Chapter Two

The sunny weather reflected Ginny's mood. She was going to find out who she was partnered with for the mission in the Fencult forest and she was certain she was going to be partnered with her best friend Colin Creevy.

She was her Commander's favourite even though he'd never admit it, and she got him to pull some strings to get Colin to be her partner.

Colin too was a fighter, and since he did one year of part time Auror training before hand he only had to do four years of Auror training at the Ministry. Ginny had not had the time to see him in a long time. She was just too busy with training to really visit anyone outside of the Underground, and was only allowed to see her family for three hours every three months.

It was a grim time but everyone felt it was their duty to protect their fellow members of society from the monster called Voldemort.

Ginny and Draco strode into the number seven auditorium at the Auror head quarters at the same time and simply stared at each other. For Draco it was because he was struck by how beautiful she was and how well her deep red hair complemented her paler features.

For Ginny it was the fact that the prick Malfoy was actually at Auror H.Q wearing an official badge stating he was to be joining the Fencult squad.

"Malfoy." Stated Ginny in disbelief.

"Ginny. Why I am not surprised to see you here," replied Draco in a soft even toned voice.

Ginny arched one delicate eyebrow and simply asked "and why's that?"

"Because your whole family is fighting this cursed war."

"And what the fuck are you doing here… Malfoy?" said Ginny, spitting out the last two syllables like it was filth.

Draco sighed. Here he was getting a nice big serving of the Weasley prejudice. "I'm sorry, I don't think the badge which is stating what I am doing here is obvious enough. I'm an Auror Ginny, I'm going to fight Voldemort. I'm going into the Fencult forest."

Ginny was slightly dumbstruck. It was true she didn't think the badge was obvious enough. It just couldn't be right. Malfoy? Draco Malfoy? Fighting against his pathetic Lord?

"And what makes you think you have the right to call me by my first name?"

"The fact we are adults. The fact that you and I are fighting for the same cause, the fact that I am trying to make peace with you." Draco's voice was still even as he finished his sentence.

Ginny couldn't find a retort. She was a fair person, and the honesty in Draco's voice made her stop and think for a moment, but only a moment.

"Yeah right, wha-"

"GINNY!"

Ginny whirled around, black robes whirling around with her to face Colin Creevy. Best friend for six years. Best friend who she had not seen in four.

"COLIN! OH MY GOSH!" At this point Ginny squealed loudly that several people nearby stared for a few moments and shook their heads. Ginny and Colin ran forward and hugged each other tightly, like that if they let go they would both disappear in a puff of smoke.

"Ginny, Ginny how are you? You look great! How has the Underground been treating you? Oh I've missed you so much! Since your wit has not been killing me!" cried Colin breathlessly.

"Oh Colin I've been great, I've completed the full course with some of the highest marks possible! I've missed you too! Yeah no one to match my intellect oh how I hope we get partnered up.. you know how the Ministry wants us to be paired up male/female.." Ginny's voice trailed off as she and Colin walked off, arm in arm talking excitedly.

'Well, that makes for great conversation,' thought Draco dejectedly.

Since he still had ½ an hour to go till the addressing would begin by the Ministry, Draco walked slowly to a corner and watched. This was what he did all the time now. For the past five years.

Draco learnt a lot. He noticed the little things like how girls liked to tuck their hair behind their ears, continuously. It vaguely annoyed him. He noticed how people reacted with their body language. They opened up their shoulders and their muscled relaxed when they were around people they were comfortable with. They tensed and tended to fold their arms when they were around people they weren't.

Of course this doesn't take any genius to figure out. It was just that no one had time like Draco Malfoy to spend looking at other people's body language.

And so it went on like this for the next fifteen minutes. Draco leaning into a wall, staring moodily at the massive crowd shift into auditorium number seven.

He noticed Ginny, easily, by her red hair. Chatting away to Colin like there was no tomorrow. Looking such like an innocent school girl gossiping, oblivious to the fact in one day she would be marching into a forest that was full of treachery and danger.

Draco knew of course she wasn't unprepared. Harry had told him during the late nights they spent in their dorm rooms when they couldn't sleep, after learning about something horrific in training. He had told Draco how Ginny refused to be the baby of the family, even though no one thought of her like that anymore. Only how now she was one of the most strongest and confident people around. How she was determined to get Voldemort, after she had seen so many die around her. Apparently it was all she lived for, after her family and friends. Friends she did not have much of.. since most of them had been killed. Sort of reminded Draco about somebody he knew. Every time he looked in the mirror that is.

As the long hand on Draco's watch crossed the fifteen minute mark, he noticed Harry striding towards him, and he nodded his head in his direction in greeting.

When Harry came closer, Harry murmured "hey Drake, you ready for this?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. I heard you'll be using the sword.."

Harry looked down, blushing a bit.

"Yeah, if using my wand fucks up I'll have Godric's trusty sword on hand. Though I think Voldemort will shit himself in anger if he notices that's the same sword I used to kill his basilisk with."

"Mmm.." replied Draco, closing his eyes and appreciating the fact he had someone was talking to him.

"Did I mention Gin is carrying the sword in her journey through the forest?"

Draco's eyes snapped open and he said "Ginny Weasley? Why? There's hundreds of people who could."

"She's really good with weaponry, and for some reason Dumbledore thinks it will be a good idea."

Draco gave some unintelligible sort of grunt and both men sought out Ginny's flaming hair lazily. Silently contemplating what was to come ahead of them.

Woohoo, anuzzer chapter! Please review :)