A/N: If you've been following my story for a while, you might be surprised to see different names on old chapters. Just know that I haven't actually changed the content!

I

Ginny boarded the train somewhat mechanically. In all of her 17 years of life, she couldn't recall ever being so unenthusiastic about going back to Hogwarts. And it was no wonder, really. She tried not to look out the window onto the platform where everyone was standing, but she couldn't help herself. She turned, managing a smile as she looked out onto her friends and family for what she knew would be the last time in months. Of course, Ron & Hermione were already arguing about something. Her arms were crossed and Ginny could almost hear her scolding her "Ronald," who was blushing & looking sullen. (Probably,Ginny thought, because Hermione was right. She always is.) She laughed as her mother reached up to smack her brother George across the back of the head. The laugh stopped a bit suddenly as she looked to the space next to George where Fred would usually stand. She still hadn't gotten used to not seeing two of them. The moment passed, and the train began to move as Ginny looked to her dad, standing with her oldest brother Bill and looking stuck in a frightfully boring conversation with Percy. Next was her brother Charlie, who was gesticulating wildly with his arms (Probably talking about Quidditch) with Harry, who Ginny could just barely see was smiling and nodding attentively. Oh, Harry. Ginny looked out the window at him until he was no taller than one of the Golden Snitches he was talking with Charlie about. When he finally faded into the cloud of puffy white smoke left by the train, Ginny sighed and looked around at the too-empty compartment. She frowned as she realized just how alone she'd be this year, with all of her close friends having finished their careers at Hogwarts. Even Luna, her only close friend in her year, wouldn't be returning to school. She was being home-schooled by her rather eccentric father as he groomed her to take over the presses of the Quibbler.

Her mind drifted back to Harry. Some stunt of his to pull the night before I leave, she thought, remembering what had gone on the night before. He had sat her down and told her quietly that the war was only mostly over and she that had to finish with school before they could be together. This, after waiting an entire year for him while he did his hero business...I suppose I could do it again if I've done it once, she said to herself.

Ginny was so lost in her own thought that she didn't notice the compartment door sliding open slowly. She came to when a vaguely familiar voice spoke her name.

"Ginny Weasley? Bloody hell, you're a grown witch!" She looked up sharply at the burly young man with the short brown hair who had said her name. It was an instant before she recognized him.

"Oliver? Oliver Wood?" Ginny asked abruptly.

His dark eyes lit up as he nodded enthusiastically. "Fancy me being back on the Hogwarts Express! Right shock, innit?"

Ginny managed a nod as he sat down across from her. "Erm...what are you doing back on the train, Oliver?"

He smiled at her, replying, "Got an owl from McGonagall! Madam Hooch was offered a curator's position at the Quidditch Museum, so she's left. McGonagall's always had a soft spot for me (not that she'd ever admit it) so she offered me the Flying Instructor & referee spot. Gave me an excuse to leave Puddlemere." At the mention of his former team, Oliver's brows knit into a scowl.

"You weren't happy with them?" Ginny inquired.

Oliver shook his head. "I was, for a few years. But lately players had been making it in based more on the size of their Gringotts account than the size of their talent." He spat the word, frowning.

The compartment went quiet before Ginny broke the silence. "So you said you'll be the Flying Instructor, then?" Oliver nodded. "Then we'll be seeing quite a bit of each other." Ginny began to explain after Oliver raised a brow. "I've been getting owls from different teams since the war ended, so about a month and a half ago I sent McGonagall one asking if I could aide Madam Hooch instead of having a free period, y'know, so I could look at teams and get more practice, and she said it was fine."

Oliver looked incredulous. "You've heard from more than one team already? Bloody hell, Ginny! It was halfway through my 7th year before I'd heard from anyone! I've played Quidditch with 3 of your brothers and lived with another for 7 years, not one of them even told me you flew, much less that you were good enough to bloody go professional!"

Ginny's smile was between proud and wicked. "They didn't know. But yes, I'm a decent enough Chaser and a passable Seeker. Oh, and McGonagall let slip in her letter that I'd gotten the Quidditch Captaincy for this year, so I guess there's that, too," Ginny shrugged nonchalantly.

Oliver laughed, remembering his 3 years as Gryffindor Captain. He began to share stories with her, both of playing at school and as a reserve for Puddlemere. She laughed and told him her own stories, her thoughts from the platform not bothering her for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts.