Outside the shop Ginny was crossing her arms and smirking at me wildly. I shunned her and took out my book again, the bump in the cover was sicking out more and was surely a nose shape. I poked it uncertainly. Then it twitched! "Who were you talking too?" Ginny asked teasingly.

"Nobody," I said absentmindedly. "Did you see that?"

"See what?"

I poked the nose again and it twitched!

"See?"

Ginny looked at me like i had just sprouted bat wings from my head.

"Nothing happened..." She said slowly.

"It twitched!" I insisted.

"No it didn't." She persisted

I frowned and Ginny looked worried.

I shook it off, must of been a trick of the light, of course thats what muggles think when they see magic. Shrugging, i put the book back into my bag and we walked back up the street.

"Want to go wait in the Leaky Cauldron?" Ginny looked over to me.

"Actually I have some muggle money i need to exchange."

"O.k, Mum and Dad are at gringotts already."

We continued to walk and talk down the street and rounded the corner of 'Madam Malkins robes for all occasions'. It was good to talk to Ginny in person, i was going crazy being by myself all summer.

Soon we arrived at the white columns holding the rest of the tall spotless bank, the building loomed over us impressively. I never get tired at looking at gringotts.

Inside we found the Weasley family, talking and gathering around the Grangers.

Percy spotted us first. "Hello Jo! Ginny." We waved back. Then Mrs. Weasley spotted us by a till and came bustling over.

"Hello girls! How was your summer Josephine?" Everyone in Ginny's family called me by my full name. Except Fred, George and Ron.

"It was great thanks."

Mrs. Weasley smiled.

"Here you go Ginny." Mrs. Weasley pooled a handful of sickles into Ginny's pocket.

"Thanks mum!"

"See you around girls! I don't suppose i need to tell you two not to go down knockturn alley." Just then Mrs. Weasley glanced at Fred and George, who were sneaking off unotably. She was off in a flash.

"Want to go to Florean's for ice cream first?" Ginny laughed.

"Sure." I agreed. Then Ginny and I walked out of gringotts and down the busy street to Florean Fortesque's Ice Cream Parlour. The shop was decored with Bright pink and yellow striped umbrella's with little sitting tables and chair's. We both ordered a medium strawberry caramel swirl with almond nuts. Our favourite. We sat in silence while we ate and watched a group of short wizards hurry about collecting money for hospital. Today was sunny, I noticed, bound to get hotter later on. Not a cloud in the sky and the sun sparkled on everything in Diagon Alley. It gleamed on the shop windows and heated the gray cobbled road. Nothing could beat today.

Ginny looked at me peculiarly. "Are you feeling O.k Jo?"

I looked back her. "Yeah, why wouldnt i be?"

"You just seem really preoccupied and tired." I always try to put myself in the best mood before i meet my friends, so not to dampen their day. Now whenever i'm not very talkative or smiling, they assume somethings wrong.

"Nothing," I say, "Just thinking about Mom, she threw another tantrum."

"Oh," Ginny says, she knows about mom and her moodiness, and how mom never wants us to go. Ginny doesnt know, however, that one year mom seriously considered taking us out of Hogwarts and having us go to a regular muggle school. What really was on my mind, was Hogwarts; a History. Why hadnt Ginny seen the nose on the cover twitch? Why was there a 3D human nose stuck to the cover of a book?

We finished our sundaes with no interuptions and headed to Quality Quidditch Supplies, where we were to meet Eileen and Marisa, I handed the St. Mungos wizards a few sickles as we left. Inside, Ginny and i immediatly rushed to the open case, displaying a Firebolt, which was already crowded with people gawking at it. Ginny practically drooled over the Firbolt. She plays chaser for the Gryffindor team. I can only play beater, but that position would never be re-ajusted while Fred and George are at Hogwarts.

Ginny and I found Eileen and Marisa standing in a corner by the 'Clean it yourself' kits.

"Hey guys." I said cheerfully. I havent seen these girls since July.

"Hey Jo..." The other girls said in unison.

"What's wrong?" I asked, Eileen and Marisa were both looking at me glumly and didn't even glance a Ginny. Suddenly Marisa burst into tears.

"Me-e and fr-ed g-go-got in a f-figh-t." Each Syllable was cut short with a huge gasp and a wave of waterworks, fat blue tears rolled down her face.

Ginny and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. Eileen looked at us disapprovingly.

"He was too old for you anyway-" Ginny started, "It wasn't even a relationship-"

Marisa looked at us with hatred plastered on her face. "Thanks for your support guys!" She spat at us.

"Marisa," I tried "You cant blame Ginny, even you thought it was a little unnatural, you guys are like four years apart."

Marisa wiped up her tears. "I guess..."

"C'mon. Let's go shopping!" Marisa and Eileen smiled and followed Ginny and I into Madam Malkins robe shop for all occasions.

"How do you have that effect on people?" Ginny wondered.

"I'm... just... kinder?" I said slowly as i followed my friends into the nearest shop.

...

Two hours later,

four tired, hungry, shopping bag laden girls, walked into the Leaky Cauldron, where they were to meet the Weasleys. we all sat down in unison at the longest table there.

Ginny leaned against me and said.

"Ugh! We missed Florish and Blotts." Eileen and Marisa groaned again as i smirked. I wonder if that cute clerk is still there. Only one way to find out.

"Well. I guess we better go then." I said.

Ginny matched my smirk knowingly. Somehow she found out about how i got Hogwarts; A History for free.

"You guys go ahead." said Marisa.

Back at Florish and blotts, The clearance box out front was gone, and fewer people were in the store than last visit. The old clerk from Ravenclaw wasnt at the till, but was doing his own bit of shopping in the back. Ginny took out her book list for Hogwarts.

" 'The standard book of spells grade four, Miranda Goshawk' and... 'The Dark Forces; A guide to Self-Defense' " Ginny read aloud.

"Only two books?" I asked surprised, usually every year we have to get at least four.

"Yeah," Ginny added "Well, plus our others, we have to bring. For Herbology and Transfiguration and charms and potions and history of magic and-"

Ginny stopped when she saw my stare. "What?" She said defensively. I smiled and we both broke into fits of laughter.

Not the young man i was talking to, but another, older one walked up to us. "How can i help you?" The man said smiling.

Ginny calmed down enough to say that we were looking for The Standard book of spells Grade four, and he lead us to the bookshelf the farthest right of the shop.

"Thank you!" I said, the man nodded and walked away. I watched him leave and stop at the bookshelf on the other side of Florish and Blotts. He brought up conversation with the clerk i was talking too, who was looking up something in the 'M' section. The younger employee looked over to me, worrisome and made his way to us. I tried to look busy with Ginny looking for The standard book of spells grade four, like i wasnt watching him for the past minute.

"Hey," he said, his face placid.

"Hey!" I said back, hoping he was here to make a conversation, not to get us in trouble for 'breathing to much on the books' or 'wearing muddy shoes in the shop'.

"I owe you a knut,"

"No seriously, I bought it so I should pay for it. No biggy."

"Actually, heres the thing. uhmmm... I put the book in that box by accident and i need it back or else im going to get in trouble."

I looked over his shoulder at the older clerk, who was watching us with his arms crossed. For some reason I had a feeling that that I shouldnt give him the book. "What's so special about it?"

"Nothing." He says, obviously guilty and doesnt want me to know something.

"Whats you name?" I ask, probobly not the time for flirting but i needed to turn this conversation around. I can sense Ginny paying atention from her spot to the side of me, rapt with awareness.

"Conner." He said. Slightly surprised.

"Conner," I start, leaning in close. "How about i hand you this book I'm about to take from this bookshelf behind me unsuspiciously and give it to you so it looks like I'm giving you The book from my purse, and we can settle this later with a butterbeer?" I dont know where the words are coming from, they just pour out of me before i can stop them.

Conner leans in too and whispers in my ear, "I'm paying," then he holds out his hand and i slid a random book out of its spot from the bookshelf behind me, I can feel the groves of the books spine when I place it in his hand. Conner leans away, Smirking with one eyebrow raised he takes it and walks away.