Dobby came and gave Ginny a hug. He sniffled and Ginny frowned, "What's wrong Dobby?" The elf was usually so cheery. Dobby sighed and whispered, "Mr Potter, Miss Weasley. He's been in a lake and he…he nearly drowned miss…" Ginny gasped and her hands flew to her mouth in shock. Dobby then smacked his head and whispered, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby! I've said too much!"

Ginny clasped his hands in hers to prevent him from doing any more damage. She whispered, "Dobby don't! Please stop." Dobby relaxed immediately. He smiled lazily and said, "I'm sorry Miss. I've just…it's been a hard habit to break." Ginny smiled at the elf and whispered, "But Harry's still alive?" Dobby nodded vigorously and sighed, "Yes Miss Weasley. He's alive and well. He misses you. I hear Miss Granger saying that he is looking for you on a map all the time." The thought warmed Ginny to the core. He still thought about her. That was all she needed to know.

Ginny hugged Dobby and whispered, "Thanks Dobby. That really means so much to me." Ginny felt a tear trickle down her eyes and Dobby leant forward gently and wiped it, "Do not cry, Miss Weasley. Mr Potter loves you." Ginny glanced up and stared at the little elf gratefully, "Thank you Dobby. You've really brought me so much comfort in these last few months. I don't know what I would have done without you." Dobby laughed and said in embarrassment while rubbing the back of his head, "You would just have carried on I suppose Miss Weasley."
Ginny watched the little elf in surprise. It was amazing what you could learn from different mammals of different species. Ginny shook her head and whispered adamantly, "No, but it wouldn't have been the same." Dobby beamed at her and then hugged her tightly, "Thank you Miss Weasley. Dobby can't wait until you and Mr Potter are together again." Ginny blushed and whispered, "Are you a romantic Dobby?" He grinned impishly and said, "Maybe, but I mostly just want to see my friends happy. And before I forget…here's something from Mr Potter."
Dobby handed Ginny a grubby looking letter and Ginny stared at the smudged handwriting of Harry's with her name on the front. She hugged Dobby tightly again and whispered, "Thank you, so much, for always bringing me hope." He nodded and hugged her back, before releasing her, "I'm always willing to help my friends." Ginny smiled at him and said emotionally, "You're a true friend to him, Dobby. And me. I can never thank you enough." Dobby beamed and said happily, "You don't have to Miss Weasley. That's what friends are for." He snapped his fingers, and just as suddenly as had appeared, he was gone.

Ginny was still smiling even though he had left. Then she opened the letter shakily, remembering she hadn't been particularly nice to Harry in her last letter. She began reading nervously:

Dear Ginny

I know it's hard. It's been so tough not being able to tell you everything, and believe me I wish I could. I have dreams when you're there and you're hearing about everything that's happening and you're upset initially, but then once you hear everything you forgive me.

I know that these dreams are extremely unrealistic though. I cannot be gone for so long and not anticipate for things to change when and if I get back. I've told you time and time again that if you wish to move on from me, I'd never begrudge you that. I'd have no right to. You're single and you have every right to do as you wish.

One thing will always remain though: I love you no matter choices you make.

Reading this line made Ginny smile. She knew he loved her, but it was good to have that confirmation. It gave her butterflies in her stomach. Ginny continued reading:

In terms of our mission…we're taking the steps necessary in achieving our goals, but we're closer now than ever. Clues are becoming more apparent and we're figuring it all out as we go along. I wish I could tell you, but I promise that I will someday. That's a promise I intend to keep.

I love you so much

Harry

Ginny sighed and shook her head upon reading the letter. At least he thought they were making progress. She supposed that was a good thing. She had a feeling he was asking her to wait just a little longer. Ginny shook her head and decided to head back to her mattress on the floor. She was squashed in between Neville and Demelza.

The room had now expanded as slowly but surely more D.A members had begun finding out about the room. There were bathrooms now for people to change into and lockers big enough to stash several clothes and belongings. Ginny grabbed her things and then went go and change in one of the cubicles.

XXX

The days grew longer and the nights were long too. Ginny couldn't sleep as comfortably as she thought she could. On one such evening when Ginny couldn't even fall asleep, she scrambled to her locker and pulled out her coin. She could the writing from the fire: "Shell Cottage." It had been that way for a while now. She brushed off the grime and dirt and then went to go and lie back down on her bed.

Ginny was staring at the coin when Neville awoke beside her. He frowned at her and asked softly so as not to wake everyone else, "You still worried?" She smiled forcibly and whispered, "I'm always worried Neville. I can't switch it off. I can only ignore it, and that doesn't ease any of the pain." She grimaced as she said it held on tighter to the coin. Neville sighed and shook his head, "If I know Harry…and I do…he will find a way."

Ginny nodded and whispered, "I know. I can feel that he's near. Or that he's coming back soon. I just know it. Is that crazy?" It was the end of March and Ginny was starting to become worried. How long would they be gone for? How long would it take them to come home. Or the worst possible question which entered her mind: will I ever see them again?

Neville sighed and murmured quietly, "It's amazing how you still have so much hope. I can see that Seamus is starting to give up on them. He thinks they're goners." Ginny whispered morbidly, "I know. I can see how de-motivated he is. He isn't himself." Neville grimaced and whispered, "Not helped by the fact that he's missing his best mate."Ginny glanced over at Seamus' sleeping form. She whispered, " I know they're coming back. We would have surely heard on the news by now if they were dead?"

Just then, Ginny's coin changed to burning red, and it shone the words, "Malfoy Mansion" at her. She jumped in fright and almost threw the coin at Neville in shock. She scrambled for the coin, but not before Neville reached for it and picked it up. He read it and frowned, "Malfoy Mansion?" Ginny grimaced sheepishly and whispered, "Yeah…it's where they are right now."

As Ginny said it, she felt her heart pounding furiously in her chest. Malfoy Mansion! That meant that they were captured. She gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth. Neville frowned and whispered, "How do you know…" He removed her hand gently from her mouth and Ginny stammered, "He…he…Harry has a coin like mine. They're connected! And my coin is burning red…it means that they're in danger."
Ginny felt like screaming. She couldn't just sit here and do nothing for crying out loud! What in heaven's name were they doing there? Were they trying to get themselves killed?! They must have been captured! It's the only logical…
Neville interrupted her thought process then. He whispered hoarsely, "So they're captured?" Ginny nodded and whispered breathlessly, "Yes! And at the Malfoy Manor!" She frowned then and asked Neville, "Did you see whether Draco was at school today?" Neville frowned, "No. I was more worried about the match, like you. What does Malfoy have to do with it?" Ginny sighed hopefully and whispered, "Malfoy couldn't kill Dumbledore. I don't see how he'll live with himself if he turned in Harry. He's not one of them even if he pretends he is." Neville raised his eyebrows and muttered, "You sure have a lot of confidence in Malfoy." Ginny shrugged and murmured, "I can only hope at this stage. Isn't hope the thing that's still worth fighting for?" Neville grinned and moved a stray strand of hair from Ginny's face, "Hope and love." Ginny felt comforted for the first time in a long while. She fell asleep quickly after their conversation and longed for the day when Harry returned.

A/NL: Hey all! Apologies for not posting for a while! I had a bitch of a writer's block. I still do to be honest. So I'm sorry that this was not the best chapter, but I hope you guys like it none the less. Thanks again to all my reviewers: topofthemuffin, guest, torchy22 and starrya47. You guys are the best and thanks for the continuing motivation and support! Also thank you to everyone for the following and the faves! Nearly 100 faves! I'm so excited!

N.B: The Battle of Hogwarts is near! It is currently the end of March, going into April and the battle happens in May! I can't wait to write that part, so hang on to your horses! We're getting there! Slowly but surely!