Harry Potter and the Games of Hunger

Chapter 4: Sugar Sweet

Ginny followed the crowd of students to the Great Hall slightly behind Luna and Rolf, the inside of the castle gleaming just as much as the outside. Certain paintings were missing, and there didn't seem to be as many ghosts floating around for the first day of term as usual. Yet the warm glow of torch light casted on the cool brick walls and familiar suits of armor back in place in the corner made Hogwarts feel like home. Ginny could see no evidence of last years battle.

While this was a comfort, as to not be reminded of the pain and sorrow experienced within these walls, something didn't sit right with her. The castle of Hogwarts was almost too clean, too shimmery, like an illusion of perfection. It had never been so spotless. She almost felt misplaced within the walls. "Clearly, there's more hired help than Filtch this year," Ginny muttered, not meaning to speak out loud but not caring that she did.

"Tell me about it," a pretty petite blonde girl with thick black eyeliner and dark purple hair highlights agreed, rolling her eyes. "Makes me feel even more screwed up than I already do."

Ginny tried to place the young girls face. Obviously the eyeliner was suppose to make her look older, but piled on so heavy it just made her look younger. She didn't recognize her.

"Caddie Simmers," the girl offered, catching Ginny's stare. "I'm a Hufflepuff. 4th year."

Fourteen. So explains the extraneous eyeliner. "Ginny Weasley. I'm-"

"7th year Gryffindor, yada ya, we all know." Caddie rolled her eyes, and Ginny couldn't decide if it was in good nature or not. She was having flashbacks to Gemma. This girl was a Hufflepuff? "You're Potter's girl. Or old girl. Or whatever."

Ginny instantly decided she did not like Caddie, her attitude, or her eyeliner, which seemed to reflect her ego. Way too much, making her seem much too little in return. "Mm." was all Ginny said before trying to catch back up to Luna. In a moment though, they crossed through the doors of the Great Hall.

Ginny sighed with pleasure. The night lights twinkled on the ceiling,

whisper, silvery gray clouds twisting not far above them. The ceiling arches held small lit candles, casting a warm glow over the white crescent moon. The Great Hall didn't seem too changed either, besides the ever evident black clothes people, wands at the ready surrounding the walls, a few occupying seats at the very ends of the table.

The front of the Hall was a fairly relieving sight. Most of the teachers she recognized were there, even Professor McGonagall. Yet they looked gaunt, hollow even. They didn't seem pleased to see the students. There were three new faces as well, which she assumed to be the new Professors that were to teach Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts and that new Modern Magical Government classes. She wasn't close enough to recognize them, and the podium stood empty.

"Bye, Luna." Ginny swept her fingers across Luna's shoulder, trying to catch her attention before separating from her to go sit at the Gryffindor table. Luna still seemed preoccupied with Rolf.

Ginny sighed as she sat down near empty seats in the center of the table, wondering if she acted like this when she was around Harry. She didn't think so, thinking back. She and Harry had always had their distance and friends.

Come to think of it, though, she didn't really have many Gryffindor friends her own age. She really dis have a lot of friends, got along with a rather large amount of people. But her friends? The people she cares about? As a matter of fact, most of her friends had graduated after taking their final exams at the Ministry over the summertime; even Ron.

She was always the youngest, but it never felt that way unless Ron was being stupid. Especially after she made the Quidditch team, she was treated as an equal. Now, she felt a little lonely.