It turned out Draco Malfoy and Luna Lovegood weren't the only two who hadn't returned to Hogwarts for the next term. Several Gryffindor's in their year hadn't bothered to return. Neville mentioned that Hannah Abbott had decided not to return either. Ginny felt troubled by it all. If they were letting the dreaded Carrow's stop them from returning…it meant that there would be fewer numbers for the D.A to reform.
It was the second Monday of term and Ginny was already organizing a Quidditch practice. It was still snowing so she hoped that it wouldn't be the day she scheduled practice for. However, she couldn't leave it much later, or else they would fall behind. The work load was piling up too and it was making her feel more stressed than usual. Ginny spent late nights staying up until around twelve to finish essays upon essays.
She hadn't even had time to recruit more D.A members and she sorely needed to get to that sword! One evening when the common room was mostly empty, Ginny said to Neville in a whisper, "We need to get the sword! We can't leave it in there much longer…next thing they move it and then we won't know where it is!" Neville smiled and whispered, "I know. I've been worrying about that too. So…what's the plan?" Ginny began whispering it in hushed tones to Neville so that no-one else could hear.
XXX
When Ginny finally fell asleep that night, she had a vivid dream. She dreamt she was at a wedding…although she wasn't entirely sure who's wedding she was at. She couldn't see the bride anywhere, but she was a bridesmaid. There were five other girls wearing the same dress as her. Ginny wore a baby pink dress- her least favorite colour as it clashed with her hair so much- and some white pump shoes.
Ginny saw Hermione and asked her nervously, "Where are we? What's going on?" They were in a big ballroom and it seemed like it was part of a hotel. Hermione frowned and replied with a laugh, "Why, we're at Harry's wedding of course!" Ginny felt instantaneously ill! Harry's wedding! But she was a bridesmaid …she asked Hermione quickly, "So who is he marrying?" Hermione looked at her with sympathy in her brown eyes and whispered, "Why, Cho Chang of course. Who else would he be marrying? Ginny you really need to let go. He needs to move on with his life. You're not making it any easier, for anyone."
Ginny stared at one of her best friends in shock and felt like crying, "He….he's getting married? To Cho? To CHO?" She shouted Cho's name out loud, causing several guests to turn and stare at her. She blushed and Hermione pulled Ginny to the side, "You gave him your blessing, remember? You said you were happy for him. After his long separation during the war…you kind of gave up on him." Ginny frowned and whispered, "And so he resorted to Cho Chang?"
Hermione sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "It's your own fault Ginny. You decided not to forgive him. This is what the result was." Ron appeared next to Hermione then and kissed her on the cheek. She was wearing the same, pretty red dress she had worn Bills wedding. He smiled lovingly at Hermione and whispered, "I think Cho's about ready, hun. Ginny, you should go upstairs now."
Slowly, as if she couldn't really comprehend what was happening…as though it was all in slow mode…Ginny walked up the fancy stairs, and some girl she didn't know handed her a bouquet of flowers. Ginny frowned, "Where's…Harry?" The girl rolled her eyes and pointed to the end of the hallway, "He's at the end of the passage. Last door on the left. I think your parents are in there with him."
Ginny thanked her and hurried along the beautifully decorated hallway. She reached the end and knocked quickly. Her father responded, "Come in?" Ginny entered and she saw Harry standing there…hair messy as ever…but he wasn't wearing his glasses today. She frowned and asked, "Where are your glasses?" Harry smiled at her, "I have them in my pocket. Didn't want to wear them for the ceremony."
Molly looked at her sympathetically and said, "Arthur…I think they need a moment alone." Her father nodded and turned to Harry, "Best of luck my boy. I trust you're making the right choice." Harry grimaced at her dad and then her parents left, closing the door behind them.
Ginny stared at Harry in disbelief. She gasped, "You're marrying CHO! CHO, HARRY!" Harry stared at her with a look of surprise, "Yeah, but you gave me your blessing. You seemed really happy for us…" Ginny raised her eyebrows sky high and laughed, "Oh please Harry! Do you think I'd ever actually mean that?" Harry glared at her irritably in his tux and retorted, "You have had plenty of time to protest about it Ginny, three years to be exact…and you never did. Instead…you went off with my worst enemy. I'll never forgive you for that!" he snapped right back at her.
Harry was never angry with her. Ginny frowned and whispered, "Your worst enemy is dead…" Harry sighed in exasperation, "Apart from Voldemort and Bellatrix." Ginny's face paled and she realized who he was talking about, "Draco Malfoy…" Harry's face contorted and he turned his back to Ginny, "Just leave, please." Ginny felt mad, but mostly at herself. She didn't know what to do…but she knew she couldn't let Harry marry Cho freaking Chang!
So she did the only thing she could think of. She stormed up to him and pulled him by his tux collar. He stared at her in bewilderment, "Uh…Ginny what…" And before he could say anything else, she kissed him passionately. He didn't respond for a second, but then his hands found their way into her neatly done up-do and she sighed in contentment. This was good…this felt right.
The next thing she knew…there was an airy voice she knew all too well floating around them. It whispered, "I'm coming for you, Weasley. I'm coming for you. I'm coming…" Ginny jumped backwards from Harry, as though he had scorched her. He stared at her in bewilderment and she whispered, "Did you hear that?" Tom Riddle appeared then, like a phantom out of nowhere…the Tom that was in her diary.
Ginny stared at him and automatically reached for her wand. But she forgot she was wearing a dress and her wand was who knows where?! Tom stared at her with amused eyes and whispered, "Hello there, Ginny. My have you grown!" She felt her throat constrict and she turned to look at Harry. He had his wand out and was steadily walking towards her, pointing it at Tom. He whispered harshly, "I've killed you once, Tom. I can do it again!" He had a protective stance and was shielding Ginny with his whole body.
Tom's black eyes stared into her with curiosity. Ginny stared at him hatred and she found him shockingly handsome. She removed herself from Harry's protective stance and spat back at Tom, "I hate you, Tom! You'll never have that control over me again! I won't let you!" Tom took a few steps closer, his floppy brown hair falling across his face as he did so. He ran one long, thin finger down Ginny's cheek before whispering in her ear, "Try me…" and then he was gone.
XXX
Ginny woke up from that dream with a start. It had all felt so real. Like she was there and living it. And Harry was marrying Cho. The idea sent shivers down her spine…but not more so than the idea of Tom invading the dream suddenly. Ginny had a sneaky suspicion that wasn't a coincidence. These dreams where Tom kept appearing that felt too real were starting to worry her! Was he taking over her control again?! No…he wasn't…surely she would know? She had told Harry he would know after all when he was in his fifth year and worried about the same thing. Yet here she was and just as uncertain as he was.
Ginny felt a lump in her throat and felt a yearning for Harry. She missed him. She missed him so much it hurt, and right now she needed him. Then she remembered his jerseys that she had in her trunk. She looked around and everyone in her dorm was asleep. She quietly accio'd one to her. It was blue in color and a v-neck. It smelt so strongly of him. She quickly pulled it over her. The citrus smell was the most dominant on this shirt. Ginny hugged it to her and then cried herself to sleep.
XXX
The following day, Ginny felt like a zombie. After a sleepless night, she couldn't help but miss Harry. She felt completely miserable, and she was letting her emotions get the better of her. Neville noticed when he met her in the common room. He hugged her and smiled sympathetically, "Bad night?" Ginny laughed humorlessly and replied, "That obvious?"
Neville shrugged and they carried on down to the Great Hall for breakfast in silence. When they arrived, they sat beside Seamus, McLaggen and Colin. Ginny said to D.A members, "Right guys, we need to put plan get the sword into motion. Neville and I were talking about it and I'm worried if we leave it for too long, it will be moved." Seamus nodded in agreement and asked, "Right…so what's the plan?" Ginny smiled and whispered, "Who has Professor Trelawny still?" Colin raised his hand and smiled, "Me. Why?" Ginny grinned, "Because she's an old bat and won't suspect a thing if half of the class starts puking because of puking pastilles. When do you have her next?" Colin shrugged and pulled out his timetable, "Tomorrow morning right after breakfast."
Ginny grinned and nodded, "Good. Give any D.A members in that class from the last time a Pastille. They will be puking sick for some time still. Knowing Trelawny, she'll assume that they've all got some bad Omen. She'll probably send everyone to the hospital wing and then go and call Snape. I'm going to bribe Peeves to do some damage for us in Carrow's class…since that's where Neville, Seamus and I are supposed to be having lessons at the same time. Hopefully it will all cause enough distractions to get Snape out of his office long enough."
McLaggen frowned and asked, "And what are more details of this plan exactly? How is everyone going to know when to co-ordinate?" Ginny smiled and Neville said, "Exactly fifteen minutes into the first session should give us enough time. We'll tap the D.A coins so keep them on you tomorrow."
Seamus murmured after a bite of cereal, "And how is Peeves going to cause enough of a diversion in Carrow's class?" Ginny grinned and pulled out Instant Darkness Powder. Fred and George had given her no small amounts of it. They had charmed these bags in particular to stay around longer than the usual amount of time. Seamus chuckled and shook his head, "Lucky to have brothers in a joke shop business, eh?" Ginny grinned and hid the powder away before anyone else noticed it, "Everyone good with the plan?" she asked excitedly. They all nodded in agreement.
A/N: Hey guys! Another on for you! Hope you enjoy! As always, thanks for the positive comments and to everyone following this story! Much love.