Edits: 06/07/08

A/N: Lots of Ginny this chapter; I couldn't seem to just completely leave her out and so ended up with five pages with her. I tried my hand at a new Sorting Hat song…it started out rhyming and didn't quite end that way. Just pretend it's as good as JKR's.

Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Harry Potter, any subsequent characters or plot devices. Those belong to JK Rowling, Scholastic Books and Bloomsbury Publishing.

"Mum, stop crying," Ginny looked around in embarrassment. In the hustle and bustle of King's Cross station, it was likely that no one had notice the spectacle of Molly Weasley sobbing into her daughter's shoulder, but Ginny felt uncomfortable all the same.

Mrs. Weasley withdrew herself from Ginny's embrace and sniffed, wiping at her teary eyes. "I'm sorry dear. I never thought it would be this hard to send you away. And now that Ron's gone…It's been a long time since I've sent only one of my children to school before."

"It'll be okay, Mum. I'll be fine."

"I know, dear," Molly nodded, her tears now reduced to sniffles. "Just promise me that you will be careful."

Ginny smiled ruefully. "Well, seeing as how I don't have any books or diaries that could control my mind, and Harry is gone, I don't think there's a whole lot of trouble I can possibly get into."

"I love you, Ginny."

Giving her one last hug, Ginny whispered back, "I love you, too. I'll see you at Christmas. Maybe we can all be home."

Molly smiled and shook her head. "It would be nice, but not very likely. There will be more Christmases. Now, get on the train before it leaves without you."

Ginny hadn't even noticed, but the clock was currently blinking 10:58 and the train left at 11:00 on the dot. "Bye, Mum, love you!" She shouted as she ran towards the barrier, her cart bouncing dangerously along in front of her. Ginny boarded the train in record time and immediately began looking for a seat. Without her brother, Harry or Hermione there, she was going to have to find somebody else to sit with.

After dragging her trunk through a few different cars, Ginny finally caught sight of Neville and Luna playing a game of Exploding Snap. No one else was in there with them, so Ginny knocked on the door and slid it open with difficulty. Neville and Luna turned and jumped up to help her, their game sparking and smoking as they did so.

"Hi, Ginny," Luna smiled benignly at the red-head. Ginny was one of the few people who didn't look at Luna like she had grown a second head, and for that, Luna really was grateful.

Ginny smiled warmly at her Ravenclaw friend. "Hey, Luna. How was your summer?"

"Mmm, it was good. Daddy thought he saw a Crumple-Horned Snorcack, but it ended up just being a funny looking goose," she replied matter-of-factly. This was a typical response from Luna and those who knew her well knew not to question her.

Ginny and Neville simply exchanged glances and smiled fondly Luna. "Really? That's too bad it really wasn't one."

"Well, he wasn't even in the right region to see one anyway," Luna informed them, completely serious, "so it's not very surprising. Where are your other friends?"

Ginny blinked, momentarily confused by Luna's complete turn of phrase. "Oh! Sorry, you meant Ron, Harry and Hermione. They decided not to come back this year."

"No Dumbledore, no Harry," Neville shook his head sadly. "No one is going to feel safe at Hogwarts anymore."

"McGonagall's still there though," Luna reminded them. "She probably isn't nearly as powerful as Dumbledore, but she'll do her best I'm sure. And the other Heads of House are there too."

"I'm not so sure," Ginny replied, shaking her head. "Snape is gone, obviously, and Professors Flitwick and Sprout don't really strike me as the intimidating types. They may be powerful, but something tells me that Voldemort would probably best the both of them. I have a feeling that Hogwarts is going to be pretty empty this year."

At this point, the kindly witch serving treats pushed the cart to their compartment. "Anything off the trolley, dears?"

Neville fished in his pockets and pulled out a handful of galleons and knuts. "A couple Chocolate Frogs, some Licorice Wands, and," he turned back to the girls, "you two want anything?"

"Some Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans would be fine," Ginny answered and Luna shook her head.

"And some Every-Flavor Beans." Neville handed the witch the money and tossed the Every-Flavor Beans to Ginny. Taking a seat, he looked round at the red-head. "Do you really think a lot of people won't come back?"

Ginny nodded her eyes wide. "My dad's been in contact with McGonagall, for Order business, and she told him that they're thinking about combining Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff because so many students wrote back to say they weren't coming back. Apparently, most of the Slytherins are returning, probably just to show how glad they are that Dumbledore's gone." At this, Ginny rolled her eyes in disgust. "And aside from Harry, Ron and Hermione, nearly all of Gryffindor house is full. Guess that goes to show just how brave we are."

Neville smirked. "Brave. Or stupid."

"It's good that you can finally admit that, Longbottom." A silky, smooth voice suddenly entered the conversation. "They say that the first step to getting over a problem is admitting you have one."

The three friends looked up and were unpleasantly surprised to find Draco accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle. "Get bent, Draco," Ginny fired back at him.

"And Weasel junior comes out swinging," the blonde taunted. "What's the matter, Longbottom, you need a girl to fight for you?"

Neville blushed and stared at the ground momentarily. But to everyone's great surprise, he rose from his seat and looked Draco in the eye, squaring his jaw. "Get out. Now."

"Why should I?" Draco shot back, but he didn't seem as cocky now.

"Your precious Professor Snape can't save you anymore, Malfoy. You start any trouble and there is no one to defend you. Can you deal with that?"

A moment of indecision flashed across steel gray eyes. Malfoy turned back to his cronies, shoving them out the door. "Let's go. They're not worth our time." And the door slammed shut behind them.

Ginny and Luna stared incredulously at their friend. "Neville, that was amazing!" Ginny congratulated him. "You really stood up to him!"

Neville shrugged, sitting back down. "I'm just so tired of him picking on people all the time. And with You-Know-Who back, Malfoy just doesn't see so intimidating anymore."

"I wonder what he was doing here," Luna mused absently playing with her radish earrings.

Ginny turned and frowned at her. "What do you mean, Luna? Why wouldn't Malfoy be here?"

"Yeah," Neville agreed. "Malfoy always makes a point to bother us on the train to Hogwarts. It's practically tradition."

"No, that's not what I meant," Luna tried to explain, shaking her head. "The last we knew, Draco and Professor Snape were fleeing Hogwarts after Professor Dumbledore had been murdered. Shouldn't Draco be on the run?"

Ginny stared at her eccentric friend open-mouthed, unable to come up with a plausible answer. What was Draco Malfoy doing back at Hogwarts if he was a known accomplice in the murder of Albus Dumbledore?

Before Ginny could voice her agreement, Luna looked out the window, commenting, "I think we're nearly there. Maybe we should get into our robes?"

Ginny and Neville nodded their agreement and the three friends quietly prepared for their arrival in Hogsmeade station. Ginny wondered if there would be many first years taking the boats with Hagrid this year.

Twenty minutes later, the train came to a halt in front of the train station and both new and returning Hogwarts students slowly shuffled their way onto the platform. Ginny waved at Hagrid, who called out, as he did every year, "Firs' years over here!" Only a smattering of children scrambled over to him, looking up in awe at the half-giant.

Ginny, Neville and Luna all made their way to the carriages, all three of them now able to see the thestrals. Ginny shuddered; their appearance was quite chilling. "I would give anything for those things to be invisible again," she whispered to Neville who gave her a knowing glance. They all would prefer to not see these eerie horse-like creatures.

After they had settled in, the carriages started off along the road looking very much like an abstract funeral procession. The gray skies above them only served to emphasize the feeling that they were all headed to their doom. Normally, Hogwarts, although massive in size, induced a feeling of calm in Ginny. Now that Dumbledore was dead and Harry, Ron and Hermione gone, she couldn't shake this feeling of foreboding.

The feeling wouldn't subside even as they entered the Great Hall. Students sat at their House tables, not daring to speak above a whisper. The head table was quiet as well; Professor McGonagall took her usual place to the right of the Headmaster's seat. It seemed that she could not bring herself to take her rightful place of honor and so she had decided to continue to sit in her usual spot. Snape was, of course, no where to be seen. This made Ginny indescribably happy as she didn't know what she would do had the slimy git shown his face.

Now that McGonagall was Headmistress, it was up to Professor Flitwick to lead in the first years who looked around in awe. Neville smiled as he saw a few pointing at the ceiling and even heard one explain that it was enchanted. Clearly, they had another Hermione on their hands.

Professor Flitwick set the Sorting Hat on the stool and to the clear astonishment of the first years, it opened its mouth and began to sing.

"Many centuries ago, when I was made anew

Four Founders set out to educate

Young witches and wizards like you

These hearts they began to motivate

Into four houses they divided

By their own individuality

Each one to stand united

And all maintain their quality

Godric Gryffindor was brave

His brother, Salazar Slytherin astute

Helena Hufflepuff loyal and true

Rowena Ravenclaw clever and wise

My job, as I now regret,

Is to place you in your House

But this warning for you I set

For we are stronger together than apart

Even though I must divide you

Divided we now stand and divided we will fall

So stand strong, you proud; you few

And perhaps we will continue to stand tall."

A slight smattering of applause filled the Great Hall; no one quite sure how to react. The Hat must have felt it important to tell them all to stick together again this year. So as not prolong the silence, Professor Flitwick began calling out the names of the first years. One by one, they sat on the stool with the Hat placed on their heads and waited to be sorted. To Ginny and Neville's surprise, the majority of the first years ended up in Gryffindor, while Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw only welcomed a few and Slytherin didn't have any.

After the Sorting was completed, Professor McGonagall rose from her seat, clapping her hands briskly. All conversation ceased immediately. "Welcome," she began, "to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before we begin to enjoy this lovely meal, there are some matters that need our attention. First and foremost, after the events of last year, I will be taking the position of Headmistress in addition to my duties as the head of Gryffindor house and Professor Flitwick will be Deputy Headmaster. The new Head of Slytherin will be Professor Sinistra who will also be taking over as Potions Mistress until we find a permanent replacement. And we welcome a new face to the faculty once again this year to the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; Michael Gannon." At this, she gestured to a handsome young man sitting on the far left of the table. All of the girls gave him an appreciative glance, causing him to glance down at the table and blush.

"Hopefully he'll last longer than the year," Ginny whispered to the two first year girls sitting next to her.

"We must, as usual, wrap up with a few last minute orders of business," McGonagall continued. "The list of forbidden objects can be obtained by asking Mr. Filch. Spells are not to be performed in the hallways between classes. All students must be in their dorms by seven o'clock each evening, unless accompanied by an adult. And, as continued from last year, there will be no Hogsmeade visits until the threat has passed. That is all. Tuck in!"

Godric's Hollow

Hermione gaped at the locket in disbelief. She, Ron and Harry were sitting at a dilapidated kitchen table, trying to figure out what was going on. The locket hung from Harry's outstretched hand, suspended in midair, twirling and catching the light as it did so. "That's not—"

Harry nodded slowly, barely taking his eyes off of it. "I think it might be. But how did it end up with my Mum's stuff?"

No one had an answer for this. Why would Lily Potter have one of Voldemort's horcruxes in her possession? If, indeed, that was what it was. This was an incredibly dark magical object and it's presence in the Potter's home was highly suspicious. The only problem was, they didn't know who to be suspicious of.

"Is there a way to find out if it's even what we're looking for?" Ron asked, also frowning at the object with some concern. "I mean, maybe it's just what it looks like. A locket."

"Why would RAB send me that key then?" Harry protested. "It has to be the horcrux Dumbledore and I had been looking for. I just want to know why it's here."

Hermione fingered the locket gently, looking very lost in thought. "You know, Harry, just because it's here now doesn't mean it was here before."

Harry looked at her, surprised. He hadn't thought of that possibility. This was why they had Hermione around. "That's something to consider," he responded slowly.

Ron; however, merely looked at them in confusion. "You mean somebody planted it?"

"Somebody, perhaps," Hermione nodded, "or maybe RAB, whoever he is, put it here, knowing that Harry would come back one day. We don't know how long it's been here. He could have been here a week ago for all we know."

The sound of wood scraping wood interrupted the conversation and Ron and Hermione jumped at the sound. Harry placed the locket back in its box and carefully shut and locked it. "I think this is a mystery for another time. We need to figure out how to destroy it and then devise a plan for finding the rest of the horcruxes. Hermione, start researching; Ron, I want you to start coming up with a strategy for us."

"Me?"

"It's time to put those chess skills to better use, Ron. You're a talented wizard; it's just that you haven't been able to work to your potential. There's no pressure from professors here."

"No," Ron paled slightly, "just the entire Wizarding world if I mess this up."

Hermione took his hand reassuringly. "You won't."

Looking at their intertwined hands, Ron blushed and pulled away quickly. After his 'relationship' with Lavender last year, he was a little shy about physical contact. "Thanks," he said softly.

Harry cleared his throat, causing them to turn their attention back to him. "Shall we get to work then?"

"Er, Harry," Hermione began, "not to be difficult, but where exactly do you suggest I start researching? It isn't as though this place is teeming with books and information. Especially on the Dark Arts."

"Think, Hermione. Where would you begin to research something in the Dark Arts?" Harry smiled patiently at her, much like a teacher who was waiting for a student to come up with the answer on her own.

After a moment, her hazel eyes grew wide with realization. "Oh!"

"What did I miss?" Ron looked back and forth between the two of them.

"While I'm pretty sure that we've gotten rid of all of the Dark Arts objects, Number 12 Grimmauld Place seems like it might be a good place to start," Harry explained. "Remus told me that there's a library of sorts down in the basement that no one has gotten to yet to clean out. Why don't you Floo over there, Hermione, and see what you can find. I told Remus I would be sending someone over eventually so someone will be expecting you."

"Couldn't I just Apparate?"

"Not a great idea. Tonks and Shacklebolt just added to the security at headquarters and they put up anti-Apparition wards. You'll be better off Flooing. Besides, that was the method of transportation I told Remus we would be using."

"Right then," Hermione pushed her chair away from the table and stood, Ron following suit. "I'll need to get my bag and then I'll be off." She walked briskly out of the kitchen, leaving Ron and Harry together.

"What are you going to do then?" Ron looked at Harry curiously.

Harry smiled grimly. "I will be preparing."

"For?"

"The inevitable."