Disclaimer: Not Rowling…still.

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Ginny was just settling down to eat when Ariana's muffled voice came through the walls, "Ginny? There are people here to see you."

Who could it possibly be? Slytherins, sure…but she had just seen them not 30 minutes ago. Teachers, then? No one else knew where her room was…at least, no one she knew of. She gave the food a longing glance, but got up, "It's okay Ariana, you can let them in."

"Er…hi Ginny," said one rather flustered brother of hers, followed in by Hermione and Harry, "We used the map to find you…"

Just her gods-forsaken luck, of course. Her brother just had to be friends with the one student in the entire castle who had a map that could locate her at all times. Great. And of course he comes here right away to insult me some more. Well…if he had been set on that, he probably would have come in yelling, so that was something, wasn't it? Instead of accusing him of anything, she said, rather cautiously, "Hello Ron. Hermione. Harry."

"Ginny," Ron started, his tone harsh, but Hermione poke him and he relented, "I'm-I'm sorry. I shouldn't try to control you. It's your life and it isn't up to me to decide how it's run, even if I want to. As a big brother, it is my duty to protect you, but not to cloister you away like a…a nun," he parroted dutifully, only faltering at the end. After his little monologue, he gave Hermione a look that clearly said, 'There. I did it. Happy?'

Ginny stifled a giggle, "Thanks, Hermione," to which her brother gave her a mock-wounded look, but didn't deny it. She smiled; glad that Ron wasn't staying angry for very long. He was protective, yes, but he was one of her best friends, too, "Oh, c'mon Ron. You can't expect me to believe you came up with that on your own. Come, sit," she invited, gesturing to the table laden with food, "I'm assuming you skipped lunch to come find me, which means that Ron, and probably Harry, are very close to losing their remaining sanity to hunger, don't you think, Hermione?" Without waiting for a response, she continued, "I had the house elves bring me up some food for break fast about 2 hours ago…I haven't really had the chance to eat it yet. It should still be warm, but it's mostly breakfast food."

Ron needed no prompting to help himself to the food, and immediately sat down and helped himself to some of everything. Shrugging, Harry followed suit, while Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down, not making a move towards the food.

"So, how's your first day been, oh exalted Head Girl…and, pray tell, what in Merlin's name convinced you to bring these two goons with you?"

Hermione said seriously, "Ah yes…them, t'was not of my own will, they have been following me for the past seven years. Simply unacceptable, but, as their actions have been, for the most part, harmless, there's nothing I can do…no…rules against…it," she said, bursting out laughing. Harry and Ron looked up at the sudden noise, having been busy stuffing their faces, with similar looks of confusion on their faces, before returning to their oh-so-important task of eating all the food the house elves had brought up. Ginny, on the other hand, laughed along with Hermione before finally getting to eat some long-awaited food.

The four spent a few minutes in amicable silence…or, rather, three of them were stuffing their faces and Hermione deigned not to comment before Ron spoke up, "Have you met the new teacher you're assisting?"

"Ye- How'd you find out?"

"He told us as much when he dismissed class this morning…for the whole week, can you believe it?" Hermione responded, "Honestly! A teacher canceling a week of classes without being deathly ill! Hmph."

"'Mione, who cares?! I can not attend class and not get in trouble for it!" Ron said gleefully, and Harry nodded emphatically.

"Well…yeah, I've met him. Seems a little frazzled, though. Wants to meet with me again once he's more settled in. What other class did you have today?"

"Herbology, with Hufflepuff. It'll prolly be one of the easiest classes this year…I hope," Harry answered, "With all the extra work for our N.E.W.T.'s, I'm hoping for any break I can get," he added gloomily.

"Harry, don't remind me! Those things are ages away," at that, Hermione rolled her eyes, "But look on the bright side! We only have two classes with the Slytherins, and, for once, it isn't Potions!"

Harry brightened, and Ginny asked curiously, "What classes do you have with Slytherin?"

"Just Dada and Charms…not bad, really," Ginny nodded noncommittally at that, "So then, oh dearest sister of mine, if you are finished quizzing us on how the first few hours of our oh-so-interesting first day back, perhaps you'll enlighten us as to how your morning's been?"

"Well…I slept in 'til ten," Harry and Ron shot her dirty looks, "went and met with Professor Dearborn, and…" She faltered, "And wandered around the school looking for Ariana-"

"Why didn't you just ask the portraits?" butted in Hermione.

"Well, I did, when I thought of it. Then I unpacked- I have a closet, by the way. No living out of a box for me! Took a shower, and sat down. I was planning on going to the library to see if I could find anything on Lijanhorn after I ate, however, as I was just about to eat, the smartest witch in the world and her two thugs interrupted me. It soon became apparent that my brother, as instructed by the Head Girl, was not going to remain in angry-overprotective mode. Then we sat down and ate, I asked my friends a few polite questions about their day and then I began to give this detailed account of my less-than-exciting first day back in Hogwarts and then-I-caught-up-to-myself-and-now-I'm-babbling." She paused for a breath, and smiled sweetly, "Detailed enough for you?"

"No, actually I was hoping you would inform us as to when you inhaled and exhaled," Ron rolled his eyes, "I was just making conversation!"

"No…I'm betting Hermione told you to act caring and interested in my life," Hermione nodded sheepishly at that, "Your idea of 'conversation' is to insult the Slytherins, or talk about Quidditch," both Ron and Harry sat up straighter at the mention of their favorite sport, "By the way…who's Captain? And who's replacing me?"

Ron's chest visibly puffed out, "I'm Captain. McGonagall figured I had a good head for strategy."

"Congratulations!"

"Yeah. Dunno who's going to be replacing you, though. Have to hold tryouts, and all. You sure you can't still play on the team?"

"Yeah…Dumbledore said I can still practice with a team, though. And no, I am not practicing with Gryffindor. You know why," her brother had a pleading look on his face, "If I'm not going to be playing in the matches, then I have no reason to put up with those two. I'll practice with another one of the Houses," she said, conveniently leaving out the fact that, if she had her way, she'd be practicing with Slytherin. Somehow, she didn't think that'd go over well with even Hermione, who didn't particularly care for Quidditch. Her brother loved her, and was even trying to not be an overprotective git, but…it just didn't extend to her new association with Slytherin.

Hermione spoke up next, "You were going to research Lijanhorn? We'll help," she said with a pointed look at the boys, "if you'd like, that is."

Ginny smiled gratefully, "That'd be great…don't you have classes?"

"Nah, we have History of Magic," Harry answered, "We're not going."

Hermione nodded, and Ginny felt her jaw drop. Hermione? Skipping class? She vocalized her thoughts, and Hermione smiled shyly, "Even me, I know…but it's been a tradition, ever since Professor Binns became a ghost, for 7th years to skip the first day…or even week of his class, depending on the Head Girl and Boy. Ernie and I decided that one day would be more than enough, especially with no Care of Magical Creatures classes all week."

Oh. So the Slytherins were just following tradition, then… "I see. Well, I'd really appreciate your help, then. Everyone done eating?" They all nodded, although Ron stuffed another bite of food in his mouth as he did so, "Well…let's go, then."

The four talked amongst themselves as they walked down to the library, where Hermione quickly took charge, "As Head Girl, I have access to the Restricted Section, so I'll look there. Harry- you check biographies, Ginny- see if there are any books written by the founders or any books that just look useful," she shrugged, "You're a capable witch, look where you want, And, Ron," she smiled sweetly, "I believe Hogwarts: A History is calling to you," Ron made a strangled noise, "Have fun!"

The four split up, agreeing to return to the table in the corner with books. Ginny wandered up and down the isles, looking for anything remotely useful. Hermione seemed to think she could manage on her own, and she didn't want to prove her wrong. After a while, she returned to the table laden with books to find everyone else already back. She had everything from The Hogwarts Four: Little Known Facts, which was written anonymously, to Rowena the Ravishing Ravenclaw, by Adam Mirer. She was a little dubious about the last one, but Harry could flip through it if her wanted to. It fell under his jurisdiction, anyways. She hadn't found anything written by the Founders themselves; less the luck to herself.

Nearly an hour and a half passed, all of them reading quietly, the near-silence only interrupted by the occasional scratching of a quill as they took notes. Ginny was growing exceedingly frustrated by the lack of information she was finding when Hermione spoke up, "Alright…I think we should compare notes, it's nearly time for us to go to classes. Let's start with…you," she said, nodding towards Ron.

Ginny's brother glared at Hermione, "I can't see what you like about this book. It's so…boring. Didn't find out much of anything. Hey…why did I have to read this book if you already have it memorized?" He asked suspiciously.

"Consider it a lesson. In being supportive of you sister, rather than stifling," Hermione said smiling, "I already knew there wasn't anything in there useful." Ron glared at Hermione but, surprisingly, did not get very angry. Looks like she's doing a good job of taming him, then. "How about you, Harry?"

"Helga's favorite color was green. Erhum…not much. I mean, a lot of the books mentioned 'special projects' that the Founders were working on, together or separately, they just didn't say what those projects were. Maybe Lijanhorn was one of them. Ooh, and that book you found, Ginny- very interesting," he winked, and Ginny grabbed the book out of his hands.

She flipped threw it, puzzled, and then smirked, "Why, Harry Potter! I'm ashamed of you! I cannot believe that you would read such trash as th-"

Hermione grabbed the book from Ginny, opened it, and then looked up, confused, "What's wrong with this? It's just a biography on…" She trailed off as Harry and Ginny began laughing, "That was childish of you. Very childish," she scolded them, "And, to think, I was just convincing Ron that you weren't a little girl anymore. Then you go and make me doubt the Hogwart's Library, of all things!"

Ginny resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "C'mon Hermione, it was just a little joke. Come to think of it…it wasn't very funny, either. And, before you ask, I found nothing. Nothing-nothing-nothing," she chanted in a singsong voice.

Hermione sighed, "I didn't find anything useful either. Sorry, Ginny. But I made a list of the books we read through today, so, when we keep looking, we don't go through the same book twice by accident. Well, we'll help put away the books, but then we'll be off."

Ginny smiled wanly, annoyed that their research hadn't paid off, "Thanks. I really appreciate your help, y'know." She gathered up a fair amount of the books and started re-shelving them. She was just about to put away the last book when it began to glow. Startled, she nearly dropped it, and then really did drop it when she heard a voice akin to the Sorting Hat's in her head.

"Hello. 'Bout time you were alone. Hurry up, let's go somewhere private."

"Wha-bu-you're a book!"

"No I'm not," the voice said, sounding exasperated, "I'm glad I found you so quickly. Anyways, don't you have private rooms or something where we can go?"

"Er…yes," she picked up the glowing book gingerly, holding it by the binding as she walked towards the door, "Just- just don't talk right now. I might drop you again. And could you stop glowing?"

Apparently the book listened, as it not only stopped talking and glowing, it turned invisible. Well…at least that way Madam Pinch wouldn't stop her from leaving the library with it. Hurrying back to her room, she called out 'buzzing bumblebees' as soon as Ariana was in sight. She could just change the password later today.

Stepping in, she placed the invisible book down on the now cleared table carefully, and gasped when the outline of the book appeared, only to disappear in a swirl of red, blue, silver, and black. Moments later, the haze of colors solidified in the shape of a person about two feet in height. Soon, all of the colors dissipated, leaving Ginny to look down upon a two-foot tall woman dressed in a very fancy red gown.

"Hello. I'm Lijara. You must be the First."