'I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.'
~ Albert Einstein

Ginny Weasley was not stupid. She had watched members of the Order flood into Hogwarts all day. Nervous chatter emanated from them, and a few looked triumphant, but more were wary. It was nearing Samhain, and being it the weekend most students were out at Hogsmeade, looking around for outfits for the traditional Hallows Eve ball. The reason that Ginny wasn't down with her friends was because of Harry. After that kiss, the one that even now haunted her, he had left, claiming he knew what he had to do. He wasn't brushing her off, of that she was certain, but for some reason it had left an icy lump in her chest that just refused to thaw. Instinctively, she knew that 'Something' was quite obviously bad, and the rush of Order members only amplified this fear.

Following the crowd, she came to the Great Hall. The doors were open, and from there she could see Dumbledore, standing at the podium. His face was stern, and his eyes cold. Gone was the grandfatherly look, this was a man who was getting ready for battle, and Ginny sped up, sure that Harry was in here.

Her parents were sitting over by the Gryffindor table, their red hair was unmistakable even from a distance. Avoiding them, Ginny lurked in the shadows, her eyes rapidly scanning the room, trying to discern the inky black hair, and green eyes from the masses of witches and wizards before her. But the spy was being viewed as well, and she raised her head, seeing brilliant blue eyes lingering on her.

Eyes that belonged to Albus Dumbledore.

However, instead of revealing her, he smiled slightly, inclining his head in a small greeting, before going back to monitoring the crowd. She supposed it was silly to think she could just sneak into an Order meeting, their attempts in the past had always been thwarted, why should this time be any different? Looking over at the doors, sure enough, she saw the brightly coloured threads of the wards, knitting together to created a glowing force field, selective in who is allowed to enter.

Shaking her head, she went back to watching. It appeared all had arrived now, and the doors were shut, the thud echoing throughout the Hall. All attention turned to Dumbledore, and the chattering ceased. It was almost eerie, and never at her years at Hogwarts had Ginny felt such silence fill this room.

"These are Dark times that have fell upon us. All of you here today know the hardships this world has endured under Voldemort's tyranny. However, the end is in sight," a collective gasp resounded at this, "Voldemort can, and will be vanquished. Tomorrow at dawn, we shall strike, and I have asked you here in a request for volunteers. This will not be easy, blood will be shed, and you may die, if you choose to back out I will not judge you harshly," Dumbledore finished, his expression serious, but hope burning in his eyes.

"How can we get access to the castle? In past times it has proven impenetrable," a voice piped up from the crowd.

"Harry, please step up here," said Dumbledore, and Ginny watched, her heart in her mouth as Harry rose, ascending the platform.

"You may know me as Voldemort's heir, I may have faced some of you in battle, but here that doesn't matter. We are on the same side. My father is a monster, and now with Dumbledore's help I see that now. I am keyed into the wards, Voldemort will not know we are in the castle until it is too late," Harry's words were strong, and Ginny felt her heart beat faster. He was going to fight Voldemort, one of the most powerful wizards of their lifetime. It was evident in his posture, his eyes, that he would be the one to take him on, and whilst she felt proud, she could not help the fear that gripped her, or the traitorous thought 'What if he failed?'

Murmuring rose amongst the masses at this, and Ginny heard more than a few wonder aloud where Harry's allegiance truly lay. It appeared Dumbledore too heard this, and his expression turned stony.

"I trust, Harry. Tonight he and I have weakened Voldemort considerably, and due to him victory is far more closer than it was yesterday. If any of you are in doubt of his allegiance, please leave this Hall," said Dumbledore.

No one moved.

Ginny let out the breath she had been holding, and watched as, one by one, members of the Order stood and volunteered themselves.

"We're with you," Molly Weasley stood, followed quickly by the rest of her family. Ginny felt pride swell in her chest, but as with Harry it was mingled with fear. Pushing it down, she strode over to them, their eyes widening with surprise as they took in their youngest member. Head held high, she stood with them, and as brown eyes met green, she saw Harry shared her mixed emotions.

Remus and Tonks stood after that, echoing similar sentiments. They were soon followed by the teaching staff, and eventually all had risen. Dumbledore's appraising eyes followed this, and he smiled benevolently at them, his hands held out as if embracing them.

"We shall go over the plans later tonight, but as for now just be together, if there is one thing we have over Voldemort it is love, we would do good not to forget it," Dumbledore dismissed them, and Ginny felt her mother's eyes on her.

"Ginevra, what were you thinking!" screeched Mrs Weasley, "You're too young for this!"

"Mother, I can fight, and I have proved that time and time again. I going, and you will not be able to stop me," Ginny's eyes turned fiery, and Arthur placed a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Molly, now isn't the time for this," he murmured, and Ginny threw a grateful glance at her dad. He knew better than anyone that she couldn't be stopped when there was something she wanted, and there was no point in starting a fight over the inevitable.

"Ginny, can I speak to you for a moment?" Harry's voice gave a nice interruption to what was looking to be a spectacular 'Mount Molly Weasley' explosion.

"Of course, Harry," she replied, throwing an "I'll see you later," to her family before following Harry out of the Hall.

Moving swiftly through the castle, Ginny struggled to keep up with his brisk stride. His whole aura spelled 'dangerous.' and she shuddered as wave after wave it crashed over her. She had never seen him so lethal before, and whilst it was surprising, she wasn't repelled. Instead, she moved closer to him as they left the castle, the chill hovering over the grounds making goosebumps form on her arms.

The grounds were silent, only the distant sounds of students coming from the direction of Hogsmeade. A slight breeze rustled through the grass, and the trees of the Forbidden Forest swayed, their aged bows creaking under the strain. It was overcast, and as they approached the lake, Ginny saw a tentacle stretching out of the water, checking the temperature, before deeming it too cold and retreating into its murky depths. Harry saw her shivering, and wrapped his cloak around her, letting her snuggle into his hard chest, his emerald eyes raking over her face.

"I don't want you to fight," he whispered, his breath ghosting over her face.

"I don't want you to fight," she said, throwing his words back at him.

"Somehow I knew you would never agree," he chuckled, but despite his light tone the worry was still evident in his eyes.

"Then why did you ask?"

"It was worth a try," Ginny felt him shrug, and laughed, the sound of her mirth echoing across the grounds.

"You're going after Voldemort, aren't you?" Seriousness returned to the conversation, and she felt him tense. It was remarkable how much his body displayed his mood, she had noticed it before, but not to this extent.

"I have to," his voice was firm, and it broached no argument.

"You don't, not really, but I don't think you'll see it that way."

"When did we get to know each other so well?" The question was unexpected, and Ginny cast her mind back, remembering all the times she had watched him when no one was looking. To admit that would sound stalker-ish, and so she tried to lie, saying a simple, "I don't know". She should have known he wouldn't buy it.

"I saw you watching me, you shouldn't be embarrassed," chuckled Harry, and his lips brushed over her forehead. "At first I saw you as a threat, and tried to freeze you out, but I couldn't help but notice you."

"I wanted to figure you out. You were a puzzle, and I wanted to solve it. At least that was the excuse I gave myself," Ginny couldn't help the smile growing on her face.

"It appears we were both incredibly good at lying to ourselves," Harry laughed quietly,and Ginny properly saw him for the first time.

"Are you okay?" She looked at Harry closely. His face was pale, and his eyes looked a little dimmer than usual.

"I'm fine, in weakening Voldemort it took a lot out of me," brushed off Harry, and Ginny knew that he would tell her the full story, but just not now, and she wouldn't push him.

"Do you think we'll win tomorrow?" she couldn't help but ask, and Harry took a moment before replying.

"We have surprise, and numbers on our side. Voldemort's main allegiance is with the vampires, and though they are powerful, during daylight they are severely weakened, and it would take too long to call them from their kingdoms. If I manage to kill Voldemort, then the rest of the forces should give up. He rules them through fear, and no doubt half of their numbers are only there because of threats." Ginny was happy that he had given such a thought out answer, and she felt the weight on her shoulders lighten slightly, but not enough to make her complacent.

"Promise me you'll be careful," she whispered, standing on her tiptoes and wrapping her arms around him, feeling him relax slightly as she did so.

"I'll try, as long as you are as well" he leaned down and kissed her, his lips betraying his need, and she gladly let him plunder her mouth. Tangling her fingers in his hair, they had a small battle for dominance, and she felt Harry groan as he gave into her. Emboldened, she kissed a line along his jaw, feeling a slight brush of stubble on her cheeks, and smiled slightly as he shuddered under her ministrations. Moving to the juncture between his throat and his collarbone, she sucked slightly on the exposed skin, leaving a small mark, but not hard enough to bruise.

"Stop," he said hoarsely, his voice slightly husky.

"Do you not like this?" Ginny analysed his face, feeling slightly smug at seeing his swollen lips, and his breathing was heavier than usual.

"How could I not?" he retorted weakly, "But I just want to stay here, just us, for now." He wrapped his arms more tightly around her in emphasis, and Ginny smiled, leaning into his embrace, and listening to the steadily slowing beating of his heart. Still, the day grew colder, and soon they headed back into the castle, their reprieve from the war over, and both dreading what was to come.

A/N: Thank you for the feedback :D It's good to know I haven't lost all my readers in my absence! If any of you have read my other stories, then you will know I hate writing the build up to a battle, and personally I don't think I'm very good at it. Regardless, I hope this wasn't too bad, I tried to include Harry/Ginny as it has been absent for a few chapters, and I know some of you wanted to see it - and I really wanted to write it! Next chapter is the battle, and I'll try and have that up early next week, it should be a lot better than this :D

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter *sigh*

I apologise for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes contained within this chapter.

Please review!