Ginny had moved past the anger and tears and had now fallen into depression. It was October the 19th and the beautiful red-head stared blankly as she pushed the bacon on her breakfast plate around with her fork. Her usually shiny, straight hair was dull and messy and she had lost the lively gleam in her eye and the happy smile that usually played on her lips. The bags under her eyes showed her lack of sleep. The war was really already taking its toll on her-- and everyone else for that matter. The entire school-- or what was left of it had lost its usual energy becoming a very sad, gloomy place. Harry had been gone for nearly two months and there was a new death reported in the newspaper every day, the attacks were coming nearer and nearer to Hogwarts. A small group of owls dropped in the days post. Hermione put her money in the owl's pouch in front of her and took the issue of 'The Prophet' from it.

"Who's died today?" Ron asked glumly.

"Let's see," said Hermione nonchalantly. "Well a few ministry workers: Janice Faulstien and Meirla Krinstow, both of the Department of Mysteries, and Wentworth Robins an auror. There are a couple others missing. And…OH MY!--Oliver Wood and his entire family: 'Mr. Oliver Wood—who was currently playing as reserve keeper for Puddlemere United—was found late last night in his home along with the rest of his family. The family--five in all, were killed by a variety of curses assumed to be the work of powerful death eaters. There were no survivors and the motive remains unknown'," she read part of the article aloud. (Wood, was not the first of Hogwarts graduates to have been clamed by Death eater. Alicia Spinnet and her family, for example—except for her younger sister who was still unconscious at St. Mungos—were killed. Lavender Brown, hadn't returned to school that year, was alive—but just barely-- and also in St. Mungos for irreparable damage. They seemed to be killing without reason, which made them even more dangerous.) "And oh no!" she gasped as she opened the paper further, "There was an attack in Hogsmead: 'Last night around nine o'clock a group of six confirmed death eaters appeared in Hogsmead. There they forced their way into the Hog's Head Pub and killed all of it's occupants. After, they moved on to a few other shoppes; killing 12 people in total, injuring 3 more and one remains missing. We will report the entire story as it is sorted out'." The rest of the Hall went silent too as everyone realized. "But, they've also caught two supposed Death eaters," Hermione tried to raise spirits.

"Great," Ron retorted sarcastically. He picked up his books and made to leave for his first lesson when McGonagall cleared her throat loudly and stood to make a speech. Hermione grabbed his arm in concern and Ron sat.

"It seems," she began, "that the recent attacks are drawing nearer to us. As you all can see by the article in "The Prophet", there was an attack on Hogsmead last night. But what the paper does not tell you is that one of our very own staff members was claimed by the attack- Madam Pince," she lowered her head as the hall erupted with gasps and whispers. "I fear, as situations are becoming more dire, that we will be starting procedures to shut down the school. It is no longer safe here."

He words hit the students like a rogue bludger and the hall went completely silent again for shock. The full intensity of the war was realized, it had never been so clear as it was now. Closing Hogwarts made this war real. The school stood through the chamber of secrets being opened, a supposed murderer on the loose, Voldemort's return and even Dumbledore's death. This was the final blow—all sense of normalcy would now be gone. Ginny had finally snapped out of her daze and was staring at McGonagall in disbelief. Hermione had started crying, as did many others. Now it was Ron's turn to hold her as she cried. He grabbed her and rocked her slowly trying to quiet her.

"It'll be all right," he tried to assure her, not quite convinced of it himself.

"Classes," she continued over the commotion, "Will, as of now, be cancelled. Everyone should return to their dormitories and begin packing. The train will be leaving at ten o'clock on Halloween." She finished and left abruptly. The students got up soon after still dazed by what she'd said. They headed to there dormitories just as she said to pack and begin saying their goodbyes to friends and classmates they knew they may never see again; all in utter disbelief.

Ron, Neville and Hermione stayed up late in the Gryffindor common room that night reminiscing about past times and taking in the sight and feelings of a place with so many memories that they knew they would probably never step foot in again. By one in the morning the room had finally cleared and they began to discuss their plans with Neville.

"I'm up for anything," Neville assured them with a very un-Neville-like confidence. "Just hope we aren't found out like last time."

"Don't worry we won't. I'll make sure of it."

"But, first of all, how are we going to get away?"

"Well, Hermione had a plan that we'd leave on Halloween," Ron began.

"But, now—ironically—everyone will be leaving then," Hermione finished. " But, I was thinking you could 'lose' Trevor on the train and try to find him."

"I haven't got Trevor with me. I left him home with Gran."

"Does anyone know that?" A look of understanding formed on his face.

"Well then, we'll help you look for him when everyone else is getting seated and sneak out the emergency exit in the back of the train, then we can apperate away. It will be quick and no one will know we're gone until they get to Kings Cross. We'll have to play it by ear; it may help us with the chaos of everyone leaving or it may not. We just have to make sure no one follows us." Ron stared at her, now he'd heard everything—Hermione go into something without a definite plan? Hermione being spontaneous? Mad, bloody mad. "What?" she questioned him. He just shook his head and she continued. "We'll have to take only what we need and shrink it to fit in bags we can conceal under our cloaks, we'll leave our trunks behind."

"Okay and how will we find Harry?"

Ron answered by pulling out the map and unfurling it. He held it up proudly so Neville could see. He smiled. "Brilliant."

---

The next day was a blur of clothes, books, tears and people. Everyone had finished packing early and were wandering around the halls remember and saying their goodbyes. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Neville we among them walking together taking in the sight of the old castle.

"We shouldn't have to be doing this," Ginny said suddenly.

"Doing what?" Ron asked.

"Leaving the school before it was time to graduate. Having to say goodbye to people knowing we may never see them again, knowing they could die tomorrow- we all could die tomorrow. This just shouldn't be happening." She didn't cry as she said this; she seemed to have, sadly, accepted it.

Luna sighed heavily. "Anyone can die at anytime. If you're meant to go there is no magic that can stop it. It's sad that it takes a war for people to realize it. We all need to stop worrying about death, so we can live while we have the chance."

Everyone else looked at their feet and kept walking, now in silence, towards their dormitories. It was 9 o'clock and they knew that the next day would be a difficult one—especially for Ron, Hermione and Neville. They would need to sneak away before getting on the train and without Ginny and Luna noticing. Ginny had made plans for Luna to stay with them while her father was away working on stories for the Quibbler. So, instead of telling Luna and having her join them they decided that it would be better for her to stay behind to be with Ginny. She would need company since Ron still refused to let her come. Though they were all in their beds by ten, no one slept. The entire castle was a flutter of activity or otherwise lying in bed awake, staring at their curtains or at the black starless night out the window. Not until four that morning had the castle quieted and everyone finally drifted off to sleep only to stir again four hours later.

It was Halloween and instead of having a breakfast feast in the Great Hall, decorated from top to bottom with jack-o-lanterns and other decorations the whole school was congregated in the entrance hall grouped by year and house. All the rooms around them were dark and empty. Even the teachers stood near their piles of bags and trunks.

"Alright," McGonagall said as a few last minute second year Hufflepuffs came down the staircase. "We're going to be starting in a few minutes. We will be leaving by year and house- the small groups will hopefully not draw any unwanted attention. When I call your year and house, please take all of your belongings and come up to the door here so I can take attendance and then follow your escort to the train." She seemed uncharacteristically nervous.

"First year- Hufflepuff." Eight small scared children filed to the front of the hall a quill afloat in midair checked off the names on a parchment next to it. They walked out the door with an unknown escort.

"First year- Gryffindor." Five small children left this time.

"First year- Ravenclaw." Six.

"First year- Slytherin." Only three; a girl and two boys left this time.

McGonagall moved on to second years, then third years and so on.

"Sixth year- Gryffindor." Ginny and the three others headed out. She walked out blank faced without stopping for McGonagall's quill. She only bowed her head in understanding and let Ginny go.

By the time she'd finished the sixth years only 15 students remained. The entire 7th consisted of fifteen Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. There were no Slytherins. They all lined up to leave together. Ron and Hermione were the last to leave. They turned around to take in the magnificent building one last time.

"This shouldn't be happening…" Hermione said now as Ginny had before. "If Harry were here…"

"I know." Ron put his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the rest of the 7th years. They caught up with Neville. "Ready?" Ron asked under his voice.

"'Course," Neville answered a little too loudly. The nervous Hufflepuff in front of him jumped with a gasp and then turned on him, her eyes shot daggers.

They reached the train and boarded only after a second quill checked their names again. Hermione and Ron found the compartment with Luna and Ginny. They sat down and waited; Neville would soon be running by saying he'd lost Trevor. Any minute now…

"Trevor? Trevor! Anyone seen Trevor?" Neville poked his head into the compartment.

"No, Neville," Hermione responded as the rest shook their heads. "But I'll help you look for him." She rose to her feet.

"I'll come too." Ron followed.

"I'll stay to save our compartment," Ginny said.

"I'll keep Ginny company—but if you need my help just come get me." Luna stared dreamily out the window.

They walked out of the compartment and down the corridor. "That was lucky," said Hermione. They made their way to the back of the train, moving quickly but trying not to draw attention to themselves. They reached the emergency exit at the back with no trouble. "Let's go before we start moving," Hermione said, and just as she did, the wheels squealed to a start. "Shite, we'll have to jump," Hermione said immediately. Ron looked at her for the second time in two days completely dumbfounded.

"Jump?"

"No time for questions." She threw open the door and grabbed onto both Ron and Neville and before either could protest; jumped. With a small pop just before the three fell to the ground, they had disappeared. No one had seen a thing.

---Hope you liked this chapter. I had to do something with Lavender Brown, I didn't want to kill her off but I just loathe her. She deserved something because of the whole Ron situation. :o)