Disclaimer: I don't own HP :)

A/N: Hello everyone, again. College is really, really hard. Like, way harder than I thought it would ever be. I miss my family and my friends and being able to lounge around my house for most of the day. I am running myself ragged here, between classes and clubs and work study and homework. I really apologize for the constant waits - I know I've lost a lot of readers because I can't find the time to update. I can't even find the time to write! I need to work on this schedule of mine. :( I'm sorry, really, I am. Luckily, this is Begining of the End. There's no need to wait for too much longer. I WILL FINISH THIS STORY. That is a promise. It will just take longer than previously thought.

Thank you to everyone who left comments and reviewed. It means so much to me. Thank you, thank you!

There was a tangible sort of tension hanging thick in the fog that morning. Ginny squinted through the grey mist and hugged her robes snug around her body. The cold was vicious and unrelenting as it wandered from person to person in the mass huddle the team had created some hours before. Coffee had been passed out while inspections were being completed. Now, the empty cups were held in stiff hands for any last bits of warmth they could offer. Ginny stepped on a discarded mug as she crossed the field slowly, picking her way through various faces she couldn't recognize. She wasn't familiar with any of the standard protocol troops took in their preparations for battle – she didn't know it would be this boring. Prep was long and drawn out and involved a lot of shuffling feet and mumbled gripes. She bypassed a long line of wizards with their wands at the ready, practicing for their examination. Ginny offered them a tight, terrified smile.

This was all foreign, Ginny realized as she tried to shake the snow from her standard issue boots. Her formal training had been through a crash-course, taught by several Officials from sunrise to sunset. It had taken a full week of torture to pass. She had not complained, though, for Viktor always seemed to be watching her in those days. They weren't on the best speaking terms, but he had allowed her to come with the reserve with the promise of staying in the very back. He had pushed her into a course and handed her Standard Wear and hadn't spoken to her since.

Now, Ginny was searching for Viktor. There was a weight in her heart that she wished was gone, for she didn't actually want to face him now. Fear seemed to be climbing its way up her legs, its claws scratching for her heart, its fierce eyes on her soul. Did she really have the competency to stand next to these weathered and worn soldiers? They had seen battle and blood, but then again, hadn't she? Ginny had withstood Voldemort – the master – and now it was time to eradicate the copies. Her hands were shaking. It had been a while.

"Cold already?" Viktor's soft voice growled into her ear. He had dipped behind her, a tight smirk on his thin lips. It became more of a grimace as the seconds ticked by. There was a flash in Ginny's eyes – they always saw a challenge – and he watched as she turned quickly to face him.

"No," her tone was firm. She shoved her hands deep into her pockets and scowled. The wind stole her answer from her mouth and sent it screaming down the lines. A few heads turned questioningly, but turned back when they saw it involved Viktor Krum.

Viktor regretted the jab. He wanted things to remain serious – he wanted to offer Ginny a second chance, give her time to turn back and stay with her family – and now he had effectively mutilated his tone. His sincerity would fall on scrutinizing ears. He sighed and watched the white snake billow into the air and blend with the fog. He wondered if there really was any mist today, or if it was just the heaves of a thousand tired soldiers. There was an unrest – a sadness – that permeated him.

"Fine," his voice was clipped, overly professional. Viktor pretended to survey the landscape, work his way over the grizzled faces in the crowd, to nod at those who were brave enough to meet his gaze. "Are you ready, then? Got your gear? Went through prelim?" He sniffed.



"'Of course," Ginny almost smiled. It was a defense mechanism – it would throw Viktor off the fact she was scared. She sniffed, too, to show her nonchalance. "Just waiting for you, chief."

Viktor laughed aloud and more heads turned. This time, their eyes stayed. They were nervous, doubtful – what was so special about Ginny Weasley? Why had Krum chosen to stand next to her and make jokes while the rest of them were preparing for battle? This was not the time for amusements – not the time to entertain pretty women.

"Of course," Viktor echoed, his vision lost in the blurred ranks that seemed to stretch on to the horizon. The task at hand was enormous and it was just hitting him. It happened that way – plans never seemed true until the first few steps on the field. The ground beneath his feet was proof that action was at hand. Change was coming, screaming along in the wind. Viktor hoped the Shop could hear their ferocity and shiver like the cowards they were. He wondered how many would be killed that day, how many losses he would suffer in return. The number would never be small enough. He wondered how many faces wouldn't be standing in the Coffee Line the next morning. It made his heart ache.

"Viktor?" Ginny asked after a few seconds of silence. She felt uncomfortable – she realized that she was being unintentionally ignored.

"Chief?" a foreign voice snapped. A tall man sprung out from a crowd and thrust his way past Ginny without an apology. His task was more important than her. There was a small envelope in his long, blue fingers. "Chief! We need to speak to you in the tent."

"What?" Viktor asked, finally brought back to the moment. He blinked and narrowed his vision on this new man. He was familiar and he was carrying something that already interested him. Envelopes meant news, meant… something.

"Follow me," Viktor was instructed. The man was already weaving his way through the ranks. Only the bobbing of his cropped hair kept Viktor from losing him.

"Come on, then," he growled, grabbing Ginny's lapels. She was dragged for the first few feet, before tearing Viktor's grasp from her clothes. She glowered at the back of his head, but Viktor did not notice. She practically had to run to keep up, but wouldn't let herself lag for anything. Maybe that letter was for her, too.

The trio came upon a small, black tent set up on the perimeter of the protected grounds. Inside, it was much larger. Offices were crammed into every available space – letters scattered the air above them – and the Man with the Envelope seemed to know exactly where to go. He drew back a curtain and led Ginny and Viktor into a tiny room with a table and chairs. The duo seated themselves, hearts pounding, and stared expectantly at their messenger.

The Man with the Envelope set his gift on the middle of the table and quietly swept out of the room. No one came in to speak to them. Ginny sat motionless, staring at the crumpled parchment, while Viktor impatiently moved about his chair to survey the room and peak beyond the heavy red cloth. Minutes passed and Viktor's annoyance grew.



"Well," he snapped, "if no one is to tell us what's going on, I'm going to open the damn thing myself!" With that, Viktor reached across the table and snatched up the envelope. Ginny winced at the brief tearing noise and waited silently as Viktor scanned the message.

It seemed to be an eternity. Her bones were stiff from the cold and grateful for the new warmth, but her neck began to sweat under her wool scarf. Viktor probably could handle this on his own – it had probably been an act of courtesy to bring her along. Ginny blushed, thinking of those cynical faces that were awaiting her outside the tent. They would scoff at her as she walked past to stand in the back and observe, while they fought. They had every right to, Ginny thought. The urge to stand and leave was pressing and irresistible.

Viktor's voice stopped her for a second time that day. "They're in Ipatovo."

"Ron and Hermione?" Ginny whispered, her eyes trained tightly on his grim face. She could not breathe. Her coat was strangling her, twisting her insides and turning them cold again. "Is it from them? What happened?" She dug her fingernails tight into her nails to release some of the pressure that was so heavy on her shoulders.

"It's from Harry," Viktor replied in an assured voice. He returned Ginny's gaze with confidence – almost a smile. "He's with them. They've united and they're camping outside Ipatovo. They're all safe."

Ginny leapt from her chair without really meaning to, shrieking. Her hands were on Viktor's shoulders for support, expressing her unrelenting joy. "You're joking!" she practically shouted, searching his face seriously for clues of his farce. She could not find any and her heart began leaping beneath her hot skin. The trickles of sweat rolling down her back were forgotten. Her fingers were shaking with anticipation.

"It's true," Viktor answered, obviously happy with her reaction. The grip on his chest loosened. Finally, he was able to tell someone good news. It had been months. He slumped back in his chair, forgetting his chiefly duties for a few moments. "They're all together. Just like Before."

Ginny covered her face, leaving her mouth open to taste the calluses on her palms. Harry was safe. Her brother had not led himself and Hermione to Certain Death. Viktor was wrong – Ron could be intelligent when the situation called for it. She let her hands draw the skin around her chin down. Her mouth slumped with the motion, stretching it out to speak again. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes." Viktor offered her the brief letter.

Ginny snatched it out of his hands greedily and let her eyes ravage the page.

Came across G and W in the forest 40 kilos outside Ipatovo. They seem to be in good health. Will stay with them for duration. Luck.

P

Finally, Ginny felt the strength that would lead her to stand in the back of the regiments. Her family was alive and that was all she needed.

"It's time to go, now."

A/N: Blah. I have nothing to say tonight. I really hoped you liked it. It's all preparation now, the action will come in the next chapter. Expect it to be longer and overall better-written. I felt so guilty for not updating for weeks. I had to get this out to you all.

Please leave comments and reviews and suggestions and questions! I love to read them.

Katie