Double Bubble Toil and Trouble

Chapter 4

When Ginny woke up the morning after the Sorting, she realized that her Advanced Potions class was first and she couldn't be late to Snape's class.

Ginny was an extremely smart girl, perhaps one of the smartest in her family. But then, who could beat Percy? Because of her smarts she was put into all advanced classes this year. If she did well enough she could graduate a year earlier than scheduled.

This particular morning Ginny had actually woken up too late for anything more than a quick hot shower, very little makeup and a curling charm. She threw on her too-short robes that she desprately needed to replace and some Muggle clothes underneath. She slipped on her favorite silver toe ring with the heart on it and rushed out the door.

Luckily she took a seat next to Hermione just as the bell sounded.

"As usual, I expect you all to get to work and be serious in here, no foolishness," Snape said sharply. "I will be partnering you up with someone right now, my choice." He added evilly glaring around the room. "Everyone stand up and sit in the seat that I assign you, look at the person sitting next to you and that will be your partner the rest of the year or until further notice."

Hermione was with Crabbe, Ron with Goyle and Harry was with Pansy, strangely though, it looked as though he enjoyed being with her, even if it did mean he had to get pushed around.

This, unfortunately meant that Ginny had next to no hope for anything good to come of her partner. She heard her name and sat in the appointed seat.

".and Draco Malfoy." Snape finished maliciously as Draco smirked and plopped down next o her.

"So we meet again Weasel!" Draco sneered.

"Stuff it Ferret breat." Ginny huffed.

"Today class you will be making an enlarging potion, you will test it out on these rats that I give you and if it works successfully you will receive an A, if not then an F. There is no in between. Got it?" Snape threatened as he sat a rat down at each table.

Draco observed Ginny's lips, they looked slightly scarred but not quite as badly as the would have been had he not known a healing charm. He winced at the thought of her in pain that day and then smiled at the thought of her sleeping on his shoulder, but now things were back to normal, they lived to VERY different lives.

Ginny was aware of the fact that Malfoy's eyes were glued to her and so she turned her eyes on him.

"Can I help you with something?" She asked him, surprising him greatly.

"I wouldn't ask unless you're ready to pay up." Malfoy said sounding very alluring.

Ginny rolled her eyes at the comment and chose to ignore it.

Draco coughed a little. "Well we need to get started with this enlarging potion. Can you hand me the toad liver?" Draco asked her.

"Sure." Ginny said reaching for what she thought to be the toad liver.

"No Weasley, not that!" Draco exclaimed. "That's highly toxic," he warned, "to the left is where you'll find the toad liver, please put that down." Ginny placed the deadly stuff back and reached to her right. "NO THE OTHER LEFT!" Draco boomed, making Ginny cringe. She was looking for it when he became impatient, grabbed her hand and placed in on the bottle of toad liver.

As Draco did this they bolt felt as though electricity was coursing throughout their bodies, but both of them kept that to themselves. Draco let his hand linger on the Weasley's for a little longer than needed, enjoying the sensation, before pulling away and letting Ginny get the bottle to him be herself.

Just as she passed him thetoad liver she thought of something.

"Ferret boy?" She asked quietly.

"Yes, Weasel?"

"Thanks. For healing my lips and staying with me on the train." She stammered.

"Sure. Just don't say a word." Draco teasted. "I have a reputation to uphold."

"Sure thing, Ferret." Ginny smiled to herself.

"Hand me the diced cow tongue please." Draco said.

"Alrighty." Ginny said, confident that she knew this one. She searched everwhere but it wasn't there! "Draco - I - I can't find it." She said, her lip trembling. He was testing her, she knew it and she failed. Oh how she hated humiliation.

"Don't cry Weaslesy. It's not like I'm going to yell or scream or hurt you if you can't find it." Draco said, inwardly astonished that he was the reason for her tears that were welling up in her eyes. "Plus I have it, I was only playing." He said softly, brandishing the ingredient.

"Draco Malfoy, you are positively cruel." Ginny said growing red and hitting him in the arm. 'So it was a test. That was easy, cry and he gives in!' She gloated privately.

"No need for violence, Weasley." Draco said. He was so excited that she said his first name that he didn't care if she had hit him and it had actually hurt.

His name out of her mouth sounded so sweet and affectionate. No one called him Draco but Crabbe, Goyle, Lucious and Pansy. Crabbe, Goyle, and Lucious made it sound downright evil while Pansy made it sound ear- splitting. Then of course there was his mother who said it in the same manner as Ginny.

Snape came around to see if the rats were enlarged properly or not. When he came to Draco and Ginny's table there was a torn look. He wanted to treat Draco with his usual favoritism but at the same time he wanted to make sure that the Weasley girl failed. He decided that this year, he would have to be fair, yes that's right FAIR. So he gave them the A that they deserved for their properly enlarged rat.

Draco was still thinking of Ginny. It was the comparison to his mother that he had just made that got to him. It was then that he knew he would have sweet Virginia Weasley, no matter the cost. His family name was not worth letter her slip through his fingers. He was sure his mum would love Ginny.

'I'll do anything.' He thought to himself glancing at her bent over the cauldron looking into her cauldron as she began to clean everything up.

'No matter what.'
Thanks to my new reviewers! I'm glad that you are all enjoying my story! It is progressing but of course it will take time for Ginny and Draco to warm up to each other (not that Draco seems as though he needs it! ;)) I will update very soon! I've already got the next chapter written!

Please review if you like it and want more!!