Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. I do however finally have a boyfriend! I'm so happy! His name is Christopher and he's my sisters roommate's older brother lol. Now all my sister and Katie can say is "Were gonna be sister, were gonna be sisters!" Kinda annoying but always funny and never ceases to make me blush.

Okay, so this is going to be a probably long-winded author note full of apologies and explanations. So here it goes…

Well, as some of you might know, I started my freshman year of collage in August and since I moved in I've only updated once. I feel so bad! If you feel the need to verbally bash me for my neglect feel free, I deserve it. I know, bad author, bad!

Okay, so here goes the explanation part. If you're not in college then you have no idea but if you are you understand. This has been a crazy two months since I started college. Homework galore, tests, midterms this week (witch I should be studying for but I decided to put a chapter up instead … *gulp* wish me luck on those. I have one first thing in the morning tomorrow…) and then just college life is hectic and fast-pace. I swear I didn't know how to find time to get this written.

Anyway, my life has been full and busy, though rewarding. I can't wait until next week. Finally fall break! And then Thanksgiving break is soon too. So, hopefully I'll get some more chapters out soon!

Thank you for the condolences, it really did help me. And thank you for all the wonderful ideas to help me get over my stubborn writers block.

Anyway, not as long winded as I thought it would be. So on with the chapter that I have for so long neglected to give you!

Without further ado:

Chapter 34

Ginny POV

The meeting went about as well as anyone expected. Nobody wanted to willingly believe that someone who was supposed to be the enemy wanted to help us. I was badgered again and again for a name but never gave in. I would not give Draco up. After an hour of telling my story and trying to convince people to believe my informant was on our side, Mum was about to send me off to bed so they could finish the meeting.

"Wait," I said as Mum stood up to usher me out. "There's one more thing you guys have to know," I stated softly, watching as my mum sat back down in her seat. Everyone around the large table in the scruffy little kitchen in the Burrow looked at me expectantly and a little wary.

"What is it?" asked Dad from the head of the table.

I bowed my head and prepared myself for another round of questions. "There's one other raid I know of," I said softly, the others around the table fell deathly silent. "It's Tuesday night, five days from now."

The silence only lasted a second before the table erupted with worry filled voices and questions. After a few moments, Kingsley stood and held his hands up. Silence finally settled back around the table. "Ginny," he said, looking at me. "Do you know when and where this attack is to take place?"

Of course I knew where it would be and I knew the general time. But there was one thing I was also sure of was that I wanted to go with them. "Yeah, I know. But there is one thing I ask of you before I tell where," I said in a soft yet firm voice. There was no way I would be left behind.

My dad looked over at me confused and Mum had a worried look on her face. I was pretty sure she had a guess as to what I wanted. "Of course," Kingsley said in his slow, deep voice. "What is it you want?"

I steeled myself for the reaction to what I was about to say. "I want to go too."

"No! No way am I letting my baby fight!" Mum yelled, jumping from her chair.

Dad shook his head too and said in a voice of forced calm, "I'm sorry Ginny, but you're not coming."

My brothers voiced their opinions, much the same as Mum's. And the room was filled with many voices of protest. Even other Order members not in my family were shaking their heads.

"Hear me out," I yelled over the din. After a moment a thick blanket of tense silence fell over the table. My brothers were scowling at me but I ignored them best I could. I directed my plea to my parents. "This year has been a long and hard one. I've had to sit idly by and hide, not even able to step from my room. But through this time, I've come to understand that this war is my war, my generation will be the ones fighting it more than others."

I paused and looked around the table, not a soul spoke. I finally looked back to my Mum. "I know my powers, I know my limits. I am mere months away from being seventeen. I have every right to fight along side each of you. I've proved myself able to survive with the mere fact I stand before you now." I stood and walked over to Mum, kneeling beside her and putting my hands on her leg. "Please Mum, I have to fight. I can't sit at home and hope everyone comes back alive. I want to do my part in this war, I have to."

Mum looked down at me with tear filled eyes and said softly, "But you are still not of age. You're not ready to fight this war. You have no idea how hard it will be, how much suffering you will see."

"But Mum, I do. I fought my own part of this war in the walls of Hogwarts every day up until the Carrows caught me and I had to hide," I said, trying to sound firm but not hurt my mum any more than necessary. I had to fight though; I would not give up. "I've seen suffering. I was the one to heal the others when they couldn't risk going to Madam Pomfrey after the Carrows had dealt of them. I know what I'm getting into. Please," I plead.

"I don't like this," Mum said softly, looking over at Dad.

"Nether do I, but…" he trailed off and let out a sigh. I had won.

I stood and went back to my seat and looked at Kingsley. He nodded his approval and I wiped the tears from my face I hadn't realized I'd cried. I took a deep, calming breath and smiled slightly. "Thank you. Now, the muggle raid is going to be at Little Hinder Tuesday night about midnight, maybe a little later." With that, the planning began with me as the newest and youngest member of the Order of the Phoenix.

~!~!~

The next few days seemed to fly by in a haze of stress and planning. Monday night, I slept very little and was up before the sun was fully above the hilltops. With the smell of bacon, eggs, and freshly baked break filling the house, in came the crowd. The Order, every member that could make it, was to meet at the Burrow. They trickled in all day and by dinner the house was bursting to the seams. After a wonderful dinner that very few could taste through the fear and anxiety of what was to come, the Order gathered in the living room from some finally instructions before we were to leave.

"Ok everyone," Kingsley said over the crowd of milling people trying to find a place in the too small room. "We will go in pairs, so to not attract attention. When you get there, you will make your way quickly and unseen the meeting place. Once you're there, do not talk or make a sound. If anyone has a question, please ask it now. There will be no other time to ask them." His voice was deep and calming.

He waited for a moment and when nobody said anything he said, "Okay, you know what to do. Let's set out." With that, people started apparating off to the village we were bound to protect. Finally it was my turn. Since I couldn't apparate yet, I grabbed Bill's arm so I could side along apparate. I gripped his arm firmly and we apparated into the cover of some trees outside of the tiny, sleeping village. We made our way quickly to the safe spot and waited with the others.

When everyone was there we spread out. Some people were taking up positions on the outskirts of the village to keep watch, others were in the middle of the village, hiding in the shadows, and still others were in the woods that surrounded it. We all got into our places and waited. I quietly sunk into the village and to my spot. We were all in site of at least one other person. My visual partner was Bill. I could see him clearly across the way. The only reason any of us could see each other was because we knew where to look. I took my position, ready for anything to come, and waited.

The wait wasn't long. The pops of Death Eaters apparating around us was loud in the still night air. Kingsley held his hand up, a signal to wait. Everyone that could see him did the same. Everyone who saw them passed the signal on to others. Within second of the Death Eaters appearing, the whole Order was tensed and waiting.

The Death Eaters were converging in the center of the sleeping village. Once they were all there, Kingsley sent another signal out. Silently stun them. Seven Death Eaters fell. The others started swarming and throwing curses towards the shadows the stunning spells flew from. The final signal was given. Fight.

We were given clear instructions. Do not get separated. Separation means death. We were to stay with a group. Everyone knew that. But as Death Eaters converged on my group, everything got hectic. Curses were flying everywhere, people screaming, manic laughter, and the ever-present feeling of death. One Death Eater pointed his wand at me and shot another curse. I stumbled out of the way, panic gripping me.

I just made it out of the way and plunged down a dark alley, chased by the Death Eater. I dodge a few more curses and shot one of my own over my shoulder. I heard him laugh. I came out into the light of a streetlamp and noticed that nobody was around me. I had gotten separated. I was alone.

"So sad such a pretty girl has to die. But filthy blood traitors need to die," the Death Eater that chased me away from the safety of the Order said with another manic laugh. I dodged another curse and scrambled towards an alley, shooting a stunning spell behind me. I then felt a horrible pain coarse though my body. I screamed in agony. I'd felt this pain only once before, in the office of the Carrow.

The Death Eater came towards where I was sprawled out on the ground screaming. "It hurts doesn't it? Do you want me to stop? Well how does this feel?" With that the pain intensified, as did is manic laugher.

"Stupefy!" I heard a strong voice yell out. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the curse. But instead, the pain stopped and the Death Eater was sprawled on the ground near me. I looked up to see the man that saved me, only to see another Death Eater. "Get up," he said quietly as he came towards me.

I gripped my wand and scrambled to my feet, pointing it at the Death Eater in front of me. I stood there thinking of the best curse to shoot at him but I couldn't do it. This Death Eater had saved me. I couldn't think clearly through the haze of panic and pain.

"Ginny, go," the man behind the mask said in a soft voice as he came towards me. It was then that I heard it, the familiar lilt the voice had as it said my name. He soft, caring voice I had come to trust; Draco's voice.

He was menacing and scary in his Death Eater robes and mask but he was still Draco. Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms with a sob. I'd barely been a week since I'd seen him last but it felt like a lifetime. His arms snaked around me and he pulled me into the shadows of an alley, away from any prying eyes, before lifting off his mask.

We stood in silence for a few minutes while he held me to him, neither of us willing to let go. After a while he pulled back and brushed his lips across mine and said softly, "Now is not the time nor place." With that, he slipped a scrap of paper into my hand. "Go back to the woods. You will be safe there. I'm sure your family is worried sick."

He slipped the mask back on and squeezed my hand one last time. "Go," he whispered, pointing out the way I needed to go.

I could hear pops in the distance of the Death Eaters fleeing. I hesitated a second before whispering, "I love you," and making a dash for the woods.

I searched franticly for my family, soon seeing a bright red mass ahead. I ran as fast as I could and ran strait into Bill's arms. He hugged me tight and said, "You were gone. I couldn't find you. I thought you were dead for sure. I'm so sorry Ginny. I'm so sorry."

I simply wrapped my arms around him and hugged him back. "It's okay. I'm fine," I said softly, hearing a few more pops in the distance. After hugging my dad and a few other of my brothers, Kingsley gathered us around.

After a few hushed words, many of the Order members made their way back down to the now Death Eater free village to do damage control and wipe the memories of any muggles that saw the battle. I sighed and wrapped my arms around Bill and we apparated back to the Burrow along with many others just as the sun started to peek weakly over the trees.

Mum was fussing over everyone when we got back, tending to the wounded. Luckily, nobody was seriously hurt. Mundungas got the worst of it. He lost his pinky sometime during the night. He was now sitting in a corner cuddling his now perfectly fine hand, minus the pinky, with a scowl on his face.

Overall, everyone agreed we did well. Nobody, Order member or muggle, lost their live that night. We did what we set out to do. I just hoped it went as well next time.

After much of the fussing and commotion settled down people started to drift off and head for home. Once the Burrow was relatively quiet I made my way up to my room, my head filled with the battle and my encounter with Draco.

Once I got up to my room I locked my door and pulled out the scrap of paper he had given me. On it, in his elegant handwriting, was an address. Under the address were a few words: Tuesday at midnight. Finally, written boldly across the bottom was this: Burn it.

So I did. The address was ingrained into my brain. I didn't know where this place was but I'd find out soon enough, come Tuesday next week. I finally drifted off to sleep with the thought that I might get to see Draco after all.

Did you like it? Did you like it? I hope so 'cause I know I did! Sorry it took so freakishly long to get out to you but, hey, at least I got it done, right? Right!

I'd really like responses today people. You are my brain for what comes next in the story. Ideas, suggestions, criticism (though I don't like that much) what you liked bout this chapter or w/e. I need feedback my lovely readers! Please, help me and review!

Anyway, BJ is a pile of starving skin and bones 'cause he's been neglected for so long. Please, do what's right and feed BJ by reviewing this chapter!

A happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!