Mystery of Minako Yui

Ch. 7 - Potions

Disclaimer: None of the Harry Potter characters belong to me.

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Severus Snape was walking down to the Dungeons when he heard voices ahead, suspiciously near his classroom. No one was excepted to be in class and many didn't want to be near his class. So, naturally, anyone that are in the vicinity of his classroom during off-school hours were expected to be up to no good.

He wasn't feeling very nice today. In fact he was downright mad. He had a talk again with Albus during breakfast. It was about taking that position as Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, since they have yet to find one even though school had already started. And again, Albus had said no. Why not?! Snape thought. They obviously needed one and he was more than capable of doing it! He was a fucking ex-Deatheater for crying out loud! They NEEDED a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! Voldemort is out! Everyone needs to be protected and armed. But no. Albus, with his mysterious statements, " We must wait. With waiting comes good things." What the hell did that mean? It didn't even refer to his fucking statement! Sometimes, Snape wondered if Albus was getting too old for this. Sometimes, Snape wondered if Albus was even the man for the job against Voldemort. But no matter how mad or frustrated he got with Albus's way of dealing things, Snape knew that Albus was a man of power and one Snape could trust with his life. No matter how Snape disagreed with Albus's way of dealing with things, he would always stick to Albus's side.

However, Snape was still mad and those students that were probably trying to steal ingredients will be receiving hell. Even if they were Slytherin.

Snape walked as quietly as humanly possible without floating. He heard the voices get nearer. He finally turned a corner and walked in on a big surprise. Gryffindors and Slytherins. Together as friends.

In all the years he was in Hogwart's (Including those as a student) such an occurrence was as rare as winning the Wizard Lotto. He watched as the two redheads (Weasleys), a blonde (Malfoy?!?) and one ebony-black (The transfer-student... again) talk nicely to each other, with the occasional but unusually less barbed remark from Draco.

Snape walked closer, quietly as not to be heard. He listened as the Weasley girl, Virginia, talk about his class.

"-ignore his monotonous way of saying things, he really is a good teacher-" Snape's brow went up. A Gryffindor who doesn't hate me? Isn't that amazing? "Making things with potions and the like is very fascinating" And likes the subject too? What had he been doing wrong?

"Yes. Potions. I'm quite adept in that subject in my old school."

Snape heard the transfer, Yui's, remark. She was a fifth year, just like Malfoy and the male Weasley but since she was a transfer student, no one knew her abilities in Potions. Thus she was placed in a regular potions instead of Advanced Potions. Hearing the smug response, Snape couldn't wait to burst her little bubble. The fact that Ms. Yui even thought that she could hold her own here at Hogwarts in Potions was laughable. The teacher she had was probably below him and any Potions class she took couldn't possibly rival with the material he taught in his.

It was the few things he could be proud of in his life, the level of his AP class. The fact that Ms. Yui had gotten off in a bad start with him, made the eventual putting down a bit sweeter. He stepped up, tall. He could see his shadow cover them all.

"Oh really, Ms. Yui. Care to show us exactly how 'adept' you are?"

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Minako felt cold shivers run up and down her nervous system. However, she wasn't scared. The shadow had passed the group and had proceeded to open the classroom door. As she stared at his back, she could almost see the good and the bad war-ring against each other in constant battles. Much like the way Draco's did except in this man, the good was in his mind, and his body held an imprint of evil on him. An alien kind. The battles between the two extremes even had casualties and from what Minako could make of it from her inner eye, was his soul.

As she studied him, Minako wanted to have Ron hold her hand again. She felt a cold that she never knew was possible. This man was good but something always pulled him back, leaving him in limbo. It was a horrible torture. She was surprised that he had yet killed himself.

The door opened and he motioned for her to enter. She stepped in but the others were held back. She jerked around, wondering what the hell was going on and so was everyone else.

Ron was the more vocal of the group.

"Hey! What gives, Professor Snape?, Ginny and myself are supposed to tour Minako around!" Ron couldn't stand the fact that he wasn't by her side. He felt like his whole being was missing a piece and had become a wintered tundra, bleak and cold.

"I believe that your new friend had offered herself to a test. She claims that she deserves to be in a higher Potions class then here's a test she has to take. Great timing too. No classes today." Snape could see the ever emotional Gryffindors react. It was so funny how they always walk into something without thinking about the consequences. This was also one of the few pleasures he had in life. Snape was well and ready to take more than a few deserved points from Gryffindor if the Weasley decided to open its mouth again...

"She didn't say th-" Minako shook her head at Ron. He gave her a questioning look. Who wanted to take a test today?!

Snape caught the look and his impression of Ms. Yui got even lower. A fellow Slytherin helping a Gryffindor? What was going wrong this day?

"It's okay, Ron." She smiled and Ron blushed."This test will probably take a few minutes and I would really like it if I was placed in a higher Potions class, you know. We can resume my tour later alright?"

Ron nodded. "Alright. I'll wait for you out here." He didn't like leaving Mina inside Snape's classroom but he didn't have a choice.

Ginny just stood there, in her usual Ginny self, resigned to the sidelines and letting one of the Dream team go ahead and do the speaking up. Although Ginny was tired of being in the background, she just couldn't break the habit. Oh how she hated herself. When will she ever leave Ron's and the Gang's shadow? When will she be able to stand up by herself? Why can't she, for the life of her, take her spot in the public light just once?

Draco had watched as the usually fired-up Virginia Weasley resume to the backseat she had taken to in her earlier years. It was quite sad. She even physically stepped back. Draco couldn't believe that someone as passionate as she couldn't even speak up to a teacher! Wasn't it just yesterday that she had backed him into a corner? Had slapped him? Had pinned him to the floor? and now she was hiding behind her older brother? Draco was starting to think that Ginny might have the case of MPD - multiple personalities disorder. Something in Draco couldn't fit this in the picture he had of Ginny. Something didn't seem right. He looked at her even closer, watched her eyes.

There.

Draco saw it. She was fuming mad. She wanted to yell, scream, do something. He wasn't sure if she wanted to do that to the Professor or to her brother.

There it was again.

She wasn't mad at either subjects. She was mad at herself! He could see it! She was sad. Now to just figure out why... Draco was just too intrigued and caught up in his findings that he forgot he had been staring at her for far too long.

He snapped out of it when he heard the Potion's classroom door slam shut.

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Ginny Weasley felt the inquiring eyes finally stop watching her, studying her. She felt naked under his gaze. As if he was trying to pick her apart, analyze her. She didn't like it. The fact that Malfoy had probably been the only one that had tried made her not like it even more.

No one truly knew who she was. Herself and Ron were close and they did share many things but it was a closeness that only a sister and brother could share. One that had nothing to do with make-up, boyfriends, crushes, or moments of angst. Nothing that Ron could ever relate to.

No one really knew her, no one had ever really tried and she had no need to share her deepest secrets to anyone. She had taken to writing in parchments and burning them after spilling her feelings. This, surprisingly, worked pretty well with her. She had, since her first year, rejected the Diary idea for obvious reasons. When Fleur had come over during the summer, the feeling that no one really knew her had been painful and sharp. Ginny hadn't known what she was missing until Fleur, herself, and Hermione had started to talk about things they all related to: boys, make-up, fashion, gossip, whatever. Ginny did have friends, but friends whom she shared her inner-most secrets? none. Ginny had come close with Hermione but the fact that she was part of Ron and Harry's circle stopped her from developing that kind of friendship. Ginny didn't feel right about stealing her from them. In fact Ginny didn't think Hermione would. It was well and good to have small talk and some fashion advice. But as of an everyday thing, Ginny didn't think it would be a great idea.

Ginny watched as her brother get comfortable on the wall. He sat on the ledge and leaned on a pillar. He looked like he was expecting a long wait.

Ginny sighed. She didn't want to wait long. She really wanted to get to know Minako but she had more important things to do. She had to go unpack her backs and her belongings. She needed to set stuff up. She wanted to look at Harry. She didn't want to be stuck with Malfoy when she explodes again. Aw, hell. She just didn't want to be with Malfoy, feeling all sorts of goofy

She looked at Ron again. He wouldn't mind waiting for Minako for long, I bet, then he wouldn't mind showing her around as well. Ginny just thought of a wonderful idea.

"Oh for Merlin's Sake! I can't stay here and wait for Mina! I have to unpack and everything! How can I get anything done Ron? I can't stay here! Look at the time! It's almost ten! How are we ever going to get anything done before lunch! Oh Ron, what ever am I going to do?" Ginny did her I'm-so-worried-I-don't-know-what-to-do-you-are-the-only-reasonable-one-here-and-I-have-misplaced-my-brain voice.

Ron thought for a moment and nodded as if he was about to offer himself up to a great sacrifice. Ginny sniggered.

"I guess I'm going to have to do the tour with Minako by myself then. You can go and unpack, Gin. Mum would probably kill me if you don't get everything in order before school starts. You know that responsibility lecture she always gives us. Yeah Gin. I'll do this for you because you are my sister."

Draco was more than amused at the lies that Ginny and Ron tossed to each other. It was too funny. He could see that Ginny saw through all the b.s. that her brother was throwing at her and was totally finding it amusing. It looked like Ron did too. Draco thought that maybe this was a game the two played...

Draco wasn't far off. In fact, he was dead on. Ron and Ginny always played this game. Ron couldn't remember the first time they had started it, but once it had began neither one of them got tired of it. It was a brother-sister thing.

"I'll see you later at the Great Hall, Ron. And tell Mina that I had some things to do alright?" Ginny made to leave, looking at her brother a second longer for his affirmative answer.

Draco was planning to leave also. He wouldn't have been able to stand being in the Weasel's company for long. If they were to forced to each other's company for long, both of them would be charged for attempted murder of each other.

"Hey, Weasley, tell Mina I'll see her at Dinner." With that, Draco followed Ginny out of the hallway. He didn't see the perplexed look on Ron's face. Perplexed because Draco had just left without the usual insult and because it was the first sentence Draco had ever addressed to a Weasley without the usual intent of baiting.

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Ginny walked down the long corridor. It was cold, drafty, and echoed footsteps, making one think of bats, vampires, and the like. It had all the factors that made it a Dungeon. It should have scared Ginny witless but the ever present Draco was on her side, making her think of different things.

Like the apology she needed to give him.

She knew that she deserved one too. That crack that he made about her being nobody struck a cord but she felt guilty because she had no cause to explode on him like that. Her brother had more of a reason to do so than herself and no one deserved her wailing like a crazy banshee.

Ginny wracked her brain on how to start their conversation. All that came on her mind was insults and several things that came to mind that seemed so out of character and made her look fake.

1. Hey, just wanted to say sorry about calling you an dumb, bleahed-blonde ferret. If it makes you feel better, I think you are just a dumb bleached-blonde. You don't look anything at all like a ferret. Nah. Too long.

2. Hey, sorry about yesterday. I promise, the next time we fight, I won't try and hit you. Um. No.

3. Hey, Malfoy. About yesterday. It was un-called for. Sorry. *Perfect! Short, and doesn't refer to anything important!

Ginny cleared her throat. They had been walking down the hallway for quiet sometime now, silence between them. She couldn't imagine what the hell was going on under all that blonde hair. Well maybe she did.

Minako Yui.

More than once during the 'tour', Ginny had the feeling of jealousy streak through her every time Draco had made Mina laugh about something. All throughout it, Draco had a story that was both amusing and informative. No one had ever seen Draco like that. The thought that Draco had feelings like everyone else and had not always spent his time plotting against the Gryffindors was disconcerting. More than once, Ginny wished that attention was lavished on her. But like everything else, no one really noticed her. She was surprised herself that she even had that encounter with Draco or that Draco even responded to her. Usually, at home when she exploded like that, it was a usual pat on the head and get sent to her room.

Going on to the apology, Ginny stopped walking.

Draco almost ran into Ginny's back. He had been in deep thought himself. He was thinking about what it would have been like to be a Gryffindor. When it's ok to make a mistake. When it was ok to make your own decision. Draco was thinking about last night and the emotional upheaval Ginny threw him in. About last night when he saw what he could do with his life clearly. About Virginia Weasley. About how her shirt had been making him think things that he shouldn't have about his enemy. About how, when light struck in the right angle, her slim legs were silhouette through her skirt. About what happened at the stairs, when she had been flushed against his body. About how perfectly she had fit. About how she had instinctively grabbed hold of him.

About how he could wrap his arms around her right now, to feel that wonderful feeling again.

Draco snapped himself out of it and stepped to the left. He couldn't believe how far he had let his mind wander. In the earlier days, he never let his mind dwell on things he thought he couldn't change; About being a Slytherin and Malfoy. Now, it seemed that there was more light in his world. But like a person that had only seen shadows and night, light was too glaring and time was needed to be allow a person to see directly in it.

Draco watched as Ginny slowly turn to face him. He stood there, leaning on the cold slab of stone wall, crossing his arms. He might be going through revelations but he still had an image to upkeep.

Ginny saw his stance. It was arrogant and insulting. She was here about to apologize and he had to go and ruin the moment with his attitude. He is handsome though. Shut up, Ginny told her mind. His hair glinted white gold and the lamps casted a shadow from his face. Ginny couldn't help but think that she had met him before, in different circumstances. Ginny snapped herself out of it. She needed to get throught with this before she backed out.

"Malfoy. About Yesterday. It was un-called for. Sorry." Perfect. Just like rehearsed. Ginny turned to leave, feeling a 50-ton weight lift off her shoulders. She could have floated out of there if she hadn't been called back by Draco's voice.

"Virginia, right?" Draco stood up. His voice, as he can see, stopped her in her tracks. He watched her shoulders drop and heard some mumbling he couldn't understand. He didn't know what made him call her back. The apology itself should have shocked him badly enough to leave him there speechless. He knew that if there was any apologizing to do between them, he should have been doing the apologizing. It seemed that his body had a mind of its own because before he knew what he was doing, he was trying to have polite conversation with her.

Ginny thought that after her apology she could have ran away from him, avoiding him for as long as she could. Draco actually trying to conversate with her wasn't part of the plan. If she ignored him, her apology would have been for nothing. If she answered him, he would probably try to insult her and get her going again. The apology would again have to be repeated.

With a sigh she turned to him.

"Yes. That's my name. You're Draco, right?" He nodded, distracting her a bit when the corners of his mouth lifted.

"About your apology, Virginia" Something fluttered in her at how he said her name, as if it was a caress. Was he flirting with her? "I really can't accept it."

"What?!" Of all the things she expected to come out of his mouth, that wasn't it. She expected him to have more tact than that.

"I mean, Virginia," There it was again! " I can't take your apology until you accept mines."

Virginia took her earlier thought back. That was the most unexpected thing she had ever heard from Draco's mouth.

Ginny was at lost for words. He was apologizing to her?! What's going on today? Was everyone supposed to go out of character? Ron's in-love with a Slytherin, Ginny apologized to one, and now Draco Malfoy was saying sorry to a Weasley? Ginny did the only thing she knew that would end this particular conversation and severe any connections she had with Malfoy.

"Okay. I accept your apology. Now, Good Day." She was about to nod and turn around when she caught Draco shaking his head. What Now?

"No, no." Draco grinned. Ginny had never seen him grin. He smirked. He laughed. He frowned. But grin? Never. The transformation it did to his whole countenance almost made Ginny's knees turn Jelly. He was charming her."I want to show you how greatly sorry I am for how I've treated you in the past. Tomorrow or someday you are able, may I be able to take you out? My treat. "

Outside, Draco was confident and sure in himself. Inside he was quaking in his boots. He didn't know where the words came from but once it was out, he couldn't take it back. He didn't know that asking out Virginia Weasley would be so nerve wracking, like her answer would determine his very future. Seconds ticked by and Draco almost fell on his knees before her, praying that she make the correct answer for him.

Ginny stood in front of him, gaping. Draco Malfoy had just asked her out, like on a date. Ginny had never been asked on a date due to her brothers. It was somewhat ironic that the very first person to ask her out on a real date (Yule Balls didn't count) was an enemy of her family.

The urge to yell 'yes' was strong within Ginny and this was scaring her. She knew why she wanted to say yes. This whole tour she had with Mina made Ginny unsure about her previous image of Draco. He had been kind, intelligent, and perceptive this whole day. This went against everything that she was taught; Slytherin Bad, Malfoys Worst. However, the nagging voice that kept saying that Draco was just playing with her kept holding back her affirmative answer. She looked up at him, question in her eyes along with a little wariness.

"Is this a joke, Draco?" This was said hesitantly and quietly.

Draco almost yelled Hallelujah. She didn't say no. Then Draco almost kicked himself. She hadn't said yes either. Still having kept his mask of cool, he answered her.

"No, this isn't a joke, Virginia. I am asking you out sincerely."

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a/n: ah! it's a cliffie! woo! wanna know why its a cliffie? because this chapter is too long! Don't worry... next chapter is already up and about and is just about ready to be posted! be happy! yaya!

Again: Need a beta-reader! I need constructive criticism! I THRIVE in constructive criticism! I need POSITIVE, INDEPTH feedback! I type faster with POSITIVE, INDEPTH feedback!

Can't you tell I'm a needie person? haha ^-^ Anyways, for that beta-reader position, email me Flipinagrace1023@cs.com! kk? just tell me ff.net ID number... I'll look up your work... see if they mesh with mines... then I say YAY found me a beta reader.... then yay! If you aren't a writer but love to check out work... email me.. and then YAY! oh yeah... aim: fLipiNa gRaCe alright? converse with me there! well... have a good read! and I LOVE ff.net!

Oh yeah, I'm just about over my Writer's Block! I wrote... this chapter in a week and several days! yay for me!