Lions and Serpents and Stupid Older Brothers

Chapter 1: Back to School and Potions Detention

"Oh bloody hell!" Ginny wailed. Late for Potions already, and it was only the first day of school! Oh, Snape was going to kill her! It wasn't her fault her bloody stupid twin brothers felt forced to get her in trouble every chance they had! Honestly, you'd think Snape would understand, having had them in his class for six and a half years. The twins were repeating their last year, because of their rather unauthorized departure from Hogwarts last year. But this time, she was going to owl Mum. There was no way she was going to let them steal her bag this year--well, anymore than they already had.

"Aw, is Weaselette late for class?" an unmistakable voice sneered from behind her. Ginny slowly turned around.

"If I'm late for Potions, Malfoy, you are too, remember? We're in the same class this year."

Malfoy looked at his watch. It read: 10:23. Class started at 10:00. "Oh bloody hell!" he wailed.

"My sentiments exactly." And with that, they both ran pell-mell down the staircases and corridors until they reached the Potions classroom door.

It was shut.

"Oh bloody hell!" they said in unison.

* * * * * * * * * *

Malfoy had gotten up late that morning, but didn't know it. He didn't notice that the only people still in the dining hall were habitual stragglers, and he ate his breakfast leisurely, as he always did.

As he walked to Potions, he noticed a target to good to resist--the Weasley girl. She looked a bit frazzled, he noticed with a smirk. Maybe those brothers of hers were finally getting to her.

He snuck up behind her and sneered, "Aw, is Weaselette late for class?" Weasley slowly turned around.

"If I'm late for Potions, Malfoy, you are too, remember? We're in the same class this year."

Malfoy looked at his watch (a brand-new, digital, top-of-the-line that was quite worthy of a Malfoy, even if it was a Muggle device) and swore. "Oh bloody hell!"

Weasley commented, "My sentiments exactly." They began to run down the corridor.

As he ran down the hall next to her, Malfoy reflected on her new appearance. It was incredible, the way she had developed over the summer. She was now a curvy, well-endowed girl, with stunning auburn hair and pert features.

Malfoy was so preoccupied with his critical analysis of Weasley that he didn't notice when they arrived at the Potions classroom. He looked up at the door.

It was shut.

"Oh bloody hell," he and the Weaselette said in unison.

* * * * * * * * * * "It's not my fault we're stuck down here, you great insufferable git!" Ginny hissed at Malfoy, who was up to his elbows in soapy water.

"Is so," he replied, pulling another filthy cauldron into the sink.

"Is not," Ginny repeated, dicing her four hundred and thirty-third caterpillar (but who was counting? Not her, that was for sure).

"Is so."

"Is not."

"Is so."

"Is not."

"Is not."

"Is so."

"Is no-,"

The door slammed open. Professor Snape stalked in, trailing an obviously unhappy Harry Potter and looking more like an overgrown bat than usual (or so Ginny thought).

"Terribly sorry to interrupt this conversation, Weasley, Malfoy, but I need my classroom back now."

It must be time for Harry's Occlumency lesson, Ginny thought.

"Oh, it's you, Potter. Here for come more Remedial Potions?" drawled Malfoy.

Ginny looked at Harry, a question in her eyes.

He jerked his head at Snape, then at Malfoy. Well, of course, Ginny, why didn't you think of that, she scolded herself. Obviously the Order didn't want Dra-Malfoy to know about Harry's lessons. After all, this was the guy whose father had tried to kill her in her first year, and subsequently tried again in fourth. The guy who was undoubtedly a member of the Junior Death Eaters, or Voldemort's Youth, or whatever they called Death-Eaters-in-training. The Prince of Slytherin. The hottest guy on campus. The-Ginny caught herself. Had she almost called Malfoy Draco? And then called him the hottest guy on campus? She was disgusted with herself. She brought he mind back to reality.

"-right, Mr. Potter?" Snape was sneering.

"Yes, Professor," Harry said submissively.

Ginny's head jerked around in shock. Harry never said anything to Professor Snape submissively. Never.

Harry lifted his head up and winked at her. Relief flooded her veins.

"Ms. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, you may go," Snape said, waving his hand dismissively.

Ginny quickly dumped the remains of her four hundred and forty-second caterpillar into the bin designated for receiving such items, and walked out the door. Malfoy followed after.

She headed for the Gryffindor dormitories, half her mind still on Malfoy. God, but he had developed into-A hot, sexy beast? her subconscious filled in. Yes, exactly, she thought, still caught up in the way he smiled, the way he-Wait. A hot, sexy beast?! That wasn't her thought! Well, yes, technically it was, but she liked to pretend that part of her didn't exist. Last year she had jokingly named it Diana, after it kept commentating--loudly--on her choice of boyfriends.

Not you again, she thought.

Yes, dearie, it's me. I went to France for the summer. Did you miss me?

Not particularly, Ginny replied. Did you have a good time?

Yes, reasonably. I met another subconscious there. I think his name was Vladimir. Anyway, he was very nice, and we dated for a while, but I had to break it off. He was too submissive--I think it came from being squashed by his person until he couldn't speak. I told him that if he became more assertive, we might be able to date again.

Ginny replied vaguely, That's very nice. I'm sure it will all work out.

Oh, I am too, dearie. He said his person's name was--what was it? Oh dear, um, maybe Dylan? No, that wasn't it. I just can't remember. He was very sweet, though.

Ginny had quit really listening to Diana's ramblings sometime around 'Vladimir' and was trying to remember the Gryffindor password. Was it Caput Draconis? No, maybe mimblus mimbletonia? No, oh, what was it? Oh, that's right.

"Leos Sumus!" she announced to the Fat Lady. As the portrait swung open, she realized she was already half asleep, and without further ado, went up to her dormitory and straight to sleep.