They say to do the difficult is fast, the impossible takes a little more time…
The sun shone brightly on the Northumberland countryside. There wasn't a cloud in sight, which was odd for a November day. The wind however was cold and harsh that shook the brown leaves from the trees. The normally quite countryside was disturbed by the shouts of men.
Looking down into Camp Firmus Adstringo, rows and rows of white tents could be seen, along with men in training. Black robes and comfortable, soft pants where their attire, as a man dressed in a heavy black robe stood instructing them. This had been going on for the past two months. Men from all over Britain and then some had come to train for a war.
Looking up into the sky, Seamus Finnigan wiped the sweat from his face as he collapsed onto the ground next to his friend Mark. He lay on his back and calmed his breath as his beating heart slowed. He patted Mark as a sign of hello, how ya doing, but the American shrugged him off, not wanting to feel another person's body heat. The young Irish man sighed and began thinking about how much he hated his Commander. A few minutes later he looked up as Lee Jordan joined him on the cool grass, falling onto his back in exhaustion. Not too long afterward, Neville Longbottom collapsed with a hard breath. They all just lay on the grass, as their Commander gave them a smirk.
"Good time," Malfoy sneered. "Next time, I expect you all to come in at half that time." Everyone groaned.
After catching their breaths, the small group sat up and looked around. All their mates were doing just the same as they were, lying on the grass and groaning. Seamus rubbed the back of his head as he took off his shirt, letting the biting wind cool his body. Mark shook his head as he fanned himself.
"Don't you use any kind of deodorizing charm?" he joked, pushing him a bit. Seamus snorted.
"No. That smell attracts the ladies, don't you know?" The group rolled their eyes.
"If you haven't noticed, Finnigan, there isn't a woman with in ten clicks from here, so get over yourself and use my cologne potion every once and a while," the other boy suggested as he rolled his eyes.
"Fine, but I personally like my natural musk!"
"Well, there's one person in History," joked Lee. Seamus flexed his muscles.
"Ah, you wish you had these Jordan, you only wish!"
"What side of Malfoy's bed did you wake up on?" The group laughed whole-heartedly as the Irish man sneered.
"You're about to get punched in the face for that one!" growled Seamus. Lee rolled his eyes.
"I don't really want to kick your arse in front of every one, including the Commander," Lee stopped. "Then again, at least Malfoy will know who the woman is in your relationship!" The black haired boy stood up and knocked Lee over. The dark skinned man got to his feet and sized the other man up before some one interrupted them.
"Will you two shut up," Neville asked with a sigh. "Look," he pointed out into the field. All the men looked over and went silent.
"He's still out there?" questioned Mark, looking at him with pity.
"He was the first one in," replied Seamus. "Commander gave him eight more laps saying, and I quote; if you're so damn fast, run another two miles!" The men shook their heads.
"Damn it," sighed Lee, sitting back on the grass. "Why won't he just leave him alone?"
Neville shook his head, "You know Malfoy. When he hates you, it's for life."
"That's not true," replied Lee. "He hated Harry and yet you see them talking all the bloody time."
"Well, that's because they have to. I know if it were up to Malfoy, he wouldn't go near Potter." Neville looked at the man still running. "If only we hadn't given him that picture of Ginny."
One more lap, Ginny coaxed herself, as she began her last lap. She breathed in and out heavily; trying to pace her heart beat. Her legs and feet begged to stop; to walk and not run. But she kept going because if she walked, she would let Draco win. She had been the first one in, along with Roger Davies, who had kept up with her the entire time. Ginny had been rather proud of herself when she reached Malfoy after their two mile run. She sat on the grass and had immediately begun stretching. When a shadow had been cast over her, she looked up quickly to see Draco staring down at her. She looked away quickly, trying not to focus on his imposing figure.
"You," he had said nastily. She nodded. "You think your so damned fast?"
"No sir," she replied almost immediately. She knew that if she did that, there might be a chance that he left her alone. This time however, that was not the case.
"I think you do." He kicked her leg a bit too hard and ordered her to stand. "And since you think you're so damn fast, you ought to run another two miles with no worries." Ginny opened her mouth and furrowed her brow.
"I just ran two miles!" she said sternly. "And if I have to run, why isn't Davies running? He came at the same time I did!"
"Are you questioning me, solider?" snarled Malfoy, coming closer to her face, he stared into her eyes.
They had stayed like that for a few moments; the two old lovers just looking into each other's eyes. Ginny saw the wonderment behind his icy gray. He was wondering, again, where he had seen her eyes before. He always had that look when he stared her down.
"No," she replied sternly. He smirked.
"Then get your bony ass out of my face and run!" he barked at her, and Ginny did just that.
As Ginny ran she let out some of the stress that had built up within her these last two months. Oh Merlin how she wished she could either kick him in that bloody blond head of his or run up and snog him senseless! Yet the sad thing about it was that no matter how much she hated him at the moment, her heart cried out every time she saw his beautiful face. So, looking towards her friends who sat looking at her sadly from the cool grass, she ran faster to reach a total of five clicks for the day.
As Ginny finished her last lap she ran straight over to where the guys were already assembled, listening to Draco talk about tomorrow's lesson. He always started without her, just to confuse her. But, she had Neville to fill her in. With a last burst of speed she met up with her mates as he droned on. Draco had that famous 'Malfoy Smirk' on his face as she fell in line next to Mark.
"Thank you for joining us, Casey," he sneered. She only smiled.
"No problem whatsoever," she replied sarcastically. He glared.
"As I was saying, tomorrow we will run the obstacle course Potter and I have come up with. Also, we will start putting into practice the spells we have been studying these last two months. Oh, and thanks to Commander Potter, you get tomorrow night off, so you can go into town and do whatever it is you poufs do." Everyone laughed nervously; they couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. "Now hit the showers and get some rest." With that, the men began to get up with a groan and head to their tents.
Ginny walked quietly next to her friends, clutching her side. It had been hurting for the last few weeks, but she said nothing about it. It was just a bit of pain, she could take it. If she was going to stay top of her platoon, then little aches and blinding pains would have to wait. However, as they neared her tent, she stopped and clutched her side.
"You okay?" questioned Dominic. She nodded her head.
"Yeah, just a little side ache."
"You still have that, Case?" said Roger Davies, who had been walking behind her.
She shrugged. "It's nothing, just a bit of pain…"
"Is it from running?" asked Mark.
"No, he's had it all week," said Lee with a frown.
"Well, maybe some food and rest will get rid of that," suggested Seamus. Ginny shook her head.
"I would like to, but Commander Malfoy has me on Laundry duty tonight," she sighed. "Again."
"What?" Neville said astonished. "Casey, that's the third time this week, and the billionth time this month. I haven't seen you at lunch or dinner for weeks."
"I know, but I get food sometimes at night. The elves don't mind giving me some."
"Case, it still isn't enough food. That's what…once a day?"
Ginny snorted. "What are you, my mum?" she questioned Neville. He shook his head
"No, I am just saying…"
"It's nothing," she snapped as she stood up straight. "I am fine, really. It's nothing."
The men all looked at each other with worry.
"He works you too hard," said Mark quietly. She shook her head.
"No, I just don't work hard enough," she replied back.
"You should really tell Commander Potter. Maybe he will move you into his platoon."
"NO!" cried Ginny. "If I chicken out, then Malfoy will think I am weak and that I can't do it. I am fine. I can take what ever he throws at me."
"Not if it's making you sick," said Neville. The once-redhead sighed angrily.
"I am fine. I can do this and I don't need you guys looking after me just because Malfoy picks on me! He is just being a tosser! We all know this!" the men stayed quite and looked past her. Ginny heard some one sigh heavily and closed her eyes; Draco had been right behind her.
"Thank you for that deep insight into my personality," Malfoy said sarcastically. "And since you are such a great judge of character, you can judge Creevey since you will be helping him clean the hospital wing tomorrow night."
Her mouth opened as if to speak, but she shut it quickly. She didn't want anything else taken from her. If she just kept her mouth shut, he would walk away and she could get some rest.
"But Commander," started Neville, looking at Malfoy with scorn. "It's our first night off. Don't you think you're being a bit…"
"What I think is that it's none of your business what happens to Caché, Longbottom. Also, if you want your night off then I suggest you keep your fat mouth shut."
Neville growled menacingly, as Malfoy moved his gaze back to Ginny, whom he sneered at.
"Tomorrow night you will aid Creevey in any, and I mean any, way he wishes. Now get yourself cleaned up and I want you in the laundry tent in ten minutes." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed away.
The men just looked at his retreating form with disdain. Ginny held her head high and continued walking toward her tent. Her fists were clenched at her side as she stiffly walked away from her so-called friends.
"Case," began Neville.
"I don't need you to stand up for me, Longbottom," she growled, "I don't need your help… any of you. I can do this."
"He's picking on you too much. We are only trying…"
"I AM NOT A LITTLE GIRL!" she shouted with frustration. She looked at them with wide eyes when she realized what she had just said. The others looked at each other questioningly and back to her.
"Y-you know what I mean," Ginny said softly. "Thanks for your help but I can hold my own," and turning around, she stalked to her tent for a quick shower before heading to the laundry tent.
"On time," sneered Malfoy as Ginny entered the tent. "At least you have some redeeming quality."
"Malfoy," she said through gritted teeth. "Just tell me what I have to do so I don't have to see your face." Ginny looked at him menacingly and grinned. His temper was obviously getting the better of him; his nostrils flared and his eyes turned dark.
Ginny was so tired of him. Neville was partially right in saying this was the third time this week she had laundry duty. It was actually the fifth. Since Malfoy had taken to hating her, he made her do unbelievable tasks: things like washing the Quidditch equipment, helping in the kitchens, and washing the bathroom floor. The redhead was tired of her treatment and she was tired of having others trying to stand up for her. She could miss a million meals- it felt like she had already- as long as they would understand that she wasn't weak.
"I want this entire pile," he said through gritted teeth, pointing at a mountain of sheets and towels, "washed, dried, and folded by midnight."
"Fine," Ginny waved him off. "Now you are going to say without a wand, you tosser"
She rolled her eyes, giving him her wand. Draco snatched it out of her hand and pocketed it, giving her an icy glare. Ginny only smirked as he walked by her, running into her shoulder harshly in the process.
She looked around the tent and sighed. She walked over to the pile of white sheets and dumped a few in the tubs. Ginny sighed as she thought of what Seamus had said about Muggle "washing machines.' Apparently, they did all the washing and rinsing for you. As the redhead began to scrub the sheets, her stomach gave a loud grumble. Patting it affectionately, she shook her head.
"Not tonight, we've got work to do," Ginny told it, as if it would respond. She continued washing sheet after sheet, towel after towel. Doing so, the young woman thought of these last two months.
Ginny had remembered doing hard work in Auror Training but here it was just sickening! Everything here was ten times harder and faster than it would be at a regular camp. Commander Diggle was no piece of cake, yet he was nothing…NOTHING compared to Draco. He was such a bloody git! And, Ginny hadn't said that about him since her Hogwarts days. Unfortunately, her mates were right when they said they hadn't seen her at mealtime in weeks; it was three weeks to be exact.
Her typical day was terrible. She would get up in the morning, three hours before any of the others were due for meals, and run a mile. She didn't know why she continued; Malfoy had stopped showing up to watch her days ago. After the run, she would go and ask if any help was needed in the kitchens- which the elves usually rejected. She would then sit and eat. Afterward, she would get ready and be the first out on the field to set up for the morning activities. When the training itself would start, Ginny was always the guinea pig for Malfoy, or the one to be the example if something went wrong. Then lunch came and she would stay out and take down the morning activities and set up for the afternoon ones. At the end of the day, she would either clean the bathrooms or do laundry. Finally around midnight, Malfoy would come in and order her to go to bed, saying with a smirk:
"You should stay up and redo this entire thing! You keep giving me half-arsed jobs!"
As Ginny folded her fourth pile of towels for the night, she thought about how she had blown up at her friends. They were only trying to help but that's not what she needed. If she wanted pity and protection, she would have stayed home like all the other women. Her schedule was what she needed; she needed to be pushed to her very limit. It was the only way she would be able to look at Draco after all of this and say "I did it."
As the clock rounded on eleven thirty, Ginny felt the pain in her side begin to act up again. She dropped the blanket she had been folding and bent over in pain. Telling her mates that the side ache was just a little pain was all bullocks; it was excruciating, pulsing, and blinding pain. She had never felt like this before, and it wasn't just her side. It was her entire stomach that ached this way. No matter where she was or what she was doing the pain would appear, trying to bring her down. It had been happening for the last month, and she hadn't done a thing about it. Closing her eyes she stood up straight and coaxed herself.
"It's nothing, just a bit of pain…"
"You in pain?" inquired a voice. Ginny opened her eyes slowly to see Harry Potter standing before her. She looked down immediately when she saw he was in nothing more than a pair of boxers and a white shirt. Taking into consideration that she had seen all her mates in that, it was just… different when it came to Harry.
"N-no…" Ginny stuttered, continuing folding the sheets. He looked at her strangely.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in bed already?" he questioned, grabbing a towel and throwing it over his shoulder.
She shook her head. "I have laundry duty tonight." The young woman replied softly.
Harry nodded. "You must be Casey," he said, giving her a curious look.
"Yeah," she gave him a queer look. "How do you know…?"
"Commander Malfoy," he started, looking down. "He doesn't like to hide his…uh…" Harry began to trail off.
"Hatred," Ginny finished for him, Harry looked away. "It's alright, it's not like I don't know."
"I know, but he still…"
"Don't say it," she started, holding up her hand. "Commander, don't say that he is being too hard on me because I don't think he has been…not yet."
Harry nodded understandingly and began looking around. "I don't mean to be a wanker, but I need to bring some towels to my platoon. They are animals." The young redhead laughed a bit and handed him a full stack of freshly folded towels. Harry smirked at her and inhaled a white towel. "Smells like the Burrow," he said almost inaudibly.
Ginny looked up. "Huh?"
He looked at him and shrugged. "The Burrow…it's my uh…I guess you could say home." He looked confused for a moment. "Sometimes."
Ginny looked away quickly. That was right; it used to be Harry's home, before he decided to disappear. There was silence in the tent as the two were lost in their own thoughts. Thinking about a time when things were simpler; when Harry and Ginny had been in love.
"Who lives there?" asked Ginny softly, continuing to fold blankets.
"The Weasley's," he said simply. "I know you've heard of them," he smirked at her.
She nodded her head and shrugged. "Ginny, right?" she replied with a shrug.
He nodded again. "Yea," he stopped. "Ginny."
"I heard she was your ex," the redhead said, picking up to another load of towels to toss into the tub.
"Where did you hear that?" the raven haired man questioned,
"Around," she put simply.
"From Malfoy?"
The woman smirked. "Do you think Malfoy would talk about the weather with me? Let alone bring her up?"
"I don't know..." he started slowly. "He loves talking about things he hates…"
"I also heard you took off," she interrupted him while scrubbing angrily at the dirty towels.
"Oh…"
"Just up and left without a bloody goodbye."
"There is more…" Harry started in anger.
"Like you didn't give a shit enough about someone to at least say goodbye to them?" she snapped.
"What?" he came angrily.
She ignored him. "It's really ironic that a boy who killed the Dark Lord can't even look a seventeen-year-old girl in the eye and tell her you don't love her any more…"
"Whatever you heard, you've got the wrong idea. Whoever told you had no idea what was going on at the time!"
"Enlighten me," she snapped without really realizing what she was saying. "If you say I've got the wrong idea, why did she end up with Malfoy?"
Harry breathed in heavily, glaring at her with anger and at the same time, his own guilt. After a few moments of tense silence he patted the towels down, making sure they would stay put. He then took out his wand and with a flick all the laundry was folded and lined up in nice piles. Harry then looked at the man he knew as Casey and sighed.
"Tomorrow night, I'll buy you a pint," he offered.
"I've got duties tomorrow," she said with out looking at him.
He shrugged. "You'll get the night off." And without another word, Harry turned around and walked out of the laundry tent, leaving Ginny all alone.
"Right," said Malfoy, looking at Ginny and her mates with disgust. "This," he pointed to the huge obstacle course in front of them, "is your challenge for today. It is going to put everything you've ever learned to the test. The first part is just basic running and climbing over things. I hope it isn't too hard for your simple brains to figure out."
"That's why he didn't put up," Ginny whispered to Neville, who smirked in response.
"Have something to say, Caché?" barked Malfoy.
Ginny sighed. "Just that…" she began with attitude, before Mark elbowed her in the stomach; she glared at him and then back to Malfoy. "That I hope I can figure it out, Sir." Draco just glared before he looked at everyone else.
"After you climb the wall," he said, pointing toward the huge gated wall which looked much like the gates that surrounded many Wizarding Manors, "you will meet one of your pupils- either from your own or Commander Potters platoon- and have a Wizard's Duel. Whoever wins gets to take the whole day off. Whoever loses has to stay and help me take this down. Once you are done, then you may go out to town."
The men looked at each other nervously; it was only twelve in the afternoon and to have to wait until finishing the takedown would be torture! Merlin, how would they survive? They all looked at Ginny, who had been the one to construct the course that morning.
"Take as much time as needed. Every solider should pass this course," he sneered at them. "Go queue up at the starting line, you bloody poufs!"
The platoon looked at each other and raced towards the start line where they began warming up.
"Sucks for you, Case," said Roger Davies, stretching next to Ginny. "You have to be here anyway."
"Not really," she started with a shrug. "Commander Potter is getting me out of Hospital Duty. That's why I had to construct the course."
"Oh…" he said, looking away. After a few moments of silence, he looked back at her. "Then, you want to go for a pint? My treat…" she shook her head.
"Nah, I can't. Potter is buying me one already," Ginny sighed, "I think he wants to get me drunk and then beat me to a pulp. Mouthed off to him yesterday."
Davies nodded. "Oh."
"You and I have to duel," Ginny heard Mark say to Neville. "I want to see how good you really are. I know you are just messing around in sessions."
The younger man shrugged. "No. It's just that…I get nervous around Malfoy. He reminds me of my old potions professor, Snape." Seamus sniggered.
"Yea, he used to tease Neville something terrible," Dom chuckled.
"Neville, si? You es a large man. 'Ow could an old man like 'im scare you?"
Longbottom shook his head with vigor. "No. You didn't know me at eleven years old. I was so scared of every one."
"Yea, he is nothing like the Neville we know now, Dom," replied Lee. "He's really grown up."
"If you say so…" teased Dominic. The rest of the men chuckled and continued stretching.
"Soldiers!" called a voice. Everyone queued at the starting point and looked at Harry Potter as he commanded them. "In about two seconds I will send four blue sparks into the air. When the last spark disappears, you will start the course. Remember, don't rush yourselves. It's alright if you are last. And remember, no hurting others while you are on the course or I will make sure you don't go out tonight." Harry looked at Draco and they nodded to each other.
Ginny's heart beat with adrenaline as she watched the first spark fly into the air. Her mates looked at each other and smiled. The second one went; all the guys had their game-faces on, looking at the course with hunger. The third set Ginny's body tingling with excitement. She was going to be the first one out of the course. She would show Draco and Harry that she was the best and would remain that way. She looked up as the fourth blue spark disappeared and without a moments' hesitation, she bolted down the first mile.
The young girl couldn't help but smile as she finished her mile run. She could have actually done another two because of the extra training she had been getting from Draco every morning. Coming upon the rings, she jumped into the holes, foot going into one after the other. Furrowing her brow, she thought of how much this course reminded her of the Muggle courses in the movies. Throwing her distracted thoughts away, she fell to her stomach and began dragging herself under the thicket of bushes. Ginny heard grunting behind her and turned to see Roger Davies and Neville right behind her. They were being hit by branches and getting dirt in their mouths.
Climbing out from under the bushes, she picked a few sharp twigs and splinters from her arms and tossed them to the ground. Her feet began pounding the soft grass as she neared the platform. She jumped onto it, grabbed the robe, and swung over the deep pool of water (something she had conjured up this morning) and fell onto her knees on the other side. When she tried getting back up, Ginny felt a sharp pain shoot through her abdomen. She clutched it and doubled over in pain. Breathing in and out of her mouth, Ginny tried to steady her focus. She couldn't let them know she was in pain, she couldn't! If she did, wouldn't be able to finish the course. If she didn't finish, Ginny wouldn't be able to look at herself. When hearing Neville swear behind her, she stood up straight, and giving everything she had not to cry out in pain, began running towards the next obstacle.
The young redhead inhaled deeply as she neared the thick fog. Running at top speed, she took out her wand and ran headfirst into the darkness. The moment she was in the thicket, a blue light sped towards her. However, quick thinking let her put up a shielding charm so it bounced right off her. There was no longer flat, unobstructed countryside, but instead there were thickets of bushes and tall trees surrounding the small pathway. While running, she had to throw herself on the ground every now and then; making sure on-coming hexes wouldn't hit her. Every time her body hit the rough dirt or a tree root, her abdomen pain grew ten fold. Her breath became ragged and her mind grew hazy, but she didn't relent. After this they had to climb the gate, then the duel, and then this day would be over and she could rest.
Coming out of the thick fog, she nearly tripped over her own feet. Ginny's heart was going a mile a minute, faster than she had ever felt it before. Her whole body ached and her mind no longer wanted to focus. She shook it off, and ran for the gates. Quickly, the redhead tucked her wand into the pocket of her robe and began climbing the wall, grasping onto the gates with all her might. She placed her feet in the tiny little crevasses made by Harry early this morning. One after the other she climbed, until she reached the top, and climbed over that as well. She looked up to see Neville and Roger climbing over it as well. Her mate smiled at her and wiped the sweat off his shoulder with his sleeve.
Ginny was climbing down when her foot missed one of the little crevasses. Her knuckles went white as she grabbed onto the black bars. She looked in front of her to see Seamus and some of Harry's men come from the fog and jumping onto the gates. She blinked a few times and soon they were no more than little blobs. She blinked again and things began to grow dark. The pain was in every part of her body now. She felt nothing; not the wind on her arms, not the sweat rolling down her face. She closed her eyes and breathed in, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she began to sway dangerously back and forth.
"Case?" she heard faintly. "Are you alright, mate?"
Ginny opened her mouth to reply but nothing came, only a gasp for air. Whoever had been talking to her was now calling for help. What exactly was said, she didn't know. The sound of her own heart going miles a minute flooded her ears. Soon, the young solider could no longer hold on as energy quickly began leaving her body. Her mind went blank and Ginny let go of the bars as she fell towards the earth.