The Seventh Year

Gone, Gone, Gone

The train began moving before the stunning spell wore off. Left ear to the floor, Ginny heard the train's whistle and the wheels chugging along the tracks. Someone grabbed Ginny's shoulders and propped her up so she sat upwards in the booth Luna was just taken from.

It was Seamus. He asked her something, but she didn't hear him. Her main concern was Luna.

"I should've saved her," she mumbled. "I couldn't save her."

"Ginny, it's alright'. Luna can take care of 'erself. Are yer alrigh'?" Seamus told her. Although Ginny didn't process what he said, she nodded and looked down to find Neville still laying stiff as a board, his arms still snapped at his sides.

His eyes frantically darted left and right, searching for Ginny. 

"Neville, I'm here." His gaze moved in her direction, but he still couldn't see her. Nevile grunted, and Ginny got up and stood over Neville. "Here, let's get you up. Seamus, help me." 

As Seamus put his hand under Neville's shoulderblade, both saw Neville's fingertips move slightly. Good, Ginny thought. The spell is wearing off, at least. 

"On three," Seamus told her. "One, two, three!" Both grunted as they struggled to lift Neville. Seconds after they had attempted to elevate him, Ginny's hands began to sweat. 

"Seamus, my hands are too sweaty. I don't wanna drop him." Seamus nodded, and they gently lay him back on the ground. Ginny wiped her hands on her pants and stood over Neville.

"Neville, can you get up yourself? Has the spell worn off so you can?" Neville stared at her blankly. "I'll take that as a no." She knelt back to the ground and turned to Seamus.

"'ey, Cormac, get o'er 'ere. We need yer help lif'ing Neville." Seamus waved the boy over, but he hesitated to stand. "Come on, then!" After hearing the seriousness in Seamus' voice, he hurried over and helped them set Neville up against the side of a booth chair. 

"Thanks, McLaggen," Ginny muttered and sat down beside Neville. He silently nodded back at her and almost ran back to his seat. 

It took a few more minutes before Neville was able to move again completely. He flexed his hands and stood with Ginny's help. 

"Thanks," he told her. "Merlin, my head hurts. Anyone got something cold I can put on it?" The room stayed quiet. "Great, thanks for your help, by the way!" he spat at them angrily. Luna disappeared, and there was no way to know where the Death Eaters had taken her. 

Ginny could only pat him on the back and motion for him to sit back down. He glared at his housemates one last time before occupying the seat in front of Ginny. 

Neville hesitated to speak to her. Her face was almost as red as her hair. Her forehead glistened with sweat. Her hands were tightly clasped together on the table in front of him. In an attempt to comfort her, he put his hands on hers and gently squeezed. 

"I know," was all he could manage. They sat unmoving for the rest of the ride back to Platform 9 3/4. 

----

Neville and Ginny waited as students ran out to the Muggle train station in increments of four to avoid suspicion. The whole cabin had been silent after the Death Eaters abducted Luna, and no one spoke as they waited their turn to run through the wall. 

They soon stood at the front of the group near the wizards controlling the students exiting the platform. Soon he called Ginny and Neville over, and they ran through in a single file line. 

King's Cross wasn't the bustling atmosphere it usually was. Heavy fog made it impossible to see more than six feet in front of him.

"Erm, write to me, Gin?" he turned to her. She gave a slight nod but didn't look at him. Mrs Weasley stood at the entrance and pulled Ginny in for a hug. Mr Weasley wrapped his arms around his wife and daughter. For a moment, Neville felt jealous that Ginny was able to hug her parents, but he remembered Gran and that she was waiting for him.