The next day the plan was set in motion. Ginny woke up after a fantastic nights' sleep. She had slept in Harry's jersey and it gave her so much warmth and comfort. It was one of her favorites of his. It really bought out the color of his green eyes…and he didn't wear it enough. She smiled as she got up and stretched.
She took a quick shower and packed all of the essential products she needed in order to get ready for the day. She made one hundred percent certain she was going to put Instant Darkness Powder in her bag in countless supplies, as well as the Puking Pastilles to give to Colin. When she was ready, she headed down to breakfast early in order to search for Peeves.
She found him near the kitchens and she said happily, "Peeves!" The Poltergeist turned to her and said with a cackle, "Oooh…if it isn't ickle Weasley! How is your boyfriend doing these days?" Ginny bit her tongue and decided to avoid the question, "I have a proposition for you Peeves." He chuckled and shrugged, "Oh yes, what's in it for me?" Ginny grinned and replied, "How about causing some havoc in Mr Carrow's classroom this morning?"
Peeves wiggled his eyebrows and said, "I don't normally make deals with student's Weasley. It goes against the grain." Ginny inhaled to try and keep her cool, "Listen, I need a distraction. That's where you come in. It's for the greater good." Peeves circled her slowly and asked, "What do I get in return for this favor?"
Ginny paused and frowned, "I don't have anything to give you. I thought you would accept the offer. Trouble is your middle name." Peeves raised his eyebrows and then asked quietly, "Is Potter still alive?" She raised her eyebrows and wasn't sure how to answer. Instead she asked with a retort, "Why do you want to know?"
Peeves considered it and then commented, "Because you wouldn't be doing this unless it was to help your boyfriend. And I want to know if we have hope of getting rid of these idiots who are currently running the school." Ginny was shocked into silence. She didn't know Peeves had a caring bone in his body! Instead, she just nodded and whispered, "He's alive. That's all I know." Peeves grinned devilishly and replied, tapping his fingers together, "Right. Well then I'm more than happy to help. What is your plan, Weasley?" Ginny couldn't believe her luck! Peeves actually cared about the school. Who knew?
XXX
Ginny headed to Carrow that morning, wand ready in pocket and feeling prepared. They had gone through the plan at breakfast to make sure everyone was on the same page. Neville was quiet as they headed up the stairs. She whispered, "You ok?" He nodded and sighed, "Yeah…just what do we do if it all works according to plan?"
Ginny shrugged her shoulders and bit her lip, "I don't know. I guess we wing it." Seamus whispered, "I reckon the sword will be locked away somewhere. It won't be easy to get." She nodded in agreement, "You're right. If we have time, I'm going to try and think of a way of repairing whatever it's locked in…to give us more time that is."
They arrived in Carrow's class and Neville and Seamus departed for Transfiguration. Ginny had informed Peeves that he had to cause a distraction with McGonagall's class too. Ginny could tell that Carrow was in a surly mood. He grimaced as the Gryffindor's entered and didn't even smile when the Slytherin's did too. Ginny maneuvered to her seat beside Amelia easily. Once everyone had sat down, Carrow said, "Right then, class…today we will be continuing to practice Occlumency. Gryffindor's, please line up on the right hand side. Slytherin's on the left." He swished his wand so that the desks in the middle were vanished into thin air.
I glanced at Demelza and couldn't help but issue a small smile. She had listened in on the plan at breakfast and she was going to inform Carrow that Ginny was in the bathroom when he noticed her disappearance. Ginny felt nervous as she faced the Slytherin girl who was going to read her memories. She prepared herself for the painful intrusion as Carrow said, "On your mark, Slytherin's. Three, two, one…"
The pain came and so did the invasion of the memories. Ginny felt her mind being searched and images of her past with Harry being brought up by the girl. She wanted to know what it was like…being the Chosen One's girlfriend. She found a memory of their last dance at Bill's wedding before the Death Eater's came and invaded. Ginny bit her lip and forced herself not to scream in pain. This girl was good at what she was doing. She must have practiced this before.
When the invasion lifted, Ginny found herself to be crouching on the floor, her hands clutching her hair. She felt shaky and disorientated. She glanced around the room to find people in a worse condition than her. Some had collapsed on the floor from the painful intrusion. Colin was in Trelawny's class today, so she was glad he was missing this at least.
Carrow walked around smirking and clapped his hands delightedly. He chuckled and asked, "How many of you managed to break through?" Five Slytherin hands went up and Ginny felt herself inhaling sharply. Then Carrow sighed heavily, "Well now…that's not enough. What a sad excuse, Slytherin's. I'm ashamed of those who didn't. Five points are awarded to those who did manage to succeed. The girl with the thin face, pointy nose and long curls.
Ginny scowled at her and some of her classmates began standing up from their positions on the floor. Ginny stood up to make a point and then Carrow smirked at her. He asked the girl in front of her, "Did you manage to find anything, Miss Parker?" The Slytherin girl rolled her eyes, "Not much. For some reason, Weasley's mind is blocked." This meant McGonagall's potion was still working and it made Ginny sigh in relief!
Carrow rolled his eyes and continued on his walk up the line of Slytherin's, "You, anything useful from your success?" Ginny couldn't believe the whole class got to listen in on their memories. It was so unfair and unjust! Just then, Ginny caught sight of Peeves hovering in the corner and she tried not to smile. Instead, she just nodded at him, and then jerked her head towards Carrow. She fumbled for her wand in her robes, and then she heard Peeves cackle. He threw the powder into the air and suddenly the room turned black. There were screams echoing around the classroom and yells of surprise. Carrow shouted, "Bloody Hell! Who's the trickster here?!" Peeves flew down to her and whispered, "I watched Snape this morning! Password is Deathly Hallows! Go!" Ginny thanked him and grabbed for her wand.
The Instant Darkness Powder was activated, and Ginny cast Lumos so that she could see where she was going. Some girls were screaming and she hurried out of the room, following her light. She couldn't believe it had worked so successfully! Carrow was yelling, "HUSH! Everybody keep calm!" he bellowed. She hurried down the hallway and up a flight of stairs, where she met Neville coming out of the Transfiguration classroom, his wand also lit. She asked, "The plan worked?" He grinned and they looked at their coins. They were burning hot and Ginny shoved hers back into her pocket. It meant Trelawny had gone to call Snape. They hurried through the portrait hole shortcut of the second floor and arrived at the top of a staircase.
They stopped at the top and peeked out through the door on the floor of Snape's office. He had just disappeared down the hallway. Ginny nodded to Neville and met Colin outside the Gargoyle. He grinned, "I volunteered to come with Trelawny and get Snape. She was in a right state! They're heading down to the hospital wing now!"
Ginny hugged him and thanked him profusely. She asked, "Are you willing to stand guard?" He nodded eagerly and replied, "Of course. I'll break something in warning." Ginny hugged him again and whispered, "Look after yourself," before she turned to the Gargoyle and said, "The Deathly Hallows." It yawned and then opened for her and Neville to run through.
XXX
Ginny and Neville hurried up the steps to Dumbledore's old office. A lot had changed since Dumbledore used to sit behind the desk. The room was somehow duller, more empty and just…incomplete without the grey-haired wizard sitting behind the desk. One of the only times Ginny had ever come in here was after the Chamber of Secrets incident. She shuddered at the memory.
Neville whispered into the silence, "What now?" Ginny grimaced and whispered, "I'm going to try and Accio the sword." He nodded and she whispered, "Accio sword of Gryffindor." There was a rattling sound coming from behind the desk, where all the portraits of past headmistress' and headmasters sat. Ginny walked up there and noticed the sword placed in a locked cabinet.
Ginny frowned and then startled when she saw Albus Dumbledore's portrait sitting beside the sword. He was awake and staring at her curiously, his eyes twinkling brightly. She jumped in surprised and then nudged Neville beside her, "Professor Dumbledore…?" She asked in surprise. He nodded and smiled, "Indeed, Miss Weasley. I have to say, it's a delight to see you again!"
Neville stared, gob-smacked, at the professor in the painting. Ginny swallowed nervously and Professor Dumbledore asked her, "Are you supposed to be in here, Miss Weasley? You look nervous." Ginny glanced at Neville and muttered, looking at the floor guilty, "No Sir. Neville and I broke in." Dumbledore chuckled and Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise. She had a distinct feeling that all of the other portraits were watching this conversation as it was extremely quiet all of a sudden.
Dumbledore grinned, "And what reason, would two brave Gryffindor's have to break into the headmasters office?" Neville spoke for the first time and he said, "Professor, we need to get the sword to Harry, Ron and Hermione. We think it might be helpful to them." Ginny turned to look at the Professor again and Dumbledore laughed, "Of course they need it, dear boy. But I'm afraid that sword wouldn't help them anyway." The sword in the cabinet was rattling violently now, about to break out of the caninet. Ginny realized this, cast Alohamora on it, and she took the sword in her hands gingerly before it broke the glass. Then she turned to Dumbledore and asked, "Why would that be, professor?"
Dumbledore smiled kindly at her, "My dear, it is a fake. It is not Goblin-made, and therefore, will not be half as powerful as the real sword of Gryffindor. Why, I would be surprised if it has any power at all." Ginny's heart fell and Neville muttered then, "Great! Just fantastic!" Ginny sighed as she stared at the fake sword in her arms, "Where is the real sword, professor?"
Dumbledore was about to answer when they heard footsteps coming up the staircase. Ginny froze and felt her heart pounding in her chest anxiously. She turned to Neville, his face also turned into an expression of panic! Then something far worse happened…Ginny heard Carrow's voice echo across the room, "The bloody Weasley girl escaped! What a coward she is too! It was clearly her plan!" Snape's voice came coolly, "I can assure you, Mr Carrow that we will get to the bottom of this." He trailed off as he reached the top and then he stared icily at Ginny and Neville. Carrow joined him on the top of the stairs and then cracked a smile when he saw the two of them standing there, Colin's arm grasped tightly in his hand.
Ginny sighed and turned to look at Professor Dumbledore…who had disappeared from his portrait. She huffed in frustration and Carrow cackled, "I told you, Severus, I told you it was her fault!" He pointed his chubby fingers at Ginny accusingly.
Snape walked up to Ginny and fiercely, "Miss Weasley, and Mr Longbottom, I see you have been trying to steal from my office. What do you have to say for yourselves?" The sword was still in Ginny's hands, so she couldn't deny it. Carrow cackled his cruel laugh and said, "Severus! I feel that these three are in need of some serious punishment. And all of them in on their little plan too…like the one's who were sick in the old bats' class! They must have surely known!"
Snape turned his dark eyes on Carrow and nodded in agreement, "I agree, Mr Carrow." Carrow smirked at Ginny and replied, "And I think we need to give them some Veriterserum to get the truth out." Snape's eyes flashed in….was that concern? Ginny was surprised and then Carrow continued, "I think Longbottom should be the one we interrogate, Severus. Miss Weasley is not so easily susceptible to interrogation. She has some strong defense mechanisms." Snape nodded stiffly and then sighed, "Alright. I have some of the stuff in my store room. Let me go and get it quickly. You watch over them, Mr Carrow." Carrow chuckled haughtily and replied, "Will do, headmaster."
A/N: Hey guys! I think this is what you've all been waiting for! I hope it's as good as you wanted it to be. I certainly took my time doing this chapter! Anyway, stay tuned for more to follow. Hope you're all having a good weekend!