The Absence of Light

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: None of it is mine.


Dark angry clouds rumbled as the Hogwarts Express thundered along the track. Smoke spouted from the chimney stack, billowing across the foggy train windows. It was a rainy September day as students waited impatiently for the train to arrive at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It wasn't school they were eager for, but the chance to catch up with old friends and, in the first years' case, make new ones. But of course they all awaited eagerly the Homecoming Feast. This topic was exactly what was being spoken about in one of the train compartments.

"Ugh, I hope we get there soon…I'm starving!" A lanky, red-head groaned. He was sprawled out on the train seat, nearly taking up the entire bench. Scrunched at the end, pressed against the window was the infamous Harry Potter. A scowl graced his normally handsome features, he ruffled his jet black hair and pushed the feet that somehow managed to position themselves on his lap, off onto the compartment floor. Ron Weasley groaned again.

The snap of a book closing drew Harry's and Ron's attention, bushy brown haired yet stunningly pretty Hermione Granger rolled her chocolate eyes at her two best friends. "You are always hungry Ronald!" Harry snorted and Ron merely gave Hermione a look.

"At least I eat, you always have your nose in a book you can't even get food to your mouth!" Ron joked back, he stretched his legs back onto Harry for what seemed like the hundredth time. Harry's scowl deepened and instead of pushing Ron's feet off, Harry rolled Ron completely off the bench. Ron hit the compartment floor with a loud thump and a disgruntled moan. Ron glared up at his best friend who grinned back as Hermione laughed. "Sorry mate." Harry said.

The noise of Ron's body hitting the floor jolted a petite-framed Weasley out of her day dreams. Ginny Weasley's head whipped around to take in the scene in front of her. Rolling her honey brown eyes, Ginny ran a hand through her loosely curled, auburn hair. The littlest Weasley had always been an attractive girl. But her natural beauty had shown it wasn't through, leaving her with a full chest, a slender frame, curves, and legs to kill for. Of course Ginny ignored all of this, she focused on her school work like a good girl. It wasn't the grades that made her the good girl she was, but her older brother's constant hovering. Somehow Ron had formed his sister a good girl demeanor, and Ginny was just dying to get out of it.

With a sigh Ginny gently brushed the straight side-swept bangs out of her eyes and to the side. Ginny wore makeup, but didn't over do it like some girls. A little black eyeliner, some eyeshadow, mascara, and cover up was all she needed. She turned back to the window. It wasn't that she didn't like the Golden Trio, in fact she loved them dearly: Ron as a brother, Harry as a great friend, and Hermione had easily become Ginny's best friend—besides Colin Creevy of course. The only problem with the Golden Trio is that are just that, a trio. Whenever Ginny was with them, the shadow they cast over her hid Ginny from everyone else. Ginny had no name for herself, and decided that her 6th year was going to be different. She was stepping out of those shadows and into the light.

While Ginny was swimming in her day dreams once more, the compartment door slid open and an unwelcome drawl spoke from the doorway. "Ugh, Crabbe, Goyle, this compartment is disgusting! Wouldn't you agree? Full of filth." Draco Malfoy threw the word "filth" at Hermione, who immediately grabbed the sleeve of Ron's shirt. Ron was already on his feet. Crabbe and Goyle snorted at Malfoy's comment even though they probably didn't understand a word of it.

The three 7th year Gryffindors scowled at the Slytherins. "The only filth I see is in the doorway, I'll be sure to inform Dumbledore that his janitorial staff missed a spot cleaning." Hermione snapped back. Draco sneered at Hermione and spoke again, "Ah but Granger, my blood is pure; while yours couldn't be filthier."

Ron growled angrily, now fighting against both Harry and Hermione. Hermione didn't look surprised to be called dirty. Harry looked about ready to let go of Ron and go after Malfoy himself. Ron was as red as his hair and his expression was one to kill.

During this exchange, Ginny had been surveying the Slytherins. Goyle and Crabbe looked just as stupid and rock-like as they did before summer break. However it was Malfoy who captured her attention. He was taller now, the rolled up sleeves of his school shirt showed his muscles. His platinum blond hair was no longer slicked back, but tumbled across his forehead and fell into his mercury colored eyes. His hair was completely straight. Ginny realized why so many girls fell for the Slytherin sex god. Now if only he had a good attitude. Ginny snapped back to reality at the sound of Goyle's grunt. "Hah, good comeback Draco." Goyle blurted out. Thinking quickly, Ginny stepped into the conversation, coming to stand next to Hermione.

This obviously surprised Draco, something flashed in his eyes, an emotion of realization that was quickly covered up. Ginny rolled her eyes and spoke directly to Goyle, "Oh please! Goyle you wouldn't know a good comeback if it came up to you and slapped across the face." Goyle just gave her a stupid look.

"Control your bitch, Potter." Draco snapped, "She appears to be spewing shit all over the place." Draco smirked at the red-head. Harry opened his mouth to say something, but Ginny cut him off. "If anyone is a bitch it would be you Malfoy, whipped by Parkinson."

Draco sneered again at her and said, "Pansy is a slut and a terrible shag." Then Draco looked directly at Ron and added, "Well at least that's what I thought. Your brother here might think differently." Ginny spun around to watch all of the color drain from Ron's face. Hermione let out a little gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. Ginny turned to look at Draco who was eyeing her in a weird way. When Draco noticed Ginny looking at him, he smirked obviously satisfied with himself. None of the Trio noticed this, Hermione and Harry were trying to calm Ron down and Ron looked like he was about to puke. "See you around Weaselette." Then Draco turned and walked out of the compartment, leaving his two "rocks" to follow behind him.

As soon as the door shut, Ginny whipped around to hear Hermione shriek, "You slept with that pug-faced slut?!" She looked appalled, furious, disappointed, and disgusted all at the same time. "When?" She snarled.

Ron looked at her, "After we broke up at the end of the year party. I was completely sloshed, I didn't even really have a clue what was going on. It just happened!" Ginny looked at her brother, disgusted. She stalked over to her window seat and flopped down in it, her school robes spread out around her. She watched as the Black Lake and the Hogwarts castle came into view. The windows of the castle glowed brightly even with the storm clouds that overcastted the highest towers. Ginny smiled glad to be back. Then the castle disappeared all together behind the tall pine trees. The train glided to a halt in the Hogsmead Train Station.

Students began to file out of the compartments and into the corridor; the four Gryffindors soon joined the rest of the student body on the station platform. They waved to Hagrid who was herding the first years towards the lake. Everyone else lined up to board the carriages.


In the Great Hall excited students chatted with each other as they took their seats at their respected tables. The teachers were all seated at the Head table, with the exception of Professor McGonagall. As soon as Ginny spotted Colin she bounded over to him giving him a hug which he happily returned. "Hey Gin! How was your summer?"

"As good as it will ever be," Ginny shrugged, "But how was yours? I mean it had to be good, you went to Rome!" That set Colin into a frenzy of stories. Ginny listened intently to everything Colin was telling her, she laughed at the ridiculous parts and was about to comment when the doors swung open to reveal small, timid first years. McGonagall led them up to the front of the Hall.

As soon as the Sorting Ceremony began, Ginny zoned out. Looking around the room, her eyes fell on the Slytherin table. She scanned their faces unsure of what, or who, she was looking for. A brilliant flash of blond captured her attention. She watched Draco as he snickered at something another boy said. Immediantly Ginny's thoughts raced back to what he had said on the train, "I'll be seeing you around Weaselette." Ginny continued to gaze across the few feet that separated her and her brother's worst enemy. Was that a threat, Ginny wondered, Or a promise?

Ginny's eyes flickered to the dark-skinned boy next to Draco: Blaise Zambini, the other Prince of Slytherin and Draco's best friend. Blaise had a muscular body with dark hair and smoldering brown eyes. He was just as good looking as Draco but in a more mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome kind of way; while Draco the dangerous bad-boy fashion. Moving her eyes back to Draco's face, Ginny propped her head on her hand, elbow on the table. She always wondered why the Golden Trio hated him so much. True he's a royal arse, but there had to be something that made him that way. No one is born that mean, Ginny decided. A moment later she noticed Blaise nudge Draco and nod in her direction. Draco's head shot up.

Mercury met honey as their eyes locked. The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, then the infamous Malfoy smirked etched itself on Draco's face. He lifted an eyebrow as if asking, "What Weasley?" Ginny scowled at him and turned away as the entire Great Hall erupted into applause. With the Sorting done, Dumbledore stood up and began his new school year speech. After explaining the rules to the new students and reminded the older ones, Dumbledore continued by informing the students of upcoming events in the next two months.

Then Dumbledore smiled and said, "Now I am pleased to introduce your new Head Girl and Boy." The Hall fell silent, wondering who was chosen. "These two students have shown extraordinary good grades, responsibility, and the ability to take charge and get what needs to be done, done." Dumbledore took a breath and continued, "Would each student please stand when their name is called. First, your new Head Girl, a talented and extremely intelligent young witch: Hermione Granger!" The Hall erupted into cheers, Gryffindors cheered the loudest as Hermione stood up, her Head Girl badge shining. Her face was as red as Ginny's hair. When the students had calmed, Dumbledore continued his speech. "Congratulations Miss Granger. Now for you Head Boy, an excellent student whose presence seems to command attention and respect: Draco Malfoy!" The Slytherin table screamed their approval, becoming louder than the Gryffindors.

Ginny whipped her head around to stare at Draco as he slowly stood up, a smirk on his face; the same badge that was shining on Hermione's robes was shining on his chest. Why didn't I see that before? Ginny wondered. Most of the Great Hall, except for the teachers and Slytherins, looked at Dumbledore like he had gone insane. Dumbledore just stood there and smiled brightly at the student body. Ginny watched, mouth slightly ajar, as Draco turned to look at Ginny his smirked widened. After a moment Draco began to sit down. Then he paused and, still with a smirk, winked at Ginny. Draco's action did not go unnoticed. As soon as the food began to appear on the plates before them, Ron leaned over and growled at Ginny, "Why in Melin's name is that git winking at you?!"

Ginny snapped her attention to Ron, "I don't bloody know! He's an arse what the hell do you expect from him?" Ron seemed satisfied with her response and began to fill his plate with food. Ginny sighed and glanced at the Slytherin table, Draco was staring directly at her. He had no expression, just his cold demeanor. Suddenly Ginny wasn't hungry anymore.


A/N: Well there you go, first chapter up! Thank you for reading, comments would be splendid. Good or bad I don't mind. Anything you think should be changed, tell me. It may take me a little while to update again because I'm so busy. But I will try my best not to leave this story unfinished. =)