Chapter 1

Platform Nine and Three Quarters looked very much the same as it did every year. Students who hadn't seen each other over the summer waved, smiled, hugged. Parents were checking that no school books, uniforms or pets had been forgotten. The Hogwarts Express was there as usual, bright red, and trunks were being loaded on it, as if nothing had changed in the past year.

But everything had changed. You couldn't see it, but you could definitively hear it. All conversations were whispered. The quiet sobs of first years weren't those of anticipated homesickness, they were of fear. The rare laughs that were heard were quickly silenced with a severe look.

An informed observer would also notice a difference in students – some that were only too visible because of the gaping hole their absence created. No Muggle-borns had come to board the train this year – that would have been nothing short of suicide on their part. It turned out that the single thing more annoying than Dennis Creevey's overexcited voice was its absence – because it meant that he had gone in hiding, alongside his older brother. Other faces were missing – Muggle-borns who had in the best case run for their lives, and in the worst case been captured by the Ministry.

But the largest hole was left by three students – one having the little-envied title of "Undesirable Number One", the second being Muggle-born would never have dared set a foot in Hogwarts, and the third was officially staying home due to Spattergroit.

As Ginny Weasley looked at the spot besides her where those three should have been standing, she felt a sudden urge to shrink her trunk, shove it in her pocket and run to find them. There were, after all, only a limited amount of places where they could be. The Death Eaters hadn't found them, but they didn't know the trio like she did. In fact, by her estimates, there was not a single person in the wizarding world who knew those three better than she did – except maybe the trio themselves.

She fought the urge. They had their thing to do, and as much as it pained her, she wasn't needed in that mission. Her mission required her presence in Hogwarts – so to Hogwarts she would go.

"Alright there, Gin?"

Her eldest brother Bill was standing behind her, not quite hiding how worried he was. His baby sister was off on her own to a place that was now run by Death Eaters, and there was little secret where her family's allegiance lay. Over there, on her own, she was one of the members of the family the most at risk. There had been a debate a few nights ago around the dinner table at the Burrow, weighing the risks of her attending Hogwarts against those of her not going. Seeing as already one Weasley was missing, it was decided that the last thing they needed was more scrutiny, so Ginny had dutifully packed her trunk. It was that same night she had decided on her new mission.

"I've been better, but then again, I've been worse," she answered with a smile and more bravado than she felt. "And either way, I've got to go, don't I?"

Molly Weasley, looking even more worried than her oldest son, straightened her tie and kissed both her cheeks.

"I'm sorry we couldn't have more people to see you off but... Well, you know."

Indeed, Ginny knew. Her entire family, minus Percy-the-Prat, was fighting one way or another, which meant very few of them were available to send her off to school. She was glad that at least her mother and Bill had made it.

"Thanks, Bill," she said after he loaded her trunk in the luggage compartment. "I guess I'd better go get myself a compartment before the mini-Death Eater claim them all."

"Take care of yourself, sis," Bill answered, hugging her. "We all know you're going straight to the thick of it, but I know you're stronger than everyone thinks. Give them hell."

"Bill!" scolded their mother. "Don't say things like that! Ginny, keep your head low. Snape will have enough reasons to single you out without adding any."

She embraced her daughter one last time with teary eyes, and then let her go.

"Be safe. Just stay safe."

"Don't worry about me, Mum. I'll be careful. I love you."

Ginny turned and boarded the train, waving to them one last time before going in search of a compartment. As the train started moving, she passed thee one she was looking for. As promised, the two others were waiting for her. She smiled as she opened the door.

"Hi Neville, hi Luna! Are you ready for this year?"

The other two answered with bright smiles that didn't quite hide the shadows everyone seemed to have on their faces these days.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Neville answered. "I've been mentally preparing myself for the moment I'll see Snape sitting in Dumbledore's chair. I almost have the gag reflex under control."

"I expect this year is not going to be as nice at all," said Luna. "A reader wrote to Daddy last week after he heard a rumour we'd be expected to learn to curse other students."

Ginny mentally filed this information under the category I-really-hope-that's-just-a-Quibbler-rumour.

"Well, I know for sure I'll refuse to curse anyone if a Death Eater asks me to. Though I might make an exception for Malfoy."

Neville smiled in approval.

"But seriously, what are we going to do?" he asked. "We're not going to lie low and take whatever they throw at us, are we?"

"Of course not," Ginny answered with confidence. "First, though, we need to see what exactly it is that they throw at us. We all know Snape was already nasty when Dumbledore was there to restrain him. But now..."

The mention of Dumbledore's death darkened the already sombre mood in their compartment. Ginny was still unable to think about it without feeling a need to swallow back some tears – the same feeling she had whenever she allowed herself to think about Harry for too long. She mentally shook herself. Tearing up and wallowing would not help anyone.

"I know only one thing for certain," she continued. "We're going to have to help the younger students. Those who were too young to be in the DA, especially the first and second years – they are going to be in over their heads. The three of us, we know what a battle looks like. The older students who were in the DA don't, but at least they know how to take care of themselves. But the youngest will need someone to look after them. I'm sure most of the teachers will do what they can, but we all know that they can't see everywhere."

Neville looked thoughtful.

"I thought as much Ginny, but..." He hesitated.

"But what Neville? You don't expect Death Eaters are going too be nicer to kids, do you?"

"Of course not, Ginny, I'm not that naïve. I'm just not sure that younger kids will let us look after them."

Ginny stared. "What?"

"I think Neville is saying that because he's not popular at all, no one will want to be seen as protected by him, you see?" Luna said. "I think I will have the same problem. People don't like talking to me. Well, you two do, but no one else does."

Ginny looked at them, suddenly speechless. Her mission, her plan had seemed clear enough when she had thought it over in her bedroom at the Burrow.

It had started with the simple question: What Would Harry Do? The answer was obvious enough: the boy she loved, having the largest hero complex the world had ever seen, would take it upon himself to protect everyone who was defenceless. Ginny wasn't quite conceited enough to think she could do it on her own – Harry, after all, never actually did anything on his own, no matter what the rest of the world liked to think. She knew having his two best friends by his side was what made him so good.

It was completely natural for her to think of Neville and Luna to help, then. More than anyone else in the school, they had proved times over that they would stand with Harry even in the worst cases and that they could stand the heat of a battle. It hadn't even occurred to her that so few people knew about that, and might not follow them like they followed Harry.

"You won't have the same problem as us, though," Luna continued. "People really like you, you know. You're very popular."

Ginny blushed. "That was last year. I expect under the new regime, I'm not exactly the kind of person most people would want to associate with. Not only am I a complete blood traitor, I'm also the Undesirable Number One's ex-girlfriend. I'm surprised I haven't been arrested on these grounds only."

"Ex-girlfriend?" Neville interrupted, looking surprised.

"Yes," Ginny answered, feeling her throat tighten again. "I got dumped by the stupid noble idiot. He thinks I'd be in danger if people knew we're close or something."

"I don't think he thinks he dumped you," Luna answered. "He never stopped looking at you at your brother's wedding."

"Really?" Ginny felt ridiculously pleased at this information. She had spent the entire wedding doing her best not to look at Harry, to avoid more tearing-up-and-wallowing.

"Really," Luna said with a knowing smile.

Ginny blushed.

"Oh, well. There's no point in dwelling over this. I'm unlikely to catch his eye anytime soon again. Back to my point: I still think we should defend the young students. If others see us do it, they'll follow our lead. I'm sure we'll have a difficult year, but we can handle ourselves. I'm really worried about the first years, though."

Ginny knew first hand just how bad things could get for a first year student left on her own as a tool in Voldemort's hand. After the disaster her entire first year had been, she had promised herself two things. First, she would never let herself be weak like this again, and second, she'd look out for others who looked like they needed a friend. This had led to her unlikely friendships with Luna and Neville. What she had done that year was never mentioned between the three of them – despite what everyone thought, Luna could actually be tactful when it was really needed, and Neville was much more sensible than most people gave him credit for.

"So that's it then," Neville declared. "Mostly, we watch out for the first and second years. Once we know what Snape has in store for us, we decide further."

"One more thing, though," Ginny added. "We tell everyone who was in the DA that we still think can be trusted to keep their coins handy. I think it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when we'll need to call for help. Luna, can you pass the word around the Ravenclaw common room? Neville and I will do Gryffindor, and we'll figure out something to let Hufflepuff know."

It felt at the same time wonderful and scary to be making those decisions. Ginny suddenly felt much older than her 16 years, and wondered for a fleeting moment if that was what Harry felt like most of the time.

Desperately looking for something lighter to talk about, she took out her chess set, and started playing with Neville. Luna opened the Quibbler. As the train took them further on their journey North, for a moment, Ginny felt as thought the world was still normal – not the kind of place where 16 year-old girls made plans to protect 11 year-old children from potential torture.

Author Note: This is the first fanfiction I write in years – I tend to read a lot of what everyone else writes, and I've been looking for a while for a story showing what happened to Ginny during the last book. Since I couldn't find one I liked, I figured I should write one!

I would really appreciate constructive criticism, as I'm just starting writing for fun again, and I really want to improve my style.