While Dumbledore and Snape were in with Draco, Ginny was making her way to Poppy Pomfrey's office. "Poppy? You wanted to see me?" she said, gliding into the office.
Poppy Pomfrey looked up from the papers on her desk. "Yes Ginny. Please sit down."
"I've had a talk with Albus Dumbledore this morning. Some things are going to have to change both here in the hospital and in the field. We're losing too many good wizards and witches. Ginny, I need your help." Poppy said, leaning over her desk towards Ginny as she talked.
"Just tell me what I can do Poppy." Ginny replied. "Do you need me to work extra shifts? I've been working Doubles most days now, but I can always move some things into one of the overnight stations and just stay here. Would that help?"
"I'm afraid it's not going to be enough. It's about timing. We're losing patients we would not have lost if they'd gotten here sooner. You commented on it yourself the other day. It's just impossible for the people in the field to get them to us any quicker. They can't just stop fighting to transport a wounded soldier in the middle of battle. And most of the ones we're losing are too injured to apparate or work a portkey themselves." Said Poppy, rubbing her temples. "If we could get to them quicker, we could cut fatalities in half at least."
"Well what can we do?" asked Ginny "You just said yourself that those who could transport them here can't just stop and do it immediately. It's an impossible situation."
"No, its not." Replied Poppy. "In fact, Albus and I have come up with a way to solve the problem. That's where you and a few others come in."
"Well, tell me!" exclaimed Ginny.
"We're going to put a medical team in the field." Said Poppy Pomfrey, looking pleased. "It will solve everything. There will be someone right there, when people get injured. We can save so many more lives. Of course there is a danger in going out into the field. You could lose your own life trying to save others. I don't think the Death eaters are going to take the time to distinguish between the soldiers and the medi-witches and wizards. In fact, even if they did, I don't think it would matter to them."
"Are you planning on leading this medical team Poppy?" asked Ginny.
"No, "Poppy shook her head. "I wanted to but Dumbledore said no. He said that someone had to run the hospital, and he didn't trust anyone but me to do it. Besides, he thinks I'd be more interested in fighting than healing, and he's probably right. I wouldn't be able to help myself. He let me decide whom to choose to lead it. I chose you Ginny."
"ME? Poppy, I don't know. I've never been in charge before." Said Ginny.
"There's no better choice. You're very good Ginny, and everyone loves and respects you. You also have a knack for improvisation in a pinch. You've been open to and made ideas work that even I wouldn't have tried. You don't panic in the face of stress either. You proved that yesterday when Draco came in.," said Poppy.
"You just didn't see me fall apart this morning, after he woke up finally, "said Ginny.
"Ginny, think of the lives you could save. Think of the people you love out there right now that might need someone right away. And you could be there."
Ginny slouched in the chair, thinking over what Poppy was saying to her. If something happened to one of her brothers, she'd be able to see to it they got immediate attention. She'd be contributing in a very real way to the war effort. The more soldiers who got up to fight again, the quicker this could end. Of course, everyone was going to be very unhappy when she told them. None of the boys would like it. Oh, how would she ever tell Draco, with him just injured and ready for discharge, that she was now going into the field?
"Ginny, "said Poppy, looking intently at her. "I'll quite understand if you refuse. You will be in a lot of danger out there. But I'm not going to gloss it over for you. We really need you to say yes."
Ginny looked up from her daze. "Oh, I'll do it Poppy. You should have known I'd say yes. I was just thinking of how I'm going to tell the several men in my life. There is going to be quite a few unhappy red heads and one very unhappy blond when they hear this."
"Would you like me to explain it to them? I'd be happy to make them understand how necessary this is," said Poppy.
"Oh, no. They'll have to just deal with it. I'm a big girl, and I want to help however I can. For their sake as well as mine." Said Ginny.
Ginny and Poppy talked for a while longer, about how the divisions were about to merge into one area, in anticipation of the big battle Dumbledore was expecting. The medical unit would do some light auror training and then they would join them.
As they had almost finished working out the details, there was a light knock at the door, and Albus Dumbledore stuck his head in the room. "Poppy, I trust you've worked out all the details?"
"Yes, Headmaster, Miss Weasley has agreed. She and I were just going over a list of supplies they will need to carry with them. "Said Poppy.
"Good, good. Miss Weasley, I think Mr. Malfoy would like to speak to you if you have a moment." He said, looking at Ginny.
"Yes, sir." Said Ginny, wondering what Dumbledore had been speaking to Draco about.
As she slid past Dumbledore to exit the office, he put a hand to her arm and said, "We're glad to have you with us in the field Miss Weasley. Hopefully it won't be too long before we can all go home. Please remember that's what we're all working for. What ever gets us home the fastest."
"Yes sir." Said Ginny wondering what in the world he was talking about.
When Ginny entered Draco's room, he was up putting on his clothes. He winced as he pulled a shirt on over his back.
"What are you doing?" Ginny exclaimed from where she had stopped in the doorway, taking in the scene.
"I'm getting dressed Princess. The other medi-witch said I could go." He said, pulling on his pants now.
"Who? Who said you could go? You need to stay another night at least, to be sure the scars don't break open again." Said Ginny trying to take the belt he was about to lace through the loops of his pants away from him.
He tugged at the belt. "Headmaster Dumbledore may have leaned on her a bit."
"But why? Why, Draco? What does it matter when you leave to Dumbledore? You're eligible for discharge now, you don't have to go back out in the field." Ginny stopped and suddenly released the belt, remembering what news she had to break to Draco.
When Ginny suddenly let go of the belt, Draco fell backwards onto the bed. "Ouch!" When he saw her face, he knew there was something going on. "What? What is it?"
"I have to tell you something." Ginny said, flopping into a chair. "You better stop and sit down a minute."
"I don't like the sound of that." Draco said frowning as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You're not going to like it much, I imagine." She said, taking a deep breath. "I'm going to be leading a new medical unit."
"Well that doesn't sound so ba-"
"In the field." She finished.
Draco's eyes narrowed as he stared at her. "What do you mean, in the field?"
"I mean Poppy and I decided that we're losing too many soldiers because they can't receive medical attention promptly. So I'm going to take a medical unit into the field with them. So we can be there, during the battles.... to save lives."
Draco's eyes widened as he took in the meaning of her words. "Ginny, you can't be serious! Do you have any idea what it,s like out there? You can't do it! It's absolutely the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. You can't possibly take care of yourself out there!"
"I most certainly can take care of myself. And take care of the wounded too. I'm a medi-witch, Draco. I can't stand idly by here at this hospital, all safe and sound, while soldiers are out there dying because I'm not willing to put my life on the line to save them." She said, raising her voice a bit.
"It simply isn't a good idea. Let me finish dressing. I'll go talk to Poppy Pomfrey myself. Once she sees what a foolish notion this is, she'll change her mind." He said, beginning to pull on his boots.
"No she won't." said Ginny. "She's already discussed it with Dumbledore. He agrees."
Draco's head snapped up. "Dumbledore? And he didn't mention anything at all about it when he asked me-"
"When he asked you what?" Ginny said, looking a Draco with a narrowed eyed look similar to the one he had leveled at her moments ago.
Draco busied himself pulling on his other boot. Softly he said, "He asked me to go back."
"Go back where?" asked Ginny rising from her chair slowly. She didn't like where this conversation was headed.
He looked up at her. "He asked me to go back to the field. I told him I would. I have to."
"You do NOT have to!" Ginny cried. "Haven't you done enough? You nearly died Draco. The war is over for you. You're conscience should be clear. No more!"
"My father is leading Voldemort's army, Ginny." He said, his voice begging her to understand. "I have to go back. No one can figure out what he's planning better than me. I've been molded to think like him since the day I was born."
"Stop whining! You know I hate that!" she snapped. "And you do not think like him. If you did, you'd be on the other side of this war right now."
"He's my father, Ginny! I can't help but shoulder some of the responsibility if he kills more people and I didn't at least try to help!" he shouted.
"YOU are not your father!" she shouted back. "Go tell Dumbledore you changed your mind. Tell him you can't help him!"
"I'm going Ginny." He said.
Ginny paced the room, ranting. "I can't believe I was so worried over how angry you were going to be when I told you I was going out into the field. I was actually afraid to tell you. And now.... now THIS? At least I'll be there if you rip your scars open again, I guess."
"No." he said.
Ginny turned to stare at him. "What do you mean No? No what?"
"I mean no. You can't go. I won't allow it." He said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"YOU WON"T ALLOW IT?" Ginny shouted. "You don't tell me what I may and may not do Draco Malfoy! Best you remember what happened to Ron Weasley last time he tried to 'not allow' me to do something! Who exactly do you think you are?"
"I think I have a right to say no, considering what you wear on your finger there." He said, gesturing to her left hand.
Ginny looked down at the large emerald on her finger. She tried to calm herself. She counted to ten, then looked at him and said softly. "I love you Draco. But I will do what I have to do, despite that. Be careful what you say next because there may be no turning back on this one."
Draco looked at her evenly, and though he spoke just as softly as she, that silky voice told her that he was just as furious as she was. "I love you Princess. But I can't spend every waking moment worrying about you on a battlefield. You are going to be my wife and I am going to have to insist that you obey me this time. Or else you take that ring off your finger."
Ginny looked at him a moment, then back down at her hand. She twisted the ring off her finger and dropped it onto the bed and swiftly left the room, not bothering to look back.