A/N : This is my first fanfiction so go easy when reviewing, but be honest.

Disclaimer : These characters are JKR's, not mine, seeing as if I were JKR, I wouldn't be posting stuff online.

The Beginning

Neville walked uneasily onto Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters. Ever since Voldemort took over the Ministry it had been anarchy. People had panicked and run, while others just plain disappeared, most likely dead. Even more had been brought before the Muggle-Born Registration Committee Everyone knew what was going on, but no-one knew who to trust anymore. Neville had looked forward to escaping to Hogwarts, and then he found out Snape would be Headmaster and two Death Eaters (according to Ginny) would be teaching there. This was not going to be fun.

"Alright Neville, now you be a good boy and-,"

"Make my father proud," he said, finishing his grandmothers sentence. He walked onto the train and began looking for his friends.

Seamus had known that this year would be bad ever since Dumbledore's funeral. Snape as Headmaster just confirmed it. Luckily, he was ready to fight back. He thought about opening his bag and checking on the gear that he'd taken from his uncle, but that would risk it being given away to the "discreet" Death Eaters on the platform, who looked to be watching for any signs of disobedience. He kept his head down, against his instincts and boarded the train. He knew Dean wouldn't be there, having warned him about the MBRC himself, so he went looking for Neville. As he walked down the train, he looked around. There were far less students than usual, and the ones that were there looked scared as hell. He was contemplating this when a compartment door opened and Theodore Nott came out and bumped into him.

"Watch it Nott," he snarled instinctively. Nott just smiled.

"Careful now Finnegan, don't want to piss off the wrong people do you?" Nott replied. As he said this, Crabbe and Goyle came out of the compartment, staring at him and cracking their knuckles.

"Can't fight your own battles Nott?" said a voice behind Seamus. He turned around slowly to see Neville standing there. He knew it was rude, but he couldn't help staring. It looked like Neville, but he'd gotten skinnier and a lot taller and didn't look scared for once.

"None of your business Longbottom!" Nott snapped, thinking he still had the advantage.

"Mucus ad Nauseam!" came a voice from behind Nott, whose face was suddenly covered in little flying bats. Then Ginny and Luna stepped forward and pointed their wands at Crabbe and Goyle, who, recognizing that they were outnumbered, retreated into the compartment.
"Well, that's a good way to start the year," said Seamus. "C'mon, lets go find a compartment."

Neville lead the way to look for somewhere to sit. He was a little uneasy with Seamus, as the two of them had never been close, however now they were the only two boys from Gryffindor in their year, so they should probably look out for each other.

"In here," he said, going in and sitting down. The others followed. There was an awkward silence between them, until Seamus decided to break the ice.

"So...have a good summer?" he asked awkwardly. Ginny snorted.

"Well, let's see," she began sarcastically. "We collected Harry from his aunt and uncle's place, and then they got attacked by Tommy's arselickers. Mad-Eye died, and George lost an ear. Then Harry, being the Git-Who-Lived, or The Chosen Git, whichever you want to call him, decided it was his fault and tried to leave early. Luckily he got shouted down. Then we went through the hell of trying to organise a wedding, while me and Harry pretty much avoided each other. Him, Ron and Hermione kept trying to meet to organise a plan for... whatever it is they're off doing, while my mum was determined to keep them separate. Then me and Harry kissed on his birthday, and Ron, being a colossal prat, interrupted us and apparently warned Harry about messing me about. Git. Then we had the wedding on the same day Tommy-Boy took over the Ministry, so they decided to crash the place to try and find Harry. Luckily, the three idiots got away, so they just decided to torture the rest of us for information. No permanent damage though, luckily. So, all in all, not much. How 'bout you guys."

Neville blinked. He had no idea it was that bad. Looking around, he saw that Seamus looked justaas shocked as him. Luna, however, was smiling calmly as usual.

"I wouldn't much like to have a summer like that," she said in her usual dreamy voice. "Although, it does sound more exciting than my summer, as Daddy was very busy with The Quibbler, as the Ministry has been covering up a lot, and they were obviously corrupt before Scrimgeour died, although it was unusual for a vampire to be Minister. It might be a sign of people letting go of ridiculous prejudices." Neville looked at Ginny and smiled. They were used to Luna's odd views and had heard her say that Scrimgeour was a vampire before. He then shot a warning look at Seamus, who had been about to argue, but thought better of it on seeing his face. Instead he started talking about his own summer, which had apparently been very boring, and just like that, it was if the war wasn't going on, there weren't Death Eaters teaching at Hogwarts and so many of their friends weren't in hiding. Even Ginny tried to talk about normal things for a few hours. However , this proved impossible as they noticed the new teachers patrolling the train, looking angry.

"Why'd you reckon they're so pissed?" Neville asked. Seamus smiled humourlessly.

"Probably 'cos they're looking for Harry and any Muggleborns that were dumb enough to come, and all they have are a few first years, who have hopefully been warned to hide."

"What do you reckon they'll do with them?" Neville asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

"If they're lucky, they'll be killed," Seamus said darkly. "If not..." he left the rest unspoken. Neville fought back his nausea as he remembered the pain of the Cruciatus and imagined it being performed on first-years.

"We have to do something!" Ginny said angrily. Luna nodded.

"How?" Seamus asked bitterly. "Whatever we'll do, we'll probably end up dead. I wouldn't mind if thought that the "noble sacrifice" would do any good."

"It might inspire others to fight," Luna answered calmly. Seamus snorted.

"Yeah and they'd end up just as dead," he said angrily. "Look, I'm all for fighting back. I'm just saying we can't do shit on our own."

"Seamus has a point there," Neville said, an idea beginning to form in his head. "We need more people involved if we're gonna fight back."

"And how do we manage that?" Ginny asked sceptically. In answer Neville pulled out his old DA coin. "We get an army."