Summer, 1996

July Thirty-First. Ginny turned her back on Harry, when Ron opened the door. She did this, not because she was crying as he suspected, but because she wanted to run her fingers over her lips. Love struck? Perhaps. Crazy? Definitely.

Silencio.

August First. During the reception, Ginny meandered towards Luna, if only because of the intensity of her costume drew the Weasley girl to her like a moth to a flame. After a few moments of chattering, the redhead was beginning to see everything with a yellow tinge, and she excused herself. She locked eyes with Harry, a small smile gracing her lips and growing wider at the sight of his red, curly hair. He looked different, she knew, but she couldn't help seeing the Harry she knew – except for that shock of hair. The boy was sitting next to a former competitor of his, Viktor Krum. Oh, Ronnie can't be too happy that he showed up. She didn't want to have to control an emotional Ron, from either part of the negative spectrum.

The heat was unbearable, she noted, finding the twins and, by proxy, Lee Jordan. They chattered pleasantly for a few moments, and then the two Weasley boys left, causing Lee to turn to the youngest Weasley and ask, quite embarrassed, for a dance. She accepted, having always enjoyed Lee's company, and they twirled on the floor. She couldn't help but feel a tad but shaky, though, as she wasn't sure if she was sweating, and the atmosphere was just too stifling.

When I get married, I'm not having my reception outside.

They parted when the music ended, each giving the other a friendly smile. and she noted Harry sitting with Aunt Muriel and some older wizard with what looked a ratted puffskein in place of his head – she realized that was his hair covering his skin – and a small cap. Harry was looking back towards Muriel with a shocked expression on his face, and she wondered what was wrong with him, what Muriel was saying that was so upsetting. She watched for a moment more, then wandered over to the hors d'oeuvres and looked down at them, wondering why he hadn't yet spoken to her. An impulsive urge to look up forced Ron, who had been staring, to lock eyes with her. Her youngest older brother averted his eyes quickly, guiltily. Suddenly, she knew that Ron had something to do with Harry ignoring her.

Mere moments had passed.

She didn't see it appear. All she heard was Shacklebolt's voice, saying the three sentences she was terrified of hearing, but didn't show. The D.A. training had worked well, because, in the panic that ensued afterward, she managed keep her head clear enough to find Bill and Fleur (how could she not? Phlegm practically gave off a neon light of "Look At Me!"-ness). They Disapparated with Fleur's immediate family, and arrived inside the newly-built, and still empty, Shell Cottage, the newlywed's home (somewhere that the others had never been before).

Gabrielle ran off to another part of the house, sobbing (a bit dramatically, Ginny thought). Fleur's parents, Fleur, and Bill all ran after her, and Ginny was left alone. It was just as well, as she had quite a bit to think about.

She knew, without a doubt, that the attack would be the catalyst for the Trio's trip. She still wasn't sure what they were doing, but knew there was a good chance that she would never see Harry, Hermione, or her brother again, but she tried to stop herself from thinking more about that. Optimism, Miss Weasley. You will see them again, alive and well. You will be able to look into his green, green eyes, call him a stupid git, and kiss him again.

With her head in her hands, she sat down on the floor. Oh, who'm I kidding. I'll be lucky to see tomorrow. Shelooked around the empty room, wishing she had the ability to write a letter to Neville. Instead, she had to content herself with pulling her knees up to just under her chin, and burying her face in the crevice.

To try to stop herself from thinking about not having the Trio around, she wondered how the rest of her immediate family had faired. Bill and Fleur were here, with her, so she wasn't worried about them. Charlie was probably of little value to the Death Eaters, as he barely knew Harry, so he was safe. The Twins… She was sure they could handle themselves. Her dad was a Ministry member, so he, too, should be alright. Her mum was probably freaking out, wondering what had happened to her daughter, youngest son, and his friends.

The thought of her mum worrying so brought a nostalgic smile to her lips.

In the silence, she heard the soft coo of Fleur's voice, in French, and then the wail of her younger sister.

"Je ne comprends pas!"

"Yeah, me either," she murmered into her skin.

A while later, a Patronus was sent, summoning them back home. They knew the Death Eaters would be there still, but they went. After the questioning, she did manage to send her letter off to her cousin, but she merely asked for a meeting with him by the lake.

An innocent message from one cousin to another. No hidden messages, no reason for the still-lingering Death Eaters to worry.

Pig went out the window into the twilight, and she slid a sly look at Lucius Malfoy, who had read over her letter and allowed it to pass through very reluctantly. The elder Malfoy wasn't paying attention to the little girl, instead conversing with his son about what had happened that day, and when they should leave. What he didn't know was that he'd just allowed the first Dumbledore's Army "meeting" to commence.

Ginny knew exactly what was going to be said at that meeting. She was going to have to tell him that the three of them – Luna, Neville, and herself – needed to shoulder the responsibility of the D.A. When Neville stammered a refusal, Ginny would sigh and say that Harry was counting on them. A guilt trip? Yes, if it meant saving the lives of those she loved most.

They would train their peers and those younger and older. They would not teach many new spells, instead concentrating on how to keep each other alive. There would be certain things taught – spells such as those Harry had learned through his stupid Potions book the year before. The D.A. would learn how to hide and fight, how to cover civilians, and, above all, to never give up.

In short, Dumbledore's Army was going to learn how to kill – and die, if need be – honorably.

What happened that day? Well, Lucius Malfoy had aided the resistance, and little Ginny Weasley finally proved that she wasn't just "Harry's Little Concubine".

Aparecium.