Diagon Alley

"Don't be silly!" Mrs. Weasley said quickly. "He would have loved for you to be Head Girl!"

"Yeah, Gin, the only people Fred and George would tease about that would be me or Percy," Ron comforted.

Ginny nodded, "Well, they've got good reason there."

They all laughed.

"Congratulations!" Hermione said, hugging her afterMrs. Weasley had finally let go. "I really wish I could come with you now and celebrate–but I've really got to go get my parents..."

"Go ahead, it's not that big of a deal anyway."

Hermione nodded and Ron and her left the kitchen door to the outside.

"Good luck," Harry called after them.

"Well," Mrs. Weasley said happily, "have you had enough to eat? Oh, Ginny, we must get you a present today! Goodness me–another Head in the family! That's three!" Mrs. Weasley ran out of the room, all a dither.

Ginny looked at Harry and rolled her eyes. "Fred really would've been disappointed. He always said he wouldn't be able to stand another Head or Prefect in the house."

"Ginny–" Harry said, stepping closer to her, "he was always so protective of you–even when you didn't want it. You were one of the few in this family that Fred and George almost never made fun of."

"Yeah, you are right. They always seemed to get the most joy out of Ron," she said, a reminiscent gleam in her eye.

Harry laughed, "Can you blame 'em?"

Mrs. Weasley rushed in, carrying her handbag and Teddy. "Well come on, then!" She rushed back into the living room.

Harry and Ginny followed, "Er– Mrs. Weasley, aren't we Apparating?"

"Oh, no, no. That would be quite foolish, taking a baby along. We're Flooing."

"Right."

Mrs. Weasley took a pinch of the grayish powder that was in a cup above the mantle. She stepped into the fireplace, with Teddy on her hip. She threw the powder down and yelled, "The Leaky Cauldron." Green flames burst all around her and she was gone.

Ginny followed her and then Harry.

Harry spun and spun. Fire place after fire place flashed before his eyes and then he stopped abruptly. He stumbled out of the fire and into a dark, musty room. There was an immediate surge of applause. As Harry walked forward he realized the clapping was for him. People were rushing forward, thanking him, clapping him on the back, shaking his hand and cheering. Then Harry realized this was the first time he had made a public appearance since the Final Battle where he finished off Voldemort for good. Harry never appreciated the peace and quiet of the Burrow so much before.

He was being shunted this way and that. People kept saying things like: "Such an honor, Mr. Potter"; "You can't believe how pleased I am to meet you, Mr. Potter"; "So brave– thank you so much!" "Harry Potter! I'm actually meeting Harry Potter!"

Then he heard a familiar, booming voice, "Hey! Leave him alone! Get back, yeh scoundrels! Let 'im breath!"

Harry turned on the spot, and grinning, looked up into the face of Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.

"Hagrid!"

"Alright there, Harry?"

A soft hand grabbed his elbow and pulled him, he followed obediently but called, "Hagrid! This way!"

Ginny pulled him out of the bar and into the walled courtyard. Mrs. Weasley was tapping the brick wall three times. An archway formed and Harry hesitated before following Mrs. Weasley, Teddy and Ginny. Hagrid came through the door from the bar.

"Go on, Harry, I'm comin'."

Harry went through and Hagridjust managed to squeeze through after.

They walked along the cobblestone street. Harry was glad to see that the many stores that were boarded up the last time he was here, were all open again and business was booming. They made their way to the snowy white building called Gringotts, the Wizarding bank.

Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Harry went inside while Hagrid waited outside with Teddy sitting in one of his dustpan sized hands. Down at his vault, Harry quickly threw some of his gold into a brown sack, ashamed of how much money he, alone, had compared to the whole Weasley family.

Next, they stopped at the Weasley's vault. Harry was happy to see that they had more gold than the last time Harry had been there, yet Ginny grimaced, as Mrs. Weasley took the eight galleons off the table, leaving only ten, and a pile knuts and sickles.

They met with Hagrid and Teddy and made their way back down the street.

"Well, I suppose we'd better head to Flourish and Blotts, first," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Actually, Mum, I was wondering if Harry and I could walk around with Teddy while you got our books."

Mrs. Weasley looked taken aback, but had a knowing look on her face.

"Alright, hand over your lists, then."

"Yeah, Molly, I'd better be off, meself. See yeh at Hogwarts you two," and with that, Hagridwas off. They watched him part the people going down the street and could see him learly until he rounded a corner and was gone.

"Okay, Mum, we'll meet you back at the Leaky Cauldron at noon, alright?"

Mrs. Weasley agreed and headed towards Flourish and Blotts.

"And where are we going exactly?"

"You'll see," Ginny grinned as she pulled Harry by the arm that wasn't holding Teddy.

They stopped in front of a store Harry had never seen before that read, Tricks and Toys for Tots, and he followed Ginny inside. Teddy had one look around and squealed. There were baby cribs with dancing spiders that sang, hanging above it (Harry thought of Ron and his phobia and had to laugh). There were nooks that turned to bottles when the baby was hungry, strollers that could shrink to the size of a sickle for easy traveling, diaper bags that put the baby's name on it once you bought it, diapers that cleaned themselves immediately after they were filled (Harry gagged a little as he wondered where the wastes went after they were vanished) and so much more.

Teddy squealed and pointed at Jack-in-the-Boxes that popped up and shot harmless spells at you that would make bubbles come out of your ears or make you hiccup. Ginny was going almost as crazy as Teddy. She was pointing and oohing and ahhing. Harry laughed at her and she stuck her tongue out.

"So what should I get him?" Harry asked her.

"Hm...well a stroller would be useful, he is getting heavy."

Harry grabbed a miniature stroller off the shelf and carelessly threw it into the basket.

"I wish I could do that," Ginny said quietly.

"Here," Harry said as he took the sickle sized stroller out of the basket and handed it to her. "It's not that hard, you've just got to kind of lob–"

"Not that," Ginny half-laughed. "I wish I could just take something off the shelf without worrying about the price."

"Oh, Ginny. I didn't mean–"

"I know," Ginny smiled, "it was stupid of me–sorry."

"No–no, you're right. Here," Harry put the stroller back on the shelf and back-peddled to the end of the aisle.

He waited for Ginny to follow, "So, what should I get him?"

"Harry don't be stupid," Ginny laughed.

"That was not your line. So," he said again. "What do you think I should get him?"

"Oh, I don't know, a stroller would be useful, he is getting big," Ginny said reluctantly.

Harry walked up to the shelf with the strollers.

"Oh look at this! Would this be alright?" Harry looked at the price tag, "Hm...one galleon, three sickles. I think that'd be alright? What do you think? Is that too much?" Harry asked thoughtfully, tapping his chin.

Ginny just laughed at him, "I think that would be alright."

"Great, then we'll get it," he set it slowly and carefully into the basket and didn't let go until it was safely touching the bottom.

"Harry, you are a git," Ginny said, shaking her head.

"That may be, but I'm your git," he said pulling her in by the waist. He kissed her slowly until–

"Dada!"

Harry broke apart with Ginny so fast he almost toppled over. Teddy's little fists pounded on his chest, "Dada!" Harry looked from Teddy to Ginny who was grinning.

"But–did he just–? No way!"

"He did," Ginny laughed. "You're a daddy!"

Harry looked into Teddy's big brown eyes, his hair was fluorescent orange today. Harry smiled. He looked at Ginny. She smiled and came forward, "Mmm, I love you both."

An hour later, Harry and Ginny were walking hand-in-hand down the crowded streets of Diagon Alley, pushing Teddy in his new stroller.

"I need new robes," Ginny said.

"Yeah, me too. I left my last ones at the Dursley's and who know's what they did with them? Probably burned them in the middle of the night."

They headed into Madam Malkin's.

"Luna!" Ginny shrieked, running forward to hug her fellow seventh year, now Harry's fellow seventh year, also.

"Harry, did you know you're holding a baby?"

"Uh, yeah, Luna. I did, thanks," Harry smiled. "How're you, Luna?"

"Quite well, thanks," Luna looked a bit concerned. "Did you check him for Wrackspurts?"

"Yes, yes we did," Ginny said quickly.

"Oh, good," Luna let out a sigh of relief, "because they like to infest the young."

"Yeah," Harry nodded. He looked down at Teddy and wondered what the symptoms of a Wrackspurt-infested baby were, then he realized what he was thinking and shook himself. Luna was growing on him.

"Did you get your robes already, Luna?" Ginny asked.

"Oh yes... I think I'd rather fancy some pudding," she muttered.

"Okay, see you then."

"She headed towards the door and was halfway out when she asked, "Harry, are you returning to Hogwarts?"

"Er, yeah I am."

"How lovely. Did you know Neville and I are a couple now?" she said rather bluntly.

"No– I didn't."

"Oh, Luna! That's wonderful!" Ginny cried.

"Yeah, congratulations."

"Thank you very much. Farewell."

After the door closed behind her Ginny said, "You've just got to love Luna."

"Yeah," Harry agreed, "even though she is one odd loon."

"Hogwarts, dears?" came a sugary voice.

"Yes, thanks," Ginny said.

"Merlin's robes!" Madam Malkin exclaimed. "Harry Potter!"

"Er– yes?"

"Goodness! What are you doing going back to Hogwarts?"

"I've got to finish my seventh year," he said. "I had a bit of a distraction last year."

She giggled, "Yes, I suppose so."

Harry and Ginny got themselves three pairs of school robes and one pair of dress robes.

Harry insisted on buying Ginny's robes. She refused persistently until, finally, Harry threatened to never kiss her again if she didn't let him pay. Harry handed Madam Malkin the gold and they left the cozy little shop.

Walking, once again, down the cobblestone street. They made a quick stop in Quality Quidditch Supplies where Ginny caught Harry drooling as he stared at the new Speed Demon. When they had five minutes before they were to be back at the Leaky Cauldron, Ginny had to drag Harry out of the store.

They walked to the end of the cobblestone path and went back through the archway and sat in a lonely corner so Harry could avoid the stares. Harry ordered three Butterbeers and pulled out a bottle of milk from the new diaper bag that now read "Teddy Remus Lupin".

Noon passed and the third Butterbeer was left untouched, and getting warm. Ginny groaned, "Mum's hardly ever late. Where is she?"

Harry shrugged, "Maybe the lines were long?"

Just then Mrs. Weasley came bustling in though the back door with loads of bags of all shapes and sizes in her hands.

"Lines were horribly long!" Mrs. Weasley cried.

Harry smirked at Ginny, who was feeding Teddy.

Mrs. Weasley dropped the bags on the table with a loud thump.

"Ginny, dear, here," she handed her a small gold and red box. Ginny gave Teddy to Harry and opened it. She gasped as she slowly pulled out a small locket with a golden chain. It had the Gryffindor lion on the front. Ginny opened the locket carefully and peered inside. She had tears in her eyes as she stared at it. Harry leaned over her shoulder and saw a minuscule picture of her and Fred laughing up at them. On the opposite side, in minuscule writing read; We are all so proud of you! Follow your dreams, Ginny.

"Thank you so much, Mum," she got up and hugged Mrs. Weasley tightly. "I love you, Ginny."

"I love you too, Mum."

Mrs. Weasley fanned her face as they pulled away. "Oh. I, uh, I stopped by George's," more tears seemed to fill her eyes. "I got you another– another Pygmy Puff."

Mrs. Weasley pulled out a little cage with a pink Pygmy Puff inside.

"Aww! She's adorable!"

"Glad you like it," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I'll name her...Alice," Ginny said happily.

"Oh– Harry, I nearly forgot!"

From under the table, Mrs. Weasley out a cage with Hedwig in it! Harry gave a yell. But he came back to his senses quickly. That was not Hedwig. It could not be Hedwig. Hedwig was dead.

But then who was this bird? This one who was the exact same shade of snowy white, with the same bright, amber eyes.

"Here you are, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said, handing him the cage.

Harry was speechless.

"Mum! She's beautiful! She looks just like Hedwig! I mean she's got Hedwig's feathers, Hedwig's eyes. She's all Hedwig."

"Earwig!" Teddy cried.

"What?" Ginny, Harry and Mrs. Weasley all said together.

"EARWIG!"

"Please don't tell me that was his first word!" Mrs. Weasley cried.

Harry and Ginny laughed. "No, Mum, actually, his first word was 'dada'" Ginny smiled slyly.

Mrs. Weasley, who had just taken her first sip of Butterbeer, spit out her mouthful all over the table. "What!" she shrieked. "Oh–oh sorry, dears. Here, Scourgify."

"Er– yeah," said Harry wiping off his speckled glasses with his shirt, "he called me 'Dada'."

"Goodness that's really strange!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"Er– is it?"

"Yes, how would he know the word 'dada' if you haven't been calling yourself that? Have you been calling yourself 'daddy'?"

"Wha–? No! Lupin's his dad! Not me. I–I'm his Godfather. It'd be like–disrespectful or something to claim him my son."

"Well, yes and no," Mrs. Weasley said. "I mean–yes, Lupin will want Teddy to know him as his father and he definitely wants him to keep his name. But, he named you Godfather, that means something. And I know he wants Teddy loved, he doesn't want him mistreated–he doesn't want him to grow up like you had to," Mrs. Weasley finished.

Harry nodded. As much as he loved Teddy and wanted to be his father he knew he couldn't let the Lupin name die. He knew what he had to do and he knew Tonks and Lupin would appreciate it greatly as they watched over them all.

"Tonks–her mum–Teddy's grandma, she'll–she'll be the one to raise Teddy...it's best."

Ginny reached under the table and grabbed Harry's hand. She squeezed it, reassuringly.

"No, I didn't mean that," Mrs. Weasley said. "Teddy's wonderful, I want to watch him, really, all–"

"No, we need to do this. He'll grow up with a blood relation. Who knows, it might save his life someday." Harry forced a smile but succeeded only a grimace.

Mrs. Weasley looked like she wanted to argue, but remained quiet.

"So," Mrs. Weasley began awkwardly after several long minutes, "what are you going to name your owl, Harry?"

bloody hell, you're brilliant for reading!
SLGunn