Ginny Weasley and the Memory of Power
By Jedi Amoira
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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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The train was moving. She and Hermione looked at one another, stunned. Then the door to the compartment began to jiggle. "There you are," Hermione said, turning to the door, her relief a little too evident.

"Oh, Hermione," said a somewhat round-looking boy with a vaguely puzzled expression. "Do you mind if we come in?" He was accompanied by a short, freckled boy with a camera.

"Some boy called Malfoy is making a dreadful racket in our one," the boy with the camera added vaguely.

"We have plenty of room," Ginny said.

"Malfoy's always like that," Hermione added. "Ginny Weasley, this is Neville Longbottom. Neville's in my year. Neville, this is Ginny-Ron's little sister. I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione said, for the benefit of the freckled boy. "I'm afraid I don't know your name."

"Colin Creevy," the boy squeaked. "My dad's a postman."

Hermione looked somewhat nonplussed. "My parents are dentists," she told him. "Magic takes a little getting used to, but it's worth it."

"Everything's so exciting," Colin gabbled. "I didn't know places like Diagon Alley existed. And did you know they make candy that comes in every flavor? They're called Bertie Botts Beans and-- " Ginny realized she was staring.

"Hey," Neville interrupted so smoothly Ginny got the impression he was getting used to Colin's rambling, "where are Ron and Harry?"

"Wherever they are," Ginny said firmly, "Ron has some explaining to do. He promised to keep me company."

"She has witnesses," Hermione confirmed, looking dangerous momentarily.

"Ooh. Sorry," Neville muttered awkwardly and slapped his forehead.

"Trevor," Hermione said clinically a split-second before he exclaimed, "Trevor!"

Colin eyed Hermione interestedly. "Cool. Was that magic?"

"No," Hermione assured him with a smile, shaking her head. "I just know Neville." Ginny grinned. Neville and Colin were certainly entertaining, but she almost wished she had a chance to talk to Hermione without them around. Still, they had a whole year to get to know one another.

"Firs' years," an unlikely man towering over the crowd called as Ginny stumbled off the train. "Firs' years over here."

"That's Hagrid," Hermione explained. "He's going to take you on the traditional boat ride."

"Firs' years," Hagrid called again. Ginny looked over at him, uncertain. Hermione squeezed her arm in encouragement. "You'll do great, " she said, and Hermione was never wrong if Ron were to be believed. "I'll see you at the feast."

Ginny nodded and trailed after Colin who had scampered off ahead.

The lights of the castle melted and merged in the mist over lake, hanging in air just out of reach like a suspension of stars. The very air seemed alive with the throb of magic. Breathless, Ginny was suddenly very glad she had come.

The first years stopped in an uncertain clump in the entry, staring around unsurely. A tall witch in gorgeous robes of cut green velvet stood above them. She looked taunt, like a rope tightly pulled, but her eyes were touched with softness and her voice had the husky hint of a kitten's purr, warming Ginny to the tips of her toes. "I am Professor McGonagall," she said, and proceeded to explain the house system Ginny had been hearing about her whole life before she lined them up in pairs.

The Great Hall was even more magical than the view from the lake. The starlight sky hung overhead, so close you felt you could reach up and snatch stars from it. Just below it hung hundreds of candles ablaze in flickering rows. Ginny had never realized before the awesome power and possibility of being a witch, but she knew she would never again forget. They were irrevocably a part of her, the knowledge, this time and place, like her red hair or her freckles.

She tried not to look at the sea of faces on either side of her, but Hermione, Percy, and the twins muttered encouragement as she passed. She didn't hear anything from Harry or Ron. Violently squelching both disappointment and worry, Ginny vowed revenge. When she saw the hat, she extended the vow to the twins.

"Adumar, Nathan," Professor McGonagall read loudly.

A friendly-looking boy in glasses walked up to the hat and put it on. Nothing happened. Then, "Ravenclaw," the hat announced, and the boy went to join their table.

Anderson, Bettina was a Hufflepuff almost before she put the hat on.

Creevy, Colin became a Gryffindor after some deliberation.

Duran, Doug wore a heavy scowl. Ginny was almost relieved when he disappeared in the direction of the Slytherin table. Part of her remembered the diary's fascination with Slytherin and wanted to shiver.

Edwards, Nineve was Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff got Fraiser, Vivian and Geeble, Christopher. Hart, Patricia was a Gryffindor.

Ginny's legs were numb by the time they reached Lyman, Leonore, also a Gryffindor.

"Walden, Ian," eventually became a Gryffindor, and suddenly it was Ginny's turn.

She still couldn't feel her legs, but somehow she managed to walk to the stool. The hat felt heavy and old in her hands. She put it on and was glad she was sitting down when a voice spoke in her head. /// So, another Weasley///, the hat-or so she assumed-said, sounding amused. ///But a girl. Isn't that a different story?///

//You tell me//, Ginny thought, and felt a tickle suspiciously like a chuckle.

///A quick wit. And a strong love of books. Perhaps Ravenclaw./// The hat paused and added ///You have the Weasley temper and a tendency to impatience, I see. Definitely NOT a Hufflepuff.///

//No//, Ginny admitted ruefully, //I'm afraid I'm not that nice.//

///It's a wise person who knows their own limitations. You would do well in Ravenclaw indeed. You're reluctant. Why?///

//Someone told me Slytherin was the real house of learning//, Ginny temporized, not wanting to admit she was afraid that without her brothers she would be lonely.

///You wouldn't do in Slytherin///, the hat reproved, ///you're far too transparent. It's a tough call but when all's said and done you have to be loyal to your heart, Ginny Weasley. No matter what your head may have to say about the matter. Never forget that. And in your heart, you're a-/// "Gryffindor!"

Unsettled as she was by the experience, Ginny knew the hat was right. Gryffindor was her family. Gryffindor was home. Tears of joy pushed at the back of her eyes as she went to join them. She couldn't even hear the next name, the twins were cheering so loudly.

The feast was delicious, even if Ginny didn't notice half of what she ate because she was too busy craning around the table in search of Harry and Ron. She still hadn't found them when the Prefect led her back to the dormitory. She loved the roaring fire and squashy armchairs of the cozy Common Room instantly, even if the number of people in it was kind of overwhelming.

She was glad to escape to the first year girls' dormitory and put on the pajamas the house elves had laid out. To her own surprise, she was completely exhausted. She wouldn't even have written in the diary before falling asleep if she hadn't promised. -Well, the feast is over.-

--And?-

--I'm a Gryffindor.-

--Congratulations.-- Ginny knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help thinking the word looked a little flat.

--Yeah, no surprise there. Do you know any good tricks?-

--Isn't it a bit early to play tricks on your classmates?-

--Lighten up, you sound like Percy. Anyway, I want to trick my brothers, not my classmates. Ron lied to me, the prat. He was SUPPOSED to keep me company on the train-

--With Harry?-

--Well, yeah. But they weren't even at the feast. Supportive, huh?-

--Maybe they have a good reason.-

--And it would be?-

--You could sneak some vanishing parchment into his bag so he'll use it to do his homework. When he goes to turn the essay in-

--All the words will vanish and he'll think he has to do it again unless he wants to hand it in blank! You're pretty sneaky.

--I like to think so.-

--The school is incredible.-

--And it has incredible secrets. Someday I'll tell you a few.-

--Like what?-

--Not tonight. You need your sleep.-

--Wet blanket.- Ginny drew a smiley face so the diary would know she was teasing and dropped it into the bag next to her bed.