When the desert plates had cleared Ginny rose from her solitary place at the end of the Gryffindor table and exited the Great Hall. She strode down the almost empty corridors in the direction of Dumbledore's—McGonagall's office. She felt a pang as she approached the stone gargoyles that flanked the entrance. She remembered Harry telling her about Dumbledore's…interesting choice of passwords.
"He really loves his sweets…I remember once, when I couldn't figure out the password to his office, I got really annoyed and shouted every single candy I could think of. It finally opened on cockroach clusters, of all things!" he laughed at the memory before adding, "…I've been wondering ever since if he actually likes those!" he looked curious and revolted at the same time, and Ginny couldn't help but giggle at his expression.
She sighed, wishing that all her memories of him involved laughing. In all honesty, Harry didn't laugh that often. It was of those rare things that everyone who loved him wished he would do. She knew Dumbledore had.
The sound of a door closing further down the corridor snapped her out of her thoughts, and she focused on the problem at hand: how did she get in to McGonagall's office? She had said nothing about the password in her note.
"Lemon drops?" Ginny timidly asked the gargoyles, doubting the formal McGonagall would choose something so frivolous. The situation seemed to call for something a bit more serious.
"Gryffindor?" No response. "Er…OWLs? Homework? Er…Transfiguration! Animagi! Order of the Phoenix! OPEN, YOU BLOODY—"
"Why don't you try Ginger Newts?" Sounded an amused voice from behind her. Ginny whipped around and found herself face to face with the unusual sight of Professor McGonagall grinning.
"Shocking as it may be," she smiled, gesturing at the look on Ginny's face, "I too, occasionally feel the need to indulge in something as innocent and unnecessary as Albus's beloved sweets. Especially when he is not here to share them with me…" she broke off, leaving a strained silence behind. Ginny fully realized for the first time how difficult the loss must have been for the new Headmistress. From what she could tell, the two Professors had seemed rather close.
"Well, come on, then." McGonagall said abruptly, marching towards the spiral staircase that was now visible. Ginny followed her, wondering as they ascended whether her office looked the same as it had when Dumbledore had been its occupant.
It didn't. Instead of curious whirring and puffing instruments, the beautiful circular office was entirely consumed with books. Thick ones, thin ones, new and old, worn and frayed, glossy, some with the distinct aura of being extremely boring and others looked as if they were most likely illegal. Ginny was irresistibly reminded of Hermione and grinned, thinking how very much alike her friend and her favorite teacher was.
"Please, sit." McGonagall said softly. She was already seated behind the desk that Ginny had always associated with the person pictured in the portrait above her. His head was lolled upon his shoulder, and he was snoring gently. In his sleep, some of the lines upon his face seemed to disappear, and for the first time since Ginny known him, he looked completely at peace.
"I suppose you have wondered why I summoned you here, and I do apologize for not elaborating in the message I send sent you." McGonagall said, once her student was seated, "However, before I explain further, I would like to make one thing clear. When I ask you what I am going to, I will not be asking as your headmistress, but as an Order member and a family friend." She paused, and peered sternly at Ginny over her square-rimmed glasses, "What we will be discussing…well, the Ministry might not necessarily approve of it. Not that that really matters." She added, sniffing.
"Miss Weasley, I am quite positive that you know of Mr. Potter's, Mr. Weasley's, and Miss Granger's whereabouts, or, at the very least, why they are gone." She trailed off, as though hoping Ginny would chime in with the answers to these inquiries, but when she didn't, continued, "You are one's best friend, one's sister, and another's…perhaps something more." Ginny blushed to the roots of her hair, somewhat shocked that her Transfiguration would acknowledge something that personal.
"…Which is why I have decided you are the best person for the job. Youhave proven yourself, Miss Weasley. Last year you battled the Death Eaters here, and the year before in the Department of Mysteries. I realize that you most likely wish to be helping Mr. Potter, am I right?" Ginny nodded silently.
"Then here's your chance. It is of the Order's opinion that a certain society be re-established, also known as Dumbledore's Army. After the horrible occurrence last year, we realized just how important student involvement is. Without your, Mr. Longbottom's, and Mr. Weasley's help, that night could have become even more disastrous. It came to my attention that Miss Granger had attempted to call former members of the Army, and only two responded, those being Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood.
"We would like you, Miss Weasley, to be in charge of reforming Dumbledore's Army. We would like our students to be aware of the current danger in our world, and to have the ability to defend themselves in the case of an emergency.
"I realize, of course, that there may be some members who wish to join that you may not entirely trust. Let them join anyway. Just make sure that certain secrets—such as Order members and the location of your brother and his friends—are not revealed. As our dear late Headmaster believed—" Ginny could have sworn the Dumbledore in the portrait smiled slightly, "—it is a person's choices, not their family or their past, that make them who they truly are. So, what do you say?"
Ginny was unsure of what to do. Yes, of course she wanted to help the Order, and she was willing to do anything to help Harry, but this? Defense was her best subject, but she wasn't nearly as good as Harry or even Ron and Hermione. She didn't think she had the qualities of a teacher, either, everyone was well aware of her amount of patience, or lack thereof. She would most likely lose her temper when somebody like Neville couldn't perform a simple bat-bogey hex.
"I—I'm not sure that I would really be the best choice of teacher, I—"
"Why not?" This caused Ginny to become slightly annoyed, she would think having the same teacher for six years would result in them knowing the faults of the other.
"Because, I'm not really as qualified as he was, and not nearly as patient, or as well informed, and—"
"What do you think Harry would do in this situation?"
That was easy. He would say yes, immediately; he would do anything as long as it had to do with destroying Voldemort. Isn't that what she pledged to do? Isn't that what she had been itching to do all year, to help in any way possible to destroy the evil that had, in many ways, destroyed her life? Here was her one opportunity, and she was going to say no because she didn't feel up to the task?
"I'll do it." She whispered, not looking up to meet her Professor's eyes.
"Good. I'm sure you will be wonderful. Now, as I mentioned before, the Ministry may not like the idea of training young people for war; you know how they are about belittling students, calling them helpless children and whatnot. So I think it might be best if you continue to keep this organization as quiet possible. We don't want another disaster like Umbridge, do we?" She attempted a smile, but it came out more like a grimace, "Well, that's really all we needed to discuss. I appreciate your willingness to help, and I trust you will do your very best."
Ginny rose from her seat, and hurried for the door.
"Oh! Wait, Miss Weasley! I almost forgot. You are aware that Fawkes the Phoenix accompanied your friends on their mission, correct?" Ginny nodded, remembering their surprise when the beautiful bird had arrived at the Burrow over the summer. Dumbledore had apparently left quite a few of his belongings to Harry, Fawkes being one of them. "Well, obviously Fawkes can travel undetected, so I believe they have chosen him to be their way of communicating. You have a letter…" She pulled a tightly furled scroll from within a desk drawer. "When you have written a reply, give it to me, and I will give to Fawkes to return."
"Why can't Fawkes come into my dormitory, or the common room?" Ginny asked, as she took the scroll from McGonagall.
"It would be too suspicious. Fawkes is almost always linked with the Order, for obvious reasons. Sleep well, Ginerva."
Ginny cringed at the use of her full name, and stepped down upon the spiral staircase, reading the front of the scroll as she descended.
To: Ginny Weasley
From: Hermione Granger
Finally, some news!