Disclaimer: Not. Mine.

A/N: K y'all, I am so sorry for neglecting this story for so long. Feel free to pelt me with various and sundry objects. And I know I promised you the rescue, but how about a little more character development instead? Everyone likes some good character development, right? And, well...enjoy!!

"Psst!"

Still mostly asleep, I waved a hand, futilely trying to make...whatever it was go away.

"PSSTT! Draco! We need to go!!" came the voice again (a girl's) more insistent this time, feeling something shaking my shoulder at the same time.

I sat bolt upright to discover the source of my reluctant return to wakefulness. "Ginny! What..?"

She put a finger on her lips, shushing me. "Get your stuff and come downstairs," she whispered, before tiptoeing out of the dormitory. I hurriedly dressed, then pulled on my cloak and black dragonhide gloves. Bemoaning the fact there was never a house elf around when I needed one, I grabbed my bag and shoved some things I would need for our 'adventure' inside. After a final glance around to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything, I headed down the stairs to the Slytherin common room.

Ginny, her brother, and Granger, were all there waiting for me. I sighed inwardly. This was going to be a long trip. The Weasel positively glowered as I entered, but Granger was almost smiling. "Hullo, Dra- Malfoy," she corrected, as Weasel shot her a murderous glare. I sneered at the both of them, too tired to do much of anything else. Ginny rolled her eyes at the lot of us. "We all set?" she asked briskly. "Right, we're meeting Dumbledore in the front corridor in a few moments, so we better go." As we exit the common room, I take one last look back, longingly wondering how long it will be before I see it again. Then the portrait shut behind us, and we were on our way.

Dumbledore met us just inside the front doors. "Everything all set?" he asked Ginny in a low voice. She nodded, a tad shakily. He gave her an encouraging smile. "Best of luck," he told her, looking around at all of us in turn. Then without another word, he handed her a tiny scroll, then turned and vanished back up the marble staircase without another word.

Ginny watched him leave. As he moved out of eyesight, she took a deep breath. "Right, let's go," she whispered. We crept silently through the front doors. I shivered as they banged shut behind us, even though it wasn't that cold out. I looked up - the sky was black, and the full moon was shining brightly. I shoved my hands in my pockets as we began the trek down the lane. We were all silent, lost in our own thoughts, I guess, as we passed through the large gates and into Hogsmeade. We went through the deserted village, the moonlight only serving to enhance the sense of eerieness. Once we were a good way past the village, Ginny put up a hand for us to stop. She and Granger and Weasel whispered together for a few moments then Ginny came over to me. She indicated that we were going to Apparate, and that we would meet at a point she got from the scroll Dumbledore gaver her. She smiled encouragingly, before turning back to the others, and next thing I knew the three of them had vanished. I sighed, before following them.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

"Are we there yet?"

I rolled my eyes. Honestly, some people could be so impatient. We'd only been walking for a couple of hours at the very least. I looked around - we were making our way through a small clearing, which was nearly choked by the trees and bramble threatening to take over.

"Are we there yet?" the Weasel asked again, when no one responded. Granger smacked him on the arm. "Ron, behave!" she scolded him.

Ginny was walking a few paces ahead of Weasel and Granger, while I was a few paces behind them. She looked over her shoulder at the sound of voices, and her eyes locked briefly with mine. Her gaze searched mine intently for a second, before she abruptly turned back around. I sighed, frustrated. I continued to watch the back of her head a moment, lost in my own thoughts, when --

"Are we there yet?"

Oh yes, this was going to be a very long trip.

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

We traveled all day, keeping off the main paths and covering our trail as we went in case we were being followed. It was nearing dusk when we decided to make camp in a little clearing on the edge of a forest. I had no idea how far we'd traveled from the school, but it seemed like miles. Once we'd set everything down and gotten settled, the girls left to set up wards and the like to warn of intruders. Death Eaters. I shuddered, pushing such macabre thoughts to the back of my head. Weasley was standing near me (but not too near, I noticed), shifting his weight back and forth. He was evidently as on edge as I felt. The girls came back after a few minutes and we started a fire, the warmth and the colour doing much to improve our morale. The three of them sat around, talking in hushed tones, going over plans, and every now and then one of them would do or something that would make the others laugh. I sat there, listening to their chatter. An outsider. Not that I cared about that.

Malfoys didn't need anybody.

I must have drifted off for a few moments, because the next thing I knew, I started awake. The fire had burned down to glowing embers, and I noticed Granger and Weasley were missing - they must have already gone to sleep. Ginny, however, was sitting across from me, her brown eyes bright in the firelight.

She stood up as she noticed I had wakened, coming over to me. "I didn't know you were awake," she said softly, draping a blanket she'd brought with her over my shoulders. I looked down at the blanket, somewhat shocked at the kindness. Then I looked back up at her, but she'd already moved back to her spot across the fire.

"Ginny?"

"Yeah?"

"What's going to happen?"

Her tone was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if we can't save Potter. What if we fail?"

She was silent a moment, then: "Then at least we'll have tried," she said softly.

I mulled these words over, somehow finding them less than comforting. But I was getting sleepy again, and I couldn't sustain such a dark train of thoughts in my current state.

"Hey, Ginny?" I asked sleepily.

"Yes, Draco," she replied, her tone amused.

"Thanks," I said simply.

She laughed quietly. "Get some sleep, Draco."

I drifted off then, the sound of her laughter echoing in my dreams...