Ginny rides in a compartment with Neville and Luna to the castle, still curious about the grey eyed teacher. As of now, asll she knows is that he he has grey eyes, and that knowledge was obtained in their first encounter. 'He is a strange one,' Ginny thinks of the man while watching Neville attempt to hold a conversation with Luna and fail miserably. Luna did most the talking, Neville just listened and nodded, trying to look interested. An cold feeling trickles down Ginny's back and she pauses.
"What is that?" Ginny asks, her neck feeling as if icy cold water were being poured down her spine and into her gut. Ginny never gets an answer as all sound is blocked by the sound of an axe hitting a chopping block and loud squawks of terror. She can feel the blood on her hands slicking and deepening the splinters from axe's handle in her hands. Abruptly, this medley of noise is replaced by a soothing male voice, it says that it loves her, that it needs her, and promises her pain will be over soon. "Tom?" she croaks weakly, not hearing her own voice offer the broken promises. She can feel his hand up her thigh, his lips on her own, just like when he… "NO!" Ginny let out a blood curdling scream, inhuman and filled with pain, chorusing with it are the cries of pain she'd let out from his actions. Slowly her scream dies away.
Ginny slowly began to recognize her surroundings, seeing the familiar, and now dark compartment, as well as the terrified looks on Neville and Luna's faces. "Ginny?" Neville asks uncertainly. "No… no..." Ginny says weakly. She begins to sob and pulls her knees to her chest. Neville scoots towards her and envelopes her in a strong comforting hug, warming her now cold body. Soon Luna approaches cautiously and joines the embrace.
The compartment door slides open. "Is everyone okay in here?" comes the voice Ginny suspected would come. What kind of teacher wouldn't come to the aid of their students after such an episode? By wand-light you can see the etches of concern on his worn face. "We're fine sir," Neville says, holding Ginny even closer, "but… my friend… she'd not okay." "Let me have a look at her," the grey eyed man states. Neville and Luna move back to the chairs, leaving Ginny cowering in the corner, her head bowed.
"Ginny?" he says quietly. Ginny keep her head down, not wishing to look at him when she feels so helpless. Was it not a few days ago that she had been angered by him stating that she was a child? Yet here she is, weak and sobbing in the corner. "Ginny," he repeats again softly, "Ginny look at me." She feels his cool fingers tuck some of her hair behind her ear. Gently he lifts her chin pushing her long red hair out of her face. He looked straight into her eyes and his large grey orbs seemed to shine even in the dark, but she had only seen them with amusement and now they displayed intense concern. He stares into her eyes deeply, and she can feel him searching for something. "Hmm…" he said, "I'm surprised that you didn't faint kid, that dementor was vigilant towards you, I can see where it's imprint is lessening. You must be very strong," he gives her a small smile, wiping a tear off of her cheek. He stands, "It was just a bunch of ruddy dementors," he states, addressing Neville and Luna, "A bit of chocolate should do the trick." He gives Ginny a large chunk of chocolate and begins to head towards the door. "I suspect we should be at the school in about half an hour, I suggest you change."
Ginny, Neville, and Luna walked to their carriage, Ginny thankfull that they were not taking the boats that the first years were forced to take. Making polite conversation on the way to the school, Ginny spends most her time polishing her goggles with her robes in a daze as they finally arrive.
Once the first years are sorted, Dumbledore stands to speak. "Welcome all new faces, as well as old ones! Now as I know we are all starving"- Dumbledore looks in the direction of the 5 Weasleys, whose stomaches are growling in near unison- "I will just stress caution over inter house unity. In dangerous times such as these, you need someone to rely on, and you can never be too careful." He stares at everyone seriously for a moment before smiling. "Now, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor R.J. Lupin," everyone claps politely. Ginny felt elated that she'd finally learned his name, every chance she'd procures, he'd seem to slip away from her. "It's about bloody time!" Ginny shouts to herself… but perhaps a bit too loud. Ginny turns Weasley red, looking at Lupin who winks and merely makes her redder. She manages a weak smile before putting her hood on to hide her face the rest of the night.