Ginny spent the rest of the day wandering around the Burrow, feeling very downtrodden. Her mother had told her that she might ask Mr. Lovegood if Luna could come over sometime to play with Ginny, but even that didn't make Ginny happy.
The only thing that managed to cheer Ginny up was a letter from Hermione. A large, brown owl arrived in Ginny's room around 10PM. Ginny ripped the letter open excitedly, already in a better mood.
September 1, 1991
Dear Ginny,
I'm in Gryffindor! So is your brother Ron. I'm so glad I have someone to write to. Hogwarts is brilliant, but I feel like I'm going to be very lonely.
I met Ron on the train. Honestly, he was rather rude to me. I hope that doesn't offend you or anything, because you're the only friend I have right now. By the way, Ginny! Did you know that Harry Potter is in my year? I mean, he's in so many books, I bet he's loads better than the rest of us.
He was sitting with your brother on the train; they looked like they were getting along pretty well. He seemed pretty nice. Oh, he's in Gryffindor too. I think that was to be expected, though. I'm so excited for the classes here! I think Transfiguration will be my favorite, it sounds so interesting.
There are two other girls in my dorm. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Parvati has a twin, but she was Sorted into Ravenclaw. They seem nice, but I don't think we'll ever be close. I'm glad I have you to write to, Ginny.
Love from,
Hermione
Ginny read through the letter quickly. She ran downstairs to where her parents were sitting in the kitchen.
"Mum, Dad!" Ginny yelled. "Ron is in Gryffindor!"
"That's the whole family so far," Mum smiled.
"I'm sure you'll have no trouble keeping that tradition," Dad told her.
Ginny smiled, and ran back upstairs to write back to Hermione. She was glad she had someone to write to, and this way Hermione could tell her all about Hogwarts. It would be nice to be kept updated for once.
"Hold on, Ginny," her Mum called. "How did you know about Ron?"
Ginny turned around. "Oh, I met a girl named Hermione Granger when we went to Diagon Alley in March. She's a Muggle-born. She's in Gryffindor too. So is Harry Potter!"
Her parents smiled at the last part of her sentence.
"Alright, dear," her mum replied. "Go on to bed."
Ginny nodded and went to her room. She wanted to write back to Hermione before she went to sleep.
September 1, 1991
Dear Hermione,
I told you! I knew right when I met you that you'd be in Gryffindor. I'm happy for you! And don't worry about writing me too often, or anything like that, because I'm pretty lonely here at home with no siblings.
Actually, I did know that Harry Potter was in your year. My family saw him on the platform this morning. I don't think you should worry too much about him being loads better than you, Mum told me he grew up with Muggle relatives. So don't worry so much!
I'm sorry about my brother. When you don't know him well, he can be a real prat. Transfiguration seems like something you'd be good at! Be careful though, I always hear Fred and George saying how strict the Professor is. I'm sorry about your dorm mates, only one more year until you'll have me there with you!
Love,
Ginny
Ginny woke up the next morning, feeling better than she had in a long time. The Burrow might be lonely, but at least there was no one to tease her or argue with her. Besides, Bill and Charlie would be visiting occasionally. Ginny was much happier now that she had someone to write to.
The rest of the week went by quickly once Ginny was in a better mood. Ginny accompanied her Mum to Diagon Alley once again, and continued her school lessons. At the end of the week, two letters arrived for her.
September 7, 1991
Ginny,
I know, I know. I promised to write. At least you didn't have to wait too long for my letter! I hope everything is going well at home, I bet it's odd to be all by yourself with Mum and Dad. You were right, Ginny, I've already made a friend. You're going to die when I tell you…it's Harry Potter. You're still there, right? You didn't faint? You better not bat-bogie me when I see you next. I'll use all my first-year magic skills on you.
School is good so far, well, as good as school can be. We met Draco Malfoy on the train ride here, the son of Lucius Malfoy, that git Dad sometimes talks about. He actually asked Harry to be friends, but Harry turned him down for me! Me! Can you believe it?
Well, we're about to leave for tea with Hagrid. He's the gamekeeper here. He seems nice, but he's a huge bloke. And I really mean huge. I'm going to go send this letter before Hermione comes over here to annoy me, I mean, talk to me. You better be missing your favorite brother!
Ron
Ginny snorted through most of Ron's letter. She wrote back, telling him to be nice to Hermione. Ginny also thought that Harry seemed to be a rather nice bloke, judging from what Hermione and Ron had written, but she kept that to herself. She told Ron to ignore Draco Malfoy and to write again soon. Ginny picked up the other letter and began to read.
September 7th, 1991
Dear Ginny,
I think your brother and Harry got in trouble the first day with Filch, but I'm not too sure. We've had our first Transfiguration lesson, and it's definitely my favourite so far! Although Astronomy is really interesting and Charms is fascinating…well, I won't bore you too much with talk of that.
It's still rather lonely here, but writing to you helps a bit. I'm really glad we're friends, Ginny. Back at home, I really didn't have many friends. I was just the smart girl that people sometimes went to with homework help. Hopefully that will change. I miss my parents a bit as well, but I'm expecting a birthday package from them soon.
Did I tell you my birthday's on the 19th? Well, now you know. I can't believe I'll be 12 already! We had our first Potions lesson too, and Professor Snape seems very mean. I'm trying to keep from passing judgment. He was quite awful to Harry, and even snapped at me once! I didn't even do anything wrong!
I'm going to ask Ron to include this letter with his. He's writing now, and I'm assuming he's writing home. I think he's finishing up now, so I'm going to ask him to add mine.
Love from,
Hermione
Ginny sighed sadly when she finished Hermione's letter. It was awful that Hermione had been taken advantage of like that when she was a child. Ginny wanted to help Hermione get over her insecurities, but there wasn't much she could do by just writing letters.
She really wished Ron would make friends with her, but she doubted it. Her brother could be a prat when he wanted to, and it seemed like he and Hermione had gotten off on the wrong foot. She wrote back to Hermione and encouraged her to keep trying with Ron. Ginny gave the letters back to the owl that had delivered them, and headed to bed.
The next week saw no letters from Hermione or Ron, and Ginny was quite bored. Life at the Burrow without her siblings was just odd. The silence and quiet meals with just her parents were unfamiliar for the youngest Weasley. So Ginny was quite happy when she received a letter to break up her boredom. She was rather surprised when Hermes flew in her bedroom window, as she knew Ron wouldn't ask Percy for his owl. She curiously opened the letter.
September 13th, 1991
Dear innocent sister,
Ha! Innocent, my arse! She's about as innocent as you and me, George.
That's true, actually. Well, hello Ginny! It's probably horrible at home with no one to divert Mum's scoldings. Not that you get into trouble, of course.
We're still working on sending you that toilet seat, Gin. By the end of the year, we think we'll have it accomplished.
School is boring, as usual. We're trying our best to liven things up. We pranked the Slytherins yesterday. Stupid gits deserved it, though.
That Draco Malfoy is a right git. It must run in the family, according to Dad. The only thing keeping school from being too horrible is Quidditch.
You'll never guess who the new Seeker is, Gin. He's our secret weapon this year. According to Oliver, he's bloody brilliant.
Getting frustrated yet, little sis? Alright we'll let you in on the secret.
It's Harry Potter! He had a little confrontation with the Slytherins at Flying Lessons yesterday, but came out on top.
McGonagall saw the whole thing and called Oliver out of class and appointed Harry as Seeker!
Scrawny little thing looked a bit nervous, but plenty excited too. We thought you'd enjoy this information, since you're his future wife and all.
Love,
Fred and George.
Ginny blushed fiercely. Her twin brothers could be prats sometimes, but she really did love them. Deep down, maybe very deep down. They would have a couple of curses to watch out for when they got back.
The rest of the month passed by, and the days slowly grew colder. The once bright green leaves faded into a light orange color. Ginny received no letters from any of her siblings or Hermione. She sent a birthday package and card to Hermione on the 19th , but she hadn't received anything back yet. Finally, on the last day of the month, the now familiar school owl flew in her room.
Ginny leapt up excitedly from her bed where she was finishing up her writing lessons. She tore open the letter.
September 30th, 1991
Dear Ginny,
I'm sorry I never wrote! Thank you so much for the present, I really loved the book you sent me! Transfiguration books are always an interesting read. I really do have a reason to why I didn't write, I swear! I was just so…angry! I didn't want to write a letter about this, and you hate me because I was angry at Ron. Well, and Harry. I really don't want to lose you as a friend, Ginny.
I don't know if you know, but Harry was made Seeker. He had a confrontation with Draco over it, and I overheard Draco challenging him to a duel! That's against school rules! Your brother and Harry snuck out of the dorms and went to meet Draco. I stayed up waiting for them. I couldn't let them do this, Ginny! It was obviously a trick from Draco, and I didn't want them losing points! I don't exactly remember how it happened, but I ended up coming with them.
We also picked up Neville Longbottom along the way, he's another boy in our year. He's really sweet, but rather shy. Anyway, we went to meet Draco, who obviously didn't show up. Instead, he told Filch about the duel and tried to get Harry in trouble. We heard Filch before he saw us, and we ran. It was so scary, Ginny. I thought I was going to be expelled. We wound up getting rather lost and accidentally wandered into the Forbidden Third Floor Corridor.
No one knew why it was forbidden; Professor Dumbledore just said so at the Sorting Feast. Well, four certain first-years know why now. There's a THREE HEADED DOG at Hogwarts! What could possibly be the purpose of this? It was also standing on a trapdoor, but no one noticed that but me.
Luckily we made it out of there, and I was rather annoyed at Harry and Ron. I wouldn't be so mad if they weren't sorry for what they did! Really, we could have been killed! But they didn't even seem to care!
And then, Harry gets a broomstick in front of the entire Great Hall! They break the rules and get rewarded for it! You can understand why I was angry. I don't mean to be so bossy, I was just upset! I told them I wasn't speaking to them, but they really don't want me to anyway. I really don't think your brother and I will be friends anytime soon, Ginny.
Love from,
Hermione.
Ginny was speechless when she finished reading Hermione's letter. She didn't know what to write back, but she did know one thing. Ginny couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts next year.
AN: Done with this edit toooo! Thank goodness, it was a long one. I just want to get back to actually writing new things again! Should be done soon!
