A Future of Hope

Chapter Three: Believe it Malfoy

December

"I will not be treated like a child!" I yell at my parents.

I'm fifteen, which is a bit on the young side, but I am older than Harry was when he saved the Sorcerer's Stone. At fifteen, shouldn't my opinion count for something? Shouldn't what I think matter?

Not only am I upset about being treated like a child, I am angry at my parents for making the decision without consulting me. Yes, I understand the situation and I know the risks, but shouldn't I be allowed to make the choice to fight like Ron and Hermione?

"Ginny dear," Mum counters, "this is for your safety. We want you alive and away from You-Know-Who."

"But I don't want to go into hiding Mum. If Ron can face him why can't I?"

"Ron is older than you Ginny."

"So? He stayed with Harry every year since they've known each other. If I am too young now, then he was too young every time and you still let him fight!"

I can see the battle in my mother's eyes. She wants to keep me safe but knows that if she does not let me choose, I would only go against her anyway. She also knows that she has given Ron the choice for five years. There was no way she could deny me the chance to be a part of the inevitable.

"I want to help Harry, Mum. I want to help him in any way I can. He's not going to make it if everything he cares for leaves him. He's still getting over losing Sirius. What will happen when he loses one of his friends?"

"She's right, Molly," Dad says, turning to Mum. "As much as I don't like it, Harry needs those he cares for with him right now. He can't do this on his own."

"But Arthur--" Mum starts to interject.

"Let her decide, Molly. If she knows the risks, let her choose what she will do."

My parents turn to me and I can't even open my mouth to reply. I had expected WWIII but had gotten off relatively easy. "Ginny?" Mum asks.

"I want to stay," I declare. "I want to help Harry. I know what You-Know-Who is planning on doing. I understand what could happen if I'm not careful. But I know that if I hide, I'll regret it."

My parents nod and Mum replies, "Very well. You can stay at Hogwarts, but you are never to go anywhere alone."

"Ok."

As I walk back to my dormitory a while later, I wonder what Dumbledore thought of the conversation. The entire time my parents and I argued in his office, he sat quietly at his desk.

When I get to the Gryffindor Common Room Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville are waiting for me. "So what's the news?" they ask me. "Do you have to leave?"

I smile as I reply. "No. I can stay."

We laugh and talk for a while and celebrate that I don't have to go into hiding like my parents wanted. As we part ways for the night I can't help but notice the look on Ron's face as he watches Hermione. Nor can I help but see the way she watches him. I swear, those two deserve a hit over the head. They belong together but they keep avoiding the topic.

I shake my head and brush past them saying a goodnight to all four of them. I'm grateful for the warm bed I have waiting for me. Unfortunately, before I know it, it's morning. As I get out of bed I cannot ignore the feeling of dread that's steadily building in my stomach. Something will happen today and I don't think it will be to my benefit.

At breakfast my friends don't understand why I'm so quiet when I get to stay here at Hogwarts. I try to explain that I'm just tired but they know better than that. I tell them I don't want to talk about it and get up from the table, leaving my eggs and bacon hardly touched.

I hurry from the Great Hall to clear my thoughts. I really don't know why I'm being so difficult today, but I think it has to do with that feeling in my stomach. Taking in a deep breath, I sit down on a bench just outside the castle. I really am stupid it seems. Its freezing and I didn't even bring my coat with me. Blast this weather.

It's not long after that I heard the snow crunching. I look up to see who it is and stand up almost instantly. What on earth is Malfoy doing out here? "Morning Weasley," he sneers at me, a smile playing on his lips.

"Malfoy," I acknowledge him, my hand moving slowly to my wand pocket.

"You seem a little...alone."

I say nothing. What is he up to? He reaches into his robes and I grab my wand and point it at him. He laughs and pulls out a book. A book? What is he doing with a book and why is he showing it to me? "See this Weasley? Do you recognize it?"

I squint at the black book, my eyes hurting from the brightness of the sun. He shifts his hand and I can see straight through the heart of the book. I inhale sharply as I know he's holding Tom's diary. Malfoy laughs the second he realizes I know. He takes a step towards me and I back into the stone walls of the castle. He advances once more and I can't seem to get my legs to cooperate. The memories begin to inundate my mind and all I can think of is Tom Riddle.

"Ginny!" Harry's voice turns both mine and Malfoy's heads.

I smile and know that I'm safe now. Harry would sooner die than let Malfoy hurt me. Harry walks over to me, takes my hand, and starts to lead me away. "What do you think you're doing, Potter?" Malfoy snaps suddenly.

Harry and I turn. "None of your business Malfoy."

"Well Potter, have a good day then."

In an instant, he tosses the diary at Harry, who, not knowing what it is, catches it with his one free hand. He looks it over then starts to move towards Malfoy. He, in turn, just laughs as both Harry and I feel a familiar lurch in our stomachs. Too late we realize the diary is a portkey.

Our feet touch solid ground and Harry drops the book, cursing under his breath. "Well this is unexpected," a voice says from behind us. "You, inform the master that Potter and Weasley are here."

Harry and I turn and take in the scene around us. Damn, we're surrounded by five Death Eaters. The elder Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, a woman, and a small plump man are in the room watching us.

"Yes, Lucius," says the plump man.

"Pettigrew," Harry murmurs almost inaudibly as his hand tightens around mine slightly.

"Potter, Weasley, how nice of you to join us," the elder Malfoy says. "Master will be most pleased."

The Death Eaters start to encircle us but I'm not about to let them take me without a fight. I raise my wand and point it at the woman. I see Harry pull his own wand from his pocket do the same to Lucius. "Do you really plan to kill us when there are two of you and four of us?" he sneers.

"Yes," both Harry and I reply.

With a quick grin to each other we fire spells. The stunning curse gets both Lucius and the woman down and I can't hold back the gleeful smile as I realize the two men left are the most stupid.

Harry and I once more fire the curses but the men jump out of the way, shooting curses off as they fall. The magic is absorbed harmlessly into the stone walls around us. We cast stunning spells again and this time the giant men fall unconscious to the ground. "Quickly," Harry urges me as he picks the book back up. "We've got to get back to Hogwarts. Once Voldemort knows we're here, we'll be in big trouble."

Harry waves his wand over the book and says, "Portus Hogwarts Headmaster's Office!"

Just as the tug pulls us once more, we hear the plump man run back into the room and yell, "No!"

But of course it's too late. Harry and I are gone. Our feet touch ground once more and we find ourselves staring at a confused Dumbledore. Harry drops the book on Dumbledore's desk. "Portkey," he says and he and I sit down, our hands finally separated since the entire ordeal began.

Harry and I explain to the Headmaster what happened and he comments that we were very lucky but that it might be wise not to leave the castle itself any more. Harry and I agree and turn to leave. "I am glad for your safety," Dumbledore says to our retreating back. "Unfortunately, I must owl both of your families to inform them of the circumstance."

I say nothing nor does Harry. We just keep walking through the castle. We pass Malfoy on our way back to the Common Room and smirk at his agape mouth. He can't believe we've managed to save ourselves so quickly.

Believe it Malfoy.