Disclaimer: Top five things I don't own 1) that black wool coat I liked, 2) the super-extendo edition of Return of the King (no yet anyways), 3) a baby grand piano, 4) Cuba, 5) Harry Potter and his universe.

A/N: "I'm not dead yet!" Work has been crazy lately. This chapter was going to be longer, but I decided to split it in two. The other half should be appearing soon.

Harry Potter and the Lost Library
Chapter 9: Old Enemies

Hermione's article appeared in the Daily Prophet two days later. It was a semi-technical piece that conveyed the circumstances of Ginny's vanishing and hinted at the complex nature of the specialized counter-charm used to return her. The article also included a plea to the Wizarding community to not hold onto false hope for the deceased and the assurance that aid would be given in those cases similar to Ginny's. Although Hermione wasn't happy about a couple of inaccuracies in the piece, it did seem to accomplish her over-all goal. The flood of owls to Floogle Castle from desperate families diminished to a slow trickle.

Ginny remained unaware of the controversy surrounding her return as she struggled to adjust to life at Floogle Castle. After a few days of exploring the inside, Ginny began spending an almost inordinate amount of her time outside on the grounds. She would walk for hours on end, try to remedy Harry's abysmal gardens, and play rough and tumble games with her two nephews. Her family could barely persuade her to come inside for meals

Harry and the Weasleys followed Ginny through all her strange activities. It was as if a dozen people were living as one. But, as time passed without incident and the family's anxieties began to fade, they all became eager to return to their normal lives. In a final act of family togetherness, the group decided to make a shopping expedition to London.

Exactly two weeks to the day of Ginny's return, everyone lined up in front of the gigantic fireplace that warmed the dinning hall of Floogle Castle. Harry played the host and stood politely holding the small metallic box he used for storing floo powder. By this time, Ginny had no reservations as she stepped into the fire and said clearly, "Diagon Alley." Harry was the last one to go through, and he rolled out into the main room of the Leaky Cauldron to quite a scene.

The appearance of the easily recognizable Weasleys had created a bit of a stir in the pub. The patrons were eager to get a glimpse of The-Girl-Who-Lived, and the family was soon surrounded by well-wishing witches and wizards. Harry was reminded of the first time Hagrid had brought him to the Leaky Cauldron and of the crowd pushing forward to shake his hand. The party might never have made it past the pub's main room if Fred and George hadn't shot off a few of their finest fireworks. In the pandemonium that followed, Mrs. Weasley was able to shove her family outside without notice. A quick tap of Mr. Weasley's wand, and the whole of Diagon Alley stretched out before them.

The first order of business was to head over to Gringotts. In the past, this would have been a rather depressing stop for the Weasleys since their vault was always pitifully empty. While Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were not exactly wealthy now, Mr. Weasley had received a hefty pay raise with his promotion and their sons were financially independent. So, it was a modest pile of gold and silver that met their eyes when the goblins opened the Weasley's vault.

It took most of the morning to visit all of the necessary Gringott's vaults, and the group visited Florean Fortescue's for an ice cream before splitting into two groups. The female members of the party, led by Mrs. Weasley, set off to Madam Malkin's to begin the daunting task of expanding Ginny's wardrobe. While the girls dealt with the tedium of fashion, Harry and the Weasley men drifted naturally over to Quality Quidditch Supply.

A month ago, Harry would never have imagined that anything could have distracted him from the product lines of Quality Quidditch Supply. Yet as the minutes ticked nervously by, Harry couldn't quell the churning in his stomach. Was Ginny all right? Was she feeling overwhelmed or frightened? He wondered. Memories of his journey with Ginny from London to York picked annoyingly at his conscience. As the thoughts filtered through his mind, he felt a twinge embarrassment at his own preoccupation. Why couldn't he just lose himself in the new line of racing brooms?

"Harry," Ron's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What?" Harry asked shaking his head.

Ron rolled his eyes. "I asked what you thought about the Solar Wind's stabilization system?"

Harry looked absently at the bright yellow and orange broom resting on the display in front of them. "Oh that," Harry sighed, "I guess it might work okay."

Ron released an exasperated sigh. "What's with you mate?" he asked.

Harry looked pointed at his watch. "How long does it take to buy a couple of robes? Honestly."

Ron laughed, "For you and me...a half an hour max. But they're girls, it might take all day." His voice held the smugness of a married man, and Harry had the sudden urge to smack him.

By lunchtime, the wonders of Quality Quidditch Supply were exhausted even for Ron. The group left the store, and Mr. Weasley popped into Madam Malkin's to check on the other group's progress. He quickly returned with a rather dour expression on his face. "It's going to be awhile boys," he said grimly, "Molly and the girls decided to hit the salon as soon as they were done with robe shopping."

Ron and Bill groaned knowingly, but the others just looked confused. "They're didn't go to th...that place?" Ron asked with a loud gulp as he inclined his head down the street.

The establishment Ron had indicated was a narrow building painted a violent shade of lilac. The wooden sign above the pastel striped awning was carved in the shape of a fat unicorn. It read, "The Whimsical Unicorn: All Magical Salon and Spa." A little sign dangled underneath saying, "Free tea-leaf reading with every service."

"Afraid so," Mr. Weasley grumbled. "We might as well head off to the Leaky Cauldron for a spot of lunch."

"I can't stand that place," Ron muttered as they passed the salon. As if sensing his loathing, the store emitted a burst of rose scent that caused their eyes to water. "Lavender Brown and the Pavarti sisters own it. Hermione swears by all their products, but they're always predicting you'll be involved in some sort of accident before you get a chance to benefit from their potions."

The men enjoyed a leisurely lunch before retiring to wait at the twins shop for the girls. While Fred and George checked product displays and quizzed the shop attendant about the past week's sales, the rest sat comfortably to the side watching a steady stream of customers enter and leave the store. As it was a weekday, most of the consumers consisted of children too young for Hogwarts and young witches and wizards skiving off work to buy jokes.

"Arthur Weasley don't you dare," a stern voice echoed in the shop. Harry looked quickly from the angry outline of Molly Weasley in the shop door to young Arty. The smallest Weasley had frozen in place as he was clearly about to touch his father's wand to a large papier-mâché cone. The little sign next to the cone read, "Krakatau. Warning: This firework may cause hearing loss and adversely affect the weather."

"Arty," Bill admonished, but the corners of his mouth twitched as he retrieved his wand from his son.

The senior Arthur Weasley stepped forward to great his wife. "How was the salon?"

Harry noticed for the first time that Mrs. Weasley seemed somewhat overdone. Her hair was cut, curled, and styled in a fashion far more suited to someone half her age. She also appeared to have a great deal of sparkling blue powder smeared on her eyelids. Harry looked away quickly to hide his laughter. He caught the twins do the same.

"Fine, dear," Mrs. Weasley said while sweeping into the shop. "The girls at the salon made a bit of a fuss over Ginny."

Hermione and Fleur followed Mrs. Weasley into the shop. "A fuss," Hermione snorted, "They kept raving about how she was a blank canvas, and Lavender nearly fainted when Ginny said that she used a common scouring charm to clean her hair." Hermione had clearly shown more restraint than her mother-in-law. Her brown hair now fell in well-managed curls, and a slight sparkle was the only hint that she was also wearing some cosmetics. Fleur looked as she always looked, perfect.

Ginny tried to sidle into the shop unnoticed behind her sister-in-laws, but Harry's eyes leapt to her immediately. She was still wearing a simple Muggle-made skirt and jumper, but over that was draped a fine robe of deep forest green. Her hair had been cut so that the ends barely danced on her shoulders and layered so that it framed her face. Her eyes were shaded with smoky hues and her lips accented by a deep rose color. She was exotically beautiful, and Harry found himself staring.

Ginny caught his gaze and quickly turned away to blush prettily. She nervously fingered the ends of her hair before raising her eyes again. "It's a bit much," she murmured. "Padma went overboard with the Shine Potion."

"No, no, no," Harry said quickly. "It just looks really, really red." At his comment, both of Ginny's hands flew to her head as her face fell. "I mean it's very nice... like a fire...er...engine," Harry stammered lamely. Ginny's mouth fell open in shock and her eyes flared angrily. Harry took an involuntary step backwards and collided with a barrel full of walking sticks that fell over and promptly turned into snakes. Luckily, the mayhem that ensued saved Harry from any further embarrassment.

When all the snakes were turned back into walking sticks and returned to their display, the group was impatient to disembark from the Wizarding Weasley Wheezes to continue shopping. After all, there were ten years worth of missed birthday and Christmas presents to buy.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had already paid for Ginny's wardrobe and salon treatments, so Hermione and Ron bought Ginny a Silver Arrow broomstick. While the recently re-introduced and redesigned broomstick was not the top-of-the-line racing broom Ron had wanted to buy, the Silver Arrow was still a quality flier. Bill and Fleur purchased a handsome brass cauldron and matching scales, while Will and Arty chose a rather flamboyant peacock feather quill for their aunt. The group was just leaving the Magical Menagerie with a small gray tabby cat from Charlie when a drawling voice cut through the crowd. "If it isn't Potty and his Weasels."

Harry turned angrily to face his long time enemy. The years had not been exactly kind to Draco Malfoy. Any boyish softness in his features had been erased by the struggle of past years. After the war, the Malfoys had lost everything but an illusion of the prestige and power. Draco's face was now as pale, cold, and sharp as a knife blade.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked sharply. Her voice echoed vaguely with the sternness of Minerva McGonagall.

Draco turned harshly towards her. When his eyes fell upon her swollen stomach, he sneered unpleasantly. "It's a shame when wizarding families taint their bloodlines with Muggle-borns." His contemptuous gaze fell upon Fleur. "And other unworthy creatures."

In an instant, Harry and the Weasley men had their wands drawn. Even young Will and Arty were pointing joke wands that squeaked and turned into rubber rats at Malfoy.

Ginny's calm caustic voice cut through the tension. "You should seriously consider deepening your gene pool, Malfoy. What did you do? Marry your cousin?"

For the first time, Harry noticed a thin, tall woman standing beside Draco with her arm in his. She wore a large diamond ring on her left hand that was as pale and pointed as she was. Harry smirked as he recognized the almost familiar resemblance between Draco and his wife.

"Well, well, well, Ginny Weasley," Draco drawled while his eyes bore into her. "Our family was so happy to hear of your safe return, my father in particular. He'll no doubt wish to congratulate you personally on your perseverance."

Ginny's face drained of color as she shrank back. Harry moved in front of her and took a menacing step forward. Draco merely smiled coldly at the implied threat before turning on his heel and disappearing into the crowd with his wife.

Every consonant sounded like a curse as Ron bit out, "I can't believe the nerve of that git." His brothers hooted their agreement.

Although he agreed with Ron whole-heartedly, Harry was more concerned with Ginny at the moment. She was trembling slightly. He put a reassuring arm around her. "You don't need to worry. Lucius Malfoy is locked away in Azkaban."

"He won't get out," Ginny whispered urgently, "because I'm back."

"No," Harry replied firmly, "He was tried for thirty-some-odd war crimes. The best he could hope for is a hundred years off his four thousand year sentence." Ginny's color began to return at Harry's statement. "Come on," Harry continued loud enough for everyone to hear, "Let's go to Ollivander's, and I'll buy you a new wand."