Disclaimer: Unfortunately, my name isn't J. K. Rowling...which means that I own nothing. While you guys read, I'll go cry in a corner about the fact that I didn't create this marvelous world and these amazing characters.

"…and thankfully I'm half-blood or else I wouldn't have been able to come back at all this year," said Evanna.

I was sitting in a compartment with Evanna and Luna while Adrian and Florence were out doing their prefect duties. I was sorry to learn that Nicholas wasn't able to return to Hogwarts this year because he was a muggle-born but Florence, Evanna and Adrian were all able to come back since they were half-bloods. Luna and I were the only pure-bloods in our group of friends.

"This year is going to be awful," said Luna. It was a sign of how serious Luna was that she wasn't reading The Quibbler like she usually would have been.

"With Dumbledore gone and that greasy git as headmaster, it's bound to be an awful year," said Evanna.

"Not to mention this bollocks about blood status," I said.

"My parents didn't even want me to come back this term," said Evanna, her voice hushing.

"Neither did mine," I said. "They figure You-Know-Who has control over Hogwarts now."

"Dad didn't want me returning either but none of us had a choice. Attendance is mandatory now," said Luna.

Feeling like she did her part in the conversation, Luna brought her magazine in front of her face and immersed herself. Evanna and I exchanged looks and then moved onto the topic of our OWL results.

I had been so worried over the news about Snape being Headmaster that I hadn't realized that I had got my OWL results in my Hogwarts letter. It was only when I was about to toss the envelope into the wastepaper basket that I found my results. I had received nine OWLs and that news seemed to brighten mum up slightly from her dour mood at me leaving to this new and terrible Hogwarts.

We were joined in our compartment halfway through the journey by Florence and Adrian and we tried to keep the conversation light as we sped towards the beginning of a horrible school year. In a way, it felt like any other train ride to school as we tried to lighten the dark cloud over us with laughter. Bu then the train ride was over too soon as we pulled into Hogsmeade station and Florence and Adrian went off to do their prefect duties.

As everyone disembarked from the train, I noticed how much thinner the crowd was now that muggle-born's and half-bloods who were unable to prove their blood status were picked out. With a heavy heart, I jumped into a waiting carriage with Luna and Evanna after leaving Pigwidgeon and my trunk with a porter.

The ride up to the castle was silent and everyone was subdued as we trouped into the castle and into the Great Hall. Maybe it was just me but I felt like the castle had entirely lost its warmth that only Dumbledore seemed to be able to lend.

Snape was sitting in the great winged chair that belonged to Dumbledore had I had to fight down my temper at the sickening sight. I wanted nothing more in the moment than to blast Severus Snape out of that chair and into the fiery pits of Hell.

"You okay, Ginny?" Evanna murmured at my elbow as we made our way down the Gryffindor table.

"Fine," I bit out. I was so angry that I was scared of what I might say in my temper. Evanna knew enough of my tempers to just guide me to a seat next to someone I would be forced to be nice to and then ignore me until I got a lid on my anger. She positioned me beside Neville and then she turned to chat with Colin Creevy. Florence took a seat across from us but upon observing my mood, she engrossed herself in Evanna and Colin's conversation.

"Hey, Ginny," greeted Neville.

Neville and I were sort of friends ever since he has asked me to the Yule Ball in my third year and I begrudged Evanna since she knew I could never be anything but nice to sweet Neville.

"Hey, Neville. How was your summer?"

While Neville launched into a story about his great-uncle Algie and I politely pretended to listen, I studied the staff table. Snape was smirking down at the students seating themselves and flanking him on either side were two stumpy people I recognized as Death Eaters. One was the giggling wizard I had duelled during the attack on the Astronomy Tower.

Professor Flitwick was looking more stern than I have ever seen him as he sat by Professor Slughorn. I noticed that all the Professors that had been employed under Professor Dumbledore were still all here and I found myself more than glad.

"…anyways, enough about my summer," said Neville. I snapped back to attention and turned to regard Neville. "How was your summer?"

"It was nice. My eldest brother, Bill, got married this summer to Fleur Delacour."

Neville looked stunned. "Fleur Delacour? Like the Beauxbatons champion in the Triwizard Tournament a couple tears ago?"

I smiled. "Yeah, her. Bill and Fleur met when she took a job at Gringotts to improve her English."

"So now you aren't the only girl in the family," said Neville.

"Don't remind me," I grumbled. I had always griped about being the only girl in my family but once we all realized that Bill was serious about marrying Fleur, I had to come to terms with not being 'special' anymore.

Thankfully, Professor McGonagall chose that precise moment to enter the Great Hall with the new first year students. I was pleased to see that Professor McGonagall looked just about the same as always. In this new Hogwarts, I was happy to find the tiniest detail that hadn't been changed.

I watched as the first years quickly got sorted and then Snape stood up to give a short speech. He spouted a load of crap about how Hogwarts was now cleansed from the taint of muggle-borns and how magic was meant for those of pure-blood. He skimmed over the importance of the new blood policy and how he would raise Hogwarts standards from the depths they had fallen under the guidance of Dumbledore.

And then he introduced the two Death Eaters seated on either side of him as the new Professors.

Alecto Carrow was introduced as the new Muggle Studies Professor and the new Deputy Headmistress. Alecto's twin brother, Amycus, was made the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teach and new Deputy Headmaster.

At this news, there were many murmurs but they were all quickly silenced by Snape with a sweeping glare over the crowd. Once everyone had shut up, the food appeared on the table and everyone turned to the feast.

"Can you believe that?" I spit out.

Evanna turned from her conversation with Colin and Florence warily. "Just calm down. Let's eat and then we can talk about it up in the Common Room."

I huffed but agreed. We ate quickly and then the three of us slipped out of the Great Hall. I could feel eyes on me as I moved out into the Entrance Hall and I turned back to see Draco looking at me. I glared at him before being pulled towards the stairs by Florence.

"You know," said Evanna, leading the way up the stairs. "I don't think I've ever seen someone leave the Opening Feast early before."

"Same here," I agreed. "I wonder if Snape noticed."

Florence shrugged. "Doesn't matter. He's a git."

"Aren't you supposed to help the First Years?" asked Evanna.

"Daniel can take care of them."

Evanna and I exchanged looks. Florence must be really bothered to forgo her Prefect duties.

We walked in silence up to the Fat Lady, Florence gave us the new password and we clamoured into the Common Room. A fire was already roaring, casting a warm glow over the familiar stuffed chairs. I sank into an armchair and listened to the comforting crackle coming from the fire.

"So what do you guys think of Snape being Headmaster?" Evanna asked finally.

"I think this just proves that You-Know-Who has control over most of the country," I said, balling my fists on my knees.

"But he can't," said Evanna. "Not the entire country anyway."

"He has control over the Ministry," I said. "He killed Scrimgeour and now Pius Thicknesse is the Minister for Magic. Maybe you guys don't realize but Pius Thicknesse is under the control of You-Know-Who."

"Like, Imperiused?" asked Florence.

"I don't know for sure. I wasn't allowed in any of the Order meetings," I explained. "But my guess is that he is under the Imperius Curse."

"I think you're right," said Florence. "You-Know-Who seems the type to use a puppet instead of declaring himself Minister for Magic."

"So again, all our hopes for salvation is pinned to the Boy Who Lived," sighed Evanna.

"Why aren't Harry and Ron back at school?" asked Florence. "I mean, their blood-statuses would be cleared and attendance is mandatory."

I laughed without humor. "Harry's number one on You-Know-Who's hit list. You really think he would just come back to school with a sword hanging over his head."

"So is he in hiding then?" asked Evanna.

"Apparently, Dumbledore left a mission for him."

"Ooo, tell us more," said Evanna, leaning forward.

I looked around to make sure we were completely alone. "The feast will be over soon so I can't go into detail," I said. "And what I'm about to tell you can never, and I mean never, leave the three of us."

"Of course," scoffed Florence. "Go on."

"Harry left on this mission that Dumbledore gave him and Ron and Hermione went with him."

"But what about the mandatory attendance?" asked Florence. "Ron is a pure-blood."

"Never mind that," said Evanna, waving away Florence's question. "What's this mission?"

I shrugged. "I'm not too sure. All I know is that it has to do with defeating You-Know-Who."

"The Death Eaters will surely be looking for them," said Florence.

"Well, not for Ron," I said smugly. "We have a ghoul in the attic and Fred and George did some magic over him to make him look like Ron with Spattergroit."

"That's ingenious," said Florence.

Evanna looked confused. "What's Spattergroit?"

"It's a highly infectious disease," said Florence. "You get purple pustules over your face, you lose the ability to talk after a while and you're really tired."

"This way, if anyone investigates why Ron isn't at school, it's because he's too sick to attend," I said.

"But really, he's on this mysterious mission with Harry and Hermione?" clarified Evanna.

"Exactly."

We had to shut up then as Gryffindors started pouring into the Common Room. A lot of people looked unhappy and I could only imagine the speech the three of us had missed after everyone was done eating.

"Let's go to bed," murmured Florence, patting Evanna and I on the knees. "I fear tomorrow is going to be as miserable as today."

Florence was right.

I woke up like I would on any normal day and dressed in my uniform and robes. I tucked my books into my bag, slipped my wand into my pocket and trouped down to breakfast with Florence and Evanna.

I was content as I munched on toast until Professor McGonagall made her way over to us to clear our schedules for the coming year.

"Ah, Miss Weasley," said Professor McGonagall, consulting her notes. "You are cleared for Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies."

"Muggle Studies?" I questioned. "I didn't register for Muggle Studies."

Professor McGonagall's lips thinned as she tapped a sheet of paper with her wand to create my schedule. "Muggle Studies is now a mandatory class."

I took my proffered schedule and tried not to rip it to shreds. "Mandatory?"

"Yes, mandatory, Miss Weasley," Professor McGonagall said briskly. She made to move down the table to fix Evanna's schedule but then turned back to face me. She reached into her robe pocket and handed me a small gold badge. "Professor Snape seems to have forgotten to send out the Quidditch Captain badges to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. I shall collect names of Gryffindor hopefuls and pass it on to you."

Without another word, she turned and busied herself with building Evanna's schedule. I turned the small badge over in my hands and then tucked it into my bag. Not even being made Quidditch Captain could make swallowing the bitter pill of mandatory Muggle Studies with a Carrow any easier.

"At least we have the most of the same classes," said Florence, peeking over to see mine and Evanna's schedules."

"And you're Quidditch Captain!" said Evanna, thumping me on the back. "You must be ecstatic."

I shrugged. "With everything that's happening right now, Quidditch isn't on my mind."

"Do we have the same first class?" asked Florence. "I have Ancient Runes."

Evanna shook her head. "I'm not taking Ancient Runes. I have Divination."

"I have Arithmancy," I said, sliding my timetable into my bag.

We went our separate ways in the morning and only saw each other again at lunch. I had a miserable morning without any of my friends in my classes. Adrian and Luna both had dropped Care of Magical Creatures and Nicholas wasn't at school because of the horrid blood status law. Fortunately, Charms was now with the Ravenclaws so at least the five of us could be together in a class.

The worst part of the day was when we had our first mandatory Muggle Studies class. We had this class with the Slytherins and I recognized Zane Rowle sitting with Daphne Greengrass and they both waved at me as I sat down across the aisle from them with Florence and Evanna. I ignored them as they were remembrances of the betrayals I had committed.

Alecto Carrow was sitting at her desk in front of the room, pouring over a piece of parchment. She didn't look up once was students filed into the room. She only looked up when the door swung shut after the last student entered and she pushed her piece of parchment into a desk drawer.

As she came around her desk to stand by the board, I was struck at how short she was. I was even taller than her and I was known as the shortest sixth year in the entire castle. Her shoulders were sloping and stubby fingers gripped her wand at her side. All-in-all, Alecto Carrow was not a very attractive woman.

"Muggles," said Alecto. I grimaced at her wheezy voice and had to force myself not to cringe away. "What do we know about muggles?"

Everyone was so quiet; we could have heard a pin drop. Finally, I ventured forth with an obvious answer. "We know muggles have no magic ability."

Alecto turned her plain dark eyes on me and appraised me with a smirk. "You must be a Weasley."

I sat up straighter and pulled my shoulders back. "Yes, I am."

"Then you would be Ginevra Weasley, the only daughter of known Order of the Phoenix members and the younger sister of Harry Potter's best friend, Ronald Weasley."

I couldn't help the small smirk that graced my lips. "Congratulations. You did your homework."

I heard Florence groan from beside me but from across the aisle I could hear muffled sniggers.

Alecto struggled to compose her face with her anger but she eventually managed it with some effort. "I shall let that pass just this once Miss Weasley. Next time, I will not be so lenient."

I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. Alecto regarded me for a moment before turning her small eyes over the class.

"What do we know about muggles?"

When no one answered, Alecto turned to the board and tapped it wither her wand. Words scrawled themselves on the surface as Alecto settled back into her chair. "Copy these notes and then we'll discuss."

I gaped as I read what was written on the board. I may have never been in a Muggle Studies class before but I knew that this is not what we were supposed to be learning in this class.

Muggle: A non-magical being

Magic is might, thus muggles have no might. Muggles are simply useless entities that have run over the world, driving wizard kind into hiding. What use are muggles when they have no magic? What use are muggles when they have nothing to offer wizard kind? Wizard kind is obviously the superior race, so why is it that we let them drive us into hiding?

Many wizards are blinded by the seemingly innocent muggles when muggles are far worse than what we know. Muggles are like animals. They are stupid and dirty and should be eradicated by wizards. This is how us—as magical beings—regain power and influence. Muggles are what drove us magical beings into hiding and now it's our turn to fight back.

The notes went on the explain more about why muggles were filthy beings but I couldn't keep reading. My stomach was rolling and my hands shook. I felt like I was going to be sick. I took a couple deep breaths and once I had calmed down, I copied down the notes word by word so I couldn't concentrate on the sentences I was making.

Thankfully, Alecto was only five minutes into her lecture before the bell rang and we were dismissed. I practically shoved people out of the way to escape that classroom and I only stopped running when I reached the courtyard. I took deep lungful's of the crisp air and I tried to analyze why that class affected me so much.

I was raised by a muggle loving father who keeps a shed full of muggle objects. I was sometimes read muggle stories at bedtime when I was a little girl and my dad would often show me unmoving muggle pictures. I guess I was kind of bred to treat muggles no different than I would treat a wizard and these lessons of Alecto's was going against everything I had been taught.

With a sigh, I slid down the wall and put my head in my hands. Evanna and Florence would probably be looking for me but I needed a minute to regroup. With a sudden shock of dread, I realized that Defence Against the Dark Arts would probably be all about why wizards should use our powers against muggles.

I had to fight back the anger as I came to this realization. How dare He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named do that to the younger students. At least the older kids knew what was going on but the young ones would be conditioned to believe that what the Carrows taught is the truth.

"Ginny, are you okay?" asked a serene voice. I felt a hand touch the top of my head and I looked up to see Luna gazing down at me.

I struggled to my feet and brushed dirt off my robes. "I'm fine."

Luna tilted her head to assess me. "You look upset."

"It's no big deal," I said, hoping Luna would get the hint that I didn't want to talk about it. "Let's go down to the kitchens and see if we can get a snack."

Luna nodded and linked her arm with mine. "Okay."

I smiled to myself as we trouped down the corridors arm-in-arm. I could always count on Luna.

Review! Review! Review!

I'm sorry, deeply sorry, for taking so long to update and I'm even more sorry to tell you guys that this will be the last update for maybe another month or two. The reason I haven't updated in a long time is there was a death in my family and I was very close to them. I'm still grieving so I ask for you understanding if I take awhile to update.

I'm sorry again but I just need this time :)