Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power
By Jedi Amoira

Disclaimer-What you see here belongs to JK Rowling, WB pictures, and my fellow fanfic writers...I'm just paying tribute to their work.

Author's Notes-I don't own it, but I've worked hard, and I love it. If you read it, please let me know what you think. And please respect my labor of love and don't print or post it elsewhere without my knowledge. Thanks!
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Since it was their last night at home, Mum had made a meal of all favorite dishes like she did every year, only this year Ginny's was included next to those of Percy, Ron, Fred and George and-she was very pleased to see-Harry. Luckily, for once she didn't look so out of place because she didn't know what to say. No one else said much either. They were too busy eating.

After dinner she watched Ron beat Harry at wizard's chess even though she pretended not to. A couple of times she had advice on the tip of her tongue, only to have it vanish at the thought Harry might look at her. When the twins set off a sting of wet-start Filibuster fireworks, she jumped out of her skin and narrowly avoided spilling her cocoa in the process. Harry reached out to help her catch her balance, and her heart nearly stopped.

"Off to bed with the lot of you," Mum scolded fondly as the world came back into focus.

"Thanks," Ginny mumbled awkwardly.

"Anytime," Harry said so easily she felt even more uncomfortable.

The quiet solitude of her room was a relief, but she couldn't seem to fall asleep, no matter how hard she tried or how many sheep she counted. Finally, she kicked aside her covers, feeling frustrated, and groped around until she found the diary. She weighted down the pages with an illuminated rock the twins had charmed for her last Christmas.

--Tom?-

--Yes, Ginny?-

--You went to Hogwarts, right?-

--What do you want to know?-

--Do you think I'll like it there? I've been laying in bed worrying that I won't fit in.-

--Of course you'll fit in. The sorting will make sure of that.-

--Is the sorting difficult? Fred says it's a troll, but George says you have to dodge a rare curse.-

--I don't think I should ruin the surprise. It's a tradition.-

--Yeah- Ginny wrote wryly -I know. But I don't see how it's supposed to help.-

--It will assign you to a house of people like you. People in the same houses almost always get along. I've never heard of anyone being completely left out. I'm surprised you don't already have a house you want to be in; a lot of people do.-

--Oh, I'll probably end up in Gryffindor. That's the house my whole family has been in...but sometimes I feel completely left out with them. What if there isn't a house for people like me? I'm not that interesting.-

--Sure you are. You figured out how to communicate with me. You're smart as a Slytherin.-

--I thought the smartest house was Ravenclaw.-

--Oh, they read a lot, but no one can outwit Slytherin. And you'd be noticed in Slytherin instead of hidden behind some book.-

--But I'd miss my brothers like I did when they went to school without me. And Harry.-

--Oh, of course. -

--Did you know Professor Dumbledore?-

--Is he the Headmaster? He taught Transfiguration when I was there.-

--My brothers say he's the best headmaster ever.-

--Your writing is becoming quite illegible. I think it's about time you went to bed.-Ginny yawned heavily. -Maybe you're right. I'll talk to you tomorrow after the Sorting.-

--Good luck.-

--Good luck.-

The next thing she knew, a very-harried Mum was shaking her awake. Ginny had originally intended to put on her school robes before she left the house so she didn't have to change later, but suddenly it seemed too grown-up and official. She put on the plain blue dress she wore a lot instead, and was about to put on her rubber-soled tennis shoes when her lack of socks was discovered. With a mangled shout of frustration, she leapt off the foot of her bed and darted into the closest bedroom. In no time at all, she was tying her shoes, even if the green socks and blue dress did seem like an odd combination.

Ginny stormed downstairs, braiding her hair as she went and nearly ran face-first into the hastily-buttered toast Mum was holding out for her breakfast. The twins appeared to be arguing with Mum about packing up several of their experiments to take with them, Ron was chasing Scabbers, and Harry seemed to be short a shoe. Dad unearthed the shoe from beneath the sofa while Ginny set about helping to catch Scabbers. The next thing she knew, Mum was sweeping them out the door and into Dad's blue Anglia. They were nearly to the end of the road when Fred announced he had to go back for his broomstick. No sooner had they made it to the end of the road the second time than George announced he'd left something behind. When it turned out to be an extra packet of wet-start Filibuster Fireworks, Mum was livid.

They made it twice as far before Ginny got her bearings enough to realize the diary was still at home under her bed. "Dad, we have to go back-I've forgotten my diary!"

"Awww," the twins complained.

"What do you need a diary for," Ron demanded impatiently.

"Really, Ginny, you should try to be more organized," Percy added virtuously. Ginny elbowed him surreptiously in the stomach.

"Ginny, try to be sensible, dear", Mum advised. "We'll send you the diary by post."

"We aren't that far away from home," Ginny pleaded, trying not to look nervous at the idea of Mum getting a good look at it. "Wouldn't it be easier on Errol for us to just go back and get it?"

Mum sighed. "She's right, Arthur, dear."

"Thanks!," Ginny shouted.

She was out of the car and halfway upstairs before Dad had finished parking. She seized the nondescript little book in a white-knuckled grip and flew back. Her brothers would never let her live it down if her diary made them late.

Harry seemed amused, but more than a little dazed by the chaos of the situation. Ginny almost told him that once he got used to it he'd fit right in. She was actually glad they had to hurry at the station. She didn't have time to feel nervous. Mum and Dad whisked her onto the train and helped her pick out a compartment. She knew Ron and Harry would be joining her because there weren't many seats that hadn't filled up yet, and, at any rate, Ron had promised after she'd sheepishly admitted she didn't want to face her unknown schoolmates alone.

Hermione Granger came in as Mum and Dad were saying goodbye. She smiled warmly. Ginny smiled shyly back.

"Are you excited about starting Hogwarts, Ginny?," Hermione asked. "I was when I got on the train last year-well, I still am-it all seemed like some improbable dream even though I'd read "Hogwarts: A History" at least a dozen times. "

"I haven't read "Hogwarts: A History" at all," Ginny admitted, feeling remiss.

"It's a wonderful reference. I'd be happy to loan you my copy if you like. Unfortunately, I don't have it with me. It wouldn't fit."

Ginny found herself liking this matter-of-fact girl with the intelligent eyes and wild hair. Maybe they could be friends. "That's really nice of you. Thanks."

Hermione grinned. "No problem. So where are Ron and Harry? Searching for the snack trolley? I didn't think even Ron could be hungry yet."

Ginny snickered. "I bet he could," she contradicted. "I don't know where they--"