Disclaimer: I realized I forgot this before. Consider this as counting for the whole story. I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. And what's more, I wouldn't want to. Personally, I'd rather have Draco.
Chapter 1: Myths, Legends, and Partners
"Welcome, class, to the first ever Magical and Muggle Myths class at Hogwarts!" announced Professor Baron, standing at the front of the room.
Dumbledore, after several years of working and negotiating with the Ministry, had finally been granted leave to introduce a new set of courses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. These courses, in response to the growing interaction between the muggle and wizarding worlds, followed along the lines of a traditional muggle curriculum, and consisted mostly of science and English classes, as well as more in depth muggle studies and relations courses. Every student was required to take at least on of these courses every year, and older students were not exempt.
While many of the students in year 5 and above had objected to this extra load when they had their O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts to think of, Ginny had jumped at the chance. This course in particular, which studied common myths and legends and compared the muggle versions to their magical counterparts, had caught her eye; she had been one of the first to sign up for it.
New classes, especially of this variety, had required new teachers to go with them, and the man before the class was one of them. He was probably the youngest professor in the school, in his late twenties; his young age coupled with his handsome face, deep auburn hair, and mysterious black eyes had already made him a target of a number the older girls. He was currently outlining the syllabus, and Ginny, as she listened, had to wonder how many other girls were actually paying any attention.
"This course will look at myths and legends from all times and cultures, but many will be from areas of Europe. They will all deal, in some way, with magic. We will analyze them, compare the muggle versions with the magical ones, and attempt to sort the fact from the fiction. We will trace changes in the tales through the ages, and try to get to the bottom of the story- our goal fro each legend or myth will be to answer the question 'did it really happen?'
"Instead of a traditional final in the sense you are used to, the class will cumulate with a final project. You will be assigned a partner, and a legend, and be required to do your own comparison of at least three different versions, at least one from each world. You will do everything we do in this class, and then go a little deeper; if there are any spells mentioned, for instance, you will be expected to find if is really exists, and then find a way to demonstrate it or give very specific details on it within the report. You will then conclude your report with your opinion of whether your tale is true or not."
There were murmurs at this. Even the girls who had been paying more attention to the speaker than his words had snapped out of their dreamy stares at the mention of so much work. None of the students had ever had to do a report of this sort, and even the muggle-born students seemed worried about the idea.
"Don't panic," laughed their teacher. "We have plenty of time for me to teach you what exactly I want from you, and it's not as hard as it sounds, trust me. And I believe it is unfair to you to throw a huge assignment at you, and expect you to work with someone you barely know; I intend to assign your partners now, and give you the chance to learn to work together on smaller, less demanding assignments first."
He conjured a top hat, took a roll of parchment with a list of the class on it, and dropped the paper into the hat. After swirling his wand over the top, he levitated out slips of parchment with names scrawled on them two at a time, and began to call out the groups.
Ginny waited anxiously in her seat in the back. This course had been a popular one, and older students has been given preference, as they would have fewer chance to take it. This should have meant that she had friends in the class, but she recognized only a few of the people in the room, and most of those were not really friends. No one from her year in her house was present, and the other Gryffindors were ones she knew more by site than anything else. She did see Dean, but they hadn't really been on speaking terms since they'd broken up; he hadn't taken it very well. She wished that Luna had decided to take the course with her, but her "loony" friends had opted for a science course instead. The chances of her actually knowing her partner were slim.
"Ginnevra Wesley," said the Professor; their were a few giggles over her name, "you will be working with…Draconis Malfoy." He went on calling out pairs as though oblivious to the whispers that his words had caused, as Ginny sat at her desk, staring at him like he was mad. Had he just said what she thought he had?
"Now," said Professor Baron, finishing, "we'll start formal lessons tomorrow. You can use the rest of this lesson to get together with your partner and get acquainted, should it be necessary; I daresay that if it isn't, you'll want to talk anyhow." He smiled at what he imagined was a generous gesture on his part.
As the students began to move about the room, getting into their pairs, Ginny scanned the room for her pale partner. To her surprise, he was only a few desks away, slightly in front of where she sat; she watched as he gathered up his things and headed towards her.
He dumped his stuff on the table, next to her books, and dropped into the chair beside her with a sound almost like a sigh. There was an uncomfortable silence that seemed to cut the two off from the rest of the class and their chatter, as Draco and Ginny eyed each other warily and a little uncertainly.
"Well," sneered Draco at last, "this should be…interesting."
"It'll be easier to work with you if you don't sneer at me all the time," said Ginny mildly. "Or is your face just stuck like that now?"
Draco looked at her in surprise, and blinked. It had been a long time since anyone had talked to him like that; he hadn't expected her to make a retort, but to clam up, either with annoyance or rage, the way people, especially Gryffindors, usually did.
Ginny noted his change in expression with satisfaction. "That's better," she said, with the smallest of smiles.
Ha! Ginny isn't going to let him get the best of HER. - I don't like wimpy versions of Ginny, personally.
Thanks to the people who've reviewed so far! I'm so glad that people thought it sounded interesting enough to bother reading. This happy dance is dedicated to you! dances around
Kyree24- I'm glad you liked it. It sounded childish because it was meant to- it was the effect I was trying to go for, so the fact you found it that way is a compliment. I hope you're right about the rest of the fic. As my first reviewer for this story, and for being so nice as to read my other fic as well, you get a HUG!
XxkraziefaerieXx- good to hear, but you almost sound like you think that's it. Don't leave us yet, we're just getting started!
Harry Sirius Potter- you've hit the nail on the head- it was indeed meant to be childish and innocent. The writing style is going to grow up a bit now, to match the fact the characters are older than they were in the prologue.
Helldarkangel1- Yes! You got the reference. I love The Swan Princess, and it was the love song Far Longer Than Forever that inspired this fic, in part. You, my fellow fan, get a cookie.
