The Boleyn Family Values

Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter or anything related.

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Author's Note:

Hi, everyone. Sorry for the wait. Here's chapter 3...

Luv

Creatress

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The Boleyn Family Values

Chapter 2 - The Unknowing Contender

"Are you serious? You can't be serious!"

"I wonder what's happening," Seanita mused as they made their way to the Gryffindor table.

Ginny saw that Harry was flanked by Ron and Hermione, each of whom had friends sitting on their other sides. The two girls in Hermione's year were sitting across from them with Neville Longbottom. Neville and the two girls were staring wide-eyed at the Golden Trio as Hermione looked in shocked horror at her two best friends.

"I'm serious," Harry stated. He started talking again before Hermione could interrupt, his voice firm and calm. "It's okay, Hermione. Really, it is. We didn't get hurt." He looked to Ron for back-up and the redhead nodded his confirmation.

Ginny, Romilda, Seanita and another Gryffindor girl, Fern Watson, seated themselves a few seats away and listened, discretely - Ginny and Romilda because of their goals, Fern because she was obsessed with the Trio and Seanita because there was no one else to talk to.

"What were you thinking?" Hermione hissed.

Ron cut in when Harry was about to respond. "We were thinking about our education. How else were we supposed to get to school?"

Neville, Harry and one of the girls across Hermione chuckled quietly.

"That's not funny, Ronald," Hermione stated. She shook her head. "Honestly, even before school started..."

Harry suddenly laughed a little. "That's exactly what Snape and McGonagall said. 'Before school started.'" To Ginny and Romilda's surprise and displeasure, he threw an arm around Hermione shoulders for half a second and pulled her into a short bear hug. "The only reason I wasn't so afraid of them was because I was thinking of how you would react."

This time, Ron, Neville and the two girls laughed out loud. Hermione's lip quirked and she had to turn away so that her friends wouldn't see her smile.

"I wonder what they did," Fern murmured, her voice quiet with awe.

Romilda scowled. "She doesn't seem happy about it. Why would it bother her so much anyway?"

Before anyone could answer, a sea of owls flew in through the windows, delivering packages and letters. Ginny's eyes widened when she saw Hermes flutter down in front of Ron with a crimson envelope. There was a shuffle and some whispers as Ron choked and Harry asked him what was wrong.

"Doesn't he know what a Howler is?" Ginny couldn't help but think. None of the other girls seemed to have noticed, however. She was entirely sure what to feel about this. There was something that... Picked at her, though she couldn't find the words to describe it, about him having no idea what something as basic as the red envelope was.

Ron quickly told Harry about it, and edged on by Hermione and Neville, held it away from him and ripped the thing open. Molly Weasley's voice rang out through the hall. Ginny's jaw dropped open and she thought she would die of embarrassment as her mother ranted and raved at Ron's idiotic decision. "You could have gotten Harry killed!" Molly finally exclaimed. The envelope turned so that the opening faced Harry. "I do hope that you're alright, dear," it said, amiably. It then turned again to face Ginny. Ginny's eyes widened, but all her mother said to her was "Congratulations on getting sorted into Gryffindor, honey" before it went silent.

"They flew here?!" Fern whispered, her eyes widening.

Ginny gawked at the Trio for a second. Ron was as red as his hair, Harry looked awestruck, and Hermione... Was actually faintly smiling. She didn't have time to ponder on this, however, because another small owl - she recognized it as the neighbour's - dropped a plain, white envelope in her lap before nipping at a bit of her toast and flitting away. "Excuse me," she said, getting up, the envelope clutched in her hand.

"You've hardly eaten," Seanita pointed out.

"I don't eat much in the morning," Ginny mumbled, absent-mindedly, eyeing the toast the owl had bit with distaste. "I'll meet you all in first period." The girls murmured their good-byes to her and she left the Great Hall. She slipped into an empty corridor before opening the envelope and pulling out her letter.

Dear Ginny,

As you no doubt have heard, your brother and Harry flew your father's car to school yesterday night. We are not quite sure of Harry's feelings about this, so do not state an opinion for or against their decision. I expect you to become friends with Harry by the end of this first week. Do not whine about classes and the work or say or do anything negative around him. I want him to see you in a positive light at all times.

Write to me about everyone you meet there and about your progress on Harry.

From your mother,

Molly Prewitt Weasley

Ginny crumpled the letter and shoved it into her bag. She could have figured that out all by herself. Why did her mother feel the need to pester her with such advice at every turn?

"Ginny?"

Ginny turned around, bracing herself but relaxed when she saw Luna. "Good morning," she said.

"Are you alright? You left the Hall pretty quickly," Luna said, her eyebrows furrowing. There were a few books in her hand and she shifted them around nervously.

"I'm fine. I just had to do something first," Ginny murmured.

"Oh," Luna said, unsurely. "What class do you have first?"

"Defense against the dark arts," Ginny answered. McGonagall had caught the girls in her year in the common room. "You?"

"Herbology," Luna answered. She looked at her timetable, which was at the top of her books. "The first class I have with you is Potions, last period."

Ginny nodded. She had only looked at her courses, not the houses she'd have them with. "We should probably get going then," she said. "It's almost time for classes to start."

Luna nodded. "I'll see you later," she said. When Ginny nodded at her, she turned and left the hallway.

Ginny turned the other way and started to look for the Transfigurations room. Her brothers had warned her about the moving doors and steps, but she'd no idea that it would get so complicated. After about fifteen minutes of aimless wandering, she got worried about being late on her first day and finally stopped an older Hufflepuff and asked for directions. He wasn't much help, but she did manage to find the room. Earlier than most of the others in her year, it turned out. She was the first one there.

The hallway was empty and the door was locked. A muggle clock on the wall revealed that she actually had ten minutes to go. She settled down against the wall opposite to the classroom door and opened her book bag. In it were a few texts, some parchment, ink, quills... And her new diary.

She'd stayed up late, talking to him. (Her mother would be appalled, but Ginny didn't look different today than she did on any other day). It was fine - she was too excited about the first day of school to sleep well anyway. She'd told him about her feelings about her first day of school, about how she wanted to learn things and grow powerful, about the classmates she'd met... Tom was clever and witty, and he made her laugh with his comments. He also told her about the different subjects and what to expect - he'd been a student here as well.

Ginny frowned, pulling the diary out. She hadn't thought of it last night - she'd been too riveted by what he was saying to her to be bothered by how he might have come across the information - but now that she was fully alert, it bothered her and she wanted to know. 'Tom?' she wrote. She watched as the words sunk into the page.

Hello, Ginevra. There was a pause, and then more writing appeared. Pardon me, but should you not be in class at the moment?

DADA will start in a bit, she wrote quickly. I wanted to ask you something.

Ask away.

Ginny frowned for a second, wondering how to ask him. She decided that the direct method was the best. When you told me about classes last night, how did you know about them?

His answer was quick and sure. I'm Tom Marvolo Riddle. I know everything.

Ginny bit her lip to keep from laughing. Be serious, Tom.

I will not. Ginny's eyes widened in surprise when she read these words, but before she could reply, more of his writing appeared. At least not until you say 'please.'

Ginny couldn't keep from grinning at his behaviour. Fine. Can you please tell me how you know about school?

Tom's answer wasn't as quick this time around. I used to be a student there.

Ginny's smile disappeared and her eyes widened. The book used to be a person?! Before she could react, she saw Tom's writing appear.

No, Ginevra, the book is not a person.

How did you know what I was thinking?

I told you. I'm Tom Riddle - I know everything.

Ginny couldn't help but feel amused even as she rolled her eyes, impatiently. Fine. Can you please tell me what's happening?

Tom, the wizard who used to write in this diary, attended the school a long time ago. I'm not him. I'm a mere memory. A collection of thoughts, emotions - a shallow reflection of what he used to be. He was powerful. That's how he made me - not all diaries come to life, but he enchanted me.

Ginny stared, awestruck. How?

Ginevra, you've yet to start your first charms class. Do you honestly believe I would be able to explain this to you?

Ginny groaned a little. I suppose not. But you will, later? I want to know.

When the time is right, Ginevra, I will explain everything to you.

"Ginny!"

Ginny started and looked up to see Romilda and the other girls walking toward her. Some of the other girls are here, she wrote quickly.

It would be horrendous of you to deny them your presence and full attention.

Ginny had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at that. She gently shut the book and put it away before rising. She quickly noticed that Romilda was scowling furiously. "What happened?" she asked.

Fern, Seanita and Yvette burst into laughter. "She tried to ask Harry Potter if he knew where the girls' lavatory is," Seanita chuckled.

Romilda scowled, blackly. "It was a perfectly fine question."

Seanita continued. "He just looked at her blankly and told her that he didn't know."

Yvette smirked. "She decided to pretend not to know him and asked if he was in our year. If he didn't know because he was new?"

Seanita jumped in. "He told her no, it's because he's a guy." The girls started tittering again. "She turned so red and he was so embarrassed!"

Romilda frowned. "Hermione Granger ended up giving me directions. I'll never use that washroom while I'm here."

Ginny smirked. "Technically, Romilda, you wouldn't be able to use it while you're anywhere else, either."

Romilda narrowed her eyes at her. "I hate her," she scowled.

Yvette smiled a bit. "Romilda, there's no reason for you to hate her. She's not his girlfriend. He's only twelve."

"Twelve-year-olds will grow up," Romilda growled. "He'll start to feel more for her."

Ginny almost rolled her eyes. "You can't be certain," she stated.

"I heard she saved his life last year," Fern suddenly spoke up. She blinked and cowered under the curious looks she received.

Ginny frowned. Ron had told them about everything Hermione had done the previous year, but he hadn't mentioned anything about her saving his life. "Really?" she asked. "How?"

Fern thought for a second. "He had to get through all of these obstacles, to get to the Sorcerer's Stone. You-Know-Who was after it, and Harry had to save it from him."

Romilda squealed a little. "He's such a hero," she said.

"A hero you embarrassed this morning," Yvette put in, wryly. She nodded at Fern. "Go on then."

"Anyways, the final one was this riddle about a set of potions. Only one would let him get through to the next room. The others were poisons or something. If she hadn't solved the riddle and found the right one for him, he would have died."

Romilda rolled her eyes. "Why didn't he just... Not take any of them?"

Ginny frowned, suddenly aware of a small knot of worry at the bottom of her stomach. "He would have been a sitting duck then," she mused. "You-Know-Who would have found the stone, come back to life, and found him after he regained his power. Harry Potter would not have stood a chance."

Romilda looked at Ginny, and realized that she was right. Hermione Granger had indeed saved the Boy Who Lived's life the previous year. Ginny caught the look on Romilda's face and briefly wondered how her raven-haired rival would react if she knew what Ginny knew - about Hermione setting Snape on fire during the game, or the Devil's Snare, or her figuring out what the Sorcerer's Stone did. About Hermione Granger saving Potter numerous times during the previous year.

Romilda couldn't respond, because all the students had appeared and Lockhart had just opened the door to invite them inside. But Ginny shared one last look with Romilda and both knew that they'd found another rival - one who was ahead of them in a race that she didn't even realize she was a part of. Hermione Granger was a threat.

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A/n

Next Chapter -

Lockhart's first DADA lesson (good for some comedy and... Well, you'll see...).

Ginny talks to Tom about Harry.

The girls go to their house team's first practice match.

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I still haven't decided on pairings, so please tell me what you would like to see so that I can give you what you want! (As much as possible... I am trying though.)

Luv,

Creatress