A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates! I started classes, but I'm still into this story! No need to worry!

Disclaimer: None of the terms or characters that appear in any literature authored by J.K. Rowling belongs to me. They rightfully belong to J.K. Rowling. Any other allusions mentioned on this page do not belong to me either.

Chapter 24

Ginny arrived in the experimental/storage area of the shop. She was somewhat lightheaded, but she didn't pay much notice since she was used to it. Hermione arrived half a minute later, twice as sooty as Ginny.

"Can I just sit down for a second?" said Hermione, trying to regain her breathe. Ginny looked around. She had never been in the back of the store before. There were crates of their usual products like Canary Creams and Skiving Snackboxes, but there were also many corked glass potion bottles. She saw what looked like a fish tank, only it was full of honey bees.

"I see that you arrived safely!" said Fred, wearing a long white coat and goggles.

"Yeah," said Ginny, "what's with the bees?"

Hermione cut Fred off before he could speak. "That's a bee chamber," she said.

"Oh," said Ginny, trying to understand, "what is it for?"

"We're not really using it for anything. The Ministry of Magic is just paying us to keep it here," Fred answered. Ginny was still puzzled, and Hermione opened her mouth, only this time to get cut off by Fred. "When you get stung, do you ever wonder where the bee goes?" he asked and Ginny shrugged. "They appear in a bee chamber to regain their strength."

"Muggles think that the bee dies when it stings someone," said Hermione.

Fred chuckled and shook his head. "Muggles."

"You're going to learn about it in Care of the Magical Creatures this year, Ginny. I already knew they were magical creatures before that class from reading about it in--" Hermione said, but George walked into the room wearing a coat identical to Fred's.

"Oh, you two made it! Welcome! Do you want to see our new line of Headless Hats?" he asked. The two girls followed him through a door into the main shopping area. Ginny saw a shelf that had a sign that said 'Fashions by Fred'.

"I thought you both came up with the Headless Hat idea," she said.

"We did, but Fred designed them. They disappear once you wear them, but we're trying to get people to buy," George explained opening a bottle of butterbeer. Ginny picked up a furry orange hat, and examined it. "We're also working on footless socks!"

"I need to stop by Gringotts, if that's okay, with you, Ginny?" Hermione said, heading for the exit.

"Sure, go ahead," Ginny said, not paying much attention as she picked up and observed a puke green ten-gallon hat. She laughed and thought, I'm definitely not getting Harry one of these.

"Oh, that one if a costumer favorite. It also comes in vermillion and robin's egg blue!" George said, waving his wand and having several more hats appear on the shelf.

"Oh, really," Ginny replied with unresponsiveness. "Would it be alright if I shopped around the other stores? I'm looking for a present for You-Know-Who," she said with a wink and then realized that she put it the wrong way when George spurted out his last sip of butterbeer. "I mean, the other one! The one with--" she stopped and looked around the shop to see how many people were in there and then whispered, "the glasses."

George gave her a comprehending nod and said, "Oh, that's alright with me, but remember that tomorrow is the big Living Limbs sale!"

Ginny gave him an appreciative smile and left the shop. She stopped at the Sickle Store, and found nothing except for a toy mouse for Lola. She went to several other stores and anything that she found suitable for Harry was either something he already owned or unaffordable. By the time she was leaving Flourish and Botts, she was peeved until she saw Hermione walk through the door.

"Hi!" Hermione greeted. "Did you find anything?" she asked, but found Ginny's disappointed expression as a fitting answer.

"We should have gone to Hogsmeade!" Ginny said.

            "You know it would be really tough to get to," Hermione said, "but you can always make something."

            "Like what? I'm a bad cook. Remember last year at Sirius's house when all the eggs hatched before I could make breakfast for everyone?"

            "That was the twins' fault; you know that, Gin," Hermione responded and a large book covered in tree's bark caught her eye.

            "True, but that's what's keeping me from ever doing it again!" Ginny said, and followed Hermione over to the book that was titled, Predetermined Study of the Magical Woodlands of Europe.

            "You don't have to cook something," said Hermione as she examined the book. "You should learn to be a little more crafty."

            "What do you mean?"

            "You can make him a coffee mug or a badge. Something of that sort," Hermione explained, flipping through pages. "I'm going to get this. Are you sure you didn't find anything?" Ginny shook her head in response. "Okay, then." Hermione purchased the book, and the two headed towards The Three Broomsticks for ice cream.