A/N: This chapter is dedicated to iheartweasleytwins who managed the feat of reviewing every single chapter of every single story I ever wrote in a week. I'm not very good at responding to reviews, but I do read and appreciate them all!

Chapter 11

"The Headmaster's office is the single best protected room in the castle. It didn't use to be this way – until two hundred years ago, it was considered that no one would dare touch on the Headmaster's person, and you only needed a special version of Alohomora to open the door. All that changed in 1803, when Headmistress Anderson got pranked by three students, who managed to spray paint her entire office in red and yellow. She was a Slytherin and didn't quite appreciate it. She got several of the teachers to work on it for an entire summer. Now, the only way to get in the Headmaster's office is through the gargoyle, with the password, and if you're on the list."

"The list?"

"Yes, the list. The gargoyle somehow knows that a limited list of people is allowed in the office. All the teachers are on it, as well as the Head Boy and Girl and the Minister of Magic. After that, it's up to the Headmaster to decide who can come in with just so password and unaccompanied. That's how Harry was able to go there so often."

"So where does that leave us?"

"We need someone who is on the list to let us in. But here's the problem: from what I've found out, Snape has added more wards. One in particular registers for him who has been in and out – and so whoever helps us in there will be in even more danger than us, unless they have a decent reason for being his the office at the exact same moment one of the most priceless artefacts in the Wizarding world is stolen."

"So what you're saying is that we're screwed."

"Essentially."

Ginny looked at Neville, hoping beyond belief that he would be able to see a solution she'd missed. Going over all the volumes on Hogwarts history and spell protections, she had hit a wall. She was thankful to have overheard McGonagall talk about the register of visits to the office – that one wasn't mentioned anywhere, it was much too recent. If they had gone in the lion's den unprepared for it, she was rather sure someone would have disappeared. Not in a good way.

Neville was frowning, looking at the map she'd drawn, summing up the wards. The spell registering visits at the gargoyle was circled in red.

"Where are the visits actually registered?"

"There are at least two separate lists that write those down at the same time. One is in the Headmatser's office itself, the other Alecto's chambers. There could be more than I don't know about."

"I bet Snape loves that Carrow is watching his comings and goings."

"None of the Death Eaters trust each other. Their favourite past time besides torturing us is snitching on each other to their Dark Idiot-in-Chief. I'm sure he encourages it too."

Neville looked at the map once more.

"And you have no idea how to break that spell?"

"No, Snape made it himself. Luna looked at it, and she doesn't know either. She's by far the best of us at this."

Neville sighed.

"Well, there's only one solution then: the person who lets us in will have to leave the castle and go in hiding."

"What?" Ginny exclaimed.

"That actually works out quite well with the idea I had to get the sword out. We need someone to physically take it to Harry, and that person would also have to go underground. I was thinking of doing it. So either we find a way for me to appear on that list, or we find someone who is on it willing to go along with our plans."

"Neville, you are mad."

"Yes, I am. Are you with me?"

Ginny could feel her eyes glinting.

"Count me in."

"Flitwick."

"He'd never survive in hiding. That man can eat twice his body weight in a day, did you notice?" Ginny answered Neville's suggestion

"Is Flitwick even a man? I thought he was a weird cross-over between an elf and a goblin."

"Seamus, be quiet and focus. What about Sprout?" Parvati suggested.

"She'd never leave her students," Neville countered.

"McGonagall?" said Lavender.

"No, the Order needs someone on the inside of the castle," Ginny replied.

"Hagrid?" offered Seamus.

"No, I think Snape got annoyed at him and removed him from the list. Plus, how in the world could Hagrid survive underground?" Lavender asked.

"This is hopeless," finished Seamus. "Slughorn is too much of a coward to even consider it, we need Pomfrey to stay here to fix us every other day, and we can't trust any of the other teachers."

"What about Terry?" Parvati said.

"Terry Boot?"

"He's Head Boy. He's on the list."

"He's not really the type to take risks, Parv," Lavender answered.

"Don't underestimate him. Anthony says he's got more courage than it looks."

"Wouldn't we also have to protect his family?"

"He's an only child," Parvati answered. "And his parents are out of the country. They should be fine."

"How do you know all that?"

"He's Anthony's best friend. Unlike some people I know, I do more with my boyfriend than shove my tongue down his throat."

Neville and Lavender had the decency to blush. Ginny didn't pay much attention to the comment.

"How do we ask Terry? Could you do it Parvati?" she asked.

"How about Luna?" Seamus offered. "This might be better coming from a fellow Ravenclaw."

"That's a good point. Luna will ask. Seamus, can you pass on the request?"

"That's only if he can keep his tongue out of her mouth long enough," Lavender quipped.

"My tongue is staying in my mouth, thank you. We broke up at dinner."

"What?" Seamus answer took Ginny's attention away from the task at hand.

"She said she got enough kissing practice. Snogging was pretty much all we did anyway. We're still good friends. She's nice, Luna."

Seamus didn't appear too broken hearted, so Ginny decided that the matter was closed – though she'd make sure to re-open it with Luna the next day.

"Fine, this is all decided. Time for bed."

"Are you still sleeping in Harry's bed, Ginny?" Seamus asked. While Neville was recovering, she'd taken to staying with the boys – and kept the habit even after Neville felt better.

"I can't, I think Heather is becoming suspicious."

"Isn't she always?" Parvati said.

"Well, it can't hurt to use my own bed from time to time, can it? Good night boys!"

She followed Parvati and Lavender quietly back up the girls' stairs. They were excitedly discussing the implications of Seamus and Luna breaking up.

"I swear, Parv, that Hufflepuff in fourth year has a giant crush on Luna. He turned positively white when he saw Seamus snogging her. He'll make a move."

"Too shy. He barely talks to most girls as is, he won't even dare approach Luna."

Ginny tuned them out, going over the steps of operation Godric, as it'd been dubbed, in her head. She waved the girls good night as she reached her dormitory, opened the door and... found Heather looking under her bed.

"Oh. Ah. Uhm. Hi, Ginny!"

Ginny looked at the girl who had an extremely guilty look on her face, then at her things, through haphazardly on her bed, and finally at the letters from her family, opened on her desk, that had obviously just been read.

Furious didn't even begin to explain how she felt.

"Explain."

"Well, uhm, I ran out of ink, and the next Hogsmeade weekend is a bit far off, and my owl hasn't returned yet, so I can't ask my Mum, and where have you been anyway?"

"Liar. Why are you going through my stuff?"

"I told you, I ran out of ink and..."

"I see a pot full of ink just there on your desk Heather. Why you spying on me? How can you even think I wouldn't notice? Do you think I'm completely stupid?"

"Well, see, no, of course, I'm not..."

"You know what? Save it. You can tell whoever you've been spying for that I'm sleeping in the boys' dormitory – that's where I've been for days, and I'll just stay there from now on."

Ginny picked up the letters from the twins and Bill, took her pyjamas and a change of clothes for the next day, as well as her books, parchment and homework, and left.

She barged in the boys' room without knocking, sending Seamus, who'd been changing, running for under the covers of his bed. An annoying voice in the back of her mind informed her he had a very nice backside.

"Gentlemen, I'm moving in."

"Er... great?" Neville said, clearly confused.

"I cannot share a dorm any longer with that spying, conniving, snivelling little bitch!"

"Spying?"

"I came in the dorm and she was going through my stuff. Tried to come up with a lame excuse, something about ink – but honestly, does she think I'm that dumd?"

"I'll take that as a rhetorical question," Seamus said, looking clearly worried by how angry his friend was.

"Could she have found anything on operation Godric?"

"No, I don't have anything written down on it that couldn't pass as homework."

"And your collection of torture remedies is hidden throughout the castle?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything else she could have fond that could get you in trouble?"

"A couple old Quibblers, maybe."

"But nothing bad?"

"No, Neville, nothing bad. Are you also under the impression that I'm dumb?"

"Sorry, Gin, just had to make sure you're safe. So you're moving in here for good?"

"Until you two kick me out..."

"Fat chance. Welcome to the dorm, roomie!"

Living with the two boys had its advantages – being with two persons she liked and didn't worry were spying on her was very nice. But unfortunately, it still meant she was living with two boys. Growing up with six brothers, Ginny was used to mess and excessive amounts of belching and smelly socks – but it never was in her room.

"Seamus, I swear, if I ever see your underwear ever again, I'll make sure it's permanently stuck to your privates!"

"Oh, loosen up a bit Gin. It's not that ba –ah – AH – fine I'll clean up, stop this now!" Seamus screamed, trying to vanish the tiny bat bogeys flying out of his nose. Neville was lying on his bed, laughing loud until Ginny turned her glare his way.

"Yes, Gin, I'll clean up too right now!"

Once the dorm was decently tidied up, Neville took out their check list again.

"The date – second week of November," he started. "We'll go at the first decent opportunity. The opportunity will be decided by..."

"...how pissed off the Carrows are at the Hufflepuffs that day," Ginny continued. "If they're watching the badgers, we can pass through more easily. I've already told Ernie to be sure to leave their mark on some stuff that week, without telling him the reason why."

"When we're ready, we pass the message to Luna and Terry by exploding yellow fireworks in the halls," Seamus added. "Hopefully, the badgers will get blamed for that one too. We meet outside the library, the four of us hide, Terry out in the open."

"Terry asks the gargoyle if the Headmaster is there. If Snape is in, Terry goes up and feeds him some kind of ridiculous story. If Snape isn't there, we go with Terry."

"Ginny and Luna work on removing all the wards around the office. We then have exactly fifteen minutes to locate the sword. If we don't find it, we back out. If we find it, Luna works on the curse-breaking and takes it out."

"Terry gets on a broom and flies out directly towards Hagrid's cabin. Someone from the Order will be there in hiding and take him out of Hogwarts. The Order will also contact his parents and suggest they go in hiding, and tell them terry is safe."

"We get the hell out Snape's office and go straight to bed."

"What are the chances any of this actually works out?" Seamus asked.

"Slim to none," Ginny answered without a smile. "I'll take these odds over doing nothing."

They'd been rehearsing their plan every night since they had finalised it. Luna and Terry were doing the same in their dorms every night; and so did Lavender and Parvati, even though they wouldn't play an active part in any of it.

Ginny still couldn't believe that Terry – shy, quiet Terry – had agreed to join their madness. She had tried to find a way around his participation, as he did not exactly strike her as someone who would handle fast action very well at all, but had had no such luck. Terry was their only way in.

After the three friends went to bed, Ginny's mind kept on working. Their chances of getting caught were humongous, and she found herself wondering what would happen to them when the inevitable took place. Would they be sent to wherever Death Eater headquarters were located? Were they even important enough for that? Would her family try to get her out? Would Harry try to get her out?

Ginny finally fell asleep to the sound of Neville snoring softly, picturing Harry flying in to save her like he did in the Chamber of Secrets, brandishing the sword of Gryffindor, and looking adorably confused as to how he even got there in the first place.