Hello, hello!

Right a bit of a warning. The next chapter (the one after this one...so you can't say I didn't give you ample warning) is going to be slightly unsavoury. We're heading back into the realm of darker things that happen in this fic, so if that kind of thing bothers you etc, please be warned that that is where we are going. Seriously, I want you all to take care of yourselves.

I also wanted to add that you all are probably not going to like me for the next couple of chapters, I'm just letting you know in advance. I'm sorry. Well I mean, I'm a little sorry, it was fun to write, so I'm sorry about certain parts, but I'm also proud of what I have done. I am so, very, very torn.

I know the last chapter was a bit filler-ish, but it did serve a purpose, and it did have meaning. It was basically laying the groundwork for where we're going now. Again, I am sorry.

Thank you to everyone who reads, follows and likes this story, seriously, thank you. I love all of your lovely reviews, and hopefully you will be merciful on me even though I know that you probably won't like me very much by the end of this chapter.

My tumblr: indiebluecrown. tumblr. com

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.

*Hides behind hands, anxiously awaiting to see your reactions*

Monday, April 6th, 1998

Theo knew that Ginny was keeping something from him. When Theo woke up yesterday morning the sheets beside him were ice cold; instinctively he ran his fingers across them as he tried to think where she could have gone.

Blaise was still asleep in the attic, Gwen and Charlie were still fast asleep in their room. Theo wasn't sure if he was uncomfortable about Gwen shutting her door since Charlie had come to stay with them. Part of him wanted to stay something to Charlie, but the main part of him argued against the very idea. He wanted to make sure he treated his sister right, but he knew that Gwen could handle herself.

When Ginny did come home she wiped her shoes off on the mat, strolled over to the couch, leaning down to kiss his cheek before heading for their room. Theo frowned, especially when a husky scent mixed in with salt air wafted off of her.

For the rest of the day she kept to herself, holed up in their room, legs tucked under their duvet as she scribbled away furiously on pieces of parchment. He hadn't even asked what she was writing; something told him she wasn't going to tell him. The clothes she had on that morning strewn on the ground next to her side of the bed; she was now wearing a thin, long-sleeved white shirt and navy blue and powder blue plaid shorts.

The few times she emerged from her sanctuary was when she had run out of coffee. Thinking back the only thing he saw her eat all day was a bagel smothered in cream cheese.

This morning when he woke up, the sheets' warmth was almost gone, and once again Ginny was nowhere to be seen. Theo found it largely disconcerting since he was so accustomed to warm sheets, a witch in his bed or at the very least the sound of the shower coming from the bathroom. This time however his witch had left him a note on his bedside table. Theo rolled onto his side, holding the piece of folded parchment between his index finger and middle finger, the smell of chocolates and mint strong as he unfolded it. Smiling at his girlfriend's familiar cursive handwriting.

Teddy,

I left early so that I would get to King's Cross relatively early. It has also occurred to me that the Carrows may be suspicious of where I spent my Easter Holiday seeing as I 'don't know' where my family is. I needed some time this morning to think of a story. I'm not exactly sure what to tell them, but hopefully I'll figure it out before the train ride to Hogwarts is over. I love you and I'll see you tonight.

Love,

Red.

P.S. Tell Gwen and Charlie not to break anything when they shag all over the house once we're all gone.

Theo sighed deeply, head sinking into his pillow as threw his arm over his eyes, the letter still in his hand. Theo heard movement from outside his door, recognising Blaise and Gwen's voices. If Blaise was up it meant that it was late. Theo sighed again, sitting up and throwing his sheets off of him. It was time to get ready before they missed the ruddy train.

...

Theo and Blaise arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters minutes before the train was meant to leave. They wanted to prolong the inevitable as long as they possibly could. At least that's what Blaise said as Theo tried to get the Italian to get a move on. Blaise was very lackadaisical about the whole thing, Theo almost yanked his hair out when Blaise was eating his toast. "Can you eat, any slower?" Theo had asked as his dark skinned friend merely appraised him with a nonplussed expression. "I'm not really looking forward to going back to the depths of hell. I'm sorry I'm not more ecstatic that we'll be back there tonight. It's been nice that good ol' Dark Lordy hasn't really asked us to do many missions after he flipped the fuck out about Dray and his parents."

Currently Theo and Blaise were looking for the compartment Pansy and Daphne would have saved for them, and out of the corner of his eye he caught a flash of ginger hair and he spotted Ginny.

Ginny was sitting by the window on the right hand side. Again she was scribbling away like her life depended on it, smiling and occasionally joining in the conversation with the other girls in her compartment. Minutes later when Ginny looked through the glass of the sliding compartment door, Theo and Blaise were long gone.

….

Pansy was suspiciously eyeing Blaise and Theo on the opposite side of the compartment. One leg crossed over the other, arms folded across her chest, sitting almost regally, Daphne was avoiding meeting Blaise's eye by staring out at the scenery as it flew by, face propped up in her palm as she leaned against the armrest by the window.

"Ok, I think this foolishness has gone on long enough," Pansy scowled, pulling her wand out of her robes pocket and flicking it whilst muttering incantations under her breath. The blind on the compartment door was drawn, a locking spell on the door as well as a Muffliato were cast in quick succession.

"Where are Draco and his parents, why do you look like a kicked dog and pray tell why are the two of you being absolutely ridiculous?" Pansy aimed the second question at Theo and the final at Blaise and Daphne.

"Pardon me?" Daphne narrowed her eyes, the rock on her left hand catching the light as she turned to face Pansy.

"You heard me, watching you two is actually painful," Pansy said frankly, raising an eyebrow.

"Draco and his parents are safe," Theo answered blankly, turning to look out of the window. Thoughts occupied by his significant other and wondering what it was that she was being so secretive about.

"Good. Now I repeat, why do you look like a kicked mutt?" Pansy pressed, Theo glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Why should I tell you that?" Theo queried.

"Theo just tell me, I'm not going to use it against you," Pansy sighed deeply, leaning forward, hands moving into her lap.

There was silence for a long, pregnant moment before he turned to face Pansy. "Make an Oath."

Pansy pursed her lips, deliberating internally as she made her decision. "How bad is it?"

"Bad isn't exactly the appropriate word," Blaise drawled, pulling a flask out of his pocket, Daphne frowned deeply when he tipped it to his lips; it wasn't Firewhisky like she suspected but water.

"Well then, I Pansy Parkinson pledge on my magic that whatever you tell me now, I will not disclose said information to any persons outside of this compartment or anyone that you do not want me to tell," Pansy raised the hand with her wand in it, which glowed faintly for a brief moment.

"That was a mouthful, Pans," Blaise whistled lowly.

"Daphne," Theo looked at the honey blonde expectantly.

"Fine," Daphne rolled her eyes, "I Daphne Greengrass swear on my magic that whatever you tell me at this time will not be discussed with anyone you do not want me to."

"First of all, you can't tell anyone until the War is done...and until The Dark Lord is defeated and the light prevails and all that shit," Blaise added quickly.

"I fucking knew it!" Pansy exclaimed gleefully, "I knew you had defected!"

"Congrats, you want a gold star?" Theo quirked an eyebrow, fully facing the two girls now, rubbing his hands together, forearms leaning on his thighs.

"Sod off, Nott," Pansy hissed, but nodded for him to continue with whatever else he was going to say.

"I am with Ginevra Weasley," Theo said simply, scrutinising the girls and preparing himself for the outbursts that were bound to happen.

"When you say 'with' do you mean on her side or do you mean that you're in a relationship with her?" Daphne asked reticently, wringing her hands in her lap.

"I am in love with her," Theo said in a firm tone, pale blue eyes darting between the girls. Pansy had an impassive expression on her face.

"So you're telling me that not only did you defect, but you're in love with a Weasley?" Pansy raised a finger, asking for confirmation. Theo replied with a curt nod.

"Oh, this is too good," Pansy grinned brightly, "little Theodore Nott has more balls than I originally thought."

"Piss off, Parkinson," Theo said, acid dripping in his tone.

"Well if you must know, I also want the Dark Lord to be defeated," Pansy said in a snooty tone.

"Why? You don't have to be a Death Eater, but you get all the benefits that your Father reaps from being one," Blaise asked her, taking another swig from his flask.

"He's insane, Blaise!" Pansy responded hotly, "he hasn't shied away from killing Purebloods and under his tyrannical rule nothing good is going to happen. Dementors roaming around freely, deranged bitches like Bellatrix on the loose, and even I have enough of a heart to tell you that practicing Unforgivables on Mud-Muggleborns is wrong."

"Hopefully Potter knows what he's doing," Theo said, raking a hand through his dark curls.

Pansy artfully flicked some of her dead straight dark hair over her shoulder, sharp eyes trained on Theo. "If there's one thing I know about Potter, is that trouble follows him like a shadow, but somehow, he always figures out a way out of it. If anyone can do it, he can."

"That was almost nice," Blaise's jaw dropped, flabbergasted.

"As far as anyone is concerned, I didn't say a word," Pansy smiled sweetly, voice covered in honey.

After that there wasn't much to say, Theo could see that Pansy was itching to ask more about Draco, but her pride wouldn't allow it. The remainder of the train ride to Hogwarts was fairly silent, a few words here and there, but for the majority there was a comfortable silence. Red, I hope whatever it is, you know what you're doing, Theo thought to himself. I really do.

...

Flashback

Friday, 27th March, 1998

Sirius and Remus had come over as soon as they could get away. Harry saw them approaching the cottage with an urgency rivalled by no other, kicking up sand as they walked. He looked to his right just as the two men burst into the cottage, the morning light shining across their backs, casting long shadows on the light floors in front of them.

"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed as he rushed towards him, pulling the raven haired boy into a bone-crushing hug. Harry didn't mind until he noticed Sirius's hold on him didn't loosen, even after a few minutes of rocking back and forth.

"Sirius-"

"Shhh, Harry. This way you can't run off again," Sirius whispered gently in Harry's ear, softly petting his head of unruly hair.

"You're just going to hug me until the War is over?" Harry asked incredulously, looking over Sirius's shoulder at Remus, pleading with his eyes. Remus shrugged, smiling, amused by the whole situation.

"If it'll keep you from running off and doing foolhardy things, then so be it," Sirius responded.

"You're telling someone not to do foolhardy things?" Draco had come downstairs, probably to see what all the ruckus was about, and was now leaning against the wall a few feet away from Harry and Sirius.

"Cousin!" Sirius grinned crookedly, "I knew I smelled spoiled little rich boy somewhere."

"Touché," Draco smirked, pushing up off of the wall and striding over to the two raven haired men. Stopping a few inches away, feet spread apart slightly, his arms crossed. "I'm afraid you're going to have to let Potty go, we need him to save the Wizarding World and all that."

"Hey! I thought we were done with all that, Malfoy!" Harry protested, though his voice was slightly muffled as Sirius had tightened his hold on Harry; something he did not think was possible.

"Potter, there are a few things I have left in life that I enjoy at my fingertips, riling you up happens to be one of them. It doesn't mean that I don't...tolerate you," Draco's brow furrowed as he said the last part, "it simply means that it is entertaining, and you play the part of the 'enraged Gryffindor' so well."

"Draco, behave," Hermione said as she too joined them. Her hair was still damp from her shower, and she was wearing a long-sleeved emerald green shirt and a faded pair of blue jeans. She never said it aloud, but they knew that she was self conscious about the scar on her forearm; she loathed to see it.

"I always behave," Draco said in an affronted tone, hand moving to his chest in faux shock. Hermione gave him a loaded look, smirking when he scowled at her.

"Okay, Padfoot. Don't you think that I should be able to hug Harry as well," Remus asked.

"I would love to let you, Moony...but who knows what'll happen in the span of time it takes to move from my arms to yours," Sirius was looking over his shoulder at Remus, who rolled his eyes.

"I think it's safe to assume that Harry will not vanish walking two feet, if that," Remus shook his head, still mildly amused.

Sirius shoved out his bottom lip, "you have no idea what he's capable of," Sirius insisted in an eerie tone, grasping at the fabric of Harry's hoodie, ensuring that he had a tight hold on it.

"Padfoot," Remus said in a stern, scolding tone. "Release Harry before I have to pull you off of him."

Sirius narrowed his eyes at Remus, glancing at Harry out of the corner of his eyes; who was innocently blinking up at him. Breathing in deeply through his nostrils, he finally relented and released Harry from his clutches.

"If he runs away, it's your fault," Sirius said pointedly, wagging his finger at Remus; who had stepped forward and embraced Harry. His touch a little more gentle than Sirius's.

"I'm glad you're back, Harry," Remus murmured, his genuity clinging tightly to every word.

"Glad to be back, Professor," Harry said in a teasing tone, guffawing when Remus scowled. Their hug didn't last anywhere near as long as his with Sirius had, but that didn't make it any less meaningful. They were the closest thing he had to parents. He knew that Sirius and Remus would never call him their son, their boy, Harry, their responsibility maybe, but never their son. Sirius told him once, after Dumbledore's death, when Harry had wept in his arms, sobbing that he could have done something, that he should have done something.

"Harry, there was nothing you could do, Dumbledore didn't want you getting involved."

"I was useless, Sirius, absolutely useless," Harry said in between wet gasps.

"Harry you are never useless, trust me, if your parents could see you now...they would be so proud of you, my boy," Sirius said, voice thick with emotion. Sirius shifted so that Harry was crying into his shoulder, the boy clinging to fistfuls of his shirt, Sirius rubbed soothing circles across his back; hating to hear such pained sobs coming from someone he loved so dearly.

"Where are Molly and Arthur? We need to discuss details of moving them to Muriel's place," Remus pursed his lips.

"Upstairs, probably still asleep," Hermione answered, "they were up late discussing something."

"Well, until then, who's hungry?" Sirius clapped his hands, rubbing them together afterwards, already heading in the direction of the kitchen.

"Padfoot! You're not allowed near stoves anymore! We don't want Molly's kitchen to explode!" Remus hurriedly followed after his friend.

"That was one time, Moony!" Harry heard Sirius protest, sharing a look with Draco and Hermione; all deciding to follow after the animagus and werewolf. Molly would not be happy if she came downstairs to the kitchen in disarray. Harry smiled to himself as he made his way through the house, somehow things didn't seem that abysmal anymore.

….

Friday, 10th April, 1998

Luna was sitting on the sand by the sea, just in reach of the tide so when it came in, it washed over her toes. Her hair was blowing about, she was barefoot and wearing a pale peach sundress that Fleur had lent her, that came to her knees and had thin straps. She was humming a jovial tone, wriggling her toes in the wet sand when he joined her.

Harry sat on the sand next to her, looking less haggard and worn down than when he had gotten here two weeks ago. Freshly shaven, though his hair was still past his shoulders and perpetually unruly.

The house was now relatively empty in comparison to how it had been when practically the entire Weasley clan had been here, with Draco, Hermione, Ron, Fleur, Bill, Ollivander, Griphook, Luna and Dobby being the only ones left.

"Hello, Harry," Luna smiled dreamily at the boy next to her.

"Luna," Harry smiled back happily; he wasn't sure what it was, but for the past couple weeks, seeing Luna made his heart squeeze and he felt immensely happier just being in her presence.

"Do you think that water sprites are shy since they never come out to play during the day?" Luna asked seriously, peering at the waves.

"I should think so," Harry answered back, just as seriously. Most people thought Luna was off her rocker whenever she talked about various creatures, but Harry was learning that she knew a lot more than most people gave her credit for. She was brilliant in her own way, and Harry was beginning to understand her better. Well, as much as one could understand Luna Lovegood.

"Harry, are you worried about Ginny?" Luna reached over and smoothed one of his eyebrows so that the hair was all going in one direction.

"A little, I'm guessing you have an idea about what we want to do then?" Harry raised an eyebrow, he wouldn't be surprised if she did.

"I have an inkling, do be careful Harry," Luna turned her silvery blue eyes on him, and he found himself getting lost in their depths.

"I'm always careful, Lu," Harry grinned crookedly. Luna surprised him when she leaned over and gently pressed her lips to his.

"Do you promise?" Luna asked, tilting her head to the side, her hair pooling in her lap and brushing the sand.

"I promise," Harry swallowed thickly, Luna reached out with her right hand and threaded her fingers with his left, her head moving to rest on his shoulder.

They sat like that for hours, gently conversing and keeping each other company. Harry's mind drifted back to the promise that he had just made Luna, and he hoped that he could keep it. I'm going to try my best to keep her safe, Luna. I promise, Harry swore to himself once more, the salt air blowing through his hair. Hoping desperately that things didn't go horribly wrong, he couldn't live with himself if Ginny died unnecessarily.

...

Monday, April 13th, 1998

Theo was lying on his back on top of his sheets on his bed. Staring blankly at his cream ceiling, wondering if he stared long enough he would begin to see the paint peel. Theo had essentially lied to Amycus earlier, the man had raised his eyebrows meaningfully at Theo in order to convey the question that need not be spoken anymore, as he had seen it so much that he automatically knew what he meant. 'Do you have a task for the Dark Lord or some other Death Eater business to do?' Theo had given the man a sharp nod before grabbing his things and leaving.

Hours had passed since then, mind numbing hours where the ceiling suddenly seemed infinitely more interesting that everything else in the house.

Nothing made sense anymore. Ginny wasn't talking to him, cordial glances as she passed by him and subtle nods when no one was looking was drastically different from how it was before school started back.

He hadn't seen Draco since he left Shell Cottage and returned to their cottage, their safe haven, the place where everything dreadful and heinous was kept at bay.

The main thing that bothered him was that smell, it clung to Ginny heavily whenever he passed by her. He knew that smell, it seemed so familiar, yet he couldn't put his finger on it.

The light faded from the room, the sky a dark, black expanse, the stars shining brightly, mocking him. Sounds of Gwen and Charlie bustling about the kitchen as they both attempted to make something that resembled dinner filled his ears; he still did not move.

Numb. Thoughts flying through his mind, every worst case scenario playing through his mind in painstaking detail.

Then it came to him, sharply slicing through the darkness, confusion and doubt that had clouded his mind for the last couple weeks. "Potter."

...

Tuesday, April 14th, 1998

Shell Cottage

"You're both insane," Draco said in disbelief, arms crossed, sitting down in the armchair in the room he shared with Hermione, as Ginny and Harry stood in front of him. Grim determination splayed across their faces. "Insane."

"I thought so at first," Harry began and Ginny hit his arm a little too hard to be construed as playful. Shooting the ginger a dirty look he turned back to Draco, "if it works though...it would be the solution to a few of our problems."

"Okay boys, I'd really like to stay but classes start soon and Alecto has been watching me with an uncomfortable intensity as of late," Ginny said, moving to pull Harry in a quick hug, stepping in front of Draco, leaning down to kiss his cheek and hug him tightly.

"Be careful, Red," Draco whispered in her ear before he let her go, she nodded curtly at him. She didn't give anyone a chance to say anything else before she was out of the door.

"Potter she can die if anything, and I mean anything doesn't go according to plan," Draco said in a tone which Harry almost mistook for nonchalant; that was before he saw the icy glare Draco fixed him with. "She's my family and unless we are one hundred percent sure this is going to work, and that we have a plan for every possible outcome...she is not doing this."

"I find when we plan out things it never really works," Harry rubbed the back of his neck, his other hand moving to fix his glasses back properly on the bridge of his nose.

"Well you've never planned anything out with me before, now have you?" Draco drawled lazily, clicking his teeth together.

"Fair enough…" Harry's bright green eyes sparkled with a bit of mischief, this was a crazy, deranged plan, but if they pulled it off, it would be the crazy, deranged plan that worked. If Sirius or Remus had been there at that moment, they would have probably scolded Harry for this insane plan but at the same time be suggesting pointers and ideas. They were the Kings of crazy, deranged plans.

"She hasn't told Teddy has she?" Draco asked as the thought suddenly occurred to him.

"No," Harry grimaced.

"Shit. He's not going to be happy when he finds out," Draco uttered a string of curses, torn between telling Theo himself and keeping it from him. It's not my decision to make, this one is up to Red since it is her bloody plan, and this is between them. Fuck. I hate keeping things from Teddy, Draco deliberated internally. Part of him hated Ginny for putting him in this situation in the first place, but mostly he understood why she had. All he could do was hope that she decided to tell Theo of her own volition.

….

Sunday, April 19th, 1998

"What's going on with you and Red?" Blaise questioned over breakfast, for once he was drinking tea in his teacup; Earl Grey to be exact. Theo was frowning deeply down at his plate of food. He'd eaten a strip of bacon and that was it. "Teddy?"

"I don't know," Theo muttered, using his fork to push his bacon, potato hash and scrambled eggs about his plate.

"I was going to ask where Gin has been as of late," Charlie commented, shovelling eggs into his mouth, only stopping to smile lightly at Gwen as she grimaced at his table manners. Living on a reserve with mainly men the last few years had not helped in that respect. Men that were often on the move, barely stopping to eat meals aside from dinner. Where they had all gathered in the Hall, food and drink aplenty. Laughter and conversation often boisterously echoing throughout the hall, the noise pouring out onto the reserve.

"Charles, really, use a napkin please," Gwen pursed her lips in disapproval when he wiped his greasy fingers on his jeans, the bacon still hanging out of the side of his mouth.

Despite the fact that her living conditions had been deplorable at best for the past ten years; Gwen got accustomed to using a knife and fork again quite easily. It was most likely the Pureblood upbringing that she had been subjected to for the first sixteen years of her life. She stopped quite often to dab daintily at her mouth with her napkin.

"Is it worse this term?" Gwen asked quietly, fixing Theo with a knowing look.

"At Hogwarts?" Blaise piped up, Gwen rolled her eyes before responding with, "no, Beauxbatons."

"Alecto seems a little more unhinged this term, it may be because Longbottom hasn't left the Room of Requirement for a while now. She hates that she can't find him and several other students...she's taking it out on some of the younger years," Theo answered his sister's question, slowly eating forkfuls of his food.

"What's her obsession with Longbottom anyway?" Blaise wondered aloud, eyes tilted upwards as he pondered on what Alecto's beef with Neville could possibly be.

"Don't know, don't care. What I do know is that Longbottom with his bleeding heart would probably want to come out if only to stop it, but someone has more than likely talked him out of it," Theo said in a glum tone. Blaise was beginning to seriously worry about his friend. He knew Theo. He'd known him his entire life. Theo didn't normally show his feeling externally, so when he did it usually wasn't a good sign.

I think I need to have a conversation with Red, Blaise glanced at Theo again, whilst chewing his own food; he had been the one to prepare it today, and thought, we need to have a conversation and soon.

...

Thursday, 23rd April, 1998

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Ginny didn't go back to the Cottage very often these days, mainly her time was occupied in making sure that the Carrows didn't get too out of hand.

It wasn't a strange sight to see Ginny in the Room of Requirement, rocking younger years to sleep. Telling stories of nicer times and being a confident for all their fears and she often woke up in the middle of the night to terror filled screams which she sprinted towards and rocked whoever it was back to sleep, holding them until she was sure that they were out.

She hadn't had a proper conversation with Theo in two weeks now, usually only seeing him in passing along the corridors. Whenever she could get away, she went to Shell Cottage. Whenever she wasn't sleeping in the Room of Requirement she was there.

Harry and her were trying to figure out if her plan was even feasible, they looped Draco into it and made him promise not to tell a soul.

Almost three weeks had passed since school resumed after Easter break, and Ginny had accidentally bumped into Theo earlier on during the day. A deep frown was on his face, and it wasn't until later when she noticed that Harry's smell was clinging to her still. She had snuck out early that morning to confirm that their plan was to be set in motion over the next few days.

For once though Ginny was in her dorm in the Gryffindor Tower; she kind of just wanted to escape it all. I'll take a nap for about an hour and then I'll head to the Room of Requirement, Ginny thought to herself, noting that none of the other Gryffindor girls had returned to their dorm yet. Rubbing her eyes, Ginny dropped her school bag on the ground, she noticed how bare her section of the room was. Besides what she had brought into the room with her just moments before, she had maybe a handful of things in the trunk at the bottom of her bed and a book she had picked up in the library on her bedside table, and that was pretty much it. Most of her belongings were in the Room of Requirement in her tent.

"I am so tired," Ginny yawned, slipping off her shoes, socks and then her outer robes. She was about to strip further when she heard the floorboards creak behind her.

"I think I can help with that," a voice said cheerfully, when Ginny turned around she barely caught a glimpse of pale skin and brown hair before her vision faded to black.

*Peeks between fingers* You love me, you do. It'll be okay, I swear.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think :)

I know this chapter was exceptionally long, for those of you who like long chapters...hope you had fun :p

Love you,

Indieblue xxx