Special Welcomings

Special Welcomings

Ginny Weasley sat up in bed, stunned by her dream.

"God..." she muttered, as she threw her bed hangings aside, stood up, and went over to the desk.

Her diary lay there, with a quill on top. She had been waiting for this to happen.

Opening it to the first page, she wrote quickly (and in a barely legible script):

August 21, 1997

My dream last night was about this boy... I didn't get a good glimpse of his face, but he was my boyfriend, and we got along perfectly. If only I could find this boy in real life, Diary! Then he would love me, and I'd love him... is this dream a premonition of something to come?

There was a clatter downstairs, and Mrs. Weasley's voice floated upstairs, "Ginny, dear, we're leaving for Diagon Alley if you don't hurry!"

I've got to go now. We're leaving for Diagon Alley to buy me new robes before Harry comes over. Dumbledore said he was allowed to after August 18, so I can't wait!

Love, Ginny

"Coming, Mum!" she called, grabbed her bag, and ran out of the room.

After Ginny (and family) had arrived in Diagon Alley, she ran off to Madam Malkin's.

She hadn't really expected to see anyone from Hogwarts there, as they still had more than a week left till school started, but she got a surprise when she did see someone she knew, all to well.

It was Hermione Granger, browsing the collection of dress robes by the entrance.

"Hermione!" she called, and went over to one of her brother's best friends.

She turned around, surprised, and hugged Ginny.

"Hello, Ginny! I'm so glad you're here... which color do you like best?" she asked, and showed the red-head a maroon-colored robe and a deep-sea blue robe.

"Um--"

"Hermione!"

It was Ron. He ran over, and grasped Hermione.

"Ron! What do you think of this robe?" she showed him the deep-sea blue robe.

"I love it...."

Ginny slowly walked to the regular robes, keeping her eyes trained on Ron and Hermione.

She looked at the regular, black school robes, searching for her size.

Figures Ron would steal the conversation... he always did.

Handing two galleons to the cashier, she left Madam Malkin's with a bag full of robes. Ron was with Hermione, of course, in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ginny knew Harry wouldn't like this, even though he hadn't really shown any interest in Hermione. But he still had a soft spot for her, she was sure. After all, wasn't it him who stood up for her when Ron was mad or gone?

She went into Flourish and Blotts, glancing at the rows and rows of bookshelves.

Up ahead were the row of schoolbooks she would need soon. She knew that she would need Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 already, so she bought it for a galleon and a few knuts. Just when she was exiting the shop, however, she spotted one of her favorite books up on the balcony of the shop.

At a bargain price like one galleon, she thought excitedly, and leather bound... I can afford it.

Ginny rushed up, grabbed the book ( Hogwarts, A History ), but stopped as soon as she saw who was standing about five feet away from her on the balcony.

It was Draco Malfoy.