The Girl Who Loved: Year 1

Chapter 1

A/N: All rights go to J.K. Rowling.

September 1

Colleen woke up with excitement going through her veins. She and Ron would be heading off to Hogwarts that morning to begin first year. Percy would be starting his fifth year, and Fred and George would be starting their third year. Ginny hadn't gotten her letter yet, so she couldn't come with them just yet.

It was quite early in the morning for Colleen to be up, but she just couldn't go back to sleep. She could smell breakfast from downstairs her mother always cooked, but Molly didn't wake her children until it was time to eat before getting ready for the day. Until then, Colleen decided to practice some spells with her wand, which used to belong to Bill.

The Weasleys had always been frugal with money, even though they didn't have a lot. Arthur had a good job at the Ministry of Magic, but with eight children some things had to be made to last such as wands, robes, and school books all in order to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. All of them had been handed down each other's items in terms of school robes and supplies, and Arthur and Molly had managed to save up just enough to purchase everything their children needed for the new school year. Ron and Colleen would be given a few hand-me-downs from Bill, and the twins would be given some of Percy's old books.

While Ginny was still asleep in her bed, Colleen did her best not to wake her up as she sneaked out of their shared bedroom and into the bathroom with her wand and Charms book in hand. In the cupboard above the sink, she pulled out her box of metal scraps and small pebbles to practice with. She had passed by a jeweler once in Diagon Alley, and the shopkeeper had made everything out of old metal parts using Transfiguration and Charms spells. She had made quite a wealthy living from it and was able to start making fashion and robes from scrap fabric or old robes no one wanted. This inspired Colleen to hatch an idea: she wanted to succeed at Hogwarts, but she wanted to use her magic to help her family and others around her. She decided she was going to collect whatever scrap or items in nature she could and practice making jewelry with them. Once she had mastered it, she would sell them, and the money would go to her parents.

She sat down on the floor, placed a few metal parts and her book in front of her, and flipped to a page with the easiest spell: a ring-making charm.

"Anulusum," she chanted as she pointed her wand at a piece of metal.

It took a few tries, but soon it began to lengthen and weave around itself into a circular object until it looked identical to her mother's wedding ring without the diamond. Colleen picked it up and examined her new creation.

"Wicked," she whispered.

"Colleen," her mother's voice rang from the door. "Are you in there, darling?"

"Yes, mum," she replied as she quickly gathered her project.

"I just came up to tell you that breakfast was ready. Get dressed and join your siblings downstairs."

"I'm coming." Colleen placed the box back into the cupboard as she heard her mother's footsteps creak away.

-

"King's Cross is always packed with Muggles, of course," Molly grumbled as the six of her eight children followed briskly behind her, pushing their trunks as they strolled.

Colleen almost had to run as she pushed her trunk due to her small stature. She was taller than her baby sister, but she was shorter than her brothers. The twins would often make height jokes, but she got used to them over time.

The group stopped at platforms nine and ten, allowing Colleen to catch her breath.

"Now, what's the platform number?" Molly asked them as Ginny was clinging to her.