Chapter Eight

Ron was wiping the counter watching Ginny walk around like a puppy in love. "Aren't you going to do some work, Gin?" he asked.

"Mum gave me the day off, remember?" Ginny asked. "That's why you're working." Ron grumbled something under his breath as he continued to wipe down the counter. "I'm showing Harry the village by the way," she said.

"What?" Ron asked. "I thought I told you .."

"I'm sorry, Ron, it sounded liked you were going to tell me I can't see him," she said. "Because if you were then I'd have to tell Mum and she'll have to add another month to that sentence of yours." Ron shut his mouth just as Harry came into the bakery. He chose to tone down his attire today and just went with his dark colors.

"Hey, Ginny," he said.

"Hi, Harry," she said going over to him. "You look nice," she said giving him a kiss on the cheek and all Ron could do was stay silent.

"Hi, Ron," Harry said trying to be polite.

"Hi," Ron said before going to the back of the bakery.

"He's not still mad about ...?" Harry started to ask.

"Yes, I'm afraid he is, but if he wants his grounding to end, he can't say anything," she said. "You ready?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said and they left the bakery.

Ginny took Harry for a drive in her Range Rover, around the village of Hogsmeade. They stopped at the mini mall known as Diagon Alley and hit the favorite stores. "This place is all a buzz near the start of a new school year," she said. "There are school supplies at the school, but books are bought by the student because there's different subjects each year that a student can take."

"Interesting," he said.

"You get the robes for school here too," she said. After some light shopping, they stopped at the food court. "So, tell me what it's like to be home schooled?" she asked after they sat down with their food.

"Uh, no friends or social life," he joked causing her to laugh.

"Stop it. I'm being serious," she said.

"Okay," he said. "I wasn't home schooled my whole life. Just the last couple of years."

"What made your mom decide to homeschool you?"

"She didn't believe my teachers at my prep school were doing a good enough job," he lied. Like he was going to tell her the real reason why he was home schooled. Ginny took a bite of a fry before moving on.

"Those soccer trophies?"

"They're mainly from my primary and secondary school games. When I went into the prep school I played a couple years then mum pulled me out to home school me."

"You still have friends after that?" she asked before taking a sip of her soda.

"Of course," he said. "We made a pact to play soccer every Saturday when I got pulled out. They still think of me as the best."

"It's too bad you're not going to Hogwarts," she said. "You would kill at the soccer games. From what I can tell you're even better than the inner soccer circle."

"The what?" he asked before taking a bite of salad.

"Inner soccer circle," Ginny repeated. "They are the popular soccer guys. The ones who think they're all that. Ron and Draco are captains, so they are part of the inner circle."

"What about you?"

"I only play for fun. Ron tries to get me in winning mode when I play, but I just tell him to piss off." Harry snorted sending his soda flying causing Ginny to burst out in laughter. They were quite the pair in the food court. After lunch, Ginny decided to take Harry up to Hogwarts High and show him around. School was always open because there was always teachers there.

Ginny parked in her spot in the parking lot and led Harry by hand to the building.

"Are you sure it's okay to be in the school during the weekend?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "The building's always unlocked during the day and there's always someone here working on something for the week."

"Don't these teachers have a social life?" Harry asked as Ginny opened front door and they walked in.

"The only teacher that doesn't is Professor Snape," she said. "He's the Chemistry teacher and a real hard ass. He's here practically every day. I don't think he ever goes home." Ginny lead him down a hallway and stopped in front of display case. "All the awards for Hogwarts students going back twenty years."

"Wow."

"I think you're dad is in here too," she said.

"Yeah, right here," Harry said pointing to a trophy. "Championships."

"This school is famous for them," she said. "I believe this school has won the championships the last ten years."

"Miss Weasley!" a shout came.

"Uh, oh, it's Snape." They turned around causing Snape to do a double take on Harry. "Hello, Professor Snape," she said.

"What are you doing here on a weekend?"

"Just showing Harry the school where his father attended."

"Father?" Snape asked Harry.

"James Potter, sir," Harry said. "You know him?"

"Your father and I were classmates in school," Snape said. "So, James Potter's back in town?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," Harry said. "We just arrived on Thursday. The old fire hall on Cherry Lane."

"Oh, welcome to Hogsmeade then, Mr. Potter," he said. "Will you be joining us here at Hogwarts?"

"I'm afraid not, Professor," Harry said. "My mother home schooled me through my last years of school and I'm already graduated. Starting at Edinburgh in the fall."

"Oh, well, I must be off," Snape said. "Good luck in your studies next fall, Mr. Potter and see you tomorrow, Ms Weasley."

"Can't wait, Professor," Ginny said with a smile. They watched the chemistry professor head off down the hall. "Wow, I have never seen him that civil before."

"I got the impression he was pleased that I wasn't coming to school."

"I think it may have something to do with your father." They walked down the hall to the exit not aware of the figure in an office down the hall behind them. This was Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. He was a man in his mid fifties, moon shaped glasses on his nose and a twinkle in his eye. However the twinkle in his eye at the moment was an evil twinkle. James Potter was a prized student when he was attending the chool and he brought several championships to the school for soccer. If his son was anything like him, Dumbledore wanted him in this school. It would deem a problem though if the boy was already graduated through his mother's homeschooling. Albus headed back into his office to do some research. He was going to get Harry Potter to attend Hogwarts of it was the last thing he'd do.