Prologue
The One with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.
Born to one who has thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.
And the Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal but he shall have power that the Dark Lord knows not.
Neither can live while the other survives
Alone.
The heavy rains fell from the clouds, trying in desperate vain to rebuild the once grassy orchard beyond the Burrow. And as God's tears streamed from heaven, one sixteen-year-old girl stood by her window, weeping to herself.
And only one thought was present in Ginny Weasley's head.
Alone.
She was abandoned. Her closest brother, her best friend, and her once-boyfriend had left to hunt the soul of the Dark Lord. Her mother was preoccupied with repairing the ashen household. Her brothers were too busy with their lives and jobs. There was no one there for her, no one but herself.
Alone.
"Ginny, time to go," Molly Weasley called from the kitchen.
"Coming mum," was her miserable reply.
She heaved her trunk, grabbed her wand, and trudged downstairs, wondering and hoping, that maybe wasn't as different. Her friends would be there, Quidditch would be there, and magic would be there, but it wasn't the same without Harry, or Ron, or Hermione.
"GINNY, COME DOWNSTAIRS! The train leaves in an hour," her mother was getting more edgy each word.
"YES MUM," was she responded from halfway down the stairs.
A farewell party of three stood on the platform.
Tall, balding, and stoic fighter, Arthur Weasley looked at his only daughter with pain in his eyes. He drew her close, and held her as though she was his world.
Her mother, short, plump, tears streamed unremorsefully down her face as she squeezed her seventh child with all her heart.
And her brother, Fred, practical joker, prankster extraordinaire, the kindest and most sensitive of her siblings. He hugged his sister dear, pouring all his love, strength, and happiness into her.
"I love you Ginny, we all do. So please promise us that you'll try to stay safe."
Clinging to him, and crying silently, she said, "I promise."
And with the silver steam that rose out of the Express, her 6th year at Hogwarts School began.
Chapter 1
The four long house tables were slowly filling themselves underneath the starry ceiling. The candles floated along the tables, shedding lights on the pearly ghosts who flitted here and there. But the laughter, the eager talking, and the shouted greetings were gone. Hogwarts was no longer a place of happiness.
The moment Ginny reached her table, she was approached by none other than Neville Longbottom, who, after the Battle at the Ministry, became one of her most trusted friends.
"Hey Ginny, had a good summer?"
"Sort of, well, not really. The only good part was Bill and Fleur's wedding, but that was ruined by Death Eaters. Plus a lot of people are gone hiding. And Harry , Ron and Hermione left too."
"Yeah. I think my gran will have to do the same sooner or later too." Neville sighed, "Do you know where the three of them went though?"
"Sorry, they made me promise not to tell."
"That's okay. I guess that means there'll be plenty of work for us then," he laughed,
"Neville," Ginny questioned playfully, "what do you have in mind?"
"Oh, nothing, just some welcoming gifts for our NEW professors." The round-faced boy smiled mischievously.
"What," Ginny exclaimed, shocked. "Who besides Snape has a new job?" She immediately looked toward the staff table, scanning for unfamiliar faces. There, she saw them, right next to Professor McGonagall. A man with jet-black hair and beady eyes, who looked quite mad. And beside him, a young woman who was without a doubt his sister.
"Amycus and Alecto Carrow," Neville said. Realization dawned on Ginny.
"Harry said they were there when Dumbledore was murdered," she gasped, "They're Death Eaters"
Neville's mischievous smile twisted into a mask of hatred. "Good, then they'll deserve exactly what they get."
Ginny's next question was cut short however, as Headmaster Snape had chosen to stand up. Slowly, quiet was reduced to silence, and the Death Eater took a deep breath.
"This year, like every other, there have been some staffing changes." The new headmaster was clearly not at ease with giving speeches.
"Since our previous Muggle Studies professor has been missing for a time"
Amycus sniggered.
"We have decided to appoint a replacement. Ms. Alecto Carrow, if you will."
Alecto stood, and was met with vigorous applause, emanating primarily from the table dressed in silver and emerald. All three other Houses swiveled their eyes to meet those of Slytherin House, eyeing each other with distaste.
After the applause died down, Professor Snape spoke again.
"We have also found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor. Mr. Amycus Carrow"
Again the Great Hall was filled with claps and screams, again only from the House of Slytherin. After the Hall was silent once more, Snape sat down and the students resumed talking, a little.
At last Professor McGonagall came forward and unraveled the scroll of first years, and with the Sorting Hat set upon the school, the first years approached one-by-one, not as eager as usual to be assigned a house.
"Baxter, Abigail"
A young girl who looked absolutely petrified stepped forward and onto the stool.
"Ravenclaw"
Gryfffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw clapped eagerly, guiding the new student to her place on the House table.
Another half hour passed before finally, "Knight, Aiden" was Sorted into Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall marched back to the Staff table and the feast began soon after.
Following a treacle tart that was delicious as ever, Ginny, Neville, and the rest of the Gryffindors trooped up to the 7th floor, and after saying "Nobility" many times over, the Fat Lady's portrait swung out, revealing the still cozy common room.
Almost immediately, the 6th and 7th years noticed an absence of someones. 3 someones to be exact, and withing 5 minutes of entry Ginny was bombarded with every single question possible relating to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Why did they leave?"
Ginny's face fell, remembering the promise she made.
"Where did they go?"
Her mind screamed with worry, and she wondered and hoped that the three were all right. Tears began to form in her eyes.
"Are they in hiding?"
Her lip began to tremble.
No one seemed to care about what Ginny was feeling. No one noticed her growing amount of tears in her eyes. No one seemed concerned with anything besides her three best friends.
"What are they looking for?"
"Why are you here if they're not?"
"Will they be back before Christmas?"
Finally, Neville, seeing the growing sadness on her face, came over and quieted all the curious students.
"Okay move along, time for everyone to go to bed. Classes tomorrow, c'mon go to your rooms"
And slowly, the students shuffled along, making their ways upstairs to the dormitories.
"Thank you for that Neville."
"No problem, they were being pretty annoying anyway," He replied. Ginny's face fell once more, and he noticed quickly.
"Hey Gin, are you okay?" Ginny noticed the tears that almost fell and blinked quickly, suppressing the urge to cry.
"Huh, yeah, I'm fine Neville, don't worry," she assured him.
"Okay, because I promise, me and Luna are always here for you. We're sad about them leaving Hogwarts too." Ginny felt a rush of affection for her friend.
"Thank you Neville, I know."
And with that, Ginny climbed the stone steps to her dormitory, and to her bed, where she wondered what her new teachers had planned for tomorrow.