Travel

Faster and faster the images zoomed past her, the colours twisting manically into each other, the familiar looking unreal. Blurring, contorted tress; branches reaching out to snatch her. Perverted clumps of stormy cloud hanging heavily; in the swirling sky. Yet in all this rapid confusion, a figure stood clear in the distance; a bent, hooded shape which held out its bony fingers towards her. She moved closer, her eyes swimming. The creature's hood slipped down revealing a strangely vacant face, without eyes or a nose. The only feature was a gaping, mockery of a mouth. Despite the distance she could see that the lips of the creature were mouthing something out, a phrase or a name she couldn't quite understand. Without warning, the voice seemed to fill her mind, echoing off her thoughts. It was as if the creature was sitting right next to her, whispering in her ear.

"Ginny…"

"Ginny! Ginny! Wake up" came the shrill voice of Hermione Granger, her hands lightly shaking the younger girl's shoulder.

Ginny looked dazedly away from the window and focused on her friend "Sorry I must have spaced out"

She glanced around the carriage; Harry, Ron and Neville were busy playing wizards' chess, completely oblivious to any dark figure looming outside. She quickly sneaked a look at the landscape that was flying past, everything looked normal, a standard Hogwarts Express train ride.

Perhaps I was dreaming…she thought…either that or I'm going mad

"Well, we'll be back at Hogwarts soon" Hermione said slightly subdued, "Are you feeling ok Ginny? You're pale"

The redhead offered Hermione a small, reassuring smile and responded "Mione, I was born pale. How about you, still annoyed?"

Hermione let out a small 'hmm' and attempted to control her bushy hair which seemed to have a will completely independent from its owner. "I guess it's not the end of the world. I'll be fine "she said in a carefully controlled voice, which soon gave way as she added in an exasperated tone "But Hannah Abbott!! A hufflepuff head girl, not that I'm prejudice against our badger…friends…but come on, almost anyone would have been better equipped for the job!"

"Anyone like …Pansy Parkinson?" Ginny teased, enjoying the distraction.

Hermione's lips twisted into a scowl and she said bitterly, "That She-Devil? I think not! A head girl needs to be dedicated, conscientious and disciplined. The qualities of being an air headed floozy, with a one digit IQ, loose knickers and appalling fashion sense, are not generally needed"

"Meow!"

Hermione grinned an 'ok-bitching-overload' smile and said in a more serious voice "I

Just thought it might be me. It's what I've been working towards since the first year. But I guess Dumbledore had other ideas"

Ginny's face darkened at the headmaster's name, her feelings about him were still conflicted. It had been nearly two months since her father's death, but the bitterness she felt towards Dumbledore and the part he had played, had yet to abide. But she knew that she could never tell anyone how she felt, not even Hermione. They would all rush to the old wizard's defence, leaving her looking like the stupid child. After all didn't they dote on whatever he did or said? Months ago she would have counted herself as one of the awed, one of the many who consider Dumbledore as 'the greatest wizard alive' but now things were different. Before her father's death there had been two colours, black and white. Two sides, Good and Evil. But ever since things had been blurred .It may sound strange but Ginny felt she had lost a little bit of herself on that day.

She had lost the answers to straight forward questions.

"It's his loss" Ginny chirped, masking herself. Hermione shrugged and reached into her overflowing book bag. She pulled out several, leather bound books and placed them on Ginny's lap.

"You'll need these" she explained "For the extra classes you'll be taking…"

Ginny frowned, "Uh huh? Extra classes? Hermione why are you scaring me?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes; "You do remember you're in the gifted and talented scheme this year?" she looked at the younger and obviously not remembering girl.

"Come on, every year a few pupils get picked, usually in the sixth and seventh years…"Hermione stalled and added in a not-too…smug tone "I was selected in the fifth year"

The redhead groaned and said in a significantly unenthused tone, "Oh yeah, I'm gifted girl this year. I think I'll give it a miss"

"Give it a miss?" Hermione scolded, personally scandalized, "You can't do that! It's a big opportunity and its fun" noticing Ginny's 'as if' looked she added earnestly "Honest!"

"I'm really not into the whole extra-curriculum shindig. If they were advanced puppy stroking classes, then I'd be the first in line with the chew toys. But doing more school work isn't all that appealing"

Ginny said thanks anyway and passes the books back o her friend, who looked disheartened and said "You sure Gin? Because you'll need these classes if you want to go abroad after graduation"

Ron, who had been entranced in his gloating victory of the chess game, suddenly looked over at the girls and said firmly (more of a statement than a question)

"You're not still thinking about leaving us, are you Gin"

Harry also turned his attention over to Ginny, a strange look in his emerald eyes.

With all eyes focused upon her, Ginny felt a blush spread over her cheeks. Annoyed at Ron's assumption, she answered cagily "Yes I might be, why?"

Her brother stood up, moved towards Ginny and loomed over her, "I thought you'd have changed your mind after everything that's happened"

Ginny scowled, emotional blackmail she thought way to go Ron

"No I haven't but it looks like you have for me; which is strange since you haven't once asked ME about it!"

"Well, whatever, you're not going" Ron declared, hands on hips and face flushed. This isn't going well, he thought ruefully.

Ginny guffawed and stood to her full, not all that impressing, height. "Oh I forgot that I had to ask your permission, great one. After all, you are all of 12 months older! Please feel free to bestow your pearls of wisdom!" she drawled sarcastically.

"I didn't mean it like that! It's just too dangerous to go on your own. What would mum do without you?"

With her bright red hair and face flushed with anger, Ginny looked like a living flame.

"Ron I'm not going tomorrow. I'll be 18, an adult! If it were up to you, I'd stay home forever, doing the damn dishes while you go off and save the world!"

Hermione, Harry and Neville were looking extremely uncomfortable at being caught in the sibling crossfire. Hermione, anxious to ease the tension, took up the role of peacekeeper.

"Ginny, I'm sure Ron didn't mean that and Ron, you have to understand Ginny's not a child anymore. Why don't you both sit down…?"

"NO!" came the simultaneous answer. Hermione with a significant glance at Harry passed over her failed peacekeeping position. But before Harry could see if he'd fare any better, Ginny spoke up "It really doesn't matter. I'm just going to stretch my legs. See you all in a bit" and with that she left the carriage and in her place resided an awkward silence.

"Shall I go after her?" ventured an oddly nervous Harry. Ron, who had been watching the place his sister had just been, quickly spun round, seething "Why should you go after her? Why would she want to talk to you? I'm her brother, I'll talk to her"

Harry, who looked a little stung, nodded and sat back down. Ron, making his way out of the door, was quickly stopped by Hermione, who put one hand on his shoulder and said soothingly "Just give her a little time"

If it had been anyone else, Ron would have pushed past, but this was Hermione, so he sat down without remark.

Ginny sighed long and loud. After she had (lame) excused herself from the 'carriage of conflict' she had searched for an empty room. In years past, it would have been almost impossible to find a space not invaded by pupils but now, for obvious reasons, it had become an easy feat.

So here she sat, a lone redhead in a bad mood. Ginny just didn't understand why Ron was so….Ron? For the last few weeks he had seemed to declare himself her protector, brother and bodyguard in one annoying package. She understood his increased wish to protect her and she loved him for it. But sometimes it could get too much. In fact all her brothers had concentrated their concern/control over her; it was almost like they were trying to save her because they failed to save their dad. But from what, Ginny questioned, Extra potions lessons?

The girl quickly shut her eyes; she couldn't handle thinking about her dad right now. Thinking about him would eventually lead to the realization that he was really gone. Not just on a long holiday but actually dead (it sounded so final), a nasty bite of reality which she just didn't want to face. Not yet.

Shutting out the thoughts, Ginny checked the time on her watch. In only a few minutes they would be arriving at Hogwarts. Not surprisingly, Ginny had thought very little about starting her sixth year at the school but now the familiar butterflies (or giant bats) began flapping in her stomach. Unlike Hermione, she had never been a big fan of school. After all, being possessed by the Dark Lord and trapped in an evil chamber does not a happy time make.

Tom…Ginny shivered despite herself, another bad memory, one which was never to leave. She could distinctly remember how cold it had been in the stone chamber, how very cold…

Ok happy thoughts, think happy thoughts! Ginny demanded of herself, while rubbing her goose pimpled arms. Right, bunnies, floppy ears, doe eyed, very cute with their little tails, Awww…That is until someone kills them for the lining of their new shoes…good one Ginny. Aren't you a little ray of sunshine (!) Ok, kittens equally as cute, fluffy with little paws like blackberries…

Suddenly Ginny's deliberately sappy thoughts were disturbed by the entrance of a figure in her now not-so-empty carriage. He had longish, sleek blond hair and a pale, sculptured face. His metallic eyes were red rimmed, an obvious sign he had been crying.

"Malfoy!?" Ginny spat out. No, it couldn't be, Malfoy's don't show weakness. But it was true; standing in front of her was a Malfoy member, Draco Malfoy to be exact.

Draco looked down at the Gryffindor, surprise registering in his face, before being replaced with the haughty mask of his standard arrogance. He straightened up and sneered "Didn't see you there, trash girl. Think I'll find somewhere less…" he lifted his nose in the air "odorous" and with that banged the door behind him.

Ginny let out an indignant huff but over her years at Hogwarts she had become accustomed to the self-indulgent bast….boy.

What had really confused her was the fact that Draco had actually seemed like a human, if only for a few seconds.

She let out another huff, this one perplexed, floating figures and Malfoy crying? I really must be going mad…