A/N – This chapter took a little while, but I am quite happy with the result. Please leave me some reviews though, negative or positive I would love to hear what you think and if you like what I am doing with the story so far.

Disclaimer – I don't own anything it all belongs to the brilliant JK Rowling

He paced his rooms furiously until he was sure he had worn a hole in the floor. Having just gotten back from the ceremony, he knew Dumbledore was waiting for his usual report. While the report was never pleasant it had never been surprising, Dumbledore always knew who was going over to the dark side. How could he know about Ms. Weasley though? It had occurred to him several times just to leave out this important fact, but to do so would be dangerous to the Order.

"What in bloody hell was that girl thinking… Did she even know what she was getting herself into?" Snape shouted at the walls of his bedroom.

He stalked over to his mahogany writing desk and started reorganizing the quills by length and quality. It was a nervous habit of his, he supposed it started when he was younger and his mother would punish him whenever his appearance or his room was untidy. His mother… he shuddered at the thought of her, she wasn't what you would call "mother of the year" material. The formidable Mrs. Sebastian Snape, five feet eleven inches, dressed solely in black, eyebrows completely plucked off then redrawn into permanently disapproving arcs, and complete with a scowl that could scare away a full grown troll. After his father's sudden death when he was only three, she had taken her role as both mother and father very seriously. She didn't want to raise a weakling of a son. She had told him time and time again, "You're going to bring the name of Snape glory once again, not like that pathetic excuse of a father, wasting his life away in books. Not you my boy, no you will show them all."

Snape was shaken from his reverie at the sound of Dumbledore's voice. He left his bedroom and entered his sitting room where Dumbledore's head floated amidst the green flames of the fireplace.

"Ah there you are Severus, I thought you had come back. Would you care to join me in my study, I believe we have some things to discuss?" Snape nodded his head in response, and once the Headmaster's head disappeared in the flames he took some floo powder and called out "Headmaster's study".

The flames engulfed him and he was transported to the study. He stepped out of the fireplace and found the Headmaster standing with his back to him, staring out the large bay window at the lake.

"Albus, I…" Snape started to say.

"She joined the Death Eaters didn't she." Dumbledore stated, still keeping his back to Snape.

Snape didn't even need to ask who "She" was. This still through the Potions Master for a loop. First, when had Dumbledore ever come to a point without running at least three hundred circles around it first? And second, how did he know about this crucial information? His voice too, so cold and emotionless, this wasn't the Albus he knew.

"How did you know?" he asked bluntly, not one to beat around the bush.

Albus sighed and finally turned to face Snape. His jovial face was not there, instead, there was one wrought with sadness. The twinkle that was normally in his eyes was still there but for a different reason, he was holding back tears. Severus had the overwhelming desire to comfort him, but he wasn't very good at it. Criticism and sarcasm were more his area of expertise, and when had Albus ever needed to be comforted? He was usually the one on the receiving end of such attention, unwanted most of the time. For lack of any better ideas, he waited for Dumbledore to speak.

Albus gestured to one of the brown suede chairs, "Please Severus sit, there is much to be discussed."

Albus began pacing his study idly toying with the many arcane items on his desk. Finally leaning against his desk, he fixed his gaze on Snape.

"Severus, what have you noticed recently concerning Ms. Weasley?"

Snape raised an eyebrow, "Noticed in Ms. Weasley? Well I have never given her much thought, her grades are adequate in my class and she has never caused trouble… unlike those horrid twins…"

"You have just proven my point Severus," Albus interrupted.

From the blank look Snape was giving him he continued, "We are all guilty, even Ginny's friends and family, of not "giving her much thought" as you have said, and I fear that this has been our fatal mistake. Living in a family with six boys, who are each strong and talented wizards hasn't left much room for Ginny to shine. The only time she has ever been recognized was when Voldemort took over her body in her second year…"

Severus interjected here, "That's right I had nearly forgotten about that, which makes this situation all the more puzzling. Why would she want to join forces with the man who caused her such pain?"

Albus nodded his head in agreement, "You bring up a good point, and I have puzzled over that thought myself. I believe that in the same way Voldemort left his mark on Harry in the form of the scar on his head, he also left a part of himself in Ms. Weasley. Not physical like Harry's scar, but instead his desire for knowledge of the Dark Arts."

Now this made sense to Snape, for this was the same knowledge that had driven him to Voldemort's side. Throughout his teenage years his mother's voice was an ever present reminder in his head of what he must do… Prove them wrong, prove them all wrong… Of course to someone as naive as he was Voldemort seemed the fastest and easiest way to do this. He had watched as his older classmates joined the Death Eaters, proudly showing off their marks to one another. His eagerness to be a part of that, to join with that elite group burned inside him. When that day came to join he made sure he was first to receive the mark. Standing in front of the man who would become his mentor and teacher, or so he thought, had overwhelmed him. This silly dream of course was destroyed once he understood that Voldemort was no tutor, he was merely a dictator and the Death Eaters his foolish servants.

Voldemort's lust was for domination, he wanted to be worshipped, feared and obeyed. Severus' desire was for respect, and that was the last thing he got with the Death Eater's. Gravelling at the Dark Lord's feet while he preformed the Cruciatus on you until you screamed and begged for mercy wasn't high on his list of pleasurable activities. Nor were the constant killings of innocent people, useless bloodbaths nine times out of ten. The horror he was presented with and the idiots he was surrounded by were enough to make him sick. Once Severus had realized he was never going to get what he wanted out of this jolly little club he knew he wanted out, so he ran back to Hogwarts and into the arms of the ever understanding Albus Dumbledore.

"I can understand your reasoning Albus, but even with Voldemort's desire for the Dark Arts inside her I still find it hard to believe she would let it corrupt her that easily. Her parents are the biggest Muggle supporters in our community, and her brother is best friends with Potter. Those two facts alone should have been enough to prevent her from joining."

Albus shook his head sadly, "Severus you have fallen into the trap that the rest of us have. Her family's political views and their relationship with Harry aren't enough, she has been ignored, and as childish as this may sound, I think this is her way of shall we say "acting out". After six years of being ignored by her family and her peers, this is her way to get back at everyone, to betray us all."

Here Albus paused, and took out a handkerchief to wipe at his now tearing eyes. "We have all failed Ginny Weasley, and I fear that this may be our undoing."

Severus got up and kneeled before Albus, placing his hands on top of his. "Albus, this wasn't your fault, you couldn't have prevented this."

"No Severus, on this point you are wrong. I had begun to notice a change in Ginny last year, but I didn't say anything to her parents. I could see the bitterness growing in the girl's heart, but I never did anything to stop its growth."

Albus stood in front of his window again. This time Severus came and stood next to him. The sun was just setting, casting a subtle glow across the landscape. Snape kept his gaze purposefully directed forward, he couldn't bear to see the Headmaster like this. Seeing him like this only proved that he was human just like the rest of us, and that scared him.

"I'll bring her back to our side Albus, even if I have to drag her kicking and screaming."

At this Albus laughed, but not out of happiness. "You know as well as I do that that will never work, she has to come on her own free will."

He paused here, and didn't speak again for a couple of minutes.

"This time of year always saddens me, looking outside and watching the leaves begin to turn and fall. Then winter overtakes the country and the world becomes a weary wasteland of white and gray. But just when I am about to lose all hope of the winter ever ending the first green buds sprout on the trees and my hope is once again restored. No matter how long the winter last, there is always the promise of spring."

Severus would never cease to be amazed by the man who now stood before him. No matter how bad the world around them became he would always hold onto the belief that there was still enough good out there to fight the evil. He only wished he could believe that too.

Sighing he placed a hand on Albus' shoulder, "She will come around."

"Optimism from you Severus, that is a first. How do you know she will change her mind?" Albus replied jokingly, a little of the twinkle returning to his eyes.

"Because I knew someone like her once, someone who made a foolish decision for many of the same reasons."

With a sweep of his robes, Severus left the Headmaster's office.

Ginny climbed through the window to her room. She had left it open after she left, knowing that it would be impossible to come through the front door without Sirius' mother alerting the whole house. Just as she had hoped, Hermione was not in their room. She couldn't believe she had done it. She lifted up her sleeve just to make sure the mark was still there. It was dull now, but she could vaguely make the shape out in the dim lighting. She traced the outline with her finger, it still tingled with magic. She then looked at her face in the mirror, and did a double take. The girl she saw now was not the same girl she had always seen before. No the girl before her was confident and beautiful with just a touch of sex appeal. No wonder why Snape was staring at her she thought.

Snape… now there was a problem she was going to have to deal with in the near future. No matter though, she had the upper hand and she knew it and so did he. This, she thought, would be her first test, to conquer Professor Snape.

A flash of white caught her eye, and she saw that a letter was awaiting her on her nightstand. The jagged writing was all too familiar to her now, and she eagerly opened it.

Ginevra

You did wonderfully tonight, I can't say I've ever been prouder. I always knew you could do it. You even managed to earn my father's respect, which isn't easy believe me. I love you.

Draco

This made her smile. Draco may not have been the most eloquent writer, but he always knew the right thing to say. She muttered an Incendio and the letter went up in flames. Then she got into her twin bed and instantly fell asleep. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. She would be returning to Hogwarts and entering her 7th and final year there. She was sure this year would prove to be an interesting one.