Chapter 2: Train Ride

Ginny Weasley shook with silent anger. How dare they go off without her. She had proved herself over and over again. She was just as strong as any of them.

Ginny picked up her wand from the bedside table, fully intent on finding them and teaching them a lesson. Red sparks flew from the end and she paused. Doing magic while underage was a risk she couldn't afford, especially with Dumbledore gone.

Sighing she dropped her wand back onto the table. The Hogwarts Express was due to leave the next day and her things still weren't packed. Knowing her mother would be the biggest pain until this task was done, she began to throw her belongings into her Hogwarts trunk. Finally everything was packed and she squeezed the lid shut.

"Ginny! Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley shouted up the stairs.

"Not hungry!" Ginny yelled back down. She could hear her mothers answering shout but she closed the door to drown out her voice. She didn't feel like eating dinner and putting on a show of happiness for her family.

Not able to sit in her room any longer, Ginny pulled open her window and stepped out onto the small patch of roof just below. The sun was setting just below the horizon and a peaceful breeze swept through her hair. She'd been coming out here since she was six years old, whenever she was unable to stand the dramatic life of being a Weasley.

Even now the beauty of the sunset took her breath away. She wished things could go back to normal. This year at Hogwarts was going to be too different. It wasn't going to be the same school she was used to.

As night began to fall and the breeze became chilly, Ginny stepped back into her room. She tucked herself into bed and fell into a slightly restless sleep.

*******

When she woke a dull pounding of rain was splashing against her window. Grumbling to herself Ginny prepared for the day.

Platform 9 ¾ was packed with less then the usual amount of students. The train itself seemed even less spectacular. As the only Weasley child still going to Hogwarts only Ginny's mother had decided to accompany her off to school.

"Be good now Ginny." Her mother said her eyes starting to tear up. "Stay safe."

Her mother gave her one last teary-eyed hug and Ginny waved bye, pulling her trunk onto the train.

The first thing she noticed was that each compartment had a brightly colored piece of parchment posted on the door. Upon closer inspection she realized each piece of parchment had a different set of names under the words: To Be Seated in This Compartment.

Seating arrangements? That had never happened on the Hogwarts Express before.

Immensely confused she started down the train, checking each door for her name. In the second to last compartment she spotted it on a blue piece of parchment. Her name was accompanied by those of Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy.

No way. They couldn't make her sit there. Ginny turned to force herself into another compartment when a voice, magically modified, sounded throughout the train and platform.

"In ten minutes time all compartments will be check and attendance taken. Any student found missing or in a compartment not assigned to them will suffer strict ministry discipline"

Bloody wonderful. She thought and pulled the door of her compartment open.

Only one person was sitting in it when she opened the door, a pale weedy looking boy with straight black hair that fell lightly into his eyes. He was leaning back in his seat gazing out the window of the Hogwarts Express. He looked over at the sound of the opening door; his dark, clever eyes scanned her once.

"Weasley." He said before turning back to the window.

Judging by the fact that he wasn't Malfoy or Zabini, Ginny made a stab at her only other option.

"Nott." The boy ignored her and she sighed. She had never actually met him but he was a Slytherin and she could guess his views.

She shoved her trunk into the rack and paused. She would have to sit next to one of them. Malfoy, she knew, was a complete bastard. Zabini was good-looking, yes, but his views were too much like Malfoy's. Nott, she didn't know anything about. He could turn out even worse then Malfoy or Zabini. Before she had to make a decision though, Nott turned to look at her once again.

"You may sit next to me if you'd like. I understand you rather detest Malfoy and by association, Zabini."

Ginny stared at him for a few long seconds, shocked by the intellect behind his words.

"How do I know you won't be the same?" She asked eyeing him suspiciously.

"You judge me by the actions of my house, which is quite understandable. However, I can assure you that I will be quite silent throughout the journey." He gave a small smile. "A promise I don't presume to make about my two housemates."

She didn't bother to reply as he had already turned back to the window. Shrugging, she took the seat next to him. A few minutes of silence later and the compartment door was pulled open again. Praising herself for remembering to put her wand in her pocket, she turned toward the door.

Blaise Zabini entered and looked around. He glanced at Ginny and stowed his trunk in the rack, seating himself across from Nott.

"Nott."

"Zabini."

The exchange was not friendly but held no hint of hostilities.

"Draco's going to miss attendance if he doesn't hurry." Zabini pointed out with three minutes left before the Ministry check.

"His fathers speaking to him, he should be on soon." Nott nodded toward the window.

Ginny groaned and both boys looked at her. Though neither chose to comment and the compartment fell into silence once again.

With one minute to spare, Draco Malfoy pulled open the door of the compartment. He didn't even look at her as he lifted his trunk into the rack and took the seat next to Zabini. Only when he was seated directly across from her did meet her gaze.

There was no usual sneer in place only a cold calculating glance. He'd looked away before she could even register the meaning behind it. Rolling her eyes, she looked out the window to see that the train was slowly leaving the station.

The compartment door opened once again and a stern looking man in plain black robes stepped inside.

"Ministry attendance." He said shortly "Blaise Zabini?"

"Right here."

"Theodore Nott?"

"Here."

"Ginevra Weasley?"

"Here."

"And Mr. Malfoy."

Malfoy just waved his hand lazily and the Ministry official left as the train began to pick up speed. As soon as the door was closed Zabini turned to Malfoy and began a conversation. Definitely not interested in anything they had to say Ginny leaned back in her seat and stared out the rain splattered window.

Next to her Theodore Nott had pulled out a large leather bound book entitled: The Subconscious Mind: Magic at its Greatest. Ginny sighed; it was going to be a long train ride. Mostly she managed to ignore the conversation going on between the two boys opposite her. It took an interesting turn around lunch, however.

"Do you know what's going on with the assigned seats? It's rather unusual." Ginny turned her head slightly to look at Zabini as he spoke.

"Father says Professor Snape is going for a new angle this year. Keep the…less trusted students in check."

Zabini glanced at Ginny and laughed. She gave him a cold stare and tried to control the sudden urge to reach for her wand. The lady pushing the lunch trolley stopped by there compartment and her arrival distracted Malfoy and Zabini.

Malfoy pulled a large amount of gold from his pocket, purchasing as many candies and cakes as he and Zabini could carry. They dumped the huge pile into the seat between them and started eating.

Nott looked up, shook his head slightly, amused, and then continued reading. Ginny stared at the large pile of candy and cakes, her stomach rumbling loudly, she hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. She hoped no one had heard it but her fears were confirmed when Malfoy looked up at her and smirked.

"Hungry Weasley?" He asked her in what she considered a very arrogant tone. He extended his hand holding out a chocolate frog to her.

"No." She said angrily. She would not accept his charity. Shrugging Malfoy turned to Nott.

"Hungry Nott?" Nott didn't reply or look up from his book, but simply held out his hand into which Malfoy dropped the chocolate frog.

"Where are Crabbe and Goyle?" Zabini asked after a while, selecting a Bertie Botts Every Flavored Bean.

"Some compartment down the train with Longbottom and Parkinson." Malfoy said carelessly.

Ginny frowned at these words, poor Neville. That complete cow, Pansy Parkinson, was stuck with the two idiots, however, and this thought caused Ginny to let out a small giggle.

Everyone in the compartment turned to stare at her, even Nott who had hardly spoken or looked up from his book until now, turned to look.

"Something funny Weasley?" Zabini asked looking mildly interested. Malfoy even seemed somewhat curious. She chose to answer; it was Malfoy's girlfriend after all.

"That vile Parkinson cow is trapped with three people I know she'd rather not be with. It just made me laugh for a second to picture her stuck in there right now."

Zabini laughed and Nott looked amused before returning to his book.

"That's true Draco. You know how Crabbe has a little crush on her. I'll bet he's putting on the moves for old Parkinson right now."

"Good." Malfoy said pushing the last of the candy toward Zabini almost as if he'd lost his appetite. "He can have her. I'm definitely not interested in what she has to offer. She's disgustingly clingy. If I wanted something to follow me around all day I'd buy a dog."

Zabini laughed at this statement and began consuming the remaining chocolate. The conversation took another boring turn allowing Ginny to look back out the window. She'd been so sure that Parkinson and Malfoy had been dating, it appeared not though. Quite the opposite actually, he seemed to be greatly irritated by her.

Day slowly turned to night and she imagined they would be arriving at school soon. Ginny pulled her school robes from her trunk determined to change in the bathroom, away from the Slytherins prying eyes. The second she stepped into the hall a stressed ministry official stepped out of nowhere to stand in front of her, blocking her way.

"There's no wondering the corridor. Get back in your compartment."

"I'm going to the bathroom!" Ginny said loudly, clearly annoyed. The ministry official looked shocked at her outburst and pulled out a wand.

"We'll be arriving soon. You may us the bathroom then."

Grumbling loudly, Ginny turned around and stepped back into her own compartment. All three boys were once again looking at her.

"What are you looking at?" She snapped at Malfoy who immediately sneered and looked away.

Still grumbling she pulled off her sweater to reveal a tight white tank top. She squeezed her robes on over her head and transferred her wand from her sweater to her robe pocket. She tucked the sweater into the trunk and took her seat.

Nott had returned to his book and Malfoy was distracted, staring out into the corridor. Zabini, though, was still staring at her, a half smile playing on his perfect lips. She deliberately looked away from him and out the window until he had turned away.

The train slowed as they reach Hogsmeade station. Ginny grabbed her things and exited their compartment first. She left the train and headed toward the horseless carriages after what had been one of the most pointless train rides of her life.