Chapter One: Confrontation
"You can't! No!..." I sat straight up, sweat rolling down my face. So many Death Eaters….I'm safe; it's just a dream….All a dream.
What was that? I could have sworn I heard the faint sound of footsteps leading up to my door. I held my breath. Who was it? At my door the footsteps were silenced. The person had stopped. I grabbed my wand because you could never be too careful these days. Whoever was outside my door released a sorrowful sigh and walked away.
I swung my feet over the edge of the bed into my fuzzy pink slippers. Hermione rolled in her sleep. I didn't want to wake her.
I slowly opened the door and followed the footsteps downstairs as quietly as I could. With the noise the ghoul in the attic was making, I doubt anyone could hear me between his moaning and clanging around. I reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the kitchen.
"You would never think about leaving without saying goodbye, would you?"
He spun around. "Ginny, I….I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't," I snapped. I sounded a lot more upset than I was.
He had a sudden interest in his feet. He couldn't take his eyes off them.
"I though you'd at least tell Ron and Hermione. We said all along we'd be there for you. That we'd help you. You don't have to do this alone."
"It's my battle. What would I do if one of you, any of you, would be….hurt."
"Did you not hear me? There's no decision for you. It's already been made. We're all coming whether you like it or not. Got it?"
"Ginny, you don't understand."
"I don't understand, do I? Ha! I spent my first year at Hogwarts with Tom Riddle as one of my few friends. I talked to him more than anyone. He knew my darkest secrets and used them against me. He made me open the Chamber. Mrs. Norris, the writing on the wall, you were almost killed and it was because of my stupidity. I fought with you last year. I sat by Bill's bed after he'd been attacked by Fenrir Greyback. Do you remember Harry? Do you recall attending Dumbledore's funeral with half the wizarding world?
"Of course I do, but…."
I was furious now, or was I just scared? "You act like it's all you. That you're the only one; the only one who's had a family torn apart by Voldemort; had their lives destroyed. You said it yourself so many times; "I'll have only truly left when those who are loyal to me have gone also." Harry, you're only truly alone when those who support you have stopped believing in you."
"This mission is for Ron, Hermione, and I. Dumbledore said whatever I learned in our meetings was for me to know and tell Ron and Hermione."
"That doesn't mean that we can't help. Neville, Luna, and I, the rest of the DA, and the Order. We don't have to know what you guys are up to. We can go to protect you. To help you fight."
"You need to stay safely at Hogwarts with Luna and Neville and everyone else. It'll help us more if we have a few trained witches and wizards on our side."
"We can worry about training after Voldemort's gone. The quicker he's done with the faster we can all get back to a semi-normal life."
"When we fought in the Ministry a few years ago, the Death Eaters were trying to get a prophecy. A prophecy about Voldemort and I. About our destiny. One of us is going to die. It's going to be him. You and I both know that. But before I can do that Ron, Hermione, and I have some stuff we need to finish. Things that Dumbledore left to just the three of us. That's all there is to it. You can't come with us because we can work quicker alone. More people will make more confusion."
"So I'm not coming because I'll get in the way?" I understood but I wished I didn't.
"Not in so many words…."
I laughed a little at that. He was just trying to protect me. I resolved to do my best to help out at Hogwart's. Even if my heart was telling me different.
"Why don't I make some tea before the both of us get back to bed? I'll make it. It's my fault you're up this late anyway."
"That sounds good." I went into the sitting room. I heard some banging around in the kitchen while Harry made tea. Finally he came out carry the tray.
"Here."
He handed me a cup. I took a long sip out of it. I stared intently at the blue design on the cup. Already I had some ideas about what Dumbledore's Army might be up to. I was starting to get really tired. I set my tea cup down.
"Are you okay? You look ill."
I'm….I'm fine. I felt my head lean in toward the sofa but instead of resisting I gave in.
So. What do you think? Thanx for actually reading this far. please R&R. I'm open to advice. I only have half the second chapter done but most of the story planned out.