The Phoenix and Dragon
Chapter 1: May 1990
"Getting to Know You"
With a swoosh a father and daughter emerged from a giant fireplace into a grand hallway of the Ministry of Magic at exactly 8:45am. The young girl of nine, with beautiful red hair in a pony tail, dressed in a professional manner with a gray skirt, a short sleeve white button down shirt that was more egg white in appearance from the years of being handed down from her six older brothers and a pair of black polished Mary Jane shoes. Her hand clutches her father's hand who is walking briskly while saying his "good mornings" to a wide variety of his co-workers who line up to get into the elevators to start their day.
As their turn approaches to the ride the rickety elevator, she hears "Arthur Weasley, don't tell me another one of your children is taking part in the annual 'Bring Your Child to Work Day'?"
Her father, Arthur Weasley, a Ministry employee who this year turned forty works in the Muggle Artifacts Division of MOM answers ever so proudly "Yes, as you know, Amos, my youngest and only girl, Ginevra Molly Weasley. The rest of the boys throughout the years have had their turn. Now that Ginny is going to be nine years old, we thought it would be the perfect time to introduce her to how work life is."
"Arthur that is very good. It is of utmost importance how we present the world to our family. I, myself, am so proud to see my son, Cedric excelling at Hogwarts and is Seeker for the Hufflepuff team." Amos Diggory, a tall, friendly wizard, from a neighboring village near the Weasley's, is also a MOM employee.
"Good to hear Amos, I am sure Cedric has a bright future ahead of him. Fred, George and Ron, I'm sure will enjoy playing Quidditch games with Cedric this summer. Ah, here is our stop, come Ginny. Until later, have a good day, Amos."
As Ginny and Arthur step out of the elevator, they wave their good bye to Amos, Arthur turns the corner and stops. His gaze is directed to a man with long blonde hair dressed in all regal black from top to bottom. He has his arms around a younger version of himself. Clearly the apple doesn't fall from the tree thought Arthur. Arthur moves further down the hall, both men do not acknowledge each other but have sized up the children with the notion of familial prejudices.
Ginny looks over to the blonde boy, he has strange look about him, she can't place it, but has seen the same look in her brother Percy, he tends to look at her and her brothers in a way that makes him feel that he is far better than anyone else. Her eye also catches many other children who have come with their parents for the annual weekly event. Some of the children look friendly enough and a few look like they rather be anywhere else, but her mind goes back to the blonde boy. She wonders if he is allowed to play outside, he doesn't have a hint of color or do they use some sort of charm to keep his skin pale as possible?
"Right, parents thank you for dropping your children. As you know this is a weekly program for youngsters to see what their parents do for a living and how the work world is. Parents, today you may have lunch with your child at 12pm for one hour in the cafeteria, outdoor space or at your desk. After lunch, please drop them off here and you may pick them up at 5pm. However, please note that after today, lunch will be served courtesy of MOM for the rest of the week, pick up time will be 5pm. If there are any issues or concerns, I will personally send a paper airplane to you. I have been wanting to try out our latest communication system. Children, follow me please, parents we will see you at noon."
The children were ushered into a large room with desks set up as their parents in various departments. Each wooden desk has a wooden swivel chair charmed for comfort. All desks had quill, parchment, ink, folders, filing sorters, letter trays, calendar, and a few Muggleoffice supplies as paper clips, staples, and white out. Also as a welcome, a notebook with the MOM stamped on the front cover along with "1990 Annual Bring Your Children to Work Week" in bold stylized letters that swirled with a magical charm.
"Lets start, my name is Alan Rowe, I am the director of the annual employee programs. Please raise your hands as I say your name and a find a desk to sit, this will be your desk for the week." Alan Rowe, a dashing man in his early 30s looked at the list of six ministry employee children's names, he noted that only Draco Malfoy, a young boy of 10 years of age and Ginevra Weasley, a young girl of 9 years of age were the newcomers to the program, the rest of the children had taken part in this program annually. Alan fondly remembered starting his career out as an assistant to the previous director when one of Ginevra's eldest brothers, Charlie was part of the program just after "He Who Must Not Be Named's" down fall almost a decade prior. The program was started to bring a sense of normalcy to MOM and to the Wizarding world, as well as to introduce children to a bright future after those very trying dark days.
The only desk available for Ginny just happened to be next to Draco Malfoy's. As per Alan's instructions, the children were to introduce themselves to the person sitting next to them as they would be their work partners for the remainder of the week. Ginny noted that the boy had no expression whatsoever, not even a smile when Ginny initially sat down at her desk. She was curious as what would make this boy crack a smile, she was always a determined girl and being part of a large family it naturally made her want to make things fun, light and interesting.
"Hi, my name is Ginevra Weasley, but my friend's call me Ginny," she said with a radiant smile.
"My name is Draco Malfoy, and I knew you were a Weasley. Father had warned me that one of you lot would be here," answered Draco without an ounce of emotion and barely looked her way.
"What do you mean 'you lot' and how does your father know us?" She was completely baffled, she had never heard anyone talk like this, not even Percy, she was trying to keep herself in check, she maybe fun, but Ginny was far from timid.
"Well, let's see you have red hair, freckles, second hand things, you are part of a litter and one of you would be here for a handout". Draco once again spoke in the previous manner.
"Handout? Do you even know me or know us? As far as I can see, I am not the only one here so I guess, you also in need of a handout." Ginny was losing her patience with this kid, who did he think he was.
"You know, I thought you were pretty cool, but I guess, I am wrong. You sound like my brother, Percy who repeats things he has read from books and thinks that people will just guess that he thought of it himself. Are you just repeating what your father said? I'd say you need to think for yourself for a change, it's really good for you, you know." Ginny turned around, very disappointed.
Draco on the other hand was taken back by her frankness and yes, she hit the nail on the head. He had no clue what he was talking about, he just repeated what his father had said to his mother that morning. He thought it sound refined and exactly what an heir should sound like. In actuality, he had noticed Ginny with her own father. He found her intriguing, she seemed shy, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her demeanor. He wanted to know more about her, however, that had changed when their fathers did not acknowledge each other. He promptly recalled his parent's conversation about the Weasleys. In order to kill his interest, he set out to be rude to her and it turned out she was not afraid him, she did not care who he was and she put him into place.
"May I have your attention everyone? Good, excellent," said Alan looking around the room, he continued, "The next few days you will be visiting various departments to fully understand how each office functions within the Ministry of Magic. I have prepared a special assignment for each team of two on Thursday, the team that will finish the assignment with the best marks will get a very rare chance to visit the "Love Chamber" on Friday afternoon. You will be accompanied by an Unspeakable who has a specific task to attend to in the room. Ok, class, looks like its lunch time, please see that your parent is outside the room and follow them. I will see you in one hour."
There was a murmur throughout the room about the Love Chamber before departing for lunch. Of course, all the children knew about the special room, the chamber was guarded by Unspeakables and only Special Guests or High Ranking Employees were allowed to enter. The Love Chamber held not only a large fountain with an extremely strong love potion but stone benches to study and view objects that symbolized love from different cultures.
Ginny left the room without a glance at Draco, she found her father outside waiting for her and glimpsed that Draco's father was not too far. Arthur took Ginny to his office where Molly had prepared their favorite ham and cheese sandwiches. Arthur's desk was filled with assorted Muggle objects and many family photos moving about in different frames. Ginny noted that the newest photos were from Arthur's fortieth birthday including one with the whole Weasley clan and one with just Molly and Arthur looking lovingly at each other. Ginny knew how her parents had met at Hogwarts and that they married fairly early and quickly started a family. She was happy to see her parents looking so in love even after so long. Ginny had also heard about their struggles during the days of "You Know Who" with a growing family and financial issues.
"Dad, why did you mum and decide to get married and have a large family?", Ginny questioned her father after sitting quietly for some time.
"What a strange question, GinBug?", asked a very curious Arthur. He continued after some thought, "Well I suppose we were madly in love, we just wanted to be together after our graduation from Hogwarts. The world was very different then and we didn't know who was going to make it out okay. So, we decided that why not start our lives together and see where life takes us. I am happy where we are and how we came about as a family. Family is very important to me and I want all my children to have the love that your mum and I have. We are very lucky indeed!"
Ginny was happy to hear to this and questioned "But, how do you know if someone is right person for you?"
"These are interesting questions, Ginny. I am glad you are asking them. Love between two people is about respect, acceptance, trust and affection. Oh, don't get me wrong, you will have your disagreements, after all two people will have their own opinions and thought and how you handle those things is what makes a relationship work. If the person loves you for you, not if you were slightly taller or with any changes then that person isn't for you. However, if that person encourages you directly or even indirectly to be a better version of yourself, now that's something. We are here to learn and grow as people, we have magic but that's not the most important thing. I hope you find someone who will love you for you and that you will love that person just the same. If someone wants to be with you for any other reasons, that person is not for you. You are not an idea, you are not an illusion, prize or an end result," said Arthur looking directly into his daughter's eyes. He didn't have many opportunities to connect with his children one on one, but this annual event was best time to sit and listen to each of his children.
"Ok, dad, I understand. But, can I ask you, who are the Malfoys and why do think they know us? You have never mentioned them to me and this boy said some weird things to me about our family. Who are they?", Ginny asked eating her sandwich and muling over what her dad was speaking about. But, she just couldn't get the blonde boy out of her head.
Arthur looked angry, he knew that Lucius must have filled his son's head with some nonsense about his family and lack of money. "Ginny, the Malfoys are a well to do family who only look at a person from the outside and not the inside. They don't care if the person was bad or good but how much value they carry such as who their friends are, what clothes they wear, where they shop, how big is their house, which parties they attend and how much money they have. They are not interested in knowing you as a person but only what you can bring to them to take advantage of. I suggest you stay away from them and the Malfoy boy. I know he is part of the program. He was never here before, but I am not sure why now. Lucius must want to show that he is capable of having his heir mingle with the rest of us."
Ginny wasn't too happy to hear this but noted to her dad, "That's exactly what I told him! He's my partner this week, the last seat happened to be next to him so I am stuck with him I guess. I will keep what you said in mind, dad."
"Yes, Ginny, work with him, but don't expect anything or much. But, you are a great person, I am sure you will leave an impression on that the boy. Ah, look at the time, let's get you back," said Arthur with a smile but trepidation in his heart.
Tuesday had come around at the Ministry, most of the departments had the rotation of the children visiting and asking various questions about job functions and department procedures. Work partners worked together to perform a particular task or challenges for the specific departments to understand the functionality of the office.
Draco had realized that in order for him to do well and make this father happy, he needed to show that he was part of the team. He wanted to be praised and to do so was to work well even if he had to work with a Weasley. However, he quickly figured out that Ginny is a force to be reckoned with. She understood the various departments roles, job positions and how MOM functioned better than many in their class. He was slightly glad to be paired up with her. He did get the feeling that Ginny was now keeping her distance, she probably spoke to her father about him. Once he realized this, he actually wanted to know her better. He wondered if he didn't speak the way he did on the first day would she consider being his friend, not just because he was a Malfoy but because of him, but then again the fleeting thought was burned instantly. I couldn't careless, he thought again.
Ginny for her part was truly enjoying herself even if she was partnered with this unpleasant kid. Even though he didn't say much, they did the tasks assigned together in a cordial manner. Ginny really did want to know him more, there was just something about this boy. She found him to be smart, funny, almost caring and then not so a second later, it was very odd, indeed.
By Wednesday afternoon, both Draco and Ginny were getting on so well, that they were addressing themselves simply as "Draco" and "Ginny" with friendliness and familiarity. They also agreed to put in a true effort on Thursday's final challenge so that could win and visit the elusive MOM chamber.
On Thursday morning, all the teams were focused at the task at hand and working on various MOM departmental assignments and exercises. The challenges were designed to test their skills, intelligence and thought process that could possibly help them in their future MOM careers.
While waiting for their results and having lunch, both Draco's and Ginny's mind wandered to what would become of them after this week. Would they remain friends by Owling each other; could they have floo calls; could they meet up somehow; was any of this even possible?
They didn't say much to each other after the final challenge, both were in deep thought along the same lines of wanting to know each other better, to be friends and to even be close as possible. They found each other to have similar sense of humor, Draco's a bit more biting but funny. They also had a competitive streak and came from loving families even though some people had more than a few negative ideas about each family that were all based on rumors. Ginny had let go of Draco's comments from earlier that week to just a misunderstanding on his part. Draco had a great opportunity to voice his own thoughts and opinions and did not mention anything adverse about her or her family. He decided that she was different from the rest of her family who he had never met.
Alan had called the class to attention to reveal the results, he noted that how each child looked excited and nervous to find out who would be the winners. Alan, removed two pieces of paper and said, "This week's final challenge and overall winners are Ginevra Weasley and Draco Malfoy. You two are the lucky ones to visit the Love Chamber late morning tomorrow after our farewell breakfast. I just wanted to say that it has been a pleasure to have the six of you this year, you did very well and understood the job positions of not only your parents but every employee that makes MOM work well for the Wizarding world. I will all see you tomorrow. Thank you."
"Yes, we did it! I am so glad we were partnered up, you are so smart, Ginny, you really are," Draco said with excitement.
Ginny was blushing, she never had heard a compliment from anyone but her family, she smilingly said, "Thanks. You were so good too, we couldn't have won without you remembering so many things. I guess, we better head out and find our dads. I'll see you tomorrow."
After the farewell breakfast the following day, Alan lead Draco and Ginny down the many halls of MOM with its twists and turns to come to a large ornate steel door with an archway in the shape of a heart. An Unspeakable was waiting for them who was dressed in a very Muggle way with a tanned trench coat that had a checkered pattern on the inside of the coat. As he was an Unspeakable, his name was not mentioned by himself or by Alan to the new visitors.
"Hello there, so good to see you again. Here are the two winners from the 'Annual Take Your Child To Work Week'. Kids, be on your best behavior, you are not to touch anything, walk closely to the Unspeakable and follow him as he completes his task in the chamber. Draco, Ginny, I wish you both good luck and it was nice working with you." Alan leaves to attend to his work that has been piling up since Monday, he has arranged for the remaining children to return home and Ministry elves to clean up the room they used for the program.
At this point, the Unspeakable said very sternly, "Well, kids, follow me, as mentioned by Alan, do not touch anything, we don't know the powers that many objects in the chamber hold, they are all positioned in various manner, so best to walk behind me and to keep your hands to your sides. You both are getting a very rare chance to come this room, the usual annual challenge winners end up with a small gift, but I guess they wanted add more excitement to the program. Anyhow, follow me."
The Unspeakable waved his wand in an intricate manner to open the heavy set door, he walked in with the children nervously walking behind him. The room was long and narrow with benches, tables, shelves, and other furniture to hold love objects from different cultures from various parts of the world. They passed by a black and gold beaded necklace resting a bust of a woman, it said it was the first of such necklaces from a region in India that was used for a woman to symbolize that she was married. As they continued to walk behind the Unspeakable, they came across other pieces of jewelry, first edition books such as Homer's Odyssey, William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, A Guide to Making Durable Love Potions by M.R.C. Vane, The Songs of the Enchanting Mermaids by Y.S. Lovegood . Also in the distance they could see the fountain that held the Amortenia potion.
The Unspeakable had suddenly stopped and turned, held his hands up so that the children could wait. While they stood still for the Unspeakable to finish his task, somehow they had both walked towards a beautiful three legged wooden table that held a glass bowl. The glass bowl had swirling gold liquid, it looked like a dragon and a phoenix were encircling each other in the bowl. As the pair got closer, the symbols were getting larger and were reflecting off of them. Draco noted after looking at Ginny in her sky blue flowered colored summer dress, with her red hair cascading down her shoulders that she looked like a beautiful phoenix. He wanted to touch her hair, place his hands on her shoulder and just move her hair behind so that he can fully see her face. He wanted to know her better, wanted to so hold her, be a true friend to her and share something deeper.
Ginny at the same moment looked at Draco, he was dressed casually, it looked like he had put some original thought into his outfit today instead of wearing whatever his parents had selected for him. She realized that he is just like his name, a dragon. As Charlie who had started working with dragons, he had mentioned to her that dragons at first impression are very nasty, however as one gets to know them they are the complete opposite. They have their moments of being gentle and caring, and they can be your fiercest protector and cheerleader. She knew that Draco was just like what Charlie had described about real dragons. She felt within these moments the sense to know him better, wanting to hold him and be with him as a true friend and have something deeper with him.
As they were sharing the very same thoughts, they had reached for each other's hands and embraced, but somehow, the glass bowl crashed and the liquid spilled around them. The gold liquid began to rise in the shape of a phoenix and dragon, a gold ribbon swirled and encircled the pair and they both fell to the floor unconscious near a small puddle of liquid gold. The strange phenomena had lasted for five minutes.
"What do you mean, you had no idea what was happening? They were your responsibility Reynolds, what kind of an Unspeakable are you? Completely incompetent, you will not last here long, mark my words!" The voice of Lucius Malfoy woke Ginny from her slumber, she couldn't comprehend what was occurring. She vaguely saw Lucius Malfoy's form pacing and then she turned her head to the right to see her father crouching next to her. She then turned to her left and saw Draco still laying on the floor. She wanted to reach out to him, but couldn't out of fear.
"Malfoy, let's first hear what happened instead of going off on Reynolds, he was here doing his job and the children are grown up enough to follow directions, well at least mine is," said Arthur condescendingly.
Lucius stopped his pacing at that moment and narrowed his eyes to Arthur to say, "And what does that mean, Weasley? Your runt here could have done something to hurt my heir."
"Don't you dare speak about my daughter or any of my children in that manner, Malfoy. My daughter has more brains put together than that boy of yours," said Arthur fumingly.
Alan came along to speak to both fathers before something else occurred in this chamber. "Sirs, please, let us figure out calmly what happened. Oh, it looks like the children are coming back to their senses. Ginny, what happened?"
Ginny answered very apprehensively, "I am not sure, we were walking with the Unspeakable, not touching anything as we were told not to and when he asked us to wait, we did. Somehow we saw this table with a glass bowl that had a dragon and phoenix following each other…that's all I remember. I don't know about Draco, but that's it." Of course that wasn't it, Ginny was so fearful that she didn't mention the thoughts she was having during that time or being embraced like she never had before.
Draco was shocked at Ginny's account of the incident, he clearly remembered everything, he recalled looking at Ginny and having a heartfelt embrace as one he never had before. He was getting upset with what she was not saying, he turned from her looking hurt and angry. Ginny noticed his look, she too was getting upset since Draco never spoke up. For Ginny, the feeling that Draco may not have remembered those moments was enough to make up her mind to never speak the incident again.
Reynolds approached the group with some other ministry officials, he stated "We have made a full length report of what happened this morning. We are lucky that the contents of the bowl and the bowl itself are intact. This gold liquid is from a gold mine that is the primary source for a group of women who create gold jewelry pieces that have a dragon and phoenix motifs. I understand that they use it for young people of marriageable age to find a right partner, it is part of an ancient Feng Shui custom in China that we were studying for its effects in matters of the heart." He looked around at children and noticed a few details, but kept those to himself, however and continue, "A little bit of the gold liquid that was found near the children has been collected in this vial and will be attached to the report."
This was the last time that both Ginny and Draco were together, for better part of the year each remembered the moments they shared, each missing the other and their company. A chance encounter few years later at Flourish & Boots prior to Ginny's first year in Hogwarts was the only time they met outside of their school years. It was also the day where Ginny stood up for Harry Potter against Draco's behavior at the book store. Draco was not happy with Ginny's reaction, a rift became bigger for him on all levels.
As a result of the incident in the Love Chamber, the Chamber was locked permanently by Albus Dumbledore as per Minister Cornelius Fudge's request. The "Bring Your Child To Work Week" program was terminated as Alan Rowe quit his job in protest after the firing of Unspeakable Reynolds by way of Lucius Malfoy's complaints and threats.