Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. None of it. Well, maybe the plot….but that's it!

September 21st

Ginny sat down and took out her potions book and looked at the chalkboard where Snape

had written the assignment. The class was to read chapters 4 -8 and then do the exercises

at the end of each chapter. As Ginny had a photographic memory (only Fred and George

knew about it), she had finished the assignment within 20 minutes. She walked up to

Snape's desk and handed him the parchment with the exercise questions.

"What do you want me to do next Professor?"

As all the Professors were used to Ginny practically being top of the class, Snape barely glanced up, "Since chapter seven deals with the illegal serums and potions, everyone will be receiving a project. Go back to your seat and I will announce it shortly."

Nodding, Ginny went to sit back down. Snape actually considered Ginny his second best, if not THE best student in all his potion classes. Her memory as well as her logical understanding of the art of potion making was remarkable. Too bad she was not in Slytherin. He mused. Finishing grading his papers, he looked up at the class to see Ginny sitting at her desk, smirking at him, and twiddling her thumbs. She REALLY should have been a Slytherin he chuckled to himself. Snape stood up to address the class…

"I assume you have all finished your required reading, if not, then that will be an addition to your homework tonight." Snape smirked as half the class groaned. "You will pair up with another student to work on a research project. Your topic will be given to you and you will come up with two potions in regards to that topic. One of these potions will be common to many, while the other is illegal. I expect a 12-inch parchment on a comparison of these two potions, whether similar or dissimilar it is your choice, but you will hand in one bottle of each potion of which you have brewed yourselves, yes, including the illegal one. Dumbledore has agreed and you will be supervised in the brewing process of both. When you have received your topic, you will discuss with your partner what potions you would like to brew. If you need to research the topic, as I am sure you will," Snape smirked, "You have until tomorrow's class to choose. Once you have decided, you will tell me the chosen potions, and I will schedule a time for you to come here and brew them. You will be given 4 months to complete it, and I have personally chosen your partners already." Hermione huffed as she let go of Harry's arm that she had latched on to when Snape had first mentioned partners. "When I call your name, you are to come up to my desk. I will give you your topic and your partner's name. Go find them and start your project."

Ginny was curious as to what kind of topic he might give her. She loved potions in general, but was not excited to see what Snape had in mind for her partner. She trusted him as far as being a Professor went, but when it came to his classes idiosyncrasies, he never seemed to have a clue. She tended to be paired with either Neville or Malfoy. And she never understood why. Neville was sweet, but a klutz, while Malfoy was arrogant and self-centered. At least he was not making crass comments as he was before. Wait….he technically never made any comments at me. They were usually centered on the Trio. He hasn't said anything regarding me. Huh…

Glancing up at the time, Ginny started packing up her things to prep to leave when a shadow fell over her table. She looked up straight into Malfoy's piercing silvery eyes. He was staring at her intently and Ginny saw a tiny little quirk at the corner of his mouth. He handed her a small piece of parchment with the word DREAMS on it.

"Looks like we're partners." He smirked.

Ginny sat in her chair in the Great Hall; she smiled at her friends. Sighing, she started filling her plate. Luna looked up from her Quibbler, "What's wrong Ginny?"

Ginny shrugged, "A little bit of everything. I was paired with Malfoy again in Potions today; this time for a research project for dreams. I do not know why professor Snape pairs me with him. He knows our families hate each other."

"You hate Malfoy?"

"Well, not really, our families hate each other. He's never really done anything to me specifically."

Luna nodded, "Perhaps he's trying to instill House Unity. I heard Professors McGonagall and Flitwick talking about it. There are more fights this year than any other."

Neville laughed, "I know! This morning in Charms, a Ravenclaw had it out with a Hufflepuff. Can you believe it? Those two Houses almost never fight."

"So the Hogwarts social strata as we know it is coming to an end with fights abound? Bullocks! I didn't bring enough film for this!" Colin exclaimed.

Ginny chuckled, "I guess so." She ate quickly; she had a free period next and wanted to get a head start in the library. By the time Malfoy's name was called and met her at her desk they only had a few minutes until the end of class. They decided that since they both had free periods after lunch that they would meet up in the library and decide what potions to use then. She finished and packed up her bag.

"Have an important date Gin?" Hermione sneered from partway down the table.

Ginny paused and turned to face her. "Jealous?" she smirked.

"Please… I have no need for boys when I have a man."

"Now, now, let's not bring your father into this…" Neville, Colin and Luna broke out laughing.

Hermione shrieked in outrage and stood up, knocking over her chair in the process. "You little bitch! I have the highest marks out of every student here!"

"No Hermione," Ginny said coldly, "You used to have the highest marks. Perhaps if you would take your snotty nose out of Harry's arse once in a while you would see that I already out mark you in every subject." Smirking again, Ginny turned on her heels and strode out of the Hall. All the while the rest of the students where in gales of laughter and clapping at Hermione's bright red face.

Ginny dumped her bag on the table at the very back of the library and pulled out her potions book. Flipping through, she tried to find any references to potions for dreams. Not finding much there, she got up, went to the shelves, and started browsing. A throat cleared behind her, and she glanced back. "You're early." She said stunned.

"So are you." Draco smirked. "Nice shot at Granger by the way. I'm impressed."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Gee thanks, now my life is complete…I've impressed a Malfoy."

"Call me Draco."

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked, stunned again.

"Call…me…Draco." He leaned against one shelf and crossed his arms. Ginny could not help but notice the fabric pull tightly over his muscular chest, his arms toned from Quidditch.

"No thank you." She said and turned back to the books.

Draco sighed, "If we're going to be partners on this little endeavor, we might as well be civil and call each other by our first names."

Ginny frowned, "Ok, who are you, and what have you done with Malfoy?" she demanded.

"Fine, we'll play it your way." He drawled, went to stand directly at her back, and said in a low velvety voice, "But believe me, by the end of this project, I'll have you saying my name."

"In your dreams Malfoy."

He just smirked and went to browse the books on the other shelf.

Time wound up too quickly for Ginny, she and Malfoy had finally picked out their potions for the project. They chose for the legal potion, the Eradico Somnium (a variation of the dreamless sleep), it eliminates dreams all together, and for the illegal, the Somnium Socius potion. Ginny had actually never heard of it. Malfoy brought a permission slip from Professor Snape and gave it to Madam Pince so that they could look at the restricted section for the illegal potions. He came out with this huge dusty tomb, and they flipped through until they found one that they could brew within the allotted time given. It supposedly merged two people into the same dream. The person who took the potion (the Giver) would in essence "control" the dream, while the second (the Receiver – designated by a strand of their hair put into the potion) would be joined with them. The Givers would use it to pull the Receivers into a dream, generally a nightmare and/or kill them. The Receivers could not control or change it, and after a certain amount of time (usually about a month); they would go mad. If they died in their dream, their soul would move on leaving behind an empty shell. It was known as one of the tactics Death Eaters used to get many of their victims. Good God, No wonder the Ministry has put multiple banns on it! Ginny thought, shocked.

They packed up their bags and Malfoy nodded to her as he left for the Slytherin Common Room. Ginny went off to her last class for the day.