Previously posted under SuperPickles a few years ago. The first few chapters are jointly written by her and me.
Ginny seemed like she was transported through a whirl of colors: vivid and harsh, drab and soft. She saw colors forgotten long ago, colors that were familiar, even colors that she had never seen before. They were strikingly defined and crisply outlined, yet unclear and blurry.
Ginny then felt warm air and she hit the ground hard with a thud, her belongings falling beside her. She stood up and nearly retched into the grass.
This method of travel is worse than a portkey.
Gathering her balance, Ginny took in her surroundings. She furrowed her eyebrows in a frown. If she hadn't turned around and seen the Hogwarts Castle, she wouldn't have known she was on Hogwarts Grounds. She was apparently on the opposite side of where the Forbidden Forest was.
Ginny gathered her trunks, her poor owl, and trudged off toward the entrance. After 15 minutes worth of struggling, Ginny finally reached the entrance. She pulled on the large black metal knocker on the enormous wooden door.
Locked. Just her luck.
Ginny let out a load groan.
Ok, think of the reasons why Hogwarts would be locked. 1: I'm too early for the school year, 2:—Wait a minute there doesn't have to be more than one reason. I am too early.
Ginny pouted childishly before rummaging through her trunk and pulling out the magical quill and a piece of parchment.
Dear Staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,
On account of difficulty delivering my daughter into your care, she will be arriving earlier at your school than planned. I apologize for my inconsiderate act but my hand was forced, so to speak. I request you keep her there, as she has no one willing to inconvenience them self.
Sincerely,
Mr. Julius Black
Strangely satisfied, Ginny slipped the letter into an envelope, with several galleons. Who says a bribe won't work?
Ginny took the metal hinge and banged it against the door and waited for a minute. She sighed as no one came. She sat down, leaning against the door and closed her eyes. Judging by the position of the sun, it looked to be around 5 or 5:30 in the evening. Ginny glared at her stomach as it growled with hunger. Curse the bloody Weasley appetite. Ginny slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Miss?"
Someone shook Ginny awake. Ginny looked up into the cobalt eyes of a man with dark strawberry blond hair. He looked to be in his mid-twenties. Ginny immediately recognized him as Godric Gryffindor from paintings in the castle she knew.
"Oh sir; I'm sorry." Ginny said, surprised. She had a horrible crick in her neck and began to massage it, as she stood up.
"What are you doing here?" the youngman asked, kindly.
"Oh, I was told to give this to you," Ginny said, handing him the letter.
He read it quickly. Ginny watched his eyes skim rapidly over the words she'd written.
"Hmmm..." he furrowed his brows, dropping the galleons back into her hand. "I think these belong to you."
Ginny raised her eyebrow curiously. Godric smiled ever so slightly back.
"Well Miss Black, you may follow me inside."
"Thank you," Ginny smiled.
"I'll be your Professor, by the way. Glad you arrived early. As each student gets here, we'll be sorting them and giving them a test to show what year they're in. Though as of next year, we won't be letting anyone in but first years."
"Professor Ravenclaw will sort and test you. In this room—" He opened the door for her.
"Thank you."
"You very welcome." He replied graciously before turning to the occupant of the room. "Rowena! We have our first early student with us. You don't mind if we get her arranged right now, do you?"
"Of course not, Godric. Let's get her seated; close the door behind you." Rowena said, flashing a grin at Godric. She had a plait of thick brown hair that reached to her waist.
"Alright now, Miss...?"
"Black," Ginny supplied.
"Ah! Alright Miss Black, do you have your wand?" Professor Ravenclaw asked.
Ginny nodded.
"Ok, we'll begin with the casting of spells."
"Well Miss Black, you should be very proud of yourself! You passed that test with flying colors. Excellent spell-work. You'll be in 7th year. Incidentally, just how old are you?"
"Seventeen, Professor."
"Splendid! I can't wait to see you in my class. It is nice to see you're in the proper year at the proper age." Professor Ravenclaw smiled brightly at her, clapping her hands together. "Alright, on to the sorting!"
Rowena picked up the Sorting Hat, which Ginny was surprised to see looked almost like new.
"Don't you dare put me on her head until I sing the Sorting Song!" the Hat shrieked, coming to life suddenly.
"Oh honestly, Hat, will you be doing this each time?" Rowena tusked.
"No. I just want to try it out on my first sorted student!"
"As you wish; begin then."
The Hat "ahem"ed briefly and began:
"The first school year here at Hogwarts
Will be a splendid year
Now please lend me your attention
So of Houses you may hear:
First come the bold in Gryffindor
That's where the brave do dwell,
Have hearts of purest gold shall they,
And courage, never quelled.
The kindly, here in Hufflepuff
Is where they take their rest,
Friendship is truly valuable
And so they're doubly blest.
In Slytherin, the cunning lie
The sly and devious,
Those of ingenious eye and mind
Who are mysterious.
To Ravenclaw is where the smart
And those of wisdom go,
They value truth and honesty
Far more than words can show.
The founders four have thus conjoined
Their Houses into one,
To form the school of Hogwarts—
Now let Sorting be begun.
"How was it?" The Hat asked, hopefully.
"I think it was very good for your first try." Ginny said, impressed.
"Oh don't even bother lying to me! I know it was horrid!" the Hat turned to look at Rowena, "put me back in that confounded box! It'll be better for everyone that way!"
Rowena sighed, "You're dramatizing again, Hat. It was a fine first attempt. Now please, will you sort her?"
"Yes, I suppose," The Hat sniffed.
Rowena placed the Hat on Ginny's head, still rolling her eyes because of the Hat's little melodrama.
As soon as she felt the Hat settle on her head, Ginny started thinking hard.
Please put my in Slytherin. Please put my in Slytherin. Please put my in Slytherin.
Slytherin? May I ask why? While there may be a hint of your character that would do well there, the rest of your qualities suggest a different placement.
Unfortunately, I'm on a mission. Otherwise I'd request Gryffindor.
Well, that would be appropriate, Miss Weasley.
Would it help if I said Professor Dumbledore sent me?
Professor Dumbledore? Yes that would help infinitely, seeing as I have no clue who that is.
Well it's true!
I don't doubt you; there's no lie in your mind. Alright then, Slytherin!
The Hat said the last word aloud for Rowena's benefit.
The women in question took the Hat of Ginny's head, and muttered something like, "And I had hopes for you..."
"So?" Godric asked eagerly, reentering the room, "How was she?"
"She tested excellently; I placed her in 7th year. Helga's twit of a Hat put her in Slytherin though."
"Slytherin?" Godric's eyes widened, "But she seemed too nice for that."
"As much as I hate to say it: it isn't based on niceness, Godric. There are plenty of other qualities. The Hat certainly took his time with her. I suppose that means she'd be brilliant in any of the Houses."
"But I'll never hear the end of it from Salazar! The very first student of the year goes into his house!"
"Oh Godric, stop this childish behavior."
"It's not fair though!"
"What's not fair?" Another woman entered the room; this one with curly golden blonde hair.
"Godric's just being silly, Helga, all because the first student of the year was sorted into Slytherin."
"How awful!" Helga said. "I just lost 5 galleons!"
"Helga! You were gambling?" Rowena asked strictly.
Helga nodded guiltily, but flashed a bashful grin at Ginny and Godric once Rowena's back was turned.
Ginny started laughing. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down and when she finally did, she saw Professor Gryffindor and Professor Hufflepuff playing stone-parchment-shears to see who would tell Professor Slytherin and be mocked incessantly.
"Ha! Parchment covers stone! I win!" Helga squealed victoriously.
"Oh honestly; how can such a flimsy thing like parchment win over a sturdy stone?" Godric said, looking for an excuse.
"The game rules clearly state that parchment wins over stone!" Helga argued.
"And where are they clearly written then, eh?" Godric asked.
"Godric and Helga! I am appalled at your behavior! You probably just lost any respect this poor girl had to give, watching you argue like eight year olds..."
"What's the commotion?" A deep, husky voice asked. It came from the tall figure with short, shaggy black hair and piercing forest green eyes, flecked with silver and gold who had just entered.
Godric turned to the man nervously and said, "Salazar...meet our first student of the year. A Slytherin."