Ginny stood on Platform 9 ¾, accompanied by her mother. Mr. Weasley had been unable to take off of work. At breakfast, he'd smiled and hugged her, reminding her to write.

The train appeared different, in Ginny's perspective. It no longer held promises of happy memories yet to come, close friends, and exciting new adventures. Now, it was just a train, taking her to just a school.

The whistle blew, signaling departure.

Mrs. Weasley weaved through the crowds, Ginny in tow. With one last hug, Ginny boarded the train.

She waved amid the other students, watching her mother get farther and farther away as the train pulled out of the station.

Ginny didn't know what the school year would bring. She didn't know when she'd see Harry again. But she had to find Neville and Luna.

It was time to get her bearings.

Neville and Luna were sitting alone in a train compartment, animatedly talking and pointing at that morning's Daily Prophet when Ginny located them. They turned in unison as soon as her fist rapped the compartment glass. She smiled; they smiled back. Neville got up to unlock the sliding door and let her in.

She plopped down next to Luna with a sigh of relief. "I've been looking everywhere for you two. I was getting worried that you weren't coming this year."

"Yeah, well, a lot of people aren't here," said Neville bitterly.

"Really?" asked Ginny, interest sparking. "Like who?"

Neville glanced at Luna. She folded the Daily Prophet with extra care than was necessary.

"Who's…missing?"

Luna paused. "Dean…a large amount of the DA…all the Muggle-borns…"

"Because of the blood status." Ginny concluded. A sour taste had risen in her throat.

Neville nodded.

Ginny's palms felt clammy. Leaning in close, she whispered. "There's something I've got to tell you."

Curious, they leaned in as well.

Ginny struggled to find a place to start. "Um…How much do you two know about the Ministry take-over?"

"Luna and I were just talking about that. Seems kinda funny that the Minister would up and resign for no reason."

"He didn't. He's dead."

"We figured. And the guy who replaced him, what's-his name—"

"Thicknesse."

"Yeah, him. He seems awful fishy...like he's Imperiused."

"He is. You-Know-Who is using him like a puppet."

"Lovely. Did you read today's Daily Prophet?"

Ginny blinked in surprise. "No. Why?"

"Luna, show her."

Luna unfolded the paper and gave it to Ginny. Turning it right-side-up, Ginny read: "Severus Snape Named Headmaster".

"Oh, no."

"Yep."

"What are we going to do?"

"Not much we can do, I'm afraid."

"What about Harry and Ron and Hermione, Ginny?" asked Luna.

"They've gone on the run, what with a price on Harry's head and all. Story is that Ron can't attend school because he's sick with spattergroint. Hermione's hoping everyone will think she went on the run with her parents."

"So, no help from them, then."

"I doubt it. They'll be lucky to get inside the castle. Hell, we'll be lucky to get out at all."

"Ginny, you spent the summer with them, what were they planning?"

Ginny bit her lip. She knew a good deal more than what the three had wanted her to know. A month of being bonded to Harry meant all their plans and plots for the future were sliding into Ginny's conscious without her consult. "They're out to stop You-Know-Who, obviously. And…if I'm right…they're putting their fist plan into action very soon."

"Really? Are they—you know—contacting you or something?"

"No, I heard them discussing it at the Burrow." Lie.

"So we're on our own?"

"Pretty much."

"Back to square one, I guess: What are we gonna do?"

Ginny opened her mouth to make a suggestion, but no words came. A plug had been opened at the back of her brain. She was slipping away…into a world of pain and silvery blue electricity.

She was Harry, but she wasn't.

From a dream-like tunnel, she watched Harry slam into a brick wall. Pain exploded in the back of her head. A cloaked figure—one she recognized—retreated quickly from the familiar stone kitchen.

Hermione ran after him, shouting for him to come back.

Harry picked himself from the floor, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ginny? Ginny! Wake up!"

Large hands shook her shoulders, bringing her back to her body with the sensation like she'd been under water too long. She opened her eyes, waited for them to focus.

Neville and Luna stood above her.

Sitting up slowly—she must've slipped sideways on the compartment seat—Ginny put a hand to her throbbing head. It hurt in the exact place where Harry's met the stone wall.

"Ginny, are you okay? …For a moment there, we thought you'd drifted off. Then you cried out and started clawing at your head…"

Wiping her brow with a shaky hand, Ginny looked up into the concerned faces of her friends. "I'm fine, guys. Just a little faint. Give…give me a second." She laid her burning forehead against the cool glass of the window.

Neville and Luna exchanged a look, but did not press her for more. They sat and engaged in small talk while Ginny let her eyelids slip close.

Harry? She thought, reaching out to him.

…Yes? Came his reply.

What happened? Was that…Lupin I saw? Why did he slam you into a wall?

It's complicated…He wanted to join us.

WHAT?

I know. He was acting all strange…and when we asked about Tonks…Did you know she'd pregnant?

TONKS? Harry, that's great—

News. Yeah. But Lupin doesn't think so. He's afraid his kid'll turn out like him.

Oh…

I told him to get lost.

HARRY!

Hey, if it keeps him with Tonks and their baby…

I guess…A pause. Harry?

Yeah?

Be careful. With infiltrating the Ministry and all.

I…will. He didn't ask how she knew—the answer was evident. Tell Luna and Neville I said hi.

I will.

Bye, Gin. And he was gone.

Ginny took a deep breath. "Harry says hi," she said, addressing her companions.

Neville and Luna stared at her.

"Don't ask," she warned, her face pink. She went back to staring out the window.

That…had been her first mental conversation with Harry. How odd it was, to hear his voice echoing inside her head. Well, thought Ginny, I guess there's a first for everything. Silently, she vowed to develop her connection—and her restraint there of. Neville and Luna were already getting suspicious.

Hogsmeade was in sight.

Once she got off the train, there was no going back.

But that was okay.

As long as Ginny had her friends, she was alright, she decided.

In tough times like this, they had to stick together.

Upon rereading my own chapters, I realised Ginny is very angist-ridden. So sorry if it bothers you.

In my opinion, everyone has their own internal angist.

~})i({