A/N: What's up with ff.net?
I've tried to edit the last piece about three times and the diary
sequence fades in and out of the bold/italics Tom/Ginny dialogue. I'm not too sure what else to do. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me
know.
Disclaimer: All characters and plot belong to J.K Rowling,
author of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 1998. I am merely retelling the story from another
character's point of view. All text
taken from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be noted by **text**.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Tom!
Ginny? I haven't
heard from you since last night! What
happened?
I'm sorry. I've been
packing all day long, we leave for Hogwarts tomorrow morning.
You could have made a little time to write to me. I'm so lonely here without you to talk to.
Oh, Tom. I'm so
sorry. I'll try really hard. It's just that I've been so tired lately, and
then I had to pack my trunks and we had sort of a party this evening. Fred and George started fireworks and we all
had hot chocolate. I just now only got
away since I'm so tired, but I wanted to talk to you before I left.
You are going to take me with you aren't you?
Of course I am!
You are pretty much the only friend I have, and besides, you've already
been to Hogwarts, you can give me some tips on how to survive. I wouldn't dream of leaving you behind.
Ok, I forgive you, Ginny.
Thank you, Tom.
Ginny stared down at the words fading into the pages. Forgive her? What had she done wrong?
She can't spend all her time writing to him. But this had been going on ever since the first evening she had
found the diary, Tom would insist that she spend all her free time writing to
him. At first, she didn't mind; no one
ever wanted to spend time with her. Tom
would ask her all about her family, herself, and Ginny would write until her
hand would cramp up and she would have to stop and massage it to work out the
soreness. As Ginny grew more
comfortable with Tom, she became more open, telling him all of her secrets, all
of her fears. Only Tom knew of her wish
to be seen in her own right, and not just as the Weasley sister. Tom knew about how much she admired Harry
Potter, and constantly asked her for every detail about him she knew, which
Ginny was only too willing to give.
What time do you leave tomorrow morning? Is it still Platform 9 ¾?
Yes. The Hogwarts
express departs there at eleven. But we
have so much to do, there will be six of us leaving, so we will probably be
getting up at the crack of dawn. I
don't know how Daddy's going to fit six trunks two owls, a rat, and eight
people into the Muggle car he has, but I'm sure he'll think of something.
I'm sure he will too.
Your dad sounds like an amazing person.
I wish I could meet him.
He is! I wish you
could meet him too. I wish I could meet
you.
Maybe someday you will, Ginny. I'm still thinking of a way you can help me escape.
Oh, that would be wonderful! I'll be happy to help!
I need to get to bed, now. We
have a big day tomorrow. Goodnight,
Tom.
Goodnight, sweet Ginny.
Don't forget to pack me.
I won't! I'll do it right now! 'Night.
Ginny shut the book and wanted to get up and pack it away as
she had promised, but she was just too tired.
She laid it on the bedside table and blew out the candles. The moment those bright red locks hit her
pillow, she was fast asleep.
************************
Chaos was the only way to describe the next morning. Despite having risen at dawn, everyone
rushed about the Burrow, colliding in the stairs, half-dressed, carrying
trunks, cages, socks, robes, and all sorts of items one needed for the new
school year. On the best of days, Ginny
was not a fast riser, despite normally being the first one at the breakfast
table, and this was not the best of days.
The tiredness that had plagued her for weeks, hit her like a Bludger that
morning and it was all she could do to remember to put her shoes on the right
way. Her dad nearly broke his neck
while taking her trunk out to the car,
tripping over one of the chickens.
Everyone piled into the car, Ginny smiled to herself when she noticed
that her dad had somehow expanded the interior of the car, The five boys sat in the backseat, with
plenty of space left over and Ginny and her parents took up the front. She tried to make a mental list of all the
things she had packed; everything seemed in order. Just as they started to back out George had left his
fireworks. A few minutes later, Fred
remembered his broomstick. Just like
boys to forget stuff, she thought angrily.
I didn't leave anything behind.
Before she had even finished that thought, she suddenly remembered that she
didn't pack up her diary! Oh, no! What should she do? They were almost at the motorway, couldn't
her parents just owl it to her? No!
screamed a voice in Ginny's head. You
must go get the diary, now! Tom will
not like it if he finds out you've left him!
He may not speak to you anymore.
Do you want to lose the only friend you've had? That was enough
to make her decision.
"Dad!" Ginny shrieked, startling both her parents. "We have to go back. I've left something important!
I have to go get my diary!"
"Pumpkin, can't we owl it to you? We're late enough as it
is!"
"No, Dad! I need it now!"
She hoped Harry couldn't hear
her from the backseat. Ginny couldn't
imagine where this whiney tone came from, she certainly never whined like this
in her life. It must be because she was
so tired and nervous. At any rate, it
worked and her dad, unable to deny his little girl anything, turned the car
around. Ginny dashed up the stairs as
fast as her legs could carry her, grabbed her diary from her bedside table and
rushed back down. She was gasping for
breath when she got back in the car.
They all scrambled out of the car at Kings Cross Station and
loaded their things on their trolleys.
Ginny was nearly dancing, she was so excited. All the times of watching her brothers get on the Hogwarts
Express and this time, she would be there too!
Her mother pulled her through the barrier and Fred and
George loaded her things on the train.
Harry and Ron should be coming soon.
"Ginny!" called a familiar voice. Ginny turned around to see
a girl with a head full of bushy brown hair waving at her. Hermione Granger, both Harry and Ron's
friend.
"Hi, Hermione!"
Ginny waved back to Hermione, who was getting on the train.
Ginny quickly hugged and kissed both her parents goodbye,
both of them looking like they would burst into tears at any moment.
"Keep a lookout for your brothers, ok?" her mum squeaked,
wiping her eyes.
"Send us an owl when you get there, pumpkin," her dad added,
throwing an arm around her mother, who was really crying now.
Ginny suddenly felt like crying herself, stupid that it
was. "I will. Bye, Mum. Bye, Dad!"
She gave them one last hug and hopped aboard the train, where she had
seen Hermione.
"Where are Ron and Harry?"
Hermione asked her.
Ginny frowned. "I
haven't seen them, come to think of it. They aren't on here?"
"No."
"Let me go see if I can find George and Fred. They might know where they are. You stay here in case they turn up." Ginny left the car to go look for her older
brothers. She passed through a car that
held a bunch of mean faced people.
Walking quickly, hoping no one would take notice of her, she hurried on
to the next car. Fred and George, as
usual were the center of attention in this car. They had apparently started some of the fireworks early and there
was a small crowd around them.
"Ah! Lookie! Here's our baby sister!" Fred said as she
pushed her way to them.
George sniffed, "Our baby sister's come to follow in her
older and wiser brothers' footsteps!"
He and Fred hugged each other.
"Knock it off you two," Ginny said. "You haven't seen Ron and Harry have you?"
"Aw, did ickle-Ronniekins and Harrykins get lost?" Fred laughed.
"I don't think they got on the train!" Ginny raised her
voice to be heard over the laughter. It
was amazing how fast everyone got suddenly very silent. Fred and George gawked at her.
"What d'you mean, they didn't get on the train?" Lee Jordan
asked her.
"Hermione hasn't seen them, and frankly, I don't remember
seeing them break through the barrier either.
They were supposed to come right after me and Mum," Ginny told them,
suddenly remembering that detail.
"Hmmm. Well, I'm
sure Mum and Dad will get them to Hogwarts, don't worry Gin," George said.
"Yeah, your boyfriend will be fine, carrot top!" Fred added
gleefully as he and George fell over laughing again.
Ginny felt her face heat up hot enough to boil water
on. Oh, what wouldn't she give to know
a few good curses to shut those two gits up!
She ran out the car.
"Well?" Hermione asked, seeing Ginny come back into their
car. "Has anyone seen them?"
Ginny was still seeing red from Fred's comment to do nothing
more than shake her head negatively.
"Mum and Dad will surely take care of it," Ginny mumbled.
Hermione still looked worried, but thought that was the best
answer and went back to reading her book.
Ginny took a seat opposite her and pulled out her diary. She really needed someone to talk to right
now.
Tom? You won't
believe what Fred just did to me!
Are we at Hogwarts yet?
What did the silly prat do now?
We're on the train.
Harry and Ron didn't make it, we were running really late this morning
and all and Harry and Ron must have missed the train as it was leaving. Anyway, I went to go ask the twins if they
had seen them, and Fred called Harry my boyfriend right in front of dozens of
people and now everyone thinks I like Harry! Oh, this is just awful!
I'm sorry, Ginny.
That was a terrible thing to say.
Oh, I can't wait to become a witch, I'll show them all, I
will! I'll turn them both in to frog
spawn or something wretched!
Calm down, Ginny.
I can barely read what you are writing, your hand is shaking so.
I'm sorry, Tom. I
think I'm going to take a nap. I'm still feeling a bit tired and it might
help me calm down some.
Good idea. You
just take a nice nap and let me know when we are at Hogwarts. I want to hear all about the Sorting
Ceremony and everything about the castle.
Don't you already know about the castle? You did go there.
Yes, but you'll soon see, everything changes inside
Hogwarts. Where something was when I
was there may not be in the same place while you are there. I'd like to know where everything has moved
to. Just have a good rest, Ginny, and
try not to let your brothers bother you.
I will. Thanks
for listening, Tom.
You're welcome.
Feeling much better after having talked to her new friend,
Ginny curled up in the seat and dozed off, dreaming strange dreams of chicken
eggs and toads and snakes with yellow eyes.
************************
Ginny woke up at lunch time feeling much better, although
she did have a funny feeling like she had dreamed something rather important
and just couldn't remember it. Hermione
was awake as well and they both fell into conversation. Hermione was impressed that Ginny was so
interested in Transfiguration and proceeded to tell her everything she knew
about the subject and also about what to expect this evening. Hermione was really very nice and Ginny
immediately took to her and it was nice to have some of her fears put to
rest. The rest of the trip passed by
very pleasantly. It wasn't long, Ginny
felt, before they were pulling into Hogsmeade Station.
"Don't worry, Ginny," Hermione said to her as they both
collected their things. "Hagrid will
tell you what to do. And I'm sure Ron
and Harry will be there by the time the Sorting Ceremony starts."
"Thanks, Hermione," said Ginny as she followed the older
girl out of the car.
"Firs' years, firs years over here!" Hagrid called out. Ginny waved goodbye to Hermione and walked
over to where Hagrid was.
" 'Lo, there Ginny," Hagrid said smiling down at her. "Here to keep yer brothers out of trouble,
eh?"
Ginny returned the smile, the butterflies in her stomach
settling down. Hagrid loaded them into
boats, and Ginny got into one with three other boys. One boy was rapidly talking about how excited he was, and how he
couldn't wait to meet Harry Potter.
Ginny bit her lip, thinking about Harry and Ron and whether they had
arrived safely.
The castle came into view and the boy who had been going on
and on about Harry fell silent. Ginny
felt her own jaw drop as she got her first sight of Hogwarts. It was right out of one of those Muggle
fairy tale books her dad had given her once.
The castle grew larger and larger as the boat drew nearer, and pretty
soon, Ginny's neck was hurting from where she had been trying to see the top of
it through the clouds.
Hagrid led them up the great stone steps to a large
door. He knocked three times and the
door swung open to reveal a black haired witch in emerald robes. This had to be Professor McGonagall, Ginny
had heard lots about her from her brothers.
She was the head of Gryffindor and also Professor of
Transfiguration. All the nervousness
that had passed suddenly returned with a vengeance. Ginny felt so nauseous that she could hardly concentrate on what
McGonagall was saying and therefore, just followed everyone as they were led
into a small chamber.
"The Sorting Ceremony will begin soon, and I suggest you
might want to smarten yourselves up a bit before the rest of the school sees
you," she said.
Ginny had never felt so self conscious as she did right
then. The robes she had on were the
best of the lot that she had, which wasn't saying a lot. She looked around enviously at the other
girls' new black robes and then at her own.
They were faded, a bit frayed at the ends of the sleeves and still a bit
too long despite the hemming charm her mother had done to them. The chamber door opened and they filed out
into the Great Hall.
A funny hat was sitting on a chair. Hermione explained to her about the Sorting
Hat and what it did. Ginny stared at it
as it opened it's mouth and began to sing.
When it had finished its song, the Hall erupted with applause. McGonagall started calling out names, and
the student went up to be sorted. Ginny
could barely keep her eyes open as she waited patiently for her name to be
called. She felt her self sway and caught
herself just before she stumbled into the student in front of her. At last, she heard "Weasley, Ginny" being
called out. Carefully clutching her
robes so that she couldn't trip over them and taking a deep, steadying breath,
she walked up to the Hat. She sat down
on the stool and placed it on her head.
"Another Weasley, eh?" a voice said in her head. "Hmmm…lots of courage, yes. Although, you don't seem to recognize it
just yet, do you? I see a streak of
mischief in you, much like your older brothers. Ah, this is interesting,
there's quite a bit power in you as well…very, very interesting, indeed. Put it together with that sharp mind of
yours and you just might be in GRYFFINDOR!"
She nearly collapsed with relief. Plopping the hat back on the stool, Ginny wobbled over to the
loudly clapping Gryffindor table, where her lot of brothers, minus one it
seemed, each ruffled her hair and hugged her.
Percy made her sit next to him and Ginny waved at Hermione across from
her. Fred and George each gave her a
thumbs up sign and winked. She smiled
weakly. They weren't so bad all the
time.
"You alright, there Ginny," Percy asked, noting how pale she
was. She nodded faintly, so tired she wanted
to just lay her head in the gold plate in front of her and sleep.
Dumbledore stood up and made a small speech, welcoming them
all. Ginny studied him through her
heavy lidded eyes. He had twinkling
blue eyes hidden behind half-moon spectacles, a long, long snowy beard that
reached down below his waist, and wore dark navy robes. He seemed to be really nice, very jovial, as
he beamed at them all.
Food suddenly appeared in their plates, and Ginny picked at
it, more sleepy than she was hungry.
"Have Ron and Harry not shown up, yet?" she asked Percy.
Horned rimmed glasses turned towards her. "No, but I think they're alright. I'm sure
they'll turn up." When the food
disappeared from their plates, Dumbledore stood up again and sent them off to
bed. This was music to Ginny's ears.
She followed Percy up to the Gryffindor common room, her
mind barely registering the twists and turns made on the journey. A portrait of a fat lady in a pink gown hung
on the wall directly in front of them.
"Password?" she said in a haughty voice.
"Wattle-bird," Percy replied, beaming.
Once inside the circular room, Ginny made a beeline for the
stairs with the rest of the first year girls, ignoring the excited sounds of
the rest of the Gryffindors who were suddenly chattering on about the latest
edition of the Daily Prophet that someone had pulled out.
"Flying car!"
"Why couldn't they tell
us, eh?"
"I'll kill them! Just wait until Mum and Dad hear about
this!"
Her dormitory room was very large, done in scarlet and gold,
with three beds on either side of the room.
Ginny saw her trunk placed in front of the farthest one on the left-hand
side and nearly collapsed on it, muttering a hello to the other girls there on
the way. She immediately changed into
her nightgown, throwing her robes on top of her trunk.
You must write to Tom, you promised you would, said a
voice in her head. Sighing, Ginny drew
out her diary, quill and ink and opened it up.
We're here, Tom.
Excellent, Ginny!
What house are you in?
Gryffindor. All
my brothers were very pleased.
Really? That's…that's great. I'm very pleased for you.
Yes, well, I'm going to bed now. I'm so sleepy.
Well, off to bed then.
Goodnight, sweet Ginny. Write to
me tomorrow, please. I want to know the
layout of the castle.
'Night, Tom. I
will.
Ginny curled up into her
comfortable bed, blew out the candles and drifted off to sleep, strange dreams
forming in her head once again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One more quick thing: I've had several people mention how
young Ginny seems to act in this story.
She's eleven. Probably not like
an eleven year old would act in the year 2001 or even in the 1990's, indeed,
but taking in account of my ancient age (25 in August) I'm writing eleven from
the only experience I've ever had with an eleven year old, which would be when I
was an eleven year old. You also have
to take into account that she's the youngest in her family with six brothers,
and I can say from experience, although I only had two older sisters (no
brothers), that being the youngest in the family makes everyone sort of treat
you like a baby (even when you're 24) and not let you grow up despite the fact
that you are. This would be why in a
lot of stories, Ron doesn't want Ginny dating (Harry), because he refuses let
her grow up. When you are hindered by
your family, you tend to stay into the role they've cast you into, which is
what I think has happened to Ginny.
After all, Tom Riddle worked
very fast to get to her (we see evidence of this in CoS chapter 8), and her
innocence made it that much easier. So,
that's my justification to my characterization of Ginny and you will all see as
this story progresses, that she does rapidly mature.
Thanks for reading!
