-1Chapter Two

Yet Another Year

The red head could not help losing herself in her thoughts as she gazed unconsciously out the window as the Hogwarts Express chortled ever onwards. The suns rays were filtering in to the compartment in small pools of light and the summer sky radiated a slight glow of pink. It was the end of the holidays and the beginning of yet another year.

She peered longingly out of the window letting her mind drift to thoughts of Harry, Ron and Hermione. It's going to be a very lonely year she thought, drawing in a deep sigh. She was going to miss them and all for separate reasons too. Ron because well, he was Ron, a brother that she always loved to tease. Hermione, because she was one of the only girls that really seemed to understand Ginny in a way that no one else could and Harry because well, that was obvious.

A small amount of time had passed as she just sat there alone in her own little microcosm until, interrupting her thoughts there was a knock at the compartment door and when she looked around, staring back at her where the wide, wandering eyes of Luna Lovegood. The girl slid open the door.

"Hi Ginny. I was wondering if I could come and join you. I cannot find a compartment that's not over crowded." She looked at Ginny giving her a small smile.

"Oh, of course Luna, take a seat." There was no need for Ginny to bunk along because the rest of the compartment was completely deserted. Luna gracefully sat opposite her, looked back to where she had just entered, gave her wand a casual flick and the door slid shut. A moment had went by where it seemed they had not done anything but stare at each other and then Luna broke the silence.

"I don't like being in crowded places much," she explained, "attracts too many Parlums." Ginny nodded in a way that she hoped looked understanding. She had grown used to Luna mentioning all these weird little creatures, whether they were real or not, Ginny had always found Luna's way of thinking quite interesting. Giving her small smile, she decided to expand the topic of conversation.

"So…" Ginny spoke trying to spark a conversation starter, biting her lip slightly in concentration. "Erm…" After a second of complete failure, she resulted in asking her the usual 'Journey back' questions.

"Had a good summer Luna?" The girl looked at her for a second then replied.

"Oh, yes, quite enjoyable you know. Me and my dad went out looking for Bronucks and Hiples. Didn't have much luck unfortunately. Then daddy pointed out that it was probably not the best season to look for them. Shame really."

"Wow. Sounds interesting," Ginny replied, not knowing quite what to say.

"Yes. It was. How about you? How was your summer?"

Ginny thought for a second playing with a hanging curl at the side of her face, "Erm, quite boring really. Did nothing. Some revision here and there and pretty much just catching up on odds and ends for school but apart from that. Nothing." As boring as that sounds she thought to herself, it was the truth.

Ginny spent the next half hour of the train journey listening to Luna ramble on about the different types of creatures you find in ponds, swaps and lakes and then she moved on to ones which inhabited themselves underground.

"Then there are the Bronucks of course, which live in the woods. There quite lucky you know. Also the Hiples, the Grokles and Frolings..."

Ginny just let her continue. Luna seemed happy enough - however, she did feel slightly guilty at the fact she was not paying much attention. Every now and again she would nod in agreement or make a noise of interest, but as soon as she returned to appear listening intently her head took her through a slide show of memories and also inquizical thoughts of what was to come of the next year.

Around ten minutes later Ginny was quickly snapped out of her reel of thoughts when she heard loud shouting noises coming from the isle outside of the compartment. Luna had jumped, obviously in shock and Ginny would not be surprised if she had done the same. Within the space of a couple of seconds Neville Longbottom prised his way into the compartment looking slightly shaken. He was breathing very heavily. Bending forwards slightly, he had one hand to his heart, the other on his knee.

"What's going on Neville? Are you alright?" Ginny jumped in asking, she was after all quite concerned by now.

"Oh," panted Neville "yeah, yeah. Everything, is, OK." He took a deep breath between each word. "Some of, the, Slytherin's, got a, hold on, some, of, Fred and Georges, Joke, boxes."

Still panting slightly he slid the door shut and sunk on to the seat next to Luna who was calmly looking around.

After regaining composure Ginny got up and opened the compartment door. Sticking her head out to see what the commotion really was about she looked to her right and bright pink shoot came hurtling towards her. Just in time she managed to pull back her head before it could crack her in the face. She popped her head out again a second later at the sound of voices, one of which sounded very familiar.

"Well, there Okay," came a bored drawl from the one person Ginny knew only to well possessed this voice. "But there nothing to make a song and dance about."

She looked to her left and to no surprise at all, the voice matched the exact sly little prat that she presumed it belonged to. Malfoy.

"Ah. Come of it Draco," said a 7th year whom Ginny presumed to be one of Malfoy's 'friends'. Blaise, Ginny remembered. She was sure it was Blaise Zabini. She recalled the memory of a Quidditch match one year when Gryffindor was playing Slytherin. He was quite a good flyer too, Chaser he played…Well, if she was right anyway. He continued. "You have to agree that the Weasley twins certainly know how to put up a good crack," he said with a slight chuckle to Malfoy, slapping him on the back.

"Yes well, like you said. The 'Weasley' twins. Ginny heard the bitter emphasis on the word Weasley and she could feel her blood begin to boil beneath her pale, freckled skin.

"That's just the problem. Weasley. The scum of wizarding kind."

By now Ginny was breathing quite loudly, loudly enough it seemed for Malfoy and his friend to look up. "Oh, speak of the devil. Scum of the earth."

And that was it, it was over so fast. Ginny didn't bother to think about what she was doing and she simply walked straight up to Malfoy so that they where only inches apart.

"Don't you dare talk about my family like that Malfoy. You little-" Ginny's nostrils where flaring, her breathing irregular and her hair static.

Blaise was stood at the side watching in amusement, a small grin plastered to the side of his face.

"-Oh, going to say something personal there Weasley? No need to go throwing insults now is there?" Somehow, even in the given situation, Malfoy managed to look as bored as ever.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot. That's a Slytherins job!" Her words met Malfoy's in sarcasm but at this moment in time Blaise jumped in between them.

"Miss Weasley and Mr Malfoy," he announced with a sort of humorous air "if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all." Ginny and Malfoy glared at each other completely ignoring Blaise. She refused to let down her guard and look away, he was not going to control her this year. He was not going to make her weak.

Because of the raised voices people had started to gather in the isle, obviously looking for good show but, Blaise being Blaise, tried to usher them all out of the way.

"Nothing to see here people!" He called pushing a load of first years back in to their compartments.

Taking hand of the slight privacy they were given, Malfoy lowered his tone of voice so low that only she could hear.

"I would say run back to Scar-face, She Weasel but, I've heard he is not returning this year. He won't stand a chance against the dark Lord and you know it. Nor will your prat of a brother or your precious Mudblood."

He was so close to her it was unbearable. She could feel his breathing rustle the small hairs on her skin, sending goose bumps down her spine. He lowered his tone even more when he added, "Then who will be there to save your skin?"

With that he spun on his heel and headed back to his compartment closely followed by Blaise and the rest of his little gang.

She could feel the blood beneath her skin fuming. Her chest was pumping hard and her heart felt as though it was being strangled. She could also feel the pressing eyes of the on-lookers burn in to her skin and as she turned to leave she glared at a second year who cowered back into his seat, face downcast at the floor.

By the time the train reached the platform Ginny noticed Malfoy and his gang hopping of the train in to the darkness outside. Neville, who had remained in the compartment till the end on the journey, was already beginning to slide open the door. Luna also rose from her seat - however, like Ginny, she was peering out of the window.

"Are you not coming?" Luna asked Ginny, looking finally at her .

"Oh erm. You go ahead without me I'll be two minutes, just want to check something in my bag."

Luna took the simple lie for a genuine answer and giving her one last dreamy smile she exited the compartment, her sheet of long, honey blonde hair waving like a ribbon behind her.

Ginny knew what she was doing. She was stalling for time because she didn't want to meet Malfoy face to face again tonight as she was already listing numerous hexes under her breath, which would cause him the most amount of pain. Breathing deeply she quickly glanced outside again. He was gone.

The noise of happy chattering and friendly greetings met Ginny's ears as she walked in to the great hall for the sorting feast. She had honestly contemplated sitting this event out as she had heard it times before, but as she listened to the rumbling of her stomach she new she would have to attend.

Upon entering the Great Hall she would have sat in her usual space next to Harry, Ron and Hermione, but of course they weren't there. Instead, she planted herself next to Neville, Dean and Seamus.

After the sorting, remembering the headmaster usually spoke at this point something just hit her. Who was to be headmaster, now Professor Dumbledore was no longer here? When Ginny turned around her eyes fell on non other than the potions master himself. Snape. What on earth was going on? Ginny knew that Dumbledore would eventually have to be replaced, as harsh as that sounds, but Snape?

Seriously, what were people playing at? Everyone knows he is on the side of You-Know-Who, but Dumbledore had always trusted Snape. He alone had full faith in him.

Ginny could not bare to look, so Instead she let her eyes carry her gaze across to the Slytherin table where Malfoy sat with his smirk of smugness fitted perfectly in place. Blaise was on his Right. He too possessed a grin although it was not half as arrogant as Malfoy's and his face, was a lot kinder.

Once the noise of the rest of the students died down Snape cleared his throat. "As you all know," he began, his greasy, oily voice matching the state of his hair "that because of the events that went on last year the former Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore passed away." Someone in one of the long rows of students jeered.

"No, he was killed!" They shouted. Snape raised an eyebrow and clearly chose to ignore this statement.

"Albus Dumbledore knew this would happen. That is why he requested that the role of Headmaster should be taken up by me.' Snape looked around the hall, glaring at students as though daring any of them to say a word. "Obviously, I accepted the task and I am very honoured to be able to take this role on, which I intend to do to the best of my ability."

Ginny looked at the other teachers. McGonagall sat glaring at Snape, as did half of the other staff. Obviously, they were not in agreement with Snape being appointed Headmaster. Ginny personally thought McGonagall would have done a much better job.

Snape then concluded his 'speech' in the same demeanour Dumbledore usually did. "In the light of the situation...' Snape's tone of voice continuing to stay the same dull, drawl "I welcome you all back to Hogwarts." He walked around to where Dumbledore usually sat, and with a wave of his wand the four house tables, including the staff table were strewn with the usual foods and treats.

The feast seemed to drag on forever. She didn't really talk to anyone sat next to her, she just kept herself to herself, but could not help over hearing the banter of muffled talks of how Seamus', Dean's and Neville's summers had gone. Not listening completely she stared up at the ceiling and could not help smiling when she noticed how beautiful the summer, night sky always looked.

Just then a boy prodded her in the side of the ribs, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Ginny, Ginny!"

Ginny wheeled around to look at him. It was Collin Creevey. He had grown over the summer, dramatically in fact but his slender body remained however as 'Collin like' as it always had been. "We have prefect duties to do Gin," he reminded her patiently.

She had completely forgotten she had been elected a Prefect as she had other more, pressing matters to think about over the holidays.

She rolled her eyes to the heavens. Prefect duties - she had to escort the first years up to the common room. Just what she needed she thought darkly, but giving in she rose gracefully. Then she trudged along after Collin to help him round up all of the newly sorted Gryffindors.

Climbing on up the many moving staircases Collin lead the way. Ginny stayed at the back of the group to make sure no stragglers were left behind. Every now and again Ginny could hear gasps of surprise and interest escape the new students as Collin continued to climb higher. Reaching the Fat lady he gave her the password and she swung lazily forward to let them enter, not swinging shut until Ginny checked every one was safely inside.

After what seemed like, forever, Ginny collapsed on to her bed. She had just shown the students their dorms and now here she was in her own part of the circular room.

She lay spread eagled across the four poster bed and without even bothering to get undressed, she closed her eyes and drifted away into an uncontrollable slumber.