Furious Angels

Chapter Six: The Journey from Platform 9 3/4...

Even though both Harry and Ginny had been looking forward to returning to Hogwarts, the end of their summer holiday came far too quickly for both. Even with the stresses and troubles caused by his bond with Ginny, Harry had experienced the best summer of his life. Compared to the Dursleys, the Weasleys were the perfect family, and their home was far preferable to the house on Privet Drive. For Ginny, on the other hand, her enthusiasm for finally getting to attend Hogwarts with her brothers had transformed into a nervous dread about leaving the safety of home. The only thing keeping her marginally balanced was Harry.

When the day finally arrived, the collected Weasleys and Harry seemed to encounter every possible delay in actually leaving. Packing took everyone too long, and endless rounds of "I forgot..." caused the family to turn around at least three times. In the end, Molly announced that they were going, and anything left behind would be owled. They finally reached King's Cross Station with only twenty minutes to spare.

With their luggage, the family rushed toward the barrier separating Platforms nine and ten. As Arthur watched the clock, first Percy, then the twins and Ron all hurried through the portal to Platform 9¾. "You two go ahead, we'll be right behind you," Mrs. Weasley told Ginny and Harry. Side-by-side, the children started toward the portal. They sped up to a light run, as Molly had long-advised her children to do.

With a loud CRASH both of their carts slammed into the barrier and rebounded. Their luggage spilled this way and that; Hedwig's cage fell over and rolled off toward Platform 10; the poor owl inside shrieked indignantly at the mistreatment. Harry was knocked off his feet by the impact, while Ginny involuntarily performed what otherwise would have been a perfect front flip over the handles of her cart. She landed on her back on top of her trunk.

The Muggles around them stared, and a guard asked angrily, "What in bloody hell do you kids think you're playing at?"

"Sorry... sorry... they lost control of their carts. Won't happen again," Arthur said hurriedly. He and Molly rushed forward. They helped the children to their feet. "Are you two all right? Are you hurt?"

"Fine... fine, Mum," Ginny gasped. Her wind had been knocked out of her, and it took a moment for her to stand up straight. She looked to Harry and saw he was having as much trouble.

Arthur was slapping the barrier with one of his hands. "We do not have time for this silly thing to malfunction." He looked at his watch. "Five minutes to go. Molly, stay here and watch their things. Kids, grab hold of my arm." Harry and Ginny both did as they were told. A moment later, they both experienced the exquisite unpleasantness that comes from being squeezed through a tube. In an eye-blink, they found themselves on Platform 9 3/4 facing the Hogwarts Express.

"Okay, kids... on you go!" Arthur handed Harry up onto the train, then boosted Ginny on.

Ginny was confused. "Daddy, what about our things?"

"It's okay, pumpkin... your mother and I will send them along as quickly as possible. It's more important that you aren't late for your first day of school." The train lurched into motion. Arthur followed as best he could, calling out, "I'm proud of you, Ginny! You'll do fine! Harry, take care of her!" Within seconds, they had left the station and were on their way.

It took Harry and Ginny several minutes to locate Hermione Granger, who had managed to grab a compartment midway down the train. Ron sat on the bench opposite her, looking for all the world like he'd swallowed an unpeeled lemon.

"Harry! Ginny! Where were you? Where is all your stuff?"

"The portal sealed for some reason! We couldn't get through! Dad had to Apparate us onto the platform, and we got on the train just in time. He said that our stuff would be sent up to the school... I hope it gets there before too long... it would stink, only having one set of clothes for days," Ginny said, all in one breath.

"Stinks in here already," Ron muttered, turning to stare out of the window. "Stinks of mud in here..."

"Sorry, Ron... what was that?" Hermione asked, grinning. "I was listening to Ginny, sorry." He rolled his eyes at her and turned back to the window. No one else in the compartment had even heard him speak.

"What's wrong with Ron?" Harry asked.

Hermione just shook her head. She leaned in close, so Ron couldn't hear. "I don't know... he's been quiet and angry since I got here. Honestly, when I opened the compartment door he seemed about to tell me off for bothering him!"

"Is something wrong?" Harry eyed Ron speculatively. His friend was still staring out the window at the passing countryside.

"You'd know better than I would, I'm afraid." With that, Hermione sat back on the padded bench and sighed. She glanced at Ron, then turned back to Harry and shrugged.

Harry could only shrug back. He opened his mouth to say something, but his attention was caught by movement he saw only out of the corner of his eye. He turned toward the train's corridor and watched a dejected looking boy trundle by, pulling his trunk.

Harry stood and opened the compartment door. "Neville!" he called. "Come on in and sit down! Plenty of room in here." He held the door open and smiled.

Neville Longbottom stopped and turned back; he seemed to consider the offer for a moment before turning back toward Harry. "Thanks, Harry... I was wondering if I'd find somewhere to sit at all. A bunch of Ravenclaws sort of drove me out of the compartment I was in, and the rest were filled with people who didn't seem to want me around. Malfoy actually laughed at me..."

Longbottom stopped when he saw Ginny, Hermione, and Ron. He looked back to Harry, a question in his eyes, but Harry just nodded. "Go on, Neville... we've got plenty of room. Besides, you know we couldn't let a good friend wander around the train, could we?" At the phrase 'good friend', Neville looked confused, but only for a moment.

Ron turned to Hermione. "Budge up, there, Hermione. Come on in and sit down, Neville..." he said, indicating a place next to him. Hermione looked vaguely hurt... for Neville to sit down there, she'd have to move over, away from Ron. She looked at Ron for a moment, then shook her head and scooted toward the compartment door.

"Thanks! I really appreciate it." Neville stowed his trunk on the luggage rack with the others, then sat heavily between Ron and Hermione. "So how was everyone's summer?"

"Don't ask..." Ron said. "You wouldn't believe what my family's been put through this summer." As he eyed Harry and Ginny, his face assumed a look one normally would associate with encountering a bad smell. "We've had reporters camped just outside our gate for close to a month. Ever since those two..." He tipped his head to Harry and Ginny.

"Ron, stop it," Harry said. "You know that we don't want reporters hounding us all the time any more than you do."

Ron snorted. "Whatever." He turned back to the window.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." Ron shook his head. "I'm sorry... I'm just tired. I haven't been feeling well the last couple of days and it's making me cranky, all right? Let's just... drop it. I don't mean anything by it, promise..."

Harry was quiet for a moment, but then smiled. "Sure, Ron... we all have bad days. It's not like I can't say I haven't ever snapped at you and Hermione, right?"

"Yeah, true... Sorry everybody. I didn't mean to..." Ron shrugged and stared at the floor.

"It's all right, Ron. Harry's right. People have their bad days." Hermione smiled at him, and Ron managed to return it.

"So... er... Harry... I saw in the Daily Prophet something about... er... you two are married or something? For real married, I mean... not just pretend or something?" Neville asked, blushing. "You're Ron's baby sister, right?"

"Oh, sorry about that. Neville Longbottom, this is my Ginny. Ginny, this is my good friend Neville," Harry said. "And yeah, it's for real." Harry grinned a bit shyly. He looked at Ginny, and she looked back at him, smiling.

"Oh you don't have to introduce us, Harry... I know who Neville is. He's one of my..." Ginny trailed off, looking utterly confused. "We've met, right? I mean... I know you... you seem... familiar..."

"Er... I don't think so..." Neville said.

Harry just stared at her. "Did you meet him last year on the platform? Before the train left?"

"I... maybe... I just..." Ginny scratched her head. "Oh well... it will come to me." She leaned in and hugged Harry, beaming. "It's not important, anyway. I'm glad Neville's here. I'm sure I'll like him, since he's your friend.

Neville smiled, amazed at how happy Harry and Ginny seemed together. "Well... that's good then." Neville smiled back. He sighed, deeply, thinking about his life in general. "I should have thought of doing that... find a nice girl and pay her family a bride-price..." he muttered. "Don't think my Gran would like it if I did it without her say so, though." Harry and Ginny both chuckled at the thought. Ron merely scowled.

"Oh, I didn't pay a bride-price." At Neville's confused look, Harry continued. "I know that's what the Prophet said, but I didn't pay a bride price. I gave Ginny my mother's engagement ring," Harry said with a smile.

"You gave her an engagement ring, and that's all it took to get married? That must be some engagement ring..." Neville laughed.

"Professor Dumbledore told my Mum and Dad that the diamond in the ring isn't really a diamond. He says it's a Soul Stone... some kind of love-stone," Ginny said. "From what Dad told us after, you can only give a Soul Stone to someone who is your one true love, and you can only take a Soul Stone from someone who is your one true love."

Neville's eyes widened. "So how did you find out Ron's little sister was your one true love? I don't know if I even know a girl well enough to say I like her, much less love her..."

"Well, before I left the Burrow, I gave her the ring." Harry grinned.

"What, you mean right before you left for school? But the story was in the paper weeks ago. How...?" Neville asked, confused.

"Oh, no... it wasn't then... it was before I left!" Harry said. He looked at Ginny and smiled.

Neville shook his head, utterly mystified. "Well, if it works for you."

Ginny was looking around the compartment with a thoughtful look on her face. "Harry... I'll be right back... there are only five of us here and there should be six. There should be six of us here." She squeezed his hand and exited the compartment.

"What's she on about?" Ron asked. "Where's she going?"

"No clue, mate..." Harry shrugged.

"From what she said, I suppose she's gone to look for someone," Hermione said. She was quiet for a moment. "You know, Harry... ever since this thing between the two of you happened, she's been acting very strangely. You both have. You say things that make no sense sometimes."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Hermione," Harry said seriously.

"Well... next time you say something odd, I'll point it out. That way, you'll know."

Ginny returned several minutes later, pulling a school trunk. Behind her trailed a girl with large, pale eyes and stringy blonde hair. She was wearing a slightly puzzled smile, and had her wand tucked behind her ear. "This is Luna Lovegood, everyone," Ginny said. "This is Luna Lovegood. She's just starting Hogwarts, like me. She wasn't having any fun in her compartment so I invited her to join us."

"Nice to meet you, Luna, I'm Hermione Granger," she said. She pointed to the others in the compartment. "This is Neville Longbottom, that's Ron Weasley; he's Ginny's brother. And this is Harry Potter."

Neville and Harry nodded to her, but Ron stared for a moment. "I've seen you around Ottery-Saint-Catchpole, haven't I? You live there too, don't you? We're in the Burrow, out past the sheep pens," he asked.

"Oh, yes. My father and I live right on the Otter River, a bit northward of the village proper." Luna entered the compartment and helped Ginny manhandle her trunk up onto the rack. Ginny sat beside Harry and patted the seat next to her, indicating that Luna should sit down.

Luna smiled at everyone in the compartment in their turn, but soon turned to Harry and stared at him for a moment. She didn't seem to blink as often as she should. "Are you really Harry Potter? How interesting... you seem much shorter than you look in the newspapers. Congratulations on your recent nuptials. I recognized Ginny's name from the Daily Prophet when she introduced herself to me back in my original compartment." Luna pointed to Ginny.

"Er... yes," Harry responded. "So, how do you know Ginny?"

"I don't actually think I do, really," Luna said vaguely. "But she was friendly to me, and friendly is always better than not friendly. Don't you think? So I followed her when she invited me to this compartment. It's nice to meet you all, of course. Even though you seem to be sulking," Luna nodded toward Ron, "it is nice to meet you all the same. Thank you for inviting me to your compartment. My last one was no fun at all."

"Why? What was happening?" Neville asked a bit shyly.

"The people in the compartment weren't very nice," Luna said. They took the magazine I was reading and made fun of me for reading it. They also said I was odd-looking, which is strange because I would think that 'odd-looking' is a purely subjective concept, don't you agree? And then that fellow Malfoy arrived and it all turned sort of pear-shaped." She blinked, slowly. "He was obviously a bully, and thus not really worth wasting time on, but one of the girls actually tried to ingratiate herself with him. I don't think she was too successful."

Hermione chuckled. "That's a surprise. He usually laps up flattery like a cat laps cream." That caused everyone in the compartment to laugh, except Luna, who just looked vaguely pleased.

"So... er... um... Luna?" At the girl's nod, Neville continued. "So... which House do you think you'd like to be sorted into?

Luna was silent for a long time. The only thing moving were her feet, which swung back and forth in front of her. Finally, just when everyone had gained the impression she was purposefully ignoring Neville, she spoke. "I hadn't actually thought about it, really. I'm not sure I'm truly in support of the idea of labeling an eleven year old child and putting them into a category for life. I mean... what if I am sorted into Ravenclaw for my intelligence and love of knowledge, like my parents were. Does that mean I'm incapable of being brave? Or loyal? Or clever? I just don't know, really." Hermione was nodding, but everyone else just stared at her.

"So... um... Ravenclaw then?" Neville asked. "Like your parents?"

Luna stared at him, the vaguely pleased look still on her face. "Not necessarily. I think I'd prefer to be in a House where I was liked, and where I would have a pleasant and supportive learning environment, more than simply one that was arbitrarily selected because my psychological profile indicated a preponderance of a certain trait." She looked at Ginny. "Do you have any idea which House you want to be sorted into?"

Ginny nodded. "Of course I do. Gryffindor."

"Why?" Luna's question was asked quietly, but it had the effect of an explosion. Everyone in the compartment stopped moving and simply stared.

"Er... because... um... well... everyone in my family has been in Gryffindor, or close enough to everyone." Ginny turned to Harry and blushed. "And because he's there... Mostly because he's there."

"All right... but think about this for a moment. What if it is determined that your most prominent psychological traits are your cleverness and your willingness to ruthlessly wield power? You'd be placed in Slytherin House regardless of the fact that you actively desire to follow your husband into Gryffindor. Is that fair? Hardly." Luna pulled one of her legs up onto the bench and rested her chin on her knee.

Hermione smiled at the other girl. "Luna, that's really well-thought-out. So I suppose the answer to Neville's question is that you really have no preference?"

"Oh, no... I have a preference. It's just that my preference falls outside the scope of the four answers you're expecting." Luna looked to Neville. "I thought I answered your question. I want to go into whichever House provides the best environment in which to spend the next seven years. One where I can feel safe and supported. I haven't felt safe and supported much. Not since my mother died, at any rate."

Harry swallowed. "How long ago did she...?"

"She died a year and a half ago. She was a brilliant witch, but she liked to try new things. One of her experiments went horribly wrong." For the first time, the dreamy expression left Luna's face. "I was there for all of it. I was all alone with her until Daddy came home."

Everyone was quiet for a long time, not really sure how to respond. Finally, and somewhat unexpectedly, Ginny pulled Luna into a tight hug. "It's going to be okay, Luna."

"Are you sure, Ginny?" Luna asked, returning the hug.

"Of course I'm sure. I'm one of your best friends, and I'd never lie to you. Everything that's happened is so it will be better this time. It's going to be better than it was last time. Trust me." Ginny smiled. Luna hugged Ginny again without saying anything. Hermione, on the other hand, turned to Harry.

"There. That was one of those times when something is said that doesn't make any sense. How could she be one of Luna's best friends when they only just met? And just what does she mean, 'better than it was the last time'?"

Harry just shook his head. "I told you, Hermione, I still don't know what you're talking about."

They all looked up suddenly as their compartment door was slammed open. Standing in the opening was Draco Malfoy, with his cronies Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle standing behind him. "Well, Potter..." Malfoy sneered. "... It seems you've lost your wife, already... and to a girl, no less. I guess you just can't give her what she needs."

Harry stared at Malfoy for a moment. He shook his head as he stood up. "Malfoy, are you really this thick? By just being here you're ignoring everything I said to you in the book shop." Harry crossed his arms, almost daring the other boy to act. "Too stupid to know when to shut up, that's your problem."

Malfoy growled and went for his wand. Harry responded by kicking the other boy as hard as he could, right in the crotch. Crabbe and Goyle stepped back, their surprise apparent on their faces as they watched their leader collapse, whimpering.

Harry looked first to one, then the other of Malfoy's henchmen. "Pick up this trash and go, or I swear you're going to get hurt." The larger boys looked at each other and nodded. They reached down to lift Malfoy from the floor, but when Crabbe reached for Malfoy's wand, Harry stepped forward. He put his full weight on the wand. "No... he's forfeited that. Now get!" Crabbe and Goyle stared at Harry for a moment. They took off down the corridor as quickly as they could while carrying Malfoy's weight.

When they were gone, Harry stooped and picked up Malfoy's wand. "So... now that I have Malfoy's wand... what do I do with it? I'm not really sure why I took it..." He looked at the other five in the compartment. Expressions ranged from disinterested attention from Luna to utter shock from Hermione.

Surprisingly, it was Neville who spoke up. "Er... Harry... I... er... did you really claim an honor debt from the Malfoys? I read about it in the Prophet... they said it was a sealed and witnessed claim..."

"Yeah, I did," Harry responded. "Draco Malfoy called my wife a whore."

At that Neville nodded. "Well then... go ahead and snap that. If he still insulted you after you warned him... well... it's his own fault. Now that you've beaten him in a fair fight, you've got the right to claim his wand."

"Harry, no... don't... you'll get in so much trouble," Hermione interjected. "Think of what Snape will do to you..."

"Snape can't do a thing... this was a legal challenge and Malfoy has to accept the consequences. Personally, I think it was rather stupid of him to even attempt anything, what with the fact that they were outnumbered two to one. But then, I did say he was a bully earlier. Most bullies aren't that bright. In fact, it's really the smart bullies you have to watch out for." All eyes turned to Luna, who ignored the attention.

"Ron?" Harry asked.

"Snap it. Bloody pillock deserves it."

"Language, Ron..." Ginny said. "But I agree, Harry. He deserves it."

Harry thought about it for a moment, and then turned to open the compartment's window. Almost casually, he snapped Malfoy's wand in two and tossed the pieces out of the train. "Well... at least we won't have to worry about that plonker trying to hex us in the back." He turned back to his friends. "So, anyone interested in a game of Exploding Snap?"

XxxxxxX

When the conductor's voice sounded through the train, announcing that they were swiftly approaching Hogsmeade Station, the three boys left the compartment to the girls, who drew the curtains closed and changed into their school uniforms. When the girls were finished, it was the boys' turn.

When they were finished dressing, the six children grabbed whatever sweets, books, and cards that were still out and quickly stuffed them into pockets, bags, and trunks. Leaving their luggage on the train, for they knew that it would be brought up later by the Castle's house-elves, they stepped out onto the crowded, dimly lit train platform.

Harry pulled Ginny into a hug. "This is where we split up. You go with Hagrid and I'll see you in the Great Hall. Good luck with your sorting." He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"Oh, please, Harry..." she said in response. "Really... you sound like I'm going off to war and am not expected back. You've told me all about it. Hagrid, boat ride, some stairs, and then the Sorting Hat. No worries at all, there."

He smiled at her. "Go on then. See you in a bit." Harry caught up with Ron and Hermione. Giving her one last smile over his shoulder, he disappeared down a side path that seemed to lead to a cart-filled dirt road.

Ginny turned and took Luna by the hand. "This is going to be such fun!" Luna nodded and started to say something, but was interrupted by a new voice coming out of the shadow.

"Was that really Harry Potter, there? The one who gave you the smooch?" A blonde-haired boy with a bright, open face stepped toward the two girls. "Is he your boyfriend, then?"

Ginny was taken aback. "Er... no... he was my husband." The boy's mouth fell open in shock. It seemed as if he was going to ask another question, but Ginny stopped him. "Sorry, but do I know you?"

"Oh, I'm Colin... Colin Creevey. Nice to meet you." Colin smiled at Ginny, and it occurred to her that she hadn't yet given the boy her own name.

"Nice to meet you too," she said unenthusiastically. "This is Luna Lovegood. I'm Ginny Potter."

"You're married! To the Boy-Who Lived! That's wicked!" The boy seemed to collect himself for a moment. "Wait... you're my age, aren't you? How could you be eleven and married?"

"That really isn't any of your business, now is it?" Luna fixed the boy with her eyes and seemed to hold him. "Now, I do believe that large, hairy person over there is trying to get our attention," she continued. The three of them turned to see a gigantic, heavily bearded man step onto the platform bearing a lantern.

"Oh! It's Hagrid! He's very nice... not as scary as he seems, believe me." Ginny grinned. "Come on... let's go!"

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! C'mon, follow me... any more of yeh? Firs' years! Mind yer step, there! Firs' years... follow me." Hagrid lead the new students down a steeply sloping path that lead, between a copse of tall trees, to the shore of a lake. As they rounded the turn that lead to the water's edge, the assembled students got their first real look at Hogwarts Castle.

Everyone stopped in awe of the view. The castle itself seemed covered in a thousand glittering jewels, each gem a window lit from the inside. It sat on a high plateau, and overlooked the lake at the top of a rather precipitous drop.

"All right... no more'n four to a boat, now," Hagrid called. The students' attention was called back to the shore, where a fleet of white rowboats sat. Ginny scrambled into a boat and helped Luna in after her. They were joined by Colin Creevey and a blonde girl who identified herself as Ella Wilbanks. "Everyone in a boat? Everyone in?" Hagrid had a boat to himself. Many of the children, Ginny included, were sure that the huge man would swamp the thing, but it seemed to take his weight with ease. "Right then... FORWARD!"

At Hagrid's command, the fleet of boats left the shore all at once, moving across the black water of the lake. The waves on the lake were relatively gentle, but they were still there. As a result, unfortunately, by the time the boats approached a sheer rock face not a few of the first year students were looking decidedly green around the edges.

"What you need to do, Ginny," Luna said, rubbing her friend gently on the back to help ease the nausea, "is find a solid point on land that's not moving and concentrate on that. Just stare at that point. Trust me it helps." Next to her, Colin Creevey abruptly leaned over the side of the boat and vomited loudly. He tipped the boat so far that they actually took on a bit of water.

They came closer and closer to the cliff face, and just as it looked like they were going to ram a particularly ivy-covered section of rock wall, Hagrid called out, "HEADS DOWN!" All the students bent down low as the boats entered an underground harbor. When the boats stopped, the children scrambled out onto a small, rocky, pebble-strewn beach.

Hagrid did a quick head-count, and then waved the students forward. "This way, now... follow me." He led his charges up a narrow passageway in the rock. Soon enough, the new students were walking across the damp grass of the castle's front lawn. They climbed a flight of stone steps to the huge oaken door. Hagrid raised his fist and knocked on the castle's main door three times.

In response, the door swung wide, revealing a tall, black-haired witch wearing bottle-blue robes. Ginny recognized her from Harry's description. This was Professor McGonagall. The professor wore a stern expression that immediately conveyed the message this was not a person who put up with a lot of silliness from her students.

Hagrid seemed to stand slightly straighter in her presence. "Here are the firs' years, Perfesser McGonagall. All safe and sound."

She nodded to the huge man and said, "Thank you very much, Hagrid. I'll take them from here." Professor McGonagall waved the students in through the doors. Ginny's first impression of the entrance hall was that it was as tall as the Burrow was, but with much more space. The room was lit by torches that cast spooky-looking shadows on the walls and floors. An impressively wide staircase was on one side of the room, heading upward.

Professor McGonagall led the students to a pair of double doors on the right side of the chamber. From behind the doors came the sound of hundreds of voices. The group stopped in front of the doors, where Professor McGonagall finally turned to them.

"Welcome, students, to your first year at Hogwarts," she said. "The Welcoming Feast will be starting presently, immediately following your sorting. The Sorting Ceremony will determine which of Hogwarts' four Houses you will belong to. The Houses themselves are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin." The professor's voice took on a decided chilly note as she said the last name.

McGonagall stood there, watching the children for a moment. "While you're here, the Houses will be like your family. You will live with the students in your House, eat with them, go to classes with them, and sleep in the same rooms as they do. Most of your time will be spent with your Housemates, though of course there is nothing preventing you from having friends in other houses." Professor McGonagall gave the new students a looking over. She nodded primly and said, "I shall return shortly. Please wait here quietly."

Ginny turned to Luna. "Well... I guess this is it. Are you excited?" Ginny asked.

"Oh yes, I'm very excited." Luna smiled dreamily at her friend. For all that she was showing it, one might think Luna had been put under a tranquilizing spell.

Ginny laughed at the irony. "Given any more thought to the House you wish to be in?"

Luna nodded. "I have, yes. I think I know what I want to say to the Sorting Hat when it's my turn to wear it."

"Wait... Sorting Hat? What's a Sorting Hat?" A tall boy with bulging, frog-like eyes and buck teeth approached them.

"Oh... well... Harry... You know, Harry Potter?" At the boy's nod, Ginny continued speaking. "Well, he told me that when we're sorted they put a hat on our heads. The hat can read our thoughts, and it decides which House you go into. And if there's more than one House you could go into, it will actually ask you which one you like."

"What? My brother Tony told me they'd test us on spell knowledge..." The boy seethed. "I'm going to pop him in the conk when I see him." Several of the other children visibly relaxed, making it abundantly clear that 'Tony', whoever he was, hadn't been the only one to wind up their younger relatives.

When the castle's numerous ghosts came to see the new students, Ginny and Luna stood back out of the way and watched. Each of the House Ghosts introduced themselves, and except for the Bloody Baron, all of them encouraged the students to enter their own particular Houses. The Bloody Baron merely floated through the entranceway, silently.

Before too long, Professor McGonagall was back. She shoo'd the ghosts away before speaking. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start. Please form a line and follow me."

Ginny immediately fell into line with Luna ahead of her and the girl she rode in the boat with, Ella something, behind her. The group of new students passed through the double doors and into the Great Hall itself. The wave of sound struck Ginny as if it was tangible. She remembered what Harry and Ron, and even her Mum and Dad had told her about the Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle, but nothing truly prepared her for the actual experience of it. The room was huge and high... and looking up Ginny was awestruck by the view of the heavens the ceiling provided. Every star was there, blinking down at her, as was the brightly shining full moon.

But what truly captured Ginny's attention were the other students. Hundreds of students were already sitting at four long tables that ran the length of the room. The light from the hundreds of floating candles reflected off the gold-colored dinnerware. The High Table, at the far end of the lines of tables at which the students were sitting, held the teachers.

Ginny craned her neck, looking around until she spotted Harry, sitting next to Ron and across from Hermione at the table to the far left. She spotted Percy and the twins, as well as Neville. When Harry waved, she smiled in return and gave him a brief wave back. At least she knew where the Gryffindor table was. She felt a bit abashed by the fact that the entire student body was watching the new students walk in. It was a disturbing feeling, being on display, and she suddenly realized that this was a bit of insight into Harry's opinions on being famous.

Ahead of the line, Professor McGonagall was seen placing a four-legged stool at the center of a wide area between the Head Table and the four House tables. She then put a truly manky-looking hat on the stool. It was very dirty, this hat, and had obviously been repaired and patched at one time or another. Judging from the frayed brim and the worn tip, the repair job was hardly recent. For a few moments, everything was silent. All eyes were on the hat. Ginny knew what to expect. When the hat began to sing, she shifted her attention away to the other tables. She spotted Draco Malfoy at the Slytherin table immediately. He wasn't paying attention to the hat anymore than she was; rather, it seemed he was staring a Harry. She glanced at her husband, but he was talking to Neville in hushed tones and not paying attention to the death-glare Malfoy was giving him.

The sudden applause brought Ginny's attention back to the goings on. The hat had finished singing, and the Sorting Ceremony proper was commencing. Professor McGonagall, holding a long piece of parchment, stepped forward. "When I call your name, please step forward to be sorted. You will sit and put on the hat. Creevey, Colin!"

The nosy-parker boy who had spewed up his sweets in the boat nervously stepped out of the line and sat down. Professor McGonagall dropped the hat onto his head. At first the thing looked to be swallowing him, but Colin pushed the brim back to expose his eyes. After a few seconds, the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR".

Dabbs, Zachary!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Dane, Abraham!"

"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat. The boy, who had shown himself to be in no hurry on the way to the stool, showed the same lack of hurry heading to his House table.

"Dinsden, Edmund!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Doegood, Magnus!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Ginny's attention strayed to Harry again. If she had to tell the truth, it didn't matter to Ginny where anyone else was sorted, except for Luna. She hoped her friend ended up in Gryffindor. That she herself would end up in the House of the Brave, she had absolutely no doubt. Because she wasn't paying attention, she missed it when "Derkery, Jane" became a Ravenclaw, or when "Dory, Elizabeth" became a Gryffindor. Her attention only came back to the sorting when both "Harper, Matthew" and "Honeyborne, Edith" both became Slytherins one after another.

Because the next name Professor McGonagall called out was "Lovegood, Luna!"

Ginny nervously watched her friend step from the small collection of students left to be sorted and sat on the stool. Her head was small enough that the hat seemed to fall all the way to her shoulders. Ginny frowned as the older students laughed at the sight.

Everyone began shifting nervously as time ran on and the hat still hadn't sorted Luna Lovegood. Seconds stretched into a minute. At two minutes, the hat surpassed the delay it had in sorting Elizabeth Dory. Three minutes. Four. At four minutes and twenty seconds, the hat finally called out "Gryffindor!" Professor McGonagall pulled the hat from Luna Lovegood's head. The blonde-haired little girl ran to her House table, and everyone applauded, but the eyes of the teachers and older students were on the hat. Never had it ever announced a student's house with less enthusiasm...

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loud enough to capture everyone's attention and called out, "MacConnell, Graham"

This time the hat took almost no time at all to call out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Professor McGonagall looked to the parchment she carried. When she read the next name, her eyes rose to meet Ginny's. Ginny immediately felt her stomach drop through the floor, because she knew what was coming. "Potter, Ginevra!"

Ginny heard the collective murmur increase as her name was repeated across the Great Hall. Keeping her chin up, she stepped toward the stool and the old hat, not wanting to meet anyone's eyes. Even so, she couldn't help but look at Professor Dumbledore, whose eyes were locked on hers.

Ginny was sure that the extra attention afforded her by the crowd was the result of the Daily Prophet and all of the articles it had featured about her, her family, and her life with Harry. She glanced quickly over at Harry, who was watching her from the Gryffindor table. He shot her a quick thumbs-up and smiled, patting the empty space next to him. She grinned back at him.

She'd only just sat when Professor McGonagall dropped the hat onto her head. It fell down, past her eyes, obviously meant for someone whose head was quite a bit larger than her own. A voice spoke directly into her head. She knew, instinctively, that it was the voice of the hat, but its sudden presence in her head still came as a shock.

Well, this is quite unexpected. Something I haven't encountered for so very, very long. Oh, my poor, sweet girl, you don't even know what you've done to yourself, or to your paramour, the voice of the Sorting Hat said.

What does that mean? she asked. Whatever it meant, it didn't sound good.

Ah... no, that you will have to discover for yourself. I do wish you all the happiness in the world, and offer you my sympathies for the pains you will endure, the Hat said. Bit of a disappointment, really. Waiting this long to sort a Weasley who isn't an automatic candidate for Gryffindor, and the decision is already been made for me.

Not automatically a Gryffindor? Ginny was shocked. But my entire...

Oh no... please don't misunderstand. The Hat sounded almost apologetic. I'm not saying you wouldn't do well... but like your husband, you would do well in nearly all the houses. You're brave enough, don't get me wrong, but you're also loyal to a fault and you aren't afraid of hard work. You've got a quick and agile mind and you like to solve problems. And you've got a drive, a hunger almost, to succeed. It's the drive that brought you to this place, and this time... but who am I to attempt to break a soul bond. You, dear child, belong in... "GRYFFINDOR!"

It took Ginny a long moment to realize the Hat had spoken the last word out loud. The various students applauded, especially those at the Gryffindor table. Smiling, Ginny ran to join Harry, Ron, Luna, and Hermione in the School House that would be her family for the next seven years.