Chapter 2- On the wrong foot

Ginny had never felt so alone as she boarded the Hogwarts Express. The train wasn't nearly as busy, the station quiet as parents parted with whispers of cautions and goodbyes. There were several mothers crying, and Ginny could imagine that her mum would be among them after she was boarded. The ones who had come back were the ones who either valued education very much, or knew the risk was the same anywhere. Ginny had come purely for the sake of not being left out. At home, she would have been stuck with no where to go, nothing to do, being refused at any opportunity she might have had to further herself in helping. Her mum would have no talk about such things, and Ginny knew it would be stopped if she had tried at home.

She gave a quick smile back to her parents, trying with all her might to let reassurance and confidence come out though this was going to be miserable for her. She noticed most of the compartments were empty. The students seemed fairly well mapped out and it wasn't until Ginny saw a familiar head of blonde that she settled. "Is this where the party is?" she asked with a smile.

Luna gave a small grin herself. "I figured I'd be seeing you."

"Wouldn't miss this for the world," Ginny tried for nonchalant. There was only one place she knew she'd trade this for, but there was no point in dwelling on that. "A whole bench to myself on the express…what could be better?"

Luna shrugged. "As long as I don't have anyone come in here to dangle me from the roof, I'll be happy." Ginny mused at how true a scenario that seemed to have been stated, but didn't inquire after it. For now, she was just glad she wasn't alone, even if her company was reading

She had just settled into the Quibbler when a timid knock came at the door. Ginny hoisted herself up and opened it a crack. The younger years seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. "Yes?" she asked the second year standing there.

"I-I'm supposed to give you this," she said in a hurry and handed the note then walked on by. Ginny wondered what had caused such an interaction, but attributed it to the worries and fears that had been installed in many of the younger students that would now be arriving.

Ginny looked at the official note, the Hogwarts seal on the back. She opened it and her brows furrowed as she read.

"What is it?" Luna asked.

"McGonagall wants to see me," Ginny said confused as she handed over the note, "in the conductor's cabin."

Luna didn't look fazed. "I didn't know the heads ever took the train."

"They don't… I think."

Still there it was in writing, immediately. With that Ginny departed and walked up to the front. There was a small group already there. "What are you doing here?" she asked one person she hadn't expected.

"Me what about you?" Dean replied.

"I got a letter—"

"Well then that would explain it, wouldn't it?" Despite the tone of irritation he smiled. "Any ideas?"

"Not a clue," Ginny responded. There seemed to be a few people from each house, all muttering about the same thing. Where was McGonagall and why were they summoned here? The conductor seemed to be holding a great deal of contempt in, as a Ravenclaw Ginny barely recognized asked what they were called here for.

As he was giving a moody answer, a head seemed to appear in the furnace, flickering like a poorly receptive radio. "Is everyone here?" McGonagall asked. It seemed that no one knew how to answer, but she proceeded anyways. "I have called you all here to explain a few things about responsibilities that you each will be assuming. As you may have heard our numbers of enrollment have decreased since the events of last year and we are having to call upon those who are left to take leadership and show the other students how Hogwarts is meant to run."

Ginny's brows furrowed. Leadership? "The Headboy and Headgirl have already been informed in the usual manner, and I apologize that we weren't able to notify all of you sooner, but each of you will be the prefects of the school, if you weren't prior to this."

"Bullocks!" Ginny said, then covered her mouth. A couple of the students laughed. Professor McGonagall's face didn't change.

"Setting an example is where I hope you'll start, Ms. Weasley," she reprimanded. "Instead of two from each year, we will have two for each house from the 5th, 6th, or 7th years."

"What about Hufflepuff?" one girl asked.

"Those that were previously prefects will remain such, but in the other houses, we will be limiting the role to two. You will start your duties now by making a round and checking to make sure no magic is being cast on the train."

"But we've always been—"

"Don't argue with me, Mr. Finch-Fletchy," she interrupted. "I don't think any of you need reminding of how last term ended, and I intend for it not to happen again." With that she flickered out and talk began again.

"Had to replace your brother?" a voice called from the front of the crowd. Pansy was standing there looking smug.

Ginny tightened her jaw. "Better than you I suppose," Ginny said with a shrug. "I certainly wouldn't want the task of finding a boyfriend as slimy as Malfoy."

Pansy went paler, which Ginny hadn't thought possible. "Who said he's not still my boyfriend… just because you cycle through them."

Ginny pulled her wand out, but the conductor stood in her way. "Missus, please go on," he said. Ginny wanted to try out a few jinxes, but turned and walked off, ignoring the giggling behind her.

"I can't believe they'd let any Slytherins back!" she exclaimed.

"Can't exactly exclude them or it'd be prejudice, wouldn't it?" Dean asked.

"And inviting the Death Eaters in was an act of charity then?" Ginny fumed.

"Hey look, don't get mad. I just was—"

"Who said I was mad?" Ginny said and turned to face him. "Because my whole life has been turned upside down and my family is all out there with their lives on the line to protect what? Prissy Pansy and those who would rather be killing them? Oh, what do you understand?"

"Just because I'm not your precious Harry Potter doesn't mean I'm thick!" Dean shouted after her. She didn't bother as she walked quickly around the train, stopping a first year from nervously practicing a spell and came back into the compartment with Luna, slamming the door behind her.

"Good meeting then?" Luna said in her airy way.

"Right," Ginny said. If this was any sign of how things would be, she'd rather turn the train and go home.

A/N: Another chapter that's a stop on the way to the meat of the plot. I figure Pansy wasn't really involved with a lot of what happened, so she's still around, though the Slytherin house is more empty than most. I hope you all enjoy the chapter… and REVIEW. You would really make my day. I'll probably get another chapter up in a week or so. I'm also going to work on getting a beta (hopefully my fav bean will volunteer???)