Disclaimer: I'm not 38 years old. I don't live in England. I can't spell half the words the English way. I don't have any children. And I'm not married. So I'm obviously not J. K. Rowling. Which means I don't own anything in this story. ::sigh::


Who Opened the Dragon's Heart?

Chapter One



"Professor Snape?" Pansy asked during Potions on a cold November morning.

"Yes?"

"I was just noticing the time, and I believe I will be late to Divination if I don't leave now, it is a very long walk to the North Tower."

"I see," replied Snape. "Is this true with many of you?" Many heads nodded, eager to leave the cold dungeon. "Very well then, class dismissed."

Of course, if a Gryffindor had asked that, 50 points would have be taken away, Virginia Weasley thought.

"Oh," Snape called out, "Miss Weasley I need to talk to you after class, you too Mr. Malfoy."

Ginny sighed, she was so close to freedom.

"Sorry 'bout your luck, Gin," came her brother Ron's reply. Hermione and Harry both gave her sympathetic smiles and walked out with Ron, hand in hand. Amazingly Ginny's crush on Harry died down during her 4th year and when Harry and Hermione started going out their 6th year, she wasn't bothered at all by it.

But what she wasn't used to was being in the 7th year Potions class. She was after all only a 6th year. She was extremely shocked when she noticed she had been put into the higher level class. She was in fact the only Gryffindor to be boosted up and only a few Slytherins were as well. She continued to put her books in her bag and then walked over to Snape's desk. Malfoy was already there, playing with something from Snape's desk. I would be yelled at for doing that, but Draco's his favorite, he could get away with murder.

"Ah, Miss Weasley," Professor Snape spoke. " I'm sure you're both wondering what I need that requires a Weasley and Malfoy, hmmm? You are both aware that you are the top 2 in this class, are you not?"

The smirk on Malfoy's face, confirmed that he knew this, or at least thought this. Ginny though, had a look of shock on her face. I can't be 1st or 2nd, that means I would have had to beat Hermione and Harry and their the Head Boy and Head Girl.

"Are you sure, Professor Snape?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Yes Miss Weasley, as unbelievable as it is, you outrank Miss Granger and Mr. Potter. Now, for the reason I asked you to stay after. Headmaster Dumbledore would like to test the strength of our students. He wants the top two in Potions, you two, to work on a potion together. So I need both of you to come down here after Supper tonight for me to give you your assignment. Is that clear?"

Malfoy gave a quick nod.

"Mmmhmmm," came Ginny's reply. She was still thinking about how she had beat Hermione in potions.

"Very well, you may now go," Snape told them.

Slowly Ginny turned toward the door, and walked out of the room heading for the Gryffindor Common Room. Suddenly Ginny had a thought, I have to work on a potion alone with Malfoy!

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"A Weasley?" asked Malfoy when Ginny had left.

"Yes, Draco. A Weasley," came Snape's reply.

"I have to work with a Weasley?!? For how long?"

"That I will tell you tonight."

"How is a Weasley in the top?"

"Miss Weasley, is actually very good at Potions. She realizes Potions is not just combining different things to get a solution, and she knows the history quite well. In fact, she's giving you quite a challenge. I believe she is behind you by a point or two. And Miss Granger is in fact many points behind Miss Weasley. Would you rather work with Miss Granger though?"

"Mudblood," Draco muttered.

"And what may be more unbelievable to you is that Mr. Potter is right behind Miss Granger."

"Perfect Potter? How?"

"If I remember correctly Lily Evans, his mother, was very good at Potions. I think he inherited a bit of her talent for it."

Draco sneered when he heard this. Of course, Potter would have to inherit talent. He certainly wouldn't be able to get it on his own.

"So, you agree to work with Miss Weasley?" Snape inquired, knowing Draco would rather work with her then the Head Boy and Girl. Draco gave the affirmative. "Very well, I have to prepare for my next class and also gather what is needed for tonight. If your teacher gives you a hassle about being late, tell them to talk with me."

Draco knew the conversation was over and did an about-face, heading for the door. (A/N: sorry, I'm in marching band mode, about-face is where you turn directly around) I can't believe I have to work with a Weasley, Draco thought as he head for his next class. Father will be furious! Draco gave his classic smirk. Good.

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"Is Dumbledore mad?!?!" Ron exclaimed at supper later that day.

"Ron, we already asked that, and quite awhile ago, I thought," Hermione replied.

Ginny had told the Trio about what Snape had wanted as soon as supper had started, leaving out the part of her class rank. She looked at her watch and realized she'd have to leave soon if she wanted to be on time. She quickly grabbed a few rolls to eat on the way there. She seemed to always eat whenever she'd get nervous. Thankfully, since she was nervous a lot, her body didn't show that she'd eat a lot.

"He can't expect a Weasley and a Malfoy to work together for a long period of time and expect them both to live!" Ron declared.

"Thanks, Ron," Ginny replied sarcastically. "I'm glad you believe that Draco would be able to kill me that easily."

"Did I say you'd be the deceased party?" Ron asked with a smile. "You do have the Weasley temper you know. Worst of all of us, I think. You just hide it better than the rest of us."

"Really, Ron," Hermione sighed. "We don't even know how long they'll be working together, it might just be for a week."

"Guys, I gotta go. I'll be late otherwise, and we all know Snape doesn't like late Gryffindors."

"Don't bloody Malfoy up to bad, Gin," Harry called as she left.

Shit, Ginny thought as she left the Great Hall, I'm going to be late. She then walked quicker to the dungeons, eating two of the rolls on the way. Ginny had reached the stairs to the dungeons and was starting on her 3rd and final roll, when she slipped on the stairs and started falling down the stairs.

"Easy there, Weasley," came a voice as it grabbed Ginny around the waist. Ginny turned around in the stranger's arms to see who had stopped her and looked into the gorgeous grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. There was a hint of concern in them, but that quickly disappeared. "I don't think you want to take a trip to St. Mungo's for breaking your Weasel head open, I doubt your family could afford the bill," Malfoy added with disgust in his voice.

"Don't worry there, Ferret Boy. I was perfectly fine, I would have stopped myself somehow," Ginny replied pulling herself out of Malfoy's arms.

"Fine, I won't bother to help you again, Weasel," Malfoy answered back as he brushed past Ginny descending the steps to the Potions room.

"Stupid, bloody git," Ginny muttered as Malfoy disappeared. Slowly she stood back on her feet and headed for the Potions room.

Certainly not in a hurry to be in the same room with Malfoy, Ginny leisurely walked to the room. When she did get to the door she heard Snape and Malfoy talking.

"...And you're sure it was Voldemort who did it?" Snape was saying.

"Positive," came Draco's answer. "He only allows Voldemort, himself and me in that room, not even House Elves are allowed to enter."

"Very interesting. Lucius must have done something very dreadful for Voldemort to torture him that much." Ginny gasped. They can't know I've heard this. Slowly and quietly Ginny backed up. She then walked forward to the room, making sure her steps were nice and loud and easily heard.

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"Ah, Miss Weasley," Snape voiced when he saw Ginny open the door. "If you'd just come sit over here."

That took a while to just walk to here from the stairs, but I don't think she heard anything, Draco concluded in his mind

"Dumbledore and I decided to really challenge the two of you on this assignment. And because of the difficulty of it you will be working on it for the rest of the school year," Snape started, interrupting Draco's thoughts.

"The rest of the year?!?!" Both Ginny and Malfoy exclaimed.

"Yes," Snape answered with an evil grin. "We did pick two rather complicated potions. You will need to find the first potion, research it, make it, test it; find the second one, research it, make it, then test that as well."

Both Ginny and Draco's jaws dropped. Great I have to spend the rest of the year with Baby Weasel on the most impossible school assignment yet. Things just keep getting better and better.

"Dumbledore and I have thought a lot about this, and having decided that you should make Veritaserum and its direct opposite potion."

Draco was quite impressed Veritaserum was really hard, and its counter potion, Ementiorserum, was even more difficult.

"Professor Snape," Ginny enquired, "doesn't the Ministry limit the use of this potion?"

"You are correct, Miss Weasley," Snape answered shooting a look at Draco that said See-I-Told-You-She-Knew-Potions. "We already talked with the Ministry, and they agreed to let us perform this challenge for the two of you. When we promised to get rid of Veritaserum after it had been tested, they gave us the permission. They also added, that they'd be quite impressed if the two of you would be able to make both of the potions correctly, and if you do they'd appreciate it if they were able to talk to you about your future studies."

"Professor," Ginny asked again. Boy, she sure is full of questions, isn't she? Draco thought. "How am I going to be able to work on this potion and still do my other school work, and Malfoy also has Quidditch practice."

"I've already talked with the other teachers, they will be understanding if one or two assignments are a bit late."

"Sir," Draco spoke for what must have been the first time since Ginny had entered the room. "Veritaserum and Ementiorserum don't take very long to concoct, why do you expect this to last all year?"

"A very good question, Mr. Malfoy," Snape replied. "You will have no help from any of the teachers, nor from any students," he gave Ginny a look, knowing she'd ask Miss Granger or someone else from Gryffindor. "You will however have access to the Restricted Section. But I believe it will take you a while to find the books that give you the instructions to the potions. You will also have to write a 3 foot report on the potions, 3 feet on each potion. You will also have to buy the supplies for the potions yourself. We will supply you with the money. You will buy your supplies on your days when you go to Hogsmeade, and we are under the impression that Hogsmeade will not have all of the supplies so we are allowing to go to Diagon Ally on one of the days that the rest of your classmates go to Hogsmeade. Do you now understand why it may take the rest of the year?"

They both nodded.

"Very well. I believe it is close to curfew time so you should both head back to your dormitories, you can start on this tomorrow. Good night."

And with that, Ginny turned and left the room. Draco was on his way out when Snape called out to him, "Draco, I'll talk to Headmaster Dumbledore, and then tomorrow I will speak with you again."

"Alright then, Professor." And then Draco left the Potions room heading for the Slytherin Common Room.