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Chapter 9

The town of Hogsmeade was bustling with activity as Oliver and Alexa arrived. People with tons of shopping bags were plowing there way through the crowds, trying to make it home in time before they dropped everything.

"Where would you want to go first?" asked Oliver.

"Oh goodness. I don't know." replied Alexa. "What am I supposed to be getting?"

"Anything you want." he said.

Alexa had to think for a minute. She hadn't been shopping in so long. Usually Kristie went with her and she had always picked everything out for Alexa. Now, Alexa was blinded as to what to buy.

"Well, I guess I should try and find something for the funeral." she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Very well. Follow me." Oliver led her over to a clothing store.

They entered with a ring of the bell above the door. There were a few young girls in the store along with a few adults. Oliver led her over to the girls section.

"There you are. Now look for something and if you need me I'll be over in the mens section, all right?" he asked.

"Um yea." she said with slight hesitation. She couldn't shop by herself! She didn't know what to look for or anything.

"What's with the hesitation?" he asked her.

"Well, I don't really know what to get." She saw the confused look on his face and rolled her eyes. "I'm not very good at shopping. I don't usually shop, Kristie usually picks things out for me and that is the extent of my shopping. I'm not very good at putting things together or picking anything out really for that matter."

Oliver finally shut her up from her rambling by a kiss on the lips. He pulled away and saw the stressed look in her eyes and couldn't help but fall even more in love with her.

He sighed. "All right, well how about I help you and then we'll go shopping for me. How does that sound?"

Alexa nodded.

"Good. Now, obviously we need something black so, look for anything that's black and grab it. All right? We'll split up. Meet back here in 10 minutes. Remember, anything black, grab it!" he said as if he was planning a Quidditch practice. Alexa smiled and laughed. "What's so funny?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You just seem as if you've done this before."

"Yes, well. I have a sister and I'm used to shopping with her. Believe me, although you don't know what to look for, you're still 100 times easier to shop with then her. Now come on, start grabbing stuff."

Oliver turned around and started looking through the clothing racks looking for anything that could possibly be fit for a funeral and also look good on Alexa. He wanted her to look perfect for her parents funeral. What Alexa didn't know was that Oliver already had a dress picked out. When he had found out about her parents, he went into town and looked around for something that she could wear.

He found the perfect black dress. It had a v-neckline, with sleeves that were 3/4, and the length went all the way down to her calves. It had a thin material that made it blow in the wind. It would look perfect for her.

He grabbed the dress and also a couple of other pieces of clothing so it would look like he was actually looking for something.

He went back over to find Alexa with two pieces of clothing. A shirt and a pair of pants. He saw the scared look on her face and just smiled.

"That's all you have?" he asked her playfully.

She just glared at him. "Well excuse me, I have no idea what to look for. Nothing looks good at all. At least to me. Everything is either to big or to skanky. I refuse to look like a whore at my parents funeral. Ugh this is so frustrating."

"Calm down. I have a few things,"

"Is that a dress?" she asked interrupting him. He just looked up at her and nodded. "No, I am not wearing a dress. I do not wear dressed, no. Forget it."

"Will you just please try it on? For me, please?"asked Oliver.

Alexa sighed and gave in. I mean really, how can you say no to a face like that?

"Fine." she said defeated. Oliver just smiled and handed her the clothing.

"All right, I'll be right here. Now I want to see everything so I can decide."

"Yes mother." she said. Oliver just laughed at her. He sat down on the chair outside the changing room and waited for her.

She came out and showed him a couple of the outfits she came up with and she looked very good in them. But Oliver was really stressing to see how the dress looked on her.

"No, Oliver I am not wearing this. This is a no."

"Let me see." he knew what she was wearing. The dress.

"No, I look hideous. Ew, no."

"Lex, will you please just let me see?"

He heard a sigh and a few mumbled words and couldn't help but smile. The smile faded and turned to shock as he saw the door slowly open, with Alexa standing there. She looked absolutely beautiful.

"You hate it. I can see it in your face. Good, me too."

"No, no, no, I don't hate. Quite the opposite actually. I think you look beautiful." he said his gaze never faltering.

"You really like it?" she asked timidly.

Oliver walked up to her and kissed her. "You look stunning Lex."

Alexa smiled and kissed him. She pulled away and sighed. She turned towards the mirror and inspected herself one last time.

"Are you positive?"

"Yes."

She sighed and nodded. "Fine, I'll get the dress." Oliver jumped up and down and Alexa couldn't help but laugh.

"Now get out so I can get dressed." Oliver stepped out and waited for her to change.

She emerged with the dress and started walking to the cashier. She placed the dress on the counter and went to dig in her purse for money.

"Thank you Mr. Wood. Have a nice day."

Alexa looked up to see Oliver holding the bag and staring at her. "Are you coming?" he asked.

She followed him out of the store and down the street. "You had this planned didn't you?"

"No." he said with a cheeky grin.

"How were you so sure I would pick the dress. I could have been stubborn and said no."

"Ah yes, but we both know you can't say no to me."

"Oh really?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes. Now were to my lady?"

Alexa laughed and started off down the street again. They shopped for hours, laughing at each other as each one told the other a story of themselves. They stopped for lunch and talked even more. They got to know each other even better and couldn't wait to know more.

They made it back to Hogwarts after an excruciating shopping day. They tromped up to the dorms and Alexa went to say goodbye to Oliver.

"Why don't I help you take these up to your room?" he said interrupting her before she could talk.

Alexa nodded and they made there way up to her room. Alexa dropped everything on her bed and hung her dress up on the wall. She turned to see Oliver admiring a picture by her bed. It was the one of her parents walking on the beach at sunset, with the sun lighting a pathway onto the water.

"Those were my parents." she said in a whisper. She let a single tear roll down her cheek and quickly wiped it away.

Oliver gently placed the picture back on her bed and turned to Alexa who was staring at the picture as if would come alive any second.

He touched her cheek with his palm and she turned her watery eyes to him.

"Will you be all right?" he asked with much concern.

Alexa looked down and silently nodded. "Yea." she whispered.

Oliver nodded and kissed her on the forehead as he hugged her.

"Remember we leave tomorrow morning. I will meet you at the entrance."

"Okay." she said very quietly even Oliver could barely hear it.

He pulled away and gave her one last kiss on the lips before turning towards the door. He stopped and turned to catch one last look at Alexa. He saw her looking longingly at her parents picture.

"I love you." he whispered. He lowered his head and closed the door. What he didn't know was that Alexa had heard him, and had tears of joy rolling down her face.

She laid down on her bed, letting her mind wander to a certain Scottish man as she fell into the deep recessed of sleep.