Snape's Room in the Basement

Ginny walked slowly away from the dungeons. Her feet carrying her automatically towards the Gryffindor common room. She felt like her veins had been filled with ice water. Her mind was numb with panic. Flashes of Snape and the things he had said chilled her even more.

"….just wanted you to know before it's too late."

"…you will hate me."

"…Goodbye Ginny."

Her mind rebelled against this the most. It had seemed so final, as if he were saying 'Goodbye' forever. She was jolted out of her trance when a shoulder bumped roughly against hers. Glancing up she was surprised to see that the hallway was littered with students, many dressed only in their night clothes.

"What's happening?" She asked a young Ravenclaw.

"Death Eaters. There are Death Eaters in the Castle." The girl's eyes were wide with panic.

Ginny began running; her eye's scanning the hallways.

"Hermione!" She called out when she saw Luna and Hermione coming towards her.

"Here drink this." Hermione panted, thrusting a small potions bottle in her hand.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, quickly swallowing the contents.

"Felix Felicis. Harry told us to drink a little if anything should happen while he's out with Dumbledore."

"Where are they?"

"I don't know." Hermione was rubbing at a stitch in her side. "Professor McGonagall sent us to get Snape. There are Death Eater's in the Castle."

"So it's true? Ginny gasped. "Snape's not in his office." She glanced nervously at Luna. "I, uhhhh, saw him headed down the hall."

"Come on then." Hermione turned and ran back the way they had come with Luna and Ginny close on her heels. Ginny pulled out her wand; she could hear the sounds of fighting ahead of her.

Turning the corner she saw Lupin, Tonks and Professor McGonagall dueling with several large Death Eaters, curses and hexes flew everywhere.

Stepping next to Tonks, Ginny cried out "Protego" knocking a large Death Eater back against the Castle wall. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a short, fat Death Eater aiming a curse in her direction. Spinning on her heels she deflected the red stream of light away with a shield charm and threw out a curse of her own.

The fat little Death Eater threw curse after curse at Ginny. She raised her wand to curse him again, when he was suddenly blasted away from her. He fell heavily to the floor, unconscious. Turning around she stared directly into the face Harry Potter, he was wild eyed and panting.

"Did they come through here?" He gasped.

"Who?"

"Draco and Snape. Snape's killed Dumbledore." Harry glanced quickly around. His face darkened and he took off running towards the front of the castle.

Ginny's eyes followed him, catching just a glimpse of black robes disappearing around the corner with Harry hot on the trail.

"No." Ginny shook her head as the remaining Death Eaters lowered their wands and ran towards the front of the Castle.

With her mind numb with shock, Ginny followed students and teachers down the long hallway and out the front doors of the castle. Pushing her way to the front she gazed down at the body lying spread eagle at the foot of the tower. Professor Dumbledore's arms and legs looked broken and unnatural.

"No." Ginny whispered, tears streaming down her face. A warm hand lightly touched her shoulder.

"Professor McGonagall wants us in the hospital wing." Hermione said softly. "I'll get Harry."

Ginny blinked her tear filled eyes. She hadn't realized that Harry had returned and was now kneeling next to Dumbledore's body.

For Ginny it was all too much to take in. When they had reached the hospital wing she learned that her brother Bill had been bitten by Greyback, his face a bloody and ruined mess. And to hear that Harry had witnessed Snape, her lover, killing Dumbledore was almost more then she could bear. Her mind was in a haze as she listened to the voices swirling around her.

"…..Dumbledore begged him not to."

"…..But he was on our side."

"…..we all wondered, but Dumbledore trusted him, wouldn't hear a word against him."

Ginny's fog lifted when she heard Professor McGonagall ask Harry to come to her office. Rushing forward she grabbed Harry by the arm.

"What did Dumbledore say to Snape, right before he…?" Her voice trailed off.

"What difference does it make Ginny?" Harry's voice was flat.

"I don't know." A sob caught in Ginny's throat. "It just does."

"He said "Severus, please." Harry turned and followed Minerva from the room.

Ginny walked blindly to the girl's lavatory and pushed open the door. She was splashing cool water on her face, when she heard a soft voice behind her.

"Are you okay?"

Ginny shook her head and stared down at the sink.

"You were with him just before…" A gentle hand touched her shoulder. "Did he say anything?

Ginny turned to face Hermione, tears streaming down her face. "He told me that he loved me and that he needed me to know that before it was too late. He said he wished he could just take me and run away and never look back. And he said…" Her voice cracked with a sob. "He said he didn't want me to hate him."

"So he knew. He planned it." Hermione whispered.

"No." Ginny shook her head frantically. "You didn't see him Hermione. He looked ill, he was crying. He said…he said he didn't want to do it but he'd made promises."

"To Lord Voldemort…"

"I don't know." Ginny rubbed her hands across her face in frustration. "I don't know. He's always asked me to believe in him. That no matter what, he needed me to believe in him. He said his role in this war had been assigned to him long ago and he couldn't do anything to change it. He said his life was controlled by promises that he'd made and debts he owed."

"Do you still believe in him?"

Ginny bit her lip, trying to stop the tears that were streaming down her face. "He told me that I should feel however I feel, but to always remember that he loves me. He said 'Goodbye' like we'd never see each other again." She broke down, sobbing loudly

Hermione stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her crying friend. Whispering soft, comforting words, she held her while she wept.