"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a new school year," Professor Dumbledore
said to the school from his spot at the high table. "I hope that
everybody's summer was good?" Silent murmurs of " yes' " and " no's " went
around the room. "Even though everybody already knows," he looked at
Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "the forbidden forest is forbidden. Now onto
more exciting news, for Muggle Studies class this year there will be a
field trip. Not all the students will go on it, actually only two will. I
don't have all the information on it right now so you'll just have to hear
about it in class. Now on to the feast."
* * *
Ginny Weasley ran down the hallway at top speed. She was late for Muggle Studies and was facing up to 10 points off Gryffindor and a detention. As she slid around a corner she ran into someone. That someone was none other that Draco Malfoy.
"What's the hurry Weasel? Gonna be late for class?" Draco drawled.
"For you information, even though it's none of your business, yes I am going to be late if you don't get out of my way."
Temper, temper. If you haven't noticed the bell went off five minutes ago. But don't let me hold you up, even though I must say this conversation was most excruciating. Catch ya later Gin."
He smirked and walked away. Ginny just stared at his retreating back. Slowly she walked down the corridor into her classroom.
"And where might I ask have you been Miss Weasley?" Professor (A/N: Is there a Muggle Studies Professor mentioned?) asked.
"I'm sorry I'm late Professor, somebody knocked me down in the hallway and my stuff spilt all over the place," Ginny half lied and half told the truth.
"Well than I hope you can face the consequences. Stay back after class and I will tell you your punishment," she said, then bringing her attention back to the rest of the class. "As I was saying the "field trip" that Professor Dumbledore was talking about this morning will be one student in this class and one in my seventh year class. The two students will travel to a school in the United States of America. When they leave their wands will be taken away from them and they will live in a non-magic community. I am pleased to announce that I know who one of the people that are going is, but I am not going to tell anyone but that person until tomorrow morning. Now even though class isn't even half over I will let you go early. But if I hear from another teacher that you have misbehaved than I will personally see to it that you get detention for the rest of your life. Have a nice day. Miss Weasley, come up here."
"I'm really sorry that I was late Professor but I…"
"It's fine Virginia."
"What?"
"Your punishment will to be one of the people to go on the trip," she said.
"What? I don't know that much about the muggle world, I…"
"That is the point of the trip. It's for a witch and a wizard to become adjusted to living in the muggle world if they have to. Tell me Virginia, have you ever lived with muggles?"
"No," was her reply.
"Well, that just about sums it up. You will leave on September 5th. I will bring you tomorrow to get clothing. You can't possibly go in your school robes. Now go off and get ready for your next class and meet me here tomorrow morning at 9:00 sharp. Oh, I almost forgot that you have to wear muggle clothes."
Ginny sulked out of the room up to the Gryffindor common room to get ready for potions.
* * *
"Mr. Malfoy, please pay attention in my class, unless you would rather have detention? How would that sound to you?" His teachers stern voice brought him back to reality.
"Sorry professor, it won't happen again," he mumbled.
"Good. CD's are a way for muggle children… blah blah blah. Blah blah blah."
Will the bell just ring already? I need to see Professor Snape about that dreamless sleep draught, Draco thought.
"Mr. Malfoy? Mr. Malfoy what is the answer to the question that I just asked you?"
"Um… I didn't quite catch what you said Professor."
"Right. Class dismissed. Draco, please come up here."
"Yes Professor?"
"I worry about you. You hardly ever pay attention in my class anymore. You space out and I'm afraid that you will fail if you keep this up. That is why I have taken the initiative to send you on the muggle studies trip to America."
"WHAT?"
"I know that it seems… out of place, but it will earn you high marks in all your classes. Are you alright Draco you look a little pale?"
There was a noticeable difference in his skin color. If it was ever possible to make his fare complexion paler… she just did it.
You and the other student that is going will meet me tomorrow morning at 9:00 in this room. We need to get you some muggle clothes, and an identity from the ministry saying that you have gone to different muggle high schools before, or else they might get suspicious. I am hoping that you two will be civil to each other but Slytherins and Gryffindors don't naturally get along now do they?"
"He's a Gryffindor?"
"She," she corrected.
"Great! I always wanted to be best friends with a Gryffindor!" He said sarcastically.
"Just be here tomorrow morning at 9:00 and wear muggle clothes."
* * *
"I'm here professor," Ginny said.
"You're the Gryffindor she was talking about?" Draco drawled from a chair by their professor's desk. He had his feet up under him in an Indian style.
"Do you think that I'm blessed to be working with you?"
"Children, don't start fighting. We got a lot to do today and you need all the energy that you can get. Now are you ready to go?"
"Yes," they both said at the same time.
"Lets go school shopping!" Their professor said excitedly.
* * *
"Ginny it looks great on you," her professor said encouraging her.
"Really? It doesn't make me look like a… a tart?" Ginny questioned.
"No, it doesn't make you look like a tart."
Draco snorted beside her. She was wearing hip hugging flared black denim pants and a tight white tank top.
"What's so funny Malfoy? Do you got a bug up your nose?" Ginny smirked.
"No, its just… never mind. You look great." He smiled a real smile.
"Go get changed into your original clothes so we can buy these and get your school supplies."
Five minutes later Ginny came back out wearing her usual blue jeans and a T- shirt.
"I'll apparate to the Ministry and get your I.D.'s while you two go and get something from the local pet shop."
"What are we supposed to get there?" Ginny asked.
"I wonder Gin, how about a pet?" Her teacher said.
"Oh."
* * *
"How about a cat? They're easy to take care of and they don't need that much attention. Kind of like you." Draco joked.
"Ha ha very funny. I was thinking more on the lines of a snake. They're small, kind of ugly, don't eat much, and never gets attention. Reminds me of someone I know. Oh yeah that would be you."
"You want a snake? Which one? There are two kinds: the Boa Constrictor, and the Carpet Python. Which one do you want?"
"Which one's bigger?"
Python."
Get it."
Draco paid for it and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Got it."
"Good," she replied.
As they walked out the door they could see their teacher walking down the street towards them.
"You got a… snake?"
"Yep! Isn't it awesome?" Ginny said.
"Yes well anyways, we should get back to the castle now and pack your stuff. You leave tomorrow evening. I expect it'll give you enough time to give your goodbye's and pack?"
They nodded their heads and went back to Hogwarts.
* * *
"Ron, Harry, Hermione, I'll be fine, I promise. Draco won't touch me."
"Oh so now he's Draco?" Ron questioned.
"Well that has been my name since birth," a familiar drawl from behind them.
"Malfoy…"
"Shut up Ron," Ginny snapped. "I don't want to get into a fight with you before I have to leave this morning. Now just shake hands with Draco, give me a hug, and wish us good luck."
Ron eyed Draco with hatred beyond any other. He thrust out his hand to him as a sign of peace. Draco took it and shook it. Then Ron turned to Ginny and gave her a big hug.
"I'm going to miss you Ginny."
"And I you, Ron."
Ginny turned to Harry and said, "Be good and don't go looking for trouble, I know how you and my brother are." She gave him a hug too and then looked at Hermione. "Don't let them hurt themselves. I want my brother to be in one piece when I get back." She hugged her as well and turned to Draco. "We better get going. I don't want to miss the train." They all said goodbye and walked outside into the cool sweet fall air.
"Ok team, go get 'em," their muggle studies teacher said. "Tell me all about it in your letters. And remember, under no circumstances may you speak of magic while you are there. Draco are you bringing your eagle owl with you?"
He gave a nod. They waved to her, and then went down to the train.
The train ride was boring and they didn't have much to do besides play cards (not the exploding kind incase muggles came across them) and ate loads of candy.
"So what do you think muggle America will be like?" Draco broke the silence.
"Just like muggle England. Without the accent."
"You're different than I thought you'd be," Draco commented.
"And how is that?"
"Well, I thought that you would still be following Potter around," Ginny blushed at that, "and you would be more like your brother."
"Ron judges people before they even know them. I don't. You're different than I thought that you were. I thought that you were an evil nasty bastard who was dropped on his head too many times when he was a baby, but you're really nice once somebody gets to know the real you."
Draco just blinked and didn't say anything. Ginny laid her head on his lap and fell asleep. She awoke to somebody shaking her gently. "Gin, you need to get up the train just arrived at Platform 9 and 3/4."
They grabbed their trunks and headed off the train. A man with a long trench coat was standing there waiting for them.
"Hello, Draco, Ginny. I am Dominick Parker but you can call me Dock like all of my friends do. You two are going to be staying at my house with my wife and I. If you'll follow me, we can get to the airport and get over to America."
"Okay," they both said in unison.
20 minutes later they were on an airplane, ten minutes until departure.
"Are you going to be alright? I know what it's like to leave your home and everybody that you know," Dock said.
"Five minutes until liftoff," a stewardess said into a microphone.
Those five minutes seemed to be a lifetime's wait. When the time came for them to leave the ground, similar thoughts were running through Ginny and Draco's minds, Goodbye old wizard life, hello new muggle life.
* * *
Ginny Weasley ran down the hallway at top speed. She was late for Muggle Studies and was facing up to 10 points off Gryffindor and a detention. As she slid around a corner she ran into someone. That someone was none other that Draco Malfoy.
"What's the hurry Weasel? Gonna be late for class?" Draco drawled.
"For you information, even though it's none of your business, yes I am going to be late if you don't get out of my way."
Temper, temper. If you haven't noticed the bell went off five minutes ago. But don't let me hold you up, even though I must say this conversation was most excruciating. Catch ya later Gin."
He smirked and walked away. Ginny just stared at his retreating back. Slowly she walked down the corridor into her classroom.
"And where might I ask have you been Miss Weasley?" Professor (A/N: Is there a Muggle Studies Professor mentioned?) asked.
"I'm sorry I'm late Professor, somebody knocked me down in the hallway and my stuff spilt all over the place," Ginny half lied and half told the truth.
"Well than I hope you can face the consequences. Stay back after class and I will tell you your punishment," she said, then bringing her attention back to the rest of the class. "As I was saying the "field trip" that Professor Dumbledore was talking about this morning will be one student in this class and one in my seventh year class. The two students will travel to a school in the United States of America. When they leave their wands will be taken away from them and they will live in a non-magic community. I am pleased to announce that I know who one of the people that are going is, but I am not going to tell anyone but that person until tomorrow morning. Now even though class isn't even half over I will let you go early. But if I hear from another teacher that you have misbehaved than I will personally see to it that you get detention for the rest of your life. Have a nice day. Miss Weasley, come up here."
"I'm really sorry that I was late Professor but I…"
"It's fine Virginia."
"What?"
"Your punishment will to be one of the people to go on the trip," she said.
"What? I don't know that much about the muggle world, I…"
"That is the point of the trip. It's for a witch and a wizard to become adjusted to living in the muggle world if they have to. Tell me Virginia, have you ever lived with muggles?"
"No," was her reply.
"Well, that just about sums it up. You will leave on September 5th. I will bring you tomorrow to get clothing. You can't possibly go in your school robes. Now go off and get ready for your next class and meet me here tomorrow morning at 9:00 sharp. Oh, I almost forgot that you have to wear muggle clothes."
Ginny sulked out of the room up to the Gryffindor common room to get ready for potions.
* * *
"Mr. Malfoy, please pay attention in my class, unless you would rather have detention? How would that sound to you?" His teachers stern voice brought him back to reality.
"Sorry professor, it won't happen again," he mumbled.
"Good. CD's are a way for muggle children… blah blah blah. Blah blah blah."
Will the bell just ring already? I need to see Professor Snape about that dreamless sleep draught, Draco thought.
"Mr. Malfoy? Mr. Malfoy what is the answer to the question that I just asked you?"
"Um… I didn't quite catch what you said Professor."
"Right. Class dismissed. Draco, please come up here."
"Yes Professor?"
"I worry about you. You hardly ever pay attention in my class anymore. You space out and I'm afraid that you will fail if you keep this up. That is why I have taken the initiative to send you on the muggle studies trip to America."
"WHAT?"
"I know that it seems… out of place, but it will earn you high marks in all your classes. Are you alright Draco you look a little pale?"
There was a noticeable difference in his skin color. If it was ever possible to make his fare complexion paler… she just did it.
You and the other student that is going will meet me tomorrow morning at 9:00 in this room. We need to get you some muggle clothes, and an identity from the ministry saying that you have gone to different muggle high schools before, or else they might get suspicious. I am hoping that you two will be civil to each other but Slytherins and Gryffindors don't naturally get along now do they?"
"He's a Gryffindor?"
"She," she corrected.
"Great! I always wanted to be best friends with a Gryffindor!" He said sarcastically.
"Just be here tomorrow morning at 9:00 and wear muggle clothes."
* * *
"I'm here professor," Ginny said.
"You're the Gryffindor she was talking about?" Draco drawled from a chair by their professor's desk. He had his feet up under him in an Indian style.
"Do you think that I'm blessed to be working with you?"
"Children, don't start fighting. We got a lot to do today and you need all the energy that you can get. Now are you ready to go?"
"Yes," they both said at the same time.
"Lets go school shopping!" Their professor said excitedly.
* * *
"Ginny it looks great on you," her professor said encouraging her.
"Really? It doesn't make me look like a… a tart?" Ginny questioned.
"No, it doesn't make you look like a tart."
Draco snorted beside her. She was wearing hip hugging flared black denim pants and a tight white tank top.
"What's so funny Malfoy? Do you got a bug up your nose?" Ginny smirked.
"No, its just… never mind. You look great." He smiled a real smile.
"Go get changed into your original clothes so we can buy these and get your school supplies."
Five minutes later Ginny came back out wearing her usual blue jeans and a T- shirt.
"I'll apparate to the Ministry and get your I.D.'s while you two go and get something from the local pet shop."
"What are we supposed to get there?" Ginny asked.
"I wonder Gin, how about a pet?" Her teacher said.
"Oh."
* * *
"How about a cat? They're easy to take care of and they don't need that much attention. Kind of like you." Draco joked.
"Ha ha very funny. I was thinking more on the lines of a snake. They're small, kind of ugly, don't eat much, and never gets attention. Reminds me of someone I know. Oh yeah that would be you."
"You want a snake? Which one? There are two kinds: the Boa Constrictor, and the Carpet Python. Which one do you want?"
"Which one's bigger?"
Python."
Get it."
Draco paid for it and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Got it."
"Good," she replied.
As they walked out the door they could see their teacher walking down the street towards them.
"You got a… snake?"
"Yep! Isn't it awesome?" Ginny said.
"Yes well anyways, we should get back to the castle now and pack your stuff. You leave tomorrow evening. I expect it'll give you enough time to give your goodbye's and pack?"
They nodded their heads and went back to Hogwarts.
* * *
"Ron, Harry, Hermione, I'll be fine, I promise. Draco won't touch me."
"Oh so now he's Draco?" Ron questioned.
"Well that has been my name since birth," a familiar drawl from behind them.
"Malfoy…"
"Shut up Ron," Ginny snapped. "I don't want to get into a fight with you before I have to leave this morning. Now just shake hands with Draco, give me a hug, and wish us good luck."
Ron eyed Draco with hatred beyond any other. He thrust out his hand to him as a sign of peace. Draco took it and shook it. Then Ron turned to Ginny and gave her a big hug.
"I'm going to miss you Ginny."
"And I you, Ron."
Ginny turned to Harry and said, "Be good and don't go looking for trouble, I know how you and my brother are." She gave him a hug too and then looked at Hermione. "Don't let them hurt themselves. I want my brother to be in one piece when I get back." She hugged her as well and turned to Draco. "We better get going. I don't want to miss the train." They all said goodbye and walked outside into the cool sweet fall air.
"Ok team, go get 'em," their muggle studies teacher said. "Tell me all about it in your letters. And remember, under no circumstances may you speak of magic while you are there. Draco are you bringing your eagle owl with you?"
He gave a nod. They waved to her, and then went down to the train.
The train ride was boring and they didn't have much to do besides play cards (not the exploding kind incase muggles came across them) and ate loads of candy.
"So what do you think muggle America will be like?" Draco broke the silence.
"Just like muggle England. Without the accent."
"You're different than I thought you'd be," Draco commented.
"And how is that?"
"Well, I thought that you would still be following Potter around," Ginny blushed at that, "and you would be more like your brother."
"Ron judges people before they even know them. I don't. You're different than I thought that you were. I thought that you were an evil nasty bastard who was dropped on his head too many times when he was a baby, but you're really nice once somebody gets to know the real you."
Draco just blinked and didn't say anything. Ginny laid her head on his lap and fell asleep. She awoke to somebody shaking her gently. "Gin, you need to get up the train just arrived at Platform 9 and 3/4."
They grabbed their trunks and headed off the train. A man with a long trench coat was standing there waiting for them.
"Hello, Draco, Ginny. I am Dominick Parker but you can call me Dock like all of my friends do. You two are going to be staying at my house with my wife and I. If you'll follow me, we can get to the airport and get over to America."
"Okay," they both said in unison.
20 minutes later they were on an airplane, ten minutes until departure.
"Are you going to be alright? I know what it's like to leave your home and everybody that you know," Dock said.
"Five minutes until liftoff," a stewardess said into a microphone.
Those five minutes seemed to be a lifetime's wait. When the time came for them to leave the ground, similar thoughts were running through Ginny and Draco's minds, Goodbye old wizard life, hello new muggle life.