Ginny's POV
The Hogwarts Express was everything Ginny had imagined and more. The corridors bustled with students of all ages, their excited chatter mixing with the rhythmic clacking of wheels on tracks. She'd managed to find an empty compartment toward the middle of the train, settling by the window with her small bag and the warm feeling of anticipation in her chest.
This is really happening, she thought, watching the English countryside roll by. I'm actually going to Hogwarts.
She was just getting comfortable when the compartment door slid open. A small, eager-looking boy with a camera around his neck peeked in, his face lighting up when he saw the empty seats.
"Oh, brilliant! Is it alright if I sit here? I'm Colin Creevey," he said, practically bouncing with excitement. "This is my first year, and I can't believe I'm actually on the Hogwarts Express! I've been trying to get pictures of everything, but it's hard to capture the magic of it all, you know?"
"Of course, sit down," Ginny said warmly, immediately charmed by his enthusiasm. "I'm Ginny Weasley. First year too."
"Weasley!" Colin's eyes went even wider. "You're Ron Weasley's sister! He's friends with Harry Potter! This is incredible - I can't wait to meet Harry Potter. Do you think he'll let me take his picture?"
Ginny felt the familiar flutter in her stomach at the mention of Harry, but it was different now - less panicked, but more... calm? "I'm sure he's very nice," she said diplomatically. "Though he might appreciate it if you ask before taking pictures."
"Oh, absolutely," Colin said seriously, settling into the seat across from her. "I would never just take someone's picture without permission. My parents taught me better than that."
The compartment door opened again, and two girls looked in hesitantly.
"Excuse me," one of them said, "are there any free seats? I'm Emma Brightwater, and this is Sarah Meadows. We're both first-years."
"Please, come in!" Ginny said immediately. "I'm Ginny, and this is Colin. We were just getting acquainted."
Emma was a pretty girl with warm brown hair and an infectious smile, while Sarah had the sturdy, practical look of someone from a working family. They both seemed genuinely friendly as they settled into the remaining seats.
"This is so exciting," Emma said, looking around the compartment with wonder. "I keep expecting to wake up and find out this is all a dream. I'm Muggle-born, so this whole world is still incredible to me."
"Same here," Colin said enthusiastically. "I mean, magic! Actual magic! And we're going to learn how to do it!"
"I'm half-blood," Sarah added. "My mum's a witch, but she married a Muggle. Dad's still getting used to all the magical bits, but he's thrilled I got into Hogwarts."
"My whole family's magical," Ginny said. "Sometimes I think that makes me more nervous, not less. Everyone expects me to know what I'm doing."
"But you do know what you're doing," Emma pointed out. "You've grown up with magic. That has to be an advantage."
Before Ginny could respond, they heard a voice calling from the corridor: "Anything from the trolley, dears? Anything from the trolley?"
"Oh!" Colin jumped up excitedly. "The sweet trolley! My parents gave me money for this. Would anyone like anything? My treat - I want to try everything magical I can."
"That's very sweet of you, Colin," Emma said. "But you don't have to—"
"I insist!" Colin was already opening the compartment door. "This is part of the whole Hogwarts experience, right?"
The trolley witch, a plump, kindly-looking woman, smiled at their eager faces. "First years, are you? How lovely. What can I get you?"
"We'll take some Chocolate Frogs," Ginny said, pulling out her own money despite Colin's protests. "And maybe some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?"
"Excellent choices, dear. The Chocolate Frogs come with collectible cards of famous witches and wizards, and the beans... well, they mean every flavor. Fair warning on those."
Colin bought a selection of sweets with the enthusiasm of someone experiencing magic candy for the first time, while the girls each contributed money for their own treats. Soon they were back in their compartment with an impressive array of magical confections spread between them.
"Right," Emma said, examining a Chocolate Frog box. "How exactly do these work?"
"Carefully," Ginny laughed, opening her own box. "They're only charmed to hop once, but they can be quick."
Sure enough, Emma's chocolate frog made a valiant leap for freedom before she caught it. "Got it! Oh, and there's a card - Morgana! It says she was King Arthur's half-sister and a powerful dark sorceress."
"I got Dumbledore!" Colin said excitedly, showing his card. "It's actually moving! Look, he's waving!"
Sarah opened her box more cautiously and managed to catch her frog before it could escape. "Helga Hufflepuff. One of the Hogwarts founders. That's quite an honor."
Ginny opened her own box and smiled. "Merlin himself. The most famous wizard of all time."
"These are incredible," Colin said, studying his moving card with fascination. "The picture actually moves and reacts. How do they do that?"
"It's got something to do with layering different magical charms," Ginny said thoughtfully. "Though I'm not sure of all the details."
Colin had opened the bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and was examining them with scientific interest. "They really do mean every flavor, don't they? This one looks normal enough..." He popped a yellow bean in his mouth and immediately made a face. "Earwax. Definitely earwax."
The others laughed as Colin reached for his water bottle.
"You have to be strategic," Sarah said, selecting a pink bean carefully. "The normal-colored ones are usually safe. Pink might be strawberry or... oh, that's nice. Cotton candy."
"I got grass," Emma said, making a disgusted face. "Actual grass flavor."
"The trick," Ginny said, selecting a brown bean, "is to remember that even the weird flavors are just flavors. They can't actually hurt you." She bit into the bean and smiled. "Chocolate. Lucky me."
"How are you so calm about all of this?" Colin asked admiringly. "I mean, you're not fazed by moving pictures or strange-flavored candy or anything."
"I suppose I've grown up with it," Ginny said. "But that doesn't mean I'm not excited. Magic is still amazing, even when you're used to it."
"Could you..." Emma hesitated. "Could you show us some magic? I mean, if you know any? I've been dying to see real magic."
Ginny felt a familiar flutter of nerves, but this time it was accompanied by confidence. Tom's training had given her something to share, something impressive but not dangerous.
"Well," she said slowly, "I have been practicing some things over the summer."
She held out her hand, palm up, and concentrated on the warm tingling sensation Tom had taught her to access. A small ball of golden light appeared above her palm, steady and warm.
The other three first-years stared in amazement.
"That's incredible," Colin breathed. "How are you doing that? Without a wand?"
"I had a really good teacher over the summer," Ginny said simply, making the light fade. "Someone who taught me about magical theory and basic energy work."
"That's amazing," Emma said. "I've never seen wandless magic before."
"It's just a simple light," Ginny said modestly. "Nothing too fancy. But it was fun to learn."
They spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about everything from Hogwarts houses to their favorite subjects to their hopes and fears about starting school. Ginny found herself relaxing completely, enjoying the easy friendship that was developing between the four of them.
As the afternoon wore on and the excitement faded, the compartment settled into a comfortable quiet. Emma and Sarah had curled up together by one window, dozing lightly. Colin was organizing his camera equipment while fighting off drowsiness.
Perfect, Ginny thought. Time to write to Tom.
She pulled out her diary discreetly, positioning it so the others couldn't see what she was writing. To anyone glancing over, it would just look like she was journaling about her journey.
Tom's POV
I felt the diary opening and Ginny's magical signature touching the pages. She felt different today - happier, more confident. It made me feel weirdly proud, like when I'd figured out a really difficult spell.
Hey Tom! she wrote. Hope it's okay that I'm writing on the train. I had to tell you about my afternoon - it's been amazing!
Of course it's okay! I wrote back. I've been wondering how the train ride was going. You sound really happy.
I am! I made three great friends already. There's Colin - he's Muggle-born and super enthusiastic about everything. Then Emma and Sarah, who are just really nice. And Tom, I got to show them some of the magic you taught me!
I felt a grin spreading across whatever passed for my face. You used the wandless light? How did they react?
They were amazed! Colin kept asking how I did it, and Emma said she'd never seen wandless magic before. I told them I had a really good teacher over the summer.
That's nice to hear! I bet they think you're brilliant now. How does it feel, being the one who knows more for once?
Really good, actually. I wasn't nervous or anything when they asked me to show them magic. I just... knew I could do it. Is that weird?
Not weird at all. That's what real confidence feels like. You've come so far from the scared girl who wrote to me a few nights ago.
It's because of you though. Everything you taught me, the way you made me feel like I was worth something - it changed everything.
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I'd never made anyone feel better about themselves before. Usually when I helped people, it was because I wanted something from them. But with Ginny, originally I just didn't like the ending she had in the movie, but now... I just... wanted her to be happy. I guess she did grow on me.
You were always worth something, Ginny. I just helped you see it. But the confidence, the friendships, the magic - that's all you.
Still, I couldn't have done any of this without you. You're the best friend I've ever had, Tom.
I had to pause for a moment. Best friend. No one had ever called me that before, and definitely not someone as genuinely good as Ginny.
You're my best friend too, I wrote back, and it felt amazing to say it. The only real friend I've ever had, actually.
Really? But you must have had friends at Hogwarts.
Not real ones. I was good at making people like me, but it was all fake. They liked the person I pretended to be, not who I actually was. You're the first person who's gotten to know the real me and still wanted to be my friend.
Well, I think the real you is pretty great. Even if you are stuck in a diary.
Ha! Thanks. So how are you feeling about the sorting now?
Excited! I mean, I'm still nervous, but the kind of good nervous. Like when you're about to go down a really big slide - scared but excited at the same time.
That's perfect. Which house do you think you'll be in?
Probably Gryffindor, like all my brothers. Though honestly, I don't think I'd mind any of them now. I just want to learn everything I can.
You'll do great no matter where you end up. And hey, if you need help with homework or anything, I'm always here.
Promise? Even when I'm busy with classes and making new friends?
Promise. I'll always be here for you, Ginny. That's what friends do.
Good. Because I'm going to need all the help I can get. Hogwarts is huge! What if I get lost? What if I can't find my classes?
Then you'll ask for directions like a normal person. Trust me, everyone gets lost in their first week. I spent half my first day wandering around looking for the Great Hall.
Really? That makes me feel better. Did you like Hogwarts when you first got there?
I loved it. It was the first place that ever felt like home. All those books, all that knowledge, and finally being around people who understood magic... it was incredible.
What house were you in?
I hesitated. This was always going to come up eventually, but I wasn't sure how she'd react.
Slytherin, I wrote finally. I know that probably sounds scary, but—
Why would that sound scary? You've been so nice to me. Houses don't make people good or bad, do they?
Relief flooded through me. No, they don't. Though a lot of people think Slytherin is just for Dark wizards.
That's silly. You're in Slytherin and you're not dark. You're kind and helpful and you care about people.
Thanks for saying that. Not everyone would see it that way.
Then they're not very smart. I judge people by how they treat me, not what house they were in or what family they're from.
You're amazing, you know that? I'm so glad you're the one who got my diary in the end.
Me too. Even if it was Malfoy trying to cause trouble.
Speaking of which - be careful around him at school, okay? He's not someone you can trust.
Don't worry, I remember what you said about being careful with people. Besides, after meeting you, I think I'm pretty good at telling who's actually nice and who's just pretending.
Good. Now, I should probably let you go - you'll want to see Hogwarts when it comes into view.
Just a few more minutes? I like talking to you.
I like talking to you too. But trust me, you don't want to miss your first sight of the castle. It's magical.
Okay, but Tom? Thank you for everything. For the magic lessons, for helping me feel confident, for being such a good friend. I couldn't have made it this far without you.
Hey Ginny, we've already talked about this, if so thank you for keeping me company, now don't be silly and get a good look at Hogwarts, and write to me soon!
Ginny's POV
As Ginny closed the diary and tucked it away, she felt warm and happy inside. Tom really was the best friend she'd ever had, and knowing he'd be there to help her through whatever came next made everything feel possible.
"Look!" Colin suddenly exclaimed, pointing out the window. "Is that...?"
Through the window, perched on a hill in the distance, was the most magnificent castle Ginny had ever seen. Hogwarts rose from the Scottish landscape like something out of a fairy tale, its towers and turrets silhouetted against the darkening sky, warm light glowing from hundreds of windows.
"It's beautiful," Emma breathed.
"It's perfect," Sarah said softly.
"It's huge," Ginny added.
As the Hogwarts Express carried them toward their new life, Ginny Weasley smiled and felt ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. She had good friends, magical knowledge, confidence in herself, and Tom waiting to help her through anything.
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Author's Note: Hello there my readers! I hope this finds you well, I'll probably reduce the amount of chapters I'm writing in general and probably can only write one per day, I'm really liking writing this one so (after I finish doing some 4 or 5 chapters for my first one) I'll keep updating this one probably until it ends or I grow up tired a bit of doing the same one constantly, no promises :p.