Disclaimer: The only place I own Harry Potter (or the characters and settings of his magical world) is in my dreams. They all actually belong to J.K. Rowling, as if you didn't know.

Ginny panicked, trying to let everything sink in. But it was too much to fathom all at once. She was in shock and was having trouble focusing. Did this mean what she thought it meant? Ginny read the letter over again several times before slowly whispering, "What are you playing at?"

Her father sighed soundlessly. He gave Solomon Crowbeam a silent look that seemed to say "you take it from here."

Crowbeam looked shrewdly into Ginny's face and began to explain.

"Miss Weasley, I can understand how hard this might be for you to accept, especially after the tragedies which have so recently occurred," Crowbeam said plainly. "But let me first stress how important it is that you consider your current situation before refusing this offer, which could indeed save your life."

Ginny just stared. Crowbeam took this as an indication to continue.

"You now have some idea of the great danger you would face if you returned to Hogwarts for the upcoming school year. We have found a way out of this predicament for you, though I cannot deny that it would involve some serious sacrifices on your part. You see," Crowbeam stated not unpleasantly, "a position has opened up at the Durmstrang Institute. A position which I highly suggest you take. Unfortunately, there is a long waiting list to get in, and if you do not decide quickly, the open spot may go to another."

Ginny forced herself to overcome her incredulity and finally answer.

"How – How long will I have to decide?" Ginny queried.

Arthur looked definitely distressed.

"One day," her father managed to choke out.

"One day?!" Ginny gasped. How could she make such a huge, life-altering decision in just one day?

"You have until the end of the working day tomorrow evening, Miss Weasley," Crowbeam said. "I must know for sure by then."

"But – But that's less than twenty-four hours away!" Ginny exclaimed frantically.

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Weasley, but that's all the time we can afford to give you. Be assured that if we had more allotted time ourselves, we would surely grant you any additional time needed for you to come to a decision at your leisure, and we would do so without hesitation. But the fact of the matter is that this business is of the utmost urgency, and cannot be delayed any longer," Crowbeam said, rising to his feet. For a moment, Ginny thought he was standing in an effort to intimidate her, but her fears were assuaged as he continued, "I'll leave you and your father alone now to discuss your position in privacy. Should you decide to undertake this assignment, have your father send word to me by tomorrow at noon, and I shall then come and help you to make the proper arrangements. But let me warn you that if you choose not to accept this charge, it will not only be your own life you'll be endangering."

He looked stern and unyielding as he said these words, and began to leave. When he reached the door, he turned, one deceptively placid hand resting on the wobbly old doorknob.

"I know I have given you much to think about, Miss Weasley," he said calmly in his smoothest voice, "but even if you should decide against assisting us in this matter, I must ask you, please, never to mention or discuss what has been asked of you with anyone other than your mother, father, or myself. This is of supreme importance."

Crowbeam's bright eyes seemed to bore into her. She hesitantly nodded in agreement.

"Thank you for your time," he said finally, with the briefest hint of what Ginny took to be an encouraging sort of smile. "Good night," he then said amiably as he turned and strode majestically out of her bedroom, closing the door firmly on the way out.

Ginny sat motionless for a moment, before finally turning her head away from the door to face her father. He was looking at her anxiously.

She expected him to hug her or say something soothing to help her recover from the shock of what she'd just been told. But Ginny was given no time for recovery.

"Do you understand what's being asked of you, Gin?" Arthur asked gently, but resolutely.

"I think so," she managed to mutter.

"I know this is hard for you, Gin," her father began, "but everyone agrees it's for the best."

Ginny knew her father would never wittingly put her in danger, and she knew he was only doing what he believed was in her best interest, but she couldn't help the worrisome sinking feeling she got every time she tried to fully wrap her mind around her current circumstances. It was almost too much to comprehend.

"Durmstrang," Ginny whispered with a hint of disapproval. "Dad, what am I supposed to do?"

Arthur looked at his daughter. His youngest. His only girl.

"Well," he said slowly, methodically. "You'll be in a certain amount of danger no matter where you choose to go. But to be quite honest, I think Durmstrang is the safer option."

Ginny nearly blanched. He couldn't be serious, could he? she thought. Her mind reeled at the idea.

At Ginny's shock her father persevered.

"Ginny, I know it's all rather upsetting. But Crowbeam really has thought of everything. At Durmstrang, you'll have the protection of an assumed identity, personal Ministry and Auror communication, and no one else will know where you are, except your own family."

"But, Dad –"

"No, Ginny, let me finish. Your mother and I have been so worried for you, and Crowbeam guarantees us that his plan is foolproof." Noticing her look of skepticism, he continued, "I had my doubts, too, when I first heard the idea. But it is so well thought out, and there is little room for error. You have to understand. You wouldn't have such security at Hogwarts. And if you don't go back there in the fall, no one would suspect anything, because so many other students have been taken out of school already that it's a wonder Hogwarts is even staying open at all. No one would think anything of it if we pulled you out now, especially since you're our youngest, and would be the only Weasley left attending any school this year."

Ginny was about to argue again, but stopped herself. For one thing, she knew that arguing would do no good to persuade her father one way or the other. For another, she admittedly was more than a little curious about what the rest of the assignment entailed. It sounded terribly exciting and ambitious. And she had already confessed to herself earlier that Hogwarts just wouldn't be the same.

Her father watched her struggle within herself, a composed half-smile on his lips. She seemed to be coming to some decision.

"Well," Ginny surrendered, "What exactly would I have to do?"

Ginny had decided to at least learn what was required of her before shutting down the idea completely. If there really were more benefits than faults to Crowbeam's plan, she certainly wouldn't be one to quarrel herself into a corner, especially in a situation where her own safety was concerned.

Arthur looked pleasantly surprised.

"Well, Gin, you would attend Durmstrang like any other normal student who has attended there. You might have to retake some classes where the curriculum there differs from Hogwarts, but you'd be in the same year."

Ginny thought that sounded reasonable enough. Her father continued,

"As to the rumours of Dark Arts being taught there, Crowbeam assures me that they simply have a different approach to teaching defensive magic. Students are not required to learn dark magic, but merely learn of it in a way that better prepares them to use defense against it if the situation ever arises. You'd be learning what you're up against, and I can find nothing wrong with that," her father supplied. "I know you were told of Harry's private Occlumency lessons, and I am led to believe it is something like that. In any case, it would hardly be anything more shocking than what you yourself experienced in Mad-Eye's class in your third year."

Ginny felt that her father seemed to be overlooking the fact that Moody had really been an escaped Death Eater in disguise at the time. But her own curiosity kept her from voicing this reflection out loud.

"Are you with me so far?" her father asked, making sure she was still paying close attention.

"Yeah," Ginny allowed herself to say. "But – So there's a waiting list? How does that work?

"Well, you see, Durmstrang isn't like Hogwarts, where wizarding babies' names go down for the school from birth," Arthur explained. "Durmstrang's students have to apply, and are allowed in based on certain…qualifications. Many students who attend there, I'm told, are actually from wizarding families in Britain whose parents simply chose not to send them to Hogwarts."

Ginny took in what her father said. Why would anyone not want to attend Hogwarts? Probably because they're all Death Eaters she answered herself. And what did her father mean by qualifications?

"Umm…qualifications?" she asked. "What sort of qualifications?"

She was wondering if she even possessed those qualities which would allow her to be accepted.

Her father looked at her uncomfortably.

"The biggest requirement is that the student must be a pure-blood," Arthur said. "I know it's a bit of a medieval prejudice, but that's just the way it is. Muggleborns and half-bloods are simply not admitted."

He sighed.

"As a matter of fact, I believe the Ministry would have approached Hermione with a similar offer last year, had it not been widely known that her parents were Muggles. She's extremely talented, as you well know. And also, she already had some connections to students at Durmstrang with whom she had become acquainted through dating Viktor Krum. But there just was not any way to get around the fact that Muggleborns cannot attend there. I have to admit I'm rather glad Hermione couldn't have gone, though, because she proved an invaluable resource to Harry over the past year, and I really can't imagine what Hogwarts would have done without her. And there was never a guarantee that she would have accepted the offer anyway."

Ginny mulled this over for a moment before asking,

"So how did a spot open up, then? Did a student just drop dead or something?"

She had meant it to be funny, but the look on her father's face was very serious indeed.

"Actually, yes," her father said with controlled calmness, "A girl in your year named Caralinda Spurlin was tortured and killed along with her entire family."

Ginny was properly humbled and felt a wave of guilt hit her squarely in the chest. That had not been the answer she'd expected.

"Her parents had been Death Eaters, and as they got word that a second Rising was imminent, they tried to back out, but You-Know-Who killed them before they could resist."

Ginny was stunned.

"So – So I'm just supposed to take that girl's place?" she asked meekly. "It's as simple as that?"

"Yes, though it isn't quite so simple," her father said. "You'll be required to take on the name Imogene Wells, of course, so you won't be traced back to us, or any other members of the Order. Crowbeam picked the name himself from a selected list of possibilities, because "Wells" is a pure-blood surname that has had previous association with Durmstrang, though not for many years, and it would not be questioned if you were admitted. And "Imogene," because he felt it would be easier for you to maintain a sense of ease and casualty, if you were still allowed to be called Ginny, which could also be a shortened name for Imogene, as well as Ginevra."

Crowbeam, it would seem, had indeed thought of everything. Ginny supposed she could feel comfortable enough with being called Imogene Wells formally, as long as she was called by her own nickname on a regular basis.

She kept thinking hard. There had to be more to this.

"Why Durmstrang?" she asked, trying to find a logical way out. "Why not send me to Beauxbatons, or another wizarding school?"

"Because, Gin, they speak French at Beauxbatons, which I think would seriously hinder your learning, for one thing," her father stated.

"And they speak English at Durmstrang?" Ginny inquired with a raised brow.

"Yes, they do," Arthur said to his daughter's surprise. "Durmstrang was founded by a British wizard who just didn't happen to agree with the way things were being run at Hogwarts. So all teachers and students, subsequently, speak English, no matter where they are originally from. That's also one of the requirements for attending there."

"Oh," Ginny mumbled to herself. And then she was struck with another question,

"But isn't Durmstrang terribly out of the way compared to other wizarding schools?"

Her father almost smirked at her increasingly feeble attempts to weasel out of things.

"Yes," he replied, stating the obvious, "But do you really think that distance is even an issue when you can travel by magic? Besides, Gin, Durmstrang is where you're needed" he added a little less comfortably.

"What do you mean 'where I'm needed'?" Ginny asked apprehensively.

"Er…Crowbeam did mention that certain sacrifices would have to be made," her father said weakly.

Ginny immediately stiffened. She'd forgotten that part.

"What sacrifices?" she asked commandingly.

"Well, Gin, a sort of exchange will take place if you agree to all of this," her father said in an awkward manner.

"Exchange?" asked Ginny, growing steadily more wary.

"Well, it's more of a contract than an exchange, really…"

"Contract?!" Ginny exclaimed loudly. "I'm not signing anything!"

"Well, yes," said her father in exasperation. "And I purposefully didn't bring it up right away because I knew you'd react this way! Yes, a contract! Now let me explain!" he said before her temper could build.

"All you will be asked to do, aside from attending regular classes and behaving like a normal student, is to keep your eyes and ears open to any whisperings of You-Know-Who, his whereabouts, and his followers. Particularly because children of known Death Eaters do go there. Also, be on the look out for any information you may hear about members of the Order of the Phoenix. We don't want Death Eaters knowing – or correctly guessing – what our plans are."

Ginny halted, as everything became clear.

"So you're asking me to spy?" she said in distaste.

Her father was silent for a moment. And then came his curt reply,

"Yes."

Ginny thought furiously before deciding on her next move. She needed to weigh her options carefully. If she went to Durmstrang she would be among Death Eaters. But honestly, she had been among them at Hogwarts already, hadn't she? That couldn't be as bad as she had first thought. Suddenly an idea came to her. She was not old enough to be inducted into the Order, but she had to be privy to more Order information if she was going to spy for them, right? Perhaps she could use this to her advantage after all.

"So if I sign this contract, all I'm agreeing to is listening and watching for things that will naturally come up? I won't be required to pry information out of anybody?" she finally asked.

"Correct. You'll go about your scholarly business and only report back what you happen to hear or see, if anything."

"And in return, I'll be getting…?"

"Anonymity. Full Ministry protection. And, dare I say, a more diverse learning experience…"

Ginny thought hard. She was at war with herself over this one. She knew that if she answered one way or another, it would be her final word on the subject. She just wanted to make the right choice. A contract would seal the deal, though. If she signed, there could be no backing out. Spying in exchange for protection. Was it worth it?

Ginny looked her father in the eye, and with a confidence she didn't even know she had possessed, she firmly said,

"I'll do it."

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Ginny's father had looked completely shocked when he heard her agree to the Ministry's dangerous proposal. She knew her father had always considered her somewhat brave, but then again, this was a very risky assignment. She could tell that he almost hadn't believed her when she said she'd do it.

Now she could hardly sleep for worrying if she'd made the right choice. The moment she'd agreed, Arthur had gone to tell Molly and send a message to Solomon Crowbeam letting him know that she would be ready when he arrived at noon to arrange everything. Ginny was unbelievably nervous. She tossed and turned but invariably remained wide awake.

She wondered where Harry was. Were he and Ron and Hermione all safe? What was he doing now? Was he feeling the same way? Did Harry always feel like this when he knew he would have to face something dangerous? Ginny figured he had probably felt that way more than anyone else she'd ever known, and she wished desperately that she could talk to him about it.

Harry was not in the Order of the Phoenix. He was now of age, but he had his own agenda, of which she knew very little, other than that it involved finding a way to destroy Voldemort. Ron hadn't joined up, because Harry hadn't. And she suspected the same was true of Hermione. Yet they had faced so many perils. Ginny, herself, had faced a handful of terrifying things in her life, but they probably looked like nothing when compared to Harry's mountain of accomplishments.

Ginny got out of bed and started pacing in the pastel bluish glow that lit her room. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark, and she could see everything in the moonlight that came in from her window. Her mind just would not rest. She would get no sleep at all if she couldn't stop herself from thinking so much.

She sighed. Walking over to her mirror, she stared at her ghostly reflection. She studied her pale features. The smooth freckled skin. The wisps of messy reddish-gold hair that circled her head sleepily in floating strands. The bright brown eyes, full lips, and slender furrowed brows. Was this the face of someone who could pull off something so big?

Ginny knew she was capable of small-scale deception. She had told enough white lies to know that. But this was something so large, it was bigger than she could ever have dreamed. She only hoped she could manage with at least some small degree of success.

She sighed again and meandered lazily back to her bed, where she sat uncomfortably on the edge, on top of the rumpled sheets. She picked up a pillow from the floor, where she had thrown it in frustration, and held it to her chest as she contemplated everything. She owed nothing to anyone, but she suddenly felt like she had something to prove – if only to herself. Harry wasn't in the Order either, but if he could do such great things, then she could at least try, right?

Ginny took a breath and tried to steady her conscience. She would do everything she could, if it would help win the war against Voldemort. She only hoped she wouldn't die in the attempt.

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Ginny did not have to struggle to keep awake as noon approached the next day, though she had gotten very little sleep. She was too nervous, filled with uneasy excitement.

She had only seen her mother once that morning, and Molly Weasley had been crying at the time. Ginny knew that her mother had been crying the entire morning, not just when she'd seen her, because she had heard it from her bedroom. She had also heard it from the kitchen as she solemnly ate breakfast, from the bathroom as she brushed her teeth, and she heard it now from the back porch, where she was sitting while she waited for Solomon Crowbeam to arrive.

At twelve o'clock exactly, Ginny heard a commotion from inside, signaling that Crowbeam had come. She didn't wait to be called in, so she stood, dusting off the back seat of her pants before walking briskly into the house.

Solomon Crowbeam. Ginny still did not know what to make of him. He was so smooth, his voice so silky. His eyes were unreadable, glossy and dark. He maintained a penetrating glare, while sleekly talking his way into or out of things. His manner was prickly and formal, yet he managed to be so persuasive and compelling. He was a definite mystery and Ginny had not yet passed final judgment on his character. She would wait till she had more information.

Right now, she needed information on the mission that was looming so ominously before her.

She had read and re-read her acceptance letter so many times, she practically knew it by heart. And every time she read, "Dear Miss Wells," she became more and more inclined to believe that she could indeed respond to that name as though it were her own. It was rather frightening.

As Ginny entered the kitchen, conversation stopped and everyone turned to look at her. She walked forward and sat confidently at the kitchen table, in between her mother and Bill. She was seated directly across from Fleur, with Crowbeam and her father standing near the sink. Once Ginny had seated herself, Bill gestured to Fleur that they should leave, and he got up, offering her his arm on the way out. When they had both gone, Crowbeam went to the door and muttered a Silencing charm before returning to the table. It wasn't necessary here because Ginny knew that Bill was trustworthy, but she assumed it could just be out of habit.

When Crowbeam seemed sure that nobody could listen in, he began by expressing to Ginny and her parents that he was glad they had made the right decision. Ginny wanted nothing more than to roll her eyes, but stopped herself out of politeness.

Then Crowbeam began to explain the basics of what she would need to know before attending Durmstrang. Most of what he said had been in the packet she had received the night before.

"Durmstrang is not half so big as Hogwarts," he expounded. "The castle is much smaller. Only four floors and not so many unused rooms. But the grounds are quite extensive, with many lakes and mountains in the surrounding area."

Molly and Arthur were nodding agreeably at this.

"The castle itself," Crowbeam continued, "is built into the rock in the side of a mountain, making it a dependable stronghold in times of hostilities. Indeed it has been used as a wizarding refuge many times in its long history."

Ginny was wondering whether it was so strong to keep bad things out, or to keep them in. It certainly was something to think about.

"If you'll pull out your map, Miss Weasley," Crowbeam invited, "I can show you Durmstrang's approximate location. As it is Unplottable, I will be unable to show you exactly."

Ginny pulled a piece of thick, folded parchment from her packet, and unfurled it across the kitchen table. It was a large cartograph of the Northern Hemisphere, showing Europe, and most of Northern Asia.

"You are here," Crowbeam acknowledged as he pointed his wand at a place on the map Ginny knew to be Britain. And as he did so, a red glimmer of light circled itself around Devon, where the Burrow was located.

"Durmstrang is located here," he said genially, moving his wand nearly all the way across the map to touch down somewhere in Russia, "in the North, in the far reaches of Siberia."

Ginny watched as another beam of red light circled itself around a section of mountain range in an area that was labeled the Boreal Evergreen Forest. Ginny suddenly realized she felt truly sorry for any owls Hermione had commandeered to send letters to Krum: it was a long way away.

Ginny looked gloomily at the map, inwardly bemoaning the distance between school and home. She looked up at Crowbeam.

"How would I get there?" she asked bluntly.

"Ah, yes. All Durmstrang students arrive by Portkey the weekend before the first day of school," Crowbeam said.

"And where is this Portkey? When will I get it?"

"You already have it, Miss Weasley," Crowbeam said, seemingly amused at her quizzical expression. "It arrived with your letter of acceptance."

Ginny couldn't remember seeing anything of the sort. What if it had fallen out when she wasn't paying attention? What if she'd lost it? Ginny knew she would be in big trouble.

"But I never saw a Portkey, and I read my letter several times," Ginny ventured.

"But don't you see," Crowbeam said in near delight, "Your acceptance letter is the Portkey! It's rather ingenious, don't you think?"

Ginny supposed it was, though she felt rather foolish since she hadn't thought of that herself.

"You will arrive at school on Friday afternoon, and classes will begin the following Monday," Crowbeam said. "That way, you'll have a little time to adjust before settling in to the school routine."

"Tomorrow you will go to the village of Sangerville Crossing to purchase some of your school things. I can accompany if you like, or you are free to go on your own," Crowbeam stated. "Your parents will not be able to take you. They cannot be seen with you in public outside of the country. It would raise suspicion."

Ginny gulped.

"Don't worry, Miss Weasley. Some of your things may be purchased by your parents in Diagon Alley. Certain books and potions ingredients and the like. But others, most especially your school clothes, must be purchased in Sangerville Crossing."

Ginny looked down. Why hadn't she thought of this before? She would have to buy everything new. New books, new robes. How would she ever manage to afford it?

Crowbeam seemed to know what she was thinking.

"Oh, and just so you know, your family will not be financially responsible for any necessities directly associated with your attendance at Durmstrang. The Ministry will see that everything required is taken care of. And should any unforeseen school-related expenses crop up during the school-year, you shall, of course, be reimbursed."

Ginny looked down into her lap, blushing brightly in embarrassment, her ears tingling with a strange heat as Crowbeam acknowledged her exact fear.

"Anything else not in direct relation to school," Crowbeam continued as if he hadn't noticed her reaction, "must be covered by you or your family. Things that are not necessities, but optional, such as dress robes, an owl or cat, and any spending money you might want."

Ginny began to realize that this was more than reasonable. Brand new school things, Ministry protection, a fresh start at a new school? She was practically ready to sign right now!

"Where is this Sangerville Crossing?" Molly Weasley spoke up.

"We're all familiar with Hogsmeade," Crowbeam said. "Sangerville Crossing is a tiny all-wizarding village near Durmstrang. Its location is also Unplottable, or I would point it out to you on the map. But unlike Hogsmeade, no one actually lives there. It consists only of shops and public places. It was founded by the same wizard who started Durmstrang. It's merely an outpost where wizarding business takes place. Quiet and out of the way. Yet close to a school, so people are sure to come. I understand that students are allowed to visit on the weekends."

Molly nodded in understanding.

"Well," said Arthur turning to his wife, then to Crowbeam, "everything seems to be in order, I'd say. Are you ready to sign, Ginny?"

Arthur looked expectantly at his daughter. But Ginny was looking straight at Solomon Crowbeam, who seemed as though he had something more to say.

Crowbeam stood and cleared his throat.

"There's just one more thing before you sign, Miss Weasley," Crowbeam said unexpectedly.

Molly and Arthur turned round to look at him. They had clearly thought there was nothing more to be said. They were wrong.

"I'm sorry, Arthur, Molly," Crowbeam said, genuinely apologetic, "But I have to ask that I speak with Ginny in private for a moment before she signs the contract."

Arthur did not look happy. But he said not a word as he stood and helped Molly to her feet. They exited the room through the same door that Bill and Fleur had gone through, Arthur pausing in the doorway to give a look of warning at Crowbeam, and one of consolation to his confused daughter.

Once they had left the room, Crowbeam re-activated the Silencing charm, and turned to face Ginny. She found she was not as nervous as she should have been as Crowbeam began to speak.

"Miss Weasley, I know you are not part of the Order of the Phoenix. Nor am I. But in asking you to take on such a dangerous task, there are things I need to make sure you understand before you go. Some things even your parents don't know about."

Ginny looked at him strangely. What could he possibly know that her parents didn't? Especially if he wasn't even in the Order?

"Let me ask you, Miss Weasley," he said with quiet intensity, "what you know about Horcruxes…"

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(A/N: I meant to mention this in chapter 1, but I forgot: a big, big, BIG thank you to my lovely Beta, Gwenog Jones! I couldn't have done it without her!

Also, I will be posting Author's Notes for this story on my profile, so if you have questions about things I have mentioned, or if you want to know my reasoning behind certain aspects of the storyline, feel free to check there before messaging me. Hope you all enjoy the story so far!

Hearts, Afro-Smith)