Once inside a compartment, with Loony Lovegood of all people, Ginny folded her arms and looked out the window in an awkward silence. She was tempted to simply leave to go sit with her friends, but something kept her—perhaps it was the utterly pathetic look Harry had on his face. They hadn't been sitting for more than a minute when the door slid open, revealing Neville Longbottom, fellow Gryffindor. Ginny frowned sullenly. She didn't like most Gryffindors, especially Neville. He was clumsy and dim-witted and all around annoying. And of course, those qualities made an instant Dream-team companion.
"So…er… how was your summer, Luna?" Luna Lovegood was another crazy person. Ginny didn't understand the way these people worked—were half the students at Hogwarts raised in a barn?
"Yes," said Luna dreamily, staring at Harry in a way that was threatening to make Ginny rather sick. She was reading The Quibbler, an absolute rubbish magazine, upside down. Ginny remembered a story they printed about the Malfoys once, claiming that they had stolen money! Imagine, a Malfoy ever needing to steal money! Ginny, lost in thought for a moment, snapped out of it when Luna continued talking.
"—quite enjoyable. You're Harry Potter."
Ginny looked at Harry, who was raising his eyebrows. "I know I am," he said bluntly. Ginny hid a smile and Neville laughed. Luna frowned at him.
"I don't know who you are," she said haughtily. Ginny rolled her eyes at all of the imbeciles she was stuck with and decided to leave the compartment in search for some competent people. On her way out of the compartment she heard an awful noise and Neville's plant spewed gross algae-like stuff at everyone. She quickly slammed the door, as not to be sprayed, and ran into Cho Chang, a sixth year Ravenclaw.
"Ouch!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Sorry," said Cho, smiling. "I really need to watch where I'm going… you're Ginny Malfoy, right?" she asked, dislike evident in her voice. Ginny smirked, deciding to have some fun. She had never been fond of Cho.
"Malfoy?" she said sweetly, "Where did you get that from? Me, a Malfoy! Heavens, no! I'm Ginny Weasley."
"What?" frowned Cho. "I mean—wow, I didn't know that the Weasleys had a sister, and… wow, I always thought you were a Malfoy… was that, like, a rumor or something?"
"I couldn't tell you," said Ginny, acting slightly puzzled. "Well, as we Weasleys like to say, I hope you have a wonderful day! Bye, dear, it was lovely meeting you!" Cho simply nodded and turned back to the compartment. Ginny walked away feeling quite smug until—
"So now you go by Weasley? And tell people to have a great day? Who are you, and what have you done with Genevieve Malfoy?" Ginny groaned. Eira. She turned around angrily.
"Oh, didn't you know? I was born Ginevra Weasley, and my parents kidnapped me," she said coolly. "So that explains why I was in Gryffindor, I suppose." Eira couldn't have been caught more off guard.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded. "Are you telling me that all those years I was running around with a blood-traitor Weasel?" she asked supremely.
"Detention, Zabini."
Ginny didn't know whose aid to go to as Granger stepped up to Eira, looking smug. Eira opened her mouth in protest. "Don't you insult them, Zabini! The Weasleys are more than you'll ever be!"
"Hermione," snapped Ron, "I don't need you to defend me! I'm a Prefect too, remember?"
"Of course," she said, looking quite pleased that she'd just handed out a detention. "But I simply arrived here first and saw this girl picking on your—" Ginny sighed loudly and caught herself exchanging weary glances with her former best friend. She and Eira both looked away quickly. Ginny bit back a smile, not knowing whose side to take or whether she should even bother hanging around for another moment.
Taking a deep breath, she whispered to Eira, "You should hurry away while you can; they might forget about your detention." But Eira simply frowned and looked at Ginny with disgust.
"Get away from me, Weasley. I smell blood-traitor." Ginny felt as if steam was rising up to her face from being called a 'Weasley' and was about to lash out when Draco came into earshot, tantalizing a first year.
"Get out of my compartment, filthy Mudbloods!" Hermione and Ron ceased their argument and everyone turned to Draco, standing a few feet away.
"Watch your mouth, Malfoy!" shouted Hermione. Eira moved away from Ginny to stand next to Draco and Blaise, who was just walking up to see what the fuss was about. Ginny stood helplessly between the two groups as Draco stared at Hermione venomously.
"Oh, yeah? What are you going to do, go to Dumbledore? Well, let me tell you, Dumbledore won't be running this school much longer, Granger. One day, you'll see, you and Weasley and Potter; you'll all get what's coming to you."
"That right?" asked Harry, stepping behind Hermione and Ron. "And who's going to give us 'what's coming'? You and your pathetic Master? Voldemort?" Everyone but Harry shuddered. Ginny's face began reddening hopelessly.
"What's the matter, Weaslette?" taunted Eira. "Sad that Potty still won't even look at you?" Draco frowned and looked quite confused.
"Hey—Zabini, you listen to me. She's not one of them. She's with us. Right, Gin?" Close to Ginny, Ron turned bright red.
"You—don't ever talk to my sister again!" yelled Ron angrily.
"Your sister?" asked Draco incredulously. "She isn't your sister! Who did she write letters to every day our first year of Hogwarts? Who did she always trust to come to with a problem? Who has she known since she was born? Who does she love? Not you," he spat.
"Are you joking, Ferret-boy? Ginny's had loads of fun this summer… She likes our family, she's one of us already, we love her!" he said loudly.
"That's not true," whispered Draco threateningly. He looked at Ginny expectantly. "Tell them, Gin! Call Granger Mudblood; hex Potter; spit at Weasel! Go on, do it!"
"Ginny, kick his death eater arse!" yelled Ron forcefully.
"Prove it, Gin. Maybe we'll be friends again," smirked Eira. Ginny looked helplessly between her two "families". Who did she like better? Who did she trust? Ginny was at a loss. All she honestly wanted to do at the moment was punch Draco and Ron, snarl at Granger and Eira, and snog Harry Potter. Everyone was looking at her expectantly. Ginny would have burst into tears, but she was not a crying kind of person.
"No," she said finally. "No! I hate all of you! Neither of you are acting like brothers! And you," she said to Eira with loathing, "I would never be friends with you. You betrayed me, just because we were in different houses! And I hate you too, Blaise. You—you just annoy me! And Hermione, you always have to hand out detentions to people, and you're power-hungry, and Potter… I don't even know what to say about you! Just leave me alone, all of you!" she shouted, and walked away in a huff. She didn't dare look back at their dumbfounded faces, but instead smirked. If they would make her choose, she wouldn't choose anyone.
They arrived at Hogwarts soon enough. Ginny sat down at the Gryffindor table, bored, and determinedly not paying attention to the annoyed faces of Draco, Eira, and Ron. Who really cared about them, anyway?
However, Ginny did make sure to sit near The Trio; they often enough had some mysterious drama to discuss during dinner, and Ginny didn't want to miss it. She had barely situated herself when she was hailed by some fellow classmates.
"Ginny! What was that, yesterday? Are you okay? And why on earth did you have to run off with your stupid brot—er, Malfoy?" Ginny turned and eyed Ceridwen wearily. Behind her was Michael.
"Gin… we hardly got to see each other yesterday. But I suppose that doesn't matter, much, after all, we'll be seeing much more of each other now, right?" Ginny smiled and was about to respond when someone yelled from the Ravenclaw table.
"HEY—Corner! Get over here! The sorting's about to start!" Michael leaned in to kiss Ginny and she suppressed a groan.
"See you later, Michael…" Ceridwen dropped next to her. Across from Ginny sat Colin and Dennis Creevey, the most annoying two people on the face of the planet (though, at the moment, Draco and Ron could certainly give them a run for their money), and Jaclyn Murphy and Maeve.
"Where's Kayla?" began Ceridwen, but she was cut off by Maeve's look of disgust towards where Ginny's brothers Fred and George were sitting. Next to them, Lee Jordan sat with Kayla Agostino practically in his lap, flirting and making eyes at him. Ginny raised her eyebrows and exchanged a quick glance with George, looking away hastily. It was difficult not to like Fred and George, but it always became easier when Ginny remembered that it was they who had finally torn her from the Malfoys, her real family.
Before anyone could say another word, though, the Sorting commenced. Ginny watched in a slight stupor as all of the small first years were sorted into their various houses. Once the sorting was over, Dumbledore got up to speak. Ginny listened to him quite intently for a moment, but was taken by surprise when the new Defense teacher began speaking instead. She introduced herself, speaking to them as if they were only five years old. "And I know that we are going to be great friends!" At this, Ginny looked around skeptically. Two Gryffindor Fifth year girls were giggling about Umbridge's cardigan. People weren't paying this woman attention in the slightest. In fact, the only ones who were even looking at Umbridge still were Granger and some Hufflepuff. As soon as Umbridge was done talking, Ceridwen grabbed Ginny and pulled her up the stairs and towards the Fat Lady's portrait. Finally, she stopped and looked at Ginny questioningly.
"What's the matter with you?" she asked, annoyed.
"What d'you mean?" snapped Ginny, frowning.
"You won't talk to anybody, and you're acting all moody, and poor Michael thinks you're mad at him! Has your summer been that terrible?" As Ginny opened her mouth to respond angrily, Ceridwen looked at her pityingly. "Of course it has. Here, let's go upstairs and we can eat chocolate frogs, and you'll tell me all about it." Ginny smiled tolerantly. The two girls entered into the Common Room and were immediately surrounded by three third year girls.
"Hi, I'm Romilda Vane," said the tallest one. She had long dark hair and was quite pushy.
"Ginny Mal—Weasley," said Ginny, frowning. "And this is Ceridwen Thompson." Romilda gave a loud, fake laugh.
"Of course! Everyone knows who you two are! But, anyway—rumor has it that you stayed with Harry Potter this summer!" she said, smiling.
"Well," said Ginny, "What's your point?"
"Do you think you could see if he'd be interested in, like, going out with me?" Ginny raised her eyebrows and tried very hard not to look at Ceridwen.
"Er—why don't you ask for yourself? I… have to be going. Come on, Ceridwen. We have to go see—that—thing, you know? Bye, Romilda, it was lovely meeting you." With that, Ginny and Ceridwen hurried away giggling, leaving behind the third years looking very taken-aback.
When they were safely inside their dormitory, Ginny began poring out her dreadful summer, but was dismayed to realize she still couldn't mention the Order, or Sirius.
"So let me get this straight," Ceridwen finally whispered, as the other girls were now inside the room. "You lived in a secret house with a murderer? And Lupin came all the time? And you were with the Weasleys and Granger and Harry Potter?" Ginny continued to nod seriously. "And they all say You-Know-Who is back? And a hippogriff lives there?" she finally asked incredulously.
"Yeah," said Ginny quietly. "And I don't know if I still like Michael, but I mean, it's not like Potter would ever like me anyway, you know? Not that I really like him, and all, but… I mean… it's terrible. And now Mother wants me to marry Draco! My brother! Isn't that disgusting? I'd rather marry—Neville Longbottom or something!" she exclaimed. Ceridwen nodded in agreement.
The first week of school was going quite nicely until Defense Against the Dark Arts. As the class entered the room, Umbridge once more began to talk to them as if they were toddlers. Ginny couldn't believe that Draco said this woman would be good! "Hem hem. Welcome, children, to Defense Against the Dark Arts! I am here to—" Ginny stopped listening almost immediately and opened her book in a stupor. The bell rang. As Ginny left the class, she ran into Draco, who still looked mad to see her.
"Ginevra," he said curtly.
"Draco," she said not-so-curtly.
"You just came from Umbridge?" Ginny nodded. "Isn't she great? She's friends with Father. Has the right idea of things."
"Like what? Refusing to teach us?" asked Ginny skeptically.
"No, I mean she hate's Potter. She'll be really nice to us, because she knows Father quite well. And she's against Mudbloods and Half-Breeds and the like. And, between us, she'll be getting more power around here quite soon."
"I think she hates me because I'm a Weasley," said Ginny, frowning.
"Ah—well—write to Father. He'll do something. As I said before, Umbridge loves him. And, of course, she's playing right into the Dark Lord's hands…"
"She's a Death Eater?" asked Ginny quickly.
"No, no… the Ministry's ignoring him and discrediting Potter and Dumbledore! That way the Dark Lord can get a bunch of power before coming into the open, you know?"
"Whatever," said Ginny, annoyed. "I'll see you."
A/N: Please review! HBP was so sad. A review would cheer me up :-D Next update soon!