Hey guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Here's the next chapter. We are mixing it up for this one, a brand-new perspective (if you liked Neville, don't worry he'll be back). The story deviates a bit from how the original story went, and these changes will have big repercussions later. Also, I will move forward with the story, this just seemed to be the best place to start Ginny's story. And as always, any comments, suggestions, questions, likes, favs, reviews are appreciated. I love reading other people's perspectives! Anyways, enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 4 A Fresh Pickled Friend
Ginny Weasley had a secret. A poorly kept secret, but a secret none the less. Ever since her mother had told her the story of the Potters and their son Harry, she had had an insufferable crush on the boy. She could tell that her crushing irritated her older brothers who had gotten used to her regular tom-boy like ways. Her mother on the other hand was quick to embrace her more feminine side and had offered to do up her hair for the trip to Hogwarts.
With her hair done up in single braid along her back, she nervously clutched her new journal. Although he never mentioned it, she assumed that her father had snuck the journal into her cauldron. It was a used journal, with the name on the back being Tom Riddle, but thankfully he had not written in it at all. She had planned on writing in it when she and the Weasleys had returned from Diagon Alley, but with all the excitement of her and Ron heading off to Hogwarts for the first time she had forgotten.
Thinking of Hogwarts, she started to picture her new life. Would she and Ron be in Gryffindor? She glanced at her twin, what if they were separated, she wondered.
But her thoughts were interrupted by a quiet voice behind them. A boy, her age, was speaking to her mother, asking how to get onto the platform. It was Harry Potter! She blushed brightly and next to her she heard Ron laugh, having been looking for her reaction.
"Shove off Ron," she said angrily. "It's not funny".
Another pair of voices joined the laughter, the older twins, George and Fred.
"I would say it is quite funny, how about you George?" asked Fred.
"I agree Fred, almost as good as the case of Percy's missing Pinhead badge," replied George in sync.
Fred and George were identical twins and seemed to share a closer connection than herself and Ron. Except for starting Hogwarts together, she and Ron weren't much closer than herself and her other siblings.
"That's enough you four, now get onto the platform before the train leaves," said Percy in a high and mighty tone. He had developed a bit of a big head with his new title as Prefect, and she could tell he was going to enjoy bossing people around once they got on the train. Especially since they would actually have to listen to him.
Percy, Fred, and George quickly made their way through the barrier, followed by a nervous red-eared Ron. She prepared to go through, when her mother called out to her.
"Wait just a moment Ginny. Harry's going to watch you go through the barrier, it's his first time as well," her mother said brightly briefly nodding towards Harry beside her.
Ginny smiled weakly and nodded, language failing her as her face turned beet red once more. She turned and walked confidently toward the platform. Bracing ever so slightly, she emerged on the other side unscathed. Moving forward out of the way of the barrier, she waited for her parents and Harry to make their way through.
SLAM!
Harry had evidently been more nervous than her about crossing because he came through at a full sprint ramming his cart into hers. His snowy owl screeched its anger at being knocked to the floor with the rest of their items.
Getting up quickly he offered his hand to Ginny, "I'm sorry, I may have closed my eyes a bit. Are you hurt?" he asked, clearly embarrassed. She took his hand and laughed, "Don't worry, it'll take more than a trolley hit to take me out."
He laughed, "I'm Harry by the way, Harry Potter."
"Ginny Weasley," she replied. "Do you want to find a compartment, I'm sure we can find my brothers on the train."
He agreed and they gathered their stuff together as her mother and father joined them. With a hug and a kiss from both she departed to the train. She and Harry helped each other lift the suitcases onto the back compartment, both wishing that they knew the spell to lift objects.
Making their way along the train, Ginny noticed some things about Harry. He had bright green eyes and the famed lightning scar flashed across his forehead, somehow still looking fresh after so many years. But also, he was a very thin boy. He had some old bruises on his arms that were still fading. She wondered if he started those fights. His clothes were very large on him, she could recognize hand-me downs better than anyone. But unlike her hand-me downs, the clothes weren't altered by magic to get a better fit. It was clear their previous owner was much larger than Harry, perhaps they were from his male guardian.
Finding an empty compartment and tired of carrying their suitcases, they sat down.
"My brothers will find us eventually," she said as they lifted their suitcases onto the rack.
They sat facing each other. An awkward silence filled the room. Think Ginny think! What can you talk about?!
"Uhhh, what quidditch team do you support?" she asked. "I like the Holyhead Harpies."
"I've never seen a quidditch match," he replied.
"Oh, um…." she was rescued by her brothers' entrance. "Sorry to intrude on your date you two, but Ron needs a place to sit," said Fred with a cheeky grin. She glared daggers at him, "it's not a date you prat, Harry and I are just talking."
"Sure, sure little sis," said George. He turned toward Harry, "I'm George and these are my brothers Ron and Fred. Fred and I will be down the hall, Lee's got a tarantula and we got to see it before McGonagall confiscates it." They left. Ron sat down next to her and looked at Harry, glancing at his forehead.
"Is it true, do you really have the scar?" Ron blurted out. She rolled her eyes, this was going to be a long trip.
BREAK
A couple hours into the trip a bushy haired girl knocked on the door to their compartment.
"Have you three seem a toad? A boy a couple compartments up lost his and now we're looking for it. It might be hiding under your seats so we could check there, but I didn't check to see if it was magic toad – I've heard those can hop almost 10 feet, so it may be in the cupboard above your heads." She said in a rushed business-like tone. "I'm Hermione Granger by the way."
Lost, the three of them sat starring at the girl for a moment before Ginny spoke up.
"I'm Ginny Weasley, this is my brother…."
"You're Harry Potter," Hermione interrupted, "I read about you in Modern Magical History! Here, let me fix your glasses, I've been working on this spell for weeks." She pointed her wand at his glasses and said "Reparo". Removing the tape, Harry revealed the now fixed glasses to the group.
"Yeah, that's me," Harry said looking slightly overwhelmed at the girl's intensity. She nodded and turned expectantly toward Ron.
"Uh… Ron Weasley," he said swallowing some of the candy that Harry had purchased earlier. It was clear to her that Harry and Ron were going to be fast friends, as a quick bribe of free food instantly warmed Ron up to him. Hermione and Ron on the other hand….
Just as it seemed that the compartment was getting a little too full for comfort, three more boys entered.
Ginny recognized the blond boy immediately as Draco Malfoy, the son of the known Death Eater Lucius Malfoy.
"I knew we'd meet each other again, why didn't you tell me you were Harry Potter at Madam Malkin's?" Draco drawled, feigning innocence. "These are my friends, Crabbe and Goyle. You obviously need my help, you're in the company of two blood traitors and a mudblood. I can help you pick out the right people to be associated with."
Harry stood up and glared at the blond, "I think I can decide who's respectable on my own Malfoy. These are my friends and I won't let you talk about them like that. So, I think it's time for you to leave."
It was said that pure blood wizards were to be proper and dignified always. Never engaging in such muggle like activities like fist fighting. But apparently for Draco, this was too much to ask. He lunged forward at Harry, his fist colliding solidly with Harry's face, smashing his glasses across the compartment.
Harry attempted to fight the boy, but being much smaller and thinner, he was quickly overwhelmed by the larger boy.
Ginny saw red and with a yell of anger she tackled Draco to the ground. Punching wildly, she quickly reduced him to tears before being finally pulled off by a very shocked looking Hermione and Ron. The 3 boys left the compartment, Draco crying that his father would get a letter or something.
Ron grabbed Harry's broken glasses and turned to the group.
"I think we're going to need that repairing charm again Hermione."
They all cracked up laughing and returned to the large number of sweet delicacies sitting on the compartment seats.
