Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine and it never will be.

-------------------------- Chapter 2: Tasks and Nightmares

Draco Malfoy cursed his luck as he made his way towards the Great Hall. Why did Potter have to show up then? It was his first task for the Dark Lord and it was not going as well as he would have hoped. Now, don't get him wrong, Draco had no desire to be a Death Eater, but he felt that as of the moment serving Lord Voldemort was the best plan. This way he could get his father off his back and have inside information. It was not that he needed the information for any reason in particular, it was just that he liked to be well informed. For instance, if anything big went down he would like to stay out of they way. There was also the part about refusing to do Voldemort's bidding would lead to torture, which Draco normally tried to avoid.

His first task had been to get to know Ginerva Weasley. He had no idea why this was of any importance. Sure, she could possibly be used to get to Potter, but there were so many more valuable ways of doing that. Moreover, she had already been used for that purpose.

Either way, he was going to accomplish his task.

Draco headed over to the Slytherin table and sat by Crabbe, Goyle, and the only student he had any respect for whatsoever, Blaise Zabini.

"How was your summer Draco?" said Blaise while they were waiting for the sorting.

"Not all too bad."

"I am guessing your father didn't force you to become a Death Eater then?"

"Not yet. I know he will; I count the days."

"It could be worse."

"For instance?"

"You could be recruited to join the ranks of that neurotic crackpot Dumbledore."

"Your right, it could be worse," said Draco, sending a contemptuous look towards the Gryffindor table.

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A pair of blazing red eyes looked out of a gaunt skull covered in all most translucent skill.

"Do you have it Lucius?"

"Yes, my Lord."

An evil cackle rang through the room, as well as through the head of a sleeping redhead, hundreds of miles away.

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Ginny woke with a start. She was covered in a cold sweat and she was shaking. That cackle echoed in her mind, stirring up unpleasant memories.

She checked her clock. Four in the morning. She groaned to herself, she started classes in only a few hours. Knowing that she needed more sleep, she willed herself into a light slumber.

"Ginny, wake up!" yelled a voice all too soon.

"Wha…"

"Come on or you will be late!"

"Alright," said Ginny groggily. She readied herself for the day quickly and walked down to breakfast.

"Mornin' Colin," she said as she plopped herself down onto the seat next to him.

"Good Morning, here is your schedule."

"Thanks," she said as she spread some raspberry jam onto her toast. As she was about to take a bite she stopped and groaned. "Double NEWT level Potions with Slytherins this afternoon."

"I know, horrible, huh?"

"Nothing short of torture."

"Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning though, but it is double with Slytherins too."

"Yep, Dumbledore seems to be pushing more of this inter-house relations stuff, especially between Gryffindor and Slytherin. I wonder who the new professor will be; they didn't show up to the feast."

"Yeah, I wonder too."

"Don't we have the NEWT classes with seventh years too?"

"Yep."

"Lucky us, Snape and Malfoy in one room."

"Now, that is nothing short of torture."

"Agreed."

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A/N...Chapter Two! I hope it is well liked. If you didn't like it you are welcome to complain! Also, thank you to my first ever reviewer, midnight972!

--Eccentric Winston aka Perplexity