Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I do own the books. NOT like I actually wrote the books. Like I went to the store and bought them so I could read them. That type of owning a book, understand what I mean? Good, I am not as mentally distressed as what those doctors say! ^^
Author's Note: I apologize for the long delay and my endless warnings of tardiness. I had sounded like a leetle coward trying to buy time – ew! But that's what I sounded like, at least to me. Anyhow, here is a nice long chapter, approximately 15 Microsoft Word pages long. Cheers to reading!
(mini survey: Who actually reads these author's notes anyway?)
~*~*~
Chapter Fifteen: I am Innocent, I Swear!While the ladies were resting in Ginny's humble abode, the men were having quite an interesting time. Had someone walked into the seemingly vacant townhouse – yes "seemingly vacant", no one is dead . . . yet – they would have been shocked. Three men were doing house cleaning. No wait, three men with masculine built bodies were washing teacups, vacuuming with a wand, and putting cleaned dishes away, with the blonde man wearing an apron with pink frills and pastel roses.
Mike was having a wonderful time vacuuming with his wand. He had forgotten the enlargement spell to increase the efficiency of vacuuming, so he had do clean the entire living room inch by inch. Oh! To add to his painfully fun enjoyment, the carpet that was in the room changes color when a sector of it is vacuumed. The original color had been a crisp, clean white, but the new color was beige. The color contrast between eye blinding white and a creamy beige was make the owner of the house quite anal. Or rather, making the owner anal about pleasing his mother and fiancée, who were anal about home decorating.
Draco Malfoy had been quite a sight fretting about the color change of his carpet.
"You are supposed to ask me when you are going to do something! Like clothes that have special instructions for cleaning, so does this carpet." The sight was even funnier since Draco was wearing the infamous apron made by his littlest cousin. "Why couldn't Aurora get a normal looking apron?" The two other men were wise enough to remain silent during the whole tirade. Mike kept his complaints to himself allowing Draco Malfoy the private joy of tearing his own sanity apart and throwing it in the trash.
"Does anyone know the dishwashing charm?" the spoilt Mr. Malfoy inquired after he was done obsessing about the clichéd quality of having a beige carpet. Harry shook his head humbly and Mike merely shrugged.
"Don't know. I can never remember housecleaning spells," Mike replied. "Say, would you have a book like that somewhere in this house?"
The comment ended with Draco Malfoy walking to the kitchen with a huff and dragging an unusually silent Harry behind him. The sink was filled with water and Draco Malfoy added a generous amount of detergent while stirring the solution with his hands. Not a very good idea since most people experienced in the kitchen would know how bubbly dishwashing detergent gets. Shall we say bubble bath?
The bubbles had gotten so abundant that the entire counter was covered in bubbles. To Draco's annoyance, his coworker had not done anything to help. Harry was in a silent stupor adding dirty teacups and such to the sink making the bubbles flow out even more. Just as Draco was about to complain, Harry got out his wand and cleared the counter of bubbles.
"Potter, why don't I just take care of the washing while you dry the dishes?" Draco had suggested. Harry nodded and opened his mouth the say something. Draco Malfoy waited for the reply only to see Harry quickly closing his mouth. The Slytherin shrugged and tried to finish the foreign task.
After a half an hour, Harry was still silent, Draco was soaking wet and covered in bubbles, and Mike was cross-eyed temporarily, well, let's say a night of sleep will be good for him. The three men cluttered to the large living room with the beige carpet and all sat on the three separate couches.
"Whew!" Harry said finally snapping out of him silent streak. The two other men nodded.
"Remind me to hire a house elf if I were to buy a house this big," Mike added rubbing his eyes. They were still somewhat crossed.
"Definitely, but I think Aurora is a stickler for doing things manually around the house when she is having guests over," Draco added dejectedly. His companions groaned in sympathy.
"I am so sorry you will be marrying her," Mike with his crossed eyes said, causing Draco Mafloy to snap up his head asking a silent why. "She is overbearing and sweet at the same time, a walking juxtaposition. One minute she is cooing at you, the next minutes, you head is being clawed at. Oh well, you are marrying her, she makes you happy, that's the end of the story. Goodnight!" With that Mike changed his position so he could sleep on the couch he was occupying.
Draco Malfoy was left to look at Harry Potter with a completely frazzled expression. However, the green-eyes were focused on the coffee table, yet when Draco looked more carefully, Harry's eyes were actually unfocused.
"Harry? Potter?" the only 100% conscious man questioned. Harry made no signs of stirring from his own world. As Draco Malfoy shook his own head, the voice of the other auror broke the silence.
"Did she really mean it, or was it just a plot to made the engagement less of a problem?" Harry asked suddenly. Draco Malfoy looked at Harry and joined the Misery Club.
"Women are confusing. I an actually having second thoughts."
"I agree. Does Ginny actually like me? I mean, she didn't really react – wait, WHAT?! What second thoughts?" Harry exclaimed suddenly. If it were second thoughts about marrying Aurora that would set off World War III, IV if Voldemort's insanity counts. First of all, the workplace would get quite uncomfortable no matter how well the two could "move on". Harry would be caught as the middle person, and quite frankly, hero-training packets didn't include a section on dealing with two coworkers that were romantically involved. But then again, you'd think the packet would have how to woo the damsel in distress, but Harry never learned how to do that either. That's why he is stuck flirting with Ginny as his usual personality and being told to act as though he is dating Ginny to assure no more scandals for the Malfoy wedding.
"Isn't that obvious Potter?" Draco replied reverting back to his dry, sarcastic tone of Hogwarts years. "The only thing I can have second thoughts about that I haven't not had any on is my upcoming marriage. I have already questioned my choice of being an auror. That had been solved thank you very much. I do NOT want a reply of that unfortunate day."
"Oh right, that was the day even the Malfoy pride didn't even save you. But wasn't that also the same day you kissed Aurora for the first time?" Harry asked with a wicked twinkle in his eye, all his previous worries some forgotten, and some merely placed somewhere in later in his list of worries. "What did she do afterwards? I think I need a reminder." Draco Malfoy glared at his partner with extreme loathing; after all, a Malfoy does not like his mistakes pointed out.
"I don't think you need a reminder Mr. Potter," Draco replied sternly.
"No, I think you do need a reminder. After you had kissed her, Aurora had glared at you, and then stomped off. It took you two three months to reconcile . . ."Harry trailed off as he noticed the nostalgic light in Draco's usually cold eyes.
"Yes, that was the first time I had ever groveled at anyone's feet, and the tenth time a Malfoy had to do that win his bride. I think that had cost me quite a lot too. Not just my old pride, also quite a lot of galleons to pull off the elaborate birthday celebration for her. And do you remember what she had said?" Draco paused to look at Harry. Although the latter had nodded, Draco Malfoy continued his stroll through his memories.
"She had said she had forgiven me the moment I began groveling, which happened to be three weeks after that unfortunate event. She only waited that long to see what I would do for her birthday. And considering she is not a material girl, I got scolded for spending money on needless item! "
At that moment, Mike took a camera – out of nowhere – and took at picture of the sappy face that was on his future cousin-in-law's face. The apparatus was similar to a muggle Polaroid and it instantly produced the low-quality picture.
"What was that about?" the blonde man exclaimed completely undignified. "You were supposed to be asleep!"
"I was, but I only did that long enough to make my eyes uncross," Mike explained, and proceeded to show Draco the picture. "This, would be a picture of your lovesick face when you talk about Aurora."
"And that is why she is the perfect woman for you," Harry added. "You will never find another person that match you so well. She is the only person besides your mother that could keep you in line, and believe or not, you even try to make her happy – don't even argue. Nope, close your mouth and listen. Thank you. You do everything possible to make her happy. Even asking for permission to kiss her. You do realize that gets old don't you? If you are so cowardly when it come to pleasing Aurora, you'll never get any offsprings!" Harry teased. That had caused fifty pillows to be launched at the boy who lived.
"Hey! No fair, you have your wand!"
"Well, so do you!"
"Guys! Shhh! Unlike the manor, there are civilization that is close enough to hear us!"
"Oh, right."
"But it is true that you might not get any offspring if you are that courteous of things," Mike amended Harry. "I have known Aurora longer than anyone of you, and I have the right to say she is as prude as a person can get without not wanting it."
"What?! You expect me to just throw her down?" Draco exclaimed quite outraged at what his confidantes are suggesting.
"Well, yes," Both men replied with Cheshire grins. Once again, the privileged Young Mr. Malfoy turned magenta at the expense of his pride and possibly even his honor.
"That's it. I am not talking about what I do with my wife after we have finalized our marriage. Besides, Aurora isn't that prudish, she did allow me to kiss her earlier this afternoon without me asking. You are just exaggerating!"
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Draco! We were just teasing," Harry replied. "But you have to admit Aurora rarely ever lets you get close with her. After that incident when some idiot bodyguard of an even dumber criminal flirted with our dear Aurora, she did knee him quite hard . . . "
"We wouldn't want that to happen to you, do we?" Mike inserted teasing Draco even more.
"That is quite enough of this topic. I'll deal with the problem when the time comes – IF that is even a problem," the irritated and embarrassed blonde finalized. "How about that question Mr. Potter was pondering? I do believe I can answer that." Harry narrowed his emerald eyes at the others. Now it was his time to be have his mental health tortured merciless at the hands of Aurora's henchmen. Goodness, all her sidekicks are all so unforgiving in their verbal sparring!
"Yes, a certain beautiful, temperamental redhead – of course that quality is true for most redheads, but that's what makes them intriguing, isn't it?" Mike said adding to Draco's ammunition to make Harry loose all his sleep for the night. Those descriptions of Ginny, Ron's little sister – the best friend's little sister, does not help the already battered brain of Harry Potter. There had been numerous moments when Harry had wondered why didn't he realize the girl earlier, and those nights were accompanied by lack of sleep and watching sappy '50s muggle romance movies with a tub of muggle Godiva ice cream.
"No teasing, no more. I think I have done enough of bludgeoning to myself already."
"All right Harry, but that doesn't mean we forgive you for not noticing Ginny earlier," Mike stated maintaining his position. Harry nodded showing an aura of depression.
"Hey Malfoy!" Harry exclaimed poking his coworker, "I need a little help. Seeing as you are the resident Mr. Irresistible, you'll be my therapist!" Draco had a pained look.
"Okay then . . . what do you need help with?" he asked uncertain of what to expect from the seemingly innocent but scheming green-eyed (not jealousy, by the way) monster sitting across from him.
"Does she like me?"
"Well, first of all, we need to know who this 'she' is. Is the lucky lady, or unlucky as the case may be, the leggy blonde secretary, or the temperamental girl next door by the name of Ginny," Draco began in an analytical tone. "You see, depending on the woman, there are different approaches a man should take to shall we say, woo the girl."
"Gack! You sound like a crafty matchmaker!"
Mike declared. "Now I wonder if it would be good to let Aurora marry you!"
Harry shot the other man a dirty look. They had just temporarily cured Draco
Malfoy of the doubts about marriage, and the dork decides to bring that subject
up again.
"Actully Mikey," Harry began, "you have never seen how crafty Aurora may be. All those men she led astray to finish a mission would testify that she is now goddess of dawn, more like the goddess of darkness. But to sound like a spoiled brat, I believe I am the one seeing the therapist!"
"Right," Draco replied slowly. This was going to be quite a long night. How is a man supposed to deal with his coworker spilling his secrets out? It was one thing to just tease Harry about it, but to have the boy hero actually announce his feelings in a tactless manner was quite disconcerting, especially when one is afraid of what one's fiancée is planning for the supposed idiotic, not-so official couple.
"Well, I am just going to assume that the 'she' is Miss Weasley." Harry nodded to support the presupposition. "It has been quite obvious to me since Ginny first year that she liked you quite a lot. The weird rhyme that was given to you by those sickening cupid-replicas was actually sent by yours truly, as a joke," the Malfoy added when Mike chose to take his defensive cousin-in-law mode.
"I didn't actually write the poem though, it was a sarcastic remark made by Ginny to her friends when they encouraged her to send you a Valentine gift. Anyhow, she has admired you since first year, as far as I know, she might have marveled at you since the first time she heard of the heroic tales of baby Potter. It may seem like her feelings for you might have disappeared, perhaps that was a direct result of her maturity."
"Yes, and what am I supposed to do?" Harry asked unnerved by the detailed analysis of Dr. Draco and the pessimistic tone he used to deliver the speech.
"You expect me to know when it took me that long to get Aurora's attention?!" the pseudo-therapist exclaimed. "I can only give you the analysis. The methods I have taken obviously do not apply to you since Aurora's regards of me are completely different from how Ginny see you. Besides, you had said she didn't respond to your kiss. That's different from my case in that I was lucky I didn't get slapped." Draco paused to brace himself for a lecture about Aurora by her cousin, and miraculously, remarks of any kind didn't fly at him. The pseudo-patient and pseudo-doctor looked at Mike and the younger man was dozing off on his couch.
"What time is it?" Harry asked.
"It's late. Two thirty in the morning," the other replied. "We should get to sleep as well. I get the queasy feeling that the women have something planned for later this morning. Help me get Mike to his bedroom."
Ten minutes later, all lights were off, and the house was truly vacant.
~*~*~
The morning came with the sun's rays fighting its way through the half open curtains at Ginny's apartment. The ladies sleeping on the living room floor each had their own ray of sunshine illuminating their face. The extra light created by cars driving down the road added to the seemingly choreographed dance of bright beams. The sound of Peer Gynt from Ginny's alarm clock woke all three occupants from their rest.
"Aack! The sun, go away!" Carrie complained as one of the dancing rays flashed across her face.
"What time is it?" Ginny murmured with her voice still tinted with sleepiness.
"It's seven fifteen!" a disgustingly perky voice called from the bathroom. The other two women looked at each other with sympathizing looks of disdain for Aurora.
"I have always hated how she could be so awake in the morning," Carried moaned trying to hide from the various lights in the room.
"What you go through cannot be worse then my experience. When both of us were training to be mediwitches, we shared a room." A grunt from Carrie's covers replied in deference to Ginny's misery story. Another sound of ruffling covers signaled that Ginny had tried to get back to sleep as well.
"Come on everyone, get ready since I am making breakfast!" Aurora declared in the doorway of the bathroom. The only response was people trying to hide deeper into their sleeping bags. Shaking her head, the auror walked to the kitchen, and metallic bangs of pots and pans made those still in bed shiver at the unwelcome noise.
"I guess she is actually making breakfast," Carried said thoughtfully. Her head was out of the covers and the growling of her stomach already made the decision for her to wake up. "At least the food is worth it!" Ginny nodded in agreement and followed the other to the bathroom.
"I wonder what the men are doing," Carrie asked on her way to the kitchen.
"Probably still sleeping," Ginny replied now fully awake. "Mmm, I haven't had Aurora's cooking since she became a full time auror."
"It's not fair. Just because her parents can cook, it doesn't mean she just has to be a good cook as well. I think the only person the culinary gene didn't skip in my generation is Aurora. It's sickening how seems to have no faults!"
"I know. She can cook; she is marrying Draco Malfoy so money won't be a problem, not that it ever will be a problem with her job. Oh right! She is also a renowned auror working with the boy who lived and his archrival. Do we have anymore tallies to add to Aurora's perfection?" Ginny asked.
"Hey! Keep on doing that and you don't get any food for breakfast," Aurora's reply came from the kitchen.
"I believe this is my house," Ginny retorted. This had led to Aurora coming out of the kitchen with a spatula in one hand and an oven mitten in the other.
"It is, but I am your best friend. You granted me access your home the first day of your ownership. Besides, the food is mine anyway. Although you bought the groceries, I am changing them into food . . . did that even make sense?" Carrie and Ginny shook their head simultaneously.
"It's too early in the morning for logic," the two sleepyheads complained.
"As is it's too early so you two are bashing poor, poor Aurora?" the cook asked in a motherly tone.
"Actually, no. We single women just needed to have sometime for self-pity." Aurora merely shook her head and walked back to the kitchen. A few moments later, three plates of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and a large waffle floated out the door followed by Aurora.
"Now eat." The plate flew to the counter and placed themselves between the forks and knives that just happened to be at the right place. "I was planning on getting the bridesmaids' dresses as well as getting a dress for Ginny. So should I get Parvati, Hermione, and Lavender?"
"Sure," Ginny replied stabbing her fork into the pancake. "Hey! This is blueberry. I never bought any blueberries!" The clang of a fork hitting the plate caused Aurora to look up.
"Auri, you didn't do that illusion spell did you?" Carried asked wary of the blue specks in her otherwise delicious pancake. The cook shook her head and continued eating.
"What?! I went out and bought some blueberries."
"In five minutes?" both Ginny and Carrie asked skeptical. If the berries were a result of the illusion spell, the two would go to the bathroom immediately. Perhaps they shouldn't have lied and told Aurora that they had liked at new recipe when the illusion spell was first introduced to food.
"That's what apparating is for!" Aurora replied rolling her eyes. "Besides, I knew you didn't like those illusion recipes anyway. Though I must say I am miffed when you lied to me. Some poor person I was trying to get information out of had a taste of the artificial strawberry shortcake and ran away from me before I got any answers."
"So they are 100% natural? No magic involved to make them blueberries?" the auror shook her head and breakfast proceeded without further interruptions, except perhaps Mimi attacking Ginny's waffles.
"Mimi, will you go send these note to Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender? I promise to give you owl munchies when you get back," Ginny coerced her personal messenger. "I'll beg Aurora to get you more of those crunchy things that you love?" the owl paused for its assault on the waffle and look at her owner. "How about anything you want? Within reason?" Mimi blinked and gave a soft hoot of consideration. How could her owner be willing go that length to get her to not eat the waffles? If the owl's taste buds were correct, the waffle must be Aurora's cooking. The magic used to cook foods tends to stain the natural taste but only a select few – mainly animals – can tell the difference.
Ginny had scribbled three short notes to her friends requesting their presence, and in the mean time, Mimi had gotten a few more bits out of the waffle. The other two women looked at Ginny's plate watchful of how Ginny would react to her half-eaten waffle. Considering the fact that the fork is no longer usable on the battercake, why not let the owl finish it off?
The rest of breakfast was considerable less odd. Mimi had returned with record speed probably wanting to eat the rest of the waffle since Ginny would never continue to eat it. True to everyone's prediction, the owl did attack Ginny's breakfast plate to finish off what was left – the owl-pecked waffle. Shortly after, Ginny's doorbell rang and three Hogwarts graduates waited outside.
"Hi Hermione, Parvati, and Lavender!" Ginny exclaimed opening her door. "This is Carrie for those of you who don't know. And of course, here is poor Aurora, the future Mrs. Malfoy." Three different responses were heard: pity, mock-jealousy, and awe.
"Hey!" Aurora shouted giving all three a large group hug while managing to get soap bubbles in everyone's hair. "Sorry about that. I never liked to wash dishes. The soap bubbles have hated me since the beginning of time."
"So when are we going on our shopping trip?" Lavender asked her smile mirrored by Parvati and Carrie. With a few quick swishes of her wand, Aurora cleaned up her mess and got her appearance to the A. Classen standards.
"We leave now, but we need to go wake up the men. They need to get their measurements as well."
"Speaking of measurements, how are we going to get mine?" Hermione asked. "My size is about to change throughout the wait for the wedding."
"I don't know. Maybe keep a tailor with us constantly? We can get the necessary changes done before hand." That had seemed to satisfy Hermione. After all, it is Draco Malfoy's money that is being spent; he needs help to feel more on the average citizen side. "Ready, let's get in the car and get the bag carriers!"
~*~*~
The morning was just as unwelcome to the men as it was for Ginny and Carrie. Most people would think Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter would at least be more excited about the morning than Mike would, but somehow that wasn't the case. Aurora's cousin was the first one up and made a somewhat inedible breakfast for the two resting aurors. Happy mornings might have been a family trait, but obviously Carrie was right about the skipping culinary gene.
"What is this?" Harry asked upon smelling the disturbing scent from the kitchen.
"I don't know, but I think we should just forget breakfast and apparate somewhere to get brunch," Draco replied sharing the dubious feeling of Mike's cooking. Several clangs were heard from the kitchen, but the sound was not the welcoming clash of metals when Aurora cooked.
"Ouch, hot, help!" the cry echoed in the large kitchen. Harry and Draco looked at each other for support.
"Guess we cleaned the kitchen up for nothing." Both Hogwarts graduates rushed to the kitchen to help. As though unspoken prayers were answered, the doorbell rang.
"Please let it be Aurora. I want her food!" Harry cried. "Hey, would you mind if I just randomly show up at your house after you get married? I don't think anyway can make scrambled eggs as good as Aurora."
"I don't see why everyone marvels at her culinary skills. She can cook several good dishes, and she has a knack for following instructions therefore allowing her to make wonderful dishes. She isn't the goddess of food you know," Draco complained. He had too many accidents trying out Aurora's cooking experiments.
"Hello? Are you awake yet?" a female voice asked.
"Well, you better be now!" said a voice the men had decided was Ginny. Of course, the crude, practical question that came after belonged to one of the Classens.
"Are you decent?'
"Whatever, I'm going in. After working with them for so long, I know they don't sleep naked." Since the second was obviously Aurora, Carrie must have been the first blunt person.
"You know, I have always thought Carrie as the nice, quiet girl in the family," Draco said thoughtfully, which caused Mike to snort.
"Perhaps the night with Aurora and Ginny made her part of the insane group?" Harry asked in a strangely shaky voice. Realizing the odd quality of his tone, Harry had also noticed the evil glint in Draco and Mike's eyes. Uh-oh, looks like I have to deal with more of last nights bashing.
"You all slept on the couch?!" Aurora asked ending the silent battle between the men much to Harry's favor. "There are beds you know."
"We didn't sleep on the couch, we rested on the couch for a bit before going to bed."
"I'll assume you have had a comfortable rest since we are going to get everything tailored today. We also need to pick out garments for those who haven't decided. That means mandatory attendance from all of you," Aurora declared.
"Even me?" Mike asked timidly. "What about Carrie?" the older woman looked dubiously at her cousin.
"Sorry Mikey, I got out of the wedding crew. Grandma had asked me to be a bridesmaid for Cousin Franks wedding. This time you are going down," Carried replied in a superior manner.
"Yes you. You are the back-up groomsmen." The clueless look on his face made Draco and Harry cower. "I take it Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy had forgotten to inform you of this. Oh right, before I forget something, Harry, do you know that you'll be dancing with Ginny?"
"To keep up the charade? Yes."
"No, to actually date her you dolt," Draco replied sarcastically. "You never even asked her."
"Asked who?" Ginny asked when the other women found the action in the kitchen.
"No one," Harry replied all too quickly.
"Can we leave? I haven't even had breakfast," Mike complained. Two more murmurs of agreement sounded as the group made their way to the fireplace.
"Is floo powder safe for you to use?" Ginny asked Hermione.
"It should. If not, I'll sue Dr. Blonfontain. He had said I should conduct business normally. If something happened, blame it all on him."
"Yes, with the rest of the Weasley crew chasing him to his grave . . ." Draco remarked with Harry turning pale.
~*~*~
"Oh, let's go to the Leaky Cauldron for brunch!" Mike exclaimed enthusiastically. The entourage had arrived at Diagon Alley and the wafting scent of smoked bacon that could be smelled miles away made three stomachs grumble.
"Draco didn't cook for you?" Aurora asked. "He makes the best breakfast skillet in the world." Two deadly glares were aimed at the privileged man.
"You cook? Why didn't you tell us you could make random ingredients edible?" Both Harry and Mike demanded. Waiting for two hours for a meal was definitely not on top of the two's list of favorites.
"Why don't you three go get food while we go to the bridal shop?" Ginny suggested hoping to end the idiot spar that might begin any moment.
"If I told you, would it have been believable?" the platinum blonde retort. Mike spluttered indignantly and Ginny was getting quite indignant as well.
"Did you even hear me? You go get brunch and we'll meet you back here in two hours. Got it?" Harry nodded rapidly hoping to avoid conflict coming from the female side as well. "Very good Harry, just get them in the Leaky Cauldron."
"Bye!" the women called out as they turned up the street toward the bridal shop.
Looking though dresses was an interesting event. It seemed all the salespeople had heard about the grand Malfoy wedding and wished to be apart of the activities. Commission for Malfoy weddings tended to be high as the clothing purchased had a large price.
"Good morning!" chimed five sales assistants. "How may I help you?" Hermione and Ginny looked at Aurora doubting the whole circumstance while Lavender, Parvati, and Carrie had already started the question session with the clerks.
"Guess we join the band wagon?" Hermione deducted still uncertain. No more persuasion was needed as the other two sales clerks attacked the less enthusiastic group.
"Uh . . . why don't you take Ginny see some dresses suitable for the maid of honor. She also has the pictures of the other dresses so if you have any questions ask her too," Aurora directed. "She is my wedding planner as well."
"Oh! You must be the famous events planner. Welcome to our shop Miss Weasley. oh I just love they way you had coordinated those events . . ." the saleslady had gushed making Ginny wince. A no-so apologetic smile was sent to the young Weasley by both Aurora and Hermione, they had gotten the older clerk.
"Good morning Miss – "
"Classen. This is Hermione Granger – excuse me, Weasley," Aurora introduced.
"Oh yes! I have heard of you both. I must say I am privileged to serve two wonderfully sophisticated and prominent women in our society. Welcome." When the older woman had turned, Hermione and Ginny had noticed Ginny sticking her tongue at them. It seems everyone had quite an overly vigorous about serving the group.
"We have a small dilemma," Aurora began.
"Due to inopportune timing, I'll be in my third trimester of pregnancy during Aurora's wedding. The bridesmaid dress will need to be changed," Hermione explained.
"Oh! Congratulations! I am sure your babe will be beautiful and smart, and – "
"Thank you. Could you give us some information on tailors who could change the sizes?" Hermione interrupted kindly. The salesperson nodded and hurried off to the back room of the store.
"That should take her awhile," Aurora wished out loud.
"This store is supposed to be one of the more prominent stores?" Hermione asked glancing around the store in distaste. "The prices certainly match expectations, as does the quality of the dresses, but geez! The salesclerks will scare away half of the customers!"
"True, but the rich and famous are treated well here, as you have seen. I suppose most of the upper class need their egos enlarged."
"Is there a reason why those three suddenly got quiet?" Hermione questioned. She had known Lavender and Parvati for years and they do not ever become silent during a shopping trip. Since Carrie seemed to have fit in with the fashion twins, sound should be heard.
"Oh, that reminds me. I needed to ask for your advice on something," Aurora said with a secretive smile. "It is about Harry and Ginny." The same smile was mirrored on the ex-Gryffindor as well.
"I see, so that's why those three are quiet? I must say Lavender and Parvati are not great matchmakers."
"That's why we needed lots of help, along with the inane stubbornness of the two in question." Hermione nodded as well.
"How am I supposed to help? Not that I don't support you or anything, but their relationship is skewed. Ginny had directed the energy of her crush on Harry to flirting with him as friends. That had sent the mixed message to Harry confusing the poor guy. Harry doesn't really know whether she truly likes him or if Ginny's past awkwardness was a childish infatuation with a celebrity that dissipates with time."
"I can see how he can be confused. It's funny how Ginny thinks Harry is only flirting with her as friends. She also suspects the flirting serves as a shield against men's attention directed at her by the orders of Ron," Aurora informed Hermione.
"I suppose that is the only reason Ron hasn't blown up at their antics."
"Would Ron be furious if Harry were to date Ginny?" Aurora asked.
"I don't suppose so," Hermione replied. "Ron would prefer to let Harry have Ginny than any other male no matter how he reacted last night." The news had lit a smile on Aurora's face.
"Well, obstacle number one is solved. Now we just need to get those two to admit their feelings, or at least date each other. Oh I feel another wedding coming up!" Both Hermione and Aurora had giggled like schoolgirls at the conclusion. It wasn't entirely unreasonable. Both people in question had liked and cared for each other enough to call the affection love. So why not date and see if marriage will work?
The joy and privacy of the two ladies was interrupted by the reappearance of the saleswoman. Good things can't last forever, especially when it comes to privacy.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley and Miss. Classen – soon to be Mrs. Malfoy!" the woman exclaimed in an extremely eager voice. "I did find some tailors who would be willing to alter the dress, but we have a lovely selection for pregnant ladies. The dress can be custom made to match the style of the other bridesmaid dresses. The only difference will be the fabric and the magic stitches used; the size change will be automatically adjusted."
"Hm, good plan," answered Hermione blatantly expressing her feelings about the store – she wanted to get out . . . at least before her hormones cut her temper shorter and blow up at the sycophantic woman trying to get hoards of money of the society's prominent.
"That's great. You have the design for the dresses, right?" the clerk nodded. "Thank you for your service," Aurora finished stiffly yet politely. Seems neither woman wanted to remain the store any longer. However actually get out of the store would be more of an obstacle in that Carrie and the fashion twins are now buddy-buddy with their sales clerk.
"Lavender, Parvati, Carrie, did you get the dresses that you need-slash-want?" Hermione asked. The three shop-aholics terminated their giggling and nodded. "How about you Ginny?"
"Miss Weasley is not quite done ma'am," the Ginny's fashion consultant replied instead. "She cannot decide which dress she wants." That has set off the three giggling sister. Carrie, Lavender, and Parvati dashed to Ginny's rescue along with their giggly clerk.
"Ooh! How about this one?" all three, four if the clerk should be included, cooed at the cream dress with a sheer outer layer that was emerald green with little green gems scattered around. "It will look so nice on you!" The sales clerk was nodding her head rigorously.
"Isn't it a bit too elaborate?" Ginny asked skeptically. "Everyone else's dress is elegant in the they style of simplicity. This dress would stand out too much." The audience merely shrugged at her comment. She was the events planner anyway. It was Ginny's responsibility to make sure everything goes smoothly and coordinated. Then turning to the clerk, the younger Weasley asked, "Can you suggest other dresses that are simple like the rest?"
Searching for a suitable dress that matched Ginny's guidelines was impossible. Sometime around the eighth dress, the rest of the girl group had decided to buy the green dress anyway, and make Ginny wear it for the parties after the wedding. For one, green is a favorable color to Harry and that shade of green compliments the red hair in a way that doesn't make Ginny look like the Christmas in July fairy.
~*~*~
The search for Ginny's maid of honor dress was hopeless. There was not one dress Ginny had liked or the clerk was willing to support. The annoyance of failure had annoyed the entire shopping crew and the time to get the men was welcomed by a mad dash out of the store.
"Thank goodness!" Hermione exclaimed happily whilst dancing across the street. "I was about to strangle every single one of them!" The other women followed her module and happily pranced down the street.
"I wonder what's going on with the men," Parvati asked thoughtfully. This had caused Carrie to raise her professional psychologist's analytical eyebrow, which in turned, cause Aurora to stop her skip and ponder as well. The question just led a chain reaction that ended with Hermione stopping and eyeing the rest suspiciously.
"Well?" the one month pregnant woman asked impatiently. The other ladies just shook their heads and continued toward the Leaky Cauldron with Hermione leading.
"Isn't moodiness supposed to come in a few more months?" Aurora asked Ginny in a small whisper, but casual enough to not cause any suspicions from Hermione.
"Not really. I think Fleur was quite erratic since she found out she was pregnant. Bill was certain that it was only due to her veela blood. But then in Penny's case, she was even tempered throughout most of her pregnancy," Ginny observed. "We all know Hermione is strange. Ron had warned us of that. I think he took a few second before the Christmas dinner to tell us to not push any of Hermione's buttons or she'll blow up on us." Aurora nodded. It was definitely a good thing she proposed the matchmaking plan before Hermione got too annoyed.
The walk to Leaky Cauldron was breezy. No one stopped to look at the shop windows in case Hermione got to be quite edgy again. However, the awareness was heightened to new levels when Mike ran out side giggling at abnormally high pitches. Mike's appearance was followed by Draco Malfoy helping Harry Potter steady himself.
"What happened?" Hermione asked taking the authoritative position Aurora usually held when dealing with the three hoodlums. Neither answered, the only response from the group was Mike's high-pitched squeals of delight.
"I can't believe it," Aurora murmured. "What did he order?" she asked turning to Draco and Harry.
"Eggs sunny side up, some bacon, I believe a sausage," Draco answered.
"And also orange juice!" Harry added. The comment was followed by a pink steam appearing near Harry's face, which made the man sneeze so hard that he fell to the ground.
"Are you all right?" Ginny asked with a worried expression of her face. "What happened?" The colored gas was gone, but Harry's face was in an unhealthily shade of red.
"He should be fine. Mike had put this little curse on him when he got to be a bit hyper," Draco replied.
"Let me guess," Aurora answered narrowing her eyes. "You let him sprinkle the pepper on his eggs while drinking orange juice." Looks of horror donned on Ginny and Carrie's faces.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"He is allergic to the special combination of magically made orange juice and pepper. Normal homemade or muggle store bought orange juice doesn't affect him that way. No one really knows why he is allergic to just that combination," Carrie explained. The clarification of the situation gave Parvati a dubious expression. "The reaction is just insanity, not like killing a person, but more of a syndrome that like the epitome of Fred and George's pranking tactics."
"So how do we undo the curse?" Ginny asked. The caused Harry to blanche and another round of the irritating gas be around him while Draco Malfoy turned red. Mike on the other hand, although being restrained by Aurora, was giggling hysterically once again.
"He has to tell the truth, and only the truth for 5 times, according to Mike," Draco replied. "I think he has two more to go."
"A game of truth or dare," Aurora exclaimed with a devilish smile causing Harry to whimper with his curse's usual reaction. "Now Mr. Potter, do like our Miss Wealey?"
"Aurora!" Ginny shouted completely unnerved by the question. On one hand, Ginny's mind screamed that she wanted to know, but the other portion didn't want to hear rejection. The horrified look on Harry's face didn't contribute to Ginny's curious side. How was she supposed to compare to some of the other women Harry sees everyday?
"Well?" the rest of the group asked with equally evil tones.
"I like Ginny . . ." Harry began, but the pink smoke was erupting again. This made the young Weasley's heart sink. "Wait, not yet!" The smoke rescinded "I like Ginny a lot!" There was a small spew of the pink gas. It wasn't enough to make Harry sick, but it was enough for the gas to exasperatedly say, "Fine, we'll let that one pass."
"The next question," Aurora announced. "Who will ask this one?" In a normal situation, Ginny would have detected the scheming plan behind Aurora's body language, but when Harry had said, as she quotes, "I like Ginny a lot," her mind was quite giddy.
"So what were you going to ask Ginny?" Mike shrieked happily.
"That . . . that," Harry gulped. He took three deep breaths and began in a more confident voice. "Ginny, would you like to go out with me?" the condescending cloud of the curse was gone.
That had definitely brought Ginny out of her revelry. "What?!"
"I understand if you mean no," Harry answered in the equally confident voice. The only sign giving away his dismay was the absence of the sparkling, happy light usually in his playful green-eyes. Either fortunately or unfortunately, a camera shot interrupted Ginny.
"Oh damn!" Aurora cursed, immediately drawing her wand to summon the reporter as well as the camera. This caused Mike's restraining curse be weakened, and he was able to run free. This wasn't a good sign for Ginny was Mike wasn't too happy when his supposed happily ever after didn't come. The hyperactive youth – sort of, he was 17 and going on his last year at some Wizarding school in Switzerland – jumped at Ginny.
"Aw hell!" both Draco and Harry declared. It was right, hell was definitely being wrecked, and the hidden photographers decided Aurora wouldn't be able to take care of all of them at the same time, so they all decided to become visible. Mother is going to kill me, an irritate Draco thought.
~*~ finis for now ~*~
Omni's Bulletin:
Well . . . *looking over chapter* is it just me, did that seem pointless from the beginning to about four paragraphs before the end? Oh well. I can't bear to part with them. If you don't like it, tell me. If I get enough negative comments, I'll edit out the randomness. Oh it's 17 pages long; it's not your imagination.
I know I had said the press conference would be in this chapter, but considering what I have now, uh-uh, not possible. I'll get another chapter out as soon as possible. The soonest being Wednesday. But after next week, updates might go back to the one a week schedule as my writing course begins, combined with summer swim team, and darn summer school. Anyhow, was there enough H/G to make sure my living will not be cut short?
Off to Thanks:
Punkin: I know this might be too late, but good luck on all your finals! And my, so much projects! Good thing AP classes are all teaching for the test, so we don't get projects too often. It isn't a lot of fun, but at least I have some extra time. I am glad you like the little bit of fluff. I wanted to add more, but it seems I am fluff challenged, as you might have concluded after reading this chapter. ^^
Sara: Good! Another person pleased. ^^ So I guess there will be more fluff later on. Is it normal to blush while writing fluff? It was difficult to explain to my mother why I was red all of the sudden.
Aindel: Thank you for the lovely studying ideas! I used them, and I did great on all of my tests! Or at least I think I did . . . but that doesn't matter. School is over for me, as you have been reminded countless times in our chats. I would also like to thank you for getting rid of that writer's block. Hey everyone! If you need help getting rid of writer's blocks, talk to Aindel. There, my advertisment. ^^ Tell congratulations to your sister again. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY – very belated greeting. I'll finish the card soon. It seems I can't find pictures that's appropriate. They all seem so child-like – unless you like that. Let me know! Oh, the earthly character for the story, I take it was a needed quality? ^^
The Dragon Guardian of the Sea: Was it that surprising that they kissed? And who were they? Two couples did. Tell me!!!! I need to keep the characters in character ß sounded weird.
Ella-Wood: Thanks! You are part of the dozens of people who told me that I'll do fine. I should believe in you more since I did do fine! ^^
lil kawaii doom: So do you have any ideas on how to keep people like you connected, or get them connected to the story? If it isn't interesting, as in getting people's attention and curiosity, how should I make it so it would?
Rhiain: Oh no! Don't give up!!! *sniffle* I like reading your reviews . . . bah, I added a bit of Ginny and Harry in this chapter. You won't give up on me now, would you??
SailorChibi: Thank you! To tell you the truth, kissing and things like that make we squirmy. I dun like them! But that's just me, not the characters. My friends tend to make fun of me because I think those actions are just strange. *continues blushing*
Rosalind: Oh they'll get together. They better or my fingers will die. ^^
Goggle Boy: I am trying!!! *whines* See this chapter? I am making an effort.
Chapter 14 Reviews:
KeeperOfTheMoon: Guess this wasn't soon, right? Sorry, but it is long . . .
Female Fred: Good, same here! I need it to move on . . .
Punkin: Hello again. You get two notes!!! Sorry about the chapter being cut short before the press conference. I think I might dedicate a chapter on that, at least most of the chapter. After the new chaos, I think it'll be long. Don't worry, the proposition from Harry needs to be resolved, so yeah . . . more H/G. ^^
Aindel: Goody! You liked Sirius and Remus. I think they are making a show at the press conference. Maybe Sirius's job is to make sure the media doesn't slaughter his poor godson and his possible godson's girlfriend. ^^ Remus is probably just there to make sure Sirius doesn't cause too much trouble.
Liliana-Suger: Thank you! Tell me what you think of this one!
The Dragon Guardian of the Sea: Um, clueless about what? If it's a minor thing, it should be fine. ^^
Sunshine Stargirl: Thank you!
Silver Witch: Your back!!!!! Sorry, just a random bought of hyperness. ^^ Goody, I am curious about how I wrote this chapter. But I suppose I should be more nervous about the next one – I feel it might be fluffy . . . *grumble: can't write fluff*
Arkaynn: Does that mean I don't need to be fluffy? Wow! And thanks for the compliment!
Well, that was it! Hope everyone enjoyed this meaningless chapter. I am still not sure how and why I did that. Was it pointless? Or am I just over analyzing like I do to everything? Oh well.
Please review and let me know what you think. It gets difficult writing blindly. ^^ Toodles! (and bottom braces feel funny, and driving is scaring.)