her eyes every time he seemed to preen at being looked up to and asked questions. She expected nothing less from him. Once inside she was showed to her dorm room which she apparently shared with Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and Fay Dunbar. She hoped Fay turned out to be nice. She was already annoyed with Lavender and Parvati seemed a lot like her. She went to bed that night excited and nervous to see what Hogwarts would lead to.
