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Who Opened the Dragon's Heart

Chapter Ten

"Keep on trucking, Ginny," Gin spoke to herself as she rounded the lake on the grounds of Hogwarts. At the beginning of the school year, Ginny Weasley had made a pledge to herself to stay in top shape. To keep that pledge she ran around the campus daily. Even if the weather were as chilly as it was now. This November chill had kept Ginny on her toes for the whole run. She slowed down as she approached the bench facing the lake; tuckered out, she collapsed onto the bench and gazed across the lake. The sun was slowly but surely rising up to her right, creating a picturesque view of the lake.

Draco Malfoy kissed me, Ginny thought suddenly. One of Ginny's goals this run had been to not think about Draco, speeding up her usual pace had accomplished that. Figures the first thing she'd think of when she stopped running would be Draco. Why oh why did he kiss me? I know it was just on the forehead, but a Malfoy had kissed a Weasley! Ginny slowly closed her eyes. Then a horrible thought entered her brain. What if Ron found out? He'd kill me, and Draco! Ginny's eyelids parted, and immediately she saw Draco Malfoy standing straight in front of her. She gasped as Draco strolled towards her.

"Is it really such a bad thing that I kissed you, Ginny?" Draco asked as soon as he was within 6 inches of Ginny. Slowly he lowered his head, intent on his lips meeting Ginny's.

"It's not bad at all," Ginny stammered out. Ginny felt a gust of wind blow around her and Draco vanished. Hurriedly she glanced around, trying to see where he had gone to. Holy shit, Ginny thought, I just imagined Draco was here! I'm losing it. Completely losing it! Determined that a shower would surely reawaken her, Ginny quickly walked back to the school and up to the Gryffindor Tower.

~~~~~~~~~

"Ginny!" Colin cried out as he saw her descend the girls' dormitory steps. "Are you ready to go get some breakfast?"

"Definitely," Ginny replied as she reached the last step. Lately she and Colin, one of her best friends, had rarely gotten to chat, thanks to her time being taken up with the Lying Truth.

"It must be absolutely wretched having to work with him every day, huh Ginny?" Colin inquired as they sat down to breakfast at the Gryffindor table.

"There are worse things that could happen to me, I guess," Ginny answered. She glanced over at the Slytherin table, searching for the person she was talking about. Draco appeared to be listening to a house-mate's conversation with that glorious smirk of his on his face. I'm going bonkers, Ginny thought.

"It's a good thing he thinks you're not good enough to touch, eh?"

The knife that Ginny was using to butter her toast fell to the table, "What?" she stammered out.

"Well I'm sure to him you're far below him and he'd have to scrub himself daily to get rid of your sickly touch," Colin explained, "Not that a person would have to do that, Ginny," he quickly corrected himself.

"Oh, right right," Ginny replied, not taking any offense. But only because she wasn't really concentrating on what he said. Gin, she spoke to herself, calm down. Breathe a few times. Nobody suspects anything happened.

"Ginny, are you all right?" Colin asked, deeply concerned. "You seem a bit skittish."

"I'm good, real good. Never been better," Ginny smiled quickly to hide any of Colin's doubt.

"Well all right then," Colin concluded. They both then dug into their scrumptious breakfast, Ginny not as much as Colin for two reasons. One, she never ate a big breakfast, her running took some of her appetite away. Two, because she kept stealing glances at the Slytherin table. Colin cleared his throat from beside her. She glanced his way.

"Ginny," Colin started. Oh no, Ginny panicked, he suspects something. I know he does. Colin's not stupid. Major problem here!

"Yea, Col?"

"We're good friends right?"

"Well of course."

"And good friends should always tell each how they feel, and what's new with them, right?"

"I guess so."

"Ginny, I like you. Quite a bit. And well I'd really love it if you'd be my girlfriend," Colin rushed out.

Oh shit, new problem. Really bad problem! Ginny was in complete shock She had never ever thought of Colin in that way. They were best buddies, definitely not relationship material How do I tell him that I can't?

"Miss Weasley," a voice came from behind Ginny, interrupting her thoughts. Ginny turned her head to look at the person who had saved her from answering Colin.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall?" Ginny eagerly asked.

"I wondered if you would accompany me outside, I have a bit to tell you," the professor answered.

"If you must speak with me, I certainly won't say no," Ginny replied happily, it never hurt to brown nose to your Head of House every now and then. McGonagall then turned to walk down between the aisle of tables.

"I guess we can finish this conversation later?" Colin asked expectantly.

"I won't say no to that, Colin," Ginny replied glancing at Colin, immediately his face lit up like the sun. "To the talking later bit," Ginny hurried out. "See you later, Colin."

Instead of heading through the huge Great Hall doors, McGonagall turned, seeming to head toward the Slytherin table.

"Professor," Ginny called out from behind, "where are we going?"

"I must also retrieve Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall answered.

"Do you want me to just wait outside the hall then?"

"If you want to." Let's delay the seeing Draco then, by oh, 3 minutes, Ginny decided. She then exited the Great Hall and headed over to steps and sat down. In the few moments that Ginny had before McGonagall would arrive with the newly retrieved Draco Malfoy, Ginny quickly thought of how she should act. Should I pretend nothing happened? She considered. But something did happen. But nothing big, it was just a simple kiss on the forehead. But then, he did try to kiss me, for real. But I don't know that for sure! But what else could he have been doing? Ginny seemed to be staring off into space when Draco and McGonagall exited through the doors.

"Miss Weasley," McGonagall spoke, trying to gain her attention. "Miss Weasley."

"Hey, Gin!" Draco called out, breaking Ginny's concentration easily.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy," remarked McGonagall. "If the two of you would just follow me to my office."

The walk to McGonagall's office went by slowly. Ginny seemed to look at only one thing on the way there. The paintings on the wall next to her, with occasional hidden glances at Draco. They finally reached the door to her office and she held it open as the two of them entered. Draco and Ginny quickly sat at the chairs placed in front of her desk.

"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley," McGonagall began as she sat in her chair. "Professor Snape and I have noticed a dramatic difference in the way the two of you behave. The two of you don't seem to be at each other's throats. Severus and I have then decided that maybe the two of you have learned your lessons. So we're taking two weeks off your sentence due to good behavior. Instead of your remaining 6 weeks of detention you will have only 4 weeks of detention. Also Professor Snape has requested that you continue serving detention under him. I have discussed this with the other professors and they have agreed. They all wish to see the two of you succeed and believe that the two of you should use your detention to work on the project."

"Well that's cool, I guess," Draco finally spoke after a few moments of silence. "2 fewer weeks of detention," his voice died off and he glanced over at Ginny. She really looks quite cute, the freckles sprinkled on her nose aren't horrible at all, Draco observed to himself. His gaze lowered to her lips. I should have kissed those amazing lips when I had the chance. Ginny then opened those lips that Draco was admiring.

"Professor, I have a question," Ginny spoke.

"Yes, Miss Weasley?"

"Let's say at the next Hogsmeade visit Draco and I gather our supplies for the potions, then at the next Hogsmeade visit we go to Diagon Ally instead and get the ingredients that we couldn't find in Hogsmeade, and then when we get back we realize we've forgotten one little ingredient. Would you and Professor Snape be lenient enough to let us go slip back to Diagon Ally and receive this ingredient?"

McGonagall pondered on this for a moment, at the same time Draco pondered over the movement and shape of Ginny's lips as she spoke. "I do believe that Severus and I would let you go and get that one part of the potion," McGonagall finally answered. "If that's all I shall see the two of you later." At that dismissal both Ginny and Draco rose from their seats and headed for the door.

"See you tonight, Gin," Draco said and headed in the opposite direction that Ginny had to go.

"Yea," whispered Ginny to his back, "see you tonight." Ginny then headed for her Common Room, not at all ready to break the bad news to Colin.

A/N: Eek. I'm so sorry for it being as short as it is. I just couldn't think of what to write next so I figured I'd just send out the bit that I could. I feel bad for possibly disappointing all my wonderful readers with the shortness, but there should be some good chapters coming up. Onto the thank you's to all my wonderful reviewers!! You guys are awesome.

Remember: if you want a thank you must review, and I am certainly fine with writing out tons and tons of thank you's. ::wink::

Thank you's:

Joline-Kitty: I'm glad you enjoy this story. Cliffies are great. I hate reading them, but they're great to write. :-)

Kali Lestrange: Aren't Draco and Ginny so cute?!? Best couple, EVER! Hehe

DusktilDawn: How could I not dedicate this to you? You were the only person to review before I quickly wrote chapter 9. Sorry for this slow update though. I'll try to change that.

RosyCheeks: Comforting Draco is Ginny's job. Then after her, comes me, muahehehe. Hmm, Ginny's height. She's not short, but she's shorter than Draco. Draco's a tallish guy, making her probably 5' 8", ::sigh:: I wish I were that tall.

Kat: YAY! A band person's reading my story!! Must make more references to Band, hehe. I wonder what Draco's reaction to beef stew will be, hmmmmmm Hehe. Wait, Ginny and Draco are gonna talk about the kiss? Now why in the world would they do that?!? :)

Magen-Malfoy: Hehe, mysterious Draco. Should he have even more secrets? I think he should. Maybe he used to be a stripper, hehe. I know I'd pay to see him out of clothes. :)

crazyperson: Kissing on the forehead is nice too! It's a nice, sweet type of thing. Be happy with what you've got. :)

Nichole Malfoy: You might just have to wait ohhh 80 years for your turn with Draco :). First kisses are always special.

Rose Petel: I think this take on Draco fits really well. Keep reviewing! Wahoo!

Tauraman: No dieing!! I will not have any reviwers die! You are way to important to me!! Course I just went and updated after a long time and real short, whoops.

Ohepless Oramtnci: Nice? That's it? Can I have a bit more to go on? If that's not a sarcastic nice I'm glad you approve of the chapter.

Lauren: I can't finish yet! Not for a while, and you won't be happy when I do. I'm warning you now. Draco's cute in most stories, hehe.

Me Acorn and somtimes Bananas: That is a really unique name...and I'm sure you're a real unique person too. ;) No cuddling with Draco!! He's MINE! I mean umm, he's Ginny's!

NimsaNightshadow: New reviewer. Wahoo!! I tried to update soon, not as soon as the last two, but still soon. Yay for new reviewers!

Choowee: You really think it's terrific? Wow, terrific, that's a great adjective.

Ash Night: Lucius is an evil evil man. We all must kill him!

Note: By the end of this long list of reviews Squeaks had unfortunately gone insane due to lack of sleep this weekend. I hope you all had a real good V-Day weekend. Candy is really really good. Hehehe. Ending note: review, review, REVIEW! Ah hehehehehehehe.