The day they were to arrive at school, Ginny felt extremely nervous. It was like
Fred or George had given her a peppermint frog the way her stomach felt; it was the same
hoppy sensation she'd had when she'd learned Harry was staying at the Burrow.
She had packed everything into her truck the day before, and now she lugged it
down the stairs, with her dad pulling one end. As all the luggage was packed up, Ginny
was surprised it all fit in the Muggle car they were riding. With one glance at her dad's
face, she could tell he'd added some of his own modifications. Luckily, her mum hadn't
said much about it.

Her mind was so full of nervous anticipation that she'd completely forgetten to
pack her diary. After George had made them go back for his fireworks and Fred for his
broomstick, Ginny knew she'd forgotten something too and remembered it minutes after
they'd started again. Her parents were not pleased as they headed out again.

Ginny didn't mind much that her parents were upset. She didn't think she'd go long
in Hogwarts without the confidant she'd found with the diary. Tom was a great listener,
and she had no problem pouring out her troubles to him. She sighed. She wished that
others were so easy to talk to.

Once they'd arrived at the train station, they had about five minutes for everyone to
get to the train that would bring them to Hogwarts. Ginny was paired with her mom to go
through the magical portal to the nine and three quarters station. Praying silently with a
brief close of her eyes, Ginny strode with her mom through the solid barrier. When she
opened her eyes again, she found herself on the platform with the deep red train. She
breathed a sigh of relief, not sure if it would work. Being a first year had a whole ton of
worries.

The whole place was bustling with wizards and witches, saying goodbye to their
children or boarding the Hogwarts Express to head for school. Ginny decided to find
Hermoine, the girl that her brother and Harry had befriended. She wanted to sit with Ron
and Harry, but didn't want to be obvious. She knew that Hermoine would go and find a
seat with them anyway.

"You have everything, Ginny?" Mum gave her a warm smile, and Ginny smiled
back. If she looked closer, she'd see the tears in her mum's eyes. The last of the Weasley's
was heading off to Hogwarts, no more children to stay at home with, except maybe the
holidays. Ginny gave her mom a big hug and replied, "I love you, mum. I'll miss you." She
meant it too. She felt her own tears of longing to be with her mother, no matter how much
she felt smothered sometimes. Being the only daughter was hard on a girl, with her own
mom busy taking care of the boys, exclaiming over their O.W.L.s, pranks they'd pulled at
school, and how she missed Charlie and Bill.

"You too, dear. You know that your father and I love you tons." Mrs. Weasley
had a death grip and she used it now as she embraced her only daughter. Ginny felt
awkward standing there, in front of all the people she'd be seeing at Hogwarts, having the
life squeezed out of her. But she accepted it, feeling totally at a loss for words. With misty
final goodbyes, Mrs. Weasley left, having hollered a warning to Fred and George about
the trouble they'd be in if they did any kind of foolish tricks. That was her way of saying
she loved the twins. With Percy, she'd compliment his grades and things that were
important to him. Ginny felt lucky to be a girl, able to have the hug.
Remembering that she was to leave in a manner of seconds, and if she didn't hurry,
she'd be left, Ginny quickly dragged her trunk and boarded. She searched the Express'
occupants for a friendly face.

Ginny quickly spotted Hermoine's bushy hair and rushed over to say hi.

~

Ginny couldn't believe it. Ron and Harry hadn't come through the solid barrier like
they were supposed to. It looked like they'd skipped out on Hogwarts because they
weren't anywhere on the train. Hermoine, naturally, worried.

"I wonder where they could be. Are you sure they didn't..." Hermoine obviously
didn't know what they wouldn't have done, because she didn't finish as she went off and
again. Ginny politely ignored her, pretending to be interested in Neville Longbottom's
toad, Trevor. He had his pet in his lap, and let her hold him, after she solemnly swore not
to lose him. She wished she could have a pet, but knew it was out of the question. She
longed to talk to Tom about it, and ask if he'd ever had a pet.

"-maybe some one's taken them! There are all types of people who would love to
get their hands on a couple of wizards and if anyone saw their books, and wands, and
Hedwig is a kind of giveaway-" Hermoine continued.

"Or maybe they just learned to Apparate," George added in sarcastically as he and
Fred entered the compartment that Hermoine, Ginny, and Neville shared.

"Bet the Dursleys wanted Harry back for the summer and took Ron because he's
just so cute," Fred snickered.

"No, wait. It has to be Malfoy. He took Harry in as a friend and now has them
both down with the Slytherins." Neville became nervous at the mention of Slytherins.

"Come on, Hermoine. Who cares?" Fred finished. Hermoine's mouth went into a
thin line and Ginny stared at Trevor, who was becoming very hard to hold, squirming all
over. She handed him back to Neville.

"Don't you at least care?" Hermoine asked, obviously upset that Ron's own brother
could be so mean. Ginny was used to it. George and Fred teased anyone, especially if they
were related.

"Sure. Just not as much as mother dragon with her eggs. Lighten up. Game of
Gobstones?" Fred challenged Neville.

"I-I always lose," Neville stammered, biting his lip and tightening his grip on
Trevor. Ginny felt sorry for him, with his bad self esteem and bad luck or skill. He never
seemed to be good at anything.

George and Fred left, probably going to find Lee Jordan, and Ginny tried to think
of a way to distract Hermoine.

"What are the classes like, Hermoine?" Ginny asked, the top thought on her mind,
hoping it was enough to get Hermoine's attention. She'd succeeded as the light went on
Hermoine's eyes and she rambled on about Transfiguration, Charms, and who knows what
else. Ginny was too busy doing her own worrying.
What had happened to Harry and Ron?