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~Chapter 8~

~Christmas Break~

The two weeks before Christmas were worse than the whole year so far. The Carrows had enough with students resisting so they started putting them in dungeons they created. You would stay there over night without being fed and you would be tortured the whole time you were there. Ginny had calmed down when the Carrows started this, but still mouthed off a little. Dark Art classes were getting worse with the Unforgivable Curses. Ginny was forced to use the Crutiatus Curse on a Dumbledore's Army member. She felt so bad that she told the student to quit the D.A, but he forgave her and even helped her through her hard time. Neville had it worse. He had to use the Curse against Luna. He ended up hurting her badly and sending her to the Hospital Wing. It took everything in Ginny's being to have Neville even look at her after that incident. Luna was forbidden to use the curses in class, which resulted her being the practice person for everyone. She once had to miss 2 classes for being hurt too bad to even move. She got punished for that even worse. Seamus has been mouthing off more since Luna became the target. He took a lot of shots for her in the weeks leading up to Christmas. He was even put in the dungeon, but told everyone that he was fine and would rather go back there than use Luna as practice. Ginny started to take his example and even got targeted a couple times.

The list of students who are staying here this Christmas was going around. Luckily, no one in the D.A was staying, when Ginny asked during the last meeting. Ginny looked at Neville.

"At least no one in the D.A is staying, that makes it better," stated Ginny, Neville nodded.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked him.

"I'm scared for Luna. I've been reading the Quibbler and I'm afraid Xeno is going a little too out spoken with it."

"Me too, the only thing we can do is to watch Luna on our way there and back. We'll be with her and with the training we've been practicing; we can make sure nothing happens."

"You're right," Neville said with a small smile, and Ginny smiled back.

Ginny took out her coin and wrote down today's date. This is going to be the last meeting before Christmas and she told Neville to give any other members who are staying the privilege to stay here whenever they needed to for Christmas. Neville and Ginny left together and Luna met them outside the Great Hall, and headed for the Room of Requirements. They now had a system of telling the D.A members what to ask for of the Room of Requirements during the last meeting so they wouldn't have to worry. Everyone came about 10 minutes later. Ginny started the meeting.

Everyone was excited. They all pulled out there wands and got to work. Ginny walked around to tell them to keep concentrating and to think of something happy. Only a couple people got the Patrones in an hour, and they were the ones in the D.A two years ago. Ginny dismissed everyone. Neville and Ginny walked back to Gryffindor Tower together after every meeting.

"Can I ask you something, Ginny?" he asked.

"What is it?" Ginny said.

"I wanted to ask if you think Luna likes me." There was a short pause. "I mean, I really like her and I don't want you to feel left out and all, but I do like her."

"I think she does. I mean, me and Harry, Ron and Hermione, you two were made to be together because you two were there at the Ministry two years ago."

"I know it's a weird time to talk about it after all we are going through at the moment."

"It's no problem."

Neville and Ginny walked the rest of the way to Gryffindor Tower and went to bed.

"We still have double Muggle Studies then Double Dark Arts after that?" Seamus asked Ginny the next morning.

Ginny nodded. It was the last day for classes before Christmas Break. The 6th and 7th years still had Defense against the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies together. They went to class and were silent the whole time. They were saving themselves for after Christmas Break, and the best thing was, no D.A member was staying there for the holidays. Ginny had asked them after the last meeting and when nobody responded that they were staying, then Ginny felt better about it. The rest of the day went well and then everyone went to their dormitory to pack up for the holiday. The next morning, everyone boarded the Hogwarts Express on their way back home for the holidays. Ginny was greeted by Mrs. Weasley and no one else.

"Hi Mum, where is everyone?" she asked.

"They can't come, dear," she explained, "because everyone can't go to work and we can't risk anyone following such a big group. On a good note, Lupin and Tonks are down at the house to see you."

Ginny smiled, "At least everyone is ok."

Mrs. Weasley smiled back and helped Ginny push her cart to a car she must have borrowed from someone. They loaded her things and rode until they reached the Burrow.

"Hey Ginny, how are you?" asked Charlie when she entered the house.

"Good, thanks," Ginny replied, looking around the kitchen. Mr. Weasley, Lupin, Tonks, Charlie, Bill, George, Fred, and Fleur were sitting around the table. Ginny sat down and started talking to Tonks and Lupin.

"What's been going on with the Order?" asked Ginny.

"Nothing really, but we need your help, Ginny," said Tonks, but stopped. Lupin coughed loudly and grabbed her hand and pulled her to the doorway into the sitting room.

"What do you think you're doing Nymphadora?" whispered Lupin. Tonks looked swiftly to Ginny, but Ginny pretended she wasn't listening, but actually heard their whole conversation.

"She's the only one who knows what half the Death Eaters are like, we might as well get information now," she whispered. "Besides, it's not like we have to tell her why need this information."

Lupin sighed, and then agreed. Tonks and Lupin walked back to the table.

"So how is Hogwarts, Ginny?" asked Tonks.

"Not good," she replied, "It's horrible. The Carrows are the worse teachers I have ever met in my life."

"What do you mean?"

"If someone gets a detention, some students are supposed use the Cruciatus Curse on them," she said. "I've been tortured a lot this year, but truthfully, I would rather be hurt than my friends."

"Did you have to use it against a student," asked Lupin.

Ginny looked down. He looked at her and noticed her eyes began to build up with tears, and then nodded.

"What happened?" he asked.

"They threatened to make me do it on Neville if I didn't, and I couldn't do it on him. So I went easy on the person I did it on. I apologized to him a lot after that. He forgave me though, but I felt bad for Neville. He had to torture Luna."

"What did you say?" Charlie asked, listening to the conversation. Everyone else stopped talking and looked at me. I explained what happened with Neville having to torture Luna and even told everyone about the Carrows and what Hogwarts, even though it wasn't Hogwarts anymore, was like so far this year.

"That's horrible," said George. "What does McGonagall do?"

"Don't blame her," Ginny said immediately. "First of all, we are the ones back mouthing and also she can't do much. She's doing whatever she can to help us."

Nobody said anything as Ginny sighed. They talked for a little bit longer and then the adults sent Ginny to her room so they could talk about the Order. She went up to her room and lay in bed to relax, until she heard a small tapping noise from her window. She went over and saw a small brown owl sitting there. She opened the window to let the owl in, which held out his leg showing her a letter. She untied the letter and began reading it.

Dear Ginny,

Hope you are got home okay. Dad and I are fine.

Neville sent me a letter and said he and his Grandmother is alright.

He also asked me to tell you to send me or him a letter telling us how you are.

Write back soon,

Luna

Ginny sent down the letter, picked up two small pieces of parchment and began to write.

Dear Luna,

Everyone here is fine. I'm glad to hear that you are too.

I'm going to send Neville a letter so you don't have to.

Send letters to me telling me how you are over vacation.

Write back to me soon,

Ginny

Dear Neville,

I'm okay here. I got Luna's letter and I thought about just sending one to you.

Thanks for telling me you both are alright. I'm so relieved to hear that.

Everyone is here and fine.

Send me letters telling me you are all right.

Write back soon,

Ginny

Ginny tied Luna's letter to the owl that Luna sent to her, and sent him off. She then went into Ron's room and saw Pigwigeon there. She had taken care of him since Ron left him here but hasn't sent him on deliveries. She opened his cage and struggled to tie Neville's letter to him, but eventually got it and sent him off as well. She then went back to her bed and sat there thinking about what will happen when she went back to Hogwarts. Could there be a battle? Could Harry come and be able to stop the suffering? Or will they continue they way they were know and suffer even more when they got back? She couldn't even think about that.

"Dinners ready, Ginny," Charlie said, about an hour later.

"Okay," said Ginny.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Ginny looked at him.

"Just thinking," she said.

"What are you thinking about?"

"About what will happen after vacation and if everyone is okay?"

"I see what you mean, Ginny. I hope it gets better for you and for your friends. But the Order is thinking of something, so don't worry."

Ginny and Charlie walked down into the kitchen and at with the rest of the family.

"Ginny," whispered Mr. Weasley to Ginny, "I need to talk to you. This is against mine and everyone else's better judgment, but I think it is also essential. What are the Carrows like exactly?"

Ginny swallowed the food that she had in her mouth and looked around at everyone else. They were all talking amongst themselves.

"They are power hungry Death Eaters," she said, "They believe torturing us will keep us in our place. They do whatever they can to make sure that fear is inside everyone."

"But you don't let them?"

"No," she said, "Some of us stand up to them and fight for what we believe in and don't let them get to us. We get in trouble a lot though."

"Thanks, Ginny," said her father. Mr. Weasley didn't ask Ginny anything else and, after dinner, Ginny went back to her room. Charlie came up too.

"I wanted to talk to you," he said. "I know dad and Tonks already talked to you, but I wanted to talk to you about something different."

"What is it?" Ginny asked him.

"Are you in a group called Dumbledore's Army?" he asked.

"Yeah," I answered, "Neville, Luna, and I are the leaders I guess."

"Why do you stand up to the Death Eaters if they torture you?"

Ginny didn't answer immediately, she thought for a moment.

"Because it gives people hope," she said. "It makes people want to fight against them. They don't have to of course, but it gives them the urge to continue to go to class without the fear of getting killed everyday. I also want to help my friends; the last thing I want is for them to get injured on my accord."

Charlie stared at Ginny for a while as the words sunk into him.

"I was hoping there was a good reason you were risking yourself," said Charlie. "And I'm glad there is."

"You know me Charlie; I wouldn't do it for nothing."

"I know, but still, it's good to know."

Charlie hugged her quickly.

"Night Ginny," he said.

"Night Charlie," she said, as he left the room.

'Hope everyone is safe' Ginny thought to herself as she crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep.

Well that was Chapter 8...Hope you liked it...
Review if you like...But you don't have too...

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