7 ½ Years Before - Summer 1997
A young girl, hardened by her difficult past, sat up in her chair, her eyes hollow from the sleepless nights that constantly plagued her. Not that her 'friends' or family noticed. They only notice those who were important.

Before the insomnia had started, horrendous graphic nightmares came, steady, almost in a never-ending stream. She'd rather take the endless days than the everlasting memories. She picked at her food, staring blankly at her plate. A burst of laughter erupted from her father's friend and she grimaced as a headache formed.

"I'm leaving." she announced, standing back up, a dark look on her face. They didn't even look up. She took off to her room in a fury. She packed her meager belongings in her trunk and left the house, tears threatening to fall. She should have known by now, that she didn't matter, she thought to herself. She just always hoped she was wrong.

She walked on for days, ignoring everyone who tried to help or ask what was wrong. Her trunk had been wearing down from use, she mused, just as she had from misuse.

Yet through it all, she loved her family and her friends. She didn't want to love them after all that had happened, but she knew she did and always would.

After nearly a week of walking, she ate a little of the candy she'd brought, and drank eagerly from a water fountain nearby. Unconsciously, she filled the clay container she'd made when during one of the first nights, with water. Sometime afterward, she'd gotten her letter, and sent a response.

And she did walk for nearly two months, stopping at various places for food and water, before she'd found herself walking on train tracks. Familiar train tracks at that. And somehow she knew, she was finally heading in the right direction.

When she arrived in the familiar town she sensed no one had noticed she'd gone. There were no signs up asking for her safe return, nor did she see any signs that they thought her dead. She felt invisible.

She stopped at the Three Broomsticks and went inside, heading for the counter. Madam Rosmerta blinked twice when she saw her.

"Do you think you could tell me the date?" she asked Madam Rosmerta. Madam Rosmerta looked slightly aback before answering.

"It's August 30th." the older woman asked, trying to place her.

"Thank you, Madam Rosmerta." she replied, starting to walk out.

"How long has it been since you've had real food and a bath?" Madam Rosmerta asked, in sincerity.

"Seventy-seven days…" she answered, trying to exit. Someone pushed open the door and hit her in the face, resulting in a resounding crack. She fell backwards, blood falling from her dirty face. Madam Rosmerta raced to her side.

"Are you all right?" a familiar voice asked, coming from around the door. The young girl didn't reply and just held her nose.

"I think she's got a broken nose. Can you get her up to the school?" Madam Rosmerta asked, helping the girl up. She flinched when she saw the person who hit her was.

"Yes." he answered, taking the girl's arm, and she completely forgot her trunk. They walked in silence before he asked the girl.

"Who are you?"

She refused to answer, trying to pretend it didn't matter. She started to falter in her step as she became dizzy as she had often while she was walking.

"Are you all right?" he then asked.

"Just… dizzy…" She said before starting to fall backwards. He caught her.

"Th-thank you." she stammered, pushing off him and trying to walk on her own. He caught up with her and placed an arm around her shoulder, helping her walk.

"Why help anyone at all, Malfoy?" she asked him struggling to stay upright.

"I don't know what to tell you…" Draco Malfoy admitted.

The two walked the rest of the way in silence. It was, in a way, comfortable. When they reached the doors, he let go of her.

"Thank you…" she whispered to him as he opened the doors. He nodded as they walked in. They again walked in silence, until they reached a dark corridor in the dungeons. A stern looking Professor Snape exited a room at the end of the hall.

"Draco. Who is this?" He asked, his normally vicious tone gone.

"I think I broke her nose. She won't tell me who she is." Malfoy told Professor Snape. Professor Snape gestured the two down the corridor into the Potions storeroom.

"I can't do much about your nose except give you a potion to stop the bleeding. You'll have to see Madam Pomfrey when she arrives tomorrow." he told her, handing her a vial of bluish green liquid.

"Thank you, Professor Snape." she said quietly, as Malfoy left. Snape just looked her over, trying to place her.

She downed the potion with a gulp and handed the vial back.

"Who are you?" the professor asked in defeat. She opened her mouth to answer when she fell dizzy again, and crumpled against the doorframe.

"I'm… I'm Ginny Weasley , Professor." she admitted. He stared in shock for a moment.

"Why are you not with your family, Miss Weasley?" he asked her.

"I haven't been for awhile, sir…" she said, attempting to stand.

"They told the Order you went missing two days ago…" he told her.

"But I've been gone since June 4th, sir…" she whispered, knowing they'd just know noticed. He helped her up and tried not to look at her.

"You'll stay in a spare room for tonight. I'll take you and Draco Malfoy to King's Cross tomorrow to board the train, and your parents will be notified afterwards." he told her, leading her out.