A Stroll in Your Shoes

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter world, or characters etc…

Warning: H/G at beginning, though I wouldn’t really call it anything myself. There are quite a few lewd references, but it’s not really enough to make this story R. If you’re offended by it, I guess you shouldn’t read it. *shrugs*

A/N: I forgot to say that I don’t have a beta-reader at the moment. I know there were a few typos in that last one, which I’m sorry for. I tried to go over it the best I could, but occasionally I miss things even when doing that.

Thank you Michelle 14 hpfan and Usha88 for reviewing!

Finding The Answer

Draco threw a book down and sighed for what Ginny thought must have been the hundredth time.

“It’s no use,” he groaned dejectedly. “We are never going to find anything that allows people to switch bodies besides the polyjuice potion.”

“There has to be something!” Ginny exclaimed agitatedly as she searched through mouldy old books. “I refuse to believe I am stuck this way!”

“Face it she-weasel, we are stuck in each other’s bodies.” Draco declared gloomily, a moody expression on his face.

“Oh well you’re not exactly helping are you? All you’ve done is complain and act like a big baby!” Ginny snapped rudely, feeling rather sick of his pessimistic and annoying complaining. She knew there was something in here; they just had to keep looking.

“So what?” Draco retorted, looking mutinous. “I just spent the day stuck with giggling girls and pretending to be a happy-clappy Gryffindor. I’m not in a good mood.”

Ginny’s nerves were already stretched and this seemed to be the last straw. She was so sick of being stuck in his body, so sick of hearing his voice, and so sick of Draco Malfoy.

“Malfoy if you don’t shutup, I am going to throttle you!” Ginny threatened in a low voice, her eyes like daggers.

“Really Weasley, control that temper of yours before I make you,” Draco drawled right back, seeming to enjoy watching Ginny struggle to contain her fury. He watched her fuming at him for a moment and suddenly decided, much to his dislike, that he looked dreadful when he lost his temper.

“Weasley, don’t do that face again. It looks terrible on me.”

Ginny suddenly stopped fuming and went into a peel of laughter, her grey eyes brewing with amusement. “You’re so vain,” She choked out between gasps.

“Yes well you’ve already ruined my image by not even brushing my hair properly,” Draco said peevishly, while glaring at the offending blond mess on Ginny’s head. It wasn’t even slicked back or anything, instead looking nothing more than a tousled mop.

Ginny only laughed again, almost falling off her chair at the discovery that Draco Malfoy was vain, though really, she probably should have known that anyway. She looked close to tears, and as Draco watched her gasping for breath from so laughing so hard, he was beginning to get increasingly frustrated.

 “Oh shutup!” he snapped finally in an irritable voice.

Ginny tried to stifle her giggles but only ended up snorting slightly. He knew that she was never going to let him live with this, so he decided it would be better for both parties if he steered the conversation to more productive matters than his vanity.

Sighing to himself, Draco plastered a serious expression on his face. “Look Weasley, I really don’t think we are going to find anything here, and stop laughing.” He added grumpily.

“Wait! Malfoy I found it!” Ginny squealed excitedly, after randomly opening a book. Her eyes found his, urging him to look, and Draco instantly sat up and leaned closer to read where Ginny’s finger was pointing.

…speaks of a strange magical power that allows two people to switch bodies. It is unclear how the actual phenomena occurs but the only way to reverse the effect is to ove…

“The page has been ripped!” Draco exclaimed in horror, his eyes widening with disbelief.

“It might still be in there somewhere…” Ginny said quickly, a note of panic creeping into her voice.

Draco looked around the mouldy book, flicking through the smelly, dusty pages, but there was nothing. The page was gone. He turned his eyes to see her defeated expression, and felt his anger boiling. Their only hope was gone. He was going to be stuck in her body…

“What do we do now?” Ginny asked in a small voice, the frustration she was feeling etched into her expression.

“AHHH! This is not happening!!” Draco screamed, finally losing his control at the thought of never being able to go back to his life or his body. “I will not stay in your horrible body any longer!”

A third year Hufflepuff looked at them curiously from by the shelves, his eyes bulging at what he had heard Draco (who he thought was Ginny Weasley) scream.

“What the hell do you want, you little runt?” Draco asked nastily, his eyes taking on a threatening expression.

The Hufflepuff boy squeaked in fright, jumping nearly a metre into the air and went running off. Draco let out a deep breath and turned back to Ginny who was now frowning at him.

“What?” Draco said innocently.

“Oh for Merlin’s sake, Malfoy,” Ginny sighed, shaking her head slightly. “When are you going to act your age?”

“Excuse me?” Draco asked huffily, his anger creeping back. “You see how you like being trapped in a female’s body, stuck with twittering girls, and having Potter trying to kiss you at every opportune moment. IT’S NOT EXACTLY A PICNIC!!!”

“Okay, okay I get it.” Ginny sighed, amazed at how angry he was becoming. Normally he seemed quite calm, but it seemed a day spent in her body, and then finding out the book they had thought would help them had the page missing, had slightly unhinged him. “Just calm down.”

Draco glowered at her, as if it was all her fault he had lost his temper. “Must be this hair rubbing off on me,” he mumbled unhappily, pulling at the flaming red strands. “I don’t normally lose control like this.”

Ginny frowned at him but didn’t say anything rude back. There was no point making him angry again, and she guessed that in a way he did have it worse than her, though being Draco Malfoy certainly had been no picnic either.

“Right Malfoy,” Ginny said firmly, attempting to change the conversation back to the problem at hand. “I think we should try figure out how this happened to us.”

“And how are we supposed to do that?” Draco replied dryly, obviously deciding that nothing could help them now. Ginny was not as ready to give up. She had been thinking while Draco was raging, and now she realised that if books couldn’t help them, then they would just have to figure it out themselves.

“By going over everything that happened yesterday.” Ginny said proudly, quite pleased by what she had come up with.

“I knew that,” Draco said quickly, though Ginny could tell he was annoyed he had not thought of it.

Rolling her eyes, Ginny pulled out some parchment and a quill in case they thought of anything worth investigating. “Alright,” She said, taking a deep breath and looking at him. “Where to begin?”

“How about when you woke up?” Draco asked innocencently, though his annoying smirk was in place. Ginny was surprised that even on her own face he managed to give his trademark smirk.

“Shutup Malfoy,” she muttered, pushing him slightly for mocking her. Malfoy merely smiled in amusement but said nothing.

Ginny picked up the quill and dipped it in the ink, frowning to herself as she tried to think of all that had happened yesterday…

oooooooooo

Yesterday as Ginny saw it….

AHHH! Why does this always happen? I always sleep in! Never mind. Now where did I put that…. Oh, there it is.

Ginny sat up from underneath the bed, her hair a mess, looking very frazzled indeed as she searched frantically for her other sock. She had found one, but now her next mission was to find the other, for she refused to wear mismatched socks again.

“What are you doing?” Marissa asked, sitting up in her bed, a scowl firmly in place.  Ginny rolled her eyes; Marissa always had something to complain to her about in the mornings.

“Quidditch training,” Ginny grunted, lifting clothes and books up off the ground. Like you care you sneaky little git. I know you want to get your smutty paws on Harry.

“Oh, well good luck...”

Pfft, yeah right. You know you’re wishing me de—EEK! Better hurry up before Harry gets really mad!

Ginny grabbed the rest of her clothes, praying that her other sock was in the pile, and sprinted out of the girls’ dormitories. Scrambling out of the portrait hole she began to run still trying to get her clothes on properly.

Must hurry, can’t be late. Might get kicked off team. Ahh, as much as I love you Harry, why must you make practise early?

Thump

“OWW, that hurt!” a male voice said distantly.

Seems I’ve banged into someone. Quick you dolt, apologise!!

Ginny opened her eyes to see who it was she had banged into, but only found herself staring at the insides of a red and gold jersey.

“What the hell are you doing?” The male demanded angrily. “What kind of idiot runs around hallways with jerseys covering their heads? What are you some kind of mental?”

Ginny pulled the jersey of her head finally, her hair even messier than before, and stared at the tall figure of Draco Malfoy. His whole appearance was immaculate with not a hair out of place.

Knew it would have to be that git…

“I was in a hurry.” Ginny said out loud, trying and failing to make it sound like an apology.

“You weasels really have no manners do you?” Draco sneered, a disgusted expression on his face. 

How dare he say that? Quick Ginny, thing of a clever retort!

“Oh and I suppose you’re the model of propriety?” Ginny retorted with fake sweetness, her eyebrow rising ever so slightly.

Yes that was good! Way to go Ginny!

“Well Weasel, the rich can afford to be however we like,” Draco said disdainfully. “You, on the other hand, will be labelled common and vulgar. Two descriptions that I think have you in a nutshell.” He finished with his trademark smirk.

Ouch that hurts- really it does. Slimy git. Bah who cares? I have to get to Quidditch anyway. No time for the amazing, Ferret boy!

“Oh I would love to continue having this discussion with you,” Ginny said with an amiable smile, “But you see, I’m late and you are in my way…”

And with that, Ginny roughly pushed Draco out of the way and continued her mad dash to the Quidditch pitch…

“Sorry I’m late” Ginny gasped as she ran on to the Quidditch pitch, still smiling to herself at how she had managed to finally beat Draco Malfoy in a sparring match of words. She had even nearly pushed him over, which was a worthwhile bonus.

Harry gave her a fleeting look and nodded his head, turning back to the rest of the team to finish the rest of his plans.

Phew. I thought he was going to get angry. I mean the match against Slytherin is coming up and Harry’s been a bit tetchy lately with the whole Quidditch thing.

“Right, let’s go!” Harry yelled out, giving the go-ahead for the team to all ascend for practise.

Ginny pushed off the ground on her broom and smiled as the wind whipped through her hair. Finally she could just do something she actually enjoyed doing…

Later that evening…

Oh no there is the great prick himself. Great, what does he want this time?

“What do you want?” Ginny asked tiredly, glancing towards Draco who was leaning against a bookcase watching her with a smirk. She really didn’t feel like having another conversation with him. After Quidditch practise her day had simply gone downhill with one horrible class after the next.

“Now Weasel, what did I say about manners?” Draco asked in an annoying voice.

Right that decides it! Malfoy is a royal pain in the butt and is this close to feeling the Weasel choke I mean Weasley temper.

Noticing he was once again smirking at her and that he had gotten her riled up again, Ginny contented herself by throwing one of her books at him, giving a pleased smile when it nearly hit his pale, pointy, stupid face.

Malfoy simply raised an eyebrow, staring at the book now lying by his foot. “You know, it is very rude to throw books at people.” He commented, as if making a statement about the weather.

Ginny huffed, not believing how impossibly annoying he was.

“Leave me alone Malfoy,” She muttered angrily, once more going back to her book. “I’m tired and I have a lot of work to do.” Stupid git! I hate you! Hmm, wouldn’t you look nice being eaten by the giant squid…

“Oh yes,” Draco replied, smirking as he snatched the book out of her hands. “Err, I’m sure Orlando the handsome prince and Hero the beautiful damsel in distress could not possibly wait.”

Ginny snatched the book out of his hands, her cheeks going a nasty, blotchy red in her anger. “MALFOY, GET LOST!!”

Draco chuckled, his whole demeanour changing as he switched from his annoying taunting mood to one of simple amusement. “I only came to tell you that Snape wanted to talk to you.”

You pompous, sneering idiot! Why couldn’t you have said that in the first place?

“You could have told me that earlier.” Ginny voiced instead, knowing that her thoughts would only get her in even more trouble.

“Oh, but that would have ruined the fun.” Draco said with a smirk, his eyes brewing with laughter.

Git.

Remembering that Snape wanted to see her, Ginny stood up and stalked past Draco with her head held high, refusing to look at his slimy face again… that was until she noticed he was following her out of the room.

Why is he still following me?

“Snape told me to led you there himself. I guess he doesn’t have much faith in your abilities to follow simple instructions” Draco said mockingly, as though reading her mind.

“If you like your body the way it is I suggest you shutup.” Ginny spat angrily, tired of his smart remarks.

Draco laughed again, but much to Ginny’s relief said nothing.

The rest of the walk to the dungeons was made in silence, and with relief Ginny saw Snape’s classroom coming into view.

Yes now I can get rid of the slimy git

“Well, Malfoy, it seems you can go now.” Ginny said with a pleased look, glad to finally be rid him.

“Finally.” Draco said tiredly.

When did he get so tired?

“What’s wrong with you?” Ginny asked rudely. Even if she didn’t like him, it was just a natural, nosy habit to ask questions when people started behaving that way.

“Well, apart from the fact I had to endure your company for several minutes,” Draco said with dissatisfied expression. I’m quite tired.”

“Oh yes, I’m such an affliction.” Ginny retorted, rolling her eyes slightly. “Please get over yourself.”

Draco stared at her dispassionately, looking all for the world like this was the most boring conversation he had ever been in. “You know, Weasel, it would be great if you would just shutup for once.”

“I’m sure the whole world thinks that about you Malfoy.” Ginny replied sweetly.

Draco rolled his eyes, clearly not amused by her remarks. “Whatever. I’m going now.”

“Good.” Ginny said glaring at him.

Draco turned to leave but was knocked by Snape who came bounding out of the Potions room holding his face. Ginny’s eyes widened in horror as Draco banged into her, sending them both falling to the ground.

Ahh, the ferret is on me! Ewww…

“Oww,” Draco groaned, clutching his head slightly as he lay on top of her.

“GET OFF!!” Ginny bellowed, pushing roughly at his chest.

Draco stood up, still holding a hand to his head, his grey eyes glancing around blearily.

Ginny scrambled up off the ground, feeling her body swaying slightly as a strange dizziness descended over her body.

So dizzy… What’s that strange smell? Ahh! What’s going on? Why do I feel so strange?

OOOOOOOOOOO

Yesterday as Draco saw it….

Oh yeah, I have to give that report to Snape this morning…

Sighing to himself at the thought of having to go talk to Snape, Draco took one last look in the mirror before nodding his head in approval. He was looking good and he knew it.

“Draco, shouldn’t you be going?” Blaise asked, yawning slightly as he started pulling off his pyjamas.

“You know, Blaise,” Draco said with a little smirk, while picking up his bag. “If you rush yourself in the morning you’ll regret it later.”

Blaise snorted, obviously not impressed by Draco’s argument and threw his pillow at him. “You’re unbelievable you know that?”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Draco said laughing as he headed out the door to go hand in his report. He walked down the corridor, thinking happily of the food awaiting him in the Great Hall when suddenly-

Thump

“OWW, that hurt!” Draco yelped as something collided with him, sending him stumbling back. He glanced at the person before him, surprised to see a rather short girl wearing a red and gold jersey on her head.

What the heck, it’s a jersey monster!

“What the hell are you doing?” Draco demanded angrily, rubbing his chest where the girl had collided into him at full sprint. “What kind of idiot runs around hallways with jerseys covering their heads? What are you some kind of mental?”

The monster pulled the jersey of her head, allowing a mane of very messy, red hair to fall down around her waist. Her large chestnut eyes glanced up at him in surprise until her expression distorted into revulsion.

Oh, it’s the she-weasel. No wonder…

“I was in a hurry.” Ginny Weasley said not very apologetically.

“You weasels really have no manners do you?” Draco sneered, eyeing her raggedy clothes with distaste. He really wasn’t surprised that the Weasleys had no manners; they were a common bunch after all…

“Oh and I suppose you’re the model of propriety?” Ginny replied with false sweetness, one eyebrow rising ever so slightly. 

Hmph. So the Weasel has claws…. She’s still no match for my wit…

“Well Weasel,” he began haughtily, knowing he was purposely going to rub in her meagre life. “The rich can afford to be however we like; you, on the other hand, will be labelled common and vulgar. Two descriptions that I think have you in a nutshell.” Draco ended with a smirk.

Take that Weaslette.

“Oh, I would love to continue having this discussion, but you see, I’m late and you are in my way.” she said with an amiable smile, and with those words she had pushed past him roughly and walked off down the hallway.

I’ll get you back Weasel… Oh damn that report! Snape is going to kill me!

Later that evening…

“Mr Malfoy, your report was excellent!” Snape praised, eyeing Draco with approval through his black eyes.

“Thank you sir,” Draco said in a bored voice. Snape praised everything he did anyway, so it was nothing new to hear Snape giving his report such a glowing assessment.

“Before you go, would you mind finding Ginevra Weasley? I need to have a word with her.” Snape asked, not looking at Draco as he went back to his papers.

Hmm, what does the overgrown bat want with her? Oh well, no matter I know where she’ll be anyway…

“Oh, and would you bring her back here? She seems to have problems following simple instructions.” Snape ordered in a dry voice.

Snape really doesn’t like the little Weasel. This should be entertaining…

“Of course Sir.” Draco replied politely before exiting the room to find Ginny. He walked into the library, for he knew that was where she would be, and saw a flash of long red hair at a table near the back. Smirking to himself, he walked over and leant against the bookcase near her table.

I wonder what she is doing?

He peered at her table, noticing a few books scattered about, but she seemed to be only paying attention to the one in her hands. Almost as if she could feel his eyes on her, Ginny lifted her face and stared at him.

“What do you want?” Ginny asked tiredly.

Someone is in a bad mood.

“Now Weasel what did I say about manners?” Draco asked, purposely putting on a patronising voice. He thought he had might as well amuse himself at her expense while he was here. Merlin knew he needed it after the day he had faced.

Much to Draco’s horror, instead of saying anything back at him, she decided to throw one of her books instead. He flinched as it nearly hit his face and dropped to the floor, gazing down at it in surprise that she would actually throw something that heavy at him.

Hmm, this girl has spunk, but two can play at his game, and I don’t have to resort to throwing books at people…

Draco raised an eyebrow, plastering an unconcerned expression on his face. “You know it is very rude to throw books at people.”

“Leave me alone, Malfoy. I’m tired and I have a lot of work to do.”

Draco walked towards her table and peered over at her ‘work’, noticing the bright pink cover of the book as well as what looked like a male and female in a rather clichéd romantic pose.

She calls that work? Looks more like one of those trashy romance novels my mum reads to me…Just get a closer look…

“Oh yes,” Draco said smirking as he snatched the book out of her hands and glancing at the back of the book where the blurb was. “Err, I’m sure Orlando, the handsome prince, and Hero, the beautiful damsel in distress, could not possibly wait.”

Ginny snatched the book out of his hands, a furious expression on her face. “MALFOY, GET LOST!”

This is too easy. Weasleys are so diverting…

Chuckling to himself, Draco decided he should probably stop baiting her now. “I only came to tell you that Snape wanted to talk to you.”

“You could have told me that earlier.” Ginny exclaimed in an annoyed voice.

“Oh but that would have ruined the fun.” Draco smirked, still trying not to laugh at her outraged expression.

Draco watched as she stood up and stalked past him, her head held high. He followed, knowing that Snape really would expect him to take her to his classroom, but frowned suddenly as he noticed her staring at him.

She’s staring at me funny- probably wondering why I’m still following her. Don’t flatter yourself Weasel, I’m only doing this because Snape wants me too.

“Snape told me to led you there himself. I guess he doesn’t have much faith in your abilities to follow simple instructions,” Draco said with a smirk, remembering what the professor had told him earlier.

“If you like your body the way it is, I suggest you shutup.” Ginny spat angrily.

Draco laughed again. I would love to see you try little weasel.

The rest of the time to the dungeons was spent in silence, for Draco had long lost the amusement in taunting her. All he wanted now was to go to bed, or maybe play some cards with Blaise and the others.

It was a relief when he saw the door to Snape’s classroom.

About time we get here. I think I’ve had enough Weasels for today.

“Well it seems Malfoy, you can go now.”

“Finally.” Draco muttered tiredly, feeling quite glad to be rid of her.

“What’s wrong with you?” Ginny asked rudely.

“Well, apart from the fact I had to endure your company for several minutes,” Draco said with a dissatisfied expression, just realising how long he had spent in the she-weasel’s company. “I’m quite tired.”

“Oh yes, I’m such an affliction.” Ginny retorted, rolling her eyes. “Please get over yourself.”

Yes you are, you stupid chit. Glad we agree that you’re an annoying affliction that doesn’t know how to stay silent.

“You know, Weasel, it would be great if you would just shutup for once.” Draco said, unable to keep his thoughts to himself.

“I'm sure the whole world thinks that about you Malfoy,” Ginny replied sweetly, a fake smile on her face.

Like I haven’t heard that one before.

“Whatever. I’m going now,” Draco muttered, rolling his eyes.

“Good.” Ginny said glaring at him.

Draco rolled his eyes again, turning to leave, when suddenly he was knocked over by Snape who had come bounding out of the Potions room holding his face. With a yelp, Draco found himself falling backwards, knocking Ginny over in the process and landing on her with a hard thump.

“Oww,” Draco groaned as he clutched his head where it had hit the ground.

“GET OFF!!” Ginny bellowed, shoving roughly at his chest.

Crazy wench! That hurts!!

Draco quickly stood up to stop her forceful pushing and looked around dizzily, noticing a strange smell wafting towards him from the open potions door.

Head is swimming. Feel sick…

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“The Potion!” Draco and Ginny shouted, looking at each other ecstatically.

“We found it!” Ginny said, beaming at the thought that they finally had the answer.

“I can get my body back!” Draco cried happily.

Or so they thought…

A/N: I have to apologise for the repetitiveness of this chapter.