A/N: This story is also posted on Quizilla, and perhaps other sites in the near future. Thank you!

The sun dipped low in the sky, the clouds painted a plethora of oranges, pinks, and reds as a loud whistle reverberated throughout the area. People were boarding a rather large train, the sign on the platform listing a single, odd number: nine and three quarters. Trolleys with trunks and cages of various furred and feathered creatures rolled along the tiled flors of the platform, extremely nervous kids pushing them along. Parents were saying teary goodbyes to the younger children, many of whom looked to be leaving home for the first time. Many of the older teenagers were already settling into compartments, eager to start their new year.

All except for a few individuals.

A young red-head sat staring out over Platmore Nine and three quarters, her unwavering gaze landing on her partents; Arthur and Molly Weasley. Her mind wandered, thoughts averting to a single black-haired boy, a small red scar hidden under his mop of raven hair.

"Ginny!" The sound of her name made the Weasley girl jump in her seat. Who would be so excited to see her? Surely it wasn't Harry as he wasn't going to return to Hogwarts. Unless... "Ginny!" Arms wrapped around her neck in a tight embrace, the side of her face pressed soundly against a plump chest. Her hands shot up as she pushed the other female away.

"Flaria!" Her tone was harsh, scolding at first.

"But... but... Ginny!" Flaria brushed a small strand of black hair out of her face, tucking it neatly behind her ear. Ginny rolled her eyes, her gaze returning to the platform still bustling with students boarding the train. "It's about your looooover~!" She whispered in a sing-song voice.

"Harry!" Ginny'gaze shot back to the younger Weasley, her blue eyes lighting up. Flaria nodded, a giggle leaving her lips. "What about him?" Her voice fell to an urgen whisper, her eyes not leaving her cousin. She shook her head, her flame coloured, ebony curls bouncing as she pointed to the, now open, compartment door, revealing a boy followed by two girls.

"JACOB!" Arms were flung around the male as Flaria clung to him. "Jacob! Jake! YAY! I thought you would never come back!"

"Hi Flaria. Ginny" He walked in, pushing Flaria off of him and into the seat next to Ginny. "Girls, this is Saki and Harukichi Fujiwara. One is in Hufflepuff, the other in Ravenclaw." This caused Flaria to giggle, her hand waving frantically at the twins. "The hyperactive one is Flaria, and the daydreamy one is Ginny. Both are Weasleys." The elder Weasley nodded, her gaze moving back to the platform. People were barely on it, the only remaining groups were parents, worried expressions plastered on their faces.

Screams of laughter erupted from one end of the train, most likely the comparment the Slytherins were in.

"Sooooo... Where's Harry and them? They usually don't miss the train." Jacob started, his attention moving from Ginny to Flaria. Ginny shrugged her shoulders, not eager to speak up. After all, her cousin knew the same amount of information, perhaps even more than she lead on.

"I can't say. Never know who will be listening in to conversations. Especially conversations that no one should be listening in on or they weren't invited to." Flaria nodded her head at the door. "If you haven't noticed, the same two Slytherins keep passing the door. I think it's..." She paused, her brow furrowing as a contemplative expression crossed her features. "Draco and... Ayleth maybe?" Jacob shrugged, nodding his head.

"OI! Get back in your compartment!" A snarky voice rang out close by. "The train is about to leave!" The door to theirs opened instantly, two boys stumbling in and falling at Jacob and Saki's feet.

"OH MY GOD. ARE THEY...?" Flaria started, her voice raising sharply before the one closest to her moved. "Oh. Okay. They're alive! YAY!" The blonde nodded, rubbing his face as he stood up.

"Mind if we sit here with you? A bunch of first years took ours." He asked, a goofy look on his face.

"You're cute! Sure!" Flaria said before the others could speak up. Ginny looked at her, shaking her head. "OOOH! I'm Flaria Weasley, and this is Ginny Weasley, she's my cousin! That is Jacob Way, he's very comfortable to hug. And they are Saki and Harukichi Fujiwara. They are... twins, I think?"She nodded her head at herself, a content sigh leaving her lips.

"I'm Morven Knapp, of Ravenclaw house. And this is Avery Rousseau. He's a Hufflepuff." Morven laughingly said as he plopped down next to Flaria, Avery following suit.

The whistle sounded as the locomotive vibrated, the train moving down the tracks. If someone had been late, they surely wouldn't have been arriving to Hogwarts. Then again, considering the current circumstances, that wasn't really a bad thing.

"So it is true then? The Dark Lord took over the school?" Flaria nodded in response.

"Now that's Dumbledore's... dead," Her voice lowered, her eyes illuminating brightly as if tears would fall from them, "The school will never be the same." They nodded in agreement. "I really don't want to go a year without him..."

"I know how you feel."

The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was in complete and utter silence.