The following day her mother and her father arrived at Shell Cottage. Her mum insisted on going to Diagon Alley to get her books, so they made a short trip in and out of the run-down alley. Ginny had never been there for such a short trip in her life. Her mum barely said a word to her as they collected the items she would need for potions and other subjects, like more parchment and ink. They had also briefly visited Fred and George, such to pop in and say hello. It was still the busiest shop in the alley.
When they finished, they hid in an empty alley off Leaky Cauldron and then her mother disapparated them back home. Kingsley had insisted that they do upgrades to the security around The Burrow considering the aftermath of the wedding. It meant they could still live at home but the Burrow was also being thoroughly monitored at the Ministry by Kingsley in case of any sudden assistance being needed.

The house was empty now as Ginny arrived back home. She sighed and shook her head dismally. It was the Sunday before school started- she was going back tomorrow. But instead of going on the train- which her mother had deemed to be unsafe- she was going through flu powder. Ginny had wanted to insist on going on the train, but when he father had given her a "do not argue" look (he had been giving them a lot lately) she shut up.

The house was just too quiet and it felt dead to her. Ginny was used to having six other brothers around-or if not all of them, at least Harry and Hermione to make up for the missing parties. In the last weeks in particular, with the wedding festivities and the Delacour's being around, it had been chaotic. Now the silence was slowly but surely driving her mad. Home just didn't feel like home anymore. It was eerie.

XXX

Ginny was somewhat relieved to be leaving the following day. Her father hugged her and looked in the eye early that morning before he left for work and said seriously, "Listen, Ginny. Stay out of trouble. Don't go looking for it. It…it might be a different environment this year. But just know you can always come home if it gets too much." Ginny nodded and said seriously, "I know, dad. Thank you. I love you." He hugged her tightly and whispered, "I love you too."

Her father was going to work early in the mornings now. The amount of magical objects people were using in front of muggles was becoming abominable. Lots of damage control had to be done there too. Ginny busied herself with packing her trunk. When she was done, she headed upstairs to Ron's room to see if anything had been left behind. Ginny found a jersey of Harry's that had been haphazardly thrown onto the floor. He must have suspected they were leaving soon. There was a large pile of neglected clothes thrown on the floor.
Ginny took his blue knit jersey, and another white one which smelt distinctly of him. He wouldn't be returning for these anytime soon, so Ginny figured she was allowed to borrow them. She inhaled his musky scent and then hurried down the stairs as her mother yelled, "GINNY! McGonagall is expecting you in about ten minutes! Hurry!"

She put Harry's jerseys carefully in her trunk and then sealed it shut. Ginny took one last glance around her room and then nodded in contentment. She had everything she needed. Then Ginny grabbed her trunk and wand, and hurried down the stairs. Her mother was waiting for her and she took Ginny's shoulders in her hand, staring at her firmly, "Ginny, I know things haven't been easy on you of late I know I haven't really been there for you like I normally am. I know everything with Harry has been difficult. But please, just know that if school is not the same and you want to come back…just know that you can. Your safety is far more important to us than your schooling."

Her mother's words touched her. She smiled genuinely and whispered, "I know. Thanks mum. I truly appreciate it. And I know that. Please just keep safe too." Her mother smiled at her and then kissed her cheek gently. Ginny hugged her tightly and her mother said swiftly, "Oh and one more thing…I wrote to McGonagall and asked if she could keep our flu's connected. Just in case. She said she would so anytime you need to come home, you can." Ginny smiled gratefully, kissed her mum on the cheek and said, "Thanks mum. I'm sure it will all be fine." She tried to force a convincing smile, but it felt more like a grimace. She took some flu powder and stood with her trunk in her hand before shouting, "HOGWARTS!" and then she disappeared, leaving her home behind her.

XXX

Ginny arrived in McGonagall's office, sooty and coughing a little bit. McGonagall was sitting at her desk, reading through some papers and she glanced up briefly, "Ah, Miss Weasley. Good of you to join us. I wondered when you would be arriving." Ginny pulled her trunk out of the fireplace and McGonagall approached her.

She said quickly, "Yes Professor." McGonagall continued, "You had a good holiday I trust?" Ginny shrugged her shoulders and her professor watched her. She continued, "I trust Ronald isn't returning for his seventh year at Hogwarts as he is not with you?" Ginny didn't like where this was going. She wanted to avoid these kinds of questions at all costs. These were the questions she now feared. Ginny bit her lip and McGonagall continued with the interrogation, "I take it Potter and Granger too will not be returning?"
Ginny couldn't tell if McGonagall looked relieved or disappointed. Maybe it was a mixture of both. She inhaled sharply and said, "Professor, the three students you have mentioned have no intention of returning this year." McGonagall nodded slowly and then said, "Please, Miss Weasley, take a seat opposite my desk." She did as she was told and twiddled with her fingers anxiously. McGonagall stared at her through her glasses and whispered, "Miss Weasley, I am under the impression that there are things you know about their whereabouts. I will only ask you once. Is there anything you can tell me?" Ginny shook her head briefly, "No professor. I'm not allowed to say anything. I hope you understand."

The professor nodded and sighed, "I thought that might be the case. Let's just hope that the keep their heads on at all times. At least Granger is with them to keep them in check." Ginny nodded in agreement and McGonagall said, "Ginerva I have concocted a potion this year, that I think people who have any type of information regarding the three aforementioned students need to take on a regular basis this year. Am I correct in thinking you alone know what they are up to?" Ginny nodded and McGonagall smiled curtly, "Good. So you'll have to come to me, Miss Weasley, every Friday afternoon at lunch time to receive a teaspoon of this potion. It's an anti-truth telling antidote." Ginny frowned and whispered curiously, "Why? Professor?"

McGonagall shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Let's just say, that there are some unsavory characters to say the least who will be joining us to teach this term. I think any information on Potter's whereabouts would be valuable information to them. How the potion works, is that it gives you the freedom to tell lies instead of the truths, or vice versa. Basically, you can decide when and if you want to tell the truth even when being forced to make that decision." Ginny gasped and said, "You mean under interrogation?! Professor, that it genius!" McGonagall smiled briefly and said, "Thank you, Miss Weasley. I don't doubt that it will happen in your near future. But when it does, at least we come prepared. And I would suggest practicing some self-restraint around the likes of the Carrow's." Ginny frowned and asked, "The Carrows?" McGonagall sighed, "You'll find out soon enough, Miss Weasley. Anyway, head up to the dormitory. I'll see you shortly for dinner." Ginny nodded in understanding, "Thank you, Professor. It really means a lot to me." She smiled kindly and nodded, "I'll see you in the hall."

XXX

Ginny unpacked her trunk in her dormitory. Thankfully this year she was sharing with different girls, so she wouldn't have to be dealing with Rachel and Julia so much this year. However, Ginny's heart sank when she saw Romilda walk in. She groaned internally as she glanced up from making her bed. Romilda smiled falsely, "Ginny! Had a good summer?" She sighed and said sarcastically, "Just peachy! And yours, Romilda?"

The girl tossed her long raven curls around her head and said, "Brilliant, thanks! I went to France with my family. You can tell that because of my tan." Ginny rolled her eyes as she turned away from the girl and swished her wand so that the pillows floated into place themselves, "Good for you." Romilda commented interestedly, "Oh…so where's Harry? I haven't seen him yet." Ginny replied stoically, "You might not be seeing him."
This got her interest and she said, "Oh…why would that be?" Ginny sighed in relief when two girls walked in who she didn't quite mind. One named Amelia and the other was Charlotte. They were best friends and both friendly in manner. They had always been nice to her. Amelia smiled at her sweetly, "Hey Ginny! Glad to see you're back. I heard Ron wasn't returning this year, so I wondered if you weren't." Ginny frowned. News surely did travel quickly. They weren't even at the start of term dinner and already someone knew. She wasn't sure how or why. But they did. Ginny bit her lip and Romilda chipped in, "Surely that means Harry and Hermione won't be coming back either? They travelled everywhere together."

Ginny shrugged her shoulders and muttered, "I guess you will find out sooner or later, won't you?" The dormitory fell silent and they all unpacked their things. Then they headed downstairs to the dinner. Amelia said idly, "I hope McGonagall is headmistress this year. She's deputy isn't she? She'd be great." Ginny remembered what Tonks had told her in confidence and she bit her lip, "I wouldn't be so sure, Amelia. I would love it of course, but I have a feeling it's not the case." This plunged them all into silence again and they approached the Gryffindor table.

XXX

There were still several familiar faces sitting there which made Ginny sigh in relief. Neville smiled at her happily when he saw her, and Ginny hugged him fiercely, "Hey Neville! Wasn't sure if you'd be back!" He chuckled and replied, "Nothing is going to stop me coming back. Nothing." She nodded happily and then took a seat opposite him. The other girls followed as Ginny sat next to Seamus. She nodded at him briefly, "Hey. How are you?" He shrugged and replied, "I would be better if Dean were here." Ginny glanced around and whispered, "Is he not coming back?"

Seamus shook his head morbidly, "He's half-blood. I…I think he might be on the run. Haven't heard from him all summer." Ginny felt awful as she glanced at Neville. She whispered, "I'm sure he's fine. You've got to believe that." Neville sighed and grimaced, "I don't know Gin. Dean wouldn't just abandon us without a word." She shrugged and whispered so that the girls next to them wouldn't hear, "Maybe he would. Harry, Ron and Hermione aren't coming back either." Neville gasped and Seamus' mouth dropped in shock, "Hermione isn't coming back?!" He asked in surprise. Ginny shook her head, "No. I can't say anything else but I can trust you."

They nodded their heads and then ten minutes later, Snape stood, which meant that the hall went silent. Everyone held their breath. Snape said frankly, "Good evening, students. It is a new year, and in a new year, things tend to change. We had a very sad and sudden loss last year…" Ginny bit her lip in anger at the mere mention of Dumbledore's death! How dare he breathe a word about it!
She clenched her fingers tightly as Snape's gaze lingered on different students. He looked at Ginny longer than the others. She felt her pulse boil as Snape continued, "We have two new teachers this year. Both are Professor Carrow from the ministry of magic. Professor Amycus Carrow will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Professor Alecto will be teaching muggle studies." Neville glanced at Ginny fretfully, "Carrow! They're Death Eater's!"

Ginny felt her jaw drop as the two aforementioned "Professors" entered from the side door. There was only a slight applause from the Slytherin table. Ginny glanced at it to see Draco Malfoy looking paler than usual. He wasn't clapping unlike the rest of Slytherin. The two Professors strode in, both wearing black overalls and looking serious. Ginny could see they looked like Death Eater's. Some recognition of their names had dawned on other students faces and they looked horrified.

Then Snape dropped the next bombshell as he said, "And the last announcement for this evening. It has been decided by Professor Dumbledore, that I will be taking his place as headmaster." A silence descended upon the school hall. Then several students clapped from Slytherin, but everyone else remained deathly quiet. Ginny glanced at Neville and bit her lip. He whispered, "You knew?" Ginny nodded slightly, "Tonks," she whispered.

Snape continued in a deadpan voice, "Furthermore, it has been noted that Harry Potter is not in the building this evening. I want to make this announcement very clear to all. Those who know of Potter and his friends' whereabouts- by those I mean Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger…you are report to me immediately. Or if you here of any information at all, I would very much like to know. Enjoy the rest of the feast." The silence continued and McGonagall stared blatantly ahead of her, trying not to show a hint of emotion.

XXX

The feast continued without much of an issue. The first years were sorted, the sorting hat did nothing else but its job and they ate and went up to the dormitories. Ginny hated the fact that Ron, Harry and Hermione weren't here. It just made the year ahead seem so dim and dull. And to think that they had friggen Death Eaters as Professor's…Ginny hated to know what they would think of that. But she supposed it didn't really matter what they thought anymore. They were in far worse dangers than she was going to be in.

Ginny checked her coin which still read, "Grimmauld Place." She sighed in relief. So they hadn't yet moved from their spot. Seamus was terribly quiet as they walked up the stairs. Ginny asked him, "Are you alright?" He shook his head and whispered, "How on earth could Snape actually have the nerve to let Death Eaters in this school to teach?! It's sickening! In a way I'm glad Dean isn't here. They would have given him a hellava time!"
Ginny nodded in agreement, "I know. It's appalling." Neville muttered, "Not only that, but that Snape has the nerve to stand where Dumbledore stood." She sighed in agreement and shook her head. It was going to be a very long term indeed.