Author's Note: Sorry that it's been so long since I've updated...But I am totally in full Harry potter mood now because of the Deathly Hallows movie. which, by the way, was very good :) I feel they followed the book pretty well! On one hand, I'm really looking forward to Part Two, on the other hand...After that Harry Potter is just over, and that's just a sad thought :(

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter Three, Another Year

Ginny hugged her mother and father goodbye, and waved at her brothers, before boarding the Hogwarts Express. It was the start of a new year, and as the train began to move, Ginny closed her eyes and pretended for a short time she was just a fifteen year old girl again. When the boy she loved was in love with her, and all her family and friends were still alive.

She understood her mother's hope that going back to Hogwarts would make things go back to normal, Ginny wished she could believe that herself...But no matter what they did, things would never, ever be the same.

Her eyes were closed as she blocked out the world around her, but not long after the train began to move, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Mind if I sit here, Ginny?" A dreamy voice said, and she looked up to see Luna standing there.

"Of course not! Go right ahead!" Ginny said, with a genuine smile. It was good to see her friend again, they hadn't spoken in a while. Both girls had been busy trying to recover from the war. "How are you, Luna?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Had a sickness spread by Crocodile-Tear Bird feathers for a while. But I'm fine now."

"Oh, well I'm glad you're well!" Ginny said with a smile, not at all phased by the oddness of Luna's statement.

"And how are you?" Luna asked, with a distant smile.

Ginny shrugged and kept up a small smile, "Oh..." She hesitated, "As good as could be expected."

"I heard Harry has come back this year, odd isn't it? Dad says the boy who killed Voldemort shouldn't have to go back to school to be an Auror." Luna said absently as usual.

"It is odd." Was Ginny's very short answer. When the subject went round to Harry, she was a little closed to conversation, but Luna didn't seem to notice.

"Have you seen him recently?" Luna asked curiously.

Ginny nodded, but their conversation was interrupted by the compartment door opening to reveal Harry himself.

Ginny froze as Harry asked, "Hey, can I sit here with you two? I don't really know many other people personally..."

"Oh, well..." Ginny hesitated, and then said quickly, "I'm sure everyone would love having you in their compartment."

"You can certainly sit here, Harry!" Luna said, smiling.

"Thanks." He said, sitting down next to Luna with a friendly smile, before glancing at Ginny a little uncomfortably.

Ginny felt painfully the empty seat next to her, but she didn't say anything about it. Instead, she stared out the window as Harry engaged in conversation with Luna, so as to avoid having to have any particular conversation with Ginny. This did not go unnoticed to Ginny, but she didn't say anything.

Every once and a while, Luna would say something to Ginny and, in turn, Harry would be forced to as well, but for the most part he avoided speaking to the red headed girl.

She wanted to go back to being furious at Harry, but that was only easy to do when he wasn't around. When he was near her, it was absolutely impossible to stay angry at him, she could only feel sad.

When the train slowed to a stop, Ginny collected her things as quickly as possible and hurried from the compartment, leaving Luna and Harry standing there.

"She seems to be in a hurry..." Luna said, wonderingly, and smiling at Harry in a friendly way.

"In a hurry to get away from me..." He mumbled, almost inaudibly.

"What was that, Harry?" Luna asked, curiosity in her yet distant sounding voice.

"Nothing, come on." Harry forced a smile and headed off the train with the rest of the students, Luna following slowly behind.

When they stepped off the train, Harry was surprised to see two familiar faces waiting for him.

"Ron? Hermione? What are you two doing here?" Harry asked the two standing in front of him. He couldn't believe they were there.

"We thought if you had to go back to school, it was only fair we did too. Besides, we missed last year too." Hermione explained cheerfully.

"Actually, Hermione thought it would be a good idea and made me agree too." Ron mumbled, and Hermione smacked him in the arm.

"Don't listen to him, Harry!" Hermione said quickly, with a smile and a quick glare at Ron. "Now, where is Ginny?" She asked pointedly.

Harry shrugged, "How should I know?" He muttered, "Come on, we're going to be late."

Author's Note: Okay, so I know that was an awful, short, chapter. But I was just stuck, so please forgive me! I hope the next will be better!