Lucinda could tell there was an uneasy air at Kings Cross as she boarded the familiar scarlet train. She, like every other person in the world, was keenly aware of the shifts in power and the horrific events that had happened in Muggle London. There had been whispers about the Dark Lord's return to power for years now and there was no more uncertainty.

Those poor muggles... They didn't stand a chance against the dark power of the death eaters.

The platform was unnervingly quiet as the halfblood found herself a compartment. Parents were sending their children off to what was hopefully one of the safest places in the Wizarding world. But after the death of their headmaster and the only one He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named feared, no one was sure any more. She had already wished her family goodbye with tears in her eyes and knowing full well that with the dangers of her world bleeding into theirs, this could be the last time they saw each other alive.

Lucy shut the door to her compartment before releasing her cat from her carrier. Her luggage was safely stowed away and the Gryffindor sat down with anxiety in her heart. The train whistled its warning for last call and soon it was chugging away, taking her to her last year at Hogwarts.

Loud gossip filtered through the thin door and Lucy's eyes widened. "Harry Potter and his mates... They're not on the train."