A/N – This chapter contains more fluff than plot-advancing content... but this is a fic about Harry's seventh year... not ONLY about his final confrontation with Voldemort. I would imagine that there would be times like this... times when he is able to almost forget what is expected of him... and be the boyfriend of Ginny, the friend/business partner of the twins, and the "foster son" of Molly – just wanting to do nice things for, and interacting with, those he loves. I would imagine the Yule season would be a likely time for those things to happen.

CQ


Chapter Sixteen: Conversations

"I cannot believe that you took my children away from Hogwarts without consulting me! Albus Dumbledore, you ought to be ashamed of yourself...!" Molly Weasley was really tearing into Dumbledore by the time Harry joined them in the Hall.

"Mrs Weasley, it wasn't his fault," Harry said, raising his voice over hers.

Both of them turned to Harry.

"I'm to blame, not Professor Dumbledore, Mrs Weasley."

"Harry, dear..." Molly looked slightly flustered at Harry's presence and witnessing of her tirade. Strange, as Molly never seemed to care who saw her tearing a strip off of someone when she really felt they deserved it.

"I asked Ron and Ginny to come... I brought them here, and Hermione too."

"But, Harry...?" Molly looked at him, confused. "Why?"

"Because I needed their help," Harry said. "Mrs Weasley, there is someone in here... well, I'd like to introduce you to."

"Oh..." Molly's cheeks turned pink. "I'm sorry, Harry, I had no idea you had company..."

"Not... company... exactly," Harry looked at her. "But when you come in here, I'm sure you'll understand why I asked Ron and Ginny, and Hermione, to come with me."

Molly looked oddly at Harry, then stepped forward. As she came through the doorway, she glanced around. Ginny was looking at her with wide eyes... almost guilty... have to look into that later, Ron stood to her side, his hand holding Hermione's... interesting development there... and Remus and Severus... and...

"Harry?"

"Mrs Weasley, there is someone I would like to introduce you to. Come," Harry took her hand and led her toward the hearth. He stopped directly in front of it, and looked up at the painting hanging there. It was the wedding portrait of his parents.

"Harry..."

"So, I understand you're young Ginny's mother," a soft voice spoke. Molly looked up into the dancing green eyes of Lily Potter.

"I... yes... yes, I am..." Molly glanced at Harry, then back to the portrait.

"I... well, I suppose I was Harry's mother... Lily Potter... in a way, of course... but... well."

Molly swallowed and gave a tentative smile herself. "It's a pleasure..."

"James, James Potter," James leaned forward as though to offer his hand, then grinned and laughed. "Oops. Can't do that, now can I?"

"But you... you weren't..." Molly glanced at Harry, caught sight of the cauldron, and Snape, and a very uncomfortable looking Remus Lupin, and immediately understood.

"You didn't... you didn't do this?"

"Yes... Mrs Weasley..." Harry looked her in the eye. "It had to be done... my parents... my parents had information that... well, we thought it was imperative to defeating Voldemort..."

"You did?"

"For me... information I needed to continue... to defeat him... I had to do it... and I couldn't have done it without Ron and Ginny."

"But..."

"Mrs Weasley, I care a great deal about what you think of me... but... well, sometimes it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission."

Molly turned and glared at Remus, who smiled uncomfortably and looked away. Harry, catching this, suspected that either he or Sirius, most likely Sirius, had used that particular adage on her in past.

"Yes, well, none of you were hurt... were you?"

"No..." Harry glanced at Hermione, who smiled ruefully back at him, her eyes dancing with amusement. Molly need not know about that. "No, no one was... injured."

"Well, Harry..." she looked at him. "So long as no one was hurt... I must insist though, that nothing like this happens again. I need to know where my children are, Harry... and when that clock moved from "at school" to "missing"... well..."

Damn, thought Harry, I forgot about the clock!

"Everyone is fine, as you can see, Mrs Weasley. Now... I know it's the twenty first... and Christmas is in four days..."

"Yes, Harry... I've been baking quite a lot, as we were expecting all of you home, of course..." Molly was flustered if she could be distracted this easily.

"But my..." Harry glanced at his parents in the portrait, and then to Lupin, and then to Snape and Dumbledore. "Mrs Weasley, would you mind terribly if I asked you to move the celebration here this year?"

"Here?" she looked surprised. "But..."

"It's just.. we have rather more room, I think... and I'd like...well, I'd like everyone here to stay."

"Well, I'll speak to Arthur, shall I?"


Harry wanted to plan a quick shopping trip for he, Ron and the girls in Diagon Alley. With so many staying for Christmas, Harry had quite a few gifts to buy, and he still had to get Ginny's.

With this in mind, he pulled Remus to the side that afternoon.

"Remus, I need to go to Diagon Alley," he said softly.

"Harry?" Remus looked at him, an eyebrow cocked at the low tone Harry was using.

"Christmas shopping," Harry said softly, glancing at Ginny, then back to Remus.

"Hmm," Remus nodded, a glint of laughter in his eye.

Harry turned bright green eyes up to the last remaining friend of his father's and gave him a level look. "Can we go?"

Remus nodded again. "Well, I don't feel comfortable going without some Aurors around, Harry..."

"I understand that... but..."

"How about just Kingsley and Tonks?"

Harry agreed immediately.

"I'll tell Molly that I'm taking you off for a bit of... well, mentoring."

For the first time in memory, Harry saw Remus' cheeks pinken.

"Umm... Remus?" Harry began hesitantly.

"I know, Harry, I know... but Molly doesn't need to know, now does she?" Remus gave him a very direct look.

"No, Molly doesn't need to know..." Harry agreed with a gulp, then continued, very uncomfortable, but knowing that he had to do this, for Ginny. "But, just so you know, Ginny is... well, she's rather uncomfortable and a little concerned that you might..."

"Let the cat out of the bag?" Remus asked dryly.

"Well... Remus, it's never happened before... last night was..."

Remus' eyebrows rose. "Really?"

"Really," Harry nodded, knowing his cheeks were an ungodly shade of red.

"So..."

"Remus," Harry groaned. "Please!"

The old werewolf grinned, surprising Harry further. Remus seldom smiled so happily.

"Your parents would be proud of you, Harry," Remus said in a somewhat gentler voice.

"What?"

"Your mother would be proud of you for holding off from temptation for so long, and your father for finally giving in to it!"

Harry, if possible, blushed harder.

"Okay, do you need to go to Gringotts?"

Harry thought. "I'd better. Tomorrow?"

"I'll see what I can do. I'll talk to Kingsley and make sure they can accompany us."

"The girls want to go to Diagon Alley, as well. Everyone has shopping to do, I think. "

"We'll see what we can arrange, although..."

"Although?"

"Molly is pretty adamant about everyone staying put. There have been a few attacks, Harry..."

"Attacks?"

"A few wizarding homes have been... well, it happens at this time of year, you know... the Death Eaters like to disrupt what is supposed to be a peaceful time."

"Anyone...?"

"No one with any ties to the Order," Remus said softly. "But Molly..."

"I know."

"Well," Remus nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, Remus."


The next morning, Remus was sitting at the kitchen table sipping coffee when Harry entered the kitchen early.

"Morning," he said in his gritty morning voice.

"Morning. You okay?" Harry looked at him carefully.

"Only a week since the full moon," Remus said dismissively. "I tend to be groggy in the mornings for a week or so after."

Harry nodded.

"I spoke to Kingsley. He and Tonks are meeting us at the twin's shop at nine. Okay?"

"Great."

"Do you know what you're getting?"

"A few things... three or so shops. And I have to go to Gringotts."

"Done," Remus nodded.

Their arrival at Diagon Alley went nearly unnoticed. The twins shop didn't open until ten, and Tonks and Kingsley were the only occupants when they arrived through the floo. Tonks was looking grumpy, and Kingsley looked like he was trying to hold back a fit of laughter.

"What?" Remus asked.

"What? What?" Tonks hissed. "Look at my hair, that's what!"

Remus looked up to the hot pink dreadlocks, and then back down to her eyes. "It's a good look for you."

Harry snickered as Tonks flushed angrily. Apparently it had escaped Remus' notice that Tonks' hair wasn't that way intentionally.

"The twins?" Harry asked.

"I should never have told them we'd be apparating in this morning!" she said, shaking her head and only looking more put out when the pink ropes bobbed around her face. Huffing with impatience, she pushed them out of the way.

"Um, no, it was probably a good thing you did, actually," Harry smiled. "I know some of what they've got in place for security... trust me, pink dreadlocks are the least of it."

Tonks looked at him with amazement, then with dawning appreciation. She looked around the shop.

"The Ministry lost out on those two," she shook her head. "They would have made great aurors."

"Nah," Fred said as he ambled in. "Never was any good at duelling..."

"...and the early mornings are a bitch," George finished as he, too, entered. "Nice look, there, Nymph!"

Harry snickered again at the look she threw them and wondered if it had anything to do with the prank or if it was more to do with George using her first name.

"Ready, Harry?" Remus asked.

"Whenever you are," he confirmed. "Thanks for letting us use your floo, guys."

"Do drop by anytime, oh great silent one," Fred grinned. The others looked curiously at Harry at this, but when he didn't say anything, they turned and followed him out the door.

After a quick trip to Gringotts, Harry knew exactly where to go. The shop that they entered was small. There were glass cases lining the walls, full of sparkling gems and golden jewellery. Remus was obviously nervous.

"Remus?"

"Too bloody much silver in here for my own peace of mind," Remus muttered.

"Sorry... I didn't think..." Harry said softly. "Do you want to leave?"

"And not see why exactly we're here? Not likely," Remus smiled his rather sad smile. "Just tell them, no silver... at all. Just for me, okay? I don't want to be concerned about being around Ginny."

"How...?"

"I don't really expect you'll be buying jewellery for Hermione?" Remus pointed out.

"Fair enough," Harry smiled as an assistant approached them with a rather smarmy look on his face.

He eyed Remus' rather shabby robes pointedly, and then looked back to his face. "Can I... help... you?"

"No, but you can help him," Remus nodded to Harry.

The shopkeeper turned to Harry and looked him up and down, as well. "Really?"

"Really," Harry didn't like this guy's attitude.

A split second later, Harry saw the recognition enter the man's eyes. Immediately, his cheeks flamed. Bloody scar.

"I'd like to look at some jewellery. I... for my girlfriend. I want something simple and I don't want to see anything containing any silver at all. No silver. And..." he pulled a bag of galleons out of his pocket and held it up, "... I'm prepared to pay cash."

The shopkeeper's eyes nearly popped from his head at the sight of the bulging bag of galleons, and his attitude immediately changed. Harry Potter had entered his shop with a bag full of galleons... money enough there, but the real payday may be in the story behind the purchase... had he said girlfriend?

"This way, then," he eyed Kingsley and Tonks, who stood behind Harry with matching looks on their faces, quite emotionless, and cold. The shopkeeper gave a little shudder.

Aurors.


The following day, the twenty-third, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Remus went back to Diagon Alley. The four still had some Christmas shopping to finish, and Remus agreed to accompany them, on the condition that Kingsley, Tonks and a couple others would be around, as well.

Their shopping done quickly, Ron agreed to accompany Hermione into the bookshop while Harry and Ginny window shopped before heading home. Remus mentioned that he needed something at the apothacary, and glanced about, making sure there were several Aurors about before he slipped away. Ginny squeezed Harry's hand, looking up at him through the lightly falling snow. She wore a green woolly cap and scarf, and her hair stood out against it brightly. Harry thought he'd never seen anything so lovely.

They looked through a window at a display of sweets. This was a chocolate shop, rather more high-end than Honeydukes.

Seeing her eyes round, Harry grinned. "What's your favorite?"

"Of these?" she glanced up at him, then back down to the chocolates displayed in the window, her eyes wide. "I wouldn't know."

"What?"

"I've never tried anything like this before. Mum really likes good chocolate, but I've never had anything that didn't come from Honeydukes..."

"Well, let's do something about that, shall we?" Harry grabbed her hand and dragged her into the shop.

"Harry!"

Harry ignored her protest and moved forward to the display case, where the shopkeeper stood.

"Hello, lad!" the jovial older man smiled, a twinkle in his eye. "Here to buy the lass a bit of a sweet?"

"Yes," Harry said. "A two pound box, please."

"Two pound?" The man's eyes widened, and he then turned his smile on Ginny. "Any preferences, then, love?"

"I'm not sure... I've never..." Ginny glanced at Harry.

"Ah," the older man said, smiling. "A sampler box, then, is it?"

"Yes," Harry nodded.

"We'll see what we can do, then, shall we?"

He fussed for a few minutes, and quickly chose assorted chocolates from the display, filling the gold box quickly.

"There you go, lad... and I'm hoping the lass will enjoy them."

"I'm sure she will," Harry smiled.

"Six galleons, then," the man nodded.

"Six...!" Ginny gasped, clutching the golden, red-ribboned box to her chest.

Harry handed over twelve. "Another, just like that one, please."

"Of course, lad, of course," the man eyed him strangely for a minute, then smiled his shopkeeper smile, quickly getting the second box ready and handing it to Harry.

"Thank you," Harry tucked the box under his arm.

"Happy Christmas to you both," the man said.

"H-happy Christmas..." Ginny said as Harry led her from the store. "Harry!"

"What?"

"Six galleons for a box of chocolate?" she hissed, glancing around. "Are you insane?"

"Nope..." he smiled down at her. "I think I'm in love."

This shut her up quickly, and she allowed him to drag her along until they were at the door to the twins shop, where they had agreed to meet Remus and the others. Ginny held her chocolates reverently, and Harry smiled happily. He had the remainder of their bags, all shrunk into one convenient carrier, and tucked the second box of chocolates into that, leaving his other arm free to encircle her shoulders, pulling her close for a quick kiss.

"Oi, enough of that on the doorstep... we run a quality establishment here, we do!" One of the twins stood behind them, having opened the door on them. Ginny flushed.

"That, and you might trip the anti-snogging devices," George called out from behind the counter. "It'd be a bloody mess in here then."

"Takes ages to get the smell of stinksap out," agreed Fred, stepping back to let them in.

They were saved from reply as Remus approached and hustled them inside. Ron and Hermione were headed down the street, as well, and Harry was happy to see that they were rather surreptiously holding hands.

"Good shopping, then?" George asked, eyeing the bag in Harry's hand.

"Excellent," Harry nodded.

"And what's this, then...?" Fred asked, eying the box in Ginny's arms, and then lighting when he recognized it. "Is that...?"

"It is," Ginny said. "And I haven't even opened it yet, so no, you're not getting your dirty fingers into it."

"Is that a two pound box?" George squealed like a girl, coming around the counter.

"Yes," Ginny flushed.

Both twins turned to Harry, "You mind explaining this, mate?"

"What," Harry smiled. "You don't think she deserves it?"

"I'd rather like to know what she's been doing to deserve it," Fred's eyes narrowed.

Harry flushed, and Ginny stepped closer to him.

"Now, now, boys," Remus smiled. "You know that Harry can afford to treat Ginny occasionally. Let him have his fun."

"Oh, yes... that kind of fun is fine..." Fred said. "It's the other kind of fun we'd better not be hearing about."

At that moment, Ron and Hermione entered the shop, and in the confusion of getting everyone through the floo, Harry was relieved to see that the twins apparently were distracted from that particular line of questioning. He did note, however, that Remus waited to come through the floo last.


Entering the kitchen of Potter Manor, Harry noticed Molly working at the sink. Quietly, he moved forward and placed the box on the countertop next to her.

"Oh, what's this?" she said, turning to see him. "Harry, you're back then."

"Yes."

"What's that?" she eyed the golden box, wrapped with a red ribbon.

"Little present for you," he flushed. "Ginny mentioned that you liked..."

"Are those... they aren't?"

"Well, it's not Honeydukes, but..." Harry shrugged, teasing.

"Harry Potter! You didn't!" Molly pulled the ribbon off and opened the box, seeing the assortment of chocolates there. "Harry!"

"It's nothing, Mrs Weasley..."

"Harry... Arthur bought me some of these for our twentieth anniversary... I know how much they cost! A two pound box?"

Harry flushed.

"Mum," Ginny's voice came from the doorway. "Stop it... Harry did something nice, so just say thank you."

"Oh!" Molly realized what she'd been doing and cried out. "I'm so sorry, love! Of course, they're lovely... I'm thrilled, really, but you shouldn't have..."

"But I did," Harry said softly. "I hope you enjoy them, Mrs Weasley."

"Oh, I will! Thank you!"

"Just don't tell the twins he bought them for you, too," Ginny grinned.

"Too?" Molly looked at her daughter, then laughed. "You, as well?"

"Mmmhmmm," she said. "Word of advice, don't go window shopping with Harry and look longingly at anything. I rather fancy looking at brooms next time we go."

She smiled saucily at Harry, who grinned back, and filed that information away for later.

"Ginny Weasley!" Molly sounded horrified at the thought of her daughter fishing for gifts.

"I'm kidding, Mum!"