A/N again, sorry for the confusion over the last chapter, i don't know why it does it that. thanks for the reviews

Chapter Eight: Turning Over

For two months things went smoothly. Ginevra had to bite back her annoyance with her brother and friends more frequently than ever, but it was getting easier to ignore as well. She wasn't really sure how that worked, but supposed it probably meant two steps back one step forward, they annoyed her three times as much but it was twice as easy to ignore. She didn't think about it often, that meant thinking about them. They had gone back to ingoring her after Hallowe'en since she was no longer as depressed. Harry had become obsessed with Malfoy and had taken to tracking him on the Marauder's Map. 'Mi and Ron were still trying to hold out that Malfoy was too young to be a death eater, but with the attack on Katie Bell, even they were losing their resolve.

She was currently sitting by the lake. Things had changed. The darkness was once again at bay, held back by the ideals she finally lived up to, but it was by no means gone. She had also finally accepted the fact that, just like Tom, it would never go away. She supposed she should have known, how could she have Tom in the back of her mind without having darkness there as well? She sighed. She was glad she had forgiven Malfoy, and she was glad her ideals had won in the end, even if she had needed help from her "enemy", but it came with a price. She cared about him now. She still didn't like him and she doubted they would ever get along, but he had understood what she had gone through. He had understood what it felt like to be drowning in darkness. He was no longer pure loathsome evil, but he was human, and she was kind, and she cared. She was almost certain he had been behind the attack on Katie, but she couldn't help but think there was still time for him, time for him to realize what he was doing.

She knew they had an "understanding" that she would wait for him to come to her if he wanted to change, but a student had been hurt. Maybe she should talk to him, just once. Ah, but there was the problem that she still didn't like him. He was still arrogant, spoiled, selfish, etc. She still felt like slapping every time he spoke. Would he ever grow up? How could she care about someone she thought was the most childish, annoying, git she knew? Well, Ron did offer some stiff competition. But would she really be able to talk to him without yelling at him? She sighed again. If she got the opportunity she knew she would have to.

It was almost time for Christmas holidays. She wondered if Malfoy would be staying at the school. He probably was. That meant she might have a chance to talk to him, not many people would be staying this year. The only Gryffindors to do so would be Harry, 'Mi, Ron and herself.

Draco was becoming more and more panicked. It wasn't working at all. Maybe he would take the weasel up on her offer to help him change just to get protection from the Order because after he failed this he was sure going to need it. Then there was that pesky voice that kept wondering why it was so important for her to be pure and stay in the Light if it was perfectly fine for him to remain in the darkness. He sat back. The stupid cabinet was as busted as ever. He would do it. He would join the Order. I mean, honestly, it wasn't as if the Dark Lord really stood a chance anyone, the man, no, thing was friggin insane and would get all of his followers killed. It was really the only smart thing to do. He could work out whether or not he believed in good and bad later.

But when would he talk to her? He didn't exactly want to draw attention to himself and being seen with a Weasley would certainly do just that. Wait, he had overheard something about the holidays. She was staying. He would talk to her then.

He wondered what he would have to do. He would have to tell them about his orders, obviously, but he wondered what they would do with him. They would probably have to take him out of school. He sighed. The only other option really, aside from making him disappear, would be to have work as a double agent, and surely they wouldn't ask a student to do that. Well, they had better protect his mother as well, that was all he had to say.

Christmas holidays arrived and most of the students left. Only four Gryffindors, two Ravenclaws, and six Slytherin remained. Do to the incredibly small number of students there was only one table in the Great Hall for meals and, do to the combination, very little conversation. Ginevra spent most of her time alone reading or trying to figure out what to say to Malfoy. Draco spent most of his time alone reading or trying to figure out how to approach the littlest weasel. It was the third day of the holiday when Ginevra was the first to leave the table at dinner that Draco decided it was now or never. He got up slowly and followed her at a respectable distance. Snape raised his eyebrow at the boy's back and exchanged a look with the headmaster who seemed to be thinking the same thing. They finished their meals and went to the headmaster's office to await what was apparently, they hoped, soon to come.

Ginevra had turned toward the library when she heard someone leave the Great Hall behind her. She didn't hear voices so she turned to see who it was. Malfoy looked back at her and indicated the entrance with his head. She nodded and retraced her steps. They had been walking for five minutes before he spoke.

"The Dark Lord doesn't stand a chance in the war. He underestimates his opponents and believes himself to be invincible. Only a fool would remain loyal to one destined for annialation."

Ginevra stopped. He turned when he noticed she was no longer by his side. She met his gaze and they stood there, eyes locked. It wasn't precisely the motivation she had been hoping for but she could tell there was more to it than that. Well, it would have to do. After what seemed like hours to the boy under her scrutinizing gaze, she nodded, and they headed back toward the castle. He knew she was taking him to Dumbledore. She was aware he knew. There was no reason to speak. There was nothing to discuss that would not be repeated for the headmaster.

They stood by the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the headmaster's office. Ginevra mumbled something that sounded like sugar quills and a staircase appeared. Draco did not ask how she knew the password. They made their way up the stairs and she knocked on the door. They heard Dumbledore call permission to enter and did so. They had not been expecting Snape to be there but neither were surprised.

Ginevra knew Snape worked for the order and assumed Malfoy thought he was a death eater. She turned toward Dumbledore. "Sir, we were wondering if we could speak with you." Dumbledore nodded knowingly before looking at Snape.

The two seemed to communicate silently for a moment before Dumbledore leaned back and looked at Draco. "It is safe to speak before Severus."

Draco swallowed. Snape was a death eater stationed as a spy in... He swallowed again, no, obviously for the Order. He nodded. "I have no desire to follow my father to the grave." His eyes never left Snape. Luscious was still living, but everyone in the room knew this was an explanation of his motives as well as his decision. It was Snape's turn to nod. Draco continued. "So you have been twice a spy all along. How am I supposed to trust you?"

Snape growled. Dumbledore interrupted before he could find his voice. "I trust him, that will be enough for you. The question is, can we trust you?"

"I have no intention of following the orders of a madman that lead nowhere but death. Voldemort is a fool who underestimates his enemies and overestimates his strength. By defying him I put not only my life but that of my mother at risk as well. If you are willing to offer both of us protection I will tell you everything I know, which, I admit, isn't much."

Dumbledore exchanged a look with Snape before speaking. Is that the only reason you have chosen to adjust your loyalties?"

Draco swallowed again. How could he tell them that right now it was merely a better safe than sorry choice when it came to his view of good and evil? "Yes." Fortunately, his hesitation was not lost on the men watching him, neither was it lost on the silent red head. Dumbledore and Snape exchanged glances again.

"Very well, we will make arrangements for your protection. Is there anything we should know?" Dumbledore looked at the sixteen year old expectantly.

"I was assigned an objective. Both to make up for my father's failure and to prove my worth. Should I succeed, I was to receive the dark mark. The orders were to find a way to bring death eaters on campus and to kill you." If he was expecting a reaction out of the headmaster he was disappointed, but of course Snape would have told him that much all ready. "I learned that if I repaired the broken vanishing cabinet here at school it could open a portal of sorts with its replica in Borgin and Burkes. I have been trying to fix it all year but have not yet succeeded." Dumbledore had been listening with eyes close, nodding almost the entire time. Snape had been watching, oddly enough, Ginevra. Ginevra had been staring at a spot on the back wall and seemed to be lost in her own thoughts. In truth, she had heard every word, but was indeed thinking things over very quickly, and her conclusions, when shared, would astound even Snape.

When Draco had finished speaking Dumbledore did not move, neither did Ginevra. After a moment of silence in which Draco had watched the head master and Snape had taken to watching the boy Dumbledore spoke. "No." Draco looked taken aback. What had the headmaster meant? Surely he hadn't challenged what he had been told.

Snape opened his mouth to speak but Ginevra beat him to it. "I'll go with him." Now Draco was really confused. Snape had actually stepped back to regain his balance and Dumbledore looked weary.

It was Snape's turn to say "No!" And he said it with such conviction that Draco suddenly understood. Dumbledore had decided against asking him, a student, to go undercover, and the weasel had offered to go with him. Apparently Snape was willing to let Malfoy go but was not willing to let Weasley accompany him.

"Why not?" She stood up and the look on her face reminded Draco of McGonagal. "He cannot go alone, that much is certain. Not only is it too dangerous but even he would admit his motives are too weak for us to trust. And you certainly don't expect me to believe for one second that it was even considered if it were not vital to establish a sleeper."

"No one would believe you have turned." Everything she had said was true. They needed a sleeper. They needed someone they could trust in the death eater camp, someone who was not constantly in contact with the Order and thereby risking exposure, someone pulling strings and waiting until they were needed to provide the bloody Potter boy a chance to face off with the Dark Lord. Snape was desperate to find an excuse to keep the girl out. He didn't know why, but he a need to protect her. Had he stopped to think he would have found his reasons very similar to Draco's.

"They wouldn't? Why not? I'm sick of everyone thinking I'm perfect! I'm sick of my brother's thinking they can run my life! I'm sick of being overlooked because I'm the youngest! I'm sick of being babied! I'm sick of the people who claim to be friends ingoring me! I'm sick of Harry acting like I'm a porcelain doll! I'm tired of Hermione acting like she's my mother! I'm tired of my real mother paying more attention to the boy who lived than her own daughter! I'm sick and tired of everyone taking me for granted! NO ONE CARES WHAT I THINK BECAUSE I'M TOO YOUNG! NO ONE STOPS TO THINK THAT THEY ARE ONLY A YEAR, ONE LOUSY YEAR OLDER THAN ME! NO ONE NOTICES WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG, WHEN SOMETHING IS BOTHERING ME, THEY'RE TOO CAUGHT UP IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD! NO ONE STOPS TO THINK THAT TOM MAY HAVE LEFT A MARK ON ME BECAUSE I'M INNOCENT LITTLE GINNY! I CRIED, I CUT MYSELF, I ALMOST COMMITTED SUICIDE AND NO ONE NOTICED! I COULD KILL SOMEONE AND THEY FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO BLAME! I A-M T-I-R-E-D O-F B-E-I-N-G T-A-K-E-N F-O-R G-R-A-N-T-E-D B-Y A B-U-N-C-H O-F H-Y-P-O-C-R-Y-T-E-S!" There had been no change in Dumbledore during her speech except for a slight raise of his eyebrows at the mention of suicide. Snape, however, had sat down when she started to yell. Draco was openly staring with mouth ajar. Her composure was instantly regained and she cocked her head to the side, rising her eyebrows, her voice took on a tone suitable for one discussing what to have for tea, "Are you sure they wouldn't believe me?"

Snape was speechless. Dumbledore sighed. "Are you sure about this? Your family cannot know of your true intentions, it would only endanger you. They must believe you have truly betrayed them. Everyone except those in this room will believe you have truly turned over." Draco watched the girl before him with new found wonder. He knew she had conviction, but this?

She sighed, sat down, and looked as though she were tempted to cry. "Yes, I am sure."

Dumbledore turned to Snape. Snape sighed and shook his head. "If anyone," he spoke rather reluctantly, "can pull it off, it is Ginevra. However much I regret involving her, it must be done."

Draco was about to panic. Were they just assuming he would go with her? He was just about to speak up with Dumbledore turned to him. "Draco, your involvement in this is entirely up to you. We can plant Ginevra without you, Snape is more than able, but it would be a great comfort to me if I knew she was not alone."

Before he could think he heard himself agree. He must be insane.

The students were dismissed and told to return in exactly one week to discuss the plan. As they walked back toward the Great Hall and the entrance Draco noticed Ginevra was shaking. He couldn't imagine what it had taken to make the decision she had made. He knew that no matter how much her friends and family annoyed her she loved them, and she knew they loved her, and that would always mean things would work out. But now? She had agreed to turn her back on them, to make them believe she accepted everything they despised, to break their hearts and make them hate her. He didn't know what to do so he steered her toward the Room of Requirement and held her until it was time for dinner.