Hundreds of voices echoed off the stone walls of the great hall. Deep baritones, high falsettos, sharp and clippie, smooth and sugary sweet, Ginny closed her eyes. She soaked in the laughter of the four houses, nervous, braying, beautiful and jingling. Something was missing. It wasn't quite right. She opened her eyes, and for the first time noted her classmates. Malfoy and his band of Slytherins stood in a circle, Pansy's trademark whiny bouncing off the walls. She probably thought she sounded charming. Familiar faces, with no names, mostly Hufflepuffs gathered near a coat of arms. Except that tall girl, with the frizzy strawberry hair, and the love for neon fish nets was missing, her boy friend looked oddly separate, standing there by himself, without her tongue down his throat. The group of Ravenclaws that were always discussing some impossible homework chatted, but their leader a fourth year with a loud voice and unfortunate oily skin was missing. Now that she really looked, Ginny realized that many of her classmates were absent, from the hall.

"Where is everyone?" She asked aloud. Lavender Brown appeared out of no where.

"They're parents took them out of school. The only reason they were allowed to come here before was Dumbledore, but now, they don't see much of a difference. At least at home I guess, they're with family," She said, then wrinkled her nose, and added, "Though I don't know why anyone would want to be stuck at home with their mum. I'd rather be at Hogwarts. If he-who-must-not-be-named is taking over I want a fit lad to protect me, not my father." Ginny smiled pleasantly, nodding and walked away before Lavender could continue.

Finally, with a groan the front doors to the dining room opened. The crowd rushed forward, a giant mass of swishing robes, and nervous teenagers.

"Who do you 'rekon will be the new Headmaster?" Seamus Finnegan chatted with a fourth year Gryffindor, with curly brown locks.

"I dunno, but I hope it isn't Umbridge. I've still got scars," the fourth year said. He held up his hand, attempting to look valiant. Out of the corner of her eye Ginny read, the worn pink skin. I won't snog in abandoned broom closets.

"Nah," Seamus scoffed, "Everyone knows she was kidnapped by killer unicorns."

"Killer unicorns?" the fourth year replied skeptically.

"Yes, haven't you been taught anything? Every one knows that unicorns attack anyone who isn't a maiden," Seamus said.

"So you're saying that someone shagged Umbridge?" Cormac cut in.

"Good god NO," Seamus shouted. Heads turned.

"No. That is not what I meant at all. I bet that they just thought she was a bloke so they attacked her anyway," Seamus stated, as that was the obvious conclusion. Everyone chortled, and shrugged letting it go. They sat down at their table, and stared up at the empty chairs of the teachers.

"I like all this elbow room if I do say so myself," Seamus said. He flapped his arms up and down like a flustered canary.

"You realize that it's because we're the only ones left," Ginny said, still watching the teachers chairs contently. A silence settled on the table, as everyone thought it over.

"Jeez, thanks for ruining the mood Ginny," Lavender finally said.

"What do you care, Lavender? You aren't exactly a shining star of hope. I heard you in the great hall two minutes ago saying that you always knew that he-who-must-not-be-named would rise again," Neville retorted. He glared at her across the table.

"Cheer up. We rule this school as of now. I for one think that we should at least TRY to coexist. Something tells me that this is going to be a very long year," Ginny said. She sighed, turning pointedly towards the teachers table and waited.