Author's Note: I just wanted to say thanks to those reading and especially those leaving reviews. I'm not very good at British slang so it always feels cheap when I try to insert it. If anyone has suggestions on how to make the dialogue seem more English and less American let me know. Also, does anyone have any feelings one way or the other way on the chapter length? They're tending to be a bit longer than I normally like. I know some people like shorter chapters? Is that something that those of you reading would prefer or is the length good as is? Let me know. Also, please review. It makes me very happy!
Chapter Three: The Sorting
It was raining when they arrived at Hogwarts. The castle was highlighted against brilliant flashes of lightning. Over the roar of the wind, Hagrid's voice could be hear hollering for the "Firs' Years" to follow him to the boats. Apparently he was still the Gamekeeper. Ginny watched Harry and Ron and Hermione and Neville climb into the same boat. She though briefly of her own first year when Colin Creevy had fallen into the lake and was rescued by the Giant Squid. She hadn't seen Creevy, so she supposed that he was going to be coming next year.
She ducked her head against the wind and headed for the carriages alone. Bill thought it would be better if they got an idea what each of their new "histories" were before they started randomly hanging out together. As much as possible he didn't want to draw attention to the fact that they were different. Especially if Voldemort wasn't mentally affected. They still had no idea if he had his memories and was simply biding his time.
The thestrals pulling the carriages snorted and stomped their feet impatiently. Ginny shivered. This was her first time actually seeing them. Before she'd had to rely on her imagination and the description from Harry and Luna. She accidentally made eye contact with one of the winged, skeletal horses. But there wasn't time to be startled so she settled for a little gasp and then caught the hand rail outside the carriage and hoisted herself in.
With a huge stab of annoyance and trepidation she realized she'd picked the same carriage that James Potter had picked. He slid over, making room on the seat beside him. "Done being mad then?" James asked lightly.
Ginny forced a smile. "Mad? Me? I don't think I was mad. Annoyed a bit maybe, but it's not your fault."
James inclined his head slightly. "Good. I'm glad you're not mad. I've given it a lot of thought and I couldn't imagine a single thing that I'd personally done to you that would piss you off. We've never been on a date, I've never hexed or cursed you, and I've never even talked to you outside of class before." He folded his hands behind his head, looking casual. "Matter of fact, I've hardly even noticed you before today, Ginny. You must have done a lot of growing up over the summer."
"Growing up?"
One of the others in the carriage coughed into his fist, drawing her attention to him. "James means you've developed . . . assets," he said, making a curving motion with his hands that was meant to indicate she had better breasts and hips than she had had the year before. Ginny blinked at him.
It was Sirius Black for certain. She recognized his voice. When she'd first known him his voice was rougher, worn by twelve hard years in Azkaban followed by a few haphazard years on the Ministry's most wanted list. But it still had that lilt to it that said he was up to no good and proud of it. Sirius Black had a rich, smooth voice that was meant for darkened bedrooms. She'd always thought that about his voice. But when they'd met she'd been a silly fourteen year old girl and he was thirty-seven. So the fantasy of his voice had never mattered. It mattered now. Not to mention that he didn't look like a thirty-seven year old going on fifty due to the hardships of his post-Hogwarts years. He looked like the drop dead gorgeous heartthrob that she'd been told he was before Lily and James were murdered.
The other marauders were in the carriage too. Remus Lupin was slender as a willow wand, with pale scars adorning his forehead, and slightly tattered robes drawn close. He watched her with calm blue eyes. Wormtail was there too. Or at least Ginny supposed it was Wormtail. It was the same blond boy that had been with James at King's Cross and on the train. His watery, ratlike eyes followed her, his mouth slightly agape as he waited for the cues to laugh or insult on James and Sirius's command. Which begged the question about who the hell Scabbers was. Unless there were two Pettigrews?
She rubbed her forehead with one hand, feeling the onslaught of a tension headache. Only a moment had passed since Sirius had commented on her assets. "Oh yeah," Ginny said, focusing on James. "That's right. I grew assets over the summer and you are apparently still a bloody juvenile." She mock winched. "As for approaching you earlier, I was just trying to confuse you. I didn't think it would be quite that easy, but there you have it. You're easy, Potter. Like pie." The sharp tone was natural for her. She'd learned not to give much ground when dealing with her classmates. And Bill had told her to act natural and disown anything odd that she'd done earlier.
Sirius lunged across the seat, wedging himself between her and the edge of the carriage, sandwiching her between James and himself. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his muscular side. With his freed hand he mused her hair vigorously. "Ahh . . . look at you," he cooed. "Trying to mess with James. Did you forget he doesn't travel alone?"
Ginny ignored the fluttering feeling in her stomach. Sirius's voice in Sirius's younger more attractive body was presenting something of an embarrassingly physical reaction. She focused on the words, which she recognized as mocking.
A long time ago she'd stalked Harry. It's been because she was trying to figure out how to make him fall in love with her so she felt it was justified. She'd overheard him talking to Ron and Hermione about his father and Sirius. He told them that they were bullies. Lily's reaction in the carriage earlier seemed to reaffirm that belief. Ginny had this idea that if she didn't do something quick James and Sirius (and Peter and Lupin by default) were going to harass her the rest of her time at Hogwarts. She needed to make him understand that she was on the same level as they were and was, therefore, not to be harassed.
So she popped up and rolled on top of him, straddling his legs and slamming her hands against the wall on either side of his head. "Sirius Black," she drawled, enjoying the way his eyes widened. She leaned forward, tilting her head to the side as if she was going to kiss him. When her lips were a mere inch away she whispered in her best seductive voice, "I'd never forget who keeps James on his leash." And she kissed him. Brushed her lips against his in a tantalizing, teasing almost kiss. The carriage lurched to a stop, and she spun off of him, opening the door and stepping into the rain-soaked night. "Later boys," she said, giving mocking wave.
Her heart was pounding loud, but she heard, Sirius mutter a belated 'wait.' Of course, that just wasn't going to happen. She had a boyfriend already: Harry Potter. Of course, when he stepped off the boat in all his eleven-year-old glory, she realized that life had gotten much more complicated since yesterday. And yesterday had been bad, what with Voldemort attacking the school and all.
"Bloody hell," she muttered.
Somewhere to her left, Riddle stepped out of his carriage, Bellatrix clinging to his arm and cackling about something. Snape and Lucius debarked as well, both of them looking every bit as nauseating evil as usual. Riddle caught her watching and tilted his head toward her, his stupid lovely smile lighting up the dark.
She looked away and let the press of wet students pull her forward. Bloody hell indeed.
The teachers of Hogwarts sat at the head table. She felt relieved to recognize most of them. There was the no-longer-murdered Headmaster Albus Dumbledore wearing periwinkle robes, his silvery beard tucked into his belt, his half-moon glasses perched on his crooked nose. He was laughing merrily with Professor McGonagall, who was wearing emerald green robes, her black hair pulled in a severe bun that made her look crosser than usual. Sitting in Snape's usual spot was Professor Slughorn, his great mustache drooping like walrus tusks on either side of his pudgy face. Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Trelawny were there too. But that was the end of familiar faces. Ginny wondered which of the new faces was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and if he or she knew that the position was cursed.
"Hey Ginny," Sirius said, catching her elbow and steering her into a seat beside him. "That was a dirty little trick." The rain made his hair look devilishly tousled and cute and she did not want to sit with him.
Ginny made eye contact with Charlie and he came over frowning, Fred and George right with him. "Something wrong here?" he asked giving James and Sirius a dirty look.
"Nope," Ginny chirped. "I was just wondering if I could sit with you guys."
"Course," Fred said. "I can't just leave my older sister with the notorious –"
"Infamous, really," George interrupted.
"Sirius Black," Fred concluded. "Just wouldn't be right." They took Ginny to another section of the Gryffindor table. Fred rubbed his hands together, Sirius already forgotten, "I can't wait to see Ron's face when he realizes he doesn't have to wrestle a troll."
"You told him that?" Charlie said, sounding amazed.
"Yep," both twins said at the same time.
"And he believed you?"
"Yep."
Charlie shook his head. "Unbelievable."
Ginny believed it. They'd told her the same thing when she came to Hogwarts. She was wondering how the Sorting was going to go and if the Sorting Hat would sing the same song or not when a piece of white paper crumbled into a ball and jinxed to hit her connected with her forehead. She seized the paper and looked around quickly, expecting that it had come from Bill or MacNair.
Instead she made direct eye contact with Sirius Black. His eyes glittered, a handsome grin stretching across his face. A handsome, suggestive grin. He was going to be trouble. He mouthed that she should open it.
She glanced at the paper and then back at him. Never, she mouthed back. She dropped the paper into her empty goblet. Well, almost. She tucked it up her sleeve at the last possible second, but from the distance he was at it would probably look like she was going to let the message get doused with whatever drink she put in it.
He frowned. James punched his arm, laughing. He was amused by her. Sirius wasn't. That didn't look like a good combination.
She picked up her fork, twirling it absently. Whatever was she going to do? Maybe she should have played submissive in the carriage. It was seeming like a bad impulse decision to kiss Sirius. Maybe she could apologize?
The First Years were escorted in. She listened to Professor McGonagall calling the roll. A good number of the First Years used to be a year older than her. When Harry's name was called, she expected some sort of reaction from the students, but besides Fred asking whether Harry was James's little brother, there wasn't a hint of his famousness anywhere. So much for being the Boy-Who-Lived. He was sorted into Gryffindor as was proper. He sat beside James, who gave him an encouraging smile.
And after Ron was sorted (near last) and Dumbledore summoned the feast (always excellent looking), Ginny forgot about her recently acquired Sirius problem and focused on eating. She was in mid-bite when another note zipped toward her, skimmed her cheek and landed beside her plate.
She rolled her eyes. "Really? You're going to be like that, Black," she muttered. She seized the letter and unfolded it without looking at him. She was going to read it, pretend to be nonchalant and unimpressed no matter what it said, and then give him a look telling him he was pitiful.
Except the letter wasn't from Sirius this time. She read:
My beloved dear Ginny,
You seem to be a bit distracted today. I hope that you're not upset with me. I've enjoyed writing you over the summer. Your words are so soulful and heartfelt. Even though we have not had much opportunity to fornicate in past years I wish to change that. Meet me in the girls' bathroom on the second floor. There is something I think you'll enjoy seeing.
Love,
Tom Marvolo Riddle
"Oh . . ." she breathed. He was talking about the Chamber of Secrets, wasn't he? "George, can you look about and tell me where Bill is?" she asked, not wanting to risk making eye contact with Riddle.
George, mid-mouthful, scanned the room. "Our side of the table, nine people down," he said. "Why?"
Ginny didn't answer. She kept her head down and made for her older brother. As she passed Sirius, he deliberately leaned back so she had to brush against him.
"Hey Ginny," he said smoothly, "Does the Head Boy know his girl stole a kiss from me?"
She stopped cold, not caring that his back was touching her. "Riddle is a . . ." she debated several ways to end that sentence. "I am not his girl and if you tell anyone I am I'll . . ." She didn't finish that sentence either.
Sirius's laugher followed her the rest of the way to Bill. He'd been watching her approach and took the letter without a word when she arrived. He read it quickly. Paused. Read it again. Then swore and reached for his wand.
"Wait," she squeaked. "It'll draw attention." She buried her face in her hands, sobbing unwillingly. "I'm afraid I might be . . . might be his girlfriend." Her shoulders shook.
Bill helped her sit down and patted her shoulders. "It's all right," he said. "We'll figure this out."
Ginny sniffed. "It would make sense, you know. I did think I loved him when I was writing in the diary." She sniffed again.
"Last I heard you were dating Harry," Bill retorted. "So if anyone should be your boyfriend now, it should be him or no one. It's not fair otherwise."
At that moment Harry was using his nose and a straw to blow bubbles in his pumpkin juice. She sobbed and hiccupped at the same time, making a pathetic noise as a result. "If I'm with Riddle it is over. O-V-E-R. Done. I can't even pretend. No way I'm staying with him."
Bill agreed, but warned that she would have to be extra careful. They both knew what kind of person he was or was likely going to be. He leaned a bit closer and added that they should drop the conversation now. People weren't really paying attention, but it wasn't something they wanted to get overheard.
As if to emphasize the point, Oliver Wood interjected himself into their conversation by plopping down across from them. "So Weasley," he said. "I heard you might be interested in trying out for the House team this year."
"Me?" Bill said. "You heard wrong. I've got the same skill at quidditch as Snape does at bathing."
Ginny and several other nearby Gryffindors sniggered at the comparison. Wood just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I was aware of that," he said. "I was talking to Ginny."
"Quidditch?" Ginny said. "Yeah, I think I'll be trying out. I like playing. Who else do you think will be there?" she added, hoping to get a jump-start idea on what the quidditch team of her new reality would look like. Hopefully it would be people she liked.
But as it turned out the makeup of the team was mostly undecided. Wood was the captain and keeper. Wood added that Fred and George were the "bludgers, oops I meant beaters" and James Potter was the only returning chaser. So Wood was looking for two chasers and a seeker, although he suspected he could lure Charlie back as seeker even if the man was wandering around like someone killed his kitten.
"Interesting," Ginny said. "Who do you think will tryout?"
"Not sure, but I heard Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell were thinking about it."
"Who did you hear that from?"
"Oh no one," he said. "I've just been checking around. Scouting for talent. I think the three of you would make a good addition to the team."
"The team with only two spots open?" Bill inquired.
Wood shrugged. "Who knows. I think we need more females on the team, so I'd like it if you'd show up and put in a genuine effort."
"Sure," Ginny said. "I'll be there."
He grinned and headed off to talk with Alicia Spinnet who was talking with Seamus Finnigan. He was her age now or closer to it than Harry and Ron in any event.
"Ginny?" Bill asked quietly. "Everything okay for now?"
"Yeah, for now" she said. "I think that I might have to break up with my boyfriend though." She stood up and walked over to Harry and Ron who were sitting within spitting distance of the Marauders.
"Hey, Ginny," Ron said. He motioned at Harry. "This is Harry Potter."
"Hullo," Harry said, offering her his hand.
Ginny shook it, a sad feeling building inside her. She'd had a crush on him for the last six years, and now, staring at him, it was just nothing. He was an eleven year old boy and definitely too young. "I'm glad to see Ron's found a new friend," she said. "I was worried about him."
"Oy!" Ron yelped. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," she said. "Do you guys mind if I finish dinner over here? Fred and George are belching."
"You sure you want to sit here?" Remus asked. He was sitting beside James.
She looked at him, and smiled. "I'll be okay, Pro – Lupin," she said. This was going to be hard. But she did need to say good-bye to Harry even if it was in the guise of saying hello for the first time.
Much later, after dinner and desert and after Dumbledore gave his customary litany of rules and suggestions for the new term, and after they'd sung the Hogwarts theme song, and after he'd bid them all a lovely night filled with pleasant dreams, after all that Ginny was finally on her way to the Gryffindor common room. And she was more than ready to get a good night's sleep. She walked with the Marauders out of necessity. Percy had rounded up Harry, Ron, and the rest of the first years and hustled them away before she even had time to think.
As they followed the familiar pathways, she was thinking about Riddle and her appointment with him when suddenly she was whisked into an empty classroom.
James closed the door. Sirius leaned against the wall. Outside, Remus gave a startled yelp. Then quickly tapped on the door. "You two are going to get us all in trouble," he complained. "Just because she kissed Sirius doesn't mean anything."
"She didn't kiss him," James said. "She stole a kiss from him."
Ginny looked at Sirius, who gave her a puppy dog look. Like she really had stolen something from him. His fake wounded look was cute actually. "Oh no," she said. "You're not going to make me pay for that are you?"
"Did you hear that, Remus?" James hollered through the door. "She doesn't even sound remotely repentant."
Sirius moved from the wall, strolling toward her. He looked like a predator, muscles rolling with his movement. His aura was all dangerous. In a playful way. "I think someone owes me a kiss, eh?" he said, catching her chin and tilting it up. His lips looked sensuous, ready to be kissed.
Ginny felt a bit of her worries slipping away. She could play tease better than most. She popped up on her tiptoes, stealing another quick kiss from Sirius Black. "Huh," she said, dancing out of his reach. "I guess that makes it two kisses I've taken from your unsuspecting lips."
His jaw dropped. "Now hold on a second –"
"Make me," she teased. She placed her hand on the wall by the chalk board, and pressed it in just the right spot to make the passage open. She ducked through and took off running before either of the handsome young men could stop her. She thought that it was a little ironic that the only reason she knew about the passage was because of Fred and George and the only reason they knew about the passage was because of the Marauders Map which they had made.
She made it to Gryffindor tower just in time to slip in with the First Years. Apparently the password was Fiddlesticks. She hoped James and Sirius missed the memo. It would serve them right to spend the night dodging Filch. Well, if Filch was still at the school. She realized with a start that she hadn't seen him yet. Did Dumbledore mention him in the speech? She couldn't remember.
But that was a worry for the next day. There was a large gathering of students in the Common Room, but she bypassed it and popped up the stairs two at a time to her room. There were the five four-poster beds draped with red curtains tied open with gold cords. All of them were unoccupied. Her trunk was, thankfully, at the foot of the bed by the window. The same bed she'd used to have.
She fell tried to fall asleep fretting about Riddle and the meeting she was missing. But just before she dozed off Sirius popped into her head and her dreams started pleasant even if they did descend into nightmares of strangled chickens and dead friends and murdered brothers.
