DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, except an overactive imagination and a bad case of insomnia.

 

SUMMARY: It was a normal day- well, as normal as things could be with for Ginny with a war raging around her and love sweeping her off her feet- that lead to the most terrifying situation any witch would ever want to be in: captured by Death Eaters and held captive by the man who killed Albus Dumbledore, the man whom he trusted until his dying breath.  Will Ginny be able to see past the harsh mask of a man who has endured so much pain that he is afraid to feel?  A story of redemption and compassion, of forgiving others and learning how to forgive yourself

 

The early morning sunlight streaming through a nearby window awoke Ginny earlier than usual the next morning, its brilliance penetrating her lightly closed eyes.  She glanced sleepily over at Hermione and Luna, with whom she was sharing her temporary quarters at Hogwarts.  After ascertaining that both were still sound asleep, the fiery haired young woman pulled on a freshly laundered robe hanging from a hook at her bedside and slipped quietly out the door into the adjoining hallway.             

 

As she made her way to the larger room down the passage, which had been converted into a crude dining room with a table and a few chairs for their stay, she heard laughter and voices echoing from within it.  She could heard her parents, but she also distinguished two other voices, voices that she knew well.  In a few steps she had arrived at the door to the chamber, and after pushing open the door, her eyes confirmed her earlier suspicions.  Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks were indeed sitting around the table with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, LupinÕs hand resting affectionately on the shoulder of the pink haired young witch seated next to him. 

 

Although the two had been married almost a year previously, Nymphadora still insisted upon being called Tonks.  Ginny remembered vividly the conversation they had had on TonksÕ wedding day, when Ginny had mentioned the matter of her name.

 

 ÒYou already know how I feel  about ÔNymphadoraÕÓ she had begun, wrinkling her nose in disgust, Òand people canÕt bloody well call me ÔLupinÕ; even I would get confused!Ó. 

 

So the decision had been made: Tonks would, legally, be Nymphadora Lupin, but would be known to all who knew her as Tonks.

 

 All four looked up at her with smiles as she entered the room and pulled an empty chair up to the table in the space between Tonks and her mother. 

 

ÒGood morning, darling!Ó her mum exclaimed, looking her over in a loving, but searching, glance, ÒDid you sleep well?Ó  Without waiting for the answer, she continued, ÒAs you can see, Lupin and Tonks have come to pay us a little visit.Ó 

 

ÒI can see that!Ó Ginny exclaimed excitedly.  ÒTo what do we owe the honor of this visit?Ó she continued in a jokingly formal manner. 

 

Tonks chuckled, ÒWell,Ó she replied, Òlife was getting a bit boring, so we decided to come and see our favorite family at Hogwarts.  ThereÕs always something exciting happening here!Ó

 

Now it was GinnyÕs turn to laugh, albeit wryly.  She very much doubted that life had been anything close to boring for the Auror, in these times of such wide spread confusion and chaos.  Additionally, the quiet, kind eyed man sitting beside her was a werewolf, and used his Òfurry little problemÓ to the OrderÕs advantage, attempting to sway other werewolves to ally themselves with the order instead of with Voldemort.  Regardless, she was glad that they had come.

 

ÒWould you like some pumpkin juice?Ó Lupin inquired calmly, offering the pitcher to her. 

ÒI would love some.Ó She replied, smiling broadly as she took one of the glasses arranged in the middle of table and began pouring the brown liquid into it.  While Ginny had her eyes on the pitcher, her mother and Tonks shot each other an almost imperceptible glance. 

 

After several moments of pleasant conversation, Lupin got up from the table, announcing ÒIÕll go wake the boys.  They canÕt have much of a lie-in today, you all have a long day ahead of you today.Ó  Rather quickly, Mr. Weasley decided it would be useful if he accompionanied Lupin.  Ginny could have sworn she heard a small thump, like that of someone being kicked in the shin.

 

As soon as the two men were out of earshot, the two older women rounded on Ginny. 

ÒSoÉis there anything youÕd like to share with us?Ó her mother asked suggestively.

 

ÒYeah,Ó added Tonks, grinning widely Òany news

 

ÔThey couldnÕt know already, could they?Õ Ginny thought incredulously.  It had only been a few hours!  Weighing her choices, Ginny, knowing her mother, realized that she would find out anyway, and Ginny wanted this bit of news to come from her mouth.

 

ÒIf you must knowÓ Ginny replied carefully, stretching out her words for effect, ÒHarry proposed to me last nightÓ  Upon saying this, for what she now realized was the first time, her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink; she felt like her face was on fire.  ÒBut we arenÕt making any plans yet, we want to wait until things ..calm down a bit firstÓ she said, choosing her words carefully.

 

Their excitement was easily visible, written across their faces as both opened their mouths to respond.  But,Ó she added quickly, heading them off Òyou canÕt tell anyone, not even Remus or DadÓ looking pointedly at the elated women beside her. ÒItÕs not that I donÕt trust them, but the more people that know, the bigger the chance that someone who is an informant of You-KnÉ.Voldemort could hear.  I donÕt want to think on what he might do with that information.Ó She finished, shuddering inwardly.  ÒBy the way, how the bloody- I mean, how in the world did you know?Ó Ginny asked, a bit confused. 

 

There were tears glistening in Mrs. WeasleyÕs eyes as she replied ÒOh, my dear, I could see it in your face the moment you walked into the room, you were positively glowing.  I obviously didnÕt know for sure what the occasion was, but I had a pretty good idea.Ó  ÒI just canÕt believe it, my little baby, all grown up and engaged to be married! If Ron would just-Ò but she stopped herself short, smiling to cover the awkward pause in conversation.  However, Ginny had been around her mother enough recently to know exactly what she was trying to say; something along the lines of  ÔIf Ron would just propose to Hermione already..Ó  It was obvious to Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and basically everyone else who was ever around the two of them that they both loved each other, but both were either too stubborn, too proud, or too afraid of rejection to even talk of marriage.

 

ÒCongratulations Ginny!Ó Tonks exclaimed, giving her a quick sisterly hug.  ÒBut,Ó she continued, Òif you donÕt want anyone to know about you and Harry, you might want to do something about thatÓ pointing to the ornately decorated ring woven beautifully around her finger.

 

ÒOh, I guess you do have a point there, donÕt you?Ó remarked Ginny, laughing at her own stupidity, I will have to fix thatÓ <concealment spell that I have yet to name> she said, and the ring vanished from sight, although she could still feel it on her finger. 

Footsteps approached from the hallway.  ÒRemember, not a wordÓ Ginny hissed quietly as the door opened and Harry, Ron, and Neville walked in, looking tired and a bit annoyed at being awoken at such an early hour.

 

ÒBloody hell, itÕs still the middle of the nightÓ Ron grumbled, rubbing sleep from his eyes.  Harry smiled, looking directly at Ginny, who reddened slightly before smiling herself and becoming very interested in her breakfast.

 

            **************************************************

 

The day was indeed long and hard, but it was also very satisfying.  Most of the students seemed to realize that learning the kind of defense Harry proposed wasnÕt like their other classes, where the curriculum sometimes seemed useless, learning only for the sake of learning.  Adding to this, in the last more than five years since Voldemort had returned, many of the students had been touched directly or indirectly by Voldemort, especially those old enough to recall DumbledoreÕs presence as Headmaster before his death.  One student in particular, a fifth year named Jessica Bones, seemed to be a possible candidate for a future leader, combining raw intelligence with the drive to work hard, as well as impressive skills when dealing with other students.  Their determination and willingness to learn seemed to have the effect on the four young adults of a drop of water to a man walking in a desert, providing hope where it was sorely needed.  Even Harry, who, understandably, was generally the soberest of the four, was visibly thrilled at their success.  As they exited the castle, Ginny asked ÒHey, Harry, lets go down to Hogsmeade and get a drink at the Three Broomsticks.  We can celebrate how well the DA is going.Ó

 

Harry replied dubiously ÒI donÕt know.  WouldnÕt it be a better idea to stay inside the castle?Ó

 

ÒCome on, mateÓ Ron had said ÒThink how long itÕs been since weÕve been there.Ó

Ginny grinned, knowing that RonÕs main interest in the Three Brooksticks came in the form of its shapely barwoman.

 

ÒYeah, Harry, you could do with some fun.Ó Ginny chimed in, ÒItÕs just for one night.Ó

Harry looked from one of his friends faces to the next, and then sighed.

 

ÒIÕm not really going to have much say in the matter, am I?Ó he asked, a smile playing across his lips

 

ÒNopeÓ the other three replied simultaneously.  Each grabbed one of HarryÕs arms and they walked down to Hogsmeade together.

 

When they reached the Three Broomsticks, Harry and Ginny found a seat while Hermione and went to the bar to order them all drinks.  Ginny glanced around the cozy pub.  It truly had  been a long time since they had been here. The last time she could remember the four of them here was before DumbledoreÕs death, the death that had changed everything.

 

Suddenly, Ginny heard a voice from outside the open door.

ÒGinny, Harry, help m-Ò came LunaÕs unmistakable voice from outside the door, cut off before she could finish her sentence.  It seemed that Harry could hear the voice as well, for he abruptly got up out of his seat.  Ginny followed him.  ÒWhat do you think could be wrong?Ó Ginny asked him, trying to disguise the anxiety in her voice as they crossed under the threshold.  As soon as they were outside, they knew that something was terribly wrong.  Luna was nowhere to be seen, in fact, there was noone else in the street.

ÒHarry, maybe we should go back ins-Ò But she was cut off as a jet of red light sped past her ear colliding into the a nearby wall.  Harry pushed her into a corner out of sight and whispered ÒStay here! IÕm going to get helpÓ.  Pulling his wand from within his robes, Harry made a break for the door of the Three Broomsticks.  Suddenly, another jet of red light, this time from the opposite direction came out of nowhere and hit Harry in the back, knocking him unconscious.

There was no time for thought, no time for reason.  Her only conscious realization was that she needed to get to Harry to safety, for his sake, for her sake, for everyoneÕs sake.  Acting almost automatically, Ginny jumped from her hiding spot, concentrating only on Harry.  Her foot was caught by a sharp stone shattered from the pavement by the rampant spells richocheting around the alley.  She knew her leg was bleeding, but she didnÕt feel pain, only increased determination.  After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, she reached his unconscious body, snatching her locket from her chest and pressing it tightly into his palm, closing his unresponsive fingers around the cold metal.  As the hand she clutched disappeared from his grasp, she suddenly felt several sharp bursts of pain as several spells impacted her body and her world went black.