Chapter One

It was the morning of September 1st, 1992. Harry Potter was just boarding the Hogwarts Express to begin his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Walking down the corridor of the train, he was greeted by many of his classmates, many giving a simple "hello" while others stopped to ask how his summer had been. Looking back on the past couple months, it was about the same as it had always been. His aunt and uncle forced him to do their bidding while his cousin, Dudley, took joy in bullying him endlessly, both verbally and physically. He couldn't very well tell the others that, much less expect them to understand it, so he just responded with a simple, "it was fantastic," before heading off to find Ron and Hermione.

As he entered the compartment, he was greeted with a welcoming embrace from Hermione, "Harry! How was your summer? We were starting to worry that the Dursleys didn't let you come back."

Smiling at his best friend's enthusiasm, he returned her hug before taking a seat beside Ron, who gave him a quick punch in the arm, "Oi! How was your summer? They didn't give you too much trouble did they, mate?"

Harry frowned, knowing that hell would have to freeze over before Vernon and Petunia wouldn't give him 'too much trouble', "It was no worse than the usual I reckon, as long as I stayed out of their way. Practically the only time they acted like I existed was when it benefited them."

Hermione reached over and put her hand on Harry's, "It's ok. You're here now, no one will hurt you at Hogwarts." Hermione smiled as Harry raised an eyebrow, knowing her statement wasn't entirely true, "Besides, even if they tried, you'll have Dumbledore to protect you."

She had a point. Harry couldn't argue that if anyone would be able to keep him from harm, it would be Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. The man had done a great deal for Harry, even in the short time he had known him. Dumbledore was pretty much the only father figure he had ever had in his life.

With their greeting out of the way, Harry was ready to bring his friends up to speed on the more interesting parts of his summer, namely his visit from one Dobby the House-Elf. He told them of the little creacher's antics that night at Privet Drive, as well as how he had been intercepting Ron and Hermione's letters in hopes of discouraging Harry from returning to school.

After discussing the details of the past summer, Harry was ready to change the subject. As if to be literally saved by the bell, he heard the Honeydukes Express a few rows down from them on the train. "Hey, I think I hear the sweets trolly," Harry began, getting up from his seat quickly and pulling a few galleons from his pocket, "would you guys like anything?"

Hermione requested a package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans, while Ron requested a few chocolate frogs. Nodding, Harry exited the cabin to make his way to the trolly.

A few minutes had passed as Harry had made his way through the line, getting the desired treats. As he made his way back towards his cabin, he noticed a younger red haired girl sitting alone in a cabin, looking out the window. From the looks of it, it sounded as if she had been crying. Harry started to walk on past, but stopped, taking a second glance at the girl.

"Er, excuse me, are you alright?" He asked, leaning in the doorway. The girl turned around to face him, her eyes widening as she realized just who Harry was. Her eyes immediately went up to his forehead, noting the scar, before she quickly turned back around and continued looking out the window. "It's Ginny, right? Ginny Weasley. You're Ron's little sister." Harry said, with a tone of uncertainty in his voice.

The young girl looked back at him, giving a gentle nod, as a shy smile came across her face. "And you're Harry. Harry Potter. Ron's best friend." Oh bloody hell, what am I saying? I should've just kept quiet and he would've probably just left, Ginny thought, though she was secretly glad she mustered the courage to speak up.

"Er, yeah, that's right," Harry began, "Listen, I'm sorry for popping in on you like this. It's just that I heard crying coming from a cabin as I passed by and I, uh, thought it may have been you. Is everything alright?"

Ginny's smile from just moments before had quickly faded and was replaced by a look of sadness, "Yeah. I'm-I'm sorry. Some kid was messing with me a few minutes ago. He said that he knew I was a Weasley just because of the way my robe's looked."

Harry cursed under his breath, which brought a little grin to the girl's face, "That must've been Draco Malfoy, he's in my year. And a real git if I say so myself. But hey, don't listen to him. Your robes look perfectly fine."

This time Ginny's face lit up with the first genuine smile Harry had seen from her today, "Thanks, Harry. That's sweet." she stated. Harry could see the appreciation in his eyes.

Harry had an idea, though he wasn't sure how Ron would feel about it. "Hey, Ginny," he began, "would you like to join Ron, Hermione, and me in our compartment? We're just a few doors down here."

"That's really sweet of you to offer, Harry," Ginny said, smiling, "but I doubt that Ron would want his little sister intruding on his time with his friends."

"Well, I know that you are his sister, but wouldn't you be considered 'one of his friends' too?" Harry asked.

"Oh please, Ron has spent the last eleven years living in a house with me and having no choice in the matter. I'm sure that's enough for him."

Harry laughed, "Well then, I guess another thirty minutes or so won't kill him. Come on, then!"

Harry did something that Ginny never expected, but was pleasantly surprised as it happened: he took her hand, leading her out of her own compartment and down the hallway to his own.

Sliding the door opened, he found Ron and Hermione in one of their usual arguments, "Oh honestly Ronald, how could you be so dense! I am sure - oh, there you are Harry!" Hermione said, her demeanor changing from annoyed to pleasant almost instantly.

"Oi, we were beginning to think you got lost or something! Did you get those chocolate frogs you went after?" Ron asked, earning himself a slap on the arm from Hermione.

Harry laughed. At this point he was used to his best mate's unusual obsession with food, especially sweets.

As he reached the treats over to his two friends, Ginny revealed herself from beside the door to the compartment. "Now Ron," she began, in a tone that reminded Harry of their older brothers, Fred and George, "Is that any way to talk to your best mate? I think not! I believe you owe Harry here an apology."

Hermione giggled at the boldness in the young girl's voice, earning an eye roll from Ron. "What do you want, Ginny? Aren't there some first years you could be playing with somewhere?"

Harry looked over at the girl, noticing her expression turn from joking to disappointed in a matter of seconds. "Actually Ron, I ran into Ginny on the way to get your chocolate frogs. I asked her if she would like to come hang out with us." Harry spoke up, earning a smile from Ginny as if to say 'thank you.'

Both Harry and Hermione were now glaring at their friend, who suddenly looked defeated, "Oh right. I mean, yeah, of course you can sit with us Ginny. Why wouldn't I want my little sister hanging out with me and my friends." Ron said sarcastically, earning himself a kick in the shin from Hermione.

"Hi Ginny, I'm Hermione Granger. Ron has told me a lot about you." Hermione said, hoping to make up for her friend's stupid comment a minute before, "This is your first year at Hogwarts, isn't it? Are you excited?" Hermione reached her hand out to Ginny, who shook it gently.

"Yes. Honestly though, I am more nervous than anything right now." Ginny said, "Even growing up in a house full of wizards, I still don't know exactly what to expect."

"It's really not that bad once you get used to everything. Just remember to keep up with your homework and study regularly, you should do just fine!"

Harry and Ron both rolled their eyes, but they had to admit that was good advice. Ginny laughed, remembering the things Ron had said about Hermione over the summer.

The group of friends continued talking, with Ginny being an almost natural fit in the former trio. This made the younger girl happy, as she had never really had that many friends outside of her brothers. Not that she really had that many chances, but it was definitely a nice change to have someone like her for herself for once, not just because they lived in the same house and had to put up with her.

The newly-found quartet stepped off the train to find Hagrid ushering the first years to follow him. "First 'ears, this way! First 'ears, this way!" He called. Harry knew how much Hagrid enjoyed getting to show the first year students into the castle for the first time.

"Well, I guess this is where I leave you guys, then." Ginny said, matter-of-factly. Harry smiled, as he could notice how much more chipper Ginny seemed now than when he first found her in her own compartment a couple hours ago.

"Be safe going over. We'll catch up with you later tonight at the feast. I have no doubt you will be a fellow Gryffindor like us." Harry responded, Ron and Hermione nodding in approval.

"'Right then. I guess you'll just have to get used to being around me all the time again, Ron." Ginny said with a smirk.

"Oh joy," Ron said with a wink, "I guess spending time with you isn't all that bad."

The group of friends laughed as Ginny headed over to Hagrid. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched as the first-year students paired up in groups of three to head off to the castle. They did the same, but walked the trail with a few other Gryffindors up to the front gate.

The sorting ceremony went rather fast, with Ginny being sorted into Gryffindor (to no one's surprise). As she skipped happily up to the Gryffindor table, Professor Dumbledore stood and raised a hand to silence the crowd. "Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I do not have much to tell you all this evening. But I do deliver a message from Mr. Argus Filch, our school's caretaker. He wishes to tell all first years that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. And with that, let the start-of-term feast begin!"

With a wave of the headmaster's hand, the tables were immediately filled with a delicious menu of numerous foods, ranging from turkey to chocolate cake, and even some more outlandish dishes such as duck and frog-legs. The older students smiled as the first-years looked on in amazement. Reminiscent of last year, Ron immediately began filling his place as much as humanly possible, as Harry and Hermione laughed at their friend's animalistic behavior. Ginny however, scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Honestly, dear brother, I can understand you acting like this at home around family. But amongst a bunch of complete strangers? Mum would be disappointed!"

Harry and Hermione busted out laughing, with Ron giving them a dirty look. "Well good thing mum isn't here then, right little sister?"

The feast continued on for another thirty minutes or so before the student's were directed towards their respective common rooms. As Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione exited the hall and headed for the stairs, they were greeted by Draco Malfoy, Harry's rival, from the previous year. "Well, well, well. Looks like little Weasley has made herself from friends. Pity, though, as it appears she has as poor of taste as her brother."

Upon hearing this, Ginny stepped back towards Ron and Harry and let out a soft whimper. Ginny was never really the confrontational type, unless she was playing with her brothers.

Harry stepped in front of the younger girl, a gesture that Ron reciprocated soon after. "Ginny, follow the rest of the first years up to the common room, we'll meet you up there in a second." Ron said. Ginny took off running to catch up with the other Gryffindors as Ron and Harry took a step towards Malfoy.

"Leave her alone, Malfoy. An example of poor taste would've been if she would've settled for a lousy-git of a friend like you." Harry said, taking his wand out of his robes, guessing that Malfoy's reaction to that would be negative.

With this Malfoy snarled, speaking through his teeth, "You'll pay for that one, Potter."

Before he was even able to take out his wand, a voice came from behind the group, "Why am I not surprised. Potter, Weasley, and Granger; already causing trouble, and we haven't even started classes yet." It was Professor Snape, Harry's second least favorite person at Hogwarts.

"Professor, we weren-" Harry began as Snape raised his hand.

"Silence. 10 points from Gryffindor - for each of you," Snape said, noticing the first-year girl standing beside them, "you four best be getting back to your common room - now."

Ron began to object, trying to hold back his anger, "But professor, What about Mal-" The four students turned around to see that Malfoy had already vanished, like the coward he was.

"Mr. Malfoy has nothing to do with this, Mr. Weasley. So I suggest you refrain from accusing my students of things they have no interest in before you end up losing more points for your housemates, as much as I do enjoy padding my house's lead." Snape said with a smirk.

With this, the quartet headed off to the Gryffindor common room, defeated. Ron was the first to speak, as he was the most heated. "Slimey gits, aren't they? The both of them! If I ever see Malfoy anytime soon he'll wish that he never stepped foot in this castle!"

Harry nodded in agreement, "Why does it feel like Snape has it out for me? He had to have seen that Malfoy approached us first, but he just had to take points away from Gryffindor!"

Hermione stepped in front of them as they were about to enter the common room, "Honestly, you two, I don't like the two of them either, but fighting and mouthing back to a teacher is going to get you nowhere!"

The two boys grumbled under their breath, but knew Hermione was right. The trio continued talking as they headed into the common room, said their goodnights and began heading up the stairs towards their respective dormitories.

Before even making it up the first step, Harry noticed a girl sitting in the corner of the common room, looking out the bay window. "Hey guys, you go on ahead. Ron, I'll meet you up there in a second. I just remembered I needed to do something before bed."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other for a second, not sure exactly what Harry was talking about, but went on nonetheless.

It was Ginny, sitting in the window with her knees close to her chest. Harry walked quietly over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Ginny. You mind if I sit down for a second?" Ginny looked up at him and he could instantly tell she had been crying. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Harry, for the longest time I have been looking forward to coming to Hogwarts," the young girl hesitated, "but I'm so scared that I'm not going to fit in. What if no one likes me? What if everyone is - is like Malfoy?"

"Ginny, I promise that they won't be." Harry began, "For starters, even though I practically just met you, I can already tell that you aren't the type to let people push you around. Give it a couple weeks and I have no doubt you'll be sending Malfoy running if he gives you any trouble."

Ginny giggled at the thought of such an occurrence, "Maybe you're right. I don't know if my brother has told you, but I am pretty good already at a certain bat-bogey hex."

"He had not, but from what I have seen of you so far, I have no doubt about it." Harry laughed. "Well we should probably both be getting off to bed. We don't want to be too late for our first classes of the year." he said, with a grin.

Ginny nodded, and the pair walked together up to the balcony over the Gryffindor common room. Before entering their dormitories, Ginny turned back to look at her newfound friend, "Hey, Harry."

The boy looked back at her, noticing a much happier expression on her face than when he found her just a few minutes ago. "Yes, Ginny?" He asked.

"Thanks for sticking up for me earlier, and inviting me to sit with you guys on the train. My brothers have always stood up for me, even if it may not seem like they would sometimes. But I've never had someone that's not family do anything like that for me. It really means a lot." At this point, Ginny looked as if she was close to tears again, but it was different; these were tears of appreciation.

"Anytime, Ginny." Harry said, smiling. With that, the two friends headed off to bed. I think this is gonna be the start of a great friendship, Harry thought, smiling.

Ginny quickly changed into her pajamas and headed over to her new four-poster bed. Before settling in, she opened her trunk to find her new school books. Since she got to the school, she hadn't even had a chance to look at all her course materials and new supplies. As she went through the class books she stopped as a particular one caught her attention. This particular one didn't look like the typical school textbook, but was wrapped in a leather cover. She unbuckled the strap to find that the book appeared blank. Huh, she thought, mum must have bought me a diary to keep track of my first year in. She was rather touched at the gesture, quickly grabbing a quill and some ink from her trunk before closing it to use as a table. She began to write on the first page,

Dear Diary,

Today was my first day at Hogwarts, and it was a lot more emotional than I thought it would be. Being that I never really had any friends outside my own family, I wasn't really sure what to do. But then this boy, Harry Potter, came and started talking to me. It didn't take me long to figure out that he was the Harry Potter, the one that I grew up hearing so many stories about. If I'm being honest, I kind of developed a small crush on him over the years. I mean, who could blame me? He single-handedly took down You-Know-Who when he was only a baby!

Today though, meeting Harry made me realize something. He is just a kid, just like me. He hasn't had it easy, but that has made him strong. And today, he showed me how strong whenever he stood up for me in front of Draco Malfoy.

No one has ever stood up for me before. Well, except for my brothers, but they kinda have to. Now that I know Harry, I don't know how to feel. He is everything that I imagined, but in a way he is even more. He is just as normal as I am.

With that, Ginny closed up her new safe-space and went to bed. She wasn't sure what the future held for Harry and her, but she definitely knew that she wanted to get to know him. She had never had a friend before that was always there for her, and she felt that Harry Potter may just be that person.