These Boots Were Made For Walking

Nancy Sinatra

Ginny is tired of Draco walking all over her.

You keep saying you've got something for me.

Enough was enough. I don't make up my mind easily or quickly. I'm not like Ron. Snap judgments and breaking tempers are not my style.

But, as my boyfriend was going to learn, when I get to my breaking point, all hell breaks loose.

Draco came home from work. He walked into the library.

"Mum, do you know when..." He broke off completely when he saw me. His already pale skin went paler.

"Draco, darling, do have a seat," Narcissa said.

"Uh...I can explain?" he began.

"I said have a seat," Narcissa said with a smile so hard it could etch steel.

Draco hung his cloak on the coat rack and came over. He stared at me as if to say 'what have you done?'

I smiled sweetly at him and set my tea down. "Would you care for a cup?" I asked.

Something you call love, but confess.

"Please," he said, his voice tense. I could feel his eyes on me as I made his tea, milk, three sugars, exactly the way he liked it. I knew Narcissa was watching and I knew she was taking this in.

"Draco, dearest son, would you care to shed some light on what Ginny has told me."

He winced and I knew it was the use of my first name that got him. He had to be wondering what I had told Narcissa.

Confession time? I'd told Narcissa nothing. I had simply come in and asked to talk to her about Draco. Narcissa had made some assumptions but I had carefully avoided committing to any of them. Narcissa appeared to respect my decision if not my lack of committal.

"That depends what Miss Weasley has told you," Draco said and I almost smiled again.

Narcissa seemed to obtain an inner zen and I knew she'd caught it too. Draco was trying to pretend we weren't what we were.

We'd been dating for almost a year. Sometimes Draco stayed over. Sometimes I snuck into his room at the manor. Sometimes it was a game. Sometimes we were so obvious about it that it was a wonder Ron hadn't figured it out. Hermione had, of course but she was discreet when I asked her to be.

You've been messin'

Of course, that was the problem. Our relationship wasn't anything yet. We were a couple but we weren't. We were sneaking around but we weren't. We were happy with the way things were...and we weren't.

So that's what we were here for. I was forcing his hand.

"We've been talking about your relationship," Narcissa said.

"We have a relationship?" Draco asked. His face was white and sick as curdled milk.

"Our working relationship," I said. "We do work in the same building."

Draco visibly relaxed. "But entirely different departments. Really, Mother, we have no interaction."

"I understand Ginny's department oversees your department," Narcissa said with a sip of her tea. She held her saucer up like ladies in period dramas. I found myself doing the same, more for the look on Draco's face than because I was feeling ladylike. I was feeling bitchy and vindictive and vindicated.

"In the strictest sense," Draco said, watching me. His expression had gone from stricken to hungry in the space of a few seconds. I was totally going to pay for this later. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Where you shouldn't have been a messin'

"Well, my department does control promotions," I said. "And I know someone is planning to change his status."

"I don't remember making that public knowledge," Draco said.

"I'm terribly sorry," I said, taking a sip of my tea. "Perhaps that was said in confidence."

"I'm pretty sure it was." His sultry look told me he knew what I was insinuating.

"Then perhaps you two should spend more time working on that relationship," Narcissa said.

"I wouldn't want people to talk," I said. "Besides, I'm told Dawn Willowdale can do anything I can do or better."

Draco's expression grew stormy. "Perhaps that was said in jest."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps there are other people who believe that as well."

"I'm sure we can do something to rectify that," he said.

And now someone else is gettin' all your best.

"Well, now that your professional relationship is sorted out," Narcissa began. She finished with her tea and poured herself a new cup. "How is your romantic relationship going?" she asked.

Draco choked on his tea. I had seen this question coming.

"Wh-whh-what romantic relationship?" Draco stuttered.

"Indeed," I said, looking not at Narcissa but my erstwhile boyfriend. "What...romantic relationship?"

"Now look, you know," he began then seemed to remember his mum was there. I sipped my tea.

"Mr. Malfoy, you've barely touched your tea," I said, playing out our Elizabethean drama.

A house elf materialized and spoke to Narcissa for a second. I wondered if it was a legitimate issue or something Narcissa did for every meeting like this. I suspected the latter.

"Yes, I suppose I should," Narcissa said. "Thank you." She turned to us. "I'm terribly sorry. I must take this. Please, don't mind my absence."

She smiled at us and took her leave, sweeping out like the queen from her court. Leaving me alone. With Draco.

These boots are made for walking,

He was on his feet the moment the the door swung shut.

"You...manipulative..."

"Devious," I supplied.

"Vindictive..."

"Vindicated."

"Poisonous..."

"Justified."

"Masochistic..."

"Scorned."

That shut him down. He had been leaning over the table, getting closer with each insult but he sat down hard when I said that. We stared at each other across the tea service. This had started as fun but it was turning into something I wasn't sure I could control. I wanted the truth about our relationship. No, I needed the truth. I didn't want it. I wanted to go on pretending we weren't what we were.

And that's just what they'll do

"I don't want Dawn Willowdale," he said finally.

"I know."

"She's a tramp. She only beat you out of that promotion because she's sleeping with Argos."

"I know."

"I don't want to be with her," he repeated. He picked up his tea and stared into it then took a sip.

"Then let's talk about that," I said. "Since we aren't going to talk about the fact that you've been telling everyone that you'd sleep with Dawn if it got you moved to our department."

"I didn't say that," he snapped, leaning forward.

"Then what did you say? We're trying to clear the record, aren't we?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Potter made a dumb comment about how she was sleeping her way to the top. He was getting on my nerves so I said I'd sleep with anyone to get away from an office next to him."

"And?" I prompted.

"And he said like who? I didn't want to name you because I knew he would get all uptight and defensive and it would get back to your brother and you didn't need that, not after having passed Percy in the ministry. So I picked the person in your department that I found most repugnant and named Dawn."

I couldn't help but feel a little better about that. I couldn't say why, but I knew he was telling me the truth.

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

"And what about you?" he asked.

"What about me?"

"You keep flirting with me in front of Potter. Are you trying to get me killed? Or are you trying to win him back?"

"First," I said, leaning forward to point at him. "I'm not interested in Harry. I haven't been since I was fifteen. I'm in...interested in you."

"So what is your objective in all this? Are you trying to give my mother something to talk about with her card club?"

"Your mom plays cards?" I asked, grinning.

"Poker," he said.

"Your mom is kind of impressive."

"That's not the objection I have but it's good to know. Ginny...what are you trying to do?"

You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'

"I just wanted to make you squirm a little bit."

His grin was slow but easy. He got up and walked over to my side of the table. He jerked my chair around and leaned over it, trapping me. Not that I wanted to get away.

"And was it worth it?" he asked, still grinning that smug, lovable grin.

"Any time, anywhere," I replied before surging forward to capture his lips with mine. Every kiss is like the first time with Draco. The kisses are never quite perfect and that's how I like it. It makes each one a bit more memorable.

I registered the door opening but I didn't look around. Narcissa might see this but so what? I came here knowing that I was probably going to end up with Narcissa finding out.

"Narcissa, do you remember if..."

Draco and I both looked up to see Lucius Malfoy walking into the library. He stared at the two of us then toppled over, out in a faint.

And you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.

"Well, that's one way to break the news," I said.

The door opened again and Narcissa came in. She looked at her husband on the floor then me and Draco in our tableau.

"Did you two have something you wished to tell me?" Narcissa said. "Draco, do sit down. One would think you're trying to sexually accost Ginny."

Draco looked as if that were a good idea but another look from his mom convinced him that taking a seat was the best thing for him. Narcissa rang a bell and a house elf arrived. Narcissa gestured to her prone husband and the elf produced a glass of water. Narcissa took it with a quiet 'thank you' then dumped the water on her husband.

Lucius sat up, sputtering.

"Ah, darling. You're awake."

"Did you pour water on me?" he asked, glaring up at his wife.

"Don't be tedious, darling. We have company."

He looked over at us and made a face. "I was hoping I'd dreamed that."

You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.

"Come now," Narcissa said. "We can discuss this like adults, can't we?"

I couldn't see Narcissa's face when she looked down at her husband but I could imagine it. Lucius got to his feet and, dusting off his jacket, walked over to the table. He sat beside Draco who had regained his seat.

"Now, let's have a conversation. Perhaps, son, you would like to recant your former statement about the nature of your relationships with Ginny," Narcissa suggested, taking her own seat.

"Relationships?" Lucius croaked, starting to his feet. A look from Narcissa quelled him and he sat back down.

"Well, we've already talked about our professional relationship," Draco said.

"Illuminate me," Lucius said, his voice like gravel in a blender.

"My department oversees the Aurors," I said. "In the strictest sense of the word, I out rank Mr. Malfoy."

"Do you go into the field like my son?" Lucius asked, sounding proud and superior.

Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.

"Yes, she does," Draco said. He looked at me and I knew he was thinking about the first time we went into a raid with me. I was thinking about it. It was shortly after we had started dating and I think both of us worried that we would both put each other before the mission but that was not the issue. In fact, we almost went the opposite direction for a few missions before we found our good balance.

"She's fantastic with a defensive spell," Draco said, his look turning fond.

"Someone has to watch out for you," I said. "And Harry. And Seamus. Mostly you, though. You could be a little less reckless, you know."

"How often do you get pulled into the fights, Ginny?" Narcissa asked, pouring a tea and handing it to Lucius.

"Not very often," I replied. "Our department oversees the more political sides of the operations and the mechanics. Mostly I just check facts and set up elements of the operations. We're sort of a last resort if you like."

"I'm pleased that such a responsible young lady is keeping an eye on our son, right, Lucius?"

Lucius looked as if he wanted to argue but this time Narcissa didn't even have to glance at him. He subsided.

These boots are made for walking,

"Now, what about your romantic relationship?" Narcissa asked. Lucius started to get to his feet but Narcissa pointed to his seat. "Do drink your tea, darling."

"I don't want my tea!" Lucius shouted.

"Darling, if you cannot keep your temper, you can leave and I will give you the gist of this later."

"I don't want the gist," Lucius snarled but he regained his seat. He looked sulky and he reminded me of Draco. "You always leave out important aspects when you give me the gist."

"Then I'm pleased we're agreed," Narcissa said. "Ginny, Draco, please don't mind my husband's rude behavior. Go on."

Draco looked at me and I looked at him. This was what I wanted, wasn't it? Our relationship laid out in black and white? Knowing exactly what we meant to each other?

I was suddenly scared but without meaning to, Lucius made the decision for both Draco and I.

"Now look," he began.

And that's just what they'll do

"I understand that things get heated in battle and it's easy to think you have feeling for each other-"

"Our feelings started long before the fights," Draco said. He reached over and took my hand. I looked to our fingers, curled around each other then up to his father.

"What is going on?" Lucius asked.

I turned to Narcissa. "We started seeing each other about two years ago. I had just moved to the Gold offices in the Auror department. We were at a Guy Fawlks party and everyone was joking about people sleeping together."

"Somehow, we ended up at breakfast together," Draco said, taking over. "Nothing happened, at least nothing romantic or sexual. We were in a group then as the group trickled away to see family or friends, we somehow found ourselves alone, together."

"Then we talked. I about this, he about that. There was nothing holding us back. We just talked."

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

"Did you find many things in common?" Narcissa asked. She was looking at us fondly.

"Incredibly so," Draco said. "So breakfast became a lunch date then a dinner date then hikes."

"You don't hike," Lucius pointed out.

"We're working on that," I said, shooting Draco a smile. He still considered walking around Hyde park a 'hike'.

"Is this some sort of a prank?" Lucius asked. He no longer looked sick or confused or even mad. He looked curious and strangely serious.

"No," Draco and I said as one.

"Because, young lady, if you are messing with my son's heart..."

"Lucius, honestly," Narcissa said.

"What? I just want to make sure she's not just playing with him."

You keep playin' where you shouldn't be playin

"I was playing with you when we first met," Narcissa said, gently swirling her spoon in her tea.

"Mother!"

"Well, it's true. Your father was quite the player in his youth. I felt the need to show him that he couldn't play with girls' hearts."

"You turned the entire student body against me," Lucius commented. "I had no friends left by the time you decided you would deign to date me."

"It was cruel, but I got my point across."

"Then you broke up with me about fourteen times."

"And you kept asking me out," Narcissa said.

"And you kept saying yes," Lucius replied. He took Narcissa's hand, twining their fingers together before raising her hand to his lips.

"Shameless," Narcissa said but she was smiling.

And you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt.

Draco leaned over, cupping my neck with his hand and whispering into my hair. "Think that'll be us?"

"I know it will," I said. "But if you break up with me, I'm going to make you pay."

Draco chuckled, kissing my hair.

Lucius coughed and I looked over at him. He and Narcissa were looking amused. I wasn't sure how but I had won both of them over.

"Come, darling," Narcissa said, getting to her feet. "Ginny, do stay for dinner."

"Try not to get into any trouble while we're gone," Lucius said, rising as well. He took his wife's hand and led her from the room.

Draco looked at me and I at him.

"So, we're a couple, are we?" he asked.

"Quite right, we are," I replied and kissed him.

"You know, getting you mad at me is quite interesting." He smoothed back my hair, cupping my face in a way that was possessive and tentative at the same time.

"Tell me that the next time I ambush you."

"How do you think that'll go?"

"Well, I'll probably tell my parents..." I kissed him. "Or my brother."

He laughed and we found a way to keep ourselves occupied until dinner.

Ha! I just found me a brand new box of matches yeah

And what he know you ain't had time to learn.

Are you ready boots? Start walkin'!

A/N: Hope you guys like it. I had fun writing a vindictive and playful Ginny. Also Narcissa. I loved writing her in this chapter. Hope to get another chapter up next week so fingers crossed!

Also, again, in terms of my original fiction, I got a poem published in 'Paperbark' magazine. It's a great, professional little press. They're just getting started but they handled everything very well and I enjoyed the process. They don't offer money yet but I got a very nice looking copy of the issue I was in.