Diagon Alley
Harry grabbed the cloak from the mysterious sender and put it on. It felt like soft silk enveloping him. He joined the others near the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley was telling them that they would be traveling by floo powder. "Since this is your last year at Hogwarts, me and your father have decided to let you go to Diagon Alley alone." She was wringing her hands as she spoke. "We know that you are growing up and need to spread your wings a bit, though I shudder when I think about it. Not a single turn down Knockturn Alley though!" She said, wagging her finger up and down at the young witches and wizards in front of her. Harry shuddered. He did not want to go to Knockturn Alley ever again. In his second year, he had used floo powder for the first time and ended up there. Needless to say, it had not been a pleasant experience for him and he had no wish to repeat the journey.
"You don't have to worry about that, Mrs. Weasley." Harry said with a shudder. Neville looked at him curiously and the others nodded in sympathy. They had heard all about the accidental trip from Harry himself. They knew that he had no wish to repeat it. Mrs. Weasley looked at him with such an expression, Harry blushed. She reached out and pulled him into a hug. "Oh Harry! Of course, I know you would never go down there! Now then," she said, gaining her composure once more, "Who is first? Ginny?" Ginny come up, grabbed some floo powder, and threw it into the fireplace. "Diagon Alley!" She screamed and she vanished with a burst of green flame.
"Harry?" She asked as he came up, grabbed his own handful and threw it where Ginny's flames had been previously. He hesitated for a moment, sucked in his breath, and walked into the emerald flames. He shouted "Diagon Alley!" and was gone in the next heartbeat. He spun around and around, surrounded by the green flames. He clutched his arms to his sides and pulled his elbows in so not to be hit by anything. It felt like he fell for forever until he saw Ginny on the other side. Unfortunately, she was too close to the grate. Harry tried to get her attention but it was too late.
"Ginny! Look out!" He cried. Ginny turned at the sound and her eyes grew large as Harry crashed on top of her. Both were knocked breathless. Just as Harry was about to get up and help Ginny to her feet, a cold, drawling voice came from above them. Harry groaned inwardly. The last thing he wanted was to have Malfoy catch him in this compromising position. "Well, well, if it isn't Potty and the littlest Weasel. Looks like its time to get a room of your own, isn't it Pansy dearest?" Harry and Ginny looked up and noticed that Pansy was indeed with Malfoy and his gang.
Harry got up and helped Ginny to her feet. He looked Malfoy in the eyes. Oh boy, this is going to be so good! Harry thought and took a relaxed stance and crossed his arms. "Is that so Malfoy? Well, if I were you, I would watch my girl a bit better than you obviously do. She is a bit of a flirt you know. Just ask anybody at school. Before you know it . . . right Pansy?" he said, a small grin playing at his lips. He didn't really know if it were true but he had heard about Pansy being 'easy' and wanted to rub some salt into Malfoy's wounds a bit.
It worked. Malfoy narrowed his eyes and looked at Pansy, nervously twirling a green quill she had picked up from a display and staring down so intently at it, you would have thought it was something rare. His face colored as he snatched the quill out of her hand, threw it back where it had been, grabbed her arm and drug her outside. Harry and Ginny exchanged bemused looks as the others came out of the grate. They burst out laughing much to the confusion to the rest of the group.
"It was so funny! Harry started talking dirt about his girl and he got all hot and bothered about it! That was priceless!" Ginny told the others as they walked out of Flourish and Blotts with their purchases. Ginny had explained the first part since she seen Harry's discomfort, then Harry filled them in on Malfoy. "Man, I wish I could have been there! You get to have all the fun Harry!" exclaimed Ron. Hermione didn't know what to think about it. It was kind of funny but it wasn't good to get Malfoy mad at them like that. It had been below the belt, so to speak, but it was hilarious. She started laughing. Harry and Ron raised their eyebrows but said nothing. Ginny started laughing too, telling Hermione the whole story again.
Neville just looked at Harry with longing in his eyes. He wished that he could be like Harry, so smart, so smart and so cool. Harry always come up with the right spell at the right time, or so it seemed to Neville. Harry always knew exactly what to say and what to do in any situation. Neville wished that he could be just like Harry.
Harry, at the same moment, was wondering what Malfoy was plotting to get him back for that little victory. No doubt something nasty to repay him. It had better not include Ginny or I will . . . wait! What am I thinking? Do I like Ginny? His mind reeled with the answer. What a laugh that is going to be! First she likes me and I reject her because she is Ron's sister and now that she is all grown up, I fall for her when I least expect it! I wonder what she would do if I asked her out? What a minute! Did I just say I was going to ask Ginny Weasley out? I think I am going crazy! I don't know what to do! Do I or don't I? His thoughts were going crazy, circling around each other. He bumped into Hermione and turned to her uncertainly.
"Hermione?" he said uncertainly, not knowing what to say. She came up to him, he wondering what to tell her now that he called her up. Oh, I am such an idiot! Why don't I think of these things before I go and do something so dumb? "Yeah Harry?" She asked as she came toward him. At least Ginny didn't come with her. That is a sigh of relief. "Um. . . you wouldn't do me a favor would you?" he asked nervously. Hermione nodded. "Sure."
"WillyoukeepGinnybusywhileItalktoRon?" he said in one breath and Hermione raised her eyebrow at him. "Do what? I didn't understand what you said. Talk a little slower, please." Harry sucked in his breath and slowed down, though nothing could stop his heart from beating so quickly. "Will you keep Ginny busy while I talk to Ron?" Her eyebrow went up further into her bushy hair. "Yeah, no problem. Good luck." It was Harry's turn to be surprised. "What?" he asked but she had disappeared. He looked behind him and seen that she was back with Ginny. They were already in deep conversation and Harry hoped that it wasn't about what he was about to ask Ron about. Not that he planned on that, but since he said it, he might as well do it. Hermione knew what was going on now; that wasn't avoidable. She wasn't the smartest witch in Hogwart's history for nothing.
"Ron, come on up here a minute." He said and Ron jogged up to him. "Um, Ron, what would you say if someone wanted to go out with Ginny?" Harry asked cautiously. "Well, it would be okay to me as long as it wasn't anyone that was dodgy like that Michael Comer." Ron said in disgust. Harry colored slightly. Ron noticed. "Now, if it was you who was asking, that would be really cool." Ron noticed that Harry's face was getting redder by the minute and guessed what was going on. He shouldered Harry and looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you asking for? You wouldn't be interested in her, now would you?" he asked in a whisper to Harry. Again, he colored. "Um, yeah, I might, that is. I wondered what you thought about it, that's all." He mumbled back. "Uh huh. Well then, why don't you ask her now? Hey Ginny!" he called.
What! No! You idiot! Why in the world did he do that for? Payback is definitely going to be hell for this, he thought as he saw Ginny coming. His eyes widened as Ginny walked up to him as Ron passed her going to Ginny and Neville to tell them what just happened. Slow down heart. Stop beating so fast. Here goes nothing. He sighed and looked at her. "Um, hi Ginny." He said nervously. "Hi Harry. Something wrong?" she asked him and he colored all the more. "No, nothing, just . . . do you want to grab some ice cream?" She looked a little startled but grinned at him. "Sure. Come on, lets go! Beat I can beat you there!" Ginny said and Harry couldn't help but laugh. Ginny was so refreshing, that couldn't be helped. He started to run toward Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
Harry grabbed the cloak from the mysterious sender and put it on. It felt like soft silk enveloping him. He joined the others near the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley was telling them that they would be traveling by floo powder. "Since this is your last year at Hogwarts, me and your father have decided to let you go to Diagon Alley alone." She was wringing her hands as she spoke. "We know that you are growing up and need to spread your wings a bit, though I shudder when I think about it. Not a single turn down Knockturn Alley though!" She said, wagging her finger up and down at the young witches and wizards in front of her. Harry shuddered. He did not want to go to Knockturn Alley ever again. In his second year, he had used floo powder for the first time and ended up there. Needless to say, it had not been a pleasant experience for him and he had no wish to repeat the journey.
"You don't have to worry about that, Mrs. Weasley." Harry said with a shudder. Neville looked at him curiously and the others nodded in sympathy. They had heard all about the accidental trip from Harry himself. They knew that he had no wish to repeat it. Mrs. Weasley looked at him with such an expression, Harry blushed. She reached out and pulled him into a hug. "Oh Harry! Of course, I know you would never go down there! Now then," she said, gaining her composure once more, "Who is first? Ginny?" Ginny come up, grabbed some floo powder, and threw it into the fireplace. "Diagon Alley!" She screamed and she vanished with a burst of green flame.
"Harry?" She asked as he came up, grabbed his own handful and threw it where Ginny's flames had been previously. He hesitated for a moment, sucked in his breath, and walked into the emerald flames. He shouted "Diagon Alley!" and was gone in the next heartbeat. He spun around and around, surrounded by the green flames. He clutched his arms to his sides and pulled his elbows in so not to be hit by anything. It felt like he fell for forever until he saw Ginny on the other side. Unfortunately, she was too close to the grate. Harry tried to get her attention but it was too late.
"Ginny! Look out!" He cried. Ginny turned at the sound and her eyes grew large as Harry crashed on top of her. Both were knocked breathless. Just as Harry was about to get up and help Ginny to her feet, a cold, drawling voice came from above them. Harry groaned inwardly. The last thing he wanted was to have Malfoy catch him in this compromising position. "Well, well, if it isn't Potty and the littlest Weasel. Looks like its time to get a room of your own, isn't it Pansy dearest?" Harry and Ginny looked up and noticed that Pansy was indeed with Malfoy and his gang.
Harry got up and helped Ginny to her feet. He looked Malfoy in the eyes. Oh boy, this is going to be so good! Harry thought and took a relaxed stance and crossed his arms. "Is that so Malfoy? Well, if I were you, I would watch my girl a bit better than you obviously do. She is a bit of a flirt you know. Just ask anybody at school. Before you know it . . . right Pansy?" he said, a small grin playing at his lips. He didn't really know if it were true but he had heard about Pansy being 'easy' and wanted to rub some salt into Malfoy's wounds a bit.
It worked. Malfoy narrowed his eyes and looked at Pansy, nervously twirling a green quill she had picked up from a display and staring down so intently at it, you would have thought it was something rare. His face colored as he snatched the quill out of her hand, threw it back where it had been, grabbed her arm and drug her outside. Harry and Ginny exchanged bemused looks as the others came out of the grate. They burst out laughing much to the confusion to the rest of the group.
"It was so funny! Harry started talking dirt about his girl and he got all hot and bothered about it! That was priceless!" Ginny told the others as they walked out of Flourish and Blotts with their purchases. Ginny had explained the first part since she seen Harry's discomfort, then Harry filled them in on Malfoy. "Man, I wish I could have been there! You get to have all the fun Harry!" exclaimed Ron. Hermione didn't know what to think about it. It was kind of funny but it wasn't good to get Malfoy mad at them like that. It had been below the belt, so to speak, but it was hilarious. She started laughing. Harry and Ron raised their eyebrows but said nothing. Ginny started laughing too, telling Hermione the whole story again.
Neville just looked at Harry with longing in his eyes. He wished that he could be like Harry, so smart, so smart and so cool. Harry always come up with the right spell at the right time, or so it seemed to Neville. Harry always knew exactly what to say and what to do in any situation. Neville wished that he could be just like Harry.
Harry, at the same moment, was wondering what Malfoy was plotting to get him back for that little victory. No doubt something nasty to repay him. It had better not include Ginny or I will . . . wait! What am I thinking? Do I like Ginny? His mind reeled with the answer. What a laugh that is going to be! First she likes me and I reject her because she is Ron's sister and now that she is all grown up, I fall for her when I least expect it! I wonder what she would do if I asked her out? What a minute! Did I just say I was going to ask Ginny Weasley out? I think I am going crazy! I don't know what to do! Do I or don't I? His thoughts were going crazy, circling around each other. He bumped into Hermione and turned to her uncertainly.
"Hermione?" he said uncertainly, not knowing what to say. She came up to him, he wondering what to tell her now that he called her up. Oh, I am such an idiot! Why don't I think of these things before I go and do something so dumb? "Yeah Harry?" She asked as she came toward him. At least Ginny didn't come with her. That is a sigh of relief. "Um. . . you wouldn't do me a favor would you?" he asked nervously. Hermione nodded. "Sure."
"WillyoukeepGinnybusywhileItalktoRon?" he said in one breath and Hermione raised her eyebrow at him. "Do what? I didn't understand what you said. Talk a little slower, please." Harry sucked in his breath and slowed down, though nothing could stop his heart from beating so quickly. "Will you keep Ginny busy while I talk to Ron?" Her eyebrow went up further into her bushy hair. "Yeah, no problem. Good luck." It was Harry's turn to be surprised. "What?" he asked but she had disappeared. He looked behind him and seen that she was back with Ginny. They were already in deep conversation and Harry hoped that it wasn't about what he was about to ask Ron about. Not that he planned on that, but since he said it, he might as well do it. Hermione knew what was going on now; that wasn't avoidable. She wasn't the smartest witch in Hogwart's history for nothing.
"Ron, come on up here a minute." He said and Ron jogged up to him. "Um, Ron, what would you say if someone wanted to go out with Ginny?" Harry asked cautiously. "Well, it would be okay to me as long as it wasn't anyone that was dodgy like that Michael Comer." Ron said in disgust. Harry colored slightly. Ron noticed. "Now, if it was you who was asking, that would be really cool." Ron noticed that Harry's face was getting redder by the minute and guessed what was going on. He shouldered Harry and looked at him suspiciously. "Why are you asking for? You wouldn't be interested in her, now would you?" he asked in a whisper to Harry. Again, he colored. "Um, yeah, I might, that is. I wondered what you thought about it, that's all." He mumbled back. "Uh huh. Well then, why don't you ask her now? Hey Ginny!" he called.
What! No! You idiot! Why in the world did he do that for? Payback is definitely going to be hell for this, he thought as he saw Ginny coming. His eyes widened as Ginny walked up to him as Ron passed her going to Ginny and Neville to tell them what just happened. Slow down heart. Stop beating so fast. Here goes nothing. He sighed and looked at her. "Um, hi Ginny." He said nervously. "Hi Harry. Something wrong?" she asked him and he colored all the more. "No, nothing, just . . . do you want to grab some ice cream?" She looked a little startled but grinned at him. "Sure. Come on, lets go! Beat I can beat you there!" Ginny said and Harry couldn't help but laugh. Ginny was so refreshing, that couldn't be helped. He started to run toward Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.