Ron cleared his throat nervously and adjusted his collar as he anxiously glanced at the young woman beside him. Her head was bent and below her mane of red curly hair, he could see a blush forming on her face. There was probably one on his face too.

"You know if you're mother could be here, she would," he explained.

"I know," she said meekly.

Ron immediately felt guilty. He didn't want to make it seem like he didn't want to be here – though frankly he didn't – and make her feel worse than she probably already did. He couldn't blame her; who would want to go shopping for training bras with their father?

They were in Madame Malkin's, in the hosiery section. There was row after row of frilly bras and girly looking knickers staring him in the face, and he felt distinctly out of place.

"It's just that?"

"Dad, I know, okay?" Laura interrupted. "Mum's on bedrest because of the baby and I need…this…because I'm starting Hogwarts tomorrow. Grandma and Aunt Ginny were busy so…that left you."

"Well as long as I wasn't the last choice or anything."

"You weren't – Uncle Harry was."

"Oh you!" he said and ruffled her hair affectionately. He couldn't believe that his little girl, his tomboy of a daughter Laura, was growing up so fast and already off to school. He also couldn't believe how long it had been since it was since he started Hogwarts. Since he met both his best friends and the love of his life. Since he helped win a war, got married, and made the beautiful girl with him, and the bun in the oven at home. Yes, Ron Weasley had achieved a lot and he was damned proud of it.

"Daddy?" she asked from the changing rooms. Madame Malkin had fitted her and had a sales girl help her with selection the right bras for her.

"Yes?" he said from a chair in the corner of the room, checking his watch. It hadn't turned out to be so bad. But he still wanted out.

"Do you think I could get my own owl today?"

"I don't know…"

"I'll tell Mum that you did more than sit and read a newspaper."

"Done."