Note to those who are following the posts: Sorry for the confusion, I'm just editing some grammatical mistakes from past chapters and fixing some character mistakes (like in Chapter 2, I originally had Cormac McLaggen in the story but he's actually a year ahead of Harry and shouldn't even be at Hogwarts).
For all who are new, I hope you'll enjoy the story as much as I enjoy writing it. It really starts to pick up around Chapter 7, so if you can make it to then you won't be disappointed!
Neville glanced around nervously after passing through the barrier leading to the Hogwarts Express. There were students everywhere, and yet the crowd seemed smaller than usual. Most students had their heads down, looking up only to lift their trunks or to talk to parents who stayed unusually close to their children this year. He searched the crowd and smiled when he spotted a girl with dangling radish earrings entering the train. Before he could step forward, though, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Neville," his gran started, "this year will be different. Don't forget what we talked about this morning." She looked as though she wanted to say more, but instead gave a sideways glance at the two death eaters standing at the edge of the barrier, looking bored and eager to pick a fight.
He sighed, remembering the conversation with his gran. Since joining Dumbledore's Army, he had finally earned the respect of his grandmother, but that still didn't stop the lectures on honoring the family name and living up to his Gryffindor heritage. Despite her rough exterior, though, Neville knew his gran was just trying to show her love in the way she knew best.
"Gran, don't worry, Hogwarts has always had Harry to defend the school." He smiled at her. "I also have some really great friends that will look out for me."
She nodded, gave the faintest of smiles, and wished him well before turning to the barrier. He also turned and, heaving his large trunk, boarded the scarlet train. Just like every year, he paused at the front. This year he was relieved because this year it wasn't a question of where to sit like it had been in years past, it was a question of where to find his friends. Typically Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat near the back, though Ron and Hermione would probably be at the front with the rest of the prefects. Still, with Ginny and Harry as a couple, and with Ginny and Luna being friends, he was sure there'd still be a spot for him without being a third wheel. He walked down the train, glancing in compartments, nodding at former DA members and ducking out quickly when he discovered a nest of Slytherins.
Just as he suspected, he found Ginny and Luna near the back of the train. He quickly stepped in to smiling faces.
"Neville! Took you long enough," Ginny said. "Did Trevor escape like he always does on the train?" With a start, Neville patted down his pockets, feeling a nice size lump in his pant pocket. With wide eyes he pulled out his toad. For the first time since attending Hogwarts, Trevor hadn't escaped.
"No, I guess he's right here. My gran wanted to talk to me before we left." Neville replied. He glanced around and the realization hit him: Harry was no where to be seen. He glanced from Ginny, to Luna, then back to Ginny with a confused look. Before he could say anything, Ginny turned to look out the window, even though all she could see was rain falling down the window pane.
Luna piped up, "Harry isn't here. Neither is Ron or Hermione." Ginny still refused to make eye contact even though Neville looked straight to her for an answer.
"What do you mean, not here? Where are they? I know we're of age, but what do they plan to do?"
Luna looked at him as though the answer was obvious. "Harry has to face You-know-who." Ginny stiffened. "It'd be hard to prepare for that with Professor Snape as headmaster."
Neville looked once again at Ginny sitting even more rigidly in her seat. Her hair was covering most of her face, but her eyes were cold and hardened. It was as if she refused to betray any emotions whatsoever. The silence was thick in the air, but that seemed to be the mood wherever Neville went these days. He sat down next to Luna, shuffling his feet awkwardly. Luna picked up her copy of The Quibbler and began reading the magazine. Ginny continued to look out the window, her face void of expression.
Luna finally broke the silence. "So, what are we going to do this year?" Both Ginny and Neville turned to her.
"What do you mean, 'do this year'?" Ginny responded.
"The DA. What are we going to do this year? Our first year was taking down Umbridge, last year was the battle in the astronomy tower, so what about this year?"
"Well, as we're missing Harry, I don't think anything is going to happen. He was the one who always knew what was going on," replied Ginny.
"Ginny, you know something, right? I mean, you are dating Harry, so he probably let you in on his plans," Neville said. Ginny tensed and looked back at the window. Neville was about to ask another question, but Luna caught his eye and shook her head against the idea.
"Harry…. Harry broke up with me at Dumbledore's funeral." She paused, took a breath, and went on. "I knew it was coming. Harry barely lets Ron and Hermione get close when things like this happen and I know he won't rest until he stops You-know-who. That doesn't make any of it easier, though. After Bill and Fleur's wedding, I thought we would have heard something, or at least I would have heard something, but there's nothing. I guess no news is good news since You-know-who would publicize Harry's death, but still…. I wish there was something, anything, we could do to help."
"Even if Harry is gone, that doesn't mean the three of us can't come up with a plan to help protect Hogwarts," Luna responded. "We're a part of the DA, too."
Neville smiled. "Luna's right. We may not know what's going on outside of Hogwarts, but we can always make sure things are ok for when Harry, Ron, and Hermione do return."
"Do you really think they'll come back to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.
"They always do. Harry would never abandon Hogwarts" Neville responded. "So, what should the plan be?"
All three paused, noting the train slowing down and not sure what to plan for. Ginny finally looked up and said, "Let's wait and see what Snape says. I bet there are going to be a lot of changes this year at Hogwarts."
They all nodded and stood up. They put their cloaks on in silence and got of the train, bracing themselves for the unknown.