Chapter 5: Birthday presents and a trip to Diagon Alley
The next few days passed quickly, with the group playing Quidditch (Hermione watching, her nose in a book), and the forced studying by Hermione. With a week to go until Harry's birthday, Ron and Hermione were looking for a way to keep him occupied while they went with Bill to Diagon Alley.
"Ginny, could you find a way to keep Harry away from the house so that we can go to Diagon Alley with Bill?" Ron asked her. "I wouldn't ask, but we need to go and get his birthday presents."
"I already have plans with Charlie and Harry today," she told them. "Charlie is taking us into muggle London so that Harry can buy some new clothes. He's says that he's tired of wearing Dudley's hand me downs." She smiled at her brother, and Hermione grinned at her and winked. "Charlie even said that he would distract Harry long enough for me to buy his birthday present while we are there, or when we get to Diagon Alley for ice cream."
Ron let out a sigh of relief. "Well, Hermione, we don't have to worry about Harry missing us. We can get his birthday gifts without having to hide them from him," Ron said. He looked over at Ginny. "I know that you're going with Charlie, but be careful. I don't want to see anything happen to my baby sister."
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Ron, I'm going with Charlie and Harry. Are there any two other wizards that I could be safer with?" she asked. "I mean really, he is Harry Potter, the one who defeated You-know-who, and your best friend," she said laughing. "At least that's what everyone thinks. You know that none of them know him or they would say that it's just Harry. He's a great wizard and all, but he's just a normal person."
Hermione laughed, "That's just what he wants, people to see him for what he is, instead of the boy who lived." She put her arm around Ron. "Kind of like Ron here, he's nothing like the rest of your brothers," she told Ginny. "If he was, he wouldn't be my best friend. Can you imagine me with Fred or George as my best friend?" she said, shuddering at the thought.
"You would have pulled out all of your hair by now," Ginny told her. "They drive people crazy."
Bill walked into the living room, "Are the two of you ready to go?" he asked, looking at Ron and Hermione.
"All ready and Ginny is going into muggle London with Charlie and Harry, then to Diagon Alley to get ice cream," Ron told Bill.
Bill looked over at Ginny, "Maybe we can meet them for ice cream," he told them. "Ginny, Harry and Charlie are waiting in the yard for you. Dumbledore gave Charlie a portkey to take the three of you. He doesn't want Harry going by floo, and he also provided emergency portkeys for all six of us in case of an emergency." He handed Ron and Hermione each a pin that looked like the Gryffindor lion, it exactly matched the one on his robes. "All you have to do is press it's nose in twice and it will transport you back here," he explained. "Charlie has yours Ginny, you had better get going."
Ginny walked over and kissed Bill on the cheek. "I'll see you guys later," she told them as she ran into the kitchen and out the back door.
Charlie and Harry were standing in the garden, whispering to each other and looking toward the door that Ginny had just come out of. When she got close, they stopped talking. "Ready to go, Ginny?" Charlie asked. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lion pin and handed it to her. "This is your emergency portkey.."
"All I have to do is press the lion's nose twice if there is any trouble and it will transport me back here," she said, laughing at their shocked faces. "I saw Bill in the house and he was explaining to Ron and Hermione."
"Good, then I don't have to tell you that at the first sign of trouble, you and Harry are to activate them and get back here," he said, pinning his own lion on his muggle shirt. "Are we ready to go?"
"Yes," Ginny answered. "Yes," Harry said.
Charlie smiled, "Good, then grab onto this book, and we'll be on our way." He motioned to the book lying on the ground between himself and Harry. They all reached down and touched the volume, and disappeared.
They appeared again in the leaky cauldron, ready to head out to muggle London.
***************
Ron, Hermione, and Bill walked through Diagon Alley looking into windows, searching for Harry's birthday gifts.
"Maybe we should get him a book," Hermione said, turning toward Flourish and Blotts.
Ron looked at her and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, Hermione, maybe we should go see if we can find a book called, How to defeat a Dark Lord in Ten easy steps," he said, laughing.
Bill looked over at the two of them and shook his head.
"If there was a book like that, Ron, I'm sure that Dumbledore would have already given it to him," she stopped, staring over at one of the shops. "Bill, do you mind if Ron and I go into that store over there? We might be able to find something in there for Harry," she said, looking at the oldest Weasley imploringly.
"Sure, I'll just wait outside. I already have Harry's gift, Charlie and I went in together and got him something really nice," he told them. He walked over and leaned against the front of the building.
Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and lead him into the store.
"Why are we coming in here Hermione?" he asked, looking around at the strange things in the small shop.
She walked over to a shelf that held necklaces and rings. "Because this jewelry helps the wearer to find his or her soul mate," she told him.
"You mean that it tells the future?" Ron asked, skeptical.
Hermione shook her head, "No it's charmed to make the wearer feel warm when their soul mate is near them," she said. "I read about them in a book my parents got for me. It's called magical jewelry and it was a very informative book," she said, picking up the nearest ring.
"You can get him something like that, but I think that I'm going to get him something from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Maybe a new pair of gloves or something like that," he told her.
Hermione searched the shelf until she found what she was looking for, a small pendant shaped like a stag, with small green stones for eyes. "Alright," she said. "I'll just pay for this and we'll go over to get your gift." She walked over to the counter and handed the necklace to the grey haired wizard behind the counter.
"Ah, a lovely choice," the wizard said to her. "Is this for you?" he asked.
"No, it's a gift for a friend," she stated.
He put the necklace in a small box, "Would you like it gift wrapped?"
"Yes please, in red and gold if you can," she answered. The man waved his wand and the gift was quickly wrapped in red and gold paper.
"That will be six galleons, two sickles and ten knuts," he said, handing her the gift wrapped box.
She opened a small bag at her waist, counted out the correct amount and handed it to the wizard.
"Are you ready Hermione?" Ron asked, looking across the street to Quality Quidditch Supplies. "I need time to find his gift."
Hermione walked over to Ron and patted him on the shoulder, "I'm finished," she told him. They walked out of the shop and across the street to Quality Quidditch Supplies, with Bill following close behind.
*********************
Ginny, Charlie and Harry stepped out of the leaky cauldron and onto the street in muggle London. "Where do you need to go?" Charlie asked.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "It doesn't matter, as long as I can get clothes that fit, and some new trainers," he told them. Charlie nodded his head and headed off, with Harry and Ginny close behind him. They walked for a few minutes and Charlie turned toward a shop.
"Would here be okay? They carry muggle clothes and trainers," he said, gesturing toward the door.
"That's fine, the quicker we get done here, the quicker we can get to Diagon Alley and Ginny and I can pick out Hermione's birthday present," he told Charlie. "It's hard to shop from school, so I figured that I would get her gift early."
"Well then, we'll head into this shop and then to Diagon Alley," Charlie told them, holding the door open for them.
**************************
Harry, Ginny, and Charlie came out of the shop with several bags and Harry's money bag much lighter. They quickly walked back to the leaky cauldron and headed out into Diagon Alley.
"Where to first?" Charlie asked them, scanning the crowds for trouble.
Ginny looked at the shops around them, "Well, with Hermione a book is always a good gift," she said, pointing to Flourish and Blotts.
"I just wouldn't know what book to get for her, she's read so many," Harry answered.
Charlie looked around again, "Well, why don't you leave the book for a last choice. There are several other stores that you could look in first." He started walking toward one of the shops.
They wandered around Diagon Alley for about half an hour before they came to the shop that Hermione and Ron had been in earlier. Harry and Ginny went inside while Charlie stayed outside the door, watching for trouble.
"Harry, look at these necklaces and rings," Ginny said, picking up one of the necklaces. "It's a unicorn, isn't it beautiful?" she asked, showing the pendant to Harry.
Harry reached over and touched the unicorn with his finger, "It fits you Ginny, would you let me buy it for you?" he asked, blushing. "I mean, I didn't get you a gift for your birthday last year, you could call it a late birthday gift."
Ginny blushed bright red, "You don't have to get it for me, Harry," she said, putting the necklace back on the shelf.
"I know I don't have to, I want to," he said. He walked over to the shelf, picked up the necklace and went up to the wizard behind the counter.
"Ah, a wonderful piece, quite beautiful," he said to Harry. "Is it for your girlfriend?" he asked, gesturing toward Ginny.
Harry looked over at Ginny, "She's my friend, but not my girlfriend, and yes it's for her," he told him. "I don't need it gift wrapped, she's going to wear it."
"This one is unique, the eyes are sapphires, and most just have colored stones. I believe that this necklace is the only one that I have that has sapphires," he told Harry. He leaned over and whispered in Harry's ear, "If you are buying this for a friend, your girlfriend must be a very happy young witch," he winked at Harry and put the necklace back in his hand.
Harry just looked back at Ginny, who was walking around the shop looking at the many figurines and small pieces of jewelry. "How much will it be?" Harry asked quietly, not wanting Ginny to overhear.
"Twenty seven galleons, four sickles, and twenty four knuts," the man told him.
Harry took out his money bag, handed the man the money, and turned toward Ginny. "Come here Gin, I'll help you put it on."
Ginny turned around and walked toward Harry. She lifted her hair and allowed him to clasp the necklace. "Thank you Harry, it's beautiful," she told him.
Charlie was watching the two in the store with a smile on his face. They came out of the store and headed toward Flourish and Blotts to get Hermione a book. Twenty minutes later, they came out with a gift wrapped package.
"Are you ready to meet Ron, Hermione and Bill?" Charlie asked, walking toward Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
"I'm finished," Harry told them. "I'll owl order Ron's gift, I have until the end of April to decide what to get him."
Ginny was following a few steps behind. Harry and Charlie were searching the crowd at the ice cream parlor for the red hair of Ron and Bill when Ginny screamed.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait and the Cliffhanger. I promise that I will try to get the next chapter up by Tuesday. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome, either here or at my e-mail address.
I want to thank the people who have reviewed, they are the reason that I continue this story.
Hermionegreen, SlytherinSlayer, GnomishKrunchies, aniangel, Layce74, athenakitty, and Katani Petitedra. I hope that I haven't missed anyone, if I have I am sorry.
The next few days passed quickly, with the group playing Quidditch (Hermione watching, her nose in a book), and the forced studying by Hermione. With a week to go until Harry's birthday, Ron and Hermione were looking for a way to keep him occupied while they went with Bill to Diagon Alley.
"Ginny, could you find a way to keep Harry away from the house so that we can go to Diagon Alley with Bill?" Ron asked her. "I wouldn't ask, but we need to go and get his birthday presents."
"I already have plans with Charlie and Harry today," she told them. "Charlie is taking us into muggle London so that Harry can buy some new clothes. He's says that he's tired of wearing Dudley's hand me downs." She smiled at her brother, and Hermione grinned at her and winked. "Charlie even said that he would distract Harry long enough for me to buy his birthday present while we are there, or when we get to Diagon Alley for ice cream."
Ron let out a sigh of relief. "Well, Hermione, we don't have to worry about Harry missing us. We can get his birthday gifts without having to hide them from him," Ron said. He looked over at Ginny. "I know that you're going with Charlie, but be careful. I don't want to see anything happen to my baby sister."
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Ron, I'm going with Charlie and Harry. Are there any two other wizards that I could be safer with?" she asked. "I mean really, he is Harry Potter, the one who defeated You-know-who, and your best friend," she said laughing. "At least that's what everyone thinks. You know that none of them know him or they would say that it's just Harry. He's a great wizard and all, but he's just a normal person."
Hermione laughed, "That's just what he wants, people to see him for what he is, instead of the boy who lived." She put her arm around Ron. "Kind of like Ron here, he's nothing like the rest of your brothers," she told Ginny. "If he was, he wouldn't be my best friend. Can you imagine me with Fred or George as my best friend?" she said, shuddering at the thought.
"You would have pulled out all of your hair by now," Ginny told her. "They drive people crazy."
Bill walked into the living room, "Are the two of you ready to go?" he asked, looking at Ron and Hermione.
"All ready and Ginny is going into muggle London with Charlie and Harry, then to Diagon Alley to get ice cream," Ron told Bill.
Bill looked over at Ginny, "Maybe we can meet them for ice cream," he told them. "Ginny, Harry and Charlie are waiting in the yard for you. Dumbledore gave Charlie a portkey to take the three of you. He doesn't want Harry going by floo, and he also provided emergency portkeys for all six of us in case of an emergency." He handed Ron and Hermione each a pin that looked like the Gryffindor lion, it exactly matched the one on his robes. "All you have to do is press it's nose in twice and it will transport you back here," he explained. "Charlie has yours Ginny, you had better get going."
Ginny walked over and kissed Bill on the cheek. "I'll see you guys later," she told them as she ran into the kitchen and out the back door.
Charlie and Harry were standing in the garden, whispering to each other and looking toward the door that Ginny had just come out of. When she got close, they stopped talking. "Ready to go, Ginny?" Charlie asked. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lion pin and handed it to her. "This is your emergency portkey.."
"All I have to do is press the lion's nose twice if there is any trouble and it will transport me back here," she said, laughing at their shocked faces. "I saw Bill in the house and he was explaining to Ron and Hermione."
"Good, then I don't have to tell you that at the first sign of trouble, you and Harry are to activate them and get back here," he said, pinning his own lion on his muggle shirt. "Are we ready to go?"
"Yes," Ginny answered. "Yes," Harry said.
Charlie smiled, "Good, then grab onto this book, and we'll be on our way." He motioned to the book lying on the ground between himself and Harry. They all reached down and touched the volume, and disappeared.
They appeared again in the leaky cauldron, ready to head out to muggle London.
***************
Ron, Hermione, and Bill walked through Diagon Alley looking into windows, searching for Harry's birthday gifts.
"Maybe we should get him a book," Hermione said, turning toward Flourish and Blotts.
Ron looked at her and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, Hermione, maybe we should go see if we can find a book called, How to defeat a Dark Lord in Ten easy steps," he said, laughing.
Bill looked over at the two of them and shook his head.
"If there was a book like that, Ron, I'm sure that Dumbledore would have already given it to him," she stopped, staring over at one of the shops. "Bill, do you mind if Ron and I go into that store over there? We might be able to find something in there for Harry," she said, looking at the oldest Weasley imploringly.
"Sure, I'll just wait outside. I already have Harry's gift, Charlie and I went in together and got him something really nice," he told them. He walked over and leaned against the front of the building.
Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and lead him into the store.
"Why are we coming in here Hermione?" he asked, looking around at the strange things in the small shop.
She walked over to a shelf that held necklaces and rings. "Because this jewelry helps the wearer to find his or her soul mate," she told him.
"You mean that it tells the future?" Ron asked, skeptical.
Hermione shook her head, "No it's charmed to make the wearer feel warm when their soul mate is near them," she said. "I read about them in a book my parents got for me. It's called magical jewelry and it was a very informative book," she said, picking up the nearest ring.
"You can get him something like that, but I think that I'm going to get him something from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Maybe a new pair of gloves or something like that," he told her.
Hermione searched the shelf until she found what she was looking for, a small pendant shaped like a stag, with small green stones for eyes. "Alright," she said. "I'll just pay for this and we'll go over to get your gift." She walked over to the counter and handed the necklace to the grey haired wizard behind the counter.
"Ah, a lovely choice," the wizard said to her. "Is this for you?" he asked.
"No, it's a gift for a friend," she stated.
He put the necklace in a small box, "Would you like it gift wrapped?"
"Yes please, in red and gold if you can," she answered. The man waved his wand and the gift was quickly wrapped in red and gold paper.
"That will be six galleons, two sickles and ten knuts," he said, handing her the gift wrapped box.
She opened a small bag at her waist, counted out the correct amount and handed it to the wizard.
"Are you ready Hermione?" Ron asked, looking across the street to Quality Quidditch Supplies. "I need time to find his gift."
Hermione walked over to Ron and patted him on the shoulder, "I'm finished," she told him. They walked out of the shop and across the street to Quality Quidditch Supplies, with Bill following close behind.
*********************
Ginny, Charlie and Harry stepped out of the leaky cauldron and onto the street in muggle London. "Where do you need to go?" Charlie asked.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "It doesn't matter, as long as I can get clothes that fit, and some new trainers," he told them. Charlie nodded his head and headed off, with Harry and Ginny close behind him. They walked for a few minutes and Charlie turned toward a shop.
"Would here be okay? They carry muggle clothes and trainers," he said, gesturing toward the door.
"That's fine, the quicker we get done here, the quicker we can get to Diagon Alley and Ginny and I can pick out Hermione's birthday present," he told Charlie. "It's hard to shop from school, so I figured that I would get her gift early."
"Well then, we'll head into this shop and then to Diagon Alley," Charlie told them, holding the door open for them.
**************************
Harry, Ginny, and Charlie came out of the shop with several bags and Harry's money bag much lighter. They quickly walked back to the leaky cauldron and headed out into Diagon Alley.
"Where to first?" Charlie asked them, scanning the crowds for trouble.
Ginny looked at the shops around them, "Well, with Hermione a book is always a good gift," she said, pointing to Flourish and Blotts.
"I just wouldn't know what book to get for her, she's read so many," Harry answered.
Charlie looked around again, "Well, why don't you leave the book for a last choice. There are several other stores that you could look in first." He started walking toward one of the shops.
They wandered around Diagon Alley for about half an hour before they came to the shop that Hermione and Ron had been in earlier. Harry and Ginny went inside while Charlie stayed outside the door, watching for trouble.
"Harry, look at these necklaces and rings," Ginny said, picking up one of the necklaces. "It's a unicorn, isn't it beautiful?" she asked, showing the pendant to Harry.
Harry reached over and touched the unicorn with his finger, "It fits you Ginny, would you let me buy it for you?" he asked, blushing. "I mean, I didn't get you a gift for your birthday last year, you could call it a late birthday gift."
Ginny blushed bright red, "You don't have to get it for me, Harry," she said, putting the necklace back on the shelf.
"I know I don't have to, I want to," he said. He walked over to the shelf, picked up the necklace and went up to the wizard behind the counter.
"Ah, a wonderful piece, quite beautiful," he said to Harry. "Is it for your girlfriend?" he asked, gesturing toward Ginny.
Harry looked over at Ginny, "She's my friend, but not my girlfriend, and yes it's for her," he told him. "I don't need it gift wrapped, she's going to wear it."
"This one is unique, the eyes are sapphires, and most just have colored stones. I believe that this necklace is the only one that I have that has sapphires," he told Harry. He leaned over and whispered in Harry's ear, "If you are buying this for a friend, your girlfriend must be a very happy young witch," he winked at Harry and put the necklace back in his hand.
Harry just looked back at Ginny, who was walking around the shop looking at the many figurines and small pieces of jewelry. "How much will it be?" Harry asked quietly, not wanting Ginny to overhear.
"Twenty seven galleons, four sickles, and twenty four knuts," the man told him.
Harry took out his money bag, handed the man the money, and turned toward Ginny. "Come here Gin, I'll help you put it on."
Ginny turned around and walked toward Harry. She lifted her hair and allowed him to clasp the necklace. "Thank you Harry, it's beautiful," she told him.
Charlie was watching the two in the store with a smile on his face. They came out of the store and headed toward Flourish and Blotts to get Hermione a book. Twenty minutes later, they came out with a gift wrapped package.
"Are you ready to meet Ron, Hermione and Bill?" Charlie asked, walking toward Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
"I'm finished," Harry told them. "I'll owl order Ron's gift, I have until the end of April to decide what to get him."
Ginny was following a few steps behind. Harry and Charlie were searching the crowd at the ice cream parlor for the red hair of Ron and Bill when Ginny screamed.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait and the Cliffhanger. I promise that I will try to get the next chapter up by Tuesday. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome, either here or at my e-mail address.
I want to thank the people who have reviewed, they are the reason that I continue this story.
Hermionegreen, SlytherinSlayer, GnomishKrunchies, aniangel, Layce74, athenakitty, and Katani Petitedra. I hope that I haven't missed anyone, if I have I am sorry.