Spirit of the Dragon

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Chapter Two-Professor Dumbledore?

The Vari Elf (V-Rye Elf)- Not much is known of this ancient creature, myth claims the creature was made by one of the first wizards to walk the earth. The Vari Elf cannot be identified due to the fact anyone who has encountered the Elf has not lived to tell the tale, or chooses not to.

The Vari Elf is said to have the ability to give the illusion of a wizard or witch's worst fear. Most often the magic person or animal that have been found after a Vari Elf encounter died of a heart attack, or fear as some would say.

A great founder of Hogwarts was known to have died by the hand of a Vari Elf. (Godric Gryffindor) Although accounts from the other founder who witnessed the battle (The only other people to see a Vari Elf did not mention its features) claimed Godric survived the illusion and was killed by brute and powerful magic. Seems all types of elves have powerful magic.

Ginny was distracted from her reading by a terrible high pitch scream. "HARRY!" She rolled her eyes and walked to the door.

()()()()

Hermione was leaning over Harry trying all spells possible to heal his cracked skull and broken back, nothing happened. "HARRY!" she cried trying to keep him awake and was resorted to screaming for him to hear her. She heard a door creak and saw Ginny. Fawkes seemed suddenly very sad and began to cry. He leaned over Harry and tried to heal him. His tears evaporated before they could touch Harry's body and he realized he could not heal Harry. Fawkes looked at Ginny. Heal him.

Hermione glared. "Fawkes! She's not capable. I know more magic then she and I can't help him!" Fawkes swayed his long neck towards Hermione. Who has lived over a thousand years and knows better? Hermione relaxed her tense muscles. "Fine. Ginny, please help Harry." Ginny's face suddenly lit up like a flashlight. "Something Professor Potter cannot do that I can? This will be something to tell everyone!" She leaned down at Harry. "Harry. Harry. Darling."

Hermione wanted to growl but Fawkes looked at her and she withheld herself. Ginny leaned in on Harry and began to kiss him gently across his forehead. "Harry. Harry pay attention to me." Harry winced and opened his bright green eyes. "Ginny. Ginny, are you better now? You're not mad at me are you?" Ginny's bright face dimmed. "No, Never mad at Harry Potter. No one could be." Harry seemed more capable of movement. "You do. Ginny, I see it in your eyes. What has been to you?" Ginny pushed him down. "Harry. Do something for me." He nodded. "Kiss me."

Hermione stood up abruptly but Fawkes glided into her way. Professor Potter is your husband living more important then a meaning less kiss? Isn't it? Hermione frowned. "Yes." Ginny leaned into Harry who seemed reluctant to kiss her. Lighting bolt shot from her mouth to her entire body and she felt excited. "Oh Harry..." She muttered. Harry leaned back fully healed and covered in blood. He moaned softly also so much Ginny couldn't hear him. "Hermione." Ginny snapped to reality. "Oh. Sorry Harry. I didn't mean it."

Fawkes started to cry again. Hermione didn't understand it. "Fawkes why do you cry?" He sighed leaving Ginny drenched in his tears as she walked off gloomily; I needed to heal her broken heart.

()()()()

Harry yawned slitting up in bed. "Hermione? Hermione?"

Hermione quickly appeared from behind a curtain. "Yes Harry?"

He smiled brightly. "How did you do it? How did you save me?"

She gulped clearly upset; "I didn't save you. Ginny did. Rather fairy tale like I might add. She kissed you and you healed."

He gasped. "I kissed her? Hermione don't be upset with me!"

She shrugged. "I'm not."

Harry groaned. "Yes you are! Don't you hear yourself? You're voice is hateful!"

She sighed. "Yes, I am mad. Neither Fawkes nor I could heal you! Do you know how bad that makes me feel? Harry do you understand how helpless I felt."

He softly smiled. "Hermione, you're just the same. Remember when we were here on our first year looking for the Sorcerer's Stone and you couldn't help me in the last room? I got through it. Believe it or not, sometime you just can't do anything Hermione, in this case you just couldn't. Hermione just be glad I made it. Please."

She leaned in for a hug from Harry. She felt much better but something was still nagging her. 'How did Ginny do it? She's not strong enough for healing magic.'

()()()()

Ginny was eating her oatmeal with half shut eyes as she tried to shake off the sleep. "Gin, Colin said he was sorry and didn't mean it," someone said into her ear. She mumbled something in return but didn't catch it. "Are you sure you want me to tell him that? It will ruin your chances from going out with him ever again," Ginny again hastily replied this time catching a few of her comments, bastard-git-good for nothing-liar-hate him-out of my face. The girl beside her gasped. "Ginny! Really now? You can tell him yourself! Such foul language will not come from my mouth!" Ginny rolled her head around. "Right Elaine, Do you know how much I know you're liar? Let me give you a hint, Oh shit, Dean faster, please, my last git of a boyfriend wasn't this good. You really need to tell him to make his Hogwarts visits few and far between; I'll never get any sleep otherwise."

Elaine turned white. "GINNY! You really are a- a-" Ginny smirked. "Shoo with you now. Bye Elaine!" Elaine picked up her first class books and ran off crying. The windows opened quickly and owls appeared from everywhere. Ginny new silver owl swooped down to her cooing. She smiled at her owl. "How are you Moon? I take it you like the dye job I gave you? I really have to thank Harry for buying you after that amazing win. What do you have for me today?

Moon pecked at Ginny's bacon and dropped a parchment to her. It had large curvy writing. Ginny you are a great witch. I expect much to come from you. Thank you for saving the man I would call son. Ginny gasped looking up at the table all ready knowing whom it was from.

Dumbledore looked down at her with beaming eyes and nodded. Ginny smiled.

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Ron walked up and down the hallways realizing he had forgotten how to get around to the Headmaster's office. A strange sound echoed into his ear and he followed it to a semi-open door. He peered inside the semi-dark room to see a bushy haired woman and a dark unruly haired man wrapped in each other's arms. "HARRY! HERMIONE!" The two collided off the desk to the floor in a tangle of robes and limbs. He laughed walking towards the pair. "So how goes teaching Hermione?" She grumbled. "Couldn't you have waited till I'm standing before talking?"

Ron laughed as Harry and Hermione stumbled up. "No, Sorry I'm in a rush, Dumbledore wants to talk to me about brewing a new potion." Hermione beamed. "Really? What's the key ingredient?" Ron scratched his head; "I think something called the Orb of Essence." Hermione cringed. "Of all things it had to be the Orb of Essence." Ron shrugged. "Yeah so?" Hermione groaned. "Ron, The Orb of Essence is a one of a kind item. It's so easy to get a hold of because whoever has it is willing to give it away. The Orb of Essence steals life! If you touch it with your bare hands it takes your soul! It kills you! Ron don't you get it? It's an item of the Dark Arts and the darkest I know of." Ron was white. "Hermione, Couldn't you wait till I handed it off to Dumbledore before you told me that."

Hermione too went white looking down at the bag at Ron's side. Harry coughed breaking the shock. "Off to Dumbledore now! He'll be able to handle it."

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Hermione stood in front of the gargoyle. "Ham Sandwich." The gargoyle jumped aside and let Harry, Ron, and Hermione up. Within minutes they were standing at Dumbledore's door. "Come in Mr. and Mrs. Potter and Mr. Weasley." Ron instantly opened his mouth when he was a good ways inside Dumbledore's office. "How could you! How could you send me after such an item!" Harry held Ron back. Dumbledore seemed slightly upset and looked at Hermione. "Mrs. Potter I was hoping you would not tell them. You are to smart for your own good sometimes. What you all have heard MUST NOT leave this room. No one must know the Orb is here. Do you understand that?" Hermione seemed only three inches tall after being semi-scolded by Dumbledore. Harry nodded with a stern face, as did Ron rather ashamed of his outbreak.

"I'm sorry Headmaster-" Hermione began. Dumbledore sighed. "Mrs. Potter please do not speak anymore. I have said more to you and Harry then you both need to know. I only want to speak to Mr. Weasley. Remember, no one must know, Harry, please do not do anything foolish if anything should happen to the Orb. Good day Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter." Harry saw Hermione trembling; 'Even if she is a teacher getting told off by one is still upsetting to her.' Harry helped Hermione out of Dumbledore's office and out of the gargoyle doorway. There he saw Ginny. She squeaked and run up to Dumbledore's office before they could stop her.

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Ron walked out of Dumbledore office only to see his sister cowering in the corner. "Ginny? What's wrong?"

She squeaked. "Nothing Ron. I have to see Dumbledore now."

He nodded. "All right. But remember I-"

She cut him off. "Yes I know, I'm always here for you. I know that's a bunch of owl shit! I know who you're always there for and it isn't me."

Ron was about to say something when Dumbledore opened his door and asked Ginny to come in.

Ron left moments afterward, confused. "What could Dumbledore want with Ginny? Since when did my sister curse?"

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Ginny fell back into a large comfy chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. "Headmaster. Why did you call me?" He smiled down at her brightly. "Because I want to be your teacher." Ginny gasped. "I-I-" Dumbledore seemed taken back for only a moment. "Ginny, please keep your mind straight. I want to be your Animagus teaching teacher." Ginny huffed. "With all due respect Headmaster. I spoke with Professor Potter and told her I no longer wish to continue Animagus classes. I trust she told you, so why are you asking me?"

Dumbledore stopped pacing turned to her with a cold stern look. "Ms. Weasley I have been informed on your opinion. I do not agree with your choice. I am here to give you a second chance to be the best," Ginny's gaze was unchanging. "The best that not even Tom could give you," Ginny flinched. "The best that will make everyone know your name," Ginny's ears perked up. "The best that only you can achieve."

Ginny let her gaze wonder to Fawkes in the cage; "Will I be a great as a Phoenix?"

Dumbledore nodded. "For the same reasons."

Ginny stood up. "Well then, what's lesson one?"

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Colin tapped his pencil to his book waiting for the other students to come to Animagus class. He was the perfect student always ahead of time, and never wrong, granted he didn't know everything, he was one of the best. Professor Potter came in gently placing the books she carried in a neat pill on the desk. Colin sighed, 'To think last year we were equals and now she is my teacher! I wish you had to get degrees in the magic world to teach, then Hermione would have never been my teacher.'

Colin was broken from his thoughts by Professor Potter. "Colin is something wrong?"

He shook his head. "No Professor."

She nodded and went back to looking over papers, but slammed them down just as quickly. "Yes there is Colin."

He grumbled. "Fine, if you really must know, why are you so hard on Ginny? It is your fault she left."

Professor Potter turned bright red; "It is not! She chose to leave on her own."

Colin nodded. "Right, She did leave on her own, but because of you. She was stressed too much in this class. You're harder on her then Professor Snape and McGonagall combined. Ginny isn't you! She doesn't live by the books."

Professor Potter snorted. "I don't live by the books. I live by the experiences!"

Colin shook his head hard standing up. "NO! You learn you magic by the book and you only sharpened your abilities on your ridiculous escapades with Potter in the sixth and seventh year!"

Professor Potter now too stood up straight. "For your information Colin, I have been through adventures all seven years I was here. Granted I did learn my magic from books, I had to learn how to cast from then heart!" Professor Potter concluded. Colin glared. "Since we're going by names, Hermione! If you can cast from the heart why can't you see that you hurt Ginny every time you compare her with yourself, or you friend for that matter! You compared her to the rest of the class yesterday and made her think she isn't good enough to be a witch. Do you know how that feels? No, you wouldn't. You've always been the best Hermione. Don't you know that Ginny use to hold you as her idol? She wanted to be like you! Of course she doesn't now. I can see why, she'll grown up to be a snobby git!"

Professor Potter stood blinking at the empty spot where Colin once stood. He was gone; he had slammed the door behind him and left. She started to cry. 'First Ginny, now Colin! What am I doing to my friends?'

()()()()

Colin clamored down the hallway angrily as he made his way to the Gryffindor Common Room. He rushed into the portrait hole grumbling. "MEOW!" a cat screamed. Colin looked down realizing he was stepping on the animal's tail. "Crook-" Colin looked closely. The cat wasn't Crookshanks. No, the cat was far too red to be Crookshanks. Before Colin could catch the animal, it darted off out of the portrait hole and down the hallway.

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Hermione came out of her personal shower room frowning. "Harry I've had such a hard day and you've brightened it up some, but could we go Hogsmeade?" Harry looked up from the book he was reading in Hermione's bed. "Sure darling. Maybe a visit to the Three Broomsticks?" She shook her head. "Sure, but I'm not drinking anything for the sake of the baby, no matter how weak the alcohol content." Harry nodded climbing out of her bed walking in naked bliss.

Hermione smiled. "When did you get so daring?" He smirked back at her. "Since you decided to prance around without a shirt on." She blushed. "HARRY! It would be you to notice." He nodded. "You're my wife of course I would," he eyed her. "Hermione. That isn't anything I haven't seen before, no need to hide yourself from me!" She giggled as Harry buried his face into her neck. "HARRY! Please. What if Dumbledore come here, worse yet one of the other teachers!" A voice rung out. "Yes indeed." Harry gasped. "SNAPE!"

Snape stood with an even paler face then normal when Harry whipped around to protect Hermione's body from view. Raising his wand Snape spoke. "Sheetious Wrapidose." Harry was suddenly covered in a bed sheet and relaxed standing in front of Hermione still. "Professor Potter, Dumbledore wants to speak to you about Colin Creevey. Something about him succeeding to transform completely without your aid. Tisk, tisk, Students progressing without their teacher is a bad sign, hurry now Professor Potter.

Hermione nodded waiting till Snape left before getting dressed and speaking. "Go ahead and wait for me in the Great Hall. I'll be down as soon as possible."

Harry nodded. "Sure, Hermione try not to freak."

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"Oy! Harry have you seen Ginny? I can't find her anywhere." Ron called to Harry.

Harry stood up straight. "No, Haven't seen her since this morning."

Ron was all white; "I've been looking for her since then. She was up in Dumbledore's office for two hours. I'm worried. She left before I could stop her and when I turned the corner running after her she was gone."

Harry sighed. "I don't know and Dumbledore seemed to be getting around. I've been waiting for Hermione to return for one and a half hours now!"

Ron went, if possible, whiter. "Harry don't say that."

Harry opened and closed his mouth. "You don't think..."

Ron shook his head; "He can't, that's just wrong. Dumbledore isn't like that. Besides he always has McGonagall to bang up."

"Tell me I didn't just hear you say that Ron!" Hermione voice squeaked. Ron went red. "Hermione... I-"

She cut him short; "I don't want to hear it. Harry shall we go? Ron would you like to come too?"

Ron noted how reluctant she was to say that. "Oh bugger! No it's a 'you and Harry day'. Enjoy yourselves besides I won't be happy till I find Ginny."

Hermione sighed in relief and Harry just frowned. "Oh well. Hope to see you soon, we might be out all night."

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Draco snorted. "Harry Potter? Why would you think of such a thing? The prat is married!"

Pansy laughed. "So! I have enough charm to seduce a king! Besides Harry Potter might learn a thing or to by bedding me, I know you did!"

Draco snorted yet again. "Right, Pansy you really are a joke sometimes. Well, speaking of the devil! There is the prat himself!" Pansy turned her drunken blurred vision to see black peach blob arm and arm with a brown peach blob. "Yes, that's them, Hermione's looking ugly as usual." Draco snickered happily. "Hello Harry, Hermione."

Harry looked startled. "Draco! What are you doing here?"

Draco laughed. "Can't you see I'm on a date with the MUCH prettier Pansy." Harry didn't seem phased by Draco's comment.

"I'm happy for you. Now if you don't mind I'm going to get a butterbeer and I'll be off." Harry said nonchalantly. Draco nodded kissing Pansy hard in view of Hermione. She wrinkled her nose in disgust making Draco laugh.

Harry glared as they walked off. "Draco, show some respect. Try not to drink anymore. You're drunk enough as it is."

Draco howled with laughter. "Least I'm man enough to pass from the butterbeer to the bigger drinks!"

()()()()

Hermione sighed, 'What did I do wrong? Have I really changed that much? I mean normally I would have been able to see what's upsetting Ginny, but I just kept pushing her. I did the same thing for Colin, but he took it better. Harry, I know something is on his mind.' She looked up at Harry hoping to see that he was okay. He wasn't, his eyes seemed distant and glass like. "Harry." He looked down at her. "Yes Hermione?" She sighed. "What's wrong? I know something is wrong. I see it in-" Harry put a finger to her mouth. "Hermione please don't ramble. You are rather intolerable when you do that... Ginny is missing."

Hermione cringed, 'Intolerable... Ginny missing...' "Sorry. I just wanted to know what's wrong." He nodded. "I'm glad your heart is finally in the right place again." She stopped. "What?" Harry turned around to her. "Hermione just forget it. Come on now." She pushed him away. "No, Explain yourself Harry." He dropped his head. "Fine, I know you just became a Professor this year and it's probably been your dream. Hermione, you've been hard on your students. Too hard, Colin-" Hermione hushed him. "Harry James Potter I thought you knew me better then that! My dream has always been to be first female Minister of Magic, but I put that behind myself when I accomplished all my other dreams; be Head Girl, get married, make a family, and love the man I marry. I have not been hard on my students. Colin is just making up lies, bugger, Harry do you believe everything you hear?"

Harry blinked one, twice, three times before speaking. "Hermione what's gotten into you. I know you've changed, bugger we've all changed. You seemed to have changed for the worse. You've become blinder then when we were kids! Ginny, your best friend, now hates your guts. I know she does, Colin doesn't lie, and if he does I can tell. Hermione did you know Colin was dating Ginny?" Hermione gasped. "She is dating Colin?" Harry shook his head. "See you're not listening to me. WAS, if you were talking to her, like friends do, you would now that day before last Colin dumped her. Your squabbling during that Animagus lesson didn't help one bit."

Hermione felt her knees give way, 'Maybe Ginny's not the only one who's lost herself into time. When did my relationship with Harry become so tight? When did Ginny stop being my friend? When did I start being a cold heartless person? When did I forget who I really am?'

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Colin took off all of his clothes; "So I can transform doesn't mean I know how to do it with my clothes yet." He told himself. Praying that no one was out of the corridor he pushed the portrait open and jumped out, bare and all. He quickly transformed into a calico cat.

I smell another cat. Who dares claim my turf? Colin-cat thought angrily. He bounded around a corner into a classroom. Something else was in the air; this bitch is in heat! Colin growled. He walked up to the scent of the female cat. She was purring at the sight of Colin. Colin inwardly shrugged; A fling with a little kitty won't hurt. He stalked up to the cat, if possible he was smiling as he did so.

()()()()

"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey! Hermione's passed out, please help her!" Harry gasped pushing the infirmary door open. Madam Pomfrey frowned. "You're not even my students anymore and you still get into trouble." Harry laid Hermione softly on the bed frowning at her sudden faint spell.

()()()()

Colin stumbled out of the classroom naked, 'Damn that cat is a barbarian! I don't think I'll get sex like that again!' "COLIN!" Someone shouted. He turned to see the shocked figure of Draco, the drunk, Malfoy. "Malfoy!" Draco seemed to recover from the shock slouching over to where Colin stood, placed a hand on his shoulder and laughed. "My, My, Mr. Creevey got a little taste of heaven haven't we?" Colin blushed, 'Am I that obvious, I mean other then being naked.' He looked down at himself, despite being a cat he looked terrible. He was all sweaty, ruffled hair, flexed muscles, and shaky hands. "Malfoy can we keep this to our selves..." Malfoy grinned, 'Slytherin like.' Colin thought. "Sure buddy." Colin bit his lips. "Thanks Malfoy, Buddy."

Malfoy suddenly broke from his drunken state. "Take me to the Gryffindor Common Room. I want to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione." Colin gulped. "All right, follow me."

()()()()

"Oh Mr. Potter why make such a fuss? Your wife is fine. She just had a fainting spell. No reason to bring her here. Take her with you and go back to the Gryffindor Tower. I'll be glad that you four will be gone tomorrow." Harry looked sternly at her. "Draco is staying here?" She grumbled. "Of course Dumbledore wants all of you here. If you ask me it's a ridiculous idea. The Weasleys, Potters, and Malfoys will always mean trouble."

Harry grumbled as he walked out with Hermione. 'Yeah so what? We do have a tendency to attract trouble but oh well. She doesn't have to be so rude about it. Then again, that's how she's always been.'

()()()()

Colin and Draco sat calmly in the Gryffindor Common Room waiting for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to return. Draco stared and Colin and Colin stared at Draco. They were sizing each other up when the portrait opened. Draco instantly stood up. "Harry?" Colin too stood up. "Ginny?"

Fiery red hair appeared it was Ron. Both boys dropped to their chairs disappointed. Ron grumbled about something and disappeared into a guestroom set up for him.

Again the porthole opened and this time Harry appeared with a sleeping Hermione in his arms. Soon Draco and Harry, with Hermione, disappeared into the same room as Ron.

For the last time the porthole opened. Colin had passed out at three in the morning. It was now five and Ginny appeared out of nowhere. She peered around in the dark and couldn't see a thing. She tripped over nothing and landed into the nearest comfy chair. Into Colin's lap.

He jumped awake. "Ginny? Where have you been?" She looked at him, her eyes gleaming in the violet sky background visible through a large window. "Why?" Colin wrapped his arms around her. "Because I've missed you. Ginny, I want you to be my girl again." She looked at him, 'She's not the same. Something is up.' Suddenly she smiled. "No problem Colin. We can be together again. Give me a kiss."

()()()()

An unruly wisp of hair fell over his eyes as he watched Colin kiss Ginny. He bit down a growl as he watched Colin slip his greedy fingers under Ginny's robes and blouse. His nails dung into his palms as Colin stripped Ginny of her blouse. He fought the urge to beat Colin and the urge to bang Ginny; he restricting pants didn't help. He turned with a loud grumbled and slammed the door behind himself.

()()()()

Ginny squeaked at the sound of the door slamming. She quickly put her blouse back on and tried in vain to open the door. Colin was white. "I hope that wasn't your brother." Ginny nodded. "Same here."

()()()()

Colin ate his breakfast up quickly then seated himself by Ginny's side. There across from them was Hermione a little pale, Harry giving him dirty looks, Ron too giving Colin dirty looks, and Draco calm and collected as always. Ginny noticed the looks and jabbed Colin in the side. Out of the corner of her mouth she whispered. "Into the hall now!"

Colin followed her quickly into the outer hall. "They know!" Colin gasped. Ginny just stomped her feet. "Harry was the one who saw us! I know it, the way he looks at me. He's upset. Do you think he wants me?" Colin looked at Ginny. "Ginny, Darling, He's married." She sighed. "I know. Can't I dream?" Colin laughed. "Yeah sure, Dream all you want but make sure I'm in some of them... Maybe dress in a nice tuxedo underwear or something." She turned bright red. "That's a fantasy of yours isn't it?" He nodded. "Yeah and the other part of the fantasy is you as my dining platter."

They giggled happily resuming their kissing session when Draco popped up out of nowhere with a grin on his face. "My, my, so is this your amazing score Colin?"

Colin turned red. "No! Draco please this isn't the time!"

Ginny pushed Colin away. "Your amazing score? What's that suppose to mean?"

Colin turned a deeper shade of red. "Ginny. Please. I'll explain."

She shook her head. "Don't, I don't want the details."

Dumbledore, like Draco, appeared out of nowhere, stopping the feud before Ginny took matters into her own hand. He spoke with a clear voice the twinkle in his eyes nowhere in sight. "Ms. Weasley please come with me. I need to speak to you of urgent matters." Ginny looked at Colin, suddenly scared and needing an embrace. Draco had an unreadable face as always.