Ginny's Sixth Year

Chapter 27

Neville and I walked back to the common room in silence. We both sat down hard on one of the sofas and stared at each other. I noted how different Neville looked. He was pale, scarred, and thin. I'm sure I didn't look much better. 

Neville sighed. "Well, we failed."

"At least we didn't get detention with the Carrows!"

"Yeah, but you still have it! At least the term ends next week. We can go home." He said home the way Harry used to say Hogwarts. I'm sure Harry would have taken the Dursleys over this in a heartbeat. I know I would. We stayed silent for a moment. "C'mon, Ginny, I want to show you something."

I followed Neville up to his dormitory. Dean was still awake. I had been in there twice before, both times I was alone with Ron. Ron. Where is that stupid brother of mine when I need him? Heck, I would even take Percy right now. Neville pointed to the corner where Ron's bed should be. But it was there. There was even a note on it.

 "It's adressed to you," Dean told me. "It says, 'In Hopes That Ginevra Weasley Recieves This'. It showed up tonight."

I picked up the letter. It was definitely in Ron's awful handwriting. It was written on a piece of that lined paper that Muggles use. Hermione, I thought. I should have rejoiced to see a letter from Ron. "It's safe?"

"As far as we can figure, yeah. I'd take it to McGonagall, though," Neville said.

"Thank you both. Goodnight!" I said in a forced cheerfulness.

"'Night!"

That night, I had the same nightmare that I had had since what was now known as the "Hospital Wing Incident."