Chapter eleven

The first few weeks Harry only went out a few times, Hermione and Ron always went with him, Ginny still went on occasions and those occasions were when Harry used his glamour. Severus had visited him a couple of times and they were so comfortable with each other now that they talked about everything. Severus even took Harry into the apothecary to help buy his instruments and ingredients for potion making. Ron and Hermione visited all the time, but now so were some of Harry's other friends. Neville had brought Hannah with him one day and Harry could see that his two friends were now a couple.

Harry stepped into the kitchen of the Burrow, 'Hi Mrs. Weasley.'

'Harry dear, we weren't expecting you today.'

'I'm heading into Diagon Alley, I thought maybe Ginny, Hermione and Ron would come with me.'

'I know Hermione said she wanted some books, so she probably will. Are you getting used to the walking stick?'

'Yeah, it took me a while, but it's okay now.'

'I'll go see if they want to go with you, why don't you sit.'

'okay, thanks, I still can't manage that many stairs,' Harry watched Molly Weasley head up the stairs and all Harry could think about was will he ever be able to walk up those stairs again.

A few minutes later, Hermione, Ron and Ginny walked down the stairs with Molly following.

'We'll come with you mate, Hermione wants books,' Ron rolled his eyes making Harry laugh.

'Great, I need some more potion ingredients.'

'You haven't got your glamour on,' Ginny said.

'No, I've decided to live with my scars, everyone will get used to them sooner or later,' Harry saw Hermione's eyes dip as she turned slightly so her back was to Ginny. But Harry also noticed that Ginny seemed hesitant, 'Something wrong?'

'I can't go, I've got to practice before my try outs,' Ginny said.

'Really,' Harry pushed himself up using his walking stick, 'But you would go if I used my glamour, you seem to say you will go whenever I do use my glamour but you always have to practice whenever I don't use my glamour. So to me it seems like you don't want to be seen with me looking like this, right?'

'I never said that,' Ginny snapped.

'You didn't have to, it's obvious. Well if you're ashamed to be seen with your scarred boyfriend then I think this relationship is over,' Harry limped his way outside with Hermione running to catch up with him, 'You knew that's how she felt didn't you?'

'Yes, I told her she would need to tell you. At first I just thought she'd need time, but she kept making excuses.'

'I had a feeling that was the reason, especially when she seemed to flinch whenever I kissed her if I didn't have my glamour on.'

'I noticed that, but I'm still going with you, I want some new books. So what ingredients do you need?'

'To make other types of potions, Severus was great teaching me how to make my pain potion and it ended up being easy. He supplied me with enough to keep me going and even helped me shop for everything I would need to make some. I thought it's time I started to get used to brewing other potions now I know how.'

'He's really surprised me, the way he talks to us now, nothing like he used to.'

'As he explained, most of that was an act. Go see if Ron is coming, I'll wait here.'

'I won't be long,' Hermione hurried inside to see Ron glaring at his sister while their mother shouted at her, 'Ron, Harry's waiting, can we go?'

'Yeah, I'm sick of looking at her right now. Mum, we'll be a while.'

'Just be careful, tell Harry I never realised I raised a very shallow daughter, but I still love him.'

'I will mum,' Ron and Hermione hurried outside and over to Harry who was leaning on his walking stick, 'Mum said she still loves you and she never realised she had a shallow daughter.'

'She never realised she raised a very shallow daughter,' Hermione said.

Harry saw Ron roll his eyes which made him laugh, 'You know Hermione has to get it right. When you get back tell you mum I love her too. Now come on and help me shop, it's hard with one hand.'

'Oh, so that's the only reason you want us to go with you for, to carry your stuff,' Ron said teasingly.

'Smart arse Weasley.'

'Language Harry.'

'Yes mum,' Harry said making Ron laugh but the three friends held hands just like they had done hundreds of times before then let Hermione apparate them to the Leaky Cauldron. The moment they appeared everyone stared at Harry, then to the friends surprised, the people started to applaud. Hermione, Ron and Harry gave everyone a smile before heading towards the back to open the archway.

'Why don't you both go to Flourish and Blotts, I'll be in the apothecary.'

'Are you sure, we don't mind staying with you?' Ron asked.

'It gets a bit painful to stand for too long. So I'll get my ingredients then sit in the Leaky Cauldron to wait for you.'

'Why don't you wait up at George's shop?' Ron said.

'Since I know you want some of his products I'll wait there for you.'

'We won't be that long, I know what books I want.'

'Take your time Hermione, don't rush because of me,' Harry smiled then stepped into the apothecary, he started to look through all the jars of eyes and wings, looking for the ones he needed. The owner came over and once Harry explained what potions he wanted to make, he quickly gather up every ingredient to make enough a whole range of potion that Harry thought he might need, 'Thank you.'

'We've never seen your scars before, only in the picture that was in Witch Weekly.'

'I've been using a glamour, I didn't want to frighten any kids or my godson. But I figured it was time everyone saw the real me.'

'Yes, you should and not be ashamed of being yourself. That will be eighteen galleons, three sickles.'

Harry dug into his pouch, paid for his ingredients, 'Thanks for your help.'

'Anytime Mr. Potter,' the man held out the packages to Harry then opened the door for him.

Harry limped his way up to Weasley's wizard wheezes, tapped on the window to let George know he was there who opened the door immediately.

'What are you doing in here?'

'I needed some potion ingredients, Ron and Hermione are with me, they're in Flourish and Blotts. I said I'd wait here if that's okay.'

'Sure, come and sit,' George pulled out a stool for Harry, then sat on the next one, 'So apart from making potions, what are you up too?'

'Nothing, broke up with your sister, that's about it.'

'Oh, what did she do?'

'How do you know it wasn't me?'

'We've all seen the way she is with you, so it wasn't unexpected.'

Harry sighed, 'I decided it was time to stop using my glamour, she decided she needed to practice then be seen with me. I never realised she didn't like me now I look like this. You're mum wasn't happy, neither is Ron.'

'You know Harry, I don't think she had real feelings for you.'

'We were dating for nearly sixth months before I had to leave. From what Ron said she'd like me for a few years.'

'True, but I think she liked the idea of you more than you, the chosen one and all that. When she found out you were friends with Ron, she drove us all crazy, always asking about you, you're scar, if you remember anything about when your parents died. So even if it was a little girls crush to begin with, I think it was who you are that she had feelings for.'

'I think you're right, Hermione told me that Ginny explained to her that she liked me when she was only eleven, she didn't even know me then. Oh well, I've had two girlfriends, maybe I should date blokes, well, if any bloke wants to date someone that looks like me.'

'Not all people are shallow like my sister, you'll find someone Harry. Once everyone gets used to this new look you have, they'll be bashing your door down to shag the chosen one.'

Harry chuckled, so even though he knew George was just trying to cheer him up, he knew there wasn't much chance that someone would want a relationship with him now that he was badly scarred and used a walking stick.