Spirit of the Dragon

()()()()

Chapter Three-A Touch of Death

"Professor Snape are you in here?" Pansy said peering into the Potions lab. A man was peered over rolls and rolls of parchment mutter something about good for nothing Gryffindors. "SNAPE!" Pansy hissed. Professor Snape looked up from his work with beady eyes. "Why Pansy. Why did you back to Hogwarts?" She smiled brightly. "Oh, No reason. Could you spare some time?" Snape nodded gesturing to a chair near to his desk.

Pansy gracefully glided to the chair and sat down with unbelief motions. Snape smiled softly. "So what would you like to talk about?" Pansy folded her long leg quickly over the chair and found she was uncomfortable. She grumbled softly and gracefully turned the chair around and split her leg to the left and right. Snape looked at her curiously. "What pray-tell are you doing?"

She laughed. "Trying to get comfortable." She kicked a leg up to the top of the chair and leaned on the table.

Snape hesitated and stared at how open her legs were, 'I wish she wasn't wearing jeans.'

Pansy gasped shyly and put her legs down. "Sorry Professor."

()()()()

"I need you to take something to Malfoy Manor for me." Dumbledore said to Ginny. She scooted in her chair uncomfortably. "Why don't you just give it to Malfoy and he can take it home with him?" Dumbledore simply shook his head; "Malfoy is to impure to carry the Orb of Essence." Ginny tilted her head. "What is the Orb of Essence. Headmaster, I'm not completely pure myself." Dumbledore smiled. Ginny inwardly cringed, 'Does he know?' "Ms. Weasley, one who is untainted can not carry the orb. One with a dark soul can not carry the orb. Only one with an equal balance of the two can carry the orb. Ms. Weasley you carry a neutral soul. You are neither Good nor Bad, as we would think. You simply are."

Ginny frowned. "Headmaster. May I know about this Orb of Essence?" Dumbledore again shook his head. "No, You may see it." She nodded. Dumbledore turned around and some how drew a glass case with a silver orb from nowhere. "Here it is my dear." She stared in awe at it's perfect-ness, it didn't even show her reflection, or the light, it was just silver through and though. She snatched the box away took off the cover and was just about to touch the orb when Dumbledore put a body bind on her. She fell backwards, the box hit her in the face and the orb fell onto her stomach. She gasped feeling the wait, 'How could I have lifted the box when the orb alone weights tons.'

Dumbledore leaned over his desk; "You must NEVER touch the orb with your bare hands." Ginny nodded coughing. "Get it off me!"

()()()()

Colin smiled as Ginny rushed around the room. "What?" She said breaking him from his stare.

He blushed slightly. "You look so cute running back and forth. What will the school do without their Head Girl?"

She gasped. "Oh no, I've been so busy and caught up in the last two days that I forgot I was Head Girl and didn't do my duties. I can't do this!"

Colin laughed. "Ginny, Dumbledore sent you to do this," She nodded. "then it's okay. After all, he's the Headmaster..."

She smiled. "Come here Colin."

Colin grinned as he went into her embrace for a kiss. He moaned. "Ginny, I love you."

She nibbled on his ear lightly then hissed. "Then don't fuck around while I'm gone or you'll regret it." Colin went pale but nodded as Ginny grabbed a bag and walked off.

()()()()

"Ginny where are you going?" Draco sneered at Ginny. She rolled her eyes. "Malfoy I figured out a long time ago you aren't a shallow bastard so give up the facade." He seemed startled, but only for a moment, and then he was back to stone face normal. He laughed. "Ginny you seem a bit temperamental." She snorted. "Right, me coming from Mr. Congeniality himself! HA!" He glared. "You really are a git sometimes." She smiled right back. "Malfoy every once in a Blue Moon you are actually a nice guy, so we're about even. I have to go."

Draco stood in her way. "You're not going anywhere." Ginny pushed Draco back but he wrapped his fingers around her shoulders. He was held tightly in place glaring at him when something screamed into her mind overwhelming her, Let go of my bitch! She screamed and several things nearby exploded. Paintings flew off the wall towards Draco. Neville's forgotten dusty Remembrall flew out from a crack in the fireplace and smacked Draco on the side of the head.

Ginny screamed as Draco fell unconscious to the floor. She cried and cried till she heard Colin's voice break through her hysteria. "GINNY! He's okay. He'll be fine!" She looked down at him through watery eyes. Colin was reaching up to her from a kneeled position next to the sleeping Draco. She screamed one more time before bolting down the hallway.

()()()()

Dumbledore sat Ginny down offering her tea. When she wasn't looking as he slipped a relaxing potion into her tea and as she drank her tears stopped and her shivers dulled. "Ms. Weasley are you sure you want to embark on this for me? It is quite dangerous." Dumbledore said watching her as he drank. She closed her eye dropped her cup to the floor with a crash. "I don't care if you don't think I can do it, I will! I'll be better then them." She hissed with contempt. Dumbledore nodded. "The heroes are always bull headed. Please Ms. Weasley, Think and do not kill yourself on this travel. It will take you three days with a small Apparate start. You can not Apparate far or the Orb will over shoot you into Outer Space or kill you in a nice explosion of Fireworks and body parts. The orb is special and powerful magic, Do not fail me." The last part being an order.

Ginny nodded took the Orb with a gold dragon scale glove stuffed it into her bag and left. Dumbledore leaned back in his seat as she disappeared behind the door; "Live Ginny. For your sake and several others, live."

()()()()

Colin stood in the Great Hall as Ginny ate her lunch early. He broke the silence. "So you will be back soon. I'll miss you."

She smiled up at him with a mouth full of rice. "Coufe- I- Woll-"

He laughed. "Eat with your mouth closed. It isn't becoming of you."

Her eyes gleamed with love. "Ow-ay." A chocolate frog jumped over Colin's head sending him off the table.

Ginny spat out her rice in shock and looked down at Colin covered in rice with a chocolate frog sitting on his chest eating up the rice. "I wanted to give you this little enchanted gift." Draco's weary voice called out.

Ginny looked up at him. "Malfoy what gift?"

He smiled handing her a box. "This. If you eat all but just a little of this chocolate and put him back in the box he will become whole again. Now if you eat him all the way up the box is useless... Understand? Hey Creevey get up and don't crush Ginny's gift." Colin grumbled picking up the squirming frog with a frown.

Ginny giggled as the frog protested to being put back in the box. Draco nodded. "I hope to see you at my house in three days."

Ginny nodded as Draco disappeared around the corner. Ginny softly tucked the frog box into her pouch with the golden dragon glove determines not to have her skin meet the orb for whatever reason. She stood up, kissing Colin softly on the cheek then ran out into the hallway.

()()()()

Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked upon Ginny with proud faces; Draco's plain and unreadable as usual. She waved to them all not exchanging a word afraid she might sneer or declare that she would be better then them. Of course she wanted that, but she did want them to stay her friends. She stood in front of Draco now confused on what to do, say thank you, or hug him like the rest. He had been different, he had given her something for her little trip, granted the others knew she needed nothing but her wand, herself, and the golden dragon glove, but gift or two would have been nice. She smiled. "Thank you Draco. I'll be sure to eat him half way up all the time." She gently embraced him kissing him on the cheek as she had done Harry for an unexplainable reason.

Draco didn't blush, move, or even smile. He just nodded waving a good bye and disappeared around a corner. Ginny was furious. "That arrogant bastard!" A gently hand rested on her shoulder. "Gin. Don't worry. Malfoy didn't mean it. He's just distant and you know it. Don't let that get to you." She turned to look at Harry. She smiled gently, gave him one more kiss and walked through the doors.

()()()()

Colin sniffed the air, now a full-fledged cat, Where is that beautiful fur ball? Colin walked up to Crookshanks and talked with him briefly, have you seen the red fur cat? Crookshanks shrugged walking in front of Colin, The red one is no where. I followed and then she was gone. Colin growled, Damn, Are you sure? Do you know where I might find her? Crookshanks turned quickly, I purred that she was there and then not, so leave me be fake one. My master is leaving the hunting grounds soon and I want one more rat! Colin hissed and left Crookshanks to his hunting, Stupid cat.

()()()()

Draco yawned as he pulled out a book from the vast library his Death Eater father had left him and his mother. It was a dark book in engraved with a gold dragon and black lettering, The Book of the Dragon. He filled the book open to the first page; He who opens the book and can read the text is truly the Child of Dragon. He shall summon the Spirit of the Dragon and rid the world of the tarnished soul of the dead one. Draco shrugged, 'They can't mean Voldemort, he's dead.' He read on, The Dead One lives on in soul forever and only the Spirit of the First Dragon can kill him. The Dead One shall seek to destroy the Child of the Dragon, for he shall be the only one whom can bring the Spirit of the Dragon to the living world.

By the means of the first wizard to the death of a younger one shall be only way the Child of the Dragon succeeds. Sacrifice of love and life shall be a key, but not the only ones. Heed this true reader, One will died, A soul for a soul. Draco actually shuttered as he read the later line. "Creepy book, Just like my dad." Draco read on for a long time learning the legend of the First Dragon and his gift to his children thereafter.

Draco sighed as he reached halfway through the book when his mother appeared. "Draco, honey, what are you reading?" He handed her the book yawning. She looked at him curiously. "Draco, darling, you should choose a book you should be able to read."

His eyes darted to hers; "I can read it." He said.

She smiled. "Must be some Dark Arts writing you learned in Hogwarts, for I certainly can not read it."

He reluctantly laughed. "Yeah, Dark Arts. That's where I learned it." She handed him back the book. He looked down at the abstract writing realizing he actually could read it, it indeed looked strange, yet familiar.

()()()()

Ginny grumbled as the cold of night bit at her bare hands. "I can take it. Hermione, Ron, and Harry take this more then I do, I can do it!" She slipped on the golden dragon glove and pulled out her everlasting chocolate frog. "Thanks again Draco." She muttered to no one. She made another fire spell and the fire flared.

CRACK. She looked to the dark bushes and saw a small silvery figure. "Who's there?" She whimpered.

Out of the bushes came a beautiful young girl with a bone crown centered around her head. "Just me. Who be thee?"

Ginny eyed the bone crown that seemed to circle and hover around the girl's head. "I am," Ginny thought quickly. "Paravati Malfoy." 'Where did I come up with that?' Ginny thought. The girl seemed unfazed by the name, 'Maybe she doesn't know the Malfoys.' The girl paced forward towards the fire.

Ginny couldn't take her eyes of the girl's stunning dress. It seemed alive as the girl walked with it. "Well," the girl dramatically paused, or so Ginny hoped. "Paravati Malfoy. I am Stallion Card. May I join you by your fire and share your food? I have not eaten in ages."

Ginny nodded gesturing towards the fire. "You're welcome anytime. I have little to share because I refuse to kill the animals. Don't worry though, I will share Stallion." Ginny snapped the frog in half threw one place into the enchanted box and handed the other half to Stallion.

Ginny saw how long Stallion's fingers were and wondered, 'How old is she?'

Stallion smiled brightly; "This is good, what it is?"

Ginny laughed. "You've never heard of Chocolate frogs before? Geez." Ginny opened the box and snapped the frog in half again as Stallion's eyes followed her movements. "How do you fit such a small piece of cho-co-late into that box and yet pull an entirely new piece out?"

Ginny again laughed. "It was a gift from a friend. As long I don't eat the entire chocolate piece and save just enough I can place it back into the box and it will restore itself to a whole new piece. Do you understand?"

Stallion nodded. "Oh yes, I see that the caster must have used a restorable spell, a reversal, and a loop spell on that box and chocolate."

Ginny looked at the object in her hand, 'How much magic did Draco put into this?'

()()()()

Ginny woke up to sunlight and smell of burning meat. She bolted up. "STALLION!"

Stallion's voice came back. "Hush Ginny. You got sick over the course of the night. You aren't strong right now. Lay back and wait for me to finish cooking the rabbit."

Ginny gasped. "How did you know my name?"

Stallion smiled softly. "You talk in your sleep."

Ginny glared. "Do not!"

Stallion laughed. "How would you know?"

Ginny too started to laugh. "Okay, okay you got me. You said you're cooking rabbit. You're joking right?"

Stallion shook her head. "No." Ginny went even whiter. "Stallion! You just killed someone!" Stallion shook her head. "Never in my life have I killed someone!"

Ginny glared picking up her wand. "TRANSMOFICATION! RABBIT!" Stallion winced as her body shrunk and changed, within moments she was a rabbit.

GINNY! Please change me back. Stallion vainly pleaded. Of course Ginny could not hear her, after all Ginny didn't speak rabbit.

Ginny suddenly pulled the carving knife from the bag and held it close to the frozen Stallion. "Stallion. You don't like that do you? You don't want to die, do you? You're living aren't you? You don't want to die and I won't kill you." Ginny said.

Ginny waved her wand and suddenly Stallion was standing up tall again, angry. "How dare you!" She screamed.

Ginny smirked. "I hope I got my point across."

Stallion snarled. "You did. If you ever hold anything that can hurt me towards me again you WILL regret it."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Hardly. I'm a seventh year Hogwarts student. I probably know more then you will ever know."

Stallion was trembling with dislike. "I'm sure you will Ginny."

()()()()

Narcissa smiled as she walked into the library again. Draco was asleep on a large cushion sofa; the book he claimed was the Book of Dragons dropped carelessly to the floor. He was twitching in his sleep. Narcissa instantly worried, 'Is he having a nightmare? It must be that book. I know it is!' She picked up the book and quickly dashed out of the room with it.

()()()()

"GINNY! Ginny when are you coming?" Draco said amidst the fog and shadows. A voice echoed back. "She will never come to you."

Draco cringed. "Ginny please talk to me." There was a soft tap on his shoulder and there stood Ginny. She was smirking at him. Dark rings of sleepless nights were under her eyes.

Her brown eyes darted up and down sizing him up. "Draco, What have you been doing?" He took no notice of her calling him Draco.

He smiled hugging her gently. "Reading and waiting for you."

Ginny hugged him back softly laughing. "What does the Book of Dragons tell you?"

Draco smiled happily holding her by the shoulders. "Well it says that he who can re-," He paused looking down at the anxious Ginny. "why? How do you know I read the Book of Dragons."

Ginny gasped. "You can read it? YOU ARE THE CHILD OF THE DRAGON!" Draco fell back as Ginny pushed him.

Her wand darted out of nowhere. "AVADA-"

"ANYWAY WITH YOU!" Someone shouted.

Draco shouted as Ginny turned to stone crumbled and disappeared with the coming of the wind. "Malfoy. I'm sorry about that. Please wake up." Draco looked to his left and there stood yet another Ginny. She was happy yet somehow sad with her bright beaming brown eyes.

Draco stumbled up. "Ginny? What just happened?"

She smiled again the sadness clear in her eyes. "Malfoy, For your own good wake up."

He hugged her quickly and felt the rays of sun burn him awake. "I-"

He couldn't finish as his eyes darted open.

()()()()

"So it's about time we part Stallion. I hoped you learned your learn and won't kill another animal." Ginny said putting her enchanted box up in her bag with the glove. Stallion nodded. "Sure. I promise only if you tell my why you carry the Orb of Essence in your bag."

Ginny went pale. "How do you know?"

Stallion smiled softly; "I know a lot of things Ginny. I know you weren't sick last night. You lost a lot of energy helping the Malfoy boy."

Ginny went a deep shade of red. "Stallion stay out of my life."

Stallion paced forward as Ginny bent down to get one last thing. Stallion wrapped her long strong fingers around Ginny's arm and pulled her up. "Ginny. Don't push me away. You'll need me please Ginny. I need you too."

Ginny gasped. "Stallion, I'm not gay if that's what you're thinking."

SMACK Ginny was crying now as Stallion hit her again and again. "Ginny! Ginny! Listen to me. Stop whining and be strong. You will have to be strong to be able to need me. You have to be strong so I can be with you. Ginny you have to be strong to live!"

Ginny dropped to the floor now in tears and pain. "I hate you!" Stallion sighed. "Hate is a strong word. I know you don't mean it. Go Ginny! Go now he follows you! The Dead One's servant comes for you!"

Ginny scrambled to her feet and ran.

()()()()

It was the second night as Ginny snapped the frog in half still crying. She had been crying on and off for the entire day remembering Stallion. They had barely gotten to know each other before Stallion forced her away with pain. She had wanted so much to be friends. Friends. She sighed, or do I want more... I mean I never really loved Colin it was all sex and kisses with him, but I never did get the sex... Could it be I don't like him because I'm... well...? I'm fruity? No! Ginny shook head breaking off the thought, I like Harry. I can't be I think Draco's sexy. I think Seamus is a tad cute and I think Colin is a good kisser, I can't be!

There was a snap behind her. She spun around and saw nothing. Shrugging off the fear Ginny bit into her half of the frog and thought of what Harry looked like naked. SNAP. Ginny swallowed the chocolate down without chewing. She again saw nothing behind her or in fact around her.

SNAP. Ginny was now twitchy. She put all her stuff back in her bag, dowsed the fire, and was about to walk off towards Malfoy Manor cutting her last day's travel in half.

A heavy weight crashed into Ginny and she tumbled forwards with a squeak.

()()()()

Draco slammed the door to the dinning hall open. "WHERE IS IT MOTHER!" She let her spoon clatter to the plate. The clatter echoed throughout the room but Draco again yelled, "WHERE IS THE DAMN BOOK MOTHER!" She didn't move. "Draco that book is obsessive. It's making you have nightmares."

He was angry, he hair had fallen out of its perfect do and it looked terrible and unruly. "MOTHER!" He shouted. The table began to shake. "TELL ME WHERE IT IS!"

She was trembling now. "Draco honey please. I promise you'll give it back. Please honey calm down!"

Draco saw his mother's fear and relaxed. "Mum. I'm sorry. I just want that book back. You will give it back won't you?"

She nodded getting out of her chair and walking to him. He embraced her and she collapsed taking him with her. She started to cry. "You're not getting into Dark Magic are you. That book isn't bad is it?"

Draco laughed softly. "Mum. The book is a history book. It teaches no spells I can find of as of yet. If it does I will read them to you so you know I'm not trying to take over the world. Fair?"

She nodded. "Very fair."

()()()()

Ginny's face collided with a rock and cut open her cheek. She began to cry as she dropped her bag and pulled out her wand. She shot stunning spells in every direction. She didn't hit a thing filling her with rage as something rammed her again. She struggled to get up and as she did she noticed her bag was being opened. "NO!" She screamed charging towards her bag.

BANG Ginny crashed into something and she clawed at it. She felt clothing and skin but no, no invisibility cloak. She called her wand to her. "Dispellious." Suddenly a small man appeared beneath her. "Who are you?" The man whimpered. "Please don't hurt me I was just looking for food! Please!" Ginny felt ashamed of herself. "Oh, I'm sorry. I can give you some, come with me."

She led the man over and picked up her bag. She opened it quickly shuffling through it with her gloved hand. Suddenly the man reached in with a snarl and pulled out the Orb of Essence. Ginny gasped. "That's what you wanted!" She reached out with her un-gloved hand. The man's fingers had just been covered in flames when her fingers wrapped around the orb. She gasped realizing what she had done and tried to pull her hand away but she couldn't. Pain shot up her arm and she collapsed to the ground with the man.

"Peter Pettigrew... I would have thought you would have given up the Dark side by now. Then again you have nothing else to life for. You killed your friends... the dark side is all that would want you." Someone said. Ginny was crying now as her hand too was covered in flames. She felt her skin peeling away as the blue flame licked up her arm and caught fire to her robes. She looked around for the voice and there in all her might with her bone crown was Stallion. "Stallion! Help I'm dying." The named that Stallion had said caught Ginny's attention, Peter Pettigrew. The man who betrayed James Potter and got Harry's father killed.

Stallion nodded. "I know Ginny. Stay calm. It will be over soon."

The flames ate up Ginny's tears as her face was covered in fire. Ginny gave a finally scream, as Stallion touched her burning skin, then collapsed unmoving.