Author Note: here's chapter 10...Chapter 11 is coming soon...Hope you like it...
Disclaimer~I own nothing, except my OC, Avery...

Chapter 10
One Strong Dumbledore's Army

"What do we do now?" Neville asked Ginny desperately an hour before the next D.A meeting in the Room of Requirements.

"We need a new plan," said Ginny. "I'm not letting them intimidate us or make us run and hide. I won't allow it. I also don't want anyone else to be taken, that's a promise."

Neville was watching her when she was saying this, and she had a look of both anger and determination. Ginny was sure of herself of only one thing, Luna's kidnapping will not be the last. She was sure that there will be more soon, just as they find out who means the most to the person, and since Xenophilius didn't have anyone else he cared about besides Luna, it was obvious to take her. Ginny felt guilty about what happened, actually she felt downright horrible, but she had no other choice but to deal with other, more pressing matter while at Hogwarts. As long as the Carrows are still around, she didn't have a choice but to put everyone else first.

'It's down to two of us', Ginny thought in her head. Everyone started filing in soon after. Ginny noticed the numbers were down a little, she realized two people were missing, Susan and Ernie.

"Has anyone seen Susan and Ernie?" Ginny asked the small crowd of D.A members.

"They didn't come back after break," said Hannah. "Ernie and his family are currently in hiding because they were threatened and Susan just lost her mother and her father decided that they should go into hiding as well."

Ginny merely nodded. She knew that this was going to be harder than she thought.

"Thanks Hannah," Ginny muttered.

Hannah nodded as well as Ginny took a deep breath and let it out.

"So," said Terry, unexpectedly, "what happened to Luna?"

"She was kidnapped because of what her dad is saying in the Quibbler," said Ginny.

"No way," said Avery, shocked.

Ginny merely nodded again.

"Wh-what d-do we do?" Avery stuttered, looking frightened.

"Stay safe and hope no one else gets kidnapped," muttered Neville.

"How can we be sure they are?" Anthony asked.

"We aren't," said Ginny, "but if your family is like mine, we have to be a little bit more careful. We can still speak out, but we need to make sure that we have a couple people with us. We just got proven that all this stuff we are learning isn't enough to keep an adult wizard at bay. We figured that out the hard way." Ginny sighed, half-glancing at Neville. "We have to stick together no matter what."

"This is stupid," muttered Michael.

"You're stupid," shouted Avery, "didn't you hear a word she said."

"Yeah, I did," said Michael, "and it's a lie."

"Oh yeah," Avery said, sarcastically and rolling her eyes at him, "like she would lie about something this serious."

"How do you know this isn't just a joke?"

"SHUT UP!" shouted Ginny. "Can't you see this is what they want us to do? They want us to fight, stop this organization and then they will just tear us apart, one by one. This isn't the way we should act. There are more important things to do than to just sit here and argue amongst ourselves. By the way, in case you haven't noticed, this isn't helping anyone!"

Avery and Michael stopped shouting at each other as Ginny spoke, but they still glared at each other. Ginny walked over to them.

"Michael," said Ginny, looking at him as he glared at her to as if it were her fault he fought with Avery, "I don't care if you think I'm lying, but then why isn't Luna here. She would have stopped you two a long time ago if she were here. She's one of my best friends and I can't believe she was kidnapped and I feel responsible, but there is nothing we can do right now. She's safe, we are keeping in contact with her and she is still alive and healthy, trust me. Avery," she said turning to the girl, who stopped glaring to look at her, "thanks for standing up for me, but like I said, fighting will only hurt us. We can't afford to have enemies between us all. I know Michael won't betray us and turn us over to the Carrows and I know you won't either." She turned to look at everyone at this point. "Dumbledore's Army isn't just an organization to learn to fight and defend ourselves, but to help keep each other safe, to know who we can trust and who we can't. I trust each and every one of you, and I know no one in this room will ever betray us."

Everyone either nodded or agreed in low voices. It grew silent again, and Avery turned to Michael.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but she helped me when I didn't even ask for it and I don't want anyone contradicting someone who is trying to help us." She held out her hand, Michael took it almost immediately.

"Ginny's right," he said, "we can't fight amongst ourselves. Life's already hard as it is, without us making enemies instead of friends."

Ginny smiled at them, and then looked around her.

"I've been thinking of making a new plan ever since I came back" she said, "and-"

"We are still speaking out aren't we?" asked Seamus. "I may have been in the dungeons already, but I can't sit there and listen to a thing they say."

"I don't know," said Ginny, "but we shouldn't because-"

"I call for a vote," said Hannah, before anyone could argue.

Ginny looked around as everyone was talking in agreement.

"Those in favor of speaking out, no matter what they do to us?" shouted Hannah over all the chattering.

Everyone raised their hand, except Ginny, who was stunned.

"Over-ruled," shouted Terry, "sorry Ginny."

Ginny shook her head and half-smiled.

"I agree that I can't listen to a thing they say without wanting to take out my wand and hex them. Okay, I'm with you all."

Everyone cheered as they all took out their wands, when Ginny told them that they have to learn Nonverbal spells. Since they were all Seventh and Sixth years, almost everyone knew what to do, but they all had the trouble with mastering it. They split into partners, Avery and Hannah, Michael and Anthony, Padma and Terry, Seamus and Parvati, and last Ginny and Neville. There were some people still muttering under their breath, but after an hour or two of practicing, some people were so close to having it. Padma had her mouth closed tight once and sent a Tickling Charm at Terry and he was laughing for a couple minutes and then the charm broke, Avery and Neville was able to perform a perfect Shield Charm, Seamus was able to disarm Parvati without uttering a single word, but everyone else seemed to have a little trouble. Ginny stopped everyone and told them that it was really good. She let them try it again after giving a couple pointers on how to do it. Since it was Saturday, the curfew was at 9pm when it was usually 7pm. It was only 7 now, having them come up earlier to get a lot of practice in and to talk to them about the plan that really didn't change except to make sure that they were with a couple other people from the D.A. They continued to practice for another when Ginny called them to order. Everyone looked at her, as she breathed deeply.

"I have to thank you all for showing your loyalty to us," she said. "I wouldn't know what to do if they found out about us being Dumbledore's Army. We might not be a big group or stronger as others in the past, but every great wizard in the world was just like us at one time, students. If they can learn all this, why can't we. We are strong, no matter what the Carrows say. You all are brave for doing this as well. Think about what they will do to us if they found out, but I'm not going to let them find out. I know everyone in this room and know no one will say anything. Okay, I was thinking about having a meeting tomorrow since none of us can go to Hogsmeade, what was the point on being separated, when we could be practicing, agreed?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Ginny told them that they should leave and everyone left, except Ginny, Neville, Parvati, and Seamus.

"Those were great speeches, Ginny," said Seamus.

"Yeah they were," Neville agreed.

"Harry would be proud to know that his girlfriend is following his footsteps," said Parvati. Ginny smiled at them and lead the way back to Gryffindor Tower, until they were stopped by their Headmaster.

"Why are four Gyffindors out at this time of night?" he asked quietly.

"The curfew isn't until 9pm, it's only 8:30," said Parvati.

"I know what time it is Miss Patil," he sneered at her, as Seamus's eyes grew narrow. "It looks as if you are up to something."

"We aren't up to anything Headmaster," said Ginny, curtly.

Snape's lips thinned, "I had the idea that ten students, including you four, were out at this time doing something together."

Ginny face stayed impassive, but her mind was racing. Could he possible know about the D.A. Snape looked at Ginny, who didn't dare look him in the eyes, knowing his Occumency skills. Snape walked off without another word and Ginny was able to breathe again, slightly. Neville, Seamus, Ginny, and Parvati glanced at each other and ran the rest of the way to Gryffindor Tower, not wanting to get stopped again. The common room was deserted when they got there. They all took the armchairs as far away from the dormitory steps as possible to talk.

"Do you think he knows?" Neville asked, uncertainly.

"I don't know, but I hope he doesn't," said Ginny.

Ginny was nervous, she went to bed soon after and sat there thinking about Harry, and that last time she saw him. It was during Bill and Fleur's wedding reception. She was off the dance floor, finding herself watching Harry disguised as a cousin. Ginny wanted to go over and talk to him, he didn't seem happy, when the Patrones came, saying the same words that had scared Ginny more than anything in her whole life. 'The ministry has fallen, Scrimgeour is dead, they are coming'. It froze for half a second as his Patrones disappeared, and then it was chaos and panic. Ginny saw Hermione and Harry calling for Ron. They found each other and disappeared. Ginny then saw cloaked figures start to appear all around the Burrow. Ginny found Charlie who grabbed her arm and told her he was going to get her to safety. Everyone else had apparated somewhere safe while everything was happening. Charlie and Ginny apparated to Aunt Muriel's house and entered the barrier the second they landed. Moments later, Molly, Arthur, Fred, George, Bill, and Fleur appeared and entered the barrier.

"Thank goodness you are alright," Mrs. Weasley said pulling Ginny and Charlie into tight hugs. Ginny hugged her back, knowing what had happened, that Ron, Hermione, and Harry were somewhere and, hopefully, were safe. Ginny snapped back to reality. The wedding felt like it was years ago, and she really missed Harry. When will the next time she saw him again? She didn't know. After a couple of minutes that felt like hours, Ginny finally fell asleep.

The next morning was a Hogmeade weekend, Ginny found herself and the rest of Dumbledore's Army banned to go after a beating once back in October. She entered the room with Neville after a quick breakfast and seeing all the Slytherins gloat about being able to go. Everyone arrived soon after to start practicing.

To Ginny's surprise, today was much more effective. She clearly saw that everyone was practicing when she saw Michael and Anthony, having a bit of trouble yesterday, be able to perfectly perform a silent shield charm like Neville and Avery. Parvati learned to disarm without a word just like Seamus, and Padma perfected her Tickling Charm, making it last a lot longer and Terry was able to do it back. Ginny was able to do disarming and shield charms without words, having learned from Hermione last year. Ginny looked around, stopping them for lunch. They all left, excited and happy with themselves. Ginny was expecting to be stopped by a teacher to ask why such a bunch of students were walking toward the Great Hall together as they are from different houses, but weren't. Ginny smiled as she watched the fellow D.A. members take their seats at their house tables and begin to eat. They were all planning to go back to the Room of Requirements and think about if they want to do anymore stunts they used to do before. They all meet up again and began talking about it. Michael had the idea to sneak down into the dungeons tonight and save all the students down there. Ginny shook her head, afraid of them getting caught. She knew they would have put protective charms all around there so no one could go in or out until the Carrows came and got them. Ginny said maybe about more messages on the walls, and everyone agreed. They planned on doing it next Saturday. Everyone agreed and left to go to dinner except, again, Ginny, Neville, Parvati, and Seamus. This was a routine now. The four Gyffindors found themselves closer since they are the only Gryffindors in the D.A now. Ginny was glad that she could trust everyone in the D.A and she wasn't worried about them finding out. She ate dinner with a smile was actually able to sleep tonight, even though she had DADA and Muggle Studies tomorrow.

Hope you liked Chapter 10...Review if you would like...Again, I hope you liked it...and Chapter 11 is on the way.