1st September

Dear Diary,

So what's happened since I last wrote: I got off the train, met Hagrid, floated across the lake- I saw the squid, very exciting!- met Professor McGonagall, got Sorted, ate a LOT of food then went to our dormitories and bed. It all sounds great but everyone has already been there, done that, so I knew exactly how it was supposed to go.

Even though I was kind of anxious about the Sorting- see last entry- I was expecting to be put in Gryffindor. But something happened that I can't forget.

I can't forget what the Sorting Hat said to me.

'Ah… Ginerva Weasley. Honesty, loyalty- a Hufflepuff perhaps- no, far too much rebellion and cheek for that- a Gryffindor through and through, no doubt, like your thousand red-haired relatives… oh! But what's this? Something dormant… deep inside your head- Ah! Neglect… nothing but neglect… the youngest, weakest of the family... you want to outshine them, to rise above- mmm, perhaps Slythe-'

'-No, no, no, please, you've got it wrong, I'm Gryffindor, like my family.'

'Hmm… you're not the first to choose… but you have affinity for Slytherin… it's all here, in your head…'

Maybe the thing has some sort of feelings, or maybe it just didn't like shuddering from my hyperventilating and the feeling of a hippogriff running at me at 100 miles an hour- or maybe I was just lucky.

It said:
'You're not the first to choose… so be it. But… you be careful, Ginerva Weasley- GRYFFINDOR!'

Then there was all the clapping and blah blah but I didn't even hear it, my ears were buzzing so much.

How? HOW?!

Slytherin?!

The mean slimy bastards with nothing in their head except themselves? How is that possible?! How could they think I'm one of them?

I fell like I don't even belong with my family. They're all funny and ginger and everyone likes them and belong in red and gold Gryffindor. Perhaps I should be green like the Sorting Hat says, it can't make me stick out more than I do already, the youngest and the only girl. I've never belonged. I'm not even a Weasley. My name is a joke already for being poor but I'm don't even belong to my own family.

And now I'm even thinking like a Slytherin, just like the Sorting Hat said!

I'm starting to panic again, I can feel the breaths coming faster and my chest is getting so tight and I can't

Sorry.

Heidi woke up and she noticed I was crying, so we went down to the common room to the comfy red and gold armchairs in front of the nice warm fire and had some chocolate her parents gave her. I can't remember what it was, but I feel a lot better anyway.

She asked what was wrong, but I just told her I was tired and missed my parents and old friends from primary school. Heidi's mum is German- well, her name is kind of unusual- and the whole family lives in Versailles. So she had to leave them- her mum, dad and older sister- to come here to Hogwarts. I feel kind of guilty for lying about that when she has it harder than me.

With the Sorting thing, tomorrow I'll ask Ron or George or someone about it. Maybe it's normal? Perhaps the Hat tells everyone so that all the houses get along? I still feel so scared though. It's like the bloody smirking Slytherin snakes are sliding through my guts and making me feel this sick.

It's my first day of actual school tomorrow, so maybe I should get some sleep. I'd like to talk more about Heidi and my other roommates Jasmine, Lucy, Harriet and Olivia but I still feel awful after the sorting and too many chicken drumsticks. I also don't see what people like about pumpkin juice. It's disgusting.

Anyway, I'll write tomorrow if I'm not too tired or stressed. It's going to be a long day.

Ginny