A/N: Well, here's the next chapter! And this gets some special thanks with it too… to my muses, and one in particular… Lizawan! If it wasn't for Lizzie, there would be no "tart" scene, and that is easily the funniest part… SO, here you go and enjoy!
Chapter 5: Girls' Day Out… Almost
"Melissa Lupin! If you don't get down here this very minute, we're not going at all!" Jem shouted up the stairs at her daughter who, as usual, was running late.
"I'm coming, mom, I'm coming!" Mel yelled, rushing down the flight of stairs and coming to a screeching halt in front of the fireplace. "Floo powder, please!" she said, smiling her sweetest, most innocent smile.
Jem laughed and shook her head. "Alright, let's go. We're supposed to meet Lily and Hermione in a few minutes… since, after all, it is time for you to learn about the most important day of the year. Girls' Day Out. Lily and I used to always get together with some of the other girls to-"
"Mom," Mel whined. "I know, but if we don't go, we're going to be late!"
It took a while, but eventually Mel, her mother, Lily, and Hermione were making their way down the bright and sunny cobblestone street that was Diagon Alley. While definitely a change from the types of places she was used to shopping, Mel felt a certain affinity for the quaint old shops that the hidden street revealed. After a lengthy visit to Gringotts Bank (they did have several vaults to visit, after all), the four wandered quite happily through the various shops and cafés.
Lily and Jem recalled stories from their Hogwarts shopping days for Mel and Hermione, who gasped and giggled in all of the right places. Hermione stocked up on everything she could possibly need while away at Oxford, despite the fact that (as she told them all) Ron thought she was insane for doing so. "Really, Mione," he had said, "What's the point? You could always just apparate there if you need the stuff…" There are some things that boys just don't understand, they all agreed, rolling their eyes as they pulled on various robes and accessories in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, all the while laughing at and complimenting each other. Well, everyone except for Mel that is.
Mel's attention was on the person who had just come in through the door of the shop, arms filled with various packages. Her face lit up, a huge grin taking shape. "Gin!" she shouted gleefully.
Ginny suddenly looked up and smiled at the younger girl who was making her way over to her. "Well, hello there, Dot!" Mel gave her a big hug, nearly causing her to lose her grasp of everything she was carrying. Ginny nodded toward the back of the shop as she greeted her brother's girlfriend, "Hermione! What are you all doing here?" She asked, suddenly realizing that Jem was there along with… Oh, God, Ginny thought, plastering a grin on her face. "Lily."
Mel was bouncing up and down in excitement. "Mom and Aunt Lil and Hermione and me are celebrating the reinstatement of Girls' Day Out!" Mel said importantly. Her animated demeanor quickly faded into one of puzzlement though as she looked from her shopping companions to Ginny.
Ginny failed to notice the change in Mel though, her gaze caught on Lily, leaving her feeling like a deer caught in headlights, to borrow a muggle expression. Lily was looking at her with that smile again, her eyebrows slightly raised almost as if in question, her very essence oozing her silent dare to Ginny. Go on, I dare you to ask why you weren't invited. Just try it. Involuntary chills passed down Ginny's spine, and she forced her eyes back onto the confused child standing before her.
"Is Ron with you?" Hermione asked hopefully, breaking the silence and, once again, calling Ginny's attention away from Mel.
"What?" Ginny asked numbly.
"Who are you here with?" Hermione asked.
"No – Just some… some friends," Ginny lamely answered.
"Why didn't you come shopping with us?" Mel chimed in.
Ginny's eyes instantly flew to Lily and then down to the floor. Even a split-second glimpse at Harry's mother allowed her to see the look of triumph that had settled on the usually kind and caring face. "I… that is… well, I just-" She was suddenly interrupted by the store door opening again, this time a young man walking inside.
"Aren't you finished yet, Ginny? I thought we were going to get some lunch before leaving." He then looked around, smiling at the other women in the shop, pausing momentarily on Lily who was giving him and Ginny an incredulous look, before moving on to a former classmate. "Hermione! Hi! How are you?"
Hermione smiled warmly. "I'm fine, Colin, thanks. Looking forward to your last year of school?"
"Oh, you know," he shrugged, turning back to Ginny. "You coming?" She nodded mutely, and waved her goodbyes as she walked out of the door he held open for her. "Enjoy the rest of your shopping!" he grinned.
"Bye, Gin! See you on the Hogwarts Express!" Mel called as the door closed behind them. Once Ginny and Colin were gone, she then turned back to everyone else smiling broadly. "Don't you just love her?"
After the incident in Madam Malkin's, Jem decided that perhaps everyone had had enough shopping for the day. She hated to admit it, but seeing this side of Lily made her a bit uncomfortable as she had felt the wrath of her friend years before, when she left them all behind her. Jem knew that Lily still hadn't truly forgiven her for all of the pain and grief she had caused when she finally found out the truth about Remus, but Lily has, for her part, been making a very strong effort to move past it all and recall the days of their fun-filled youth.
"Jem, do you mind if I use the fire for a minute?" Lily asked.
"Not at all," Jem replied. "I'll just put these things away. Quite an eventful day we had, eh, Lil? Just like old times…" Lily smiled, and Jem knew that it was forced. Without saying another word, Jem went upstairs with the countless packages and carrier bags while Lily headed straight for the fireplace in the den, away from (or so she thought) the watchful eyes of anyone else who might be nearby.
Lily threw some powder into the fire, and muttered something that Mel couldn't hear from her hiding place behind the bookcase. All of a sudden though, she could see the familiar head of Ron Weasley spinning into view in the middle of the dancing flames.
"Hello, Ron," Lily said tiredly. "Is my son around?"
"Sure, Lily... One sec," Ron smiled. "Oy, Harry! It's your mum!" Mel could hear him calling.
"Hi, mum. Have fun shopping?" Harry asked lightheartedly.
Lily gave a bit of a smirk. "For the most part," she began, "but there was something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Alright. What's up? Don't have much time though; I'm supposed to meet Virginia for din-"
"Perhaps that's not the best idea, Harry."
"What do you mean?"
"We ran into your dear Virginia while we were shopping today… and she wasn't alone."
"Yeah?" Harry responded, looking very puzzled.
"Do you really think it's wise to be attached to someone who is still in school?" Lily asked, rather sternly in Mel's opinion.
"Excuse me?"
"Perhaps it would be better to give it some time," Lily suggested. "She's going to break your heart, Harry. Still having a year at Hogwarts… with you nowhere around. God only knows what she does behind your-"
"Mum! What are you talking about? Ginny would never-"
"Oh really? You think you know her so well?"
"I do."
"Well, the little tart was in Diagon Alley today with someone else, a young man. They seemed rather close."
Harry snickered, momentarily overlooking what Lily had called his girlfriend. "You mean Colin?" Lily was somewhat taken aback, and Mel could sense that Harry's reaction had thrown her a bit. Judging by Harry's next comment, it was obvious that he could sense it too. "Mother, please. I know that they went there together. She needed to go shopping for school, and as some people didn't see fit to invite her to go with them," he said icily, "I was supposed to go, but had to do some work so I cancelled, suggesting that she and Colin go instead. He's one of our good friends from school!"
"But-" Lily protested.
"No, mum. I'm sorry, but I really don't see how my love life is any of your business. I think I can handle it, and know that I trust Virginia with my whole heart."
"I really don't think-"
"No, you don't. Not in this case. I'll see you and dad tomorrow for lunch. Bye." And then, without waiting for a response, the fire went dark.
Lily sighed deeply, still staring into the now dark hearth. "I don't care what you say, Harry," she said to herself. "That girl is nowhere near good enough for you, and I will make you see sense. You deserve so much better…"
LilWolfie: I dunno, I just don't get it
bckstrt11: what?
LilWolfie: how anyone could hate Gin as much as Aunt Lil seems to. I mean it, like really! Gin is the greatest ever, and Lily TOTALLY hates her.
bckstrt11: who is Gin again?
LilWolfie: I TOLD you. She's Harry's girlfriend… really cool. gonna be a 7th year at Hogwarts… she's practically like my big sister!
bckstrt11: that really sux
LilWolfie: no kidding! check this out… you know what I told you about yesterday, right?
bckstrt11: yeah…?
LilWolfie: well, today, Harry came over, right? And like he went out to lunch with Lily & james (his parents, duh) and afterwards, came right here to talk to dad…
"Remus?" Harry called. "Are you home?"
"We're in here," came the answer. Harry quickly made his way through the living and dining rooms and into the kitchen where he found Remus sitting with Mel having some tea. "Something troubling you, Harry?"
"My mother is insane." Mel tried her best to hide a snicker as Harry pulled out a chair and sat down with them. "You will not believe what she said to me!"
"Alright, I'll bite," Remus said. "What happened?"
"You like Virginia, right?"
"Of course. Ginny is a wonderful person."
"Exactly! I know you agree, Mel," Harry added, looking at the young girl who nodded in response. "So why is it that my mum hates her with such a passion?" Remus knew better than to answer that question, as it was obvious that Harry wished to continue before receiving any sort of feedback. "Well, yesterday Mum called me through the fire, you know, and she had the gall to accuse Ginny of cheating on me! And then, THEN," Harry was fuming now, "that's not even the worst of it! She actually called Ginny a 'tart!' A TART! Can you believe that?"
"Why would she say that?"
"When they were out yesterday, Ginny went shopping too… only she went with Colin."
"Creevy?"
"Exactly. And I knew, so it wasn't a big deal. They're friends, and I completely trust her."
"So then what happened today?" Remus asked.
Harry took a deep breath and Mel noticed his fists were nearly white. "Well, I went to lunch with mum and dad. And things were pretty ok, I guess, until dad asked how my date went with Virginia and suddenly mum just stopped talking all-together. So things were a bit off for a bit, and then dessert came around.
"I really am sick and tired of her not giving Ginny a chance, and I know that this was immature of me, but still… I didn't comment on it yesterday, and it has really been bothering me."
"What did you do?" Remus asked, concern evident in his voice.
"I asked her what she wanted for dessert. I asked if she'd like a strawberry tart, or maybe a chocolate tart." He paused as Remus stifled a chuckle. "And then she answered, 'No thanks, I really don't care for red tarts. A brune- I mean chocolate tart however sounds much more promising.'
"Meanwhile, dad is sitting there, pretty much clueless and says 'I love strawberry tarts.'" Remus couldn't hold it in anymore. He burst out laughing. "Yeah, that's just what I did too. Just beamed at mum, thanked them both for a lovely lunch, and left."
bckstrt11: OMG! what did your dad say????
LilWolfie: ntohing really… just said that Lily is like that and she'll eventually come around… I dunno… I left to come up here and see if you are online! heheheh
LilWolfie: *nothing
bckstrt11: well, mel, that's nice and all, btu next time, wait and get the whole scoop!
LilWolfie: LOL i know, i know. Anyway, I should prolly go… it's getting kinda late here.
Bckstrt11: okay, well, I will talk to you soon! Luv ya!
LilWolfie: Love you too!
A/N: yay lizzie!!! What did you guys think? Let me know! *big grin*