Ambitious Territory

Summary: Ginny Weasley is automatically assumed to be just like her brothers, but what if that isn't what she wants. It's Ginny's time to shine, prophecies be damned. The next hero of the wizarding world is going to be a girl.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or make any money from writing this. Anything you recognise is owned by JK Rowling.

Chapter Three

August 30th 1992, The Burrow

As she was packing her trunk late that evening, Ginny heard a knock on her door, followed by a creak as someone nudged it open.

Ginny glanced behind her and smiled when she saw Fred and George stood in her doorway, each with a small stack of books in their arms.

"Hey Gin, you left these in Flourish and Blotts,"

"So we picked them up for you." George continued.

"You know, you shouldn't take what Malfoy said to heart, little sister," Fred told her as the smile faded from her face.

"Yeah, his whole family is rotten anyway." George assured.

"What he said was true, all of our family are the same," Ginny muttered as she shook her head. "But it doesn't matter, I don't want to talk about it. I want to look forward to going to Hogwarts tomorrow!"

"Oh, you're going to love it Gin! The castle is beautiful, but you'll see that yourself tomorrow."

"You can make loads of friends!" Fred reassured.

"I heard that Lee's cousin is starting this year. I'm sure she'll end up in Gryffindor!"

"And that Lovegood girl from by the stream. You used to visit her when you were younger."

"She can be a little bit odd though," George mentioned.

"But what if I'm not in Gryffindor?" Ginny asked. "What if I'm put in some other house, away from you all?"

"That's not going to happen Gin, but even if it did, we'd accept it." George assured.

"Unless you're put in Slytherin, of course. But none of our family has ever gone there." Fred stated seriously.

"Either way, you'll be fine. It'll be the best seven years of your life!" George said lightheartedly.

A second later, Ginny found herself wrapped in two sets of arms. Despite the initial shock, she hugged them back with a smile.

Once the twins had left her room, Ginny went back to packing her trunk, adding the books that they had placed on her small desk. At the bottom of one of the stacks was a small book, wrapped in black leather. Not remembering picking it up, she opened the cover and found that all of the pages were blank.

Assuming that her parents had bought her a diary to write in while she was at Hogwarts, she shrugged and placed it with the rest of her books.

Once Ginny had packed everything she needed for school, she shut the lid of her trunk with a slam and went to sit on the end of her bed.

It was late in the evening now, the sky outside was dark and filled with stars, the clouds finally having disappeared. Ginny looked around her room. She realised that this would be her last night in the Burrow until Christmas or possibly even next summer. The thought seemed to create a small hole in her heart.

Ginny had never really spent time away from the Burrow. She had never really thought to appreciate her home. Now, as she looked around, she realised what she would be missing.

The next few months would be spent in a dorm room, sharing with other girls. She would miss this room, that was just her own.

The room with the deep purple walls, that Ginny had insisted on having when she was younger. The glowing stars on her ceiling that she had begged her Dad for when she was just six years old. Her cluttered white desk, filled with small ornaments that she had no need for but knew she could never let go of. Her mirror, with the crack running across one corner, surrounded by pictures of her family. And her bed, covered in her soft grey duvet and a stack of pillows.

This space was all Ginny's. It was filled with memories, and leaving it behind, even for a short amount of time, seemed painful.

Wiping her eyes to get rid of the tears threatening to appear, Ginny tried to clear her head.

Ginny had looked forward to going to Hogwarts for years. It had been her dream. She couldn't start crying now if this is what she had wanted for so long.

With a sigh, Ginny crawled under her duvet and fell asleep.

September 1st 1992, Kings Cross Station

The journey to get to the train station that morning had been chaotic. The morning had started early, as the sun was starting to rise, and yet they were still bordering on being late.

Ginny and her family, along with Harry, were rushing through Kings Cross at quarter to eleven. They were trying not to draw attention to themselves which was difficult, as the large group of red-heads rarely went unnoticed, and the irritated, screeching, snowy white owl was hard to miss.

As they reached the barrier they all slowed down, gasping for breath.

"Percy, you first." Mum said.

Percy strode towards the barrier, the twins following shortly afterwards, as Ginny watched nervously. She'd gone through the barrier many times, but never to get on the train herself.

"I'll take Ginny and you two follow right after us," Mum directed Ron and Harry.

Holding her hand, they rushed towards the barrier and were immediately engulfed in the bustling crowd of people. Ginny glanced worriedly over her shoulder, worried when she couldn't see her brother and his friend.

Not having the time to think about it, Ginny headed towards the nearest door of the train, seeing Fred, George and Percy standing and waiting.

Her Mum sighed in relief at seeing her sons.

"Make sure you look after Ginny! All of you! Don't let her be alone on the train, sit with her if you have too!" she ordered.

Blushing as some of the other families glanced towards them, Ginny pulled her Mum's sleeve.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll make some friends, pay attention in lessons, and I'll write you every week." Ginny reassured.

"Oh Ginny dear, I know you'll be fine. I just want to make sure your brothers are looking out for you," her Mum responded. "And it might keep these two out of trouble." she added as an afterthought, nodding towards Fred and George.

"Now off you go, find Harry and Ron, and find somewhere to sit."

With one last hug, her Mum watched as Ginny and her brothers boarded the train.

Ginny was filled with excitement. Despite all of her doubt the previous night, she was looking forward to going off to school.

Carefully making her way through the crowded corridors of the train, Ginny saw that most compartments were already full. The platform was emptying of students, leaving just parents and families behind. As she made her way through a small gap towards the middle of the train, apologising to the older teenagers as she did, she saw Hermione sat in a compartment on her own.

Sighing in relief, Ginny entered the compartment and slid the door firmly shut behind her. She was grateful to be out of the packed corridor.

Hermione glanced up from the book she was reading as she sat down.

"Oh, Ginny, Hi," she said. "Where's your brother, and Harry?"

"They were slightly behind me, they'll be here soon." she responded.

Looking out the window to the almost empty platform, she saw her parents in the crowd. She waved, a slight smile on her face, as the train train started to move.

As the train pulled out of the platform, the faces of her parents disappearing, the nerves started to take root.

Her nerves and excitement mixed. Ginny felt as if there were butterflies in her stomach. She looked forward to being at Hogwarts, but she had no idea what was going to happen.

About twenty minutes into the journey, Hermione had a worried expression on her face.

"Surely they should be here by now." she stated nervously.

Realising the time, Ginny was just as worried.

"I'm not sure where they could be. It can't be that difficult to find us, we're only on a train."

Clearly trying to think of a reasonable explanation, Hermione said, "Well maybe they're with the boys from their dorm. They could be with Neville?"

"I don't think so, Ron said he would sit with me before we left home."

The more time passed, the more worried Ginny became, while Hermione seemed to have convinced herself that they were sat somewhere else. As if they would leave the third member of their trio with a girl she still hardly knew.

"Maybe we should look for them?" Ginny questioned.

"No, I'm sure they'll be here later."

"This is my brother we're talking about Hermione. I haven't seen him since before I went through the barrier!"

"Well they have to have made it onto the train. They'll be fine. If they don't sit with us, we'll see them at school." Hermione reassured.

Ginny was becoming more irritated by the second.

"But what if we don't! We don't have any proof that they made it onto the platform! I'm going to search the train!"

"Ginny, there's really no need-"

Hermione started to protest, but Ginny heard none of it as she stood and stormed out of the compartment.

Ginny knew that she hadn't seen her brother and his friend in the first half of the train. She had looked in every compartment, and they weren't in the corridors either.

Stepping away from the compartment Hermione was in, Ginny sighed and started her search.

She travelled towards the back of the train, looking into the compartments as she did. When she reached what seemed to be the Slytherin section, she didn't bother to check as she knew Ron would never sit with a Slytherin.

There was only one carriage left to search.

Searching the last carriage of the train was unsuccessful. Ron and Harry were nowhere to be found.

She leaned against the back wall of the train as she thought about what she could do.

Not wanting to go back to Hermione in case she started a bigger argument, she entered the last compartment, which she had assumed was empty.

But it wasn't.

A young girl, with flowing blonde hair and bright silver eyes was sat reading 'The Quibbler'. Ginny recognised her at once.

"Oh, Hi Luna, I didn't know you were in here. Is it alright if I sit here?" Ginny asked politely.

Looking up from her magazine, a dreamy expression on her face, Luna said, "Of course Ginny, go ahead."

Smiling at the odd girl, Ginny sat across from her, next to the window.

Not saying anything else, she passed her time by watching the beautiful green fields flying by.

A few hours later, after the sweet trolley had gone past, the door to the compartment opened unexpectedly.

Even though she was certain that Harry and her brother had missed the train, she glanced up hopefully.

Malfoy stood in the doorway, guarded by his two goons. He was already dressed in his Slytherin robes.

"Malfoy," she said with a harsh expression on her face. "What do you want?"

"No need to be so mean Weaselette, I just want to know where Potty and Weasel are."

"Well they clearly aren't here are they. So leave."

"No, I don't think I will. I passed the Mudblood Granger on the way here. Why aren't you with her? Instead of hiding out at the back of the train with Lovegood?"

"That's none of your business, Malfoy." Ginny stated aggressively.

"Oh, so you don't get along I see. I wonder why that is?" the blonde questioned.

Luna, who had stayed quiet up until this point, looked up and said "Why don't you leave, Ginny clearly doesn't want you here."

Malfoy responded with a smirk on his face, "Alright, I'll go, I don't want to stay with the outcasts anyway. By the way, we're only an hour from Hogwarts, I'd recommend you change."

After he said this, he stepped out of the compartment, the brutes following him. He slid the door shut, and walked away.

Ginny seemed surprised.

"Did he just give us genuine advice?" she asked in confusion.

"I think so, he might not be all bad you know, he just doesn't get along with your family." Luna said in her usual dreamy tone.

"I'm part of my family, he has no reason to help me."

Ginny shook her head, trying to clear her mind of such confusing thoughts. She didn't want to spend any time thinking about a boy who she would hardly talk to at school.

"I'll be back soon, Luna. I need to go and grab my trunk from Hermione's compartment."

Ginny stood and headed back along the train. Entering the compartment she had started off in, she was surprised to see Neville and two girls she didn't know sat inside.

"Ginny! You're back! This is Lavender and Parvati, they're Gryffindor's. And of course you already know Neville."

Hermione was smiling kindly and acting as if their earlier argument hadn't happened.

"Yeah, Hi. I'm just here to get my trunk, and then I'll leave."

"You don't have to leave! You can stay here, we'll go if we're making you uncomfortable." insisted the girl with wavy brown hair – Lavender she assumed.

"No, it's fine. I'm sat with a friend further down." she assured, raising her eyebrows at the girl.

Ginny grabbed her trunk from the rack, with help from Neville. She then left the compartment with a small wave.

She dragged her trunk back the the compartment at the back of the train, and smiled at Luna when she arrived.

The rest of the journey to the school was uneventful. Both girls changed into their school robes, before sitting back down.

No one else attempted to bother them and before they knew it, they had arrived at the train station in Hogsmeade.

The sky was dark, and the air was cold, with a slight wind blowing across the platform.

"Firs' Years! Over 'ere!" they heard shouted above the crowd.

Heading towards the shouts, Ginny saw the giant of a man she had heard her brothers talk about; Hagrid.

His large beard and eyebrows might have made him seem scary if it wasn't for the warm smile on his face.

Once all the first years had gathered and the older students had headed towards the school, Hagrid lead them along a thin path through a grove a trees. Emerging from the other side, they came to a huge lake dotted with a collection of small boats.

"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid announced.

Ginny and Luna rushed to the boat nearest them, and were joined by two others, a boy and a girl. They looked incredibly similar, with chestnut brown hair and clear blue eyes. They were nervous and holding onto each others hand as if their lives depended on it.

Glancing at Luna and Ginny, the girl said with a strongly accented voice, "Hello, I'm Anastasiya, and this is my twin brother, Aspen."

She wore a smile on her clear face that didn't reach her eyes.

Luna politely questioned, "Might I ask where you're from?"

"We're from Bulgaria. Our family moved here over summer for our oldest brother. He was offered a position on an English quidditch team." Aspen responded, his voice just as strongly accented.

"Who is your brother?" Ginny asked curiously.

"His name is Teodor. Our other brother, Viktor, decided to continue his schooling in Bulgaria. He's in his fifth year now."

Even though she wanted to ask the two more questions, Ginny's attention was drawn away as the boats started to move across the lake.

The view was magnificent. Further away from the boats, the lake was clear and unmoving. The night sky was reflected upon the surface, and Ginny felt as if she could reach out and touch the stars.

The boats rounded a corner, and the beauty of the lake was almost forgotten, as the castle came into view.

The castle seemed to have a majestic presence, and anything around it went unnoticed, dwarfed by the huge structure.

As they got closer to the castle, Ginny strained her neck, looking up instead of straight ahead. She looked at the castle until it was no longer possible, as the boats passed though into a small cove, where they stopped.

"Everyone out!" Hagrid announced.

All the young students rushed to get out, some of them tripping over the sides of the boats as they did.

The crowd of nervous first years hurried behind Hagrid, struggling to keep up as he lead them along a winding path and up to the doors of the castle.

Ginny watched in anticipation as he knocked twice on the great wooden doors. They opened, revealing a huge entrance hall, with high ceilings, and a tall, stern looking witch standing in the doorway.

Instead of listening to what the witch was saying, Ginny drank in everything she could see. From the giant staircases off to one side, and the doors on the opposite wall, from which a great deal of noise was coming. Everything made the butterflies in her stomach fly more rapidly than they ever had before.

The witch lead the group across the hall, and instead of going through the huge doors, they went through a door off to one side, into a small room.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" the witch announced in a voice just as stern as her appearance.

"I am Professor McGonagall. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. While at Hogwarts, your houses will be like your family. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While here at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn house points, and any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each and every one of you will be a credit to your house, no matter where you are sorted."

After the speech, the professor glanced around the small room, her eyes passing over each of them.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you take some time to smarten yourselves up while you are waiting."

As she said this, she stared noticeably at a small brown haired girl, with her hair caught in the clasp of her cloak and her shirt only half tucked in. The girl seemed to become more nervous the longer the professor stared.

"I will return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." said Professor McGonagall, before she swept from the room.

Once the professor had shut the door behind her there was a cacophony of noise.

Ginny was too nervous to speak, the butterflies making her feel sick the longer they waited.

She didn't even jump when a crowd of ghosts came through the wall chatting animatedly about someone named Peeves.

As the ghosts made their way through, the doors opened once again.

"The Sorting Ceremony is about to start! Form a line, and follow me!"

Ginny moved stiffly as she fell into the line, with Luna ahead of her and the Bulgarian twins behind her.

Going through the doors of the Great Hall, Ginny heard more noise than she had ever heard. It seemed as if everyone was talking at once, staring at the first years walking down the centre. Ginny felt her cheeks beginning to heat up, not used to such attention. As she passed, she saw Fred and George waving enthusiastically, while Percy only smiled kindly from his place a few seats down. Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen. She only let this bother her for a second before she reached the front of the hall.

Ahead of them, she could see a small, four-legged stool with an old frayed hat sat on top of it.

All the school seemed to stare at it expectantly and all the first years jumped when a rip near the base of the hat opened and it started to sing.

"Many, many years ago,

I was but a hat,

Without a tear in sight,

Upon Gryffindor's head I sat.

Four great minds came to me,

And used magic I cannot compare.

I became the Sorting Hat,

So don't worry or despair,

For I shall help find where you belong.

It may be in Gryffindor,

Where the brave find a home,

Or possibly in Ravenclaw,

Where the smart are unopposed,

Or perhaps in Hufflepuff,

Where the just and fair prevail,

Or even in Slytherin,

Where ambition is a friend.

You may be frightened,

So calm your nerves,

You won't be harmed with me.

Just put me on and I shall say,

Where you ought to be."

Once the song ended, the entirety of the hall erupted into applause, while Ginny stared in wonder along with the rest of the first years.

Professor McGonagall, who had been all but forgotten, said, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Ashley, Jake!"

A young boy ran forward, nearly tripping over his feet, and the sorting began with a Ravenclaw.

Ginny didn't pay attention to any of the names being called or the applause of the students. She worried that her nerves would intensify. She didn't listen until she heard a name she recognised.

"Krum, Anastasiya!"

Ginny's eyebrows almost rose into her hairline at hearing the last name. The Krum family was prominent in Bulgaria, and the eldest brother was said to be a talented quidditch player sure to make the international team for the next world cup.

"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat, almost as soon as the girl sat down.

At hearing the announcement, Ginny's eyebrows rose further. Such a kind girl couldn't go to the house of the evil, surely. She glanced at the girls brother and knew that he would follow his twin. They had been inseparable.

"Krum, Aspen!"

And sure enough, the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

Two names later, Luna was called.

"Lovegood, Luna!"

The blonde didn't seem nervous at all as she made her way up to the stool. She sat down with a wistful smile and waited.

"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.

Luna didn't seemed surprised and happily made her way to her new table, to the applause of her house mates.

Knowing she had a while to wait, Ginny zoned it all out, feeling sick as she was the last to be called.

"Weasley, Ginevra!"

She stumbled up to the hat, not looking anywhere near as graceful as any of the other first years.

She sat on the stool, which wobbled slightly at first, and pulled the hat onto her head, allowing it to fall over her eyes,

Ginny was relieved so she didn't have to look at the staring eyes of the school.

When the hat didn't immediately shout Gryffindor as she had assumed, she was confused.

'Quite a mind you have here, Miss Weasley. I'm almost unsure where to put you' the voice of the hat echoed in her head.

'Almost?' she thought back.

'Yes, almost. I could place you in all four houses. You, like all your family, have the innate courage of a Gryffindor, and would no doubt fit in well. You have a strong desire to make friends, loyal friends that would stick by you, which would make you an ideal Hufflepuff. Yet at the same time, you have a desire to be smarter than your brothers. That ambition could place you in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin.'

'So where are you going to put me?' the young girl questioned.

'Where would you like to go?'

'You're asking me?'

Ginny was amused. The all-knowing hat needed help.

'I'm not entirely all-knowing, Miss Weasley. I take into account the desires of the student, especially one like you.'

'Oh. Well I'm not sure. I don't want to be just like my brothers.' Ginny thought nervously.

'Well then, perhaps not Gryffindor. That courage you have would also go far in Slytherin, you know. It'll make you brave enough to go after what you want.'

'But I would never be accepted in Slytherin. I'm a Weasley. And my family would hate me.'

'I could never tell you how your family will react. But Slytherin take care of their own. They may be harsh at first. You'll be an outsider, but they will never harm you. And with your ambition and the bravery, you can show them that you are a true Slytherin. So what do you think?'

'I don't want to go to Hufflepuff. They all seem too quiet. Like they'd be scared of anything.'

'That is partially true. Some Hufflepuff's tend to jump at shadows, but not all. You're outspokenness may surprise them. So, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, Miss Weasley?'

The hat seemed to be amused at her last response.

Unwilling to make the decision herself, and knowing that either decision would hurt her brothers, Ginny's only response was, 'Either, it's up to you.'

'Alright then, Miss Weasley, you'll do well. Try and come to see me every so often if you can.'

Ginny nodded and the Sorting Hat shouted it's decision to the hall.

"SLYTHERIN!"

A/N: I'm not sure what I'm going to do about Ginny's relationship with her family. They could love her or hate her. I also wanted to bring in some new characters which is why I included the Krum Twins.

I almost split this in two, but I couldn't decide where to split it. And thanks again for reading.