A/N: Hello everyone! I am so, so sorry about the lack of updates. Around the last time i updated this story I found out I was pregnant with my second child. The pregnancy took a lot out of me and I didn't feel like myself. Plus i have a threenager on my hands as well. But thankfully the baby is here now and almost two months old and I am feeling much more like myself. I sat down and outlined the rest of this story. After this chapter, there are give more plus an epilogue. So just so you know, I DO plan on finishing this story but I've got two kids now who seem to be on different schedules that I have to work around. I know it's so annoying when I don't update quickly but please be patient with me! This story will get finished!

Chapter Ten

"You really don't have to do this."

"You're living off noodles and a dwindling supply from Honeydukes. I think I do."

During one of their sessions of truth at George's apartment Harry had made the discovery that George's pantry was practically empty. He apparently had been living off the bare contents in his home, take out, and Firewhiskey for the past several months. Harry was sure that grocery shopping was crossing over into girlfriend territory and they hadn't defined their relationship just yet. But she couldn't let the boy starve. And he had done so much to help her own mental state lately that she figured this would be some repayment. And so she found herself in a nearby muggle town, pushing a grocery cart on a chilly Saturday afternoon picking out groceries with her nonboyfriend.

"I've been perfectly fine living off scraps. I've never looked more fit."

Harry rolled her eyes but smirked.

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to have some actual food in your flat," said Harry placing a carton of eggs in the cart after inspecting them.

"So you agree I'm fit?"

"I never said that."

Harry was starting to learn that paying George a compliment was dangerous territory. It always went straight to his head. She tried to save it for their private time in his bedroom. If he got too carried away it was easy to silence him with her methods of persuasion. More and more their games of truth and the bike lessons were getting shorter in length so that they could get acquainted with one another. Not that Harry minded. Their relationship still hadn't progressed past snogging. Harry simply wasn't ready and, even though George seemed to be, he was respectful of her choice. However, it was getting harder and harder to not cross that line. Her whole body seemed to hum whenever she was near him with or without the physical intimacy. George was very fit. Not that she would ever tell him in this moment.

"Admit it," he said coming behind her and placing his hands overtop of hers. He began pushing the cart for them at such a quick pace that she had to double her strides to keep up with him. "Tell me how attracted you are to me. I'm still in my work clothes too. We both know you can't resist me dressed up."

"You slept in your work clothes."

"You know you like it when I look disheveled. It's like I have sex hair. I combined your two favorite looks."

Harry smiled to herself, secretly glad that George couldn't see her cracking.

"You never tell a fit bloke he looks fit. It makes you look like an idiot."

"Well, I'm already doubting your mental state so you can go ahead and tell me."

Harry couldn't help but laugh outright. His goofy personality was beginning to resurface as they spent more time together. There were still times though that George would get uncharacteristically quiet and stare seemingly into nothing. Perhaps there was nothing wrong with caving just this one time if it kept George's spirits up just a bit longer, she thought.

"Yes," she said stopping so abruptly that George crashed into her before turning around to face him and grabbing him by his tie. "I think you're very fit."

And before George could voice his smart retort that Harry could see forming, she pulled him in for a kiss by the tie.

"Now, go grab some bacon."

George leaned down to kiss the scar on her forehead before heading towards the back of the store. Harry sighed watching him go. There were certain small signature things that George did that made her go crazy and she wasn't quite sure why. He had taken to kissing her scar lightly for one and each time he did she'd close her eyes without thinking. He also had a tendency to grab her by the waist. Whether it was pulling her into him from behind or wrapping his arm around her waist and stroking her side lightly, Harry always felt the most peculiar pull in her stomach whenever he did so. Everything felt so normal and while it was refreshing she also felt certain that something was around the corner to ruin it.

"Don't be stupid," Harry said aloud shaking her head as she began to push the cart once more.

Wasn't this what she wanted? Normalcy?

Of course it was.

So why was she having such a hard time accepting it?

It's because you've never had it and you don't know what to do with it, Hermione had told her when Harry had expressed her concern. It's about time you've had a normal chapter in your life.

Harry was startled from her thoughts as she was grabbed by the waist from behind. George had returned and flung the bacon into the cart. Harry winced as it barely missed the eggs.

"So," said George squeezing her hip. "What's your favorite part of my fit body?"

Harry rolled her eyes but smiled good naturedly. Perhaps a little bit of normalcy was overdue for her.

Or as normal as a witch with a secret nonboyfriend could have.

"No."

"Harry, please."

"Absolutely not."

"The ball is in two weeks. You need a dress!"

Harry was in a foul mood. She had been woken up by Lavender Brown pestering her about a ball she had completely forgotten about. She never really had any intention of going in the first place. Horrible flashbacks of the Yule Ball in her fourth year played through her head at the mere thought of attending. Dean Thomas had asked her and while he was a good date, Harry couldn't say the same for herself. She was gangly and awkward and didn't understand how she was supposed to move gracefully around the dance floor as a girl entering her teenage years. She had stepped on poor Dean's feet throughout the night and blushingly apologized each and every time. He really had been a good sport for in the end he suggested the just sway in place and Harry, mortified about the whole experience, had laid her head on his shoulder to hide her scarlett face. Sadly, she thought, this was probably the most romantic experience she had prior to George. After that Harry had decided to swear off balls and dancing all together.

"I'm not going. Besides I don't have a date."

"I don't have a date either but I still think it will be fun!"

"You don't have a date?"

Harry didn't mean to sound so blunt but Lavender wasn't the type of girl to not have a date to any type of event.

"Come on, Harry. Look at me! People aren't exactly lining up to ask me."

Harry winced feeling like a right arse. Lavender had suffered horrible scarring after taking on Greyback. And while she thought the wounds had done nothing to take away from Lavender's beauty and had in fact added to her newfound confidence, Harry assumed that the scars could be off putting to others.

"Fine, fine. But I swear to Merlin I'm not going to enjoy myself and I'm going to complain the whole time."

"Sounds like a date," said Lavender beaming.

Unbeknownst to Harry, Hogsmeade was home to a small dress boutique by the name of Madam Violet's. According to Lavender, they had recently opened shop and had an assortment of dress clothes from wizard gowns and robes to all sorts of muggle fashions.

"Sweet Merlin."

"I know! Isn't it amazing!"

Harry had never seen so many dresses. Lavender, apparently knowing her way around, had lead Harry to the back of the store where there were racks and racks of beautiful muggle dresses. Harry quickly became overwhelmed and watched in amazement as Lavender sorted through each rack with purpose.

"Lucky for you I already have a dress," said Lavender pulling several options out and throwing them at Harry. "So you have my full attention today."

Harry didn't feel so lucky. In fact, she felt suddenly ill peering down at the options Lavender had already picked out. They were not at all anything she would pick out for herself Harry thought as she examined them.

"Let's see," said Lavender completely unaware of Harry's growing panic. "The thing about you is you've got a nice shape so you're going to look good in almost anything."

"I've got a nice shape?"

"Oh yes. You're tall and slender. Your best features, and the ones we are going to want to work with, are your legs-"

"One of them is longer than the other-"

"Your eyes-"

"I don't understand how that is important-"

"And your neck. You've got a great neck. Not many people think about the neck when picking out a dress but it's so important. Yours is long and elegant and-" Lavender trailed off suddenly, her eyes widening. "What's on your neck?"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry but her hand automatically flew to the base of her neck where she was sure there was a love bite.

"Is that- have you got a hickey?"

"No!"

"You do! I knew it! You've seemed so preoccupied this year and now I know why! There's a boy!"

"There's no boy!"

Lavender paused for a moment to examine Harry and Harry felt herself fidget under her gaze. And then, taking Harry by complete surprise, Lavender merely shrugged and turned her attention back to the dresses.

"What do you think about sleeves?"

"Um," stuttered Harry. It wasn't like Lavender to give up on something like boy gossip so easily. It made her feel uneasy. "No?"

"No, I don't think so either. What about colors? How do you feel about purple?"

"It's okay I guess?"

"And navy? Navy is very slimming, not that you need it."

"Navy is fine."

"Yellow?"

"Yellow is horrid."

"My thoughts too. And what year is your boyfriend in?"

"He doesn't go to Hogwarts- shite!"

"Ah ha!" Lavender exclaimed turning wildly and pointing her finger at Harry. "Gotcha!"

"How on earth did you do that?"

"Who is he? Someone I know?"

Harry sighed and slumped down in a chair behind her. There was no point in trying to lie but Lavender had already figured out way too much. She was already worried about what Ron would think and if he found out Hermione and Lavender knew before him he would just be all the more furious with her.

"He's not exactly my boyfriend. At least not just yet."

"So you're talking, then?"

"Sort of. He's a few years older than us."

"Who is he?"

"I can't tell you that. There are some people I need to tell and I want to make sure they hear it from me first. So please, not a word to anyone."

Lavender seemed to consider this for a moment before beaming at Harry.

"Okay Harry."

"Really? You're going to let it go just like that?"

Not that Harry was complaining, but Lavender was never one to let things like this slide.

"It's really none of my business," said Lavender shrugging. "Anyway, how about we try some of these dresses on, yeah?"

And before Harry could protest she was grabbed by the forearm and thrown into the nearest dressing room with a heap of dresses. Harry still had whiplash from Lavender nearly finding out about George and looking down at the pile of dresses did nothing to help her mood. There were so many bright colors that the sight gave Harry a headache. She began to sort through them to find something she could vaguely see herself wearing when she stopped at a particular garment. Lavender had said they would need to work with her eyes and now Harry knew why as she picked up the emerald green dress. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen and far more daring than anything she would ever pick out for herself. She ran her hand over the lacey material carefully. It was really too beautiful for someone like her, she thought. Still, no harm in trying it on even if she didn't show Lavender. She began to strip down and had gotten down to everything but her undergarments when she suddenly grew self conscious again. She looked at herself in the dressing room mirror. She was perhaps too thin, too gangly, and too pale for a dress like this.

But the thing making her the most timid about the dress was the new lightning bolt scar etched into chest. Harry traced the scar with her fingertips starting just below her collarbone, over her left breast, and down her torso. When she was hit with the final killing curse that had freed her from her horcrux Harry had been left with a permanent reminder, much larger than the one on her forehead. It was ugly and still very bright red. But it made her feel human. She hadn't told anyone about it. Truthfully, there was no reason for it to come up in conversation. But Harry knew, as she held the dress up to her body, that people would see if she wore this for part of the lacey material that covered the collarbone was see through.

"I liked that one too" a voice suddenly said from behind her causing Harry to shriek.

"Lavender! Get out!"

"It matches your eyes perfectly," said Lavender completely ignoring Harry's protests. "I was wondering what was taking so long."

"So you just- you just came in?"

"I knocked but you didn't hear me. What's the big deal anyway? You don't have anything I haven't seen before."

"The dress is backless so if you want to try it on you're going to have to take your bra off to get the full effect," said Lavender jerking the dress out of Harry's hands to show her that, indeed, it was backless. "Hey, what's that?"

Lavender's eyes had wandered to Harry's scar but her eyes didn't betray any sort of disgust. In fact, she simply looked intrigued. Harry sighed and folded her arms over her chest.

"I got it when Voldemort hit me with the killing curse in the forest. It's ugly and it's part of the reason I'm hesitant about the dress. If I wear that people will be able to see it."

"I'm not seeing the big deal about that."

"What do you mean you don't…" Harry trailed off feeling horrible. She had completely forgotten about all of Lavender's scars. There was nothing Lavender could do to cover them all, even with the most modest of dresses.

Harry looked at Lavender sheepishly but Lavender simply smiled back at her.

"Everyone has scars, Harry. People can just see ours."

Harry said nothing for a moment before grabbing the dress back and turning her back towards Lavender.

"Help me into this," said Harry unhooking her bra and stepping into the dress. She felt Lavender's hands clasping the buttons around her neck.

"Harry," Lavender breathed still standing behind her.

"What? Did you snap a button off?"

"No you idiot. It's gorgeous. Come here and look at yourself!"

Harry was once again yanked by the hand and taken outside of her dressing room to the mirrors by the window. Lavender was right, Harry thought, on all accounts. The dress really flattered her best features. All of which she hadn't know about before today. Harry turned to take in the back. The lace plummeted down and showed off the curve of her back. Her hair was up in a tight bun that she had messily put together before leaving but by doing so it had allowed Harry to see that her neck really did look amazing in this dress. Lavender was right, people didn't give a neckline enough credit.

"God," said Lavender fluffing out the dress around Harry's knees. "You really do have amazing legs."

Lavender stood to smooth out the lace around Harry's collarbone and shoulders.

"There," she said giving Harry's shoulders a squeeze. "It's not so bad, is it? The scar definitely isn't that thing I notice right away. Oh! I saw a pair of heels up front that would just be amazing with this!"

And Lavender hurried off to the front before Harry could ask her what she noticed first about her in the dress. Harry fidgeted with her fingernails as she looked at herself once more. The dress was beautiful. But it was probably silly to pay so much for it when she didn't even have a date to the ball in the first place. But before Harry could talk herself out of the dress she was shaken from her thoughts by a tapping at the window next to her.

George Weasley was standing outside the window. He was clutching a bag from Honeydukes which, Harry assumed, was filled with treats for their game of truth tonight back at his flat. His eyes were wide as he looked her up and down and when he reached her eyes he raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Harry shrugged embarrassed and mouthed the word ball to him. He took in her appearance for another moment before using his finger to motion for her to spin for him so he could get the full effect. Feeling silly, she did so and the material flared up around her knees. George ran a hand through his hair and looked as though he was suppressing a groan.

"These will complete the whole look," Lavender had appeared behind Harry.

Thankfully she was looking down at the shoes and took no notice of George who took this as his cue to leave after giving Harry a wink that caused her face to flush.

"Harry? Why are you looking out the window?"

"Hm? Oh, I thought it looked like it was going to rain for a moment."

"Huh," said Lavender cocking her head to the side. "That's funny. It's so sunny right now."