A/N: This is one of those 'mini-chapters' I said I'd write. The next chapter will be up in two or three days, depends on how long it takes me to finish it. It's a bit different from other chapters so far, so I might have a bit of trouble with it. Without further ado, here you have a day in the life of... Ginny, Neville and Luna.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A day in the life of Ginny, Neville and Luna: The Attempt on the Sword

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry used to be a place of light. A place where happiness abounded and where the desolate found solace. A place of magic and laughter, of pranks and adventure.

Used to be.

With the advent of the imminent war and the new Headmaster, not to mention the two new teachers, Hogwarts was now a place of misery and fear.

Where once there was light, now there was darkness. Where there was magic and laughter, now there were only tears. And where once you could find pranks and adventures, now there was only cruelty.

And yet, the light of hope shone bright, as three students bore the torch that had once been carried by the Golden Trio. Beautiful Ginny Weasley, her long hair of red as fiery as her nature, fearless Neville Longbottom, who had grown to be an impressive and courageous leader and dreamy Luna Lovegood, whose impressive brains were kept hidden behind a mask of inattention.

For in the midst of things, those three students kept the fight for what was good alive.

This particular night, they had resolved to do that by attempting something that, in all probability, only the Marauders and the Weasley Twins had attempted before: Sneak into the Headmaster's office. Their intent, unlike their predecessors', was not to play a prank, but to steal from the Headmaster himself. To steal, specifically, a very rare and very valuable object: The Sword of Godric Gryffindor.

"Ow! Neville, be careful!" The three would-be thieves were huddled behind a suit of armor near the Headmaster's office. They were waiting for the overgrown bat to leave to deal with their latest… gift. They knew he would be called in, he always was, very much like when Umbridge had ruled over the school, the teachers, at least those who weren't Death Eaters, were bent on making his stay as difficult as possible.

This particular time, the three had taken a leaf out of Fred and George's book and released a portable meadow in the middle of the Great Hall. Very much like the portable swamp, the portable meadow was… well, a portable meadow. Much prettier and it smelled better. It also filled the whole of the Great Hall with flowers and butterflies, making it quite unsuitable for the long dinner tables.

"I'm so sorry, Ginny, I didn't…"

"Yeah, yeah, shh! He could be summoned any minute! And please mind your feet!" Unfortunately, no amount of courage or self-esteem could make Neville more graceful. Luna blamed the Rimbriggers. She said they made people clumsy.

"Quiet, you too. He's coming now." How Luna knew this, neither of her partners in crime asked. After being witness to several of this 'predictions' they just sort of went with it. And indeed, not thirty seconds after they had shrunk in the shadows behind the suit of armor Severus Snape, in all his greasy glory, swept past them his robes billowing behind him.

"Come on! Go, go, go!" Ginny lead the three towards the gargoyle that warded the Headmaster's office. "Luna, the password?"

Luna cocked her head to one side, her dreamy expression never leaving her face. "What? I don't know it! I thought Neville was gonna get it!"

"What? No! I thought we'd agreed Ginny would!"

"Oh, no! Don't you dare blame this on me! Luna was supposed to get it!"

"No, Neville was."

"No, it was you, Ginny!"

"I guess we should just try guessing. It can't be that hard, can it?" They looked at each other and shrugged.

"All right, then? What would the greasy bat use?"

"Potion ingredients! Let's see… Lacewing flies! Cockroach eyes!"

"Mandrake root."

"Aconite."

"Shrivelfig!"

"Gillyweed!"

"Armadillo bile!" And so they rattled off every potion ingredient they could think of. After they had exhausted their—considerable—knowledge, they moved on to dark curses, which, due to their beloved Dark Arts professor, they now had a substantial knowledge of.

"Oh, this is useless! Why can't this be easier? Dumbledore used to use candies…" Ginny trailed of, because just as she had said 'Dumbledore' the Gargoyle had sprung aside and the revolving stairs had stopped in front of them.

Ginny shared a confused look with her companions. "Dumbledore? Really?"

"What is the greasy git thinking of?" Neville was as perplexed as the others.

"Well, he must have a reason…" Luna's dreamy voice startled them out of their reverie and they made their way up the stairs. Ginny pushed the doors to the office open to be greeted by the startled silence of the previous Headmasters and Headmistress' portraits.

They made their way to the left wall, where the glittering sword of Gryffindor hanged. "What are you children doing?" The three turned sharply but found no one. They turned back, Neville hoisting Ginny up on his shoulders so she could unhook the sword. "Don't you dare ignore me, you despicable children!" Ginny hopped down from Neville's shoulders, the sword held fast in her hand. This time, however, she had no problem identifying the speaker.

"Phineas Nigellus. Should've known it was you." The disdain in her voice was plain for all to hear. More than one portrait commented on her lack of respect for the former Headmaster. Dumbledore's portrait, however, remained stubbornly, and strangely, silent.

"Ungrateful child! How dare you speak like that to me, Phineas Nigellus of the House…"

"Yeah, yeah shut your trap! Come on, let's leave our signature and get out of here." As one, they raised their wands, silently conjuring a golden light that revolved and turned until it concentrated in the form of two bright letters: D.A. "Come on, let's get out!"

They shut the door and made their way down the stairs, ignoring the protests of one very indignant Phineas Nigellus Black, once again discussing their confusion at Snape's choice of password.

Neville was pensive. "Why do you think that's his password?"

"I don't know… if he wasn't Snape, I'd say he felt guilty or something, but the greasy git has no conscience, so I doubt it."

"Ah, Ginny, things are not always as they seem…"

Snape's silky voice rose from the stairs right in front of them as a Disillusionment Charm dissipated. "Indeed, Miss Lovegood. But it seems to me as if you three are in trouble… And this time, things are as they seem."

A/N: There you go, I hope you liked it! Worry not, will have Fremione goodness in the next chapter! Keep tuned and REVIEW!

I need reviews to survive! Cheers, C.