The Dragon's Fire

Ginny Weasley woke up on a day as normal as any other at the Burrow. It was the last week of summer holidays before she went back to start her fifth year at Hogwarts. Ginny went downstairs for breakfast carefully avoiding looking in Ron's room. She avoided it because she knew she didn't want to see what was in there. Ever since Harry and Hermione had come to stay at the Burrow, they could be caught snogging all over the house, and every time she walked past Ron's room, Ginny seemed to catch them. Harry and Hermione had been together since the beginning of the summer, and even Ginny had to admit they made a great couple, which was easier for her to do since she had gotten over her crush on Harry. Now she was ready to live up the single life since she and Dean Thomas had broken up last week. They both agreed they weren't meant for each other, but planned to stay friends.

Ginny went into the kitchen to find her mum cooking up a storm. Molly had convinced all her children to come home for the last week of summer, and they were all arriving at some time today. Molly loved having her family home at the same time, and Ginny was just like her mother. She couldn't wait to see Charlie, her favourite brother, Bill and his new girlfriend, Fleur, Fred and George (though she hoped they'd leave the pranks in Diagon Alley), and even Percy, who had finally come to his senses and apologized profusely to his family for abandoning them. Ginny was ripped from her deep thoughts when an owl arrived addressed to her. Ginny didn't know what was up because she'd already received her Hogwarts letter which had been missing the one thing Ginny was hoping for this year, a prefect badge. Ginny opened up the letter and realized it was from Prof. McGonagall. It said:

Dear Miss Weasley,

I am pleased to inform you of some good news. One of the Gryffindor prefects has informed us of her family's pending move to Canada. After discussion with the Headmaster, we have come to the conclusion that you would be the best choice as her replacement. I hope you accept the responsibility and I look forward to seeing you on 1 September. Congratulations.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Then out of the envelope fell Ginny's prefect badge. She screamed for joy and ran to her mother.

"Mum, I made prefect!" Ginny screamed excitedly.

"Oh Ginny, that's wonderful! That's four in the family! Oh I'm so proud of you! Well, that means you get a gift. What would you like, dear?"

"Oh Mum, I don't need anything really. I'm happy enough at just being made prefect."

"Nonsense Gin, now hurry up and I'll Floo to Diagon Alley and pick it up today."

"Oh Mum, I'd really love an owl, please?"

"Of course, Percy got an owl as well. I'll go get you one today. Now go upstairs and tell Ron, Harry, and Hermione about your news."

Ginny ran up the stairs to Ron's room, totally oblivious to what was going on inside. Then she heard Ron.

"EVERYONE HAS CAUGHT YOU NOT JUST ME! YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND ALL OVER THE HOUSE!" he was shouting.

Oh no, thought Ginny.

"Well Ron, we're really sorry, but we haven't seen each other for the majority of the time we've been together. We thought you'd understand. And we don't snog all over the house," Hermione replied.

Wrong answer, thought Ginny.

"Haven't seen each other? Haven't seen each other? Well I haven't seen either of my best friends for most of the summer either, and when you are finally here I still don't see you because you're too busy snogging! Understand indeed!"

With that Ron stormed out of his room and ran right into Ginny.

"Ron, stop!" said Ginny, "maybe if you talked to them in a nice way they would understand. You don't need to get all huffy and then just run away."

"Gin, don't butt your nose in where it doesn't belong!"

"Ron," Ginny said, "I made prefect," but he was already down the stairs.

Ginny went into Ron's room to find Hermione crying into Harry's shoulder.

"We didn't know it was bothering him so much," said Harry.

"Well, Ron's just stupid, he'll get over it. I'll go talk to him later, but first he needs to cool down," Ginny replied.

"Thanks Gin, you're the best."

"No problem Harry, just do me one favour."

"What?"

"No more snogging in public for a bit?"

"Sure, like we want to get caught by Ron again."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco's morning started off very similar to Ginny's. He woke up to a normal day at Malfoy Manor. His father was off somewhere, probably doing Voldemort's bidding, and his mother was, hopefully, somewhere in the house. Draco loved the time he got to spend alone with his mother. She actually loved him and was the only source of love Draco had in his life. Just as Draco was getting up a house elf came into his room.

"Madam requests Master Draco's presence in the garden," the house elf, Dinky, squeaked before quickly leaving the room. All the house elves were scared of Draco, and that was the way he liked it. Draco made his way down to the garden behind Malfoy Manor. Narcissa loved gardening, and she spent most of her free time outside. When she spotted her son Narcissa called for him to join her.

"Draco hun, come here, I want to talk to you."

"What is it, Mum?"

"Well Draco, you know that Lucius is getting anxious for you to join the Death Eaters. When you turn seventeen he expects you to join him."

"I know Mum, but I won't. I know you don't want me to, and I don't want to. He can't make me. I don't care if he Crucio's me to death, I won't do it!"

"Oh Draco, I'm so glad to hear you say that. Just try not to make him mad enough to use the Cruciatus Curse on you. Please? I can't bear it"

"I know Mum, I know."

"DRACO!" a voice called from the house.

"Oh no Mum, he's home. I better go see what he wants."

"Be careful, my precious dragon," Narcissa said quietly, but Draco was too far away to hear her.

Draco walked silently through the manor to Lucius' study where his father was waiting. He knocked on the door.

"ENTER!" boomed Lucius.

Draco walked into the room and immediately knew he was in for a long and painful night.

"Draco, the Dark Lord requests your presence, and since tomorrow is your seventeenth birthday you are expected to take the Mark."

"I won't! I've told you I'll never be a Death Eater."

"Draco, must I constantly be teaching you not to talk back to me? You will learn your lesson. Crucio." Lucius pointed his wand and cast the curse as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Draco writhed on the floor in pain and fought the urge to scream. He couldn't fight it, he never could, and he screamed and shook until he sunk into unconsciousness. Only then did Lucius stop. Lucius then left the room.

Draco woke up many hours later in his bed. His mother was sitting in a chair by his side. She always took care of him after Lucius used the Cruciatus Curse on him.

"Draco, you must leave. I'm going to talk to Dumbledore. You aren't safe here anymore."

"Was I ever? No. I won't leave you here to face him. If he finds out you helped me, he'll kill you."

"Draco, you are my son. That means that I take care of you. Not the other way around."

"Mum-"

"No, Draco. I won't be swayed. I'm going to Floo to Dumbledore right now. Pack your things. I mean it; don't look at me like that."

Draco relented. He knew once his mother set her mind, there was no changing it. He just didn't like the idea of asking Dumbledore for help. The man was a loony. He was even worse than that Lovegood girl. Everyone thought he was brilliant, but in Draco's mind if the man could worship Saint Potter the way he did then he was just as crazy as his father said.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny went downstairs to look for Ron, but her brother was nowhere to be found, and neither was his broom. Ginny went out to her family's private Quidditch pitch to find Ron flying around aimlessly.

"Ron, come down. I need to talk to you," Ginny commanded.

To her surprise he flew down to land beside her.

"What, Gin?"

"I made prefect today."

"No you didn't, prefects were already chosen."

"Oh gee thanks Ron, glad to know you have faith in me," Ginny replied angrily, her face turning as red as her hair.

"No Gin, it's great, I just didn't think they chose them this late. Congratulations."

"Thanks Ron," Ginny said. Then she explained about the original choice for prefect and how she was chosen. "But that's not really why I came out to talk to you."

"I know, but I really don't want to talk about it."

"Too bad. I know that you are jealous because you have a crush on Hermione, but they are your two best friends in that world. Cut them some slack already."

"I do not have a crush on Hermione!"

"Yes you do, it's obvious. I know it's annoying to get kicked out of your room so they can snog and whatnot, but they won't do it any more. Just go back upstairs and I'm sure they'll apologise."

"Ok Gin, but really I don't like Hermione in that way," he mumbled as he walked back towards the house.

Yeah, right, Ginny thought, like I'll ever believe that.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office at Hogwarts, thinking about the war that was sure to be on the horizon, when a head appeared in his fire. It was one of the last people he expected to see; one of his former students, Narcissa Black. No, she was a Malfoy now, married to Lucius. Dumbledore had no idea why Lucius Malfoy's wife would be calling on him, but she seemed distraught so he talked to her. She told him all about Lucius and Draco, the Cruciatus Curse, and Lucius' expectations for Draco to become a Death Eater. She told Dumbledore that she needed help and he knew he couldn't turn her away, no matter who her husband was. They arranged for Draco to come to the castle for the remainder of the summer, and one of the professors would take Draco to Diagon Alley to get his school supplies.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Needless to say, Draco was not impressed with the news.

"My last week of summer and I am stuck in that castle with no one but the professors! Mother, what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking of your safety, Draco, and you will not speak to me like that," she replied, not in the evil tone that Lucius would take, but in a soft tone that made Draco feel sorry for yelling.

"Yes Mum," he said, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright dear. You will Floo to Hogwarts before Lucius comes home. I'm going to leave soon after to go to number twelve Grimmauld Place. That is the last place on earth I thought I would go--my childhood home. I'm going to help with Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. I want to share what I know. Being the wife of possibly the most powerful Death Eater has meant I've been exposed to some, shall we say, useful information. I want to help."

"Ok Mum, I get it. But please don't make me turn all light and fluffy. Just because I don't want to be a Death Eater doesn't mean I want to be in this Order thing either. Especially if Dumbledore is the leader," Draco drawled. He hardly ever took that tone with his mother and she was hurt.

"Fine Draco, just go and pack you things." And with that she went back out to her garden.

After dinner when Draco was ready, he took all of his things downstairs to the main fireplace to leave for the castle. He said goodbye to his mother, then threw some Floo powder on the fire.

"Hogwarts, Dumbledore's Office," and with that he was gone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Back at the Burrow, Ginny was waiting by the door for her brothers to arrive. Bill got there first and Ginny pounced on him before regaining her composure.

"I'm fifteen, I probably shouldn't be doing that anymore," Ginny mumbled.

"Gin, it's ok. It's good to know somebody misses me."

"Of course I missed you Bill! Wait, where's Fleur?"

"Oh, she's umm... well... uh... we had a bit of a tiff. She's not coming."

"Oh no! Did you break up?!"

"No, at least I don't think so. Oh well, she'll get over it. So where is everyone?"

"Mum's in the kitchen, duh, and Dad's not home yet. Ron, Harry, and Hermione are upstairs and no one else has gotten here yet."

"Ok, well I think I'll go say hello to Mum. You'll let me know when every one else gets here, will ya Gin?"

"Sure."

Ginny went back to waiting. She picked up the magazine she had been reading, called Teen Witch, and was just flipping through the pages when Charlie Apparated in.

"Charlie!" Ginny screamed before pouncing on him too.

"Hey Gin, how's my favourite sister been?"

"I'm your only sister, Charlie."

"I know, but you're my favourite."

"Ha, ha. I've been good, you?"

"No complaints. Has anyone else gotten here yet?"

"Bill's in the kitchen with Mum."

"Ok, I want to talk to him, but I need to talk to you later too."

"About what?" Ginny asked, her eyes lighting up.

"Oh, nothing." Charlie winked and went into the kitchen.

Ginny didn't even go back to her magazine because with two loud pops Fred and George were home too.

"Hey Gin," said Fred.

"Missed us?" asked George.

"Of course," replied Ginny, "It's not the same without you guys around here pulling pranks on everyone."

"Ah, but Gin, we have a whole week -"

"-and we plan to make the most of it."

"Just not on me I hope."

"Of course not," Fred replied with a mischievous wink.

"Mum in the kitchen then?" George asked.

"Yep, so are Bill and Charlie. I'm going to wait here for Percy because he might feel left out if I don't greet him too and then I'll go upstairs and get Ron, Harry, and Hermione."

"Ok"

Ginny sat back down to read her magazine. Percy arrived fifteen minutes later and Ginny sent him into the kitchen as well. Then she went upstairs to get Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

She walked into Ron's room, to find the three of them sitting close together talking secretly about something. They were always talking about one thing or another that they didn't want anyone to know about. Ginny wished she had friends who she was close with like that. Sure, she had friends, but no best friends. She secretly envied her brother.

"What are you guys talking about?" Ginny asked.

"None of your business Gin, go away."

"Well that was lovely, Ron. Thanks. I just came up to tell you that everyone is here except Dad and that you might want to come down and say hello. I see you are too busy for that so I'll just leave you up here." And with that she stormed out of the room and downstairs.

"Hey Gin, come here."

Ginny turned around to see Charlie beckoning her into the sitting room.

Good, she thought, maybe he has some kind of good news to tell me.

"Yeah Charlie, what is it?"

"I wanted to tell you something but you can't tell anyone. I'm not supposed to tell anyone but you being my favourite sister and all -"

"Charlie, just tell me!"

"Ok, well, Hagrid has to leave again because Dumbledore has heard news that some of the giants haven't sided with Voldemort. That meant that there was no one to teach Care of Magical Creatures. So they had to find a new one."

"Who is it, Charlie? Tell me already!"

"Gin, it's yours truly!"

"What? That's awesome! But Dumbledore's going to let you teach Ron and me? You could play favourites," Ginny said with a wink and a smile.

"Dumbledore knows I wouldn't do that," Charlie said sternly.

"Charlie, calm down! I was kidding! I think this is awesome though, and I can't even tell anyone," Ginny whined.

"Well, I could've not told you at all."

"I know. I'll get over it."

Ginny was so excited. Her favourite brother was going to teach one of her favourite classes!

The rest of the week went by well. She got her owl, a cute little snowy owl like Hedwig, that she named Hibou, French for 'owl'. Ginny loved the French language, and wished they taught it at Hogwarts.

On the day before they were to leave for school, Ginny, her six brothers, and Harry went outside to play a game of Quidditch. Hermione didn't play because she hated flying, but she watched and cheered them on. It was a great game and Ginny had loads of fun.

The next morning they left early for King's Cross station. They walked through the barrier between Platforms nine and ten to get the Platform 9¾ and boarded the Hogwarts Express. Charlie was Apparating to Hogsmeade later in the day, but only Ginny knew. She said goodbye to her family and got onto the train in search of a compartment. On her way through the train she saw Crabbe and Goyle, but no Malfoy.

That's odd, thought Ginny, but that was all she thought about it.

She found a compartment with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville Longbottom, and Luna "Loony" Lovegood. Then she, Ron, and Hermione made their way to the prefects' compartment. Ginny noticed Malfoy's absence again. He was the Slytherin sixth year prefect, but he wasn't there.

There I go thnking about Malfoy again, thought Ginny, you'd almost think I like him or something. Although he is drop dead gorgeous. Oh my, did I just think that about Malfoy?

But the Head Girl, Cho Chang, interrupted Ginny's thoughts when she began her speech. She told them all to patrol the corridors, and that she looked forward to getting to know all of them. Ginny went back to her compartment and got up every once and awhile to patrol. She didn't think about Malfoy again the whole train ride. When the train arrived at Hogsmeade she rode in the horseless carriages to Hogwarts and entered the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony. Her eyes, almost of their own accord, drifted over to the Slytherin table, and found a familiar blond head.

I wonder how he got here if he didn't ride the train. Wait, why do I care? Ginny contemplated, but couldn't think about it any longer because Professor McGonagall entered with the first years and the sorting hat. The Sorting Ceremony began.

After the ceremony and the feast, Dumbledore made his usual announcements and then introduced them to their new Care of Magical Creatures professor.

"Did you know?" Ron asked Ginny.

"Yeah, but I wasn't allowed to say anything. How cool is this?"

"Awesome."

But their conversation was cut short when Dumbledore dismissed them and Ginny got up to follow through with her prefect duties.

When Ginny finally made it to her dorm room she was ready to go to sleep. Ginny snuggled up under her covers and her thoughts drifted to a certain blond-haired Slytherin.

Stop thinking about him, Ginny thought to herself. He's been nothing short of horrible to you.

But, she didn't stop thinking about him and soon dozed off into a sleep full of dreams of Draco Malfoy.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco's last week of summer was quite the opposite of Ginny's. He spent most of his time in the Slytherin Common Room reading. He liked to read, and it kept him busy. The third day he was there, the Headmaster informed Draco that Professor Snape would take him to Diagon Alley. Draco was glad that at least it was Snape taking him, and not McGonagall, or Dumbledore himself. He bought all of his school things and returned to the school to sit alone again. On September first, Draco slept until noon, and then got up to get ready for the Welcoming Feast and the Sorting Ceremony. He went down to the Great Hall just as the rest of the students were arriving. He sat down by himself, but soon Blaise Zabini sat down next to him.

"Hey Draco, heard you ran away from home."

"I didn't run away, Zabini. My mother forced me out. Not that it's any of your business," Draco sneered. He may talk to his mother in a nice way, but back at Hogwarts he put on a cold front, even to one of his best friends.

"Whoa, sorry."

"Whatever"

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Draco saw the Weaselette, Weasel's little sister and Potter's little tagalong, looking at him.

Why is she staring at me? Draco thought. Later, when he realized she wasn't watching anymore, he looked over at her.

Not bad looking, thought Draco, She's pretty hot actually, for a Weasley. She definitely doesn't look the same as I remember. Seems the summer did her well. Wait, what am I thinking? She's a Weasley. Malfoys hate Weasleys. But that doesn't mean she can't be hot.

But the thoughts drifted out of his head as he listened to the Sorting. After the feast, Dumbledore introduced the new Care of Magical Creatures professor.

Finally sacked that oaf Hagrid did they? Draco thought. Oh no, a Weasley? That's almost worse.

Draco made his way down to the Slytherin dungeon and into his bed. Just like a certain redheaded Gryffindor, the blond Slytherin's thoughts drifted somewhere he didn't want them to.

Why am I thinking about her? She's a Gryffindor.

He tried to push the thoughts out of his head, but with no success.

Why did she have to look at me, and why does she have to look so damn good? as the last thought in Draco's head before he succumbed to sleep.