A/N: A little late with this one but better now then never! This is a short, cute chapter and another will follow very shortly. This will start getting interesting soon.


Chapter 11

"Shopping and Spying"

After Charlie and Jaycee's memorable union, it felt to Bill that his younger sibling could think of nothing else. The young Captain didn't even bother going to the Ravenclaw/Slytherin game because he was very busy with her and Bill had never gone to the matches without Charlie. The eldest Weasley felt a little lonely in the Gryffindor common room as Percy continually disappeared and the twins seemed to be out doing heaven knows what! Regardless on the upsets, Bill still had an objective to seek out: this mystery girl still occupied his mind. He kept looking around for any clues he could think of to track her down. He kept a close watch at Sandra's group of friends but couldn't pinpoint her within them. The reason why was because Bella was spending her time with Percy getting coached on how to act in front of Bill.

"Well… he's a joker and very sarcastic. Um – so you should be careful about what you say cause it could be fired right back at you," said Percy remembering of his past experiences with his brother.

"Really? I mean, you think he'll do that?" said Bella a bit frightened.

"Well, maybe not. He doesn't act like that with girls I think –um – I think he's rather sweet with them but I've never really bothered to notice," he began. "I mean, why should I?" he thought.

"Oh! Ok. Well, I guess if you don't really know there's just one thing left to do then," said Bella.

"What?"

"I need dress robes, REALLY nice dress robes for the Graduation Ball. It's not like I have one in my closet," she said.

"Oh. Um – Ok," he muttered unsure at what Bella was hinting at.

"So… would you like to accompany me to Hogsmeade to get them?"

Percy looked shocked. Obviously, this was a girl thing to do and he wondered if Bella was perhaps getting a tad too comfortable with him.

"Why don't you ask your friends?" he suggested a bit nervous.

"I did. Sandra and Winter will be coming… and so will Penelope," she added with a wink.

Percy's cheeks pinked. He had no clue why he felt so strange whenever he heard her name but it seemed to make all the difference even if he never really realized at that moment that he'd be the only boy there. The week after, Bella reminded Percy of his promise and all four girls met up with him at the exit where Filch laid waiting in hopes to find under-age students. Bella had decided to wear a witch's hat with a rather large brim in case the sun was going to be too strong. It hid most of her face and Winter thought she looked like an oversized umbrella. Bella tried hard to ignore the uproars of laughter and take no notice of it as they left the grounds. The thing they failed to notice however was that they had two sneaky followers on their tails.

"I can't BELIEVE HIM! How could he not tell me about this? First I find out he's dating two girls at once and now this!" said Bill as he and Hank hid near some bushes at the entrance.

"He's just trying to follow your example Bill," said Hank chuckling as they left their hiding spot when the group was out of sight.

They walked passed Flitch, winking at the haggard man, and tried their best to stay at a distance so they could not be seen. Bill felt furious. How could his brother not have told him that he'd be going shopping with Sandra? And to make matters worse, he was going with both his girlfriends! Bill knew he was looked upon as a lady's man but never in his life could he imagine Percy being the Don Juan! It irritated him even more that he still had not seen the dark haired girl's face.

Sandra and Winter began talking excitedly about the shop they were heading to which was called: "Wanda's Wardrobe". With the way they chattered it seemed that they knew that they would all find what they were looking for in there. Percy's stomach began to churn. "Oh, wonderful, shopping with the girls," he thought sarcastically as they cooed and ogled at everything.

"So, Winter who are you planning on taking to the Ball? I know you better then anyone and you've already have him picked out don't you?"

"Ha! Well… maybe I do," she said teasingly. "But I'll have to settle with my second choice. Oggy Warrington's my reserve for the moment," she said.

"Ooh! Oggy's really good looking! Not that I expected any less from you but who was your first choice?"

"Ah Sandra, a lady never tells!" she said winking. "I'm just happy that 4th year got her wish," she said turning her head to Bella. "Or should I call her um-Bella from now on?"

Bella's face grew red, not of anger but of embarrassment as she hid it even more under her hat. She was still very nervous about Bill and wasn't sure if Winter should be saying such things in front on Penelope. However, she seemed busy talking to Percy so the 4th year Ravenclaw was rather relieved.

Bill and Hank were both about one house behind them and Hank seemed rather annoyed by the situation. He sighed with exasperation as Bill never seemed to tire of the chase.

"Bill, this is stupid! I'm going to see them and hang out-"

"No! You can't do that! Then everything will be ruined! Maybe they'll talk about who I'm taking to the Ball!"

"Bill, I can just ASK Sandra you know. We're really close after all," he said in a smooth voice.

Bill then looked at him disgusted.

"Why am I friends with you again?" he asked.

"Because I'm the only person that can keep up with you," he retorted laughing but Bill slapped his hand on his mouth.

"Shhh!" he said as he muffled his voice.

After removing it Hank added: "And I'm the only person that can put up with your insanity too," while rubbing his mouth.

"He's in Slytherin isn't he? He was a Prefect right?" said Penelope tearing away from her talk with Percy.

"How do girls do that?" he thought, as Penny seemed totally involved with the other conversation.

"That's right: Oggy Warrington the 2nd. He's quite rich too. I expect a really nice corsage from him,"

"Ah! Corsage!" repeated both boys from behind, low enough so they could not be heard.

"We need a corsage!" whispered Hank.

"We'll worry about that next month! We're in the middle of April, it's okay!" said Bill reassuringly even if he knew he had to start saving up NOW to afford one.

"Yes well… I don't think Hank will even remember about getting me one. I mean he'll be so focused on the Quidditch cup…"

Percy was staying silent. Why did he agree to this? This girl talk was truly driving him mad. He then saw the three broomsticks and decided to take a break from the heavy girl chatter to get himself a butter beer.

"I'll be right back!" he said while starting in that direction.

"Ok Percy, the shop is just down this road so meet us there! Bye!" said Sandra as the girls continued on their way.

As the young boy entered the tavern two unidentified objects rammed into him hard, causing him to fall. As Percy looked up from the ground he saw two people he never expected. Fred and George were leaving out the door, each with a butter beer in hand. Percy was astounded! How did they get passed Filch and WHY were they there in the first place? It was against the rules! Percy gave them a stern look and the twins seemed at a loss for words.

"What are you doing here? And how did you get here?" began Percy angrily.

"Well – Um"

"Have you done this before? Is this how you got all those sweets?"

"See – we – Uh"

"That's it! You're both coming back with me to the castle,"

"Aw Percy!" they both cried.

"Come on!"

Percy began to drag the two out into the streets when Penelope came out of the shop.

"Percy! Over here! You have to see this!" she yelled smiling and waving.

"Penny I –"

"Please! It's great!" she said.

Percy couldn't help but be drawn to her as he continued to drag the twins by the collars of their shirts.

"Behave and I might let you stay," said Percy in a fatherly tone.

The first years nodded their heads and glumly walked with him like two chained prisoners. They approached "Wanda's Wardrobe" and met with Penelope. She was about to question Percy about the twins when he lifted his hand and said: "Don't ask," She complied and brought the three boys into the shop. The place was covered in shelves filled with every sort of fabric and lace imaginable. The heavily decorated shop had an air of frilly, girly décor and they couldn't help but notice a sent of tangerine filling the air. There were flowers in every corner and whole walls dedicated to buttons and threads of every color and shape. The cashier welcomed them and asked to step into the fitting room where their friends awaited them. The twins couldn't help but feel uneasy in a place so elegant and dainty and stared at Percy. He felt the same.

Outside of the shop Bill and Hank tried their best to look in but the fitting room seemed to be out of sight.

"Oy, how are we going to see them if-"

"It's in the back! Come on, there must be a way from behind. Come on!" said Bill as he dragged Hank to the back of the store.

"Why do I put up with this?" he sighed.

As the little group made their way to the fitting room all three boys stopped dead on their tracks. Penelope smiled brightly as Bella, Sandra and Winter were all wearing the most lovely dress robes they'd ever seen. Winter was dressed in mint green and had a lovely sash that went over her bare shoulders. Her robes had pretty sequences that went all over and the fabric seemed to be made of crushed velvet. Sandra's robes were chiffon pink and the top had the same cut as Bella's. It was open from the shoulders and went around the neck as the sleeves hung loosely over the arms and were wide and open like mid-evil dresses. What made Sandra robes different then Bella's was that the bottom had lace and no sown in patterns. Bella's had pretty flower patterns of pale white that went over her lavender robes. She also had a thick satin sash that matched with the fabric.

"Well, what do you think?" said Sandra as she twirled around in her clothes.

"Ooh! I love the feel! Well, come on now! Spit it out! Don't we look outstanding?" said Winter smiling as she tossed her long brown hair to her side.

Percy had been looking at Bella the entire time. Although the other two girls did look amazing, what was really shocking was seeing Bella look so decadent. "That's right! I nearly forgot!" said Sandra as she walked to Bella and pulled out the cord that held up her hair and removed her glasses. As the stands of black fell to her shoulders Percy fell speechless. Here was his newest best friend looking like… well, a girl. If Bill didn't fall head over heals for her, then he should be put in a mental institution. This made Percy all the more nervous.

"Wow! You all look so great!" said George.

"Fantastic! Your partners will be lucky!" added Fred.

The girls giggled. They knew that the twins must have been honest because they had to reason not to be. Sandra made Bella, who stood as stiff as a board, twirl around to see how the robes really looked.

"Loosen up Bella!" she said laughing.

"Um – Why did you both choose similar robes?" asked Penelope.

"Well, it just looks good on us," said Sandra smiling. "But the bottom's very different. I just thought that Bella looked fantastic in this one, but I also really like mine. So what if the cut's the same on the top. People will only notice if we're right next to each other but I'm sure we'll each be busy," she added winking at Bella.

Bella simply blushed.

"I – I think I'll go change though… But I really like this. I'll take it," she said in a quiet voice as she moved to the back.

"I don't want to take mine off yet! I feel like a princess!" said Sandra still in her little fairyland.

"Me too! Honestly 4th year really needs to loosen up. I thought she would have by now,"

"What do you mean Winter?" asked Sandra.

"Oh Never mind," she sighed.

As they continued to admire their robes two heads peaked thought a high window overhead. It was Hank and Bill. They were standing on top of two boxes trying to take a peak at what was going on.

"This is too stupid. If we just talked to them-"

"But-"

"We can't hear anything anyways! Now move! You're stepping on my foot!" said Hank as Bill went down sighing.

Hank was right. There was no point to this silliness anymore. As Bill went down Bella re-appeared asking them if they were sure the dress robes looked good on her. The crowd agreed and Hank caught a glimmer of Bella. He looked plainly shocked. "Wow!" he said as the girl ducked out of sight again.

"What? What did I miss?" said Bill on the ground.

"Just a really pretty Ravenclaw that's all," said Hank climbing down.

Bill just shrugged. He assumed that Hank meant Sandra and motioned to him that they should be on their way. Bill was indeed upset. This little visit had proven completely useless. There was no mention of his mystery girl and he felt like he had lost the battle. "I guess all that's left now is to wait," he thought as they left the store on that great spring day.