Not Without a Fight

Summary

"The thing is, it helps when people stand up to them, it gives everyone hope." Ginny, Neville and Luna have been sentenced to a life at Hogwarts under the reign of Snape and the Carrows, but they aren't going down without a fight.

Chapter One: A Different Beginning

Ginny dragged her trunk through the corridor of the Hogwarts Express in search of an empty compartment. When she finally found one she opened the door, shoved her trunk into the overhead locker, sat down and stared out the window.

Thinking.

Thinking about Harry, and where he was now. A part of her hoped that he was thinking about her too.

The door to the compartment slid open, interrupting Ginny's thoughts, and she was joined by Neville and Luna. Neville beamed when his gaze fell upon Ginny, and when Luna's wide eyes had finally finished swivelling around the entire compartment, they too rested on Ginny, and her face split into a wide grin, as did Ginny's. She was genuinely happy to see her two friends again.

"Hey, Ginny," said Neville, as he and Luna took the two seats opposite Ginny, "How are you? How are Harry, Ron and Hermione?"

"I'm good thanks Neville," she said, and then completely ignored his last it didn't matter, because Luna answered it for her, her wide eyes full of knowledge, "They aren't coming back to school are they?"

Neville stared at Ginny, his eyes begging her to contradict what Luna had said. But she just nodded her head solemnly.

She looked up at him and said, "Well come on Neville, how could you have expected Harry to return to school when it's been overrun by Death Eaters?" Neville just stared at her, so she continued, "and of course Ron and Hermione won't be coming back, they'll go anywhere with Harry."

"So it's true then," he whispered, "I mean, I'd heard rumours, but… So, Harry's going to try and stop You-Know-Who?"

"That's the general idea," said Ginny bitterly.

Neville grinned, but his smile faltered a little as his thoughts caught up with him.

"It's going to be a strange year, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," she replied simply.

Their conversation grew less intense from then on as Ginny and Neville discussed Quidditch, and Luna came out with statements regarding the illegal use of Dirigible Plums during contest. Whenever she said anything regarding this, Ginny and Neville would catch each other's eye and then look away quickly, trying very hard not to laugh. As much as Ginny loved Luna, there were some things that they would never see eye to eye on. The correct use of Dirigible Plums was one of them.

*****

When Ginny entered the doors to the Great Hall, she felt none of the happiness that the Start of Term Feast usually brought her. She looked up at the High Table where the teachers sat, and sitting in the centre of the table in the high-backed chair that had forever been Dumbledore's, was Snape. He was wearing a satisfied smirk on his face, and Ginny was repulsed. All of the teachers, (except for the two sitting on either side of Snape), had the same look of worry etched across their faces.

Ginny and Neville said a quick goodbye to Luna, (who floated towards the Ravenclaw table) and took their places at the Gryffindor table. Neville spotted Seamus who looked oddly alone without his best friend Dean beside him, and waved him over to sit with them.

After all the students in second year and above were seated, the first years were led inside and the Sorting Hat was brought out on its stool. One by one they tried on the hat and it announced the house that they belonged in. Beginning with Aldwell, Freeda, (Ravenclaw), and ending with Yerrick, Samuel, (Gryffindor).

Once the Sorting was over, Snape stood up to say the headmaster's start of year speech. Ginny had the sudden urge to sink her fist into something.

"Welcome," he said with an arrogant smirk, staring around at the faces of the furious Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, and the positively gleeful faces of the Slytherins. "Welcome back to a new year at Hogwarts," Ginny didn't feel welcome at all, in fact she felt thoroughly unwanted. "As you are well aware, the wizarding world is undergoing many changes currently, these changes have made their way to Hogwarts. I am sure that you and your families will be pleased to find many alterations to the school's curriculum. Defence Against the Dark Arts is now compulsory for all year levels, and will be taught by Professor Amycus Carrow," the short, lumpy looking man at Snape's right stood to accept the applause coming from the Slytherin table. Snape continued, "Muggle Studies is also mandatory for all students and will be taught by Professor Alecto Carrow," the stocky woman on Snape's other side waved away the applause that the Slytherins gave her. And Snape went on, "These two new additions to our staff are now in charge of all discipline, and you shall be referred to them should you do anything wrong. We trust that you will accept any alterations that have been made to the school, and that you will not oppose your new authority. Any students who do so, will be punished." He paused to leer at the Gryffindor table before adding in a mockingly cheerful voice, "now, enjoy the feast."

Ginny and Neville glanced at each other, clenching their fists even harder under the table.

*****

Hi!! Thanks so much for reading..

This is my first fanfic so any comments or suggestions would be really appreciated.. Thanks!