The excitement, ok, over-excitement of a new adventure

Starting at a new school is incredibly exciting. You’ve packed your pencil case, got your uniform and are ready to wow all your new friends with your dazzling personality. And that’s just a Muggle school – it has to be at least a million times more thrilling to be starting a school that teaches magic. You can understand why Ginny was SO EXCITED to be going to Hogwarts… even if it was a year too early! And so despondent when the Hogwarts Express pulled away without her.

Although – there’s nothing quite like being gifted a toilet seat to cheer you up!

That very first crush

We remember our first crush well… the butterflies in your tummy, the inability to string a sentence together and a face redder than the flaming mop of hair atop a Weasleys’ head. It’s all part of the school experience. You catch the eye of that person across the crowded playground and that’s that – you’re smitten. With that in mind, we couldn’t help but relate to Ginny’s crush on Harry. And we particularly relate to the fact that when she was in his presence during her first year, it was like someone had cast Silencio in her direction.

Embarrassing moments

When you picture yourself at a new school, we imagine its similar to what Ron Weasley sees in the Mirror of Erised – triumphant as both Quidditch captain AND Head Boy. You are the superstar, everyone will think you are the coolest and you will never do anything that could be considered embarrassing ever. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work quite like that, and we bet those embarrassing slipups that happened at school still haunt your dreams. If anyone would understand this pain it is Ginny, she had her fair share. Remember a certain singing Valentine she sent to a certain Mr Potter?

Cringe! That is not the way to impress your crush.

The nerves as a youngest sibling

Starting school when you already have an older sibling there can be daunting – especially when the teachers have made up their mind about of you before you’ve even walked through the door. Spare a thought then for poor Ginny Weasley who had not one but six older brothers who went to Hogwarts before her… she had a lot to live up to. Every single one of her brothers had made their mark at Hogwarts. There was Bill the dashing Head Boy, Charlie the Quidditch Captain, Percy the Prefect, Fred and George the popular, hilarious Beaters and Ron who had casually helped stop Voldemort from getting his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone during his first year at Hogwarts. No pressure then! With all that on her shoulders, Ginny probably wondered if she would ever carve out her own identity at Hogwarts… luckily, she did.

Things turning out not quite the way you expected

You can think you’re going to have a perfect first year at school all you want… but often life has other plans. It did for Ginny Weasley. She could probably say that she had the worst first year out of anyone who has attended Hogwarts. Yes, Harry might have had to deal with Voldemort in his first year, but at least he came out of that interaction a hero. Ginny on the other hand… well, being possessed by Tom Riddle’s diary, opening the Chamber of Secrets and setting a great big Basilisk on the Muggle-borns in your school does not earn you the same reputation. Plus, she almost died. A pretty disastrous start to her Hogwarts career if you ask us.

Now we’re not saying your start at a new school was filled with Dark wizards and dangerous creatures, but maybe you were put in a different class to your bestie. Or maybe your teacher took an instant dislike to you (Snape and Harry spring to mind). Perhaps you forgot your P.E. kit. No matter what it was that set you back, you relate to Ginny.

Looking back at how far you’ve come

Ginny might have had a rather bumpy start at Hogwarts, and it might have taken her a while to find her feet. But she did. She grew into a force of nature. She was a Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, an integral part of Dumbledore’s Army and she managed to make lasting and wonderful friendships. Plus, she ended up dating her crush – the icing on a very impressive cake. And that is what is important. Yes, starting a new school is scary. Yes, things might not quite go to plan. And yes, you should never hire a singing Valentine but when you come out the other side and finish school? Well, you’ll be able to look back and be proud of just how far you come – just like Ginny queen-of-the-Bat-Bogey-Hex Weasley.