A Stroll In Your Shoes

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters etc.

Warnings: None

A/N: Again, sorry for the confusion!

Normal Life?

The next few days were spent in a very tense atmosphere for Ginny. Harry avoided her like the plague, and Ron would start grinding his teeth whenever she walked past; he was still remembering the Quidditch match that Ginny had won for Slytherin. Mrs Weasley kept fussing over Ginny, and because Bill, Percy and Charlie had gone off, it was just Fred and George who bothered to talk to her; only they kept asking her stupid questions about Malfoy, until she wished they would just leave her alone too. The only person who she could find any sanity with was Hermione, though even she seemed tense, but maybe that was because she was worried about seeing Blaise again?

Ginny sighed and stared at her calendar; tomorrow she would go back to Hogwarts, and then she would know where she stood with Draco and the Slytherins. It was going to be weird talking to him when she was herself; she was so used to looking down at him, but now she would have to look up. “Things are going to be so complicated,” she muttered to herself and rolled over on the bed to go to sleep, flicking the light out lazily with her wand.

OOOOOOOOOO

“GINNY GET OUT OFF BED!” Mrs Weasley screeched.

Ginny clamped her hands over her ears and raised her head warily to see Mrs Weasley holding a wooden spoon and looking furious, “You're going to make us late, we told you to get up hours ago!”

Ginny stuck one leg out of bed and stood up, “Sorry mum.”

“Don't you `sorry mum me', young lady. Now get dressed quickly, we have to be leaving in ten minutes!” Mrs Weasley said firmly and stomped out of the room.

Ginny sighed and grabbed her things, chucking any old clothes on; she was too worried about seeing Draco again to really think about what she was wearing.

Slowly she dawdled down the stairs to the kitchen.

“Hey Gin, Dad's got breakfast in the car.” Fred said cheerfully; it seemed like everyone was running late today.

Harry brushed past her as he went to go put his stuff in the trunk. Ginny looked around and noticed Hermione looking agitated. `Well at least someone is as nervous as me,' she thought relieved.

“Time to go” Mrs Weasley said bossily and shooed everyone into the car.

Ginny took one last look at the burrow before the car took off, taking her to Hogwarts, and Draco.

OOOOOOOOOO

All too soon the gray stonewalls of Hogwarts loomed before her. She gazed at the gates and jumped slightly as Ron nudged her, “What are you waiting for Ginny? Let's go!”

Ginny nodded and walked through the gates. Her eyes automatically searched for the pale-blonde hair that would lead her to Draco, but she could not see him.

“C'mon Ginny,” Hermione said firmly, “Let's go take our stuff up.”

Ginny nodded and followed Hermione up to the Gryffindor tower, all the while keeping her eyes open for any sign of Draco.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Later that day…

“Just go talk to her!” Blaise urged from sitting on the leather armchairs.

Draco ran a hand through his hair and looked at Blaise, “It's not as easy as that. I don't see you running to talk to Granger.”

Blaise laughed, “That's different. I kissed her, and she's too embarrassed to talk to me. You, on the other hand, have no excuse.”

Draco looked at Blaise incredulously, “I almost got her killed, not to mention I've been in her body for over a week. Don't you get it?” Draco said frustrated, “I know everything there is to know about her. Hell, I've seen her naked and everything.” Draco said running his hands through his hair again in agitation, coming back into his male body, brought back all the male thoughts that came with it.

“So what?” Blaise said dismissively, “You should have nothing to worry about then.”

Draco rolled his eyes, “Whatever, I'm going for a walk.”

Blaise smirked and watched him walk out of the dungeons.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ginny walked down the Hallway with Lyra feeling slightly annoyed. Her friends were wondering why she had been acting so distant for the past weeks. They accused her of liking Hermione more than them and Ginny had had enough of hearing their complaints.

“Look I'm sorry ok?” She said to Lyra, “I've just had a lot going on right now.”

“Oh yeah, like what?” Lyra asked angrily.

“She's been busy with me.” Draco said, rasing an eyebrow at Lyra.

Ginny watched amused, as Lyra blushed and stammered something unintelligible, which sounded suspiciously like “Figures, she'd go with someone like him.”

Draco merely smirked and took Ginny by the arm, “Well goodbye Rosedale.” He said dismissively and steered Ginny away from her fuming friend.

“You know that was very rude,” Ginny reprimanded, though she couldn't stop the small smile that crept to her lips.

“Well she was the one who started it,” Draco said innocently, “She's too nosy for her own good.”

Ginny laughed, it was true that her friends were nosy and didn't know when to keep their mouths shut. “Even still, I've got a lot to complain to you about.”

Draco smirked, “Oh yes, I managed to get your boyfriend to dump you, your friends to hate you, oh and let's not forget I almost got you killed.”

Ginny laughed lightly and pushed him, “You know when you say it like that, I almost feel like I should be mad at you.”

Draco looked at her surprised, “You're not mad?”

Ginny shook her head, “It's not like I expected any different from you, apart from the almost getting me killed bit,” she added as an after thought, “But, I never really thought you would be nice to Harry, or to my friends. From what they've said to me, you never did get mean to them, though you did act a bit strange sometimes,” Ginny said laughing, “But I'd say you did a pretty good job at tricking them.”

Draco gave a mock bow, “High praise indeed, I'm honoured.”

Ginny nudged him again, “Stop making fun of me,” she said playfully.

Draco smirked and continued to walk with her down the hallway, their shoulders occasionally nudging each other from their close proximity.

Ginny smiled to herself, as she listened to Draco talking about staying with Blaise. It was good to just talk to him normally. She felt immensely relieved that they had managed to catch up so easily; it was almost like they had been friends their whole lives.

Ginny looked up at his handsome face, with the silvery gray eyes. He smiled at her; a warm, friendly smile and she felt a strange fluttering in her stomach.

“And then Potter eloped with Filch.”

Ginny shook herself out of her wandering thoughts and looked up at him, “Um, what…?”

Draco laughed, “You're not even listening to me are you?”

Ginny blushed, “Sorry.”

“It's ok,” Draco said lazily.

Ginny still felt rather stupid and walked in silence with him. She noticed the Charms class and sighed, “I have to go to class now.” She said reluctantly.

Draco looked down at her and nodded, “Alright, I guess I'll see you round then.”

Ginny smiled, “Yeah.”

Ginny watched as Draco walked away towards the transfiguration room and couldn't stop the grin that formed on her face.

“Was that Ginny Weasley with Draco Malfoy?” Someone whispered loudly.

Ginny ignored the loud murmurings and whispers and walked into the Charms class, nothing could spoil her day, nothing at all, until….

“Ginny, how could you ditch me to flirt with Malfoy?” Lyra demanded.

Ginny looked up surprised, “I was not flirting with him!” She said annoyed, “He's my friend!”

“Oh sure,” Lyra said sarcastically, “Because all friends like to smile and make sheep eyes at each other.”

“I was not making sheep eyes at him!” Ginny said defensively.

Lyra snorted inelegantly and sat down next to Oricarn. Ginny glared at them and stared at Flitwick who was squeaking about some silly charm. She was not flirting with him, she thought angrily, they were just friends!

She sighed and stared at the window, hoping that the class would hurry up and be over.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Draco had a small smirk playing on his face as he walked into transfiguration. Blaise hollered him over to his seat and Draco walked lazily over, sitting down and pulling out his books.

“What are you looking so happy about?” Blaise asked curiously.

“Nothing.” Draco said absently.

“Yeah right, you look like you've just had a good snog or something; Weasley finally give in?” Blaise asked grinning.

Draco rolled his eyes, “Honestly Blaise, you are so vulgar sometimes, we just talked, if you really must know.” He smiled again, as he thought of how cute she looked when she laughed, `Wait did I just think she was cute?' he asked himself stunned.

Blaise smirked, “I'm just curious, anyway I know you dig her, it's so obvious.”

Draco frowned, “No I don't. I just like her as a friend.”

“Yeah, right.” Blaise said sceptically.

Draco didn't know why he was getting so defensive, but he had to prove Blaise wrong. “I swear!” Draco said defensively.

Blaise sniggered, “Don't try deny it, it will only come back to bite you in the bum.”

“Where do you hear these crude sayings?” Draco asked amused.

Blaise shrugged, “I've been talking to Crabbe too much. Anyway, why don't you just admit it?”

Draco sighed, “Because-”

“As interesting as your conversation may be,” Professor McGonagall said coldly, “I do not appreciate you talking during my lesson.”

Blaise and Draco looked at each other with annoyed expressions.

“In fact you can move Mister Zabini, I've had enough of you interrupting my class.” McGonagall said firmly.

Blaise sighed and moved desks, leaving Draco to continue his work in silence.

Draco blinked as a note landed on his desk and looked around to see Blaise smirking at him. He opened the note and grinned as he read it.

“She's just angry because Snape stood her up last night. I heard all about it when I was trying to steal food from the kitchens.”

Draco quickly hid the note as McGonagall came back and began to do his work. He exchanged amused glances with Blaise and continued to write his notes.

The bell rung and Draco and Blaise quickly stood up and left before McGonagall could throw a rant about their behaviour.

“That woman will die an old maid.” Blaise said firmly, “If ever there was a shrew, Minerva McGonagall is the ultimate!”

Draco laughed, “I thought you said she fancies Snape?”

“She does,” Blaise agreed, “But like I said, he stood her up.”

Draco shook his head and noticed Hermione watching them edgily, “I think Granger wants to talk to you, shall I leave?” he asked Blaise with a smirk.

Blaise looked at Hermione and looked back at Draco quickly, “Uh, yeah, let me deal with this alright?”

Draco nodded and walked away, an amused smile lurking on his face.

Blaise walked over to Hermione and smiled, “Granger, how are you doing today?”

Hermione smiled nervously, “Um, ok, I guess.”

“That's good.” Blaise said quickly. Why was he so nervous, he'd been around so many girls, hell, he was known as the Slytherin ladies man, and yet here he was, all tongue tied around Hermione Granger? “Wanna go for a walk or something?” Blaise asked, looking in the opposite direction.

Hermione nodded, “Sure.”

Blaise grinned and led her out to the courtyard, “So how were your holidays?” he asked, trying to keep casual.

“Well, um after the whole Draco/Ginny switching incident, things were kinda tense.” Hermione said slowly.

Blaise nodded, “I can imagine it would've been weird.”

They fell into silence and continued to walk. Blaise glanced at Hermione briefly, trying to think of something to say; all he really wanted to do was just grab her and kiss her, but after what happened last time, he didn't know if he should.

“Um, Blaise?” Hermione said nervously.

“Yeah?” Blaise said, stopping to look at her.

“When you, um kissed me, why did you do it?” Hermione asked, twisting her fingers nervously.

Blaise looked at her surprised, “I um..” he paused, why did he kiss her? At the time it seemed like a good thing to do, she just looked so adorable, and he didn't really think, just acted. “I guess because I could.” He said shrugging.

Hermione's eyes flashed with anger, and Blaise realised he had said something wrong.

“You!” Hermione yelled, slapping him hard in the face, “Ugh, I hate you!” she cried angrily, and stomped off towards the school.

Blaise sighed, “Well that didn't go well. Dammit, why can't I ever do anything right around her?” He asked no one in particular.

Sighing, he made his way to the dungeons; he didn't know how he could show her that he actually liked her.

OOOOOOO

“Hey Blaise!” Crabbe grunted from the seat where he was trying to balance a lolly on his nose.

“What's up?” Goyle asked, stuffing his mouth with a muffin.

“I think I just made Hermione hate me.” Blaise said dejectedly.

“What happened?” Crabbe asked, the lolly falling off his nose.

Blaise told them everything and sighed, “So now she hates me.”

Crabbe grinned, “Well you know what you could do.”

“What?” Blaise asked, running his hands through his hair.

“Write her a love poem.” Crabbe said shrugging, “Girls love that stuff.”

“A love poem?” Blaise said faintly. He had never had to do anything except snog a girl to have her fall at his feet, and now he would have to write poems?

“Yeah,” Crabbe said eagerly, “Go on, give it a try.”

Blaise nodded and began writing.

The door opened and Draco sauntered in looking arrogant as usual. “What's going on here?” he asked lazily, as he snatched up the parchment from Blaise.

“You smell like libraries,

I like your hair-”

Draco looked at Blaise, “What is this crap?”

Goyle burst out laughing, which turned to uncontrollable coughing as he choked on his muffin. Crabbe slapped him on the back hard, and they watched curiously as the muffin flew out of his mouth and hit a first year in the head.

“Anyway,” Draco said, turning his eyes back to Blaise, with a raised eyebrow.

Blaise blushed, “It's a love poem.”

Draco frowned, “You're writing this for Granger?”

Blaise nodded, still slightly red in the face from blushing.

Draco sighed and ripped up the parchment, “Give me that quill,” He said tiredly, “This is how you write a love poem.”

They all watched interestedly, as Draco began to write. Soon Crabbe and Goyle were putting their input into the poem and after a long hour of arguing, they finally had it finished.

Draco sealed the letter and gave it to Blaise with a smirk, “You owe me big for this.”

Blaise took the letter and sighed, “Thanks guys, I guess I better get it delivered then.”

The three boys nodded and pushed Blaise out of the room.

“This will be interesting to see,” Draco said with an amused smile, and sat down to wait for Blaise's return.

A/N: Tell me what you think!!!