Feelin' The Same Way – Draco and Ginny

It was a Hogsmeade weekend in late November and Ginny had stayed up at the school. Luna, Neville, and Hermione had all gone down, but she didn't mind being alone. She was bored. She supposed going to town might have been a nice diversion, but then again, she'd been there before; she knew it backwards and forwards, and the familiarity would make it just as boring as it was up at the school. Only it would be worse down there because she would have no reason to be bored. At the school it was at least understandable.

She sighed deeply. She was walking aimlessly through the halls. She should study, but she couldn't focus. She could read, but she would just stare at the page. She saw Malfoy leaning up against the wall a little way off. She should turn a corner, or at least come up with something smart to say, but why bother? It was all just the same as it always was. The repetition in life was getting to her. She was too tired to break inertia and turn. Who knew? Maybe she would automatically answer whatever he said to her. She didn't really care.

Malfoy had stayed up at the castle for the exact same reasons Ginny had. He was too bored to find something to entertain him. He saw her approaching. He should move, walk off, but he didn't have the strength to move. He should come up with something to say. There was always the classic 'Weasel' insult…he just sighed as she passed instead.

To her utter amazement she felt herself stop and fall against the wall next to him, mimicking his posture. They just stood there, backs against the wall, hands in their pockets, in silence. Finally she gave a frustrated sort of sound and slid down behind her knees.

"Something wrong, Weasel?" he drawled.

"I'm feeling the same way all over again," was her answer.

"I know what you mean," he slid down next to her. Turning his head to face her lazily, he said, "Sorry I didn't insult you earlier, I figured you knew what I was going to say anyway so why bother."

She almost laughed but really just huffed. "Yeah, I'm so tired of the same old thing that I can't even get up the energy to change things up." She let her head fall to the side so she was facing him as well.

"Is it just me," he asked, "or is this place more the same than ever?"

She came close to smiling. "That doesn't make any sense." He exerted the energy to straighten his head. She did the same, "Still, it isn't just you."

They sat in silence for a little while longer.

"You know," he broke the silence at last, "there is one sure way of mixing things up." He rolled his head over again and looked at her with raised eyebrows.

She rolled her back as well, "Why Ferret, are you suggesting what I think you are?"

"It would certainly create a buzz around here."

She looked thoughtful and righted her head. "That it would, that it would."

"So what do you say? Want to give our house heads heart attacks?"

She laughed. "You sure you want to? I mean," she looked back at him, "you're the one who would be going against family creed and all that."

He looked at the wall opposite him. "My father is a fool with a death wish. I couldn't care less about half of the things he raves about. I'll deal with him if you'll let me deal with your brother." He was looking at her again.

Her neck was getting sore from all the rolling, and the conversation was actually getting interesting, so she crossed her legs and sat up, turning so her whole body was facing him. "What do you mean by 'deal' with Ron?" she asked a bit wearily.

"Ah," he mimicked her readjustment, "I wouldn't hurt him, bad, just convince him to stay off your case, that's all."

She looked at him calculatingly. "To make things clear, we're talking about friendship here, right?"

He rolled his eyes. "Nothing more."

"You're really that bored?" she asked.

"You have no idea. Besides," he went back to their earlier position, "you're the only interesting person in this school."

She, too, returned to the earlier position. "Now that we're friends, I suppose I should stop calling you Ferret," she said absently.

He smiled, "Draco will do just fine, but I refuse to call you Ginny. Will Red work, or will you find that offensive?"

She shrugged, "Red's fine."

They sat there until dinner.