September 1st - The Burrow, 6:30 AM
Ginny woke up before her alarm, her stomach doing nervous flips. Today was the day. After weeks of preparation, conversations with Tom, and endless advice from her brothers, she was finally going to Hogwarts.
Her trunk sat packed and ready by her door—new robes (well, mostly new), secondhand books that Tom had helped her organize by subject, and a beautiful black diary tucked safely between her Transfiguration textbook and her spare quills. Over the past month, that diary had become her most treasured possession.
She crept over to her desk and opened it quietly, not wanting to wake anyone yet.
Tom, are you there? I'm leaving for Hogwarts today.
Good morning, Ginny. The big day has finally arrived. How are you feeling?
Terrified. Excited. Like I might throw up. All at the same time.
Perfectly normal. I felt exactly the same way my first morning.
Did you really?
I barely slept the night before. Kept checking that my trunk was packed properly, even though I'd organized it three times already.
Ginny smiled. I reorganized mine last night too.
Some traditions never change. You're going to do wonderfully, Ginny. Remember everything we've discussed—the theory, the study methods, the way magic responds to confidence.
I will. I just... I'm going to miss talking to you every day.
I'll miss our conversations too. But you'll be far too busy learning actual magic to spend much time writing to a diary.
Not too busy. I promise I'll write when I can.
I'd like that very much. Now go get ready—you don't want to miss the train on your first day.
Ginny closed the diary and tucked it carefully into her trunk. Time to officially become a Hogwarts student.
Two Hours Later - King's Cross Station
The chaos of getting five Weasleys and all their belongings to King's Cross on time was exactly as dramatic as Ginny had expected. Mrs. Weasley had been in full-blown organizing mode since dawn, checking and rechecking everyone's trunks, reminding the twins about proper behavior, and fussing over Percy's new Head Boy badge.
Now they stood in front of the barrier between platforms nine and ten, and Ginny's heart was hammering so hard she was sure everyone could hear it.
"All right, Ginny, you first," Mrs. Weasley said, steering her toward the solid brick wall. "There's nothing to it. Just walk straight at the barrier—don't be nervous or you might collide with it. Best to do it at a run if you're worried."
Ginny gripped her trolley handle and took a deep breath. Behind the wall was Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Behind the wall was the Hogwarts Express. Behind the wall was the beginning of everything she'd been dreaming about.
She ran.
The barrier melted away like smoke, and suddenly she was standing on a platform filled with steam and noise and magic. The scarlet Hogwarts Express sat waiting, magnificent and imposing, with "Hogwarts Express" emblazoned on its side in gold letters.
"There we are," Mrs. Weasley said, appearing beside her with the twins. "Oh, it never gets old, does it? Seeing the train for the first time."
Students and families crowded the platform, loading trunks and saying goodbyes. Older students greeted friends with excited shouts, while first-years like herself stood wide-eyed, clutching their parents' hands. She spotted a girl with bushy brown hair directing what looked like Muggle parents toward the train, and a pale boy with white-blond hair sneering at everything around him.
"Right then," Mr. Weasley said, appearing with Percy and Ron. "Let's get your trunks loaded. Mind the gap there, Ginny."
The next twenty minutes passed in a blur of hugs, last-minute reminders, and promises to write home regularly. Percy disappeared immediately to find the prefects' compartment, while the twins vanished into the crowd with their usual mischievous grins.
"Behave yourself," Mrs. Weasley said, pulling Ginny into a fierce hug. "Work hard, make friends, and remember—you're every bit as more than capable than your brothers."
"I will, Mum."
"And don't let Fred and George talk you into anything too ridiculous."
"I won't."
"And if you need anything at all—"
"Molly," Mr. Weasley said gently. "She'll be fine. Won't you, Ginny?"
Ginny nodded, not trusting her voice. The train whistle blew, and suddenly everything became urgent.
"Go on then," Mrs. Weasley said, giving her one last kiss on the forehead. "Find a good compartment. Have a wonderful term."
Ginny climbed aboard the train, her trunk already loaded in the luggage car. The corridor was packed with students finding compartments, greeting friends, and hanging out of windows to wave at their families. She made her way down the narrow passage, peeking into compartments that were either full or occupied by older students who looked intimidating.
Finally, near the middle of the train, she found an empty compartment. Perfect. She slid the door shut, settled into a seat by the window, and waved frantically at her parents as the train began to move.
The Burrow grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared entirely, and suddenly Ginny was alone in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, officially on her way to school.
She waited until the train had cleared London completely before pulling out her diary she took out secretly from her trunk.
Tom! I'm on the train! I'm actually on the Hogwarts Express!
How exciting! Tell me everything—what does it look like? How does it feel?
It's incredible. Red and gold and steam everywhere, and the platform was full of magic. I could practically feel it in the air. And the train is beautiful—all polished wood and brass fittings. I have a compartment to myself right now, but I suppose other students will join me soon.
Probably first-years like yourself. Are you nervous about meeting your classmates?
A little. What if they don't like me? What if I say something stupid?
Ginny, you're kind, intelligent, and funny. If they don't like you, it says more about them than it does about you.
Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to make friends.
Fair point. But remember—everyone else is just as nervous as you are. They want to make friends too.
I hope so. Oh! Someone's coming down the corridor. I should probably put you away.
Of course. Enjoy meeting your fellow first-years. I want to hear all about them later.
Ginny quickly closed the diary and slipped it into her bag just as the compartment door slid open. A girl with curly blonde hair and nervous blue eyes poked her head in.
"Er, excuse me, is this compartment taken? I can't find— Ginny! It's been a while."
"Luna!" Ginny said, brightening considerably at seeing a familiar face. "Come in, sit down. How have you been?"
"Oh, you know how it is," Luna said dreamily, settling into the seat across from her with that characteristic tilt of her head. "Father's been having me help with the Quibbler all summer. We did a fascinating piece on Heliopaths, although I doubt you'd enjoy about it."
"That sounds... very you," Ginny said with a small smile. She'd grown used to Luna's peculiar interests over their occasional meetings. "I'm just glad to see someone I know. I was starting to worry I'd be sitting alone with strangers."
"Me too. Though I'm not entirely sure what to expect. Father says Hogwarts is full of Nargles, but I think he might be joking." Luna tilted her head thoughtfully. "Or perhaps not. It's difficult to tell with Father."
Ginny blinked, not sure how to respond to that. "Right. Well, I'm sure it'll be... interesting."
The compartment door slid open again, and a small girl with dark skin and worried brown eyes peered in.
"Is there room? I'm sorry, but everywhere else seems full of older students, and they keep talking about things I don't understand."
"Of course there's room," Ginny said, scooting over. "I'm Ginny Weasley, and this is Luna Lovegood."
"Colin Creevey," the girl said, then paused. "Wait, no, sorry. I'm Sally-Anne Perks. Colin's my friend—he's a Muggle-born boy in our year. He was so excited about the train that he ran off to take pictures."
"Muggle-born?" Luna asked with interest. "How fascinating. He must find everything wonderfully strange."
"He does," Sally-Anne said with a smile. "He's been asking a million questions since we met at the platform. I'm half-blood myself—my mum's a witch, but my dad's a Muggle. Sometimes I feel caught between both worlds."
"That must be difficult," Ginny said. "I've grown up completely magical, so I can't imagine what it's like discovering it all at once."
"My mother died when I was nine," Luna said matter-of-factly. "So Father's been teaching me about magical creatures and plants. Though some people think his theories are a bit unusual."
An awkward silence fell over the compartment. Ginny wasn't sure what to say to that—Luna had mentioned her mother's death like she was discussing the weather.
"I'm sorry about your mum," Sally-Anne said quietly.
"Thank you," Luna replied serenely. "She would have liked Hogwarts, I think. She was always experimenting with new spells."
The compartment door burst open, and a boy with sandy hair and an enormous camera around his neck practically bounced in.
"Sally-Anne! There you are! You have to see the prefects' compartment—it's amazing! They have their own special car and everything, and I got pictures of—oh." He stopped, noticing the other girls. "Sorry, didn't realize you had company."
"This is Colin Creevey," Sally-Anne said. "Colin, this is Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood."
"Weasley?" Colin's eyes went wide. "Are you related to Ron Weasley? He's friends with Harry Potter! I've read all about Harry Potter—have you met him? Is it true he beat You-Know-Who again?"
"Er," Ginny said, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Ron's my brother, and yes, I've met Harry. But I don't know any details."
"That's brilliant!" Colin said, dropping into the remaining seat. "Wait until I tell my dad—I'm sitting with someone who knows Harry Potter!"
"Harry Potter defeated You-Know-Who twice," Luna observed. "That's quite impressive for someone our age."
"He saved the Philosopher's Stone last year," Colin said eagerly. "And he plays Quidditch! Sally-Anne, did you know that first-years aren't usually allowed on House teams, but Harry was so good they made an exception?"
As the train rolled through the countryside, Colin regaled them with every Harry Potter fact he'd learned from The Daily Prophet and various wizarding books. Sally-Anne occasionally corrected his more outlandish claims, while Luna added odd commentary about creatures that might have influenced various events.
"I wonder if there are Thestrals at Hogwarts," Luna mused during a lull in Colin's chatter. "They're attracted to places where people have died."
"That's morbid," Sally-Anne said with a shudder.
"Not morbid, just honest," Luna replied. "Death is part of life. Though I suppose not everyone can see them anyway."
Ginny found herself oddly comforted by Luna's matter-of-fact attitude toward difficult topics. There was something refreshing about someone who didn't try to pretend everything was always cheerful.
When the witch with the tea trolley came by, they pooled their pocket money and bought chocolate frogs and pumpkin pasties. Colin took pictures of everything, including the moving wizard cards, while Sally-Anne tried to explain how the photos worked. Luna nibbled her chocolate thoughtfully, occasionally making observations about the ingredients.
"You know," Sally-Anne said as the train began to slow, "I was terrified about coming to Hogwarts, but this has been lovely. It's nice to know I won't be the only one who's nervous."
"I'm not nervous," Colin said, still bouncing slightly in his seat. "I'm excited! Think of all the things we'll learn, all the magic we'll see!"
"I'm nervous," Ginny admitted. "All my brothers have been in Gryffindor. What if I'm not brave enough?"
"What if I am brave enough?" Luna asked, tilting her head. "What if the Sorting Hat puts me somewhere I don't expect? That could be interesting."
"I just hope I don't embarrass myself," Sally-Anne said. "My mum keeps telling me stories about her Hogwarts days, and they all sound so confident and capable."
As the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station, Ginny felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. She'd made friends—odd friends, perhaps, but genuine ones. Colin's enthusiasm was infectious, Sally-Anne's gentle nature was comforting, and Luna's unique perspective made everything seem like an adventure rather than a test.
The train shuddered to a stop, and through the window, she could see lanterns bobbing in the darkness and hear a booming voice calling, "First years! First years this way!"
Ginny grabbed her bag, making sure her diary was secure inside, and followed her new friends toward the compartment door. Whatever house she ended up in, whatever challenges lay ahead, at least she'd have friends who understood what it felt like to be eleven and nervous and excited all at once.
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AN: Heyo! Tired author again.... 2 am again... bad habits die hard they said.
Anyway, just wanted to leave the foundation and depending on my mood I'll do this or other novels xd... yeah, hope you like it, if you have any suggestions please let me know (just please specify and tell me where and how it could be better, I promise to take it into consideration so long its not just a hate comment).
PS: Corrected a comment about Ginny and Luna, thanks for pointing it out!