*Chapter Three:* /Hogwarts and the Usual Peculiarities/
Luna looked around the compartment. Her eyes stopped haltingly on Ginny and Ginny prayed, 'Please, have her snog herself…'
But she said it: "Kiss Ginny."
Once again the girls "Ooooh-ed."
Chantal nodded sharply, and turned to face Ginny: they were sitting across from each other. Ginny breathed in deeply and exhaled loudly.
Chantal leaned forward, and with a grab at Ginny's shoulder, so was the other girl. Her hand tilted Ginny's face closer: Ginny was looking straight into her starry violet eyes, enraptured and in awe. Chantal leaned forward and her chest pressed against Ginny's – they were in complete contact. Chantal then pressed her moist lips onto Ginny's; Ginny could smell her essence: sweet lavender and she wanted more. The other girl's glossy mahogany hair looked as though it was aching for Ginny's slim fingers to run themselves through it, but Ginny removed herself instead, refusing to give into temptation…
The game continued, but not after some girlish giggles.
***
"Er, I hate," Ginny lied, "to stop this here… Oh, Darcy, do change that hideous lime green hair; I doubt any Michael Corner will want to see that…" She paused as Darcy preformed the counter curse for her discolored hair. "Much better. Erm, so yes. I believe we should be changing to our Hogwarts things around now." She stared out the window at the foggy sky, quickly darkening. She estimated they'd be there in around twenty-five minutes.
The girls murmured in agreement and gathered their uniforms. Mariah, who proved to be quite useful, put a charm on the compartment window as well as a lock so that no boys could look in.
They all were immensely relieved with that and changed at ease. Ginny hastily unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, peeling them off to plain white cotton underwear. She looked around warily and saw the rest of the girls much more relaxed, especially Chantal – she was hard to miss: disrobing languidly, revealing lacy blue panties and a good-sized bra… Ginny flipped her attention back to removing her sweater and quickly pulling over a white blouse and gray vest. Luna and Darcy were helping each other fasten their ties, giggling. Ginny secured hers, and proceeded to pull up her pleated skirt. Finally the girls were all done, with the slight exception of Mariah who was still pulling up her knee socks and stepping into her shoes.
And so the train halted to a stop: the charms on the door became undone, the day-clothes were packed away, the magazines and textbooks closed up, hair patted down, faces shining in the joy of returning to school.
Luna grasped Ginny's hand anxiously. Looking out the window, they saw familiar lights originating from the great school of Hogwarts, and reflected onto the dark lake, practically separating the students from their beloved castle.
They heard other compartment doors opening, students dragging rucksacks behind them, calling out to friends who hadn't been squished in with them, crying out in awe at new Prefect badges glinting in the lights of the corridor. Mariah stood up quickly and opened their door.
Ginny stepped carefully out: re-adjusting her robes and patting the Gryffindor crest on her chest.
After some hustling, Ginny and her friends finally were outside on the Platform at Hogsmeade. She could hear Hagrid calling for First Years and she grinned, remembering her own year traveling across the lake…but then… She remembered the rest of her First Year, which was harrowing enough without the Giant Squid's appearance. She shook her head furiously, but noticed small tears jumped out of her eyes as she did.
***
"Gin!" she heard Luna calling, her voice piercing the dark sky. "Over here!"
Her bags resting precariously on top of her trunk, Ginny shuffled over to where her friend was calling. She saw the blonde head of hair poking out of the entrance of a large, seemingly horse-less drawn carriage (of course, both she and Luna knew this was not the case).
As Ginny peered inside, she was glad for its warm and cozyness – probably due to the fact that it was rather full. Although each was suited for four to a carriage, Ginny noticed extra persons. Darcy, Mariah, Chantal and Luna were there, and joined by an additional someone.
A Michael Corner – squished in between Mariah and Darcy, who were both fawning over him sickeningly.
"Erm, you know," Ginny's voice trembled as she protested; "I think there are too many people already. I wouldn't fit."
"Nonsense!" roared Luna, and grabbed Ginny's robes, bringing her inside. She scooted over to make room for the blushing redhead. Somehow, perhaps even magically, the seat was able to accommodate them all.
Ginny split her time in the carriage embarrassedly looking down at her feet or embarrassedly gazing out at the First Years being brought across the lake in small boats. When this once again brought her on an unpleasant nostalgia trip, she decided staring at the toes of her Mary Jane's would probably be the best thing to do.
There were a few minutes of near-silence, during which Darcy could still be heard cooing over Michael Corner. After an annoying shriek from Darcy, though, the moment ended and Luna continued chatting amiably with Mariah and Michael resumed resting his hand oh-so comfortably on Mariah's thigh.
And then Ginny felt something rub up against her knee. She looked up, and was quite amazed to see Chantal sitting across from her, back up against her seat, her knees knocking against Ginny's. Chantal noticed Ginny watching her and raised an eyebrow mischievously, a small smile playing across her lips.
Ginny hurriedly looked away, but could hardly ignore the knee, chafing her own… It seemed to be nudging her knees apart. With a shudder, Ginny back up as far as she could – which wasn't far at all – into the seat, and sat straight up attentively. She tapped her fingers on her thigh and distractedly tried to join Luna's conversation.
Finally Chantal seemed immersed in a chat with Darcy and Ginny was so very glad when they arrived at Hogwarts without further oddities.
That didn't count what happened inside the castle, though.