Dark Heritage

The next morning Harry did the worst thing he could possibly do.

He over slept.

Swearing softly under his breath he got up and hurriedly got dressed. He didn't even bother to brush his hair (not that it would have made much difference) before running out of his dorm.

His face was bright red and he was panting heavily after running down several flights of stairs (it was just his luck that SWT classes were to be held in the dungeons, as far away from Gryffindor tower as possible) and he looked a mess.

Draco and Ginny were both already seated as he entered the dark room, and Harry's heart sank when he saw who would be teaching them today.

Snape.

Seeing the obvious look of dismay on Harry's face Snape gave a cruel laugh. "Didn't expect me to be teaching these classes did you, Potter?" He asked mockingly.

"Maybe its time to remind you that this is my classroom, you shouldn't be surprised to see me teaching in it."

Harry couldn't think of anything to reply to that with, so instead he just plopped himself down at the nearest desk.

SWT classes went on for an hour in the mornings and then another hour at night. Already Harry could tell he was going to hate them.
---***---

It was six 'o clock in the morning.

Only three students in the whole school were awake this early, and Ginny was one of them.

She got dressed quickly and quietly so she didn't disturb any of the other girls in her dorm. She was sure they wouldn't appreciate being woken any time soon.

She on the other hand, was forced to get up this early every single day.

All because of the SWT classes.

Stupid things.

Ginny was not a morning person, and she hated having to get up early just so she could have extra lessons.

Not that SWT classes were that bad.

She quite liked learning more spells, and being ahead of everyone else in her year, it was just why did they have to be at six in the morning?! Sighing wearily Ginny stepped over the pile of pyjamas she had left on the floor, and ran downstairs.

At least today the class would be taught by Professor McGonagall, not Snape -she didn't think she could deal with his snide comments about Gryffindors today.
Both Harry and Draco were already waiting in the transfiguration classroom by the time she got there. In the three months they had been taking these classes, only once had Ginny managed to beat them to class.

It was so unfair.

"You're late Miss Weasley" McGonagall said, staring at Ginny from behind her crescent moon shaped spectacles.

Ginny blushed, and hated herself for it. Why, oh why did she have to blush all the time?
From his seat in the far corner, Draco smirked at her, although no sarcastic remarks came floating her way.

Over the past few months Draco had stopped insulting them as much as he used to, and Ginny had found he wasn't nearly as bad as her brothers seemed to think.

But it didn't mean she had to like him.

As far as Ginny was concerned Draco Malfoy was a self-centered jerk, who loved no one but himself.

Settling back into her chair, Ginny realized that Professor McGonagall was speaking, and she shook her head and tried to focus on the words.

"Now normally we would save self transfiguration to the seventh year students, but in this case Professor Dumbledore has suggested I teach it to you now."

Hearing this Ginny's ears perked up. Self-transfiguration? Cool...
Closing her eyes Ginny imagined transfiguring herself into some mythical creature. . .like a unicorn. . .and impressing Harry with her amazing magical abilities. . .he would fall at her feet begging for her to love him. . .and she would. .

"Excuse me! Miss Weasley, are you awake?" Professor McGonagall's stern voice broke though her daydreams, and Ginny's eyes fluttered open.

"Sorry!" She apologized and blushed again (today really wasn't her day).

Frowning slightly professor McGonagall continued with what she was talking about, and this time Ginny kept her mind on what she was saying.

"However, I feel that I simply cannot allow you to learn how to transfigure with out at least some knowledge about the turning process. That is why I have decided that a project is in order. You will be paired up, and in twos will be completing a special assignment on the art of transfiguration."

At this Ginny raised her hand, "excuse me, but there are only three of us in here. . .how are we going to work in twos?"

Professor McGonagall sighed, "If you had been listening properly Miss Weasley, you would already know the answer to that question."

Ginny thought hard, but she couldn't remember. Seeing the confusion on her face McGonagall sighed again.

"I have requested Miss Granger join this class for awhile, and Harry has offered to pair up with her."
It took a few minutes for that last sentence to sink in, but when it did Ginny's face paled considerably.

Oh God.

If Harry was going to work with Hermione, than that meant she was going to have to work with Draco.

No. This day could not get any worse.
---***---
Draco Malfoy was not in the best of moods.

For one thing SWT classes were not going as good as he had hoped. He hadn't learned anything useful during the last three months. Oh sure he'd learned an interesting bunch of shielding spells, but it was all purely defensive magic. And nobody could hope to win a battle by just defending himself.

Another thing was the fact that it was a nice, bright sunshiny day and he was stuck inside the library with Ginny Weasley.

They were supposed to be studying.

Instead he was trying to work, while she babbled on about Harry and Hermione. It was giving him the biggest headache of his life.

He desperately wanted to scream at her (something along the lines of SHUT THE HELL UP!!) but the librarian was lurking behind the bookshelves and he really didn't need to get into trouble right now.

Instead he waited patiently for another five minutes, hoping that maybe, just maybe she would run out of steam and be quiet.

No such luck.

There has to be some way of shutting her up with out screaming at her, or using magic! He thought to himself, resisting the urge to cover his ears.

"I don't understand what he sees in her at all! I mean just because she is smart doesn't mean she's perfect. . ."
Finally an idea popped into Draco's mind.

Quick as a flash, before his mind could talk him out of it, he leaned over and kissed her.
Her eyes widened in surprise, but then oddly enough she kissed him back.

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to write, I was going through a major case of writer's block at the time. Well now I'll bounce off and write the next chapter. . .in the mean time you're left with annoying questions such as 'did Draco really just kiss Ginny to shut her up, or was he secretly succumbing to a lot if hidden emotions?' Who knows . . .