A/N: Thank you for the reviews, Kptham, Silverlight20, Mr. G0d! You guys are what's keeping me going. Since this is a short chapter, I'm posting two!
Ginny had managed to stay awake the remainder of the night. She'd avoided breakfast and classes in order to hide in the sunshine, hoping it would keep her awake. She felt stuck, unsure of what to do next, and struggled against the hopeless feeling that seemed to hover behind her thoughts.
"Ginny," Neville called and she tilted her head to smile at him as best as she could manage. He sat down next to her on the grass, leaning against the same tree, and studying her out of the corner of his eye.
"Are classes over for the day?" She asked him and he nodded. Other students were beginning to gather outside but they were still far enough away that they wouldn't be able to hear them.
Neville turned to look at her with concern, "you're not sleeping," he began, "you're not eating, you're skipping class. I know how hard this must be for you. It's hard for me too. I'm terrified, Ginny."
Ginny knew that if anyone were to understand her plight it was Neville.
"We must stick together if we're to survive this. Dumbledore's Army—"
Ginny covered his mouth with her hand, her heart pounding. "Please, Neville. Don't speak of it." He'll hear, she thought. Ginny struggled to keep her mind from considering Dumbledore's Army—the numbers, the members, the tactics they used.
Draco walked by accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle who laughed.
"You finally got yourself a girlfriend, Longbottom?" Crabbe asked.
"Had to wait until she ran out of options," Goyle commented.
Draco was silent as he looked at her. She lowered her hand from Neville's mouth.
"Sorry, Goyle, still enough options that I won't consider you," Ginny said as she stood, Neville stood too, his hand flexing as if he fought from reaching for his wand.
Goyle sputtered at her comment.
"Like a true pureblood would ever consider a mudblood lover," Crabbe supplied.
"Not for more than an easy fuck," Goyle finally snapped, his face spotted with red. "Right, Draco?"
Ginny's eyes darted to Draco's in dismay as an image of herself from last night as she straddled him flashed before her eyes. Had he told them about her offer? Draco's lips curled in disgust.
"Why engage with such creatures that are beneath us?" He said finally. His eyes met Ginny's with a look she couldn't read before he turned on his heel and walked off. Crabbe and Goyle followed a moment after.
Neville touched her shoulder and she turned her attention away from the glare of sunlight off of Draco's silvery head.
"Please, don't speak of the Army around me." Ginny said, "promise me."
Neville searched her gaze with concern in his brown eyes.
He opened his mouth to speak but Ginny stopped him and he studied her. "Nothing of the Army, nothing of Harry, Ron, Hermione, no one in my family." Her heart constricted at the thought of them. She wished so much to know they were safe. She gripped the locket at her throat. "Promise."
"Okay," Neville said after a moment, frowning. "I promise, Ginny."
Ginny felt a rush of relief, "thank you."
"I'm here for you, you know. If you ever want to talk."
Ginny nodded and watched him turn away, a new slump to his shoulders. She hated pushing him away. He was her closest friend. But if she told him, he would do something brave because he couldn't help it and she couldn't bear to see him harmed.
Returning to her seat in the sunshine, Ginny did her best to keep her mind blank to her intentions. Her hand still clutched the locket at her throat. She knew of only one thing to help her now and she would do all in her power to make sure her plan came to fruition.