Disclaimer: Anything familiar to JKR's books probably comes from there and is hers not mine. Also, Harry Potter, Hogwarts, the Wizarding World, and anything else that has to do with it belongs to the lovely JK Rowling, not me. I'm just playing in her sandbox and building my own Hogwarts in it.
Chapter Eight
Albus Dumbledore was a lot more conservative than usual during that night's meeting of the Order of the Phoenix on the eve of the Diagon Alley trip for those in Marauder Manor. Ginny noticed it immediately and wondered why.
She glanced at Ron as they both held their Journals in their laps, open to a private conversation with Samuel Davis. The earpieces they had on were also connected to the Journals even though they were wireless, with the other part in the dining room where the meeting was being held. This allowed the meeting to be directly transferred to the Journal, something the twins had cooked up with a little help from the makers of the Journals.
"I've been informed that tomorrow is the day most of Hogwarts will be going to Diagon Alley as Amelia Bones has declared that security will be upped for the day," Professor Dumbledore informed the Order. "Because of this, she has stated that any and all Order members found at Diagon Alley tomorrow will be put in Ministry holding cells until the beginning of school except for Nymphadora as she will be in charge of the security while also following Amelia's niece, Susan Bones, around the Alley as she shops."
"Amelia also requested that we allow Ginny and Ron to go to the Alley tomorrow for their shopping with Susan," Ginny's father added, and Ginny blinked as she shared a look with Ron, who looked just as shocked. "After much discussion, Molly and I have agreed to this because the two have been cooped up in here all summer long and need a chance to see a friend or two without their parents or other Order members with them. This is the best chance for it."
Ginny couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. She knew that this was a way for her to see Harry for a day more than anything, and she was truly glad for it as she hadn't seen him in a month and a half. Talking via Journals just wasn't the same.
"I've also been informed by a few friends of mine that each and every Hogwarts student, including the incoming first years, has been given a pendant that is a Portkey to a safe house in case of attack except for those here at Headquarters," Professor Dumbledore continued. "Aurors handed them out this morning, which is also when the news of extra security was released to families of students."
"They're protecting our students," Professor McGonagall noted, and Ginny recognized that her Head of House was pleased by the thought.
"Subtly," Professor Snape, Harry's Head of House, added quietly. "I wonder which Slytherin had a hand in this scheme."
"Director Davis was the one to hand out the pendants this morning," Tonks said helpfully. "He was a Slytherin while at Hogwarts, correct? The Director and Minister most likely came up with this together."
"Perhaps…" Professor Snape said slowly, and Ginny knew that he recognized Harry's style in the idea.
"Now, is there anything to report?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
Ginny pulled out the earpiece, letting Ron listen while hers continued to provide the conversation to Samuel. In her mind, she was thinking about how she and Ron would get to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow, and she would finally see Harry again.
That would be worth the way she knew her mother would be acting when they both returned.
…
While the meeting of the Order occurred, Harry and Tracey shared glances before nodding once and heading to different parts of the Manor. Tracey was headed to the basement where Daphne was practicing alone with her throwing knives while Harry went out to the grounds to find Blaise, who was running around as a bear.
"Hey, Blaise, I need your help in the study!" Harry called once he was in hearing distance. Blaise quickly rushed over to him and waited in his bear form until Harry transformed into a wolf so they could race back to the Manor.
When they got there, they changed back, and Blaise asked, "What do you need?"
"Come up to the study with me, and I'll show you," Harry replied, gesturing for Blaise to lead the way. His friend did with a shrug, willing to help and not noticing the grin on Harry's face when Blaise turned to go up the stairs.
They reached the study at the same time as Daphne and Tracey, making both Daphne and Blaise turn to glare suspiciously at the one who had found them. Harry and Tracey just smiled similar innocent smiles before suddenly shoving the pair into the Wizengamot Study, Harry waving his wand to activate the enchantments around the room that they had set up. Those two wouldn't be leaving the study until they had not only snogged but also agreed to finally date.
"Success," Harry and Tracey hissed together as they shared a high-five and grins.
Both headed downstairs to the kitchen to see if Sirius had left any biscuits in the pantry, knowing that Daphne and Blaise would most likely take a while.
…
"They locked us in!" Daphne snarled in annoyance. "It's one of those spells that only they know how to deactivate, meaning we're stuck in here."
She threw herself down onto one of the couches in the study, laying down on it. Blaise watched her, still by the door, until he decided to sit down on the couch across from hers, as there were now four in the study after the others joined Harry, Theo, Draco, and Neville in creating laws and ideas for the Wizengamot.
The moment he sat, a roll of parchment appeared in his lap, and he blinked before picking it up. His name was on the outside of the scroll, and Blaise knew that it was from Harry and Tracey, even without recognizing the latter's handwriting.
Blaise,
You're the one we're giving this to because we have a feeling that you're the calmer of the two of you at the moment. Daphne is probably still angry with us and wants to hurt us the moment she sees us.
Blaise looked up and saw that their thoughts were, indeed, true as Daphne had yet to even notice he had a note in his hands. Shaking his head slightly, Blaise turned back to the scroll.
Harry and I have been arguing over when to do this to you, and it was agreed – with help from Ginny – that the night before our trip to Diagon Alley would be best. We've all spent the past few months waiting for the two of you to finally stop dancing around one another and just snog. Sort of how we were waiting for Harry and Ginny, though they were doing that on purpose in fourth year.
Oi! Trace, that's not nice!
Harry stole the pencil from me when he saw what I had written and wrote that in pen, so I can't get rid of it. Sorry about that. Anyway, I think you now know what Harry and I want from you. Until everything we want happens, the magic of our spells won't deactivate, so if you want to get out of there sometime tonight, I'd get on it!
Tracey
Harry
Blaise couldn't help the groan he let out when he realized what they meant, the note crumpling in his fist as he closed one of them. The other hand went to his hair, grasping it in annoyance. Great, just great, he thought. Now I've got to snog Daphne and ask her out, or we'll be stuck in here for hours.
"What's wrong?" Daphne asked, and Blaise realized she had sat up and was looking at him. "What's that in your hand?"
"A note from Harry and Tracey, and that's what's wrong," Blaise muttered, knowing she could hear him. Daphne raised an eyebrow, and he knew he would have to elaborate. "They claim we're acting like Harry and Ginny did in our fourth year, except without doing it as a prank on everyone."
"So we're stuck in here until…?" Daphne asked, trailing off at the end, unable to finish the thought, and Blaise just nodded. "Ugh." Daphne's head hit the back of the couch as she fell back against it, her eyes closed.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Blaise almost demanded, feeling a bit hurt by Daphne's reaction to the news.
"Oh absolutely nothing is wrong, Blaise," Daphne snarled sarcastically. "We're just stuck in here until we snog and agree to date even though we've been ignoring the tension between us since the Yule Ball! Absolutely nothing is wrong, nothing at all."
When she put it like that, Blaise had to admit that Daphne had a point, but that didn't mean he had to like it. So, yes, they had been avoiding the tension between them for ages, but she acted as if being stuck in here was a bad thing when Blaise could tell that it was probably what they needed.
"Daphne…" he said slowly, and she looked up at him with scared blue eyes. That was when he finally realized why Daphne had been avoiding this: She was afraid to lose her independence.
Daphne had always been so independent, taking help when she needed it, but preferring not to always need someone. Blaise now knew that she thought being with him would take that away from her, and she had probably been hiding this fear for years.
Moving to sit next to Daphne on her couch, Blaise pulled her into his arms. She tensed for a moment before leaning against him. They just sat there in silence for a little while, Blaise trying to figure out how to word his thoughts.
"Daphe," he said again, softly, "I don't want you to ever change. If you do, you won't be my Daphne anymore."
He felt her stiffen again at his words, but he just continued to hold her until she relaxed again. "Thank you," he heard her whisper, and Blaise smiled slightly. Daphne was independent and had a strong will and would do anything to get her way, but she was still vulnerable at times; this was just one of those times.
Turning Daphne around in his arms, Blaise lifted her head up as he lowered his own, eyes closing as their lips gently met.
…
"Finally," Harry muttered to Tracey as they finished off the last of the biscuits. The magic around the study had just reported to them both that Blaise and Daphne had kissed.
"Now we'll have to deal with the two of them dating, though," Tracey added in an undertone as they left the kitchen to go to Harry's room, not wanting anyone else to know what they had been up to with Blaise and Daphne.
"As long as they keep the couple stuff down like the rest of us, we'll deal," Harry stated quietly.
"Do you really see them doing that?" Tracey had to ask, and Harry met her eyes. He knew she could tell that he had absolutely no idea how those two would act as a couple.
"We can only pray that they do," he finally said before opening the door to his room. They could only hope.
…
Harry stepped out of the Floo and into the Leaky Cauldron, one of the last from Marauder Manor to arrive. He had his weapons hidden in various places on his person, most shrunken into his pockets or in two of the pouches on his belt. One of those pouches was actually where he was planning on putting his supplies as he shopped, rather than holding them.
"Harry!" a voice called, and he looked up just in time to see a redheaded blur rush into him, almost knocking them both over if his instincts hadn't kicked in and made him take a step back.
"Ginny?" he said in disbelief, looking down at his girlfriend, who was hugging him tightly. "What are you doing here? How are you here?"
"Amelia convinced my dad, who convinced Mum, that Ron and I should be allowed to see our friends without Order protection while shopping for our supplies," Ginny replied happily, looking up at him. "She gave us each a pouch of money and sent us on our way a few minutes ago."
Harry grinned happily and lowered his head to give her a quick kiss. When he pulled away, Harry looked at those around them to see that all of the adults, Tracey, Hermione, Susan, Justin, Hannah, and Daphne looked pleased with themselves while everyone there looked happy to see him and Ginny together.
"Did you lot plan this?" he asked, looking at those who looked pleased, arms still holding Ginny to him even as she turned to see who he was speaking to.
"We could all tell that you missed Ginny," Hermione said as most nodded.
"We thought it would be a good surprise," Remus added with a grin.
"Thanks," Harry said, truly meaning it. "Now come on, we have shopping to do."
Everyone laughed as Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and began to lead the group out of the pub and into Diagon Alley, which was full of shoppers. The teens were all given their own pendants to wear with instructions to use them if anything happened. Students caught sight of Harry and called out greetings to him, which he returned as best he could.
When someone grabbed Harry's other hand, he turned his head to see Euan grasping it. His face was a bit pale, and Harry realized that the twelve-year-old was afraid to see his friends again after the attack. Harry tightened his hold on Euan's hand for a moment before continuing to walk towards Flourish and Blotts for his school books.
As they found their books, most getting extra books where they could, especially those taking NEWT classes as the homework was said to be killer at times, Harry knew that Ginny had seen Euan holding his hand. He was grateful that she said nothing at all about it, most likely understanding what the problem was.
Harry was trying not to groan as he realized how many books he had just accumulated. As he was taking Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ancient Runes, he had quite a pile of books. They were all quickly shrunken and put into his pouch, but Harry knew reading them would be a pain.
Their next stop was the Apothecary for their Potions supplies. Tracey, Theo, Hannah, and Justin didn't get anything as they were dropping the course while everyone else purchased extra ingredients. Harry had decided that he was going to use some of his spare time to make extra potions for pranks, and he knew that he would need more supplies than the others, picking up ingredients not even on the list. The others were getting extra in case they messed up.
After purchasing fresh ink, quills, and parchment, they stopped by the owl shop to get treats for the various owls of the group, Hedwig included. Harry also slipped into another pet store to get a few mice for Ankh, knowing he would be pleased. Then they went to get fresh robes for everyone, Harry forcing Ron and Ginny to accept them as a gift; they bought casual robes, new dress robes, and school robes, for one never knew when they would need robes.
A stop at Quality Quidditch Supplies was a must for the group with so many players among them, and Harry found some new pads there. A few others also purchased pads, while many just located magazines to read, though Harry didn't. Ginny bought herself some pads, and Harry knew she was going to be trying out for the Gryffindor team this year, most likely as a Chaser. It had actually surprised him to find out that Ron was their Captain this year, but he realized he probably shouldn't have been all that surprised, knowing Ron.
They all had one last stop in Diagon Alley before going out to Muggle London for pencils, pens, and notebooks: Fred and George's shop.
Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was a shop that was impossible to miss with its orange paintjob and huge sign. Plus, the place was completely packed with Hogwarts students finding pranking supplies for the school year.
"Harry! Ginny! Ron! Everyone else!" one of the twins, who Harry recognized as Fred once he saw him, called as he caught sight of the group looking around the very-full store. "Come on into the back so we can talk easier."
The group followed Fred into the back, picking up George along the way. In the back room, they found boxes of products piled all over the place. Everyone began to find seats on the various boxes. Harry pulled Ginny onto his lap while Euan sat on the floor by his feet.
"This is where we keep the more practical products," George explained.
"We've got our Peruvian Darkness Powder back here, if you need more," Fred continued, "as well as a number of other products I believe you'll find useful."
Fred and George moved to two boxes and pulled out a pouch each. They began pulling out the supplies in them, showing that the pouches were packed identically full of things they'd use in a fight. Not only did they have cloaks that repelled basic hexes, but they also had things to cause distractions, basic goggles to allow them to see in the Peruvian Darkness Powder, and various prank objects that would be good in a fight for things such as tripping people. There was a lot more in the pouches, but the twins told them that there was a roll of parchment in each pouch that described each object in it.
"We made one for each of you, and we've been working on making an entire stock of these to leave at Hogwarts for the HPs," George told them.
"This will be quite useful," Harry said as he held up his pouch. "Thanks, and keep it up, please."
"Why of course, O Leader of Leaders," Fred cried, bowing in Harry's direction as the others laughed at his antics.
"You lot can go check out the wares out front and take anything you wish, free of charge," George stated with a grin.
"None of you pay here," Fred agreed with a nod.
Everyone but Harry, Ginny, Euan, and the adults left the back room, the twins heading out to be sure no one stole anything from their shop and to make sure nothing was running low. Harry was looking at the pouch in his hand, his brow furrow as he tried to figure out what idea was trying to form in his head. There was something he was just barely forgetting, something that would help them…
"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed, looking up and snapping as he remembered. "Sirius, I think you and I need to stop at Gringotts for a bit."
"Why?" his godfather asked curiously.
"There's something I need to get from my Storage Vault, and it's not like Gin can't get what I need from Muggle London," Harry said, looking at Ginny, who was still in his lap. She nodded in agreement with what he said. "Please, Sirius? It's for the HPs."
"Oh, fine, we'll go after we leave here," Sirius sighed, and Harry grinned.
"Great!" Harry said. "Come on Gin, Euan, we've got pranking supplies to collect."
"Hogwarts won't know what hit it," Euan commented with a smile as he followed Harry and Ginny from the room.
"No, no it won't," Harry agreed with a laugh as Tracey joined them to start finding all they wanted.
…
"What are we getting from down here, Harry?" Sirius asked as Harry entered his Family Storage Vault the moment it was opened.
"These," Harry informed his godfather, gesturing to the wall in front of them.
"Oh," Sirius said. "That makes a lot of sense."
"I thought so," Harry agreed as he used his wand to take down the numerous sets of dragonhide armor from the wall, placing them all into a weightless trunk that he had found in the Vault. Once all of the armor was in the trunk, Harry closed and shrunk it. "Come on, we'd better catch up to the others."
…
"What was that about?" Ginny asked as she and the others finally returned to the Leaky Cauldron with bags full of pens, pencils, and notebooks, Ginny handing him what he had wanted.
"I was getting the dragonhide armor out of my Vault," Harry explained quietly before turning to the adults. "Now what are we going to do?"
"We're all going back to the Manor, unless our two Weasleys object to finally getting to see it," Daniella explained, and both Ron and Ginny quickly shook their heads against the idea of objecting. "Amelia told your parents that you'd be back by dinner, so we'll have you over until around four, when you'll just Floo back."
After that, the group quickly Flooed back to Marauder Manor, where Daniella and Samantha quickly left the teens to go help the house-elves prepare lunch and Daniel, Sirius, and Remus went to one of their studies to talk. It left the rest to show Ron and Ginny around the Manor, so they decided to begin with the bedrooms so that everyone could dump their stuff in them.
"Hannah and Susan share that room, Hermione stays there, Daphne and Astoria share that room, Draco has his own room over there," Harry was telling Ron and Ginny as the others had rushed into their rooms to put their stuff away properly, Euan following the three. "Tracey has her own room at the end of the hall while Blaise and Theo share the one across from it. In this room, Maya shares with both Natalie and Graham because Graham annoys the others too much, so no one wants to share with him, but the girls are used to him. They've got a sheet to separate the room. Justin usually shares with Terry in there while Padma is usually with Hermione. Luna stays with Astoria and Daphne as well, now that I think about it."
"Where do you, Euan, and the adults stay?" Ron asked curiously as they reached the stairs.
"Up here," Euan said as he suddenly led the way up the stairs. "Sirius stays in this room and shares the study next to it with Remus, who sleeps in here. Tracey's parents sleep here with Samuel and Daniel using this study. The Greengrasses use this room. Harry and I, though, sleep in here."
With that, he opened the door to the room Harry and he shared, moving quickly to where his trunk sat open along one of the walls so that he could put his stuff away. Harry moved to his own trunk, putting some of his stuff in there while the rest went onto the desk or the bookshelf, Euan doing the same.
When Harry turned to look at Ron and Ginny, Ginny was smiling at the walls while Ron's mouth was wide open. That was when Harry suddenly remembered that Ron had never been to Grimmauld Place, so this was his first time seeing Harry's bedroom setup. Ginny, on the other hand, had been in his room so often during the war games that it was anything but a surprise.
"This is your room?" Ron finally asked, and both he and Euan nodded. "This is bloody brilliant!"
"Thanks, Ron," Harry said. "Samuel, Remus, Sirius, and Daniel charmed it for me. Now come on, we've got the rest of the Manor to show you!"
…
After the tour of the Manor and grounds, the teens had gone down to the basement to have some fun duels. Harry and Ginny decided to sit them out, both sitting along the wall of the basement and watching their friends all practice, even Ron.
"I'm glad they set this up," Harry finally said. "It's been a long summer without getting to see you."
"I know what you mean," Ginny agreed with a sigh, leaning her head onto Harry's shoulder. "It was such a surprise to hear about this during the Order meeting last night, but I'm really glad Amelia convinced Dad to do this."
"Two more weeks and we'll be together for almost ten months, at least," Harry said.
"True, very true," Ginny had to say. They fell silent for a few minutes, Harry watching as Graham and Euan dueled again, Natalie judging it and giving both, though mainly Euan, advice. "How did the whole Daphne and Blaise thing go?" Ginny suddenly asked, and Harry turned to see that they were both sparring with their swords together.
"Well, they got out of the study," Harry informed her with a laugh. "It took them over three hours to leave the room, of course, but they eventually did."
"So they're going out now?" Ginny asked to clarify.
"Yes, though they haven't said anything yet," Harry said with a grin.
"Finally," Ginny sighed in relief. They both laughed quietly. "You know, that's probably how everyone felt about you and me."
"Gin, I know that's how they felt," Harry stated with a light laugh. "I'm still being teased about it here and there, though they always shut up when I remind them about how good we got them with our prank."
"True," Ginny replied, also laughing lightly. "By the way, Potter, I don't believe I've gotten a proper hello, and we've been together all morning."
Turning, Harry saw the teasing glint in her brown eyes, and he had to smile. "Thank you for the reminder," he said quietly, leaning in towards Ginny.
His lips quickly covered hers, and he knew she was smiling just as much as he was at getting to do this two weeks before either of them had expected. It had been an amazing surprise.
Real life is becoming a pain. If it wasn't for the fact that these chapters have already been written, so I don't need to do anything more than edit them after Arnel sends them back, you lot wouldn't be getting updates. So much homework… I should really be doing my calculus right now, but I'll start soon… In any case, hope you enjoyed. See you Sunday.
Posted: 1/25/12
