After dinner, Ginny went to her room and wrote in her diary (one that didn't write back) about all of the things that she had been thinking about. Even the ghoul in the attic didn't seem to be making as much noise anymore. After she finished with that, she wrote a short letter to Luna.

Dear Luna,

It feels strange not to be going back to Hogwarts this year. I hope the Quibbler is still doing well with all of its increased publicity. And I hope you're having a good summer.

Ginny paused, wanting to write more, and yet feeling that she wasn't ready to confide everything she was feeling.

Maybe you can come to the Burrow sometime.

Love,

Ginny.

Ginny tied the letter to her new owl's foot and sent her out the window. After her brothers had all moved out and were largely on their own (although Mrs. Weasley still send plenty of food and other supplies to Grimmauld Place), money wasn't quite so tight, and so Arthur had one night brought home a small white owl for his only daughter, and she had named it Dragon to counteract its somewhat shy personality. Then she whispered nox and laid down in the darkness, not sleeping for a very long time.

Meanwhile, somewhere else, a boy was lying awake, feeling quite alone in the world, and thinking of a red-head that he had barely noticed when she first came to Hogwarts. Finally, he fell asleep.

Ginny awoke fairly early the next morning to hear Dragon tapping his beak against the window. She opened it to find that he had a letter attached to his foot.

Hi Ginny,

We're still looking for crumple-nosed snorcacks, but if we have time, I'll come visit you in the Burrow later next month.

Love,

Luna

The oh-so typical Luna Lovegood response made Ginny smile, for she had found something that hadn't changed. Looney Luna was just as loony as ever. She pranced down the stairs to find breakfast waiting for her. As she ate her bacon, Molly Weasley explained the day's lesson plan. Ever since the decision had been made to close Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley had been instructing her daughter as best she could. She knew that her daughter wasn't getting the same well-rounded education that she would have, but she couldn't stand the idea of four of her children not finishing their educations. Most days consisted of charms work, for that was Mrs. Weasley's strength. Ginny groaned internally at another day of charms. Seeing the disappointment on her daughter's face, Mrs. Weasley let out the secret she'd been keeping for three days.

"Ginny, dear, charms aren't going to protect you in this war, so I think you need to study some more in Defense Against the Dark Arts." Ginny just looked at her miserably. "Mum, but who's going to teach me? Professor Lupin is off doing things for the Order all the time, along with everyone else. And there's no more Dumbledore's Army." When she said Dumbledore's name, her voice caught slightly, but she didn't let out any more emotion than that. Ginny had grown up a great deal over the past six years. "Well, Ginny, just because he's...well...just because Hogwarts is closed doesn't mean you have to stop practicing." Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to be able to say the awful truth either, even a few months later. No one could really believe that he was gone, even after all this time. But then Mrs. Weasley cheered herself, and Ginny, up by announcing: "That's why you're going to stay at Grimmauld Place for awhile, with Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Harry is going to be teaching you." Ginny's heart leapt at the idea of seeing her friends again, even Harry. She wondered if things would be awkward. So much had happened at the end of the term that neither of them had ever really had to deal with the fact that they weren't dating anymore. "Pack your bags, dear. You're leaving at two. And as soon as you're done, come back here to work more on charms." But Ginny was already halfway up the stairs.