23rd October 1997

Dear Harry,

We did it today. We stole the sword. Or at least we tried to. Neville, Luna and I. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but it was so difficult. I was determined though, and at least I tried.

We used fireworks in the east wing to draw the attention away from Snape's office, a bit like what Fred and George did a few years ago with Umbridge. (You remember, that time you wanted to talk to Sirius) The Carrows were in uproar, as we'd also asked Seamus, Jimmy and Demelza to let off some more fireworks at certain points, in a way so that they wouldn't get caught, but that would cause as much chaos as possible. That got the teachers distracted, and allowed us to get to the Headmaster's office. We managed to get in somehow (password, strangely, was Dumbledore, that's odd…) and get up towards the case. All the portraits were staring at us, shocked, except Dumbledore, who was smiling. Phineas Nigellus was shouting about how we were breaking school rules, how we were dishonouring the school in our 'act of violence'. Mind you, he always was a git, and a Slytherin at that.

We got up really close the case and smashed it, Neville keeping guard for us, then managed to get the sword out, although it was pretty heavy. Neville ran over and helped us to lift it. We were just making our way back down the stairs, carrying the sword between us, so that I was going down first but backwards, carrying the hilt, when a voice asked us if we were looking for something. We turned to find Snape behind us. He must have come back for something, but he'd caught us in the act. The sword dropped with a clang, and fell down the stairs towards picked it up and took us back up the stairs into his office again. What were we meant to then? Nev was opening and closing his mouth like a fish now he'd recovered, trying to think of something to say. I didn't say anything, but I was glaring at him. If looks could have killed, I was hoping he would die. Luna looked kind of dreamy and thoughtful, but I could see the anger underneath, in her eyes, I know her well enough by now.

He didn't yell at us as the Carrows would have done, but instead told us quietly and dangerously, how we had let the school and ourselves down and that However much we worshipped Harry Potter, he was never coming back, how the Dark Lord had almost won, and he won't let a boy stop him now. I wanted to scream at him tell him that you'd already stopped Voldemort many times before and you could do it again, and that he hadn't won, and wouldn't until he defeated you, which he would never do. But I bit back my anger, knowing I was already in a huge amount of trouble as it was and decided that I didn't want any more if it was going to mean detention with the Carrows. I don't want to end up as bruised, torn and defeated as Neville did the other day.

As Snape finished his rant, the Carrows both burst in, obviously having dealt with the distractions. They saw us and both began cursing and yelling at us, how unworthy we were of being purebloods, how we didn't deserve to be at school, how much a blood-traitor I was, and my family. I blocked it out; they were all insults I'd heard before, particularly the blood traitor ones. And then, eventually, when they had finished and calmed down, Alecto asked how we were going to be punished, and did Snape want them to take us down to the dungeons and use the Cruciatus on us right there and then. But Snape declined their offer and told us we were to take detention in the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid tomorrow evening. The Carrows began to protest said that we should be punished severely for attempting such a heinous crime, but Snape said no, and even had to remind them that he was headmaster and they would do as he told them.

Detention with Hagrid. Well, looking at it now it seems as though we got off lightly. Almost too lightly. How odd…

So now you know exactly what happened to do with the sword today. Merlin it was scary, but I was trying to help. Do something for you. I know we broke up because you're worried about me, and I know you wouldn't want me doing this, but what else am I meant to do?

Love

Ginny xxx

Harry gripped the letter in one hand, scrunching it up. White hot anger burned through him. Anger at Snape, anger at the Carrows, anger and Neville and Luna for not dissuading Ginny, anger at Ginny for being so stupid. She had done some pretty stupid things during the course of her letters and therefore the term, but this was the most stupid yet. Yes he had been trying to protect her, and she was also right, he hadn't whated her doing what she had done. What else was she meant to do? Sit there and keep her head down, that's what she should have done. But Harry knew deep down that Ginny could never ever sit by and watch something wrong happen without doing anything. That wasn't Ginny. And Harry knew he loved her for who she was.

A/N: See, I told you this would be a long chapter! It's the longest that I've written so far, so don't say that I didn't warn you that the next few will be poor in comparison to the length of this one.

Someone (their name has slipped my mind right now, I'm really really sorry!) pointed out to me in a review that I'd mistakenly put Colin Creevey in an earlier letter, which was a mistake, and I apologise for this. Thanks for pointing that out!

So, what do you think of my extra long chapter? Any good? Enough description about stealing the sword, and the reactions of Snape, the Carrows and Harry? As you may have guessed, this is my only chapter that I'm uploading today, due to the length, but please don't let that stop you reviewing! Please let me know! I hope you enjoyed it!