A/N: I began this fic long ago when I was young and naïve. Now that I'm older (and probably more naïve) I'm here to finish it. For those who don't know – which is most of you at this point, I'd expect – this story is a take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I won't follow the plot exactly (the falling in love part will hopefully be much more believable, for example), but be prepared for a few major character deaths down the road. In the meantime, know that this takes place while the Trio is still at school. I'm ignoring everything that happens in the actual books involving Voldemort after Prisoner of Azkaban, so keep in mind that life has been pretty normal for everyone up until this, their seventh and final year at Hogwarts…

Saint-Seducing Gold

or

The Tragedy of Draco and Ginny

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Slytherin } Hogwarts House founded by Salazar Slytherin

Gryffindor } Hogwarts House founded by Godric Gryffindor

Lucius Malfoy, former Slytherin with a longstanding enmity with Arthur Weasley

Arthur Weasley, former Gryffindor with a longstanding enmity with Lucius Malfoy

Draco, a seventh year Slytherin, and son of Lucius Malfoy

Blaise Zabini, a seventh year Slytherin, and friend to Draco

Pansy Parkinson, a seventh year Slytherin, and friend to Draco

Vincent Crabbe, a seventh year Slytherin, and crony of Draco

Gregory Goyle, a seventh year Slytherin, and crony of Draco

Severus Snape, Potions professor, and Head of Slytherin House

Ginny, a sixth year Gryffindor, and daughter of Arthur Weasley

Luna Lovegood, a sixth year Ravenclaw, and friend to Ginny

Ron Weasley, a seventh year Gryffindor, and brother of Ginny

Hermione Granger, a seventh year Gryffindor, and friend to Ginny

Harry Potter, a seventh year Gryffindor at Hogwarts, the Boy Who Lived

Narcissa Malfoy, wife of Lucius Malfoy, and mother to Draco

Molly Weasley, wife of Arthur Weasley, and mother to Ginny

SCENE – Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Scotland

PROLOGUE

We Lay Our Scene

"Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?"

"The simmering feud between Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley has reached its boiling point. After arguing about an as yet unknown subject, the two wizards came to blows in the office of the Minister of Magic yesterday. No one from the Ministry has offered an official account of what happened, but those who were present told this reporter that both wizards had to be restrained from carrying out further damage with their wands.

"This fight happens on the eve of Hogwarts' students return for the new school year. As many of our readers know, tensions between Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses reached an all-time high last year when over a dozen students were involved in a violent brawl that sent over half of them to the infirmary. Several of those students were withdrawn by their parents, and Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, has still refused to grant this paper an interview on the topic.

"One can only imagine what the new school year might bring these students when their parents are holding brawls in the Ministry itself…"

"Did you see Draco Malfoy?"

A low whistle pierced through the fog of Luna's reading. She lowered her copy of The Daily Prophet to watch Padma Patil arch her eyebrows at Lisa Turpin across the table.

"Don't tell me you fancy that low-life Slytherin scum," Padma replied with a combination of shock and derision that Luna found interesting. She hadn't realized the mention of Draco Malfoy was worthy of such emotion.

Lisa shrugged and turned a dreamy gaze up to the star-strewn ceiling of the Great Hall.

"I'm just saying – that boy looks good. Like he went to Saint-Tropez for the summer holiday or something."

Luna turned to look at the Slytherin table, but Draco was nowhere to be seen. She turned her attention back to Lisa, now smiling sweetly at Padma.

"Besides, I don't have a sister in Gryffindor. What do I care if he's a Slytherin?"

Luna fluttered her paper. "Draco's father starts fist fights in the Ministry," she announced.

The other two girls gave her sharp looks. They must have forgotten she was sitting there. Luna didn't mind that so much – most people forgot about her – but had they even listened? She showed them the article she was reading.

Lisa and Padma glanced at each other and then looked at the photograph Luna had her finger on. The three of them watched Lucius Malfoy lunge at Arthur Weasley. Mr. Malfoy's long blonde hair whipped through the hair and Mr. Weasley's eyes widened and then narrowed.

Padma barked an ugly laugh.

"See, Lisa? Even Loony thinks the Malfoys are a menace."

Lisa rolled her eyes.

"You take petty rivalries too seriously," she told Padma. "You're practically a Gryffindor, for Merlin's sake."

The two of them peered at the Slytherin table together, already dismissing Luna. Luna looked about for wrackspurts or maybe a blibbering humdinger. Maybe Padma had been cursed by some passing pernicious pixie…?

"And now that we are all full and happy, I have a few important announcements."

Luna looked at Professor Dumbledore along with everyone else in the Great Hall. He launched into his typical start of the year speech. As she was now in her sixth year, Luna had heard it all before. She let her thoughts drift as she stared up at the Headmaster. She hoped this year would be better than last year; she was very tired of people stealing her things and calling her Loony. She recalled Padma's comment from a minute ago and sighed.

"…out of the Forbidden Forest. It carries that name for very good reasons."

Luna started listening again as she noticed Professor Hagrid touch a large purple bruise on his forehead with a rueful smile.

When she glanced back at Professor Dumbledore, she was surprised to find a strange, sad look on his face. It reminded her a bit of the way Daddy had looked after her mother died.

"Now…" Dumbledore's voice took on a gravity that stilled the Great Hall to silence. "My last word is about something I wish I did not have to address."

His blue eyes pierced through each of the students sitting before him. Everyone was so still that Luna wondered if maybe he had been taking lessons from a basilisk.

"For all of our returning students, I must remind you that the incidents of last year have not been forgotten. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated at this school. Heads of Houses will report any such incidents directly to me to be dealt with."

The sad look took on an edge of anger – something Luna was not sure she had ever seen on the Headmaster's face before.

"The fact that I have already had to deal with several students tonight is worrisome. Be warned now: I am no longer inclined to be lenient on this matter."

The silence in the hall broke into startled whispers. Luna suddenly noticed gaps in the students sitting at the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. Who was missing…? She didn't see Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, or Harry Potter. And over at the Slytherin table Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, and… Draco Malfoy.

She thought she understand the look on Dumbledore's face now.

As her eyes roved back over to the Gryffindor table, she met the gaze of her friend, Ginny Weasley. She quite liked Ginny. The other girl often stuck up for her when the even the Ravenclaws teased her. Ginny gave Luna a little wave and turned back to listen to Dumbledore, but not before Luna saw the worry the other girl was trying so hard to mask.

Ginny, worried? Luna's world shifted. A shiver danced down her spine as she remembered the words from The Daily Prophet.

Just what would the new school year bring...?