May 1997

Dust was rising off the crumbled, broken stones and the rubble was still settling, a thick haze preventing anyone from seeing clearly as screams of agony and shouts of despair rang through the battle strewn halls of Hogwarts. Bright streams of curses and hexes were the largest source of light in the Great Hall where the entire wall was now demolished, giving a view through the destructionally widened hallway to the remaining witches and wizards who were battling for their lives and the sacracy of Hogwarts.

Blood was dripping down the side of her temple, a deep crimson that matched her fiery tresses, but that did not keep the determined and fierce glint from her chocolate eyes. The unlikely wizards on either side of her were too absorbed with keeping her safe to notice the line of fluid - and it didn't matter much, seeing as how they had bigger problems than an artificial wound. She had sustained greater injuries and as long as she was walking and talking, they would overlook their combined panic at the sight of blood.

A loud crash and shaking rumble spoke of damage done elsewhere in the castle and all three eyes were fixed to what remained of the entrance as they waited for more Death Eaters to attack. It was hard to tell how many there actually were but they were certain that Bellatrix had wandered off, leaving at least two remaining masked men to fight the children and Professors.

Draco's quick breaths beside her told Ginny that the blonde, soot covered wizard was too preoccupied with their dire situation to care about his involuntary responses and one glance sideways at his dirty face revealed the same strong stare in his silver eyes that matched her expression.

"You have to leave!" Harry shouted from her right, garnering both of their focus. "We're sitting ducks right here!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Ginny yelled in response, her freckled hand grasping his wrist as she squeezed. "We'll take them down together!"

Draco's blank look betrayed the pulling of his heart at her adamant words but come hell or high water, there was no way he was leaving her side either.

"You can't always fly solo and be the hero, Potter," he remarked, earning a stiff glare from the Boy Who Lived.

"I have to be the one to finish this!" Harry insisted, his emerald orbs narrowing and his dark brows furrowing in agitation. "There's nothing you can do! You need to get out of the way so you don't get killed!" He stated, mainly staring at Ginny as she kicked her legs out from underneath her bum and scooted closer to him.

"You're not in this alone!" She protested, rosebud lips pursed tightly as Draco rolled his eyes behind her back. "We're all here to help you, Harry!"

"You can help me by getting out of here! You can help me by getting to safety, Gin!"

Lupin and Tonks took down a silver masked figure not three meters from where they hid and Fred's, or George's, laugh of triumph resounded loudly as a dull thud indicated the defeat of their opponent.

"They're coming for all of us! He's coming for everyone!" Ginny barked, her conviction staying strong despite the number of casualties she had already witnessed that unassuming March evening.

"And you're the one person that I won't let him hurt! I won't lose you too!" Harry angrily replied, frustration mounting at her stubborn ability to remain in the thick of things, his secretive but true emotions jumping back out. "Get out of here before its too late!"

Draco was still silent on the matter - if Ginny wanted to stupidly defend the only wizard that Voldemort was looking to kill then he wasn't going to risk his neck for her; not if she was willing to confess her allegiance to the ex that had struck her and not him, the wizard who had done so much to prove his worth to her. But in reality, he knew he wouldn't let her die so foolishly. He would rather have her hate him for letting Potter crumble than watch her perish right there next to the Idiot Who Was Still Alive.

"Ginny!" The seemingly unperturbed wizard finally spoke up, her name off his lips whipping her flaming head around as if she had forgotten that he was there. "Listen to Potty! We can't stay here!"

"No!" She sharply screamed. "I'm not going without Harry! We'll figure this out together!"

Suddenly the bespectacled boy in question was up on his feet, his knees bent as he nearly laid across the fallen block of stone they were hiding behind. A carbon copy of Filch was grinning manically behind an overturned table and the dissolving effects of the Polyjuice were quickly revealing the blunted face and ugly sneer of an over eager Amycus Carrow.

"Malfoy!" Harry roughly whispered as he squatted down and looked around Ginny, now fearful that the encroaching imposter would spot them and begin throwing curses. "Get her out of here!"

"What - no!" The dirt and blood covered Weasley roared, her head whipping back and forth from one wizard to the other.

"Yes!" Harry enforced. "I'm not going to worry about you while I have my back turned!" Turning again to Draco, he repeated his phrase. "Get her out of here!"

Glad that one of them had finally come to their senses and that he wouldn't have to make a rash decision, he shook his sweaty clumps of blonde hair in a nod, already jumping into a crouched but ready stance as Ginny's mouth opened and closed in wordless protest.

"C'mon," Draco prompted the witch, unsurprised when she deflected his tight grip on her arm. "We don't have much time - they'll find us soon enough. I need to get you out of here." He hoped she caught the insinuation in his voice, the slight edge of frantic desire that silently screamed for his need to leave - to get away from her without Harry realizing.

"No!" Ginny shouted, feeling very much like a six year old again who wasn't allowed to play with her older brothers.

"Malfoy's right. You have to go now!"

"No!" She protested again.

There was a scream of agony and their brief disagreement was paused as three sets of eyes hastily scanned the Hall for the source of the yelp. No one in their immediate vicinity was writhing in pain or covered in blood, even with the two Death Eaters scouring for fighters, but the sudden howl of a wolf told them that the origin of the pain was drawing closer.

"Get her out of here, Malfoy!" Harry barked, a glare in place that was highly reminiscent of the most feared Slytherins.

"Let's go, Red," Draco directed once more, his grip holding firm on her elbow as she attempted to wiggle away from his touch. He pulled her to her feet despite the protests and a silent conversation passed through the emerald and silver eyes as Ginny continued to squirm. He wordlessly begged her to go with him - to hurry up so that he could get away and complete his task before he ran out of time.

"Take care of her," Harry stated with dismissal and he raised his wand, his strategizing orbs turning over the Hall as Draco pulled Ginny with him in the opposite direction.

"I will," the blonde promised and that was all the Golden Boy needed to hear before he hopped over the stone pillar and rushed into the action. Her gaze was furious as she watched him go and her body seemed to slacken as Draco kept one eye on the fighting and one on the crude exit he was going for.

Harry's voice rang through the loud commotion, the word an angry hex thrown at unseen enemy, and it was the last understandable thing she heard before Ginny was hauled out of the Great Hall and away from the ensuing danger.