Time passed, and eventually the train reached Hogwarts and they all unloaded. Luckily they all had extra robes, so they were able to change into a new set of robes that didn’t have bits of Caesar’s slime on them.
The three of them stayed together as they went back up to the castle with the other first years. They waited just outside the great hall with a severe looking woman standing there guiding them. Professor McGonagall. She looked sad when she spotted Ginny in the crowd peering around at everything around them in the magical castle with interest along with all of the other first years.
“Children!” McGonagall called, “Please line yourselves up in alphabetical order by last name. This will be the order in which you will be sorted. Be on your best behavior, best to make a good first impression on all the other students, hm?”
Everyone nodded, cowed by her stern demeanor. Ginny looked at her two friends, “Anverts, Adams. Guess you two are going near the start.”
“Hopefully we’ll all be in the same house,” Alexa said, “But we can still be friends even if we’re not, right?”
“Yeah! We’ll still be war buddies even if we go in different houses,” Jack added.
“War buddies,” Ginny agreed, “See you later?”
“Bye”
“Bye, Ginny.”
The two of them wandered to the front of the blob of students trying to order themselves as McGonagall watched on from above to keep them well behaved. Ginny walked all the way to the back of the line. She asked around, and there were six or so people behind her but she still was almost at the very back of the long line.
After ten minutes or so, everyone was in order, and McGonagall was standing in the front ready to lead them in.
“Remember everyone,” The woman said loudly, “Best behavior!”
The large doors to the great hall cracked open on their own and slowly began to open themselves. Ginny used her magic sense to look at the enchantment powering it. It was pretty useless, this whole place was absolutely plastered with enchantments of all kind covering every surface she could find. It even floated in the air like little strings of magic, hovering about in the air and shifting out of the way where the people stood.
She couldn’t even figure out the function of normal simple enchantments with her magic sense, let alone all the complexity going on in the castle. Ginny was a little in awe of the founders that they had built something so complex.
They walked into the great hall, and the ceiling above was a magical replica of the night sky outside, with all the stars twinkling above. Floating candles drifted and moved above them even as the hall was well lit by a bright diffuse light. Some sort of spell, likely.
There was an old brown had sitting on a low stool. McGonagall went up front and unrolled a massive scroll.
“Alexandria Adams!” She called out, and Ginny straightened. Alexa would be going first? Ginny watched as the girl walked up and sat on the stool, looking nervous. The hat came down on her head and sat there for a second. Then what Ginny had thought was a crease in the fabric opened, and the hat shouted out. “Gryffindor!”
The Gryffindor table cheered loudly and Alexa stood and went over to the table. Well, that was good. Ginny would probably go in Gryffindor. Not only had her whole family gone there, but she had been sorted into that house last year.
A few other people went, being sorted into the various houses. Then…
“Jack Anverts.”
The hat was placed on his head, and it barely touched his head before it spoke, “Ravenclaw!”
The Ravenclaw table clapped and welcomed Jack, but he sent a glance at Alexa, appearing a little disappointed. But not too put out.
‘Right, nothing to worry about,’ Ginny reminded herself, ‘they could still be friends even if they weren’t in the same house.’
Student after student went, the line gradually began growing shorter and shorter. As it grew close to Ginny’s turn, the whispering and muttering began to pick up. She felt everyone looking at her and sharing the rumors as the moment grew closer and closer. She had been in the papers, many people here thought that they knew who she was. She shifted from foot to foot as the line grew shorter.
Then the moment came.
“Ginny Weasley!”
She stepped forward as the murmurs grew louder as she sat on the little stool. Everyone in the hall was looking at her in interest, waiting for where she would be sorted. The hat was placed on her head. Fred and George seemed relaxed, probably assuring everyone that she was definitely in Gryffindor already, that it was a sure bet.
‘But is it sure? You are a very different girl from last year. In many ways…’
A weathered old voice suddenly said in her head. ‘It’s not often I see someone so radically changed when they are resorted. ’
‘Are you the hat?’ Ginny thought hard to communicate after closing her eyes so she could focus, ‘What do you mean? Aren’t I supposed to go back to Gryffindor?’
‘With Eric Potter? I don’t think that would create a very effective learning environment for the other students, given your desire for revenge against him. And you are a far more curious and inquisitive girl than you were last year… Yes, better be…’
“Ravenclaw!”
The whole hall froze, everyone looking confused at what had happened. Ginny’s school robes fluttered and turned blue as she stood off the stool. She looked over to the Gryffindor table where Fred and George looked like their brains had shut down and they couldn’t process what had just happened.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The Ravenclaw table began hesitantly clapping as Ginny walked over and sat down next to where Jack was.
After another second of everyone staring at her, McGonagall called the next name on her list and everyone refocused on the remainder of the sorting ceremony. After the last few people were sorted, Dumbledore stood up from the Headmaster’s chair at the head of the Professor’s table at the end of the hall.
“Another year, another new round of wonderful new students for our school to help flourish in life and magic,”
Dumbledore said, “I could go on, ah the long speeches my colleagues like to give at the Ministry. But I can see you’re all very eager for me to be quiet and the feast to begin. So, let’s begin!”
He clapped his hands and in a massive burst of magic that left Ginny slightly stunned food appeared to fill all of the empty trays and dishes that had been laid out at their table. The older years immediately started digging in, Jack and Ginny a little more cautious.
“C’mon, Ginny,” One of the older Ravenclaw boys to her right said, “You know it’s safe. You’ve already done it before, haven’t you?”
Jack looked confused, “You did?” He asked, “What do you mean? She’s a first year, aren’t you Ginny?”
“Oh, she didn’t say?” The boy said, now with a sharper tone and a mean glint in his eyes, “She was a first year last year too. Had to come back as a first year again. Failed the final test, I’m sure. Had to repeat it again.”
Ginny wavered. Did he really not know? Or was he just taunting her, forcing her to reveal what had happened?
The rest of the people nearby were leaning in, listening in on the confrontation. “You know that’s not what happened,” Ginny said.
“Then what did happen?” The boy asked, “No one seems to know exactly.”
“Aaaaand that? None of your damn business, Preston,” A female voice said from behind Ginny. She turned around and saw a much older girl with a fancy badge pinned on her chest glaring at the mean boy. The boy seemed fairly intimidated, but seemed sullen as he didn't respond. Just nodding grudgingly and keeping quiet but not saying anything.
“Up.” The older girl ordered him, “Go sit somewhere else. Or I’ll start using you for hex practice again.”
“You’re a Prefect, this is abuse of authority,” Preston muttered as he stood and stood back from his seat. The prefect girl swooped in and took his seat without a second glance at him.
“Yeah, yeah. I’d be more forgiving if you weren’t always trying to pull shi– stuff like this all the time. Now shove it, I’m hungry. If I hear you causing any more trouble then you’ll hear from me.”
Preston grumbled, and his neck flushed slightly as the rest of the observers snickered and seemed to enjoy his humbling. Ginny noticed that none of them had jumped in to help her though.
“So. I’m Olivia. Olivia Roberts,” The prefect said, “Ravenclaw Prefect, your wise and cruel ruler. Yada yada, bowing and scraping and such. Ignore Preston, we’re not all like him. So, how ya liking Hogwarts so far? Must feel all new to you I’m guessing, Ginny. Even if… Well, you know.”
Ginny reluctantly nodded, “Yes. It’s very interesting. Yes, all new.”
Jack looked between the two of them, frowning.
“What? I don’t understand, Ginny. You’ve been here before? Then how are you still a first year?”
Ginny opened and closed her mouth, not sure what to say with so many people around listening in.
“I heard that…” One of the girl’s across from the table jumped in eagerly, only to wilt as Olivia shot her a glare, “That this food is great,” the girl finished lamely, “You- You should try it?” She shot a hopeful look at Olivia who kept her glare piercing the offending girl.
“Oh,” The girl said softly, “Rats.”
She started eating her food and didn’t say anything else, and Olivia finally stopped glaring and turned back to Ginny and Jack.
“Best to not talk about it here,” Olivia told Jack matter of a fact tone, “All the inconsiderate rumor hounds of Ravenclaw seem to have sat right by you two completely by accident. How about we eat?”
The surroundings shifted as the other people at the table nearby shifted in their seats, looking like they wanted to flee. But after a second, everyone followed her suggestion and started digging into the food. Ginny and Jack had some stilted conversation with Olivia as they ate. The girl was nice to them and was welcoming and polite. Although the fearful reactions of everyone around them when she glared spoke volumes that not all might be as it seemed…
After the meal, Olivia and the boy Ravenclaw prefect led them through the winding hallways of the Hogwarts of the castle. There were moving staircases, moving paintings everywhere peering at them as they passed, suits of armor, statues, and other displays in each room they passed…
It was chaotic and Ginny honestly had no idea where she was in relation to the great hall right now. Eventually they reached the base of a large tower and climbed a long flight of steps to the top. At nearly the very top of the tower was a large landing and a statue of a large eagle halfway embedded in the door.
Ginny’s eyes lit up as she looked over the complex enchantment interweaved with the whole structure. She probed it with her magical senses. It was hard, but… there! Ah, a weak point. Shifting, hard to catch. But she could definitely do it. She almost took a step forward to approach so she could give it a try, before she stopped herself. Right, shouldn’t try to break any Hogwarts enchantments. Got too carried away there.
She shook her head and came back to reality.
“Each time to enter, you must solve a riddle,” Olivia was saying, “I’ll teach you one trick though if your little brain’s are really fried after classes. Try not to use it too much though or the Eagle might lock you out next time.”
She stepped forward in front of the statue of the eagle, which moved its stone head to track her movement.
“What is the value of the square root of pi to ten decimal places?” The eagle said, opening and closing its beak and sounding quite grumpy.
“Ah, don’t be like that,” Olivia said, “Giving them a trick or two takes more work off of you, really. We both know you let it work, you enjoy people being stuck outside as much as we do.”
“I like my work,” the Eagle replied haughtily, “It’s lazy children that I dislike. I spend a lot of time customizing the difficulty of my riddles for each person. Now, get on with it.”
Olivia rolled her eyes, “Fine. Through the power of friendship and love, let us pass.”
“Rowena, always so sentimental…” The eagle grumbled.
The stone rumbled and door the eagle was attached to, revealing a room beyond. Olivia led them inside, “This is the common room,” She said, “Feel free to study, chat, hang out here. Boys dormitory is on the right hallway, girls on the left. The corridors are defended by all sorts of nasty spells to keep it nice and separated, so don’t any of you get any ideas about visiting the other side. Your stuff was already delivered inside by the staff earlier. I’m sure we’re all tired after the long day, so go ahead and crash. Your names are on the doors of your room. Four to a room, try not to drive each other too crazy living together. Barty, anything else?” She asked, glancing to the boy prefect. He shook his head, “Nope. That’s it I think, Olivia.”
“Great. See all of y’all tomorrow,” She said before quickly turning on the spot and quickly walking into the girls corridor off the common room. Ginny turned to Jack, “See you tomorrow,” She said.
“See you, Ginny.”
They went their separate ways and Ginny didn’t know any of the other three girls in her room. They all talked for a bit about themselves, with Ginny trying to be as unspecific as she could. Even if they did seem curious about what was going on with her. She would have to think about how she wanted to deal with all of that…
But they were all tired, so after twenty minutes or so they shut off the light and went to bed. Ginny practiced her magic with Balthazar while she slept.