Author's Note: This is my second attempt at a fanfic (deleted the first only a day after posting it because I didn't like it anymore), so really this is my first.. kind of. This will eventually be a femmeslash but hopefully not too graphic. This is not a one shot, more to come.

Please, please, please review! I'm terrified of reading reviews, but I still need them :)

lita rocks LbC : Thank you for being my one and only review, even if I did delete the story.

Disclaimer : I don't own a house or a car. If I owned Harry Potter, then I probably would.

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The Hogwarts Express raced across the tracks, throwing off clouds of steam which trailed a full mile behind before finally dissipating into the warm morning air. It was the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, and a year that many approached with trepidation following the events at the Ministry of Magic where Sirius Black had been murdered.

Most of the DA members shared a carriage, talking animatedly about their holidays and what they had seen and heard about recent events. Information came from overhearing their parents' conversations and those of the Order, as well as from the Daily Prophet and even the Quibbler which had incorporated many more newsworthy items since last year.

Cornelius Fudge had admitted that He Who Must Not Be Named had truly returned, after seeing him firsthand at the Ministry of Magic. The Daily Prophet had pretended it had known this all along, running large articles and editorials demanding Fudge's resignation for being so blind to the dangers. Eventually, only three days ago, Cornelius Fudge had resigned and been replaced by Rufus Scrimgour. In addition and, as importantly to many of the DA members, Sirius Black had been exonerated by the Ministry and awarded the Order of Merlin (Eighth Class) posthumously.

Dumbledore had also received a formal, public apology from the Ministry and Harry Potter was credited with turning the Dark Lord aside once again. Harry refuted this, modest as always, and claimed that Dumbledore had been the one to fight off Voldemort's attack.

Ginny knew that Harry was only being honest, having witnessed Dumbledore's fight herself. She now understood something of the pressure that his fame put on the young man, but still she didn't back up Harry's story. People need a hero after all. Harry was a symbol to witches and wizards everywhere. Much more so than Dumbledore in fact, despite him being only 16 years old, and despite Dumbledore's achievements over many decades. She kept silent, knowing that if she backed up Harry's story, people would still not believe that Dumbledore had been the one who saved the day.

Ginny watched Harry from across the carriage as he talked intently with Ron and Seamus. He was much more mature in recent months, without the air of innocence that had initially attracted her to him. His eyes were shadowed and darker, his demeanour more commanding, and he looked a man now – not a boy. She had lost her feelings for him somewhere along the way, and Harry wasn't the object of her affections anymore. Ginny knew that potentially years of battle lay ahead of them and she had realised over the last year that she could not afford to be – or think like – a child anymore. She had to temper her soul against what was to come, and come out stronger and more durable for the challenges ahead.

The Death Eaters had been active over the past couple of months with witches and wizards disappearing or being found horribly mutilated and tortured. None that she knew well, thankfully. All of her close friends and family were a part of the Order of the Phoenix, or under their protection. Still the murders had struck their own ranks in a way. Luna Lovegood's father had been one of those found tortured and gruesomely murdered. Not by magical means apparently, but gruesomely enough that the Prophet was unable to publish the details. Ginny's father had been among the party to retrieve Mr Lovegood's corpse, and the experience had left him in a state of shock for days at St Mungo's.

Ginny's gaze flickered to the girl next to her in worry. Luna appeared outwardly to be taking her father's murder well, but Ginny could see the changes in her. Luna's generally vague and pleasant expression remained in place, but her eyes seemed to radiate hopelessness and grief.

"How are you Luna?" she asked, shifting sideways slightly to face her classmate.

"Oh I'm ok." Luna smiled in that dreamy way.

Ginny's heart ached for her friend. She reached out and enveloped Luna in a warm hug. "Luna, I've already told you this, but please remember that you can talk to me anytime if you want to. Please don't feel like you're in this alone. I'm here for you."

"I know Ginny. And when I'm ready to talk, it will definitely be to you." Luna smiled at her again, her clear blue eyes echoing the smile before the grief came back.

Ginny closed her eyes for a moment, wishing against all reason that Voldemort's return was truly just a bad dream. Luna had settled back, pulling the latest Quibbler from her bag.

"It's just not the same anymore without him." she murmured to Ginny, "Finius refused to print the front page upside down. That was Daddy's favourite joke you know."

Ginny didn't know quite what to say, but Luna appeared to have lost herself in the newspaper despite the fact that it had changed so much from the quirky publication she loved. Ginny leaned her head against the window of the carriage, staring out at the passing countryside. We have to hold on to our care, concern and love. Harden ourselves, yes. But we can't lose ourselves either, whatever happens. Her eyes drifted shut and she spent two hours in mercifully peaceful sleep, without dreams.

Ginny's eyes opened as the train came to a final, jolting halt outside Hogsmeade. She rose sleepily and followed her friends from the train to commence another year at Hogwarts.

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Author's Note: Please click the review button and let me know what you think?

I'm doing this ad lib, so the story is developing in my mind as I write it. I have plenty of ideas and I know where it's going, but not the details yet. Also, it will probably be long-ish.

Love you all :)
Sam
xx