Growing

"Bloody hell I hate those horseless carriages. It always gives me the creeps to think I can't see what's pulling me along." Holly mumbled shuddering slightly as they entered the Great Hall.

Ginny snickered and sighed in happiness at the familiar tables, house banners and the enchanted ceiling. She looked curiously at the new students but didn't see anyone of interest.

"God I'm starving! Please let Dumbledore's speech be shorter than usual" a voice whined next to her and Ginny grinned as she caught sight of Colin Creevey sitting there clutching his stomach.

"Colin! I've missed you!" she said grinning, pulling him into a huge hug.

"Hello there Gin! Hey Holly! You two ok? Thanks for the birthday present guys. That camera was great you two." Colin said smiling at the two.

"It was fine. I knew you needed a new one and I got some money from Fred and George as well as the money me and Holly put together."

"It was fine. I knew you needed a new one and I got some money from Fred and George as well as the money me and Holly put together."

"Good evening my dear students and welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I do hope you all had a wonderful summer. As you know with the fall of Voldermort I'm hoping this year will be as normal as possible" ("as normal as Hogwarts can get" Seamus muttered causing several people to laugh) "Now, as you know the forbidden forest is as usual forbidden and Mr. Filch has a list of things that are banned. If you would like to take a look it will be pinned on a notice board inside his office. Do ask before you go in. Now without further ado let us start the sorting. Minerva?" He said rising an eyebrow at Professor McGonagall who stood up and began reading names off of a parchment.

"God I swear we get more and more students each year. I bet it's all a secret conspiracy of the teachers to stop me from eating and to pass out from hunger. Snape would love that." Colin declared glaring suspiciously at the teachers. Harry, Ron and Hermione all turned to stare at him and Ginny and Holly burst out laughing.

"What? It's true!" Colin pouted.

"Now as the sorting of the first years is finished I would like to introduce a new 6th year student. Please welcome Pearl Benoché from Beauxbaunts."

Everyone turned to the front to see the new girl. She was slim with slivery blonde hair and deep set violet eyes. She seemed to float rather than walk and every male in the room had their eyes on her. The hall waited for a couple of seconds until the hat shouted 'Gryffindor' and the whole of Ginny's table exploded.

Holly rolled her eyes and muttered to Ginny "The way men react to a pretty face."

Ginny nodded but her eyes were on pearl. There was something oddly familiar about her. As if sensing her eyes on her Pearl looked up and pinned Ginny with her odd coloured eyes. Ginny quickly turned away and concentrated on what Holly was saying.

"I wonder who that person in the cloak is" Ginny heard Colin ask thoughtfully. She glanced at the hooded person shrugged

"Now that Miss Benoché has been sorted I believe we have some new teachers to introduce. First we have a new Care of Magical Creatures teacher as Hagrid is now living in France with his wife. Please give a warm welcome to Professor Charlie Weasley!" Dumbledore called, clapping his hands as Charlie lowered his cloak hood and grinned at the cheering students.

"I'm going to kill him for not telling me!" Ginny growled, glaring at her favourite brother.

"Oh My God Gin, why didn't you tell us your brother was so dreamy?!" Lavender Brown crooned batting her eyebrows along with every other female besides Ginny, Holly and Hermione.

Ginny looked at her in shock. "Please tell me you're joking. Oh God that's disgusting!"

Holly was laughing so hard she was leaning on the table and clutching her stomach.

"Now that we have welcomed Professor Weasley I would like to introduce you to our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. Please welcome back Professor Lupin!"

The whole of the Gryffindor erupted into cheers along with the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and several Slytherins.

"You didn't tell us he was coming back Harry!" Ginny heard Ron bellow.

"I didn't know!" Harry said grinning.

"Now that all our new teachers have been introduced I have one more announcement which is the new Head Boy and Head Girl. From Gryffindor I give you Miss Granger and from Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy!"

The hall erupted for the third time, the Gryffindors cheering for Hermione and the Slytherins cheering for Draco.

Ginny wasn't really all that surprised that Draco had been chosen as head boy. He was good at making people do what he said, and if they idnored him he was just as likely to frighten them into submission. Not to mention he was the only person the Slytheins would actually listen to as head boy. Besides Harry and Ron wouldn't have got it because they'd gotten into to much trouble in their time at Hogwarts.

"Now without any more time wasting let the feast begin!" Dumbledore commanded and immediately the gold platters filled with food.

"Oh God finally. I've been waiting all summer for the baked chicken and rice!" Colin moaned piling food onto his plate.

Ginny laughed before digging into her chicken and mushroom pie.

"Miss Granger as you are the new head girl I will need you and Mr. Malfoy to come with me so I can show you your rooms." Professor McGonagall said as the group left the Great Hall.

"Good luck with the ferret Mione. I'll come up to check on you later ok?" Ron said standing up to give Hermione a quick kiss on the lips.

"Yeah more like go up and snog her to death later" Harry said under his breath causing Ginny to giggle and Ron to glare.

"Of course Ron. Night you guys." Hermione called as she followed Professor McGonagall out of the great hall.

"We better go up as well. You got the password Gin?" Holly asked stretching.

"Yep. God this is going to be a tiring year. I have prefect rounds on top of seventh year Potions." Ginny muttered.

"You're in our year for potions Gin?" Harry asked in surprise. "You never told me that"

"Yeah. Well as I did so well in my OWLs Professor Dumbledore decided to move me up a year. I'm also doing seventh year Defense against the Dark Arts. Holly got moved up with me as well."

"Yeah well Miss clever clogs also got moved up in transfiguration as well. Her grades were according to McGonagall better than Hermione's and she got 12 outstanding in her OWL'S!" Holly said dramatically, smirking at Ginny's blushes.

"Well done Gin!" Harry said giving her a small smile which she returned.

"Yeah, yeah. And I'm just left behind" Colin moaned looking pitiful.

"Aww Colin we won't forget you. We still have Care for Magical Creatures with you and History of Magic. I think we have Muggle studies with you as well." Holly said comforting Colin, who immediately brightened up.

"Anyway I'm going to sleep now. I'm exhausted." Ginny said yawning as they entered the common room and her and Holly headed toward the girls rooms.

"Night Gin Gin." Colin called kissing her lightly on the head and pulling Holly into a bear hug.

"Night." They both called.

"God I'm tired. Night Gin." Holly mumbled sleepily several minutes later as she collapsed into her bed.

"Night." Ginny replied and was soon fast asleep.

Author notes: Thank you to my reviewers, Firepixie0071, Sunny Joe Bob (in answer to your question it will most probably be Draco/Ginny and Holly/Blaise. I'm going to try and get Colin with someone as well though), sexy seeker, Eve Granger, Aikenlicious and Scarlet Snow.

And of course my wonderful, wonderful beta linzi. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this chapter and help me with my terrible spelling. Not to mention all the things I got wrong!