Title: Ginny From the Block

Chapter Five

Disclaimer: Still don't own them.

Note: Thank you for the feedback. I'm having a great time writing this story and I'd LOVE anymore you want to send my way. Feedback definitely keeps the muse going.

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Chapter Five: Welcome to Hogwarts

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Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Somewhere in North England

Date: August 24th, 2003 (Sunday)

Time: 5 p.m.

Ginny grinned as she watched the different expressions play across Dawn's faces. The girl hadn't stopped gaping since the school came into sight. "You okay, Dawny?"

Dawn just shook her head dumbly. "I mean...Sunstone is awesome and I love it, but this? This is like out of some fairytale book Buffy read to me when I was little. It's unbelievable!" She looked to Ginny with star- struck eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Ginny laughed. "How could I tell you? I could say that Hogwarts was a castle, but so is Sunstone. I could tell you that it's absolutely fabulous, but then...could you really know that until you saw it?"

"Okay," Dawn conceded with a grin. "You have a point."

Dawn was right though. Hogwarts was unbelievable. Ginny felt a pang as she looked up at the castle. There was just nowhere like it on Earth. Sunstone was a beautiful castle and a fabulous school, but some things just couldn't be compared to. Hogwarts Castle was one of those things.

"So...through gaping yet?" Ron's smirking voice sounded behind them. Both girls turned and rolled their eyes with identical expressions. Ron did a double take. "That is just scary. Don't do that anymore!"

"What?" Ginny frowned confused and knew Dawn probably was too.

"That thing you keep doing!" Ron told them. "Where you're exactly alike. It's bloody unnerving, is what it is!"

Ginny snorted. "My brother, the unnerved git." She heard Dawn giggle from beside her.

"Just figuring that one out, Weasel?"

Ginny, Dawn, and Ron all just rolled their eyes at the sound of that voice. They spun to face Malfoy. Ginny stepped up first. "You know, Ferret. You really need to come up with a name for individual Weasleys because when you're coming up to a group of us and call one Weasel it doesn't have quite the right effect."

"Oh really." Malfoy smirked. "And what should I call you?"

"Worst Nightmare?" Dawn jumped in and looked thoughtfully to Ron and Ginny. "I'm thinking 'worst nightmare' could work...or it will when we're done with him. Whadda you say, Gin?"

Ginny shrugged with a mock frown. "Could be, I suppose. Or maybe 'Winner' if we do end up getting to play quidditch and I get to kick Slytherin's a**es."

"That could work to." Dawn nodded. "And may I just say that I REALLY hope you do and I get to watch...or better yet play too?"

Malfoy had that shocked look on his face again. Ginny could have sworn she'd never seen Malfoy shocked before today and yet...here he was. This had to be some kind of record. He looked strangely at Ginny. "You play quidditch?"

Ginny shrugged. "I did last year, and I will if they work out some way for us to over here." She looked to Dawn. "We really must ask Professor Snow about that when we see her."

"That's the first question on my Professor Snow list." Dawn nodded but then frowned. "Well, that and do we actually have to be nice to the Hawkthornes or just inhabit the same dorms. I'm hoping for reluctant co-habitation on that one."

"What position?" Malfoy cut back into the conversation and if he hadn't sounded so hostile Ginny would have sworn he was actually curious.

Rolling her eyes, Ginny answered him. "Chaser." Then turned back to Dawn. "You know we have to get along. We're like one house now for the next year. Thankfully there are only about ten Hawkthornes in the program anyway and six of those are younger than us."

"Yeah, but Brad Langford is one of those four that aren't." Dawn pointed out. "You're honestly just going to let that fued die?"

Ginny's eyes flashed as she thought of that annoying disgust oaf. "Rather just let him die, actually, but I haven't come up with a way to get away with it yet."

"Brad Langford?" Malfoy questioned.

"Ferret, would you bugger off?" Ron sneered at him. "No one wants to talk to you. Go find some other snakes to hiss with, okay?" He looked to Ginny. "Isn't Langford that stupid git that hit that bludger straight at your head in the final quidditch game?"

Dawn nodded. "Yep. If Ginny didn't have reflexes like no one's business and hadn't been getting trained by Buffy in self-defense it would have hit her head on. Professor Snow saw the whole thing and said it could have killed Ginny instantly. She gave Langford detention for a month."

Ginny tried to shrug it all away, but she could still remember looking up and seeing nothing but that rock hard ball flying straight towards her face. A shiver ran through her despite herself. She saw concern flash in Ron's eyes and sighed. "Thankfully I did a back flip off my broom and the bludger just slammed my shoulder before I fell to the ground. I broke my wrist, but came out okay."

"And all the bloody idiot got was detention?" Malfoy growled.

Ginny looked up at him. She'd forgotten he was standing there really. He had the strangest look in his eyes. Another shiver worked its way down her spine as those eyes met hers. She didn't know what that look meant, but she felt it all the way to her toes and she KNEW that wasn't a good thing. Nope, definitely not a good thing to get shivers and looks from Draco Malfoy. Hadn't she convinced herself of that a year ago?

"Are...You...Still...Here?" Ron drew out his words for effect, but failed miserably because Draco (oh god, was she actually calling him Draco now?) didn't appear to have even heard him...or else he'd really perfected ignoring Ron over the last year which was entirely possible.

"Well," Dawn's amused voice cut through some of the tension in the air as she spoke up again. "He got detention...and the sh*t beat out of him by Hunter, Ginny's boyfriend and our Seeker."

"Liking Hunter already." Ron nodded his approval of said action.

Something in that last statement seemed to have snapped Malfoy out of whatever he'd been stuck in. He shot Ron one more contemptuous look, Ginny one more strange one, and then stormed off.

"And he thinks we're on drugs?" Dawn snorted. "Moody much."

----

Location: Great Hall

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Date: August 24th, 2003 (Sunday)

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Dawn just continued to look around at everything in awe as she and Ginny followed Ron, Harry, Hermione and the other students into the Great Hall. Ginny just grinned at her best friend's enthusiasm.

Ron caught her grin and smiled back. "So, what's it like to be back at Hogwarts?"

"Don't know, really." Ginny told him honestly. "It feels the same.and different. I've been getting that feeling a lot lately."

"I know what you mean." Ron nodded as he walked beside Ginny through the tables towards his normal seat on Gryffindor's. "I think we all feel that way about you."

Ginny smiled at him gently. "I'm still Ginny, Ron. I'm just."

"More Ginny." He grinned widely. "You've found yourself over at that other school and I'm glad to see it. You're happy."

"Well," Ginny felt warmth spread through her at her brother's words. "I'm glad you feel that way." She started to continue, but the sound of her name ringing out interrupted her.

"GINNY!"

Their whole little group spun around at the sound and Ginny's smile just widened as she watched the handsome young man that was walking quickly towards them through the tables. He smiled back widely in return. "Man, I thought you'd never get here. We've been waiting forever." He looked from Ginny to Dawn and back again. "So? How was the family reunion?"

"Went pretty well." Ginny told him as her eyes twinkled. She turned and indicated Ron standing beside her. "Still going on to an extent. Hunter, this is my youngest brother Ron." She met Ron's eyes. "Ron, this is Hunter.Whitehorn's Seeker and Quidditch Captain and a good friend of mine."

Ron's eyes widened as he pieced together the name, the information she'd given him, and finally realized this was the infamous boyfriend. He looked Hunter over again and his eyes just widened even more. Ginny didn't blame him.

Hunter was 6'2" with sandy brown short hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and dimples to die for. He had a great smile, an even greater laugh, and Dawn claimed had the best butt in Sunstone. He weighed about two hundred pounds, and he was built like a quarterback (yes, Ginny had come to appreciate American football over the last year and she knew what a quarterback was).not to thin, but not too bulky. Hunter was, quite simply, a hunk. Ginny couldn't believe herself sometimes that she was dating him so Ron's shock was no surprise.

"Well." Ron fumbled for something to say. "I mean.well."

Hermione stepped towards Hunter with an appreciative grin. "Nice to meet you, Hunter. I'm Hermione Granger, another friend of Ginny and Ron's. We've heard loads about you from Ginny and her letters." Hermione looked from Ginny to Dawn.

Dawn nodded. "Yep, don't you just want to hate her for reeling in this tasty morsel?"

"DAWN!" Ginny glared at her menacingly. "Don't even get started. I will SO tell the whole school about your old crush on."

"OKAY!" Dawn cut her off. "Enough of that subject." She turned to face Hunter now. "So.waiting forever, huh? Did Professor Snow let you guys see the dorms yet?" Hunter nodded and she continued. "What do they look like?"

Hunter snorted. "Like she transferred the Whitehorn dorms onto this school. They're exactly the same. I don't know if Buckwood, Wolfstone, and Hawkthorne have the same type dorms as us at Sunstone, but I swear she just made an exact copy of Whitehorn's."

Ginny shrugged. "Sounds good to me. I loved our dorms."

"Did I say I was complaining?" Hunter grinned at her. "I'm even paired up with Dare again."

Daniel 'Dare' McKinney was another Seventh Year Whitehorn student. He had semi-long black wavy hair that hung shaggily around his head and piercing blue eyes that froze many a female heart. He was also Hunter's best friend, another Chaser on the Whitehorn quidditch team, and another hunk. He and Hunter had been roommates since their third year and best friends since their second. Ginny knew Hunter had to be thrilled to keep that the same even here.

"Where is that hunk of mine?" Dawn frowned as she looked over the hall trying to spot Dare. She and Dare had this really funny flirting relationship and she was obviously in the mood for another go. "He told me he'd call me this week before we left, but he didn't. He must be punished."

Hunter snorted and rolled his eyes. "He's with the rest of the exchange students at our table."

Hunter pointed to the side and Ginny realized that there were now five tables in the Great Hall. The last one must be the Sunstone table. This was confirmed when she picked out several familiar heads along the table.

One of those heads looked up and waved at her and Ginny waved back with a grin. She shot Hunter a smirk. "I didn't know Chris was in the exchange program."

Hunter grimaced. Christina 'Chris' Ross was the absolute bane of Hunter's existence. She was in the same year as Hunter and Dare and was constantly bickering with the other two and especially Hunter. Chris had beautiful blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders, pretty green eyes, and was an expert in all things fashion. She was also the Keeper for the Whitehorn quidditch team and Hunter (as team captain) had to listen to her every complaint about the things Chris believed he was doing wrong.

Ginny also knew, though she would never say anything to either of them, that Hunter and Chris were absolutely crazy about each other. Ginny often wondered why knowing that didn't bother her more. Still, Hunter was a great guy and fun to date so Ginny didn't push it. If she and Hunter weren't really serious and probably never would be that didn't change the fact that Hunter was one of the best friends Ginny had.

"I have no comment." Hunter finally grumbled under his breath. Then he rolled his eyes at his on attitude and put his standard cocky grin back on. "Well, I'm going to go back to the table. See you in a few?" Ginny and Dawn both nodded. He looked to Ron, Hermione, and Harry. "Nice to meet you Ron, Hermione, and."

Harry smile hesitantly. "Harry."

"Potter?" Hunter smirked.

Harry nodded again hesitantly as if preparing for another one of those 'OH MY GOD! YOU'RE THE HARRY POTTER' speeches. "Yes."

"Hmm." Hunter simply lifted a brow and smirked. "Nice to meet Ginny's first crush. I'll have to keep an eye on you." With one last wave to Ginny and Dawn, Hunter made his way back across the Great Hall to join his friends at the Sunstone table.

The Gryffindor Trio looked simply stunned. Ginny and Dawn snorted with laughter at their expressions. Ginny spoke first. "Problem Harry?" She asked innocently.

"N.no." Harry frowned thoughtfully. "That's just."

"It was bloody weird!" Ron jumped in. "These Americans don't.well he's Harry Potter! And they don't even care!"

Finally after a moment, Harry broke into a huge grin. "I rather like it myself. I've always wanted to be just a normal guy.known for myself and not my bloody scar."

Ginny had thought he might and she grinned widely at him. "Well, they know about you Harry, things are just different in America. You aren't really a living legend there."

"Bloody weird, I tell you." Ron grumbled. Then his eyes narrowed on Ginny as he seemed to come up with another grievance. "And what are you doing hanging out with a bunch of Seventh Years anyway, Gin? Why aren't you friends with people your own age?"

"You're just mad that Hunter's taller than you are." Ginny smirked at him. "And they weren't Seventh Years when we became friends with them.they were Sixth Years. We just all play quidditch together and we all got on rather well. Dawn's only a year older than I am, your age might I add, and she's friends with all of them as well. So there!" She told him as looked down her nose at him.

Then, completely ruining her air of maturity, Ginny stuck her tongue out at him. With one last dramatic look over the stunned Gryffindor Trio and telling Dawn to come along, Ginny spun and headed towards their new table and their Seventh Year friends.

----

"Attention students!" Everyone in the hall paused as the loud clear voice rang out. "If I could have your attention please!"

"That's Professor MacGonagall." Ginny whispered to her friends. She explained about most of her favorite and least favorite teachers.

"Oh.you mean the head of Gryffindor?" Dawn questioned lightly.

Ginny nodded. "Yep."

"Miss Weasley!"

Ginny jumped about a foot as her name rang out clearly through the hall. She looked up sheepishly to an annoyed looking Professor MacGonagall. Oops. This did not look good. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Might I inquire as to what was so important that you needed to interrupt me?" She shot Ginny a scolding look that Ginny was neither unfamiliar with nor immune to.

Several snickering conversations broke out as every pair of eyes in the room centered on Ginny.

Ginny felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she pushed it back. This was one of those tests of if she'd really changed. She was determined to pass. Her eyes sparked with determination as they met her old professor's. "I was just explaining who you were, Professor MacGonagall."

"Oh?" MacGonagall questioned her pointedly. "And exactly who is that?"

"The Head of Gryffindor House." Dawn jumped in before Ginny could answer for herself. "Ginny's told us lots about you.and everyone else at Hogwarts."

For some reason that seemed to please Professor MacGonagall. She nodded towards Ginny and then looked back to Dawn. "And you would be?"

"Dawn Summers." She threw MacGonagall one of her huge patented grins. "I'm Ginny's best friend and roommate. Nice to finally meet you."

Ginny could have fell out when MacGonagall actually cracked a grin at them. "I'm pleased to meet you as well, Miss Summers, and I'll look forward to seeing you in my class this year."

Dawn nodded. "Transfiguration, right?" At MacGonagall's pleased nod she continued. "I love that class. I was actually discussing practicing one of my spells with a Hogwarts' student we met earlier today, but he didn't seem interested."

Ginny frowned at that as she tried to remember what the hell Dawn was referring to. She still pulled a blank.

"And what spell was that?" MacGonagall asked curious.

Dawn's grin was 100% evil. "Oh.just something to do with a ferret."

The hall froze in stunned silence as most of the older Hogwarts' students put together exactly what Dawn was referring to. Dawn just continued to grin widely. Ginny watched MacGonagall's eyes widen and then could have sworn they twinkled in appreciation. The Sunstone table had varied reactions.most of three houses fought laughter and the Hawkthornes looked sick because they'd been threatened with the treatment before.

As MacGonagall seemed to pull herself back together she shook her head but still continued to smile. "Yes, I do believe I've heard Professors Dumbledore and Sunstone talking about your and Miss Weasley, Miss Summers."

Dawn just shrugged innocently and several snickers worked their way through the Great Hall again. Ginny groaned and buried her head in her arms. She just might kill her roommate. This was notoriety Ginny really didn't need.not to mention Malfoy was bound to be as mad as hell and set to retaliate for the embarrassment.

"Miss Weasley?"

"Yes, ma'am?" Ginny's head snapped back up quickly as she heard herself addressed again.

Professor MacGonagall smiled warmly at her. "It's nice to see you back at Hogwarts. I'll be looking for you in my class as well."

Ginny grinned widely and genuinely. She really had always liked MacGonagall. Gryffindor's definitely had the best Head of House at Hogwarts. "It's nice to be back, Professor MacGonagall." She finally told her former Head of House. "I look forward to your class as well."

With one last nod, Professor MacGonagall turned back to face the Great Hall at large. "And now before we continue, I believe Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

As Dumbledore stood up almost everyone in the hall stared in awed silence. It didn't matter how old the wizard got, he had a presence of power and authority that just glowed to any who took the time to notice. At Hogwarts most students (save a portion of the Slytherins) took the time to notice.

He cleared his throat before speaking. "First of all, we have a few rules that need to be gone over with the First Years and most of our exchange students." He paused and looked meaningfully to the Sunstone table before continuing to address everyone. "I know this will come as a huge surprise to most of our older students, but the Forbidden Forest is, alas, still forbidden."

A rumble of chuckles ran through the older years at Dumbledore's standard welcome speech joke. Ginny chuckled with them. It was nice to see that some things would never change.

"Also, I have been asked by Mr. Filch to remind you that anyone caught outside their common rooms and dorms after curfew will be given detention of the most grievous sort imaginable." Another round of slight chuckles. "And as Mrs. Norris has been feeling a might under the weather as of late, I must ask that students please do not kick her on your way to class if you spot her in the hallway."

Ginny snorted and slapped her hand over her mouth, but was relieved that several students burst into actual laughter at that one so she gained no attention from the professors. Her friends, however, were staring at her curiously. She removed her hand and whispered softly. "She's Filch's cat."

Dawn, Hunter, Dare, and Chris snorted silently as well and rolled their eyes.

"Now!" Dumbledore's voice boomed happily and every student snapped to attention. "On to more pleasant matters."

"More pleasant than kicking the cat?" Dare smirked.

Ginny punched him hard in the arm and he winced and looked to her. She glared at him. "Pay attention. No one interrupts Professor Dumbledore."

She dared anyone around her to make another sound. They threw up their hands slightly in surrender, so she nodded sharply and looked back to Dumbledore only to notice that he'd paused and was shooting her a proud smile. Ginny felt her face heat up again and cussed her Weasley coloring. She just knew that Dawn, Hunter, Dare, and Chris were fighting grins where she couldn't see them.

Professor Dumbledore nodded to her slightly and then continued. "As most of you are aware, this is a special year for Hogwarts. We have, in fact, started an exciting exchange program with one of our brother schools of witchcraft and wizardry in the United States. The new table and students you see in our midst tonight." He motioned to the Sunstone table, "are the exchange students from Sunstone School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in California, and they will be with us for the entire year!"

Excited murmurs filled the air of students who did know about the program explaining to students who didn't know. Ginny almost felt sorry for the group of First Years that were still huddled together before the Head Table looking lost and confused.

When the murmurs quieted back down, Dumbledore moved on to wrap it up. "I expect great things from both our regular students and our exchange students this year, and I know I shall not be disappointed!" His smiling gaze swept across the entire room with pride. "Let us have a wonderful year!"

Cheers erupted throughout the room. Even the Sunstone and Slytherin tables joined in the fun.

After several minutes the hall calmed down again and Professor Dumbledore smiled at Professor MacGonagall and then to the group of nervous first years. "Now let's see what we can do about getting you sorted."

And so the Sorting Hat was pulled out with it's stool and the First Years were led up one by one to take a seat. Ginny and Dawn began to smile amused at each student's reaction as that old battered hat decided the fate of their Hogwarts career.

Then, of course, Dare had to open his mouth. "Okay, I got a knut says that one." He indicated a sneering brown-headed boy who was walking up to the stool arrogantly. "ends up Hawkthorne."

"It's Slytherin here, Dare." Dawn corrected him as she rolled her eyes. "And I don't take sucker bets. Pick a harder one and you're on."

"Hmm." Ginny sighed as she jumped in with them. "See that little girl with the straight sandy-blonde hair and serious expression?" She pointed to said girl and they both nodded. "That one's a Gryffindor. I'll put up ten knuts on it."

Dawn and Dare both looked closely at the girl, but didn't see anything particularly special about her. They finally both shrugged and pulled out money as Dare announced. "I'm in."

Ginny looked to Hunter and Chris. "What about you two?"

Chris rolled her eyes. "I'm not betting on what house First Years get stuck in. Besides." Her nose crinkled up a little in annoyance. "That girls' robes do not match her shoes. How many times do I have to tell you people about brown and black?" The group all looked at each other with amused disgust. That was Chris the Fashion Police.

Ginny turned her attention to Hunter. "You in?"

Hunter snorted. "Hell no. This is your school, Gin. I'm not betting against you."

"Whatever." Ginny's eyes twinkled at him.

A few minutes later, the little girl in question was led quickly up to the stool. She took a seat hesitantly and breathed deeply as the hat was placed lightly on her head. After only a moment's pause, the hat spoke. "GRYFFINDOR!"

The hall erupted into cheers and the girl smiled widely as she hopped off the stool and skipped over to be greeted by her new housemates.

Dawn and Dare grumbled as they pushed their money over to Ginny. Then they looked at her curiously as Dare asked. "How'd you know?"

"Oh." Ginny told them solemnly and seriously. "It is an ancient gift among the Hogwarts' Houses. The most devoted witches and wizards can always tell what house a new student will be placed in." They frowned confused and then Ginny let the smug grin she'd been hiding curve her lips. "And that happens to be Oliver Wood's little sister. He was the Gryffindor Keeper and Team Captain my first two years at Hogwarts."

"GINNY!" They screeched together in semi-quiet outrage as Hunter and Chris laughed at them. Hunter just shook his head. "I told ya."

The sorting went quickly from that point on with several more little bets between their group, but no one going against Ginny. Then Dumbledore called out the feast and every student in the hall raced to shove the delicious food down their throats.

Finally, as the feast was pulling to a close, Dumbledore stood up again. "And now as everyone finishes their meal, I would like the Prefects for each house to lead the First Years to their dorms." He looked to the Sunstone table. "Professor Snow will speak with the Sunstones before allowing them to go back up to their new tower." He smiled around the hall one more time before everyone got up to leave. "Let us have a wonderful year!"

Ginny, Dawn, and the rest of their table climbed to their feet. Dare looked to Ginny sourly. "Not all family members get sorted into the same house, you know."

Chris rolled her eyes and groaned. "Are you ever going to let this die? It was ten lousy knuts!"

Ginny snorted at Chris' comment and knew Dawn would probably join back in with the whining in a minute if she didn't say anything. "No, not all family members, but most do. It's like.a legacy. Every one of my brothers were placed in Gryffindor just like me." She paused and shrugged as she and the others moved over to form a group and wait for Professor Snow to get to them. "Besides, Melissa is just like her brother.brave, courageous, and OBSESSED with quidditch."

"Sounds like my kind of girl." Dare grinned. Ginny, Dawn, Chris, and Hunter turned to stare at him incredulously. "I meant the quidditch part!" He told them outraged. "Not really! She's eleven!"

"Witness our disgusted stares." Chris smirked.

"I DIDN'T."

"Excuse me, students?" Dare's tirade at Chris was cut off by a familiar voice before them.

Ginny felt a huge smile curve her lips. "Professor Snow! It's good to see you!"

Professor Snow smiled warmly at Ginny in return. "And you as well, Miss Weasley. I quite don't know what I'll do without you and Miss Summers to train this year at Sunstone."

Ginny and Dawn shared a knowing glance before Ginny spoke again. "You'll just have to come visit us loads then." She told her teacher and Dawn nodded her agreement.

"I think I'll do that." Professor Snow nodded to them both. Then she looked to the rest of the Sunstone students gathered around her. "If all of you wouldn't mind, I would like to have a small meeting with you here before allowing you to make your way back to your new common room. I shall be leaving Hogwarts shortly and there are several issues we must discuss before my departure."

A small pang hit Ginny at that news. She knew that Professor Snow wouldn't be here this year, but Ginny would really miss the older woman. She had become a mentor of sorts. As she looked up she noticed a sympathetic and knowing look in Professor Snow's eyes. She smiled bravely for the other witch and then calmly took the lead of their group and waved everyone back to their table to sit down.

When all the students were once again seated, Professor Snow looked them over and began speaking. "I must tell you all right now how very proud I am of you for taking the opportunity to join this program this year. I know how hard it can be to try new things. I am extremely honored to call you my students and I know that you will continue to make me proud this year at Hogwarts."

She paused and sighed. "Now to get down to the basics." A more determined and fierce light entered her eyes. "I know that at Sunstone many of you were in different houses and were even rivals most of the time, but here that must change. Here you will be represented as one house.the Sunstone House, and you will also be representing our school as a whole. I have to ask that you learn to put aside your differences and work together as a team. You're all Sunstones now. There are no Whitehorns, or Buckwoods, or Woftstones, or Hawkthornes. Am I understood?"

Ginny didn't miss the many doubtful faces at the thought of that happening smoothly, but most of them reluctantly nodded in agreement after a few moments to brood over it.

Ginny and Dawn nodded calmly and looked pointedly to several Hawkthornes who had yet to follow suit. The two girls' eyes narrowed menacingly and those Hawkthornes gulped and nodded jerkily as well.

Professor Snow smiled. "Good." She swept her gaze over the table again. "This will be furthered by the fact that all of you from the same Years will have core classes together. Your electives will be mixed among Sunstone and Hogwarts students just as the Hogwarts houses are mixed in their electives, but the core required classes will be all of your Sunstone year and all of the same year of one of the Hogwarts houses."

This news was even less thrilling than the 'let's all just get along' speech that preceded it. Ginny had seen it coming, but still didn't look forward to having core with the two Hawkthornes of her year in the program. The two Hawkthornes in question didn't look any more pleased than Ginny was.

"Now, with that said," Professor Snow held up a stack of papers that Ginny hadn't noticed she'd been carrying. "I'll now pass our your schedules." She quickly tapped each piece of paper, called out the student's name, and the paper floated its way to its owner.

"Ginny Weasley." Ginny looked up in time to grab her schedule from the air before it landed on her head. She began to examine it closely. She had all her usual classes for Core, which was no surprise. They had Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, Charms with the Hufflepuffs, Potions with the Slytherins.

Damn it! Why didn't the Gryffindors have Potions with the Slytherins? The Gryffindors ALWAYS had Potions with the Slytherins! Ginny grumbled to herself about how pleasant that class was going to be. She knew from experience because she'd always been in the Gryffindors when they had Potions with the Slytherins. Oh, this was just great! Bad enough they had Snape at all.

"Hey, did you get Care of Magical Creatures?" Dawn frowned from beside her. "I don't think I asked for that one."

"Oh, it's great." Ginny assured her. "That's Hagrid's class. You'll probably get the bloody hell scared out of you by most of his pet monsters, but Hagrid's a sweetheart."

"Okay." Dawn nodded thoughtfully. "Can't be worse than facing down a horde of demons, right?"

Ginny smirked. "A horde of demons might be one of Hagrid's pet monsters this year, but.we'll see."

She watched as Dawn's eyes widened in disbelief. Ginny snorted and grabbed her best friend's schedule out of her hands. Ginny had an almost photographic memory so she already had hers memorized and wanted to check it with Dawn's.

Dawn obviously had the same idea as well because she grabbed Ginny's. After a minute or two of seeing that they had every class together save one, Dawn frowned and pointed to something different on Ginny's schedule. "Hey, what's that?"

Ginny shrugged as she looked closely at it. "I don't know. Looks like a P, but."

"That," Professor Snow's voice interrupted them. "Is the mark of a Prefect."

Snapping her head up instantly in disbelief, Ginny searched her professor's eyes. "But.I mean.I'm only."

"Fifth Year, my dear." Professor Snow told her gently. "That's when we start assigning Prefects."

"But I only transferred to Sunstone last year!" Ginny burst out. She just couldn't believe this. This just couldn't be right!

Professor Snow shrugged. "That matters little, Ginny. In that one year you've shown leadership, confidence, and dedication to your classes, work, and school. Those are the characteristics we want to be prevalent in our Prefects at Sunstone."

"But then why didn't I know?" Ginny frowned. "Percy got his letter during the summer. I remember clearly because he was all big-headed for the next month and a half and Fred and George kept messing with his badge. I should have found out."

"But you weren't at home, Ginny." Dawn reasoned. She looked up to Professor Snow for confirmation and Professor Snow nodded. She looked back to Ginny. "Don't you get it? You were with Buffy and me all summer."

"Then why didn't the owl come to me there?" Ginny questioned again, but some of her disbelief was fading away now. A new feeling was pouring through her. Warm and happy and excited.her eyes began to sting with happy tears.

"Because I thought it might be a nice surprise for you to find out here." Professor Snow told her gently. "Your parents were already informed and your mother believed a surprise might be nice for you as well. I'm sorry if we've alarmed you."

"NO!" Ginny burst out quickly as she shook her head and a big smile began to curve her lips. "I'm not.I'm just.shocked! I never thought.I mean.I'm little Ginny Weasley! I'm not supposed to make Prefect and this is just."

"Okay, now she's babbling." Dawn smirked. "I do believe she's about to fall off into Willow babble."

A giggle escaped Ginny's throat and she turned and instinctively threw her arms around Dawn in happiness. Dawn returned the hug tightly and giggled as well.

"Wow! A Prefect!" Dawn's voice was filled with happiness and pride for her friend's accomplishment. "Now I'll never get detention again!" She added on a comedic note.

"Miss Summers!" Professor Snow admonished the brunette, but her eyes twinkled with amusement. Then she looked back to Ginny and they glowed with pride. "Would you like your badge now Ginny?"

Ginny just couldn't stop herself from gaping for a moment, but then she nodded jerkily. "Y.yes ma'am. I'd like that." She watched as Professor Snow bent over and carefully fastened the shiny Prefect badge to the front of her robe. Ginny just continued to smile widely and turned around to show Dare, Chris (another Prefect), and Hunter her badge before turning back around to chat excitedly with Dawn. She just could not believe it!

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End of Chapter

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Okay, that's it for now! Hope you enjoyed it and PLEASE send me some feedback. I'm not above begging.lol

Catch you later,

Jade Elise