A Summer Without the Sun

A Summer Without the Sun

I stared out the window of the train, watching the rain splatter against the glass. The low hanging clouds and endless drops of rain exactly matched my mood. It was ironic that it had to rain the first day I got to enjoy the summer. Even then, though, it wasn't very enjoyable. I was heading back to school today, away from Father and Mother and that awful, terrible summer without the sun.

Chapter 1: The Voice

Crabbe and Goyle were lost. They wandered up and down the train pointlessly, stopping only to buy handfuls of sweets from the squat vendor witch. Neither boy had been able to find Malfoy, and without him, they didn't know what to do. Ron Weasley watched them pass their compartment for the fifth time when he finally called out to them.

"Did you lose your leader?" he asked snidely. They stopped and regarded him blankly, munching on a few Cauldron Cakes. Ron raised an eyebrow. He looked at Harry, who was sitting beside him, also looking at Malfoy's buffoons quizzically.

"What? Did you forget who we are?" Harry asked appraisingly.

"Er- we lost him," said Crabbe dully.

"Yeah," Goyle agreed, shoving another Cauldron Cake into his mouth, crumbs tumbling down his robes.

"Who?" asked Ron. He sneaked another glance at Harry, who was staring at them in disbelief.

"Draco," Goyle replied simply. He tore open a Chocolate Frog with his teeth and crammed it in his mouth in one bite. He nudged Goyle with his toe. "Where do you reckon he went?" he asked with his mouth full.

Goyle shrugged. "Let's go this way," he said. Together, they left.

Ron shook his head at Harry. "Pathetic," he said. "Without Ferret Boy to boss them around, they don't even know who their enemies are!"

"I bet they wouldn't even know what house they were in," Harry chimed in. He turned to his own pile of sweets. "Alright there, Ginny?" he asked. Ginny had been sitting with them, unusually quiet. She jumped when Harry addressed her.

"What- oh, yes, Harry," she said quickly. She scrambled to her feet. "I'm going for a walk," she announced to no one in particular and walked out of the compartment. She didn't see the puzzled glances Ron and Harry exchanged or the questioning looks they sent Hermione.

Ginny walked nervously down the corridor, breathing a sigh of relief. She scolded herself mentally for reacting so obviously when Harry had spoken to her. "You don't like him anymore, remember?" she chided. "Don't act like such a prat." She wondered stupidly for a moment if Harry could read what she was thinking. If not, he could probably see it on her face. It wasn't her fault that she was hearing a strange voice.

Now I can breathe a sigh of relief, though. It's over, it's finally over. No more dark dungeons and cold chains. No more harsh voices and painful curses. Maybe now I can be me, be fifteen years old again and a good, real wizard, not a cowardly, wretched servant of an evil man.

Ginny stopped. 'How terrible!' she thought. She could never imagine being treated that badly. She loved the summer holidays and would probably never be so desperate to go to school. Sure, she loved Hogwarts and everything, but to long to go back to loads of homework and strict professors? Ginny did not think so.

She stumbled as the train came to a stop. Soon the corridor was filled with noisy students. Losing hope of finding Harry, Ron and Hermione in the crowd, she let it carry her toward an exit. Even over the din, she heard the voice, drawling on tonelessly.

Finally, we're here. Day one of a normal life for me. Now it's just time to act normal; pretend that nothing ever happened.

As Ginny was pushed into a horseless carriage, a wave of sympathy ran over her. She ignored the chattering third years who sat beside her and listened for the voice to speak again. It did not return as she was ushered up the steps, nor through the Sorting or at all during the feast. She picked at her food, tuning out the talk around her.

"What's wrong, Ginny?" Harry asked her worriedly.

Ginny shook her head. "Oh, nothing," she replied. "Just a bit tired."

Harry shrugged. Ginny did not notice Hermione glancing at her strangely for the second time that day. In fact, she didn't notice anything except for Dumbledore, dismissing the students off to bed. She walked quickly with Hermione, who was naturally a prefect, and headed straight to her dormitory before anyone could question her.

As her eyes closed slowly, the voice sounded again. Her eyes snapped open as she listened to its morbid monologue:

They're noticing... everyone is. I thought I had been doing a good job covering up and acting as I usually do. Looks like I need to brush up on my actings skills... Wish I could go and see Professor- 'Professor Who?' Ginny wondered- he always seems to help... Guess I'll just have to wait until tomorrow...Tomorrow, oh no, classes... I can't do...

The voice faded away. Long after silence reigned the dormitories, Ginny laid awake, wondering and worrying.