Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. I did however convert another person to the amazing ship that is Draco/Ginny! Go me!

I'm so freakishly sorry it took so so so long for me get another chapter up no this story. This past month has been horribly busy and has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. First off my Papa, my mom's dad, died about three weeks ago. So that meant a two day drive down to Florida, dealing with the step grandma we all know and hate, the fun of being with family again that I hadn't seen in years, the joy of meeting my cousins wives, the tearful funeral, the sleepless nights on a couch because there were too many people in that house, and the very long two day car ride back.

So only a week after we got back, I moved into my dorm in college. So, needless to say, I've been uber busy as of the last week. This is like the first time I've finally been able to write in nearly two months. Add the really bad writers block, you are all lucky this little chapter made it out of my brain.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for all the amazing reviews! I really love reading them. It makes my day. I am one review away from 400 reviews! Please, add your reviews to that number to make me the happiest person alive!

I've taken up to much of your time with this author note after such a long wait for the chapter, so I'm going to let this drift to and end…

Without further ado…

Chapter 33

After the year I'd had, settling back into life at the Burrow was harder than usual. I was thankful that it didn't take too long for the hellos and welcome homes to be done with. Even though I grew up in such a large family, I wasn't used to so many people at one time at the moment. I went from seeing just two people for several months to a whole herd of people hugging me. Don't get me wrong, I missed my family terribly but it was all a bit overwhelming.

After apologizing profusely to Mum and Dad for not writing much, I could tell it hurt them, I sank gratefully onto my bed in the quiet of my room. I had only barely escaped a flood of questions about the few letters I did get to them. Having Draco secretly on our side of the war was helpful in planning for upcoming battles. I had sent only three letters to my parents after my detention with the Carrows.

While that in and of itself would be forgivable, what was in the letter had sparked much conflict. With Draco on our side, I had inside information that we wouldn't otherwise get of such things as upcoming raids and some people that were being held hostage and so on. Rather than sending my parents letters that would ease their minds about what was going on at Hogwarts, I opted to send them what details I knew from Draco.

Draco had agreed with me that it was a good idea to let the Order know what we could, but it had its risks. Being the son of one of Voldemort's best Death Eater had its perks in a way. Lucius Malfoy's letters were not allowed to be intercepted. Since the people that were in charge of intercepting letters were in Voldemort's pocket, it was easy to tell them to leave certain owls alone. One of those owls was Draco's.

Obviously nobody could know that it was Draco sending such secret information to the Order. The fears and problems we had with sending these letters to my parents were many. The only way to get it to them without being intercepted was to use Draco's owl. We couldn't risk using one of his father's owls. So, if any of the letters had been intercepted, Draco would be killed for the information he was leaking to the Order.

After coming to the realization of the risk Draco was putting himself into to help my family, I tried to talk him out of it and burn the letter I'd already written. But, of course, he would let me do no such thing. We stayed up the rest of the night talking of the benefits and risks of sending the letter. I was trying not to cry when Draco asked me, "Do you remember last year when I tried to stop being nice to you, to save you?"

"Yeah," I'd responded immediately, wondering where he had been going with this as I curled closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder.

"Blaise talked me out of it, pointing out that the benefits always far outweighed the risks. They still do," he had told me softly, holding me to him when I started to cry. The on slot of memories that simple thing brought forth was overwhelming. I realized that he was right and we sent my letter less than an hour later.

So Draco became my secret informant. They few letters I had gotten to my parents had been greeted with the expected amount of curiosity and fear. The first letter I had told them of an upcoming muggle raid that the Death Eaters had planned. I'd also given them sufficient proof that I was who I said I was. Still, they hadn't believed me or thought it could be a trap. They didn't go to stop the raid.

After hearing of the muggle raid the day after I said it would happen, they seemed to believe that whoever my secret informant was that they were real and reliable. They next two letters were greeted with more urgency and the past two raids were successfully intercepted.

A sharp knock on my bedroom door jarred me from my musings. Knowing I would inevitably have to talk to my parents about everything, I steeled myself as I called for whoever knocked to come it. As expected it was Dad that opened the door, Mum close behind him.

"Ginny dear," Mum said cautiously as she sat down next to me on my bed. Dad leaned against the wall by the door. There was no avoiding this conversation now. I was just glad none of my brothers were in here. It would be hard enough to hide things with Mum and Dad alone.

"Yeah, Mum?" I questioned, trying to seem like I didn't know why they were in here.

Mum looked down at her apron, still covered in flower, evidence of the fresh baked cake downstairs. She wasn't sure how to broach the subject of my letters. Dad though, had no reservations.

"Ginny, we need to talk to you about those letters you sent us since Christmas," he said in a soft but firm voice.

I bowed my head and sighed, "I know Dad." They both looked expectantly at me and I took a deep breath and started speaking. "Hogwarts was bad this year, really bad. I'm not sure how much you guys got in the ways of new at Hogwarts but I know first hand how bad it was. Death Eaters were running the school and-" I stopped at the look on Mum's face.

"We suspected as much but…" she trailed off, horror written on her face as she pulled me to her for a hug. Dad came over and sat on the other side of me, putting his arms around me too.

After a few moments they let go and I continued, trying to find a way to put everything without implicating Draco. "The Carrows were cruel and freely used the Cruciatus Curse on students. I was lucky; I'd avoided being punished until just before Christmas. I don't know how, but every time they got close, something happened that would let me go free."

I held up my hand to still they questions I knew were nearly bursting from my parents. "So many students, mostly Gryffindor 6th and 7th years and a few others, went into hiding. We terrorized the Carrows and Snape. Neville, Luna and I were the root of it all most the time, though it seemed Neville was punished more. He was the first to hide."

I paused, not sure how to tell them about me hiding. "It was right before Christmas break that I had to resort to hiding too," I continued. I thought best to leave out the torture I received from the Carrows for Mum's sake. "I was running from the Carrows when I ran into someone that helped me. They took me and hid me, away from everyone, away from the Carrows, away from danger." I opted to not even let them know the gender of my hero. They less they knew, the less they could guess.

Looking at Mum and Dad, I could tell they were fighting questioning me. I was grateful they were letting me finish first. "It was with this person that I spent the remainder of the year. I got away from the Carrows so if they had seen me again, they might have killed me. That's why I didn't come home for breaks. I couldn't risk letting them find me."

Dad nodded and Mum looked horror stricken at what I'd been through. I tried to ignore it and continue. I had to get it all out before I would let myself stop, even if it was for Mum's sake. "The person I stayed with, the one that saved me, was a very unlikely ally. Family forced them onto the other side of the war. They would have been killed if they tried to come to our side. So they came up with a plan to help the Order without anyone knowing but me. They told me of plans that You-Know-Who had set up and I sent what information they had to you."

I stopped, not really sure if there was anything else I could say. I looked down at my hands folded in my lap and took a deep breath. Now that I had it out, I felt a bit better.

"So who is this person, Ginny?" Dad asked firmly. "We need to know. If they really wish to be on this side of the war, we could help them. You know that right?"

I shook my head and looked up at my parents. "I can't tell you who they are. I won't put their life in danger. They told me that there is no way to save them, and I believe them. If You-Know-Who got any wind of what they were telling me, they would be killed instantly."

"But, Ginny dear, how can we know that this person didn't just win your trust to lure the entire Order into a trap? We need to know who it is," Mum said softly, patting my hands.

"I can't. I can't, Mum," I said quickly. There was no way I would put Draco's life in even more danger. I loved my parents dearly, but I loved Draco too. "Just know that I trust them with my life. They would never do anything to hurt me or you guys."

After a few more failed attempts to get me to tell them, they gave in. I knew they would never trust my secret informant as I did, but it was a start. As they walked from my room, I had an overwhelming urge to be wrapped in Draco's arms. I fought my tears, wanting to be strong. He wouldn't want me to be sad.

Dad poked his head back in my room and I somehow managed a smile. "There is an Order meeting tonight. Even though you're under age, if you feel up to it, we would like you there. Everyone needs to know what you told us. You're the only one that will be able to convince people to trust this person," he said with a smile.

"Okay Dad," I nodded. Once he was gone I collapsed back onto my bed and sighed. Oh what I would give to be with Draco right now, back in our dorm at Hogwarts. But that wasn't going to happen and I knew it. I knew I wouldn't be going back to Hogwarts next year, even if it were open. I had no reason to endure it without Draco.

Draco POV

My arrival back at the manor wasn't greeted with any big commotion. I was barely noticed. That suited me just fine. Having been able to avoid my father upon arrival, I had gone immediately to my wing of the manor and prayed he didn't realize I was home yet. But, of course, I had no such luck.

Within the hour after my arrival home a knock sounded on the door to my quarters. I didn't even have time to tell who ever it was to come in before the door was thrown open. In the doorway stood my father. I put on a smile as I stood from the chair I had been reading in. "Hello, Father," I greeted politely, my façade coming to life instantly.

"Draco," he greeted as he strode in the room. Without preamble he began to speak. "The Dark Lord has told me to inform you that you will be accompanying the rest of us on the Muggle raid Monday night."

I nodded and smirked. "Of course," I said casually as I sat back down and lounged in the chair I had recently vacated. "If he wishes it, I would be honored to comply."

"And you will be participating this time," he said in a deadly voice. "You've avoided coming along thus far but no more."

"Avoid it? Why would I want to avoid the role I've been waiting for?" I asked with mock confusion.

He looked down at me, a scowl slipping into place. "Don't think you can fool me. Others may not realize, but I can see clearly the ways you have avoided participating in the Dark Lord's plans. You won't get out of it this time, boy. You won't disgrace this family again."

"Of course, Father," I said with a bow of my head, appealing to his ego. "I know you would hold no disrespect. If I had inadvertently caused you to be shamed, my apologies, Father. It will not happen again."

"I know it won't," he said in a deadly whisper as he walked away and towards the door again. "It would not bode well for you if it did." And without another word, he was gone, the door closing violently behind him.

I let my head fall back onto the chair, a soft sigh escaping my lips. He was right of course; there was no avoiding it anymore. There was no way to sit out the raids. My number of excuses had run dry. It worried me to know I had been that obvious about my acts of avoidance, enough so my father realized it. I couldn't help worry what else he had deduced.

I know it was fairly short but was it okay? Did it seemed forced at all? You know, I'm really not very confident in my own writing and it's only your wonderful reviews that keep me going. I love you guys!

Now, poor little BJ is nearly starved to death after over a month of no reviews. He would be very appreciative if you were to review and give him food. He really loves you guys as much as I do!

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