1Chapter 2: All Aboard

So, here I go again, I thought standing on Platform 9 3/4, my trunk in one hand, sunglasses on top of my head, and a green messenger-bag over my shoulder. The scarlet steam engine let out a low whistle, sounding that it was time to board. I closed my eyes, and took in a deep breath. What did I have to be so worried about? Well, besides the fact that I would be partially by myself.

Just when I was about to step on the train, I felt a presence standing next to me. I turned slowly, and the jumped to see Luna Lovegood standing awkwardly close to me. Her slick blonde hair had grown much over the summer, her eyebrows still perked up as if she was shocked, and he eyes were still misty, like she wasn't at all there.

"Blood-hell Luna!" I gasped. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" honestly, I hadn't been scared at all, just surprised.

"No," she said dreamily. "I just saw you standing here all by yourself. Where is Ronald?" she asked suddenly scanning the crowd.

Oh why did she have to say that? "He's not here," I confessed. "He's not coming back. Nor is Harry or Hermione." I said looking down and sighing.

"Was it the Ministry?" Luna asked, in a totally unsurprised voice. "Oh, did they take them so that they could do experiments on them? Dad's been researching it all summer. He would be so glad to hear-"

I really wasn't in the mood for Luna's rambling at the moment. "No, no, no, it has nothing to do with the Ministry. They're fine." Oh I hope they are fine. "Are we getting on the train or not?" I finally asked.

Luna shrugged, and stepped up onto the train, I rolled my eyes and fallowed her. She was weird, nice yes, but weird. I continued to fallow Luna down the corridor, my heavy trunk flopping behind me. I peered into compartments as we passed; it was exactly the same as always for the exception of far less Slytherins.

This fact only sent me deeper into my new found depression. There really was an underground war happening, and from my point of view I was the only one effected by it. I knew that was silly, and that most everyone in our local Wizarding Community was somehow involved. But, just seeing everyone act so normally, it was scary. I wasn't quite sure if they were only 'acting' normal so that they wouldn't be sacred of what was really going on, or they honestly didn't care. None-the-less, it was happening and I had to live with it.

All of these thoughts flashed into my head like lighting- they were so confusing that I hadn't even noticed Luna stopping, and ran straight into her.

"Here's a compartment," she said motioning to an open door. "Do you mind?" she asked the people inside, who I hadn't even seen yet.

I heard a male voice say "Not at all Lovegood." His voice was soft, yet forceful, and flowed nicely. It didn't sound too manly, or feminine, but just right. He had a slight draw, almost sounding Irish of sort.

Luna walked into the compartment, and I fallowed. I made it a point, not to make eye-contact with anyone until I was fully situated. Unfortunately, I was the only Gryffindor, and to make myself stick our more, my red hair was the brightest of the whole gang. I noticed this as I peered around at them. They were all Ravenclaws, friends of Luna's perhaps. Luna sat across from me, as there were only to available seats. A tall-looking girl sat next to Luna, she had long auburn hair that hung around her face, and almond shaped eyes. Next to her was a boy, I could tell he wasn't the one I had first heard speak. He was too gangly and uncanny.

Across from the gangly boy sat, another girl. She was a tad chubby, but in a cute way. She had locks of light-golden hair, and a fair, clear complection. I was extremely jealous. That only meant, that the boy I was sitting next to was the one I had heard in the corridor. He had dark brown hair, and stunning grey-green eyes. I was a bit surprised when I noticed he had a lip-ring. It was strange to see someone with a piercing, other than in the ears. He had to be muggle born. But, when he spoke- now especially since I was sitting inches away from him, it gave me chills.

"Excuse me?" he asked smiling, and pulling me away from my trance. I hadn't noticed that I had been starring at his face.

"Huh?" I said dumbfounded. "I- I mean. . . Yes?" I managed to recover, mental kicking myself.

"I don't mean to be blunt, but who are you?" he asked, tilting his head to the side, reminding me of a cute puppy.

"I'm Ginny. . . Ginny Weasley." I answered mildly uncomfortable. As if the red hair and freckles hadn't given it away, I thought. I looked up to see who all was starring at me, but apparently no one was. Except the boy of course.

"Well, honestly, I really hadn't payed too much attention to your hair, but your freckles are quite adorable," he chortled.

"Don't mind him," I heard a voice say from my right. It was the girl with the perfect complection. Her voice matched her looks completely. "He's that was with everyone. I'm Sophie Pruitte by the way. And this is . . ." she went on to name the rest in the compartment.

The gangly boy's name was, Myers, which I thought, was a strange first name. The girl next to Luna was named Corinne. Finally, it came to his name, which was Dalton. Sophie went on to explain that they were all in their 5th year, and that was assumably why I didn't know who they were. Sophie continued to rambling on about pointless things for what seemed to be forever. The whole time Dalton rolled his eyes and sighed.

Sophie seemed nice enough, but I thought it was funny how every new conversation returned to herself. Whenever it got to quiet, and someone would make to say something, Sophie would start up again, and continued for at least five minuets every time.

At last Dalton spoke up, for only the second time the whole trip. Though I couldn't tell if anyone else had heard him.

"So, Weasley is it? Would you care to join me for a moment?" his voice whispered ever-so-quietly in my ear.

I felt chills tingle down my spine. Chills that I shouldn't get. Not with my love for Harry, and not from someone who's a full year younger than me! I felt him laugh quietly next to me. I just cocked an eyebrow in his direction.

"I suppose," I said questionable, while I stood. Dalton also stood next to me. He lead they way out of the compartment. No one had seemed to notice our departure. Myers was looking bored to death, Sophie was still rambling on about something, and Luna and Corinne seemed to be in their own worlds. I swear, I would never understand Ravenclaws.

"Sorry," Dalton's voice broke into my train of thought, causing me to loose it.

"It's alright. Does she do that often?" I questioned, assuming we were talking about Sophie. We started to walk to the isle of the train. I noticed that his posture was very neat; his walk wasn't necessarily a walk, but more of a glide if you will.

He chuckled again. I really wish he would stop doing that, I should tell him not to, I thought. The fact that he continued to laugh when nothing was funny unnerved me.

"I wasn't apologizing about her," he began. "I was apologizing for whispering in your ear. If I had known it was going to faze you in the way that it did, I wouldn't have done it."

Caught slightly off guard, I just nodded. Had I said something out loud? If I had I didn't recall doing so. Maybe, just maybe there was something off about this Ravenclaw? Hmm, I thought, perhaps he's telepathic? I began to question everything that I knew to be real at that moment.