Muggle Year
by Virgi Ca

Chapter 5: Double Potions

A/N: I know it might be confusing, but I'd rather write Virginia rather than Ginny when its in third person, because I don't really like the name Ginny. Coincidentlly, my real name is Virginia too, so... but weird enough, no one calls me Ginny at school. Sorry for the delay if you were looking forward to it, reviews are nice to the author.

The normal version without any weird signs (if any) and pictures drawn: http://muggleyear.wildimagination.net/index.htm

'Oh no!' a voice screamed at seven thirty in the morning.

Virginia winced at the voice, which followed by another two. She was in the washroom, pulling up her hair. She walked out to see what was going on.

'It's seven thirty already! Oh my god Colin is going to kill me!' a girl with blonde hair from the nearest bunk cried. She jumped off the bed and rushed past Virginia, as if she was invisible.

'Jeez, she doesn't have to over react like that, it's just seven thirty.' The girl with brown hair from the other bed mumbled, pulling aside the draps.

'I'll have to feed Adela silencing potion next time.' Another girl with light brown curls said, climbing out of bed. They were Virginia's roommates, Geraldine and Evelyne.

'Morning Gin.' Geraldine mumbled, opening her wardrobe.

'Why are you so early today?' Evelyne asked, yawning, 'we don't even have proper lessons today, unless you count Potions and Transfiguration.'

Virginia shrugged, 'couldn't sleep.'

'Oh my God, is my hair okay?' Adela asked anxiously, looking from Evelyne to Geraldine.

'Your head's fine honey.' Geraldine said, pulling on her uniform dress.

'Gods, I hope Colin hasn't gone to the Hall yet.' Adela said, then slammed the door shut behind her.

Evelyne shook her head, 'She doesn't have to be that anxious, just because she didn't see Colin for a week.'

'A week?' Virginia cocked her head.

'I thought she'd be blaring it out by now.' Geraldine's voice muffled, pulling on her sweater, 'she went to Colin's for the last week before school started.'

'Oh.' Was all Virginia said. She picked up one of her medical books, 'see you guys at the hall.' She walked down to the Common room, which was deserted and out the portrait. The air was breezy, perfect autumn weather in her opinion.

She didn't have much friends at school, not since her obsession of Harry during first year and the incident in the Chamber of Secrets, and doesn't really know Geraldine, Evelyne, and especially Adela. Adela was what she called a love-sick puppy and was rumored to have dated every guy from her year. But somehow Virginia thought she was just bluffing. She was eventually stick with Colin again.

The Chamber of Secrets… Virginia sighed. Memories of that dreadful past often haunted her, and yet……

'Morning Ginny.' Professor McGonagal greeted as they met in front of the doors of the Great Hall.

'Morning Professor.' Virginia said, then headed towards the Gryffindor table. She noticed that Ron, Harry and Hermione were already there, but had no intentions to have a conversation with them, mainly because she knew they wouldn't want her to mind their business.

'Morning Gin!' Hermione greeted cheerfully. Virginia nodded and walked pass them, much to Ron's surprise, and sat down at the far end of the table. She took out her medical book and thumbed the content, then turned to a page where it talked about specific antidotes of poisonous snakes.

'Ginny, here's your time-table.' Virginia looked up and saw Harry hand her the time-table he was referring to. Ron and Hermione sat down across her.

'We have Potions today, third and forth period…' Hermione raised her eyebrows, 'and we're not with Slytherin this year!'

'What?' Ron exclaimed, looking over her shoulder, 'YES!'

'We're having it with Ravenclaw instead.' Harry said, then turned to Virginia, 'what's wrong?'

'Huh, I'm not having Potions with the sixth year Gryffindors.' Virginia replied, scanning her time-table. She had Potions first thing in the morning, along with Muggle Studies, then Herbology in the afternoon, and she noticed that there were more free periods than usual.

'Darn, we do have Muggle Studies, but not until Wednesday.' Ron groaned.

'I think Professor Dumbledore will say something about this arrangement.' Harry said.

'Who are you having Potions with Ginny?' Hermione asked.

'Miss Weasley, you will be having Potions with the sixth year Slytherins this year.' A low voice said from behind. She turned and saw Professor Snape look down at her.

'Professor.' Ginny acknowledged, 'I was about to find you in the medical wing.'

'There will be no need, you will go to the Dungeons, because you have double potions now.' Snape said with a smirk, 'you may see the matron after my lessons.'

'Yes Professor.' Virginia replied, then Snape swept away. She noticed that the Slytherins were looking at her curiously, but she ignored them and turned around to face three very bewildered people.

'What? You're having Potions with the Slytherins?' Ron screeched.

Virginia sighed, 'it seems so.'

'But – '

'And I think they're having Potions with their house only.' Hermione commented, 'I know that Professor Spout had asked Snape to arrange lessons for Hufflepuff only because they aren't doing too good.'

'Ginny are you going to – ' Harry started, worry in his voice.

Virginia stood up, cutting him off, 'I'm going to get my books, see you at lunch.' She said quietly, then slipped out of the Great Hall.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Virginia pushed open the dungeon gates and walked into the classroom. She knew that fifth years and different Dungeons from sixth years, and so it was a little different from what she thought, it was much bigger. Virginia set her books down on a counter at the far end of the laboratory and looked up at the teachers desk, where various bottles and two brass cauldrons that were filled with green substance. A set of ingredients, including roots of asphodel, puffer-fish eyes, a pile of beozars, powdered snake fangs and a bottle of mandrake extract. There was powder on either side of the brass scales, which looked suspiciously like limb bones from abandoned unicorns.

Virginia stepped on her toes and looked into the cauldrons, lifting up the rod that was stuck into it. Green gooey substances were stuck onto it, which suspiciously looked like boiled snake blood. What are these ingredients for, I don't think it's in the syllabus…

'What in the bloody hell are you doing in here?' a high pitched voice screeched. Virginia turned around and saw Pansy Parkinson glare at her with her hands on her hips. 'We are having Potions now not you!'

'Or is the little Weasel lost after four years of studying here and doesn't even know that her dungeon is the smallest one on the very end.' Another voice drawled. Draco Malfoy was standing beside her, smirking as usual.

'I – '

'Get lost.' Blaise Zabini scowled, 'we don't need a wretch like you to loose our concentration.'

'What is all the fuss about?' a low voice demanded. They all looked and saw that Snape had emerged from his office at the back of the room and closed the door behind him, glaring at his students.

'Professor, the little Weasel……' Pansy started.

'Enough! Please go to your seats.' Snape commanded, eyeing Virginia briefly before turning to the blackboard. The others all stared at their teachers in bewilderment and took their seats, shooting Virginia angry glares, obviously not welcoming her.

'This year, Virginia Weasley will be taking sixth year Potions with you Slytherins, so there is nothing to be surprised.'

'What?' Blaise screeched, 'but…'

'How could a weasel like her be taking sixth year when she hasn't even started fifth?' Millicent Bulstrode asked in bewilderment. The others nodded in agreement.

'That,' Snape glared at him, 'is not of your concern.'

Everyone was starting to complain except for Draco, who was looking at Virginia with narrowed eyes. Virginia felt heat seep to her face and pretended to be staring at her Potions textbook. Face the fact, your having lessons with a whole bunch of Slytherins older than you by a year, what more can you get?

'Enough! That is my order and if I hear another word of complaint, I will personally make sure that none of you will get good grades in your exams!' Snape bellowed, shutting everyone up in shock. Snape had never threatened them like that, only to Gryffindors.

'Back to our lesson.' Snape said gruffily, 'we will be studying the most powerful sleeping potion and also repairing potions for the next month. I will be ……'

The lesson went by, with the Slytherins staring daggers at her. Virginia tried to concentrate, and was grateful that Snape didn't ask her any questions, as if she was a sit-in student from outer space, actually he totally ignored her.

'Please write an essay on different types of sleeping potions, one full parchment, and hand it to me tomorrow.' Snape said, pleased that the class groaned. 'Class dismissed. Miss Weasley, please come forward, I have something to talk to you.'

The others stared at her curiously as they filed out of the Dungeons.

'Yes Professor.' Virginia walked up to the teacher's bench.

Snape lifted up the spatula from the cauldron, 'what is this?'

'Looks like snakes blood boiled over one hundred degrees in fire that has been fed with dragon's breath.' Virginia replied.

'Very good, I see that this cannot fool you.' Snape growled, sitting down, 'however, what you will be doing for the medical wing is of a much complicated task, and I suggest that you spend most of your time on it, or I will personally make sure that you will fail your O.W.Ls in potions.'

'Yes professor.' Virginia said quietly.

'I have prepared a room in the medical wing for you to use, you will set up the silver cauldron and your brass scale. I have prepared two fires and some ingredients for you, but if you need anymore specific materials you may come to me, but only if its necessary.'

'Uh, professor, what am I going to do with the room and all?' Virginia asked.

'Practice your potions for now, all the potions I have taught you last year, along with the ones you have studied yourself in books from the fifth year textbook, also the healing potions Madame Promfey has taught you, and if you can, some that are from the medical books Madam Promfey has told you to buy, she will help you. I will give you instructions later.' Snape said, 'now get out of my sight.'

Virginia said nothing and retreated from the Dungeons, still a little confused at all the arrangements. Some noise caught her attention and she looked sideways, and widened her eyes slightly in surprise.

Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were kissing at the far end of the corridor in a dark corner, but it was bright enough to make out the two people, especially Malfoy with his sandy blonde hair. It wouldn't be surprising to see the two Slytherins snog, in fact, they seem to be the most normal couple, considering both Slytherins, rich, snobbish and a pain in the ass. Virginia knew, well actually, the whole school knew that Pansy Parkinson had a thing for Malfoy, and that she was bold, and in a sense bold.

Draco Malfoy doesn't have his hair pulled back. Virginia observed, then blushed, realizing that she was spying on a couple who were snogging. It wouldn't be a surprise if they shagged right then and there. She thought, rolling her eyes. Just as Draco spotted her and pulled away from Pansy, Virginia turned and left the dungeons, her waist length wavy hair bouncing on her back. Better get out of the place before Ron gets here and has a fit about me having Potions with the Slytherins.

_____________________________________________________________________________

'I'm telling you, sooner or later I will drop Muggle Studies! What is there to learn anyway besides how Muggles use telephones and play soccer?'

Virginia raised her eyebrows and closed her books as Adela went on and on about how stupid Muggle Studies were, complaining about how 'boring' and 'ridiculous' it was to Evelyne, who was also taking the subject.

'I'm telling you, sooner or later I will drop it.' Adela said.

Evelyne shook her head, 'come on, it can't be that bad, you're a pure-blood and I bet you knew nothing of the kind until you took the subject.'

'Why are you taking it anyway, if you hate it that much?' Virginia asked, turning to her.

Adela glared at her and snorted. Reaching for her bag, she took out a mirror, 'because Colin's taken Muggle Studies, I barely have any other subjects that are with him, except for the basic ones. I really wanted him to take Divinition, but he had refused to and so I could only take Muggle Studies.'

Evelyne gave a laugh which quickly turned into a cough, while Virginia rolled her eyes and walked out of the classroom, leaving Adela bitching around about 'stupid Muggle Studies'. Virginia never really liked Adela, but still had to cope with her, since she was her dorm mate. Adela seemed to have drawn an invisible line between them ever since the incident during their first year.

It was almost lunch and she had a free period before lunch, leaving her with two hours free to her own. She had decided to go see Madame Promfey and set up her Potion equipment, since Snape had threatened her so badly, she might as well start working.

I do want to try doing that Skele-Gro, although I bet no one will need it without Lockhart around. Virginia gave out a giggle as she approached the Fat Lady. 'Mandragora.' And the Fat Lady sprung open, revealing the cozy Gryffindor common room. Virginia stepped in and was surprised to find it empty. 'Must be early then.' She murmured to herself, springing up the stairs.

She was surprised to find her room empty either and threw her books onto her bed. She opened her trunk and heaved the silver cauldron out, along with the brass scale and the ingredients. She threw them all into the cauldron, and rummaged in her trunk before she found her other Potions reference book, the one she had bought at Flourish and Blotts. Grunting, she lifted the heavy cauldron and walked down the spiral staircase carefully, but when she reached the base she almost crashed into a little blonde girl that was rushing across the common room.

'Watch it!' Virginia cried, turning in one full circle. But the girl in blonde pigtails didn't stop, but flung open the portrait whole and flew out of the common room. Virginia blinked, then shook her head, shifting the heavy burden in her hands.

After a full twenty minutes, she finally reached the Medical Wing, grunting all the way. She had got lost, really got lost because the staircase had suddenly changed direction and Sir Cadogen had came charging up to her when she had wondered into the dark corridor. She pushed open the sound-proof door and was immediately met with a heated argument.

'Suits you right Malfoy, I hope you stay in the bed for your whole life!'

'Shut up Weasel, you get worse by the minute.'

Virginia sighed. Fighting on the first day of school, don't guys have better things to do?

'Ginny! What are you doing here?' Harry asked in surprise.

'I'm a helper in the Medical Wing if you don't remember.' Virginia said flatly, noting furiously that Ron had an equally blank expression on his face.

'Look, poor little Ginny is still not noticed by the famous Harry Potter after five years.' The unmistaken voice of Draco Malfoy drawled. Virginia blushed slightly, ignoring the comment.

'I'm sorry Draco…' another familiar voice whimpered. Virginia looked sideways and glanced at Draco, who was holding his wrist and a little girl was sitting on his bed, the same girl that rushed passed her in the Common Room.

'Shut up Myra, don't cry.' Draco commanded, but in a soft voice.

Virginia walked pass the two beds and into the room that was connected with the main lobby, and found that it was the room Snape had prepared. She heaved the cauldron onto the fire place, rolling her eyes when she heard Ron shout at her. Taking her wand she rolled up her sleeves and walked out again.

'About time, I thought you were going to leave me behind.' Ron scoffed.

'Your not the only patient here.' Draco sneered.

'She's my sister.' Ron objected, but shut up when Virginia glared at her.

'Where's Madame Promfey?' Virginia asked, glancing from Ron to Draco.

Harry shrugged, 'Don't know, but Hermione's finding her.'

'I guess I'll have to check on you two first.' Virginia sighed heavily, she noted that Ron only had a black eye so turned and walked towards Draco, who looked at her in surprise.

'Ginny, your not helping the asshole first are you?' Ron screeched.

'Shut up.' Virginia muttered, then glared at Draco, who just raised his eyebrows at her, 'hold up your wrist.'

This time Draco glared at her, but lifted his hand up reluctantly, wincing at the pain. Virginia took his hand in her palm gently and pressed at his wrist gently, earning a yelp from Draco and laughter from Ron and Harry. 'It hurts you wretch!'

Virginia ignored his comment and glanced at the girl, whose eyes were red, her name tag reading Myra Kirkemburgh. 'So Myra, care to tell me what happened?'

Myra jerked her head up and stared at Virginia with huge green eyes, then started to whimper again. 'It was all my fault! I got lost in the underground dungeons because some staircase moved and I was so homesick! I bumped into Draco and then Harry and Ron and they started a fight. Ron said that Draco was hurting a Gryffindor!'

Virginia turned and stared at Ron, who shrugged.

'But he was just trying to get me out of the undergrounds. I never told them that Draco was my cousin!' Myra cried.

'What?' Ron and Harry cried together.

'Is anything wrong with that?' Draco demanded.

'May I remind you that this is the Infirmary?' Virginia suggested, gently putting his hand down onto his lap. She sighed again and stared at it, taking out her wand, 'I guess I'll have to mend that crack in your wrist, it seems that you hit on something hard without noticing it.'

'What? I'm not letting a Gryffindor – '

'Look,' Virginia stared at him steadily, 'If you don't get it mended now, its likely that the crack will deepen and your need Skele-Gro to repair the missing parts, I don't think you'd like that nasty stuff will you?' That instantly shut him up. Virginia smiled inwardly and pointed her wand to the cupboard. 'Wingardium Leviosa!' A bottle of red liquid and a tray flew to her. She set it down on the table in front of Draco and gently lifted his wrist over the tray.

'Don't move.' She warned, opening the bottle. She poured it slowly over his wrist and Draco winced at the steam coming out.

'You sure you're not burning my hand off?' he asked wearily.

'No, unless you want me to.' Virginia scoffed, picking up her wand again. She touched his wrist with her wand gently and started to trace at the crack, muttering a spell. After a few minutes, the red liquid started to vanish from Draco's wrist. 'There, all done.'

Draco lifted his hand up and looked at it miraculously, not believing that his wrist was good and well again.

'I didn't poison you, you don't have to be that suspicious.' Virginia commented, lifting up the tray.

'You should have Gin.' Ron muttered.

'Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, what on earth!' the door flung open and Madame Promfey came rushing in, with Hermione behind her. 'How are they Ginny?'

Virginia shrugged, 'Dealt with the wrist, but Ron still has a black eye.'

'What? You mended Draco's wrist?' Madame Promfey asked incredulously. Hermione looked at her with equal awe.

Virginia nodded, and pointed at the tray. 'I think he can go now.' She turned and headed for the small room, 'I think I'll go make the potion for Ron.'

Madame Promfey was still examining Draco's wrist, 'Dear me, the child is bound to be a Medic some day.'

End of Chapter 5

A/N: Be kind and review! Email me at slayershilarious@yahoo.com if you got any questions!

Special Thanks to my reviewers: Princess Evil, Lady in white, Sly, and my friend Alodia. Be kind and REVIEW!!!