Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar to the world of Harry Potter.

Ginny surveyed the poster that had been stuck onto the back of the cubicle door she was in. It was for a Halloween party at Hogsmeade the following month. The date nicely coincided with the next Hogsmeade trip for the students. She wondered briefly if she should go and if Harry would be going.

She finished her business in the cubicle and exited. The door to the neighbouring cubicle opened and out stepped Luna. "Hey," said Ginny in greeting.

"Ginny."

"Are you gonna go for the party at Hogsmeade?"

Luna nodded. "Yes. Unless we are forbidden from going."

"Forbidden? Who would forbid – I mean, why would we be forbidden from attending a harmless party?" Ginny frowned.

"Haven't you read The Quibbler recently?" asked Luna as they made their way out of the toilet.

"You're seriously asking me that?" Ginny's eyebrows shot to the sky.

Luna shrugged. "It's better than the Prophet."

Ginny didn't know what to say for a second. She shook her head. "Whatever. But what's in The Quibbler this time?"

Luna took out a little purse and began rummaging through before pulling out a crumpled copy of the latest edition of The Quibbler. She thrusted it towards Ginny. "Read it. Page ten."

Ginny opened the paper to the page Luna had specified and her mouth opened slightly as she took in the information presented.

Secret Uprisings?

It has been long since the last wizarding war, an unforgettable event now in history where some of the most skilled and powerful witches and wizards of our times had given up their lives to defeat He Who Can Now Be Named. While most of his loyal followers, also known as Death Eaters, had been killed in this war, there have been some who have escaped.

Over the last year, the Ministry of Magic has been assembling elite task forces to track down these remaining few Death Eaters. This is not a major secret. Some have pleaded guilty to their evil deeds and are serving out their offences in ways that are not known to the general public. Others have voluntarily turned themselves in and pledged allegiance to the Ministry, citing cruel and harsh punishments meted out by He Who Can Now Be Named for those who dared to betray him as the reason for keeping silent and not breaking free from the cult.

There remains a certain displeasure and unrest amongst the wizarding community because even though there is no leader for the dark side, rumour has it that a few of those who had never been part of the Death Eaters, but had silently supported He Who Can Now Be Named, are now seeking ways to cleanse the population of muggle-borns in an attempt to restore order to society. This agenda is markedly different from He Who Can Now Be Named's original agenda – that is to rule the entire wizarding world – and speaks of even more bloodshed and loss of innocent lives, something that the entire wizarding community has had enough of.

Although these rumours have been floating about for almost a year now, The Quibbler managed to gain a legitimate source of information through the mystical creatures known as Zaffering Zandos. These creatures are attracted to those with dark thoughts and –

Ginny stopped reading the article at the mention of those unknown creates and shoved the paper back at Luna. "I did hear such rumours, but Zaffering Zandos? What on earth are those things?"

Luna crushed the paper back into her purse. "One of the latest discoveries." She paused. "There is a full article about it on page fifteen, if you'd like to read."

"Maybe another day," said Ginny. "Surely you don't think that such people are at Hogwarts."

Luna gave her a pointed look. "We even have an ex-Death Eater in our midst."

"Malfoy?"

"He's different now. And he's quite smitten with Hermione from what I can tell."

"But other than Malfoy, who else was involved? Aren't most of them no longer attending Hogwarts anyway?"

Just as they rounded a corner, they chanced upon a group of girls and boys huddled together and whispering conspirationally. Upon seeing Ginny and Luna, they stopped and turned to watch the two girls. Ginny felt that was a little strange and sped up, not because she was afraid of younger students but Luna's words kept replaying in her head.

"Slytherins," said Luna simply as if she hadn't noticed the group of students.

"Like the ones we just passed?"

"They are Slytherins but I don't mean to say that it will be students who will try to wreak havoc. Anyway, if you want more information, I can give you a copy of The Quibbler."

"How delightful," murmured Ginny as her eyes fell upon a certain person she had been thinking of much earlier in relation to the Halloween party. "Look, there's Harry."

"And Hermione."

Harry turned his head in their direction briefly before turning back again. He waved at them and stopped abruptly, almost causing Hermione to crash into him. When Ginny and Luna came nearer, he gave Ginny a big smile.

"Hello Harry and Hermione," said Luna. "What are you two running from?"

"We're in the middle of executing Harry's brilliant idea to pacify Ron," replied Hermione. "Where are you both heading to?"

"Nowhere in particular," said Ginny. "By the way, will you both be going to the Halloween party?"

"Which party?" asked Harry and Hermione in unison.

"It's pretty new, I guess. They've stuck small posters in the toilet. Halloween party at Hogsmeade."

The expression on Harry's face evolved into one that Ginny couldn't quite describe but it looked as if he had won the jackpot. Hermione, however, was looking a bit puzzled.

"This is perfect! Let's go, Hermione," said Harry as he raced off in his original direction.

"Could I join you two?" asked Ginny.

"Sure. Luna, too," said Hermione as she hurried in the direction Harry had gone.

"What are these two up to all the time?" wondered Luna aloud. Her earrings swung madly as she tried to keep up with the others.