Discalimer:You know I own nothing, I know I own nothing, but the people at make me write this

Chapter 4: Slughorn

"Young lady," he repeated as Ginny stepped out into the corridor. "Did you just perform a Bat-Bogey hex?"

"Umm…yes," said Ginny nervously, expecting to receive detention.

"That was an extremely impressive piece of magic!"

"Uhhh…th-thank you," Ginny stammered.

"What is your name?" asked the bald man.

"Ginny Weasley," she said finally finding her voice.

"Weasley, Weasley," he repeated, tapping his finger on his chin as though he was thinking distractedly.

"Oh, yes," he finally said. "I taught your father, Artie wasn't it?"

"Arthur," Ginny corrected.

"Oh, well, your get the picture. My name is Professor Slughorn, by the way." He extended a pudgy hand, and Ginny shook it.

"I was just on my way to lunch in Compartment C, just a casual get-together, you know I invited several of your classmates to get to know them before classes start, you know, and I was wondering if you would like to join me?"

"Ummm…," said Ginny. She looked over at Dean. They really hadn't had much time to talk, they kept being interrupted, and Ginny wondered if she should stay and spend time with Dean.

"You go ahead," said Dean. "I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, go on, I'll clean this mess up," he scowled at the oozing Zacharias Smith.

Ginny laughed and Slughorn clapped his hands together and said happily, "Well, that's settled then. If you will follow me Miss Weasley, I would be delighted if we went to lunch."

Ginny followed Slughorn down the corridor to Compartment C, still amazed at not being given detention.

Slughorn stopped outside a compartment and said, "This is it!"

They walked inside and Slughorn sat down on one of the seats. Ginny couldn't imagine more than two more people being able to comfortably have lunch in the tiny compartment. It was smaller than most of the passenger compartment, add the table in the center filled with tea and sandwiches, plus Slughorn's wide belly, and Ginny couldn't see how they were all going to fit.

Slughorn patted the seat next to him and Ginny sat. Slughorn poured her a glass of tea, and filled a plate of food for Ginny as they waited for the others to arrive. Fifteen minutes later, the compartment was packed with Cormac McClaggen, a Gryffindor in Ginny's year that annoyed her, Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin and friend of Draco Malfoy, and a kid Ginny had never seen before who turned out to be named Marcus Belby.

Just when Ginny thought everyone had arrived, the compartment door opened, and in walked Harry, looking as confused as Ginny felt, followed by Neville Longbottom.

"Finally somebody I know," whisperd Ginny, and Slughorn must have heard her.

"Harry, m'boy!" said Slughorn, jumping up to greet them, and the seat seemed to sag as his large weight was lifted from it.

He introduced Harry to everyone else, and said hello to Neville, and gave a brief background about everyone.

"—and this charming young lady tells me she knows you!"

Ginny grimaced at Harry and Neville, and received a smile from Harry back. And to Ginny, it wasn't an ordinary smile, it was smile that said, "Seeing you brightened my day."

And thanks to that smile, Ginny didn't even notice the uncomfortable feeling of being squished next to a very large man.

Author's not: Sorry so short! Please don't hurt me!