Chapter 25—Like Toy Soldiers

(January 7, 1997)

"Ginny," Harry began, looking at her with evident discomfort and awkwardness. "Have you ever heard of Horcruxes?"

Ginny was reading Magical Attenuation and Intensification for the fifth time, but after hearing Harry, the thick tome slammed onto the library table. Ginny looked around for Madam Pince, thankfully not seeing the woman. Finally, her gaze settled on Hermione and Harry. Ron was off somewhere sucking Lavender's lips.

"How do you know about those?" Ginny asked in a whisper, flicking her wand and casting a silencing charm around their table. "Why would you even ask me about them?"

"So you know about them?" Hermione asked eagerly, while Harry looked like he didn't know whether or not to be pleased that she knew about Horcruxes. "We've been searching the entire library—."

"You won't find books about…them in here." Ginny said sharply. "Are you two going to answer me or do I have to visit the Headmaster?"

"My last lesson with Dumbledore," Harry began. "You put up a Silencing Charm, right?"

Ginny nodded, watching Harry continue. "Well, there was a memory that showed Riddle asking Slughorn about them."

"Oh Merlin," Ginny said with wide eyes, realization dawning on her. How could I not have made the connection before? That diary was a horcrux, and I'd bet my life Nagini's one, too. Ginny thought to herself. Tom values nothing, and yet, he always treats her as…his equal.

"Why ask me about them?" Ginny asked them both, seeing Harry and Hermione share a look.

"I remember you telling me about that dark binding on house elves." Harry said.

"What?" Hermione said, sounding offended. "How could you, Ginny?"

"Not now, Hermione." Both Ginny and Harry snapped, sharing a brief look of amusement afterward.

"So what are they?" Harry asked impatiently.

Ginny hesitated, wondering should she let Dumbledore explain. Yet, the look in Harry's eyes made her feel like she owed him an explanation after all he'd done for Ginny and her family.

"It's when you divide your soul and embed those fragments into a physical object." Ginny said, seeing an aghast look on Harry and Hermione's face. "Those depraved enough to make horcruxes have typically chosen inanimate objects, but it can be a living thing. The latter option is risky but it can be done with a familiar."

A dawning look of realization appeared on Harry and Hermione's face. "How do you know this?" Hermione asked Ginny, staring at her with calculating skepticism and wary.

Ginny hesitated before being admitting the truth. "Riddle's diary. He'd tell me things. Very dark things."

"The diary?" Harry asked aloud, already knowing the truth. "It had to be one."

"He made more than one, and you remember how you saw through the snake, Harry. He was possessing it. It makes sense that it's one, too." Hermione reasoned, making Ginny silently thrilled with the girl.

"I'm sorry I asked you about it, Ginny." Hermione said regretfully. "But how could you not know that the diary was a horcrux?" Hermione asked, giving Ginny a severe, assessing look.

It took a couple of seconds for Ginny to respond truthfully. "To me, the diary has always been a…very bad…memory. Just a memory," Ginny said quietly with a faraway look to her eyes, before her gaze focused on Hermione and Harry again. "I grew up around magical objects, so despite my parents telling me never to trust anything if I can't see where it keeps its brains—well, a book that was enchanted to write responses wasn't…unheard of to me. Even after the diary, I just thought it was just very…dark magic."

How stupid of me. Then again, Tom had only ever mentioned (and explained) Horcruxes once and that was in passing. We'd been talking—actually, arguing—about how to live forever. It was one of their many conversations that made her begin to realize that Tom was probably not the kind person that he was pretending to be.

Ginny's gaze found Harry's, who was scrutinizing Ginny in an empathetic way. Harry's gaze alone showed incredible strength; perception—due to the intelligent, almost calculating gleam to his emerald orbs; and protectiveness. He's an amazing friend. He saved my life and Dad's so, yes, I can call him my friend; yet, while Harry's so earnest and true, I lie to him and bow to the man who's hell-bent on killing him. Self-disgust wasn't even enough to describe what Ginny was feeling at the moment.

"You need to do whatever the Headmaster says, Harry." Ginny told him. "It's like Hermione said, he definitely made more than one. Maybe Slughorn knows how many were made."

"But I don't understand," Hermione asked. "Why would someone split their soul?"

"No matter what mortal harm is done to the person's body, they'd survive." Ginny explained, feeling more disgust well up within her. "They'd live, though it wouldn't be…easy."

"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Harry asked; his emerald orbs slightly flashed because he knew Ginny wasn't being completely honest beforehand.

"Do you know how many depraved things I learn from that monster?" Ginny asked Harry so coldly, making him look at her apologetically. Ginny also realized her slip of the tongue after looking at Hermione. She'd have to be more careful, noticing Hermione reason her mistake away herself. "It's all in my head, but it's not like I remember things that I'd much rather forget, Harry. There's a reason why I don't talk about the diary."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop saying you're sorry for Merlin's sake!" Ginny snapped, sighing afterward. "I didn't mean to snap at you two." Ginny stood, packing her bag to leave. "I'll see you both after dinner."

"Ginny." Hermione and Harry began.

Ginny shook her head. "It's really okay. I just overreacted. I'm sorry."

With that said, Ginny cancelled the Silencing Charm and left the library to head to Charms.

(January 8, 1997 at 2:00AM)

"Tell me of Potter." Voldemort said, seated in his throne at Malfoy Manor. To his right stood Bellatrix Lestrange, who was caressing Nagini like it was a harmless dog.

"He suspects Malfoy of being a Death Eater," Ginny said, seeing Bellatrix fix her with a hateful look. The witch suddenly stopped stroking the snake, leaning to the right side of Voldemort's throne as she gave Ginny her full attention. "He cannot prove that Draco is a Death Eater, but he does suspect him. Draco is Potter's obsession now. He will try to stop him in his task."

Voldemort smirked coldly, avoiding Bellatrix's gaze. "We'll see if Draco is truly worthy. What more do you have to report?"

Ginny felt despicable for what she was going to confess next. "Potter is romantically interested in me."

Voldemort moved quicker than Ginny could ever expect from him. Cold mirth shown in his eyes, as he looked at Ginny with a sickening joy. Better I tell him than his spies at school.

"Has he asked you?" Voldemort asked with a true smile on his snake-like face that made Ginny's stomach painfully knot.

"He plans to."

Voldemort threw his head back while his high, cold, laughter echoed throughout the room. He grasped each side of Ginny's face with his hands, gripping her head painfully tight.

"Do as I taught you. Have him eating out of the palm of your hand, and when I command it, you will bring him to me." Voldemort said viciously, looking at Ginny expectantly for an answer.

Ginny nodded, swallowing bile down her throat. "Yes, my Lord."

Ginny looked him right in the eyes and unflinchingly thought, I won't.

Voldemort's smile widened, releasing Ginny with a wildness to his eyes. "Give me Potter and you marry whomever you please." Voldemort promised in that ruthless voice of his. "You are dismissed."

Ginny turned to leave the ballroom, not missing the loathing look that Bellatrix had sent her way. Besides, the vile things that the witch was imagining doing to Ginny wasn't nearly as horrible as the things Ginny wanted to do to herself for betraying Harry.

Yet it would buy Ginny and Theodore time, which was what they desperately needed before she was compromised.

(May 10, 1997)

"Stop distracting her, Theodore." Astoria snapped at him, "I need her focused so she can help me with my Potions O.W.L."

"But Ginevra likes it, don't you?" Theodore asked Ginny.

A thoughtful look appeared on Ginny's face. "I don't know." She said playfully, being tickled afterward by Theodore.

"Oh, get a room." Astoria said with a small smile, looking at them fondly. "Now, explain the process of brewing the Polyjuice Potion and…the adverse effects of the potion and each ingredient if made incorrectly. Seriously, how they do they expect for us to know all of that?"

Before Theodore could give her a smart remark, the door to Ginny's room opened. It was Draco, who looked extremely shook up. Theodore and Ginny shared a look before Theodore spoke to Astoria.

"Come on, I can help you in the commons with studying."

"I want to know what's going on." Astoria said stubbornly, crossing her arms across her chest.

Theodore grabbed Astoria by the arm and practically dragged the blonde out of the room, bribing her with concert tickets to see the Weird Sisters this summer as they left Ginny and Draco alone.

Everything about Draco Malfoy was different to how he was eight months ago. He was no longer cold, confident, and arrogant. Instead, he was incredibly afraid. Ginny could see the desperation in Draco's silver eyes. He was so close to giving up, and a vicious part of Ginny wished that Draco would after nearly killing Ron on March 1st. Yet Ginny's feelings about what happened to Ron were mixed; after all, Ginny still found it difficult to tolerate Ron, despite the fact that he was her brother who she still cared for.

"Why aren't you gloating?" Draco asked in a small voice that made Ginny nearly hug him; he was so broken. "I'm waiting for you to say 'I told you so, Malfoy.'"

Ginny shook her head, saying, "I'd never say that."

Draco blinked at Ginny, looking at her like he'd seen her for the first time ever. "What would I owe you?"

"Nothing, I swear it."

A dry, desperate laugh escaped Draco as he scrutinized Ginny. "Nothing? I'm supposed to believe that?"

Ginny nodded. "I want to help you, Draco. I owe you and your mother for helping me last year—and this year, too, as a matter of fact." Ginny said, remembering Voldemort's last punishment.

Draco apparently remembered Ginny's punishment, too. He was shaking badly. "I saw everything that he did to you an he'll do worse to me if I fail."

Suddenly, tears were streaming down Draco's face. Ginny forgot all of her childish resentment towards Draco, hugging him closely and telling him that they would find a way.

"I'm going to help you with this." She told him. "You won't go through this alone, Draco, I promise."

Not like me. I'll be here for you.

"But he'll know and he'll kill me for being so weak and for disobeying." He cried.

Ginny looked into Draco's eyes. "He'll never know—especially since you have a natural aptitude for Occlumency. You have three weeks to improve it, Draco. Your life and your parent's lives depend on it."

Draco flinched, nodding afterward. "Mother still won't leave without father."

"I've talked to people, Draco." Ginny said truthfully because she had talked to a few Ministry officials. "No one is willing to release him for obvious reasons. There's no hope for your father, but there is for your mother."

"You're saying I have to choose?"

"Better you than the Dark Lord." Ginny said firmly, seeing another tear fall down Draco's face.

"I can't—he's my father." Draco said and Ginny nodded, truly understanding. It didn't matter how despicable Lucius Malfoy was because he was Draco's father and Narcissa's husband. They were a family, no matter their wrongs.

"I'm going to Legilimize you to see how far along you are," Ginny said, seeing Draco nod. "No matter what happens, Draco, you are not to kill Dumbledore. Do not murder him—Snape will take care of it."

"I'm supposed to trust Snape!"

"No, you're supposed to trust me." Ginny said abruptly, seeing Draco's silver eyes look at her with doubt before giving in. "Do not kill Dumbledore. Just wait until Snape is there with the others. He'll do it. Understood?"

"But He'll still kill my family." Draco said, shaking his head afterward.

"Snape will ask the Dark Lord to give your entire family clemency. You were wrong about him, Draco." Ginny said, talking over Draco's protests. "You ask why he'd do this. Isn't it obvious? He wants to protect you and your family. He's known you since you were a baby, and he's known your parents for far longer. Your mother made him swear on his life to protect you and he means to do that. Now, let him."

At last, Draco nodded. "Now, we're going to start on a different form of Occlumency. After this is all over, the Dark Lord is going to look into your mind. He should see nothing of what you, Snape, and I have planned. We have no time to waste. Let's start now."

(May 11, 1997)

"So Draco finally agreed." Ginny heard Snape say with a deathly quiet voice. "You told him too much. You were telling the truth about him last summer. He's too selfish to trust you entirely. He will try to kill the Headmaster."

Ginny nodded. "You're right, but he's not a murderer." Ginny said, watching Snape stare off into the fire with a shot glass of firewhisky hanging cavalierly in his right hand off the arm of his high-backed chair. Ginny saw Snape's eyes look smoldering, as he stared at the flames in the fireplace.

"Sir, I know it doesn't change anything but you doing this really saves Draco and Narcissa."

"And that bastard Lucius." Snape drawled, drinking from his shot glass. His eyes never left the dancing flames.

Ginny sighed. "Unfortunately, but Draco matters more, right?"

"I do not know." Snape said slowly in a bland voice. He was still staring at the fireplace. "Dumbledore says he does, and there was a time when I agreed. Yet Albus has always seen the best in people when he should not. He saw the best in me, and now I'm supposed to kill the man who protected me. I'm supposed to damn my soul—go on with my life—and ignore the fact that I ended the life of the greatest man that I've ever known."

Snape downed the entire shot glass of firewhisky, pouring himself another drink afterward. Ginny didn't try to stop him. If the situation was reversed, Ginny could not kill her family or Theodore. Despite Dumbledore's faults—which Snape was all too aware of—he still cared a great deal for the old man.

"Sir, I know it doesn't mean much but this won't be in vain. I know you don't really care about that—I know I wouldn't. At least, not at the crux of it, I wouldn't. People like you and I use cost-benefit analysis to rationalize our choices and we choose for ourselves and for those that we truly care for. This is our life; it's who we are and it's what we do. You can do it, and you will do itbecause you gave them both your word—and because it is necessary."

There was complete silence between them that spanned for minutes but it wasn't uncomfortable. Ginny was thinking to herself. I sacrificed my relationship with Bill, Charlie, and Remus because it was necessary. I lie, manipulate, and will kill…all because it's necessary.

Snape downed an entire shot before finally looking at Ginny. "I'll be sure to tell my conscience that, Weasley."

"We both know that you'll never be all right with what you'll do to him, but you will go on, sir. It is inevitable…with time." Ginny said, wanting to report what she had to and then leave Snape to his drink. "I've been slowing Draco down with the Vanishing Cabinet. You and the Headmaster will choose the date, and I'll make sure we go ahead and do it."

Snape's reply was to down another shot of fire whisky. Ginny sighed, making her way to the door. Before exiting his study, Ginny told him.

"You're a good man, sir—one of the best that I've ever known and I have known many."

With that said, Ginny was gone.

(May 13, 1997)

"What's it like being in Slytherin?" Harry asked Ginny, who was seated closely to his right with his arm wrapped around her waist under the tree next to the lake.

Ginny looked to her right, smiling at him. "You probably heard all of the same stigmas I heard about it while growing up, but Slytherin House isn't horrible. We have some great people in my house, Harry. Many wear masks that hide how human they really are. Even the best of us aren't the easiest to get along with."

Like Snape.

Harry chuckled, receiving a playful smack on his leg from Ginny. "I'll admit that we aren't likely to trust easily and that we're not likely to do things simply because it's the right thing to do—but that doesn't make us inherently selfish or evil. We're like everyone else; we're just that side of human nature that others tend to want to ignore."

Harry frowned at Ginny questioningly. "What about the likes of Malfoy, Parkinson, Flint, and countless others that I can name?" He asked Ginny, watching her closely.

Ginny reluctantly nodded. "Not every family is like the Weasleys, Harry. Imagine a family like the Malfoys and the Parkinsons. They are rich, they are powerful, and they are old and extremely traditional. From childhood, they are told that no one is their superior. They never interact with muggles or blood traitors; they only meet tons of people who think just like them."

"Sirius was raised in that same environment." Harry said stubbornly.

Ginny smiled. "Yes, Harry, but everyone isn't like Sirius. You also have to remember that Sirius grew up during a wartime. We don't know what he experienced that made him different from his family. We don't know what it was that made him decide to turn his back on his family. I bet that was one of the hardest decisions of his life, though."

Harry shook his head. "It was the best decision of his life."

"The best decisions tend to be the hardest." Ginny said from experience, seeing Harry look down at her thoughtfully.

Ginny closed her eyes, deciding to take a nap on Harry's shoulder. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining down on the castle grounds. Ginny knew that, in a month's time, the castle would no longer feel like home again.

(Early June at 11:00PM)

"Draco?" Ginny asked with surprise after the way he'd burst into her room without so much as a warning.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Astoria asked, glaring at him coldly. Draco ignored her, approaching Ginny's bedside.

"I've done it, Weasley."

Ginny's eyes widened. "You weren't supposed to do it NOW, Draco."

Malfoy's silver eyes flashed at her with irritation and anger. "You're just mad because I didn't let you control me this time. We do this tonight!Besides, I really think I can finish him."

Ginny turned and faced Astoria with a cold, blank look. "Get out."

For once, Astoria didn't argue. Her eyes were slightly wide in fear as she ran from the room, throwing one look of curiosity over her shoulder before leaving. The moment the room door closed, Ginny's left palm connected with the right side of Draco's face. Draco's head snapped to the left, but other than giving her a death glare, he wasn't really bothered. Ginny put up a Silencing Charm around the room, seeing Draco look at her with hateful eyes. Ginny wandlessly disarmed Draco, seeing the boy look afraid for the first time tonight. Ginny scowled at Malfoy, ignoring his pathetic trembling.

"There is a reason why I told you to wait. This isn't something you just do; it has to be planned. Your problem is that you are selfish and care for no one other than yourself." Ginny said, seeing Draco's jaw clench and his eyes look stubbornly back at her. I should have known you wouldn't change.

"You don't care about your parents. If you did, you wouldn't risk them this way. You don't care about anyone who's trying to help you, including me. You know exactly how much Snape and I are risking to help you."

"I DID MY JOB!" Draco yelled, though his face did have small remnants of guilt.

"Are they coming?" Ginny asked sharply, referring to the Death Eaters.

"They'll be here in an hour…or two."

Ginny swore, closing her eyes and running a hand through her blood red hair. "You are coming with me.

Ginny continued. "We're going to stop by Snape's office first and see what we can do about controlling their access to certain parts of the castle." Ginny said, seeing Draco giver her a wary, confused look. "What? You didn't think about the lives that you unnecessarily put at risk by doing this without warning. They will hurt students—they'll kill them if they can, Draco. You, Snape, and I are going to do what we can to prevent that from happening. Now, come on."

Soon, they were headed down the stairwell to the common room. Ginny asked Draco, "Do you know who exactly is coming?"

"How am I supposed to know that?" Draco snapped, and Ginny thrust down her anger before she hurt him.

The moment Ginny reached the Slytherin Common Room, Theodore, who had been seated next to Astoria, approached Ginny and Draco with a concerned, alert look. Apparently, Astoria had told him what happened upstairs. Theodore gave Draco a vicious glare, looking questioningly between her and Malfoy.

"It's happening tonight." Ginny told Theodore, knowing he vaguely knew the gist of what Draco and Ginny had been doing to the Vanishing Cabinet.

"How many are coming?" Theodore asked.

"We don't know." Draco said. The next moment, Theodore had Draco by the front of his robes.

"You watch after her tonight, because if she's hurt in any way, you will answer to me." Theodore breathed at Draco, receiving a reluctant, jerky nod from Malfoy in return. Ginny noticed how silent the room had suddenly become. Crabbe and Goyle stood, and the next moment, were flanking each side of Draco's. Theodore asked, "How long before they're here?"

Draco sighed, "I can give us an hour…maybe an hour and a half but nothing more."

"What is going on?" Astoria asked softly, trying not to be heard by their eavesdropping housemates.

"Be quiet, Astoria. I'll tell you later." Theodore hissed, glaring at the blonde. "Do what you have planned. I'll be locking the entrances and exits to the other houses. No one gets in or out." He said, receiving a relieved smile from Ginny afterward.

"What the hell are you all talking about?" asked a male who was a burly seventh year.

Ginny wandlessly struck the boy with a stunner that emitted from the inside of her hand.

Afterward, she looked around the common room with a cold, hard gaze. "Anyone else has a question?"

Again, total silence.

"I thought not. Let's go." Ginny said to Draco and Theodore. Draco had been telling Crabbe and Goyle to stay behind and keep everyone from following. "I said let's go. No," Ginny said forcefully to Draco's goons. "You are not coming. Now shut up and move."

They didn't argue with her, allowing Draco to leave beside Ginny and Theodore. Once they were outside of Slytherin House, Ginny enchanted the entrance locked. It was a spell of Snape's invention that he had only shared with Ginny and Theodore. They only knew the counter to his locking spell that was combined with an Imperturbable Charm on the entrance/exit.

"I'll start with Hufflepuff and save Gryffindor for last." Theodore said, checking his watch and calculating the distance between each dormitory. "I'll give you thirty minutes before I lock down Gryffindor. It'll take me fifteen to do Ravenclaw Tower."

Ginny nodded, giving Theodore a quick peck on the lips before he Disillusioned himself. She told him to be careful before leaving.

"You, too." Theodore said over his shoulder.

Then, Ginny heard his footsteps take off up the stairs at a run, knowing that Theodore was more concerned about whether or not Daniel was within the safety of Ravenclaw Tower. Ginny turned to her left, seeing an impatient look on Draco's face. They both heard banging and blasting aimed at the house entrance/exit. Ginny wasn't concerned: No one was getting in or out of Slytherin House tonight, other than Theodore, Snape, or Ginny herself.

"Draco, I don't know how much time we have left or even if they're already here but I need for you to—."

"Wait," Draco said, reaching in his pocket and removing a gold galleon. "Dumbledore and Potter have been spotted in Hogsmeade."

"Protean Charm?" Ginny asked Draco, seeing him nod. She didn't care to know the details surrounding his use of the coin.

"They just left. If I get to the room, I can tell them to hold off until the old man returns." Draco said hastily.

"Do that then." Ginny said, watching Draco get ready to leave. "You should wait on the Astronomy tower so you can see them when they get back. Draco, do nothing until Snape and the others are there to back you up. That is crucial, do you understand?"

"You want Snape to have all the glory for himself." Draco sneered down at Ginny. "I can and will kill that old man. You wait and see."

I don't have time to argue with you, idiot. Ginny thought as she glared Draco, who understood her look perfectly.

"Oh, we will see, Draco. Now, go!"

Ginny then ran to Snape's private study, grateful that it wasn't very far from their house entrance/exit. Ginny didn't bother knocking on the man's door; she burst inside, being greeted by Snape's wand. He had it in his hand, aimed directly at Ginny as he sat in a chair behind his desk.

There was a lethal look to Snape's eyes as he asked, "What—is—it?"

"Draco went ahead and finished the cabinet. He contacted the others," Ginny said almost nervously, watching Snape give Ginny a look that was beyond furious.

"I told you not to show him how to fix it." Snape said viciously, making Ginny flinch with the harshness of his voice. "You said you had him under control."

"I can't watch him all day everyday!"

Snape sighed. "How long before they're here?"

"Draco was just informed that Dumbledore and Harry were seen in Hogsmeade," Ginny said, seeing Snape look unsurprised by that news. "Malfoy said he could give us an hour but nothing more. No, he doesn't know who's coming or how many there will be. There's no way that more than ten could come through that cabinet. I enchanted it to be that way."

"At least you can do something right." Snape said, standing up from behind his desk and approaching Ginny. "I cannot leave this office at the moment; it would be too suspicious. Dumbledore showed you how to alert the Order, correct?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes, sir."

Snape gave Ginny a curt nod. "Then you have to be quick and call no more than ten here. Make sure you find Granger and your brother. Those two attract the most deadliest heat like moths to a flame. Go."

Ginny closed her eyes, focusing on a happy memory of her and Theodore over Christmas. Her horse patronus appeared before her. Ginny embedded her message in her patronus, watching it gallop out of Snape's office to contact all Order members already present in the castle. If more were needed, it would go to headquarters and sound the alert there.

Ginny ran after the horse—that is, until she reached the Great Hall. Ginny took off up the stairs, headed for Gryffindor Tower. She ran all the way up the seven flights of stairs, because she was determined to find Ron and Hermione before they were possibly ambushed unexpectedly by Death Eaters. Ginny halted outside of the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Are Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger inside?" She asked with a winded voice.

"It is well after curfew," The Fat Lady replied, giving Ginny a scandalized look.

"I asked you a question!" Ginny raged at the stupid portrait, seeing the lady look offended. "Are they inside?"

Before the Fat Lady could answer, the portrait swung open to reveal Neville, Ron, and Hermione. They were frowning at the disturbance that Ginny had made in the corridor.

Ginny was about to apologize before Hermione said, "That was incredibly fast. I just put the message on the D.A. galleon."

Ginny waved her comment aside, "I was coming anyway to ask Harry out for a late night stroll. Where is he?" She lied.

A sad, worried look filled Hermione's eyes. Ginny saw Ron put a comforting arm across the girl's shoulder. Then, Hermione answered: "He went with Dumbledore. You know how anxious he was to finally get a chance to destroy one." She said, referring to the Horcrux indirectly in front of Neville.

Ginny nodded. "Okay, so why are you using the coins then?"

"Harry heard Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement," Ron said. "We all know that's not a good thing so we need to be on the lookout. That's why we have the coins. Here, drink this. It's Felix Felicis."

Ginny took the vial from Ron and swallowed a small sip of the potion, not bothering to mention the fact that luck could be either good or bad. She handed the vial back to Ron, who passed it off to Hermione.

"So what are we doing now?" Ginny asked the girl.

Hermione said, "You, Neville, and Ron can keep an eye on the Room of Requirement. I'm going to meet up with Luna on the fourth floor. She's already messaged me."

Neville frowned at Hermione. "What will you two be doing?"

"We'll be outside Snape's office." She answered, addressing Ron next. "Don't forget to check the map so you can find Harry the moment he's back."

After that reminder, Hermione walked off down the hall to find Luna. Ginny, Ron, and Neville departed, rounding a single corner to the left that led to the outside of the Room of Requirement. As they stood outside the room, Ginny wondered how long it would take the Order to arrive. Ten minutes later, Ginny saw Lupin, Tonks, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick headed towards them in a hurry. Ginny's Patronus had instructed the Order members to come to the seventh floor corridor.

"Why?" McGonagall began, struggling to find the words as she watched them sternly. "What are you all doing out of your house at this hour? Explain yourselves."

While Ron and Neville fumbled for an excuse, Ginny was steered aside by Lupin. Tonks followed them.

"Was that your patronus?" Tonks asked her.

Ginny nodded. "I sent it after hearing Draco Malfoy bragging in the commons about figuring out a way to let the Death Eaters in." Ginny said quietly so that she wasn't heard by the others.

"But that still doesn't answer how you spelled your patronus to communicate with us." Tonks said, looking at Ginny with deep scrutiny. "That's a secret of the Order."

Ginny shared a pointed look with Lupin. She told Tonks, "Never mind how I know. By now, the patronus has reached Hagrid. Knowing him, he won't come inside unless we're desperate."

Before Tonks could say anything else, Ginny saw Bill and three other Order members walking down the corridor toward them. Bill walked over to Ginny, giving her a quick hug before asking her what was going on. Ginny was able to glimpse the others still talking amongst themselves. They were using the Marauder's Map to coordinate their patrolling, Ginny guessed.

Ginny tugged on Bill's sleeve, leaving Lupin and Tonks together to talk. "To make a long story short, some Death Eaters will be leaving that room," Ginny said, pointing to the stone wall that the room was behind, "—very soon. I don't know how soon, Bill."

Bill looked at Ginny thoughtfully. "How do you know?" He asked, but after seeing Ginny's impatient look, he said: "Forget it. Just stay close to me."

Ginny nodded, surprising Bill with how easily she'd agreed. "I don't plan on letting you or Ron out of my sight for a second tonight. Just don't be alarmed if you can't see me all the time. I might Disillusion myself."

Bill nodded, offering Ginny a small smile that was filled with wary. Remus and Tonks soon rejoined them. Ginny noticed the speculating look that the Auror gave her, but Ginny ignored Tonks. Instead, she walked over to the wall opposite of the Room of Requirement. She leaned her back against the opposite wall, clutching her wand in her right hand almost lazily. Ginny saw Bill, Tonks, and Remus walk over to McGonagall, Ron, Flitwick, Neville, and the three others.

Ginny was simply biding her time. Sometimes Bill, Tonks, and Remus would throw her questioning looks but Ginny was mostly focused on the wall that hid the Room of Requirement.

"How've you been, Ginny?" Neville asked her, joining Ginny to her left as he looked at both ends of the corridor.

"I'm okay. You?"

"All right," Neville said with a false chipper voice. Afterward, they both shared a weak laugh. "So you and Harry at last, yeah?"

Ginny forced a small smile. She nodded at Neville, while wondering if Theodore had made it back to Slytherin House by now. "Yeah." She said lamely.

The conversation was going southward by then, so instead, Neville changed the topic. "They're pretty much repeating themselves. Ron's checking the map for Harry, Hermione, and Luna. Flitwick and those three other people I don't know are going to get Snape and some more professors. Now, they're all wondering where the Headmaster and Harry are, and how soon they'll be getting back."

Ginny looked at Neville, seeing that he looked both very anxious and nervous. "You might want to get your wand at the ready, Neville. That door is going to open at any moment, and we don't know exactly what's going to come out from behind it."

Neville nodded with an incredibly pale face. "Right." He gulped.

A comfortable silence spanned between them afterward. It was another twenty minutes before the door finally opened. Ginny's shield came forth at the right time, rebounding three spells that had been fired out of the room door. Neville had not been so lucky. One of the spells had ricocheted off her shield and struck him in the arm. Before Ginny could help him, she saw Draco with a shriveled arm in his hand. Then, the hall became pitch black.

"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," Ginny heard Ron yell.

Ginny had helped Fred and George perfect the powder formula; therefore, she knew how to instantly reverse its effects. She hadn't planned on doing so, because she didn't think the Death Eaters would engage them in the dark. They couldn't see either. Yet, Ginny could hear spell after spell being fired and they were of a lethal sort as they made the stone walls crumble around them.

By the time Ginny ended the darkness, Draco was no longer in sight. She assumed that he'd gone to the Astronomy Tower, which was also on this floor. Immediately after the darkness ended, Ginny saw an enormous blond Death Eater wildly firing multiple curses around the corridor at them. Everyone was busy dueling a Death Eater, Ginny noticed, seeing the Carrows and four others that were masked. The blond Death Eater began releasing a stream of multiple Killing Curses. With a flick of her wand, Ginny surrounded the man in an invisible metallic box on all four sides. All of his Killing Curses rebounded back at him.

Ginny didn't even have time to watch the man's body hit the ground. Suddenly, she was dueling Fenrir Greyback. She was toying with him. Ginny couldn't kill him for obvious reasons and they both knew that.

"You smell good." He growled at her, aiming an Avada Kedavra at her that she barely dodged. "Let me have a taste." He leered at Ginny. Afterward, she blasted him into the wall across the Room of Requirement.

"Ginny," Bill said loudly, suddenly appearing to her left. "Are you okay? You barely missed that curse."

Ginny was in the process of telling him that she was fine—that is, before she was powerfully shoved aside like she weighed nothing. The hit felt like a tackle that had knocked the breath out of her body. As Ginny lay sprawled on the floor, she could hear tussling on the ground in front of her. After her vision cleared, she looked up and saw Bill struggling to push Greyback off of him. Greyback was using his wolf strength to pin Bill to the ground. He quickly drew back his hand, and in a flash, he used his razor sharp fingernails to slash open Bill's face.

"NO!" Ginny shouted, hastily scrambling to her feet. There was so much blood afterward that pooled around Bill. Ginny forgot her wand, striking Greyback with a Sectumsempra that cut the beast's back open.

It was Greyback's wolf strength that allowed him to hurriedly stand and limp down the corridor with a predatory smile on his face. Ginny saw Bill's blood on Greyback's lips. She'd seen the monster put his fingernails in his mouth, tasting her brother's blood as he watched her. My blood, Ginny thought to herself. All reason left her. She ran after Greyback but didn't get far at all. Strong arms had encircled her waist.

"Let me go! I said let go!" Ginny's magic lashed out at the person holding her. Ginny heard a man's cry and looked behind her, seeing Lupin's hands with severe burn marks on them. Ginny looked down the corridor, seeing Greyback give her an evil, challenging grin.

Ginny easily forgot about Remus as he lay on the ground—that is, until he spoke to her. "Bill needs you, Ginny. Don't leave him."

Her gaze was still on the werewolf, whose yellow eyes gave her a greedy, lewd look before he ran up the steps that led to the Astronomy Tower. Ginny ran to Bill's side, dropping down on the floor next to him. It didn't matter that her legs were soaked in Bill's blood. She leveled her wand at Bill's face, using healing spells of her own to remove most traces of the lycanthropy curse from Bill's cut. Ginny didn't have the time that was needed to sow up the flesh on Bill's face. Ginny also didn't have the potions to treat Bill's blood loss.

Suddenly, Ginny heard a loud shriek of pain from Tonks. After looking away from Bill, Ginny saw the Auror being thrown through the air. Ginny had to duck and shield Bill because the woman landed so close to them. Ginny saw Remus aim a stream of stunners at the masked Death Eater, forcing the man on the run. Ginny noticed that the Death Eater was running in the direction of the Astronomy Tower.

Pure rage exploded throughout Ginny, and it only heightened after hearing a moan filled with pain emit from Bill. Without hesitating, Ginny made a jabbing motion with her wand in the direction of the Death Eater. With a cry, the man fell to the ground in a bloody heap. He was masked, but Ginny knew the Bludgeoning Curse had literally shattered the man's skull and brain.

"You killed him." Remus said breathlessly, looking at the body with horrified eyes.

"Check her." Ginny said coldly, looking at Tonks. "She was thrown pretty hard."

Ginny's attention turned back to Bill. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling tears streaming down her face. Ginny's vision became blurred. Nothing mattered—not the battle raging around her, or the stray curses. All she could feel was guilt for what had happened to Bill…and rage. How could I have been stupid enough to not finish Greyback? So fucking stupid!

"Ginny, you okay?" A now conscious Tonks asked, placing a hand on Ginny's back. "You're crying, sweetie."

Ginny shook her head as if to clear it of all thoughts. She sniffed, while wiping furiously at her tears. Suddenly, there was the sound of running footsteps at the end of the corridor. The sound made Ginny, Tonks, and Lupin look down that way. They saw Snape headed for the Astronomy Tower. Another wave of guilt and sadness filled Ginny, knowing what was awaiting the Headmaster tonight.

Ginny focused on Bill once more. "Ferula." She said, bandaging Bill's face securely. "Tonks, take my brother to the infirmary. Make sure Madam Pomfrey starts on him immediately."

"But—."

"JUST DO IT!"

Tonks gave her a wide-eyed, stunned look before nodding. "Yeah, okay."

Ginny sighed. "I'm sorry." She said tiredly, taking a good look at Tonks right then. "Get your head seen to while you're there. The top of it is a bloody mess."

The young Auror offered her a small smile before saying, "I'll take good care of him, Ginny." To Remus, she said. "I'll hurry back."

Ginny watched Tonks levitate Bill away on a stretcher down the corridor. To Ginny's right stood Remus, who she ignored as she vanished Bill's blood on her pants.

"Why are they all headed for the Tower?" Lupin asked Ginny seconds later.

Ginny was about to answer, when suddenly, there was a mad rush of Death Eaters running down the steps that led to (and away from) the Astronomy tower. In front of them was Snape, who had Draco closely behind him at the end of the corridor. Other Death Eaters, including Greyback, followed them as Snape and Malfoy took off toward the sixth corridor.

It's been done then, Ginny realized.

Seconds later, Ginny saw Harry running so fast that he looked like a blur. He'd come down the steps, too. Oh, no, he saw it.

Both Lupin and Ginny ran in the direction that Harry was headed, trying to catch up to him. Harry, however, was moving extremely fast. Ginny could feel his anger and desperation. She could feel the intensity of his power, confimring that he'd witnessed Dumbledore's end.

Ginny ran faster than Lupin. She reached Harry in no time, but Amycus Carrow was forcing her back with his spells. "Crucio—Crucio—you can't dance forever, pretty."

"Impedimenta!" Harry yelled, sending the man rearing into a wall.

"HARRY!" Ginny shouted at the top of her lungs, watching him quickly round the corner and leave her sight.

Ginny didn't hesitate to follow him. No one, other than Hagrid, was down there to truly help Harry defend against so many Death Eaters. Ginny knew that Snape wouldn't be able to help Harry if the boy was captured by a single Death Eater, and so she gave chase to the one and only Harry Potter.

(The Next Day in the Infirmary)

"Mum, Dad, Fleur," Ginny said, seeing them each look up at Ginny curiously. "Professor McGonagall says it's urgent to see you all in the headmaster's office." Ginny lied.

"Are you sure?" Molly asked Ginny.

Ginny nodded, looking past her Mum at Bill. He was awake, looking at Ginny emotionlessly. "I'm positive. She said something about Order business."

"We'll be back soon, dear." Mum told Bill, kissing him on the forehead quickly before standing.

"See you, son." Arthur said, touching Bill's right shoulder before looking at Fleur questioningly. "Are you coming, Fleur?"

"No," Fleur said; her eyes never left Bill's face. "Et cannot be zat important."

Molly, Ginny noticed, had warmed considerably to Fleur. She gave the blond a warm smile before leaving the infirmary with Dad.

Ginny stepped up to the left side of Bill's bed. "Fleur, I'm going to try to heal Bill's face." Ginny said, hearing Bill take in a sharp breath while Fleur looked at Ginny incredulously. "I need for you both to trust me. I think I can do it—especially since Greyback wasn't turned when he slashed his face. Will you let me?" Ginny asked Bill.

For the longest, Bill simply stared at her. Then, he gave Ginny an abrupt nod.

Ginny told Fleur, "Make sure no one comes inside and sees."

Ginny placed the tip of her wand to Bill's scar, saying: "Cicatrix Converterent."

Instantly, Bill's scar emitted a golden glow. Ginny could see Bill's blue eyes widening; he was staring up at Ginny in surprise. Ginny knew the healing spell made one feel like every muscle in a particular area was contracting; in reality, they were contracting to squeeze out all traces of the Dark curse that was preventing one from healing.

Ginny had created this healing spell after receiving one too many Dark Cutting Curses (not hexes) from Voldemort, who'd chosen cutting curses to permanently scar (and remind) Ginny about either his lessons or his displeasure. Ginny's spell could only be used on fresh cuts or lacerations within twenty-four hours; after that, the curse was too embedded in the persons body (particularly their immune system) and in their magic for the curse to be removed without killing them. Ginny could feel the curse; after twelve hours, it had not fully bonded to Bill's magic and immune system.

"Et es working." Fleur said with surprise, staring at Bill with her mouth shaped like an O.

The golden glow ended. Ginny looked down at Bill's face, seeing that most of the damage was reversed. He would always have a pale, slashing mark across his face. The scar, however, no longer made his facial skin distorted and jagged. His face was smooth and almost completely back to normal.

Fleur was gaping at Bill, as he used his wand to conjure a mirror. He touched his face, staring at his reflection in wonder. Then, he looked at Ginny and said, "How?"

Ginny gave him a small smile, sighing afterward. "I'll explain later. I have to go before Mum and Dad get back. They'll be angry because I lied."

Bill grabbed Ginny's hand, stopping her from leaving. "We will talk later." He said firmly.

Ginny nodded, seeing Bill look less severe. He released her hand, and Ginny turned, leaving the infirmary. Before she could exit the threshold of the door, Bill said two words that made her halt.

"Thank you."

Ginny didn't turn around or even say anything in reply. Over the corner of her shoulder, Ginny saw Bill and Fleur holding one another with joy on their faces. She smiled to herself as she left the young couple in the infirmary.

I stole the title from Eminem!