An Eventful Year

About two weeks before Harry had arrived at The Burrow, as we fondly like to call our house, I got my Hogwarts letter! I had known already that I would be going, as practically all of my family are alumni of Hogwarts, and are all of the house of Gryffindor (except for a cousin of mum’s, who for some odd reason decided to become an accountant. We don’t speak of him). It was still just so exciting to see the official seal of Hogwarts on my letter, addressed to:

"Ms V. Weasley
1st bedroom on the right
3rd floor
The Burrow
Ottery St Catchpole"

I had screamed my head off, greatly shocking Percy and warranting quite a long session of how that sort of behavior was not proper for a young girl as myself. I was simply not in the mood to listen to one of his sermons (What? They were rather long.) so I tuned him out, of course, quickly reading with wonder my letter:

"Dear Ms Weasley,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress"

I had begged Percy to let me use his owl, Hermes (there was of course no way I could use Errol, the poor thing was about to collapse and die. And he was away at the moment. I think Ron was using him.), unfortunately interrupting his lecture. He had gotten a rather.. self-important look on his face and told me very strictly, that Hermes was for his personal use and for his alone.

He then continued on about how my manners reflect upon the family, and how I should follow Bill, Charlie, and his example and always think before acting because it was the proper thing to do. I had glared at him, which he did not notice. I then realised that he wasn’t going to let me go any time soon, so I reread my short letter, staring in wonder at all of Headmaster Dumbledore’s titles (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards) and wondered what on earth a mugwump was.

"So, Ginny, I hope our talk has had some sort of effect on you. I’ll trust you to act with confidence and politeness. After all, you remember that story dad told you about that one rude witch.."

"Yes, Percy," I said without feeling, and took the first opportunity to run to mum and beg her to let me use Hermes. The next day, he set off for Hogwarts, with my reply tied neatly to his leg. Percy had sat in a sulk for about a week after that.

About a week after Harry had arrived, he and Ron walked into the kitchen for breakfast. I was already eating with mum and dad, and when I saw Harry, I accidentally knocked my porridge bowl over and it fell to the floor, making a dreadful noise. Why must I be so clumsy? And I’m usually not, that’s the thing, only when he’s around. Wonderful. I bent down to get my bowl and put it in the sink to rinse. I felt Harry staring at me (I’m sure not in the way I’d want him to stare at me, though. Stupid clumsiness.) as I turned back to the table and started eating again. I felt my face redden and I inwardly cursed myself, sure that I resembled a ripe tomato.

Being a Weasley, I had the red hair, the brown freckles, and the ability to flush like the sunset. Apparently, there’s also a Weasley temper, but I’m not sure if I have that yet. My brother’s do, that’s for sure, and so do mum and dad - mum was certainly frightening when she and dad had that row about the flying car!

Ron sleepily nodded to me, and sat down in a stupor. Mum smiled at Harry, who returned her smile drowsily. Dad passed them their Hogwarts letters, and as Fred and George walked in, gave them theirs as well. I asked mum what they said, and she replied, "They need to buy their school things soon. You’ll need them too, actually. Here’s your list." And she handed me a piece of paper that I quickly scanned:

UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags

COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner’s Guide To Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart
Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart
Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart
Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart
Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart
Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

Oh, this is so exciting! I wonder how I’ll look in my robes! They’ll most likely be secondhand, but I don’t mind. Oh, I wish I could bring an animal, too! I’d love to have a cat. Or maybe an owl, so I can send letters to people! Then again, who would I send letters to?

Mum looked over my shoulder as I read my list of supplies, and let out a loud sigh. I looked at her worried face and knew that she was wondering if she and dad would be able to afford all the things that we all needed. All these Lockhart books! And if we all need them, they’ll need to buy 5 sets! Goodness!

"You’ve been told to get all Lockhart’s books, too!" Fred remarked, looking at Harry’s list of supplies. "The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan - bet it’s a witch."

Mum glared at Fred, which I found rather funny, for we had always thought mum fancied Lockhart.

"That lot won’t come cheap," said George, looking at dad. "Lockhart’s books are really expensive..."

"Well, we’ll manage," said mum, but she still had that worried look on her face and I knew she was saying it more to reassure herself than to set George’s mind at rest. "I expect we’ll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny’s things secondhand."

And then.. he spoke to me!

"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" he asked, looking directly at me.

Somehow, I lost all of my capability for speech (and trust me, I can talk anyone’s ears off) and simply nodded. I brought a hand up to brush away some stray hairs that had escaped my ponytail and then while bringing my arm down, stuck my elbow in the butter dish.

Great. I’m sure he thinks so highly of me now. "Ginny.. Ginny.. oh, the girl who stuck her elbow in the butter dish! I remember her!"

He looked away, trying to suppress a smile. Just what I needed. I don’t think anyone else noticed except for him, because Percy walked in with his Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his shirt. Why on earth? We weren’t at Hogwarts! No one cares about that sort of thing here! With a "Morning all. Lovely day," he sat on an empty chair, then jumped up, pulling Errol out from under him, a letter attached to his leg. Ron carried Errol to his perch and tried to put him on it, but he flopped off every time Ron tried. He eventually gave up and put him on the draining board, and read the letter that he had brought:

Dear Ron, and Harry if you’re there,
I hope everything went all right and that Harry is OK and that you didn’t do anything illegal to get him out, Ron, because that would get Harry in trouble, too. I’ve been really worried and if Harry is all right, will you please let me know at once, but perhaps it would be better if you used a different owl, because I think another delivery might finish your one off.
I’m very busy with school work, of course -

"How can she be? We’re on holiday!" said Ron in disbelief.

- and we’re going to London next Wednesday to buy my new books. Why don’t we meet in Diagon Alley?
Let me know what’s happening as soon as you can,
Love from Hermione.

"Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too," said mum, as she started to clear the table.

Mum woke me up early on Wednesday morning and after quite a few minutes of stumbling about my room all groggy eyed, I went downstairs and found everyone eating bacon sandwiches. I ate a few, dashed upstairs and brushed my teeth (must.. make.. good.. impression.. on Harry.. I thought to myself as I brushed and rinsed). I then ran downstairs and put on my coat, and met everyone in the kitchen, where mum was looking in the flowerpot.

"We’re running low, Arthur", she sighed. "We’ll have to buy some more today.. ah well, guests first! After you, Harry dear!"

He stared at her.

"W-what am I supposed to do?"

"He’s never travelled by Floo powder," realised Ron. "Sorry, Harry, I forgot."

"Never?" said dad. "But how did you get to Diagon Alley to buy your school things last year?"

And then they got into a discussion about the Underground, which Harry is of course familiar with. Or at least, they would’ve if mum hadn’t interrupted them:

"Not now, Arthur. Floo powder’s a lot quicker, dear, but goodness me, if you’ve never used it before -"

"He’ll be all right, mum," said Fred. "Harry, watch us first."

Fred took a pinch of floo powder out of the pot, and threw it into the flames. It turned emerald green and Fred walked into it, shouting, "Diagon Alley" and disappearing.

"You must speak clearly, dear," said mum. "And mind you get out at the right grate-"

"The right what?" said Harry. He looked so nervous. It was rather cute, actually, he was looking into the fire with a rather frightened look on his face as George walked in and followed his brother’s actions.

"Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires to choose from, you know, but as long as you’ve spoken clearly -"

I don’t think she was helping much.

Dad went next, and mum and Ron tried to be helpful and give him advice.

"Now, when you get into the fire, say where you’re going -"

"And keep your elbows tucked in," Ron added.

"And your eyes shut," said mum, putting one arm around me as if to stop me from accidentally falling into the fire. I’m not that clumsy.. "The soot -"

"Don’t fidget. Or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace -"

"But don’t panic and get out too early, wait until you see Fred and George."

He gave them a stricken look, but seemed to summon his resolve and took a pinch of floo powder. He threw it into the fire and stepped in. So far everything was going well. But then he opened his mouth and swallowed some hot ash, all while trying to get out a "Diagon Alley". He disappeared, and Percy went next, then Ron, then me and mum.

We emerged in the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron and saw Fred, George, Percy, Ron, and Dad. But where was Harry?

"He did swallow hot ash and choked on his words," said Ron thoughtfully.

"Hopefully he’s only one grate too far," said dad, glancing at mum, who looked terribly distraught.

Suddenly Ron shouted, "HERMIONE!" and ran towards a girl with bushy brown hair, and slightly large teeth, who was backed by who seemed to be her mum and dad. She hugged him tightly, much to Ron’s displeasure. He had never been fond of people acting all fond of him in public.

Dad grinned at the sight of her parents, who were looking at all of us with a curious wonder. Then I remembered that Ron had told me that Hermione was muggle-born and that they had probably taken Hermione to Diagon Alley last year, but this might have been the first time that they had really been in contact with wizarding folk.

Ron brought Hermione over to us, and Fred and George greeted her heartily with a slap on the back or two. Hermione’s parents looked shocked at her daughter being such good friends with a pair of older twins. Percy nodded a curt hello, and Ron introduced mum, dad, and myself:

"Hermione, this is my mum, my dad, and my little sister, Ginny. She’ll be going to Hogwarts this year." Mum smiled at her, and dad bounded behind her to introduce himself to her parents. Hermione smiled at me.

"Right, you’ll be a first year?"

"Yes! I’m so excited for Hogwarts, all my brothers have told me all about it. It sounds simply fascinating."

"That’s right, you’re the only girl, aren’t you?" she said with a small chuckle. "I know how it feels, having two boys for friends. Terrible, sometimes."

Hermione was all right, I decided.