Chapter 9- The Real Deal

Ginny received a note from McGonagall one evening in April. It had been months since she had been given anything like this, but was glad to have a reason to skip Quidditch. Dean was getting very anxious for the upcoming final match. It didn't matter this year. Unless they could get the snitch and twenty goals against Ravenclaw, they wouldn't get the cup. Dean was insistent that he could do it. "You're better than Harry ever was, and we've got a great team," he argued. He had known that he said the wrong thing when Ginny stormed off, her face red and her mouth shut tight. He had done a lot of Harry-bashing lately, which became a great irritant to Ginny.

She walked up the steps to the floor where McGonagall's entrance would be. She went towards the gargoyle and was about to say the password when she was whipped around by some invisible force. She pulled out her wand when her eyes focused from the sudden spin and saw McGonagall waiting in the shadows, holding a finger to her lips. She gestured for Ginny to follow her and Ginny did—into the shadows where there was an unexpected hole in the wall. Ginny had never seen this on the map. She wondered if Fred and George knew of it.

As they walked through the roughly cut tunnel Ginny realized something: this was a new place. She didn't speak in the dark as McGonagall had her wand lit and pointing to the ground. Spiders scuttled around and a few rats got out of the way. Ginny started to wonder how long this would go on when she could smell the fresh air and water. They stepped out the side of the castle where the lake was just in front of them. There was a carriage waiting there with nothing to pull it, though Ginny knew there was a Thestral of some sort. "You will wear this," McGonagall instructed, giving Ginny very dark forest-green robes to change into.

She took off the black school robes and put the others on. "Hood up," McGonagall added, waiting until Ginny had done so. "I am sending you to a place that we know little of," she said. "There may be something of great value."

"A horcrux?" Ginny asked, her voice too quiet for the wind to carry it.

McGonagall nodded. "Keep your wand, but tonight you are to scout the area only. Make sure there is no one there and when you see others, retreat."

"What exactly am I looking for?" Ginny asked.

"A book," McGonagall said. She handed Ginny some papers. "The carriage knows how far and where to take you. The rest should be read and destroyed before you embark. Be safe," she finished and hugged Ginny fiercely. Ginny swallowed as she wrapped an arm around McGonagall's back as well.


Harry had been pacing all night. "I can't believe they won't tell me what's happening," he said, walking back to the fireplace, leaning against the mantle. "I should be out there."

"You can't take over for the entire Order," Ron argued. "Besides, McGonagall said she'd tell you as soon as they knew what was there."

"We found the information, we should go investigate."

"McGonagall said there's a new member helping out," Hermione said. "She said it would make things safe for all concerned."

"But she wouldn't say who it was," Harry said. "How do we know we can trust them?"

Hermione looked at Ron who caught her eye. He shrugged his shoulders at Harry and sat next to her. This had been their life together—the three of them. Harry didn't trust anyone that he hadn't known for years. He would talk of that and avoid the topic of Ginny. Those were the only conversations anymore outside of working to get rid of the Horcruxes. Hermione's foot was elevated, healing from their last expedition. She had managed to fix the bone, but it remained swollen for the next week and was just getting back to normal.

Harry had blamed himself, of course. Had said he wished it had been him, though Hermione could see he was also relieved it wasn't Ginny. Hermione picked up her wand and started to knit while Ron started to rub the sore foot. She smiled at him, but looked back at Harry who was looking more and more upset by these displays of affection lately. "Ow," Hermione said. Ron looked worried about it at first, but Hermione just gave a jerk of the head towards Harry. Ron was put out, but stood up anyway.

"How about some chess?" Ron asked.

"I think I'll write a letter," Harry said. Of course there was no need to say who the letter would be addressed to.

"Have you sent her any of the others?" Hermione asked. Harry didn't respond. Hermione knew he hadn't. Not since a month ago, though he wrote to her almost three times a week.

"You sending one?" he asked.

Hermione sighed. "I'll write one in a bit."

The fire turned colors and someone's figure dropped down, rolling out onto the floor. Ron and Harry jumped up, Hermione's body stiffened as her hands dropped, her foot still raised. "I mean no harm!" Dean Thomas shouted covering his head as Ron and Harry pointed wands at him.

They both froze, their wands still raised. "What are you doing here?" Ron asked.

"I'm worried about your sister," he said.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. "What did you do to her?" Harry asked

"Me?!" Dean cried incredulously. "I'm not the one who left her alone, if I remember right."

Harry took two large strides, picked him up by the scruff of his collar and pounded him against the wall. "Harry!" Hermione said, pulling her leg back and standing. Ron didn't seem apposed to the bit of torture—but then he had been wanting to get back at Dean for a long time. "Harry don't be ridiculous."

"You have no idea, Thomas," Harry said.

"I think I do," he said. "She's been alone among the wolves all year. No one to talk to… except me."

"Stop it!"Hermione said. Ron had his wand in Dean's neck. "You two are being idiots, let him go."

One of Hermione's hands was on her hip, the other had her wand out and pointed at Ron. "Did you hear what he said?" Ron asked.

"I'm sure he's not here just to say that," Hermione said. Ron lowered his wand. Harry let Dean go.

"Thanks," Dean said sarcastically.

"Now tell us what you want so we can kick you out," Ron said. Harry had turned and gone back to his letter. Hermione could tell he was fuming still, but trying to distract himself.

"I was actually hoping you might be able to tell me what's going on," Dean said. Ron laughed, but Dean kept going. "McGonagall led her out a passage that closed behind them tonight. I tried to get in, but it closed behind them."

"So?" Ron asked.

Dean swallowed and looked at her, as though pleading her to understand. The connections were made faster than she could make them—fox, investigation, McGonagall, mission, Ginny—Hermione could feel the blood drain from her face. "Merlin no," she said. Ron was holding her up and looking curious at her. Dean looked relieved and more worried than he had before. Harry was looking over now, his quill down. Hermione caught his eyes first and shook her head, telling him not to leave.

Of course she knew he wouldn't listen. Among Dean's protests to go with and the quick preparation of grabbing a broom and his invisibility cloak, Harry ignored everyone and was out the door before anyone could even begin to restrain him. "What exactly is going on?" Ron asked.

"We need to get to Order Headquarters now," Hermione replied, reaching for her own cloak.


Ginny came to a dark lane and the carriage stopped. The hood was well over her face and she had been travelling for almost an hour. She was on the other side of the Forbidden Forest where the mountains started to make way. She was looking for a book of spells, though the papers had revealed that it was a book that would have in it a place carved out to make room for a wand. Rowena's wand in fact.

She stepped out and the carriage started to move again. She had been given instructions on how to summon it back and read how once more before setting flame to the papers. She watched it burn out, smothering what was left of the evidence and then transfigured. She had miles to go. She trotted, pouncing over the larger rocks, remembering to look every which way as she went. Ginny found this had become so second nature that she didn't jolt at some of the things she used to: mangled trees, small forest creatures, noises in the dark night.

There was no one as she approached the alcove that she was told about. There in the middle of the rock, was a hole. Ginny was certain she wouldn't have noticed it at human height… or would she. She didn't change back, in case someone was watching. She thought through her human eyes, though. It wasn't that hidden that in the day others wouldn't be able to see it. Did her enemies want her to take it?

She stepped around for now, looking at the sides of the alcove. There was nothing spectacular, but she nudged against the edges none the less, until she nudged and something started to come up from the hole. A skeleton. Ginny could feel herself gulp, glad she hadn't taken that route, until she realized it was still going up. She looked upward to where a similar hole broke into the mountain above. It was going to get too high to jump on, so Ginny took a running leap until she was riding with the dried bones up into the roof. She almost closed her eyes in fear, but looked around as she ended up in a library. Hundreds of books on the shelves of every color. She waited until the elevator of sorts had risen all the way and started around the room, looking at the different books, nudging some open with her nose. One gave out a dark black gas and she had to skitter to the other side of the room. There was no way to find which one without more information. There were dangerous curses, she was sure, and she was told to come straight back when she had found a place where it might be.

Ginny, of course, wanted to be involved in more of these projects and soon. So she would obey until she was certain going against orders would be of benefit to someone. The elevator was gone by the time she got back to it. She went around to look for another trigger, but there was nothing in this room from where she could find. Her only hope was to jump and make sure she didn't fall further down.

She walked back and took a running leap. She could feel herself near an edge. When the rush of fresh cool air hit, she moved out her paws, hanging by one just over the skeleton. Pulling up desperately she made it again to the ledge where she was able to jump down and start back on a trail. She continued in stealth. She could feel her heart beat faster when she could hear the steps of someone nearby. She hid behind a tree, knowing her own steps and bounds were too loud to be masked this time. The footsteps stopped. She didn't breath to keep from moving.

There was a figure suddenly, holding a fabric that shimmered in the moonlight, and a broom in the other hand. "Ginny," it shouted.

Ginny could feel the anger rise. "Ginny!" Harry shouted again, running towards where she had just left.

Had Hermione betrayed her? Had McGonagall? She had said no one else was to know! She ran until she could run no longer, then pulled out her wand and signaled for the Thestrals with a group of white sparks. The creatures came running, the only way Ginny could tell was by the carriage moving at full speed. She fumed all the way back.


"You told me no one would know!" Ginny shouted at McGonagall, who looked neither surprised nor upset by Ginny's yelling.

Hermione, Ron and Dean—of all people—were standing in the room. Hermione looked relieved. Ron came up and hugged her, though she pushed him back. The door opened. Harry stepped into the room. His look was determined as he came over and wrapped Ginny in his arms. She tried to push him away, but he wouldn't let her. "Let go of me," she said, infuriated. "How could you?"

"No one was sent after you," McGonagall said.

That made Ginny angrier at how Harry was holding her. She started to pound fists on his chest, though there was no force behind them with her arms behind trapped against his body. He gave an expression torn, but firm. He wasn't going to release her. "Let go," she said.

His hand came up and trapped her jaw, bringing her face up to his until his lips were on hers. She was aware that others were watching and she wondered what had changed. His lips moved back, but his hand stayed on her face, feeling her cheek as tears came to his eyes. Ginny could feel some in hers too. "Next time, I'm going with you," he said.

She wanted to be mad, wanted to push him back, especially since his grip would allow for it. She simply nodded and let him wrap her up, kissing her hair. A door slammed, but Ginny hardly noticed that Dean was gone. Everyone else seemed caught up in her safety and she was able to tell them of what she had found. It was decided that she would join Harry, Hermione and Ron the next day in going back.

As they talked of plans, it became obvious also that her secret was safe: she could use it again and Harry would still be none the wiser.


A/N: I decided to go with Mugglenet's idea that it's Ravenclaw's wand that they are looking for. I knew I'd have fun with a strictly fluffy bit. This story is winding down… since HP7 comes out in 3 weeks!!! Stay tuned!