Chapter Nine

The Encounter With His Lips

Ginny wasn't sure if she'd ever felt happier in her life. She was walking through Diagon Alley with the single-most handsome boy in the whole world, and he was hers for at least two hours. People were looking at them curiously. Ginny fancied to herself that it was because they were such a good looking couple, but likely it was because of Harry and his legendary scar. She didn't give the scar or the prophecy much thought these days. All of her thoughts focused on Harry himself.

"So..." Harry said, coming slowly to a stop and turning to look at Ginny. "What would you like to do now?"

Ginny smiled blissfully at him. "Anything you like."

"Uh..." Harry looked about him. "How about an ice-cream?"

"Sure!" Ginny agreed happily, following his lead and crossing the road to Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour.

Harry paid for their ice-creams, over Ginny's protesting, and found them a table to sit at near the back. The parlour was fairly crowded, as was to be expected during the last week of August. Ginny licked at her ice-cream, savouring the blueberry taste as it melted in her mouth. She looked up at Harry to discover him grinning at her.

"What?" Ginny asked through a mouthful of blueberry. She blushed.

"Nothing," Harry laughed. "Just think you look awfully cute with ice-cream on your nose!"

Ginny's blush spread further. "Oh, I don't!" She rubbed at her nose frantically, and to her horror, discovered a blob of ice-cream. "Oh," Ginny moaned dramatically. "How embarrassing!"

"Nah," Harry said, licking at his chocolate cone. "Awfully adorable, Gin."

"Am not," Ginny pouted. Harry laughed.

"Whatever you reckon, Ginny."

Ginny stole a peek at Harry as he ate. She sighed softly to herself, loving the way the sunshine glinted in his hair, and the way his eyes crinkled in the corners when he laughed, and the way he automatically adjusted his glasses without even thinking about it, and... ah, just everything.

"Have I got some on my nose too?" Harry asked amusedly, watching Ginny study his face.

"Oh... no, no," Ginny said hastily, turning her attention back to her ice-cream. "Just... nothing."

"Right-o," Harry said cheerfully, crunching on the last of his cone. "So tell me something interesting, Ginny."

"Like what?" she asked, reaching the top of her cone. "How did you finish so quickly?"

"I'm male," Harry said knowledgably, tapping the side of his nose. "We eat quickly."

Ginny laughed. "I had noticed you were male, actually, Harry."

"Had you?" Harry winked at her. "Really, Ginny, I was beginning to think you hadn't noticed I was male, given all the outward hints."

"That I hadn't noticed you were male?" Ginny repeated, her hearting start to beat faster. "Like... how?"

"Like... I'm totally messing with your mind," Harry grinned suddenly. "Nearly finished?"

At Madam Malkin's

"Mum!" Ron moaned. "I don't want to wear puce!"

"It looks lovely," Molly said, giving him an evil look. Hermione made appropriate approval noises. Ron shot her a glowering look.

"It looks hideous," Ron said rudely.

Madam Malkin looked taken aback. "Then what do you want to wear?" she demanded curtly. "I haven't got all day to attend to your whims!"

"Ronald!" Molly leant over and pinched Ron's ear. "Don't be so rude!" she hissed.

Ron's ears burned. Would this never end? "Have you got any green?" he asked Madam Malkin.

"Green?" Hermione looked horrified. "You want to look like a Slytherin?"

"Nothing wrong with green," a familiar voice drawled from behind Hermione. "It's quite becoming on the better-looking among us."

The tall, lanky figure of Draco Malfoy appeared from behind Hermione. Ron made a gagging sound.

"Ill, Weasley?" Draco enquired coolly. "Perhaps you'd better go home. Shopping for dress robes is obviously something you're not accustomed to."

"Oh, sod off!" Ron shot back.

Molly gave Ron a warning look, but remained silent. Hermione crossed her arms and exhaled slowly.

"Good afternoon, Malfoy," she said, with real effort. "Have you had an enjoyable summer?"

"Hermione!" Ron said, shocked. Befriending the enemy!

"Yes," Draco said, eyeing Ron's puce robes with distaste. "It was fantastic. I trust yours was as well. Weasley," he said smoothly, "those robes positively do not suit you at all."

Ron was seething.

"I suggest you try those ones over there." Draco pointed at a rather nice midnight blue robe with silver-grey trim and raised his eyebrow mockingly at Ron. "It'll set off your eyes. Later, Granger." He sauntered over to the other side of the shop where a very attractive blonde lady stood, perusing the more expensive labels with apparent distaste.

Madam Malkin's eyes brightened at the sight of the lady. "Excuse me," she said hurriedly, and rushed over to greet who could only be Narcissa Malfoy.

Molly's eyes narrowed as she watched Madam Malkin rush off. "Only a Malfoy would make such a recommendation!"

Ron felt confused. "What recommendation?"

"Oh," Molly sighed. "The robes he has suggested are actually quite nice and would really suit you, Ron."

"But he suggested them with a hint of malice," Hermione added helpfully.

"So you can either go with the puce ones you don't like that Malfoy didn't suggest," Molly went on, "Or you can go with the midnight blue and take the risk that Malfoy will tell all and sundry that you took his fashion advice."

"Which he will," Hermione confirmed Ron's train of thought. "What'll it be?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "I wanted green," he said mournfully. "Isn't there green?"

"Oooh," Hermione said, pulling another robe out. "Look at this! And it's red... a Gryffindor colour," she said with extra emphasis. "Far more appropriate for a Gryffindor prefect."

"Alright, alright," Ron muttered, pulling off the puce robe. "At least it's not the colour of vomit."

"What was that?" Molly's voice rang out from behind another rack.

"Nothing," Ron said, taking the crimson robe. He held it against himself and studied his reflection in the mirror. "What do you think?"

"Fabulous," Hermione said, smiling.

"Much better," Molly approved.

"Then we'll take this one." Ron headed for the counter. "I'm sick of shopping. Let's go and find Harry."

Hermione and Molly exchanged a look behind Ron's back.

"I need some more quills and ink," Hermione volunteered quickly as Molly said, "I was thinking about getting a cat."

"What?" Ron gave them a look of disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

"No," both women said in unison.

"Desperately need another quill," Hermione said decisively. "Right now."

"And I'd love a cat," Molly said. "I need someone to cuddle while you and Ginny are away."

"You have the twins," Ron said suspiciously. "And Dad."

"Nothing compares to your hugs, Ron," Molly sighed.

Hermione giggled. Ron frowned in embarrassment.

"Mum!"

"Come along, come along," Molly said. "We'll pay for these, then duck over to Flourish and Blotts... then to get the cat, and then find Arthur, wherever he's got to, he might like a spot of late lunch; then perhaps we could stop by the Quidditch store..."

"Quidditch!" Ron said. "I visit that place with Harry!"

"Oh, Harry," Molly said quickly, dismissing him with a gesture of her fingers. "You'll see him later. Where has Madam Malkin got to?" She craned her neck to see.

Ron felt a bit put out. He couldn't understand why they wanted to do all those other things rather than see Harry. They had to have gone mad, he decided, and it was his job to talk them out of it. At this rate, he wouldn't see Harry until they got back to Hogwarts!

Out in the street

"Ginny!" Harry roared with laughter, causing many people to stare. "Stop it, honestly! You shouldn't be telling me this stuff, Ron'll kill you!"

The pretty redhead gave him a cheeky grin and shrugged. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him," she teased.

Harry returned her smile. "Fair enough," he agreed, still laughing. "Still, the thought of Ron throwing a tantrum over something like that is appalling."

"That's Ron for you." Ginny scrunched up her nose in an obvious imitation of Ron's tantrum. "But Mummm, I wa-wa-wanted that piece! Wahhh!"

Harry doubled over with laughter, grabbing onto Ginny's arm in an effort to stay upright. She giggled, and tried to pull him up. He shivered inwardly at her touch, trying to regain some control over himself and, without thinking, straightened himself so that he was mere centimeters away from her face. She blushed, looking away from him. He reached out and took hold her chin, tilting her face to look at him.

"What do you say," Harry said quietly, "that we find somewhere nice to sit down for awhile before meeting up with the others?"

Ginny met his gaze, her blue eyes framed by dark lashes that flicked up against her brow bone as she opened her mouth to respond. Harry moved his fingers so that they touched her lips and she stopped the words before they left her mouth, her forehead starting to furrow. Before giving it another thought, Harry bent his head down toward her face and touched his lips to hers. She stood perfectly still. Harry could taste watermelon lip-gloss. He drew away from her and looked down into her eyes again. She didn't look too perturbed, which Harry took to be a good sign.

"You want to?" he asked softly. Ginny nodded. He kissed her lips again softly and took her hand, turning around to lead the way to a spot he knew of behind the Leaky Cauldron where they could have some peace and quiet for a few moments. The sight of a familiar blonde head stopped him in his tracks, and he drew Ginny closer to him protectively.

"Finally got her as your girlfriend, do you, Potter?" Draco Malfoy asked, his eyebrows raised as he regarded the pair. A tall blonde woman behind him sniffed as she looked at Harry and tightened her grip on some shopping bags.

"Shut up!" Ginny said suddenly, startling Harry. He glanced down at her incensed expression before looking back at Malfoy.

"Ouch," Malfoy drawled sarcastically, taking a few steps closer to them. "You really hurt me, Weasley." He stopped in front of them and leant in, winking. "You hurt me right here." He placed one hand over his heart before drawing a finger up slowly to his lips and pointing to his mouth. "Or was it... here?" He pretended to kiss the air.

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy!" Harry said angrily. "Sod off!"

"Poor Potty," Draco said lazily. "Starved of affection, no doubt, being an orphan and all. Well, you'd have to be to settle for a freckled redhead, wouldn't you?" He smirked. "Freckles. Honestly."

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy," Harry said tightly, willing himself not to lose his composure.

"You sure you want me to?" Draco tilted his head. "I could help you, you know. Give you relationship pointers. Starting with: dumping the weasel."

Harry pressed his lips together and didn't reply. He couldn't. He was seething with rage.

"It's been a pleasure, Potter," Draco said lightly before turning to head toward the blonde woman.

"Hurry, Draco!" she urged, giving Ginny and Harry a disgusted look.

"Coming, Mother," Draco said, before throwing a sarcastic kissey-face back at Harry and Ginny.

Harry's ears burned. Marvelous job he'd done of defending Ginny, there. He realised that he was still clutching Ginny to him and shifted guiltily.

"Come on," he said disgustedly, staring after Draco with malice. "Prat. Let's go and sit down."

Ginny gazed mutely after Draco, her hand growing hot in Harry's. She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. "Starting with: dumping the weasel..." She could feel herself tensing up, her hands starting to shake. She dropped his hand and stared at the ground, unable to find the means by which to express herself.

Harry looked down at her briefly. She looked annoyed. He cringed. She probably didn't want to go anywhere with him now. He shook his head, trying to cover his humiliation.

"I guess we should find your family, actually. This way. I think I saw them go into Flourish and Blotts." He started toward the store, glancing back to see she hadn't moved. "You coming or what?" Ginny didn't reply. "Whatever, I'll see you when you join back up with us." He left.

At the pet store

"You have got to be kidding me!" Ron stared in disgust at the fluffy brown cat that was mooching up to Mrs. Weasley. "It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen!"

The cat bristled at his harsh tone, turning to hiss at him.

"God, it's even uglier than Crookshanks," he muttered. Hermione dropped his hand quickly, shooting him a furious glance. "Kidding," he said morosely. "Are you sure you want this thing to replace me?" He directed his question to his mother.

"Isn't she sweet?" Molly cooed, stroking the cat's back. "She's positively adorable. I've almost completely made up my mind!" She beamed at the pair. "She's just lovely."

"She is quite beautiful," Hermione agreed, still shooting dark glances Ron's way.

"Bah," Ron said, turning to look out at the road. He brightened as he saw a familiar figure making his way toward the shop. "Harry!"

Both Molly and Hermione swiveled to see.

"Oh," Molly said, sounding surprised. "I wonder what he's doing."

"He shouldn't be back yet..." Hermione frowned.

"He's coming to see me!" Ron said, staring at them in disbelief. "Nothing pleases you lot, does it? He hasn't seen me all ruddy summer, has he? Harry, lad!" he bellowed, stepping toward the door.

Harry stepped through the door, his face lighting up in recognition.

"Ron!" Harry embraced his friend. "It's fantastic to see you! How you've been?"

The bell tinkled on the door softly, and Ginny slipped through the gap. She ignored Harry greeting Ron as she stepped over to Hermione and her mother.

"Would've been a lot bloody better if I'd known how my best friend was," Ron grumbled. "You?

"Brilliant!" Harry said obliviously, watching Ginny hug Molly and Hermione. Ron turned to see Hermione drop a kiss to Ginny's forehead and whisper something to her. He frowned.

"Haven't you seen Ginny yet, 'Mione?" he asked.

Hermione looked up. "Yeah, saw her earlier," she said.

"Do you always kiss her when you see her?" Ron asked, amused.

Ginny shot her brother an annoyed look. "Shut up, Ron!"

Ron withdrew. "Whatever. So Harry! Where've you been all this time that Ginny's been hogging you? Did you go to the Quidditch shop yet? I can't wait to go! Let's go now! You lot can catch us up!" he yelled over his shoulder as he tugged Harry away from the group and out the door.

Ginny watched the pair leave.

"So what happened?" Hermione asked eagerly. "Did you get to tell him how you feel?"

Ginny shot a glance at her mother. "Sort of."

"Ooh!" Hermione exclaimed. "What, what, what?"

"Nothing," Ginny said quietly. "I'll tell you later. What are you looking at in here?"

"Oh," Molly said, turning her attention back to the cat. "What do you think, Gin? I want to call her Sara."