I know this chapter is shorter than usual, but there will be more - SOON!!!
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CHAPTER 5
The students arrived back at Hogwarts, classes started again, Draco grew sullen once more, and Ginny fell back into her routine of living each day just like the on before. Ron stared at the ring on her finger and asked, "Did you get my gift? I haven't seen you wearing it."
She was not about to wear his gift. If her suspicions were correct and it was an ancient chastity belt, the only way to get it off was to get married. Not that she was having sex with Draco, but she was considering it. She still snuck into his room each night, and although nothing had happened yet, the tensions were running high. He could evoke feelings in her that she didn't even know she had. Of course, it wasn't that easy to act so shallow. Witches and wizards and Muggles were dying everyday. No one had heard from Bill. Her mum was absolutely furious that she hadn't come home for the Holidays. She had gotten a rather nasty letter about choosing to side with "someone of such reputation" and she was sure the presents would have been revoked if they hadn't already been sent. Besides that, Harry was more stressed than he had been before the Holdiays. Everywhere he went, he unconsciously held one hand against his forehead, trying to cool his burning scar.
"I'm ready to get it over with," Ginny heard him telling Ron and Hermione in the library. They had been back at Hogwarts for three weeks, and it was the first thing she'd heard him say.
Ginny edged closer, unsure if he would continue talking if he saw her.
"You can't," Hermione argued with him. "Tell Dumbledore."
"He knows," Harry said wearily. "It's got to come down to this sooner or later, and I'm ready to end it."
"End it?" Ron gaped. "You can't just go looking for him!"
"Why not?"
"He'll kill you mate! What do you think?"
"Ron, as much as I appreciate your vote of confidence, I already faced Voldemort several times, and I'm still here!"
Ron was rapidly chewing at his inner cheek. "But what if . . ."
Hermione glared at him, but Harry shrugged. "Then so be it. I know where he is. He's in my head all the time. We're going to battle at Galloway Hill."
Ron gasped, and Ginny did too. "What?" Hermione asked.
Harry looked up and saw Ginny. He inhaled deeply but didn't say anything to her. "It's a graveyard. The same one he killed Cedric in."
"Why?" she asked.
Harry stood up. "I'm going to meet him in the morning. I want to get some sleep now."
Ginny sat down in the spot he left. "We're going too."
"No," Ron snapped. "You can't."
"Yes I can," she told him calmly. "Draco and I will be there. Harry's not going to fight him alone."
"Of course not," he argued. "Hermione and I will be there."
"Right. You and Hermione and Harry against Voldemort and the Death Eaters? Why don't you just kill yourself now?"
"What is so important about Galloway Hill?" Hermione interrupted as Ron winced.
"That's where Potter's parents are," Draco announced, joining them. "Why?"
"Harry's going to meet Voldemort there in the morning," Ginny told him. "He says it's going to be the final battle."
Draco nodded, looking thoughtful. "I'm going."
Ron jumped up angrily, causing his chair to fall and Madam Pince to swoop down on him.
"I don't think he likes me," Draco said calmly.
Hermione sighed deeply and laid her head on the table. "We better tell Neville and Luna. They'll come too."
"Longbottom and Looney?" Draco repeated doubtfully.
Ginny elbowed him. "They were there when we met at the Ministry. They helped a lot."
"Poor Neville though," Hermione mused. "That evil woman kept reminding him about his parents."
"My Auntie Bellatrix?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I-"
Draco shook his head. "We don't speak, so I don't mind. She's a bint anyways."
"What about Dumbledore or someone?" Ginny wondered. "Should we tell them? We are going to need all the help we can get."
"I don't think so," Hermione said after a moment, surprising Ginny. "Harry won't want to be stopped."
The night was strange and restless. Ginny and Draco slept in Seamus's unused bed, and Luna and Hermione slept in Ron's bed, forcing him to share with Neville. If she hadn't of been so nervous, she would have laughed at the two boys lying cautiously on opposite edges of the bed. Dean did laugh, until he figured out why they were all sleeping in the same dorm. "I'll go too then," he said firmly.
"I won't leave you," Harry told them, unconvincingly as he glanced around the room. "You don't need to sleep in here."
"Right," Ron muttered, looking ill each time he glanced towards Ginny and Draco.
"Maybe Luna should sleep with Ron and Hermione should sleep in Harry's bed," Draco suggested. "You might be more comfortable."
"We don't all share your non existent values," Ron snapped, flushing.
"Oh, shut it," Harry murmured. "We might die tomorrow. Let them do what they want."
"Harry's right." Hermione threw back her covers. "Ron, come here."
Ginny gasped and sat up, watching with a grin on her face.
"I suppose this means you want me to get out of the bed," Luna said sleepily.
"No," Hermione shook her head. "It means I'm sleeping with Harry!"
Everyone in the room looked at Ron expectantly, and then began to giggle as Ron darted out of Neville's bed and dove back in his bed next to Luna.
"Whose values were we questioning?" Draco teased.
"Shut it," Hermione told him. "You jumped into bed with Ginny first. Besides, it was your idea."
"Well, if I hear any obscene noises from anyone," Dean threatened, "I'm going to put the body binding curse on everyone!"
After a while, the room grew silent, but Ginny was sure that no one slept very well.
***
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