Ready for Hogwarts
Harry didn’t understand why he kept writing to Ginny Weasley. It had become a strange habit, one he hadn’t expected to develop. Ever since she’d first written to him, they hadn’t stopped exchanging letters. He told her about living with Sirius, about how surreal it felt to finally have a place where he truly belonged. She, in turn, shared tales of her family, especially the annoyances of her older brother Percy. It was simple, comforting.
Life with Sirius had been better than Harry ever could’ve imagined. He had dreaded the summer holidays at first, unsure of what to expect, but the past two months had turned out to be some of the best of his life. It was hard to believe it was real. He felt like he had known Padfoot, as he had started calling Sirius, for years. The bond between them felt instant, like family. Sirius had also introduced him to Remus Lupin, his father’s best friend, who had quickly become another important figure in Harry’s life. Together, the three of them spent the summer talking about his parents, the Marauders, and all the things Harry had missed out on.
He’d written to Blaise and Daphne too, but they were both off in distant countries, enjoying their luxurious summer residences. Harry didn’t mind too much—he wasn’t jealous. He took full advantage of the time to get to know Padfoot and Moony better, finally feeling like he had found the family he’d always longed for.
But now, the summer was over, and Harry found himself eager to return to Hogwarts. He couldn’t wait to see his friends again. Most of all, though, he was looking forward to Ginny’s first year. He prayed she’d be sorted into Slytherin. After all, it was the best house, and with her fiery spirit, she would fit right in.
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Ginny’s POV
“I’m going to Hogwarts! I’m going to Hogwarts! I’m going to Hogwarts!”
That was all I could think about. I told Ron as much, but he just rolled his eyes and muttered, “Shut up, Ginny. You’ve told us about a million times this summer.” Rude, right?
I can’t wait to be free of my brothers. I mean, I love them, but... demons, every single one of them. I’m thrilled to finally get some space away from their chaos.
But Mum—well, she’s doing the whole babying thing. She keeps telling me how much she’s going to miss me. A lot. She’s been saying it every day, like I’m about to disappear into some faraway land. Of course, I’ll miss her and Dad too, but I’m looking forward to a little adventure of my own.
What I’m most excited about, though, is meeting Potter. We’ve been writing all summer, but we still haven’t met face-to-face. If I get sorted into Slytherin, I think I’ll have a great time with him, Daphne, and Blaise. It’ll be nice to have a solid group of friends, especially with Harry. After all, we’ve been talking for months now—about time I got to see what he’s like in person!
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“SLYTHERIN!” shouted the Sorting Hat.
The Great Hall erupted in whispers, a ripple of shock spreading through the four house tables. Ginny Weasley stepped down from the stool, her head held high, but the whispers followed her every step.
“A Weasley in Slytherin?”
“How is this possible?”
Harry Potter couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. It was like he was back on that stool again, the whispers echoing in his ears. But this time, the attention wasn’t on him; it was on Ginny. He watched as she walked toward the Slytherin table, her steps deliberate, her expression unbothered by the gossip.
Blaise Zabini leaned back, smirking. “Nice entrance, Weasley. Well done.”
Ginny arched an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. “Thanks, Zabini. I like to make an impression.” She glanced at Harry and Daphne. “Hello, Potter. Greengrass. Nice to finally meet you.”
Daphne Greengrass offered a polite smile. “Nice to meet you too, Ginny. Welcome to Slytherin.”
Harry grinned, leaning forward. “Hope you have a nice stay.”
Ginny returned his smirk with a confident smile of her own. “Thank you. I’ll try not to cause too much trouble.”
Before Harry could respond, a familiar drawl cut through the conversation. Draco Malfoy had appeared, sneering as he leaned on the table. “I didn’t think Weasleys could get into Slytherin.”
Without missing a beat, Ginny turned to him, her eyes flashing. “I guess even this house needs a bit of class sometimes.”
Draco’s smirk faltered, but he tried again. “Class? From a Weasley?”
Ginny leaned in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Class is something you wouldn’t understand, Malfoy. But I’m sure you’ll catch up eventually.”
The nearby Slytherins chuckled, and even Daphne hid a smile behind her hand. Blaise let out a low whistle. “Looks like you’ve met your match, Malfoy.”
Draco glared but said nothing, retreating to his seat further down the table.
Ginny settled into her seat beside Harry. “Well,” she said, eyes sparkling with mischief, “this is going to be fun.”
Harry laughed. “You’ll fit right in.”