What had started out as an angry thought before falling asleep soon turned into an obsession. Voldemort must die became a mantra inside Ginny's head. It consumed her thoughts as, day after day, her mind worked to sort out details of how one person alone could take down the most powerful wizard to ever live.
Open rebellion was definitely out; she wouldn't be able to get enough on her side right now. A face-to-face confrontation was ludicrous to even consider because, one, she could never beat Voldemort in a dual and, two, Ginny doubted that she would be able to get near enough to him to even try. She suspected that Voldemort was one of the most protected people in the country right now – even though he didn't really require protection. If Ginny tried any sort of attack, she knew that she would be struck down before she got within one-hundred feet of him.
The more she thought about it, Ginny realized that the only way to have a chance of killing Voldemort was to get close to him. And the only way to get near him was through the Death Eaters. She would need to find a Death Eater that would accept her, welcome her into the fold, so she could gain the trust of the others. Eventually she could move her way up, closer to Voldemort and, one day, she would catch him off guard and end his life.
The idea seemed impossible, but it was the only solution she had so far that was even close to being feasible. The thought of being friendly with Death Eaters made her feel dirty and sick to her stomach. Ginny just hoped she would be able to get to Voldemort without having to commit her life to serving him, complete with the branded Dark Mark on her arm. If it got to that point, Ginny wasn't sure that she would be able to follow through with her plan, but she decided to cross that bridge when (or if) she got to it. The first thing she had to do was start playing nice with the other Pureblood families – the ones who regarded Voldemort as their redeemer. Luckily for Ginny, Astoria unwittingly provided her with exactly what she needed to start her mission.
"My family is hosting the New Year's Ball this year. Are you coming?"
Ginny and Astoria were sitting in the common room near the tall windows that looked out over the mountains. The room was almost empty except for a handful of first-years sitting on the other side of the room near the fireplace. Ginny looked up from her Potions textbook from which she was supposed to be studying (while in truth, her mind was far away, picturing herself walking up behind an unsuspecting Voldemort and strangling him).
"What?" she asked, feeling confused. "What ball?"
"The New Year's Ball – oh, sorry," Astoria said, a tinge of pink going to her cheeks. "I forgot – you probably have never gone to one, have you? You see, every year, the families in the Pureblood Society take turns hosting a ball on New Year's Eve. It's my family's turn this year."
"Oh, right," Ginny replied, turning her attention back to the book on her lap. "Well, the Weasley's have never exactly been welcome at any Pureblood Society event."
"You are now," Astoria declared. "I'm inviting you as my guest."
"No, thanks."
"Come on, please! These parties are so dull and boring. I need you there."
"Gee, when you put it that way, how can I refuse," Ginny said sarcastically, rolling her eyes slightly.
"I mean they are boring if you have no one to spend time with. Usually closer to midnight, the adults stop caring what the kids are up to, and we are able to sneak away with a few bottles of firewhisky. Besides," Astoria added with a smirk, "Theo will be there."
"Who?" Ginny asked, looking up at her friend again.
"Theo," Astoria repeated. "Theodore Nott!"
"Oh, yeah... Malfoy's friend."
"Yes, Draco's friend that you met in Hogsmeade a few weeks ago. The one that stared at you the entire time we were there –"
"Probably wondering why you were hanging around with an outcast," Ginny muttered.
"—and then apparently questioned Draco about you for days afterward," Astoria continued, ignoring Ginny's comment.
"Well, if Theodore Nott fancied me before, I'm sure he doesn't now," Ginny said, unable to hold back a laugh. "Because Malfoy would not have anything good to say about me."
"You're impossible!" Astoria said exasperatedly, throwing up her hands in resignation.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, then something occurred to Ginny. "Do your parents know that you're seeing Malfoy?" she asked Astoria.
"Oh yes, they are very pleased. Of course, my mother was worried Draco will end it once he discovers my illness, but he already knows and doesn't care."
"And do his parents know?"
"About my illness or about us being together?"
"Either," Ginny replied, with a shrug.
"They know we are together, and I think they approve. Unlike many families within the Pureblood Society, Mr and Mrs Malfoy aren't planning to choose Draco's wife for him. They should be content with his choice as long as it's someone from the Sacred Twenty-Eight. But, no, Draco has not told them about my illness, and he has hinted to me that neither one wouldn't take the news well, so hopefully we can keep that a secret until after we are married."
Ginny raised her eyebrows at the mention of marriage. Was Astoria already planning her marriage to Malfoy? Surely, she would wait a couple years, make sure Draco Malfoy is the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Though Ginny didn't know Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy personally, she had heard enough stories from her dad or Harry to know what kind of people they were. Also, she remembered with a sudden pang of discomfort, it was Lucius Malfoy's doing that caused Ginny to be possessed by Tom Riddle in her first year at school.
Ginny hated the thought of Astoria being tied down to a family like that, but then again, she had heard similar stories of most of the other Pureblood families throughout her life – they all seemed to hold the same type of principles. This was exactly why Ginny had no interest in attending some stupid ball, that would be full of high-class, stuck-up aristocrats, who thought a Weasley was far beneath them. Besides, almost all of the attendees would be big supporters of Voldemort's new world and many of them were likely Death Eaters…
And then it occurred to Ginny; stupid parties, like this New Year's Ball, were exactly the types of events that she needed to attend to get close to the Death Eaters, to be welcomed into their new society and not seen as any type of threat against their leader.
She let out a tiny sigh, already hating the words that were about to leave her mouth.
"You know what, Astoria," Ginny said, trying to sound casual. "I would actually love to come to the New Year's Ball."
*.*.*
On the last day of classes before Christmas break, Ginny woke up early. She left a note for Astoria explaining that she had something to do and would see her at breakfast. As quietly as she could, Ginny crept along the corridors toward the old Gryffindor Tower, wishing she had Harry's old invisibility cloak.
Ginny knew she was taking a chance of getting in trouble by attempting to do this, but she couldn't leave the castle for Christmas break without trying. When she neared the portrait of the Fat Lady, Ginny stood back out of sight and waited.
After awhile, students started coming out of the portrait hole and Ginny kept her eyes peeled for the head of blonde hair. Finally, after a large group of students clambered out of the portrait hole, Ginny saw Luna come out, walking slowly down the corridor, humming to herself. Ginny started walking quickly to catch up with her.
As soon as Luna spotted Ginny beside her, she stopped walking and opened her mouth to greet her, but Ginny shook her head and put a finger to her lips. Even though there was no official rule stating that Purebloods and Half-bloods can't walk together in the hallway, Ginny figured, with all the work that the staff did to keep them separated, it would not be acceptable for a Pureblood to actively seek out a Half-blood for a friendly chat.
"Meet me tonight," Ginny murmured. "Top of the Astronomy Tower."
Luna nodded in understanding with a small smile as Ginny winked at her, then walked away before being spotted in that area of the castle.
Later that night, Ginny climbed the stairs to the top of the Astronomy Tower, praying that she wouldn't be caught out of bed. She had managed to go all year so far without a detention and she didn't want to get one on her last night here.
Luna was already at the top when she arrived. Ginny threw her arms around her friend and embraced her.
"I've missed you," Ginny said in a quiet. "I really hate this segregation thing. How are you?"
"I'm fine," Luna replied, happily. "The classes are becoming quite horrible, aren't they? I will be happy to go home for awhile."
"Is your dad home?"
Luna nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I've been writing to him almost everyday. He's under house arrest which means he can't leave the house at all, not even to go out to the garden, and someone from the Ministry comes to check out him a few times a week. But he says it's much better than Azkaban."
"I bet," Ginny replied quietly.
"I hope your family gets home soon too," Luna said, taking Ginny's hand in hers. "How are things in the Silver Tower? Are the other girls being rude to you?"
"It's not too bad now, but I still feel like an outcast there. I don't really fit in with most of the other girls, but, at the same time, I don't really want to fit in either."
"I know what you mean," Luna said, nodding. "It's almost like you are giving into the new order if you go along with anything they want."
Ginny didn't respond. They had reached this point of the conversation already; the reason (or, at least, main reason) why Ginny wanted to meet with Luna tonight.
"I have to do something," Ginny said after a moment. Luna looked at her curiously. "I can't tell you what, not yet anyway, but you might notice something different about me."
"I don't understand."
Ginny sighed and said, "For the rest of the school year and probably even after that, I'm going to pretend to go along with the new regime, act like I enjoy being a Pureblood on the top. That will mean that I won't be able to be friendly toward you. And you might hear rumours of me being aligned with the Death Eaters. I just don't want you to think I've turned into this terrible person."
"You are one of the kindest people I know, Ginny," Luna said simply. "I could never think badly of you. Should I be worried, though? Are you doing something dangerous? I can help, you know."
For a moment, Ginny considered letting Luna in on her plans, but she didn't think it would work as well if they were both trying to infiltrate the Death Eaters – especially since Luna wouldn't be as welcome there. Perhaps later on, Ginny would be able to get Luna to help her out, but for now, she felt like she had to go at this alone.
"You don't need to worry," Ginny lied. "Everything will be fine as long as I can pull off this act."
Luna looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Your secret is safe with me."
*.*.*
"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Ginny exclaimed. She was standing in the living room at Shell Cottage, having just returned home from Hogwarts. In front of her was a white bassinette containing a tiny, baby girl who was currently sucking on her fingers.
Fleur smiled. "Eet was only two day ago. By ze time I send you a letter you would be 'ome anyway." She reached down into the bassinette and picked up the tiny baby girl and held her out to Ginny. "Would you like to 'old Nadine?"
Ginny reached out and took her niece in her arms, feeling awed. "She's perfect," Ginny whispered, looking down at the bright blue eyes, the tiny nose and little lips still closed around her thin fingers. "Absolutely perfect."
"Wait until later and you will not say zat," Fleur replied with a smile. "She do not like to sleep at nighttime."
Ginny sank down into a chair, holding the baby close to her, feeling at peace for the first time in months.
"'Ow is school?" Fleur asked, sitting across from her. "You do not say much in your letters."
"I'm worried they get searched," Ginny admitted. She filled Fleur in on the new school regulations, the classes with their horrifying lessons, and the segregation between blood statuses. She also filled her in on the only good part about school – her new friend, Astoria.
"So, Astoria invited me to go to her house for New Years Eve," Ginny finished. "Do you mind if I go?"
"You are a adult, Ginny," Fleur said with a smile. "You do not need to ask my permission. Just please be careful, zere are still many people 'oo will not take kindly to your mixing with zem."
The rest of the afternoon and evening passed pleasantly. Ginny was happy to be back with Fleur and fell in love with her niece the moment she laid eyes on her. Fleur was right though; Nadine did not want to sleep at night. She wasn't fussy (unless you tried to lay her down in her bassinette), but just wanted to be awake, looking around the room. When Fleur stifled a yawn, Ginny noticed how tired she looked.
"Why don't you get some sleep?" Ginny suggested to her. "I can watch Nadine for you." Fleur looked like she was going to argue, but Ginny cut her off. "I'm only here for a couple weeks," she reminded her sister-in-law. "You should take advantage of it."
"Okay," Fleur finally relented. "I sleep for a couple 'ours but, Ginny, wake me if you need anything at all."
"I will," Ginny promised, holding out her hands for the baby.
"She ate about a 'our ago, so she should be fine for a few more—"
"Go to bed," Ginny urged, smiling. "I promise I will come get you if she needs anything."
"Tank you, Ginny," Fleur said, kissing her on the cheek as she walked past.
Ginny spent the next couple of hours pacing the floors, holding baby Nadine in her arms. With time to think, Ginny's mind wandered to her plans of getting near Voldemort. The upcoming ball would be the perfect opportunity to start her new, "reformed" attitude – she just had to ensure she played her part well. It could take months, or even years, to work her way up to Voldemort, but it would be worth it.
Nadine started fussing a bit, so Ginny sat in the rocking chair and started humming a lullaby that her mother would sing to her when she was young and, not long after, Nadine finally drifted off to sleep. Ginny looked down into the innocent face of her niece and knew that things had to change in the world before Nadine was old enough to go to school. Ginny couldn't imagine this sweet little angel having to sit back and witness innocent people being murdered for pure enjoyment.
Ginny placed a soft kiss on her niece's forehead and whispered quietly, "Aunt Ginny is going to fix this messed-up world for you, Nadine."
A/N: This is just a short chapter that is needed to bridge to the next couple chapters (which should be much better). I have them already written, they just need some editing, so hopefully I will be able to post them soon.
Also, I know in canon Bill and Fleur's eldest daughter is named Victoire, but her name means "Victory", which wasn't fitting for this story, so I changed it to Nadine which means "Hope".