"Come on now kids we haven't got all day," Molly Weasley called as she was trying to herd all the younger children out the door, but it would seem none of them were quite ready to leave Percy.

"You'll be alright while were gone won't you Perce?" Ginny questioned wide blue eyes starring at her brother innocently.

All Percy could do was swallow and nod as he felt sorry for the man that would fall for his baby sister. With one look from her she had all her brothers jumping to do what she asked. A regular minks she was.

"Of course he'll be fine Ginny. Tell her you'll be fine Perce," Ron said staring at Percy with a hopeful look.

"Ginny, Ron relax I won't keel over and die with you lot gone for a few hours."

"Percival don't even joke like that," Molly cried smacking him on the arm.

"OUCH!"

"Oh suck it up little brother," Charlie grinned.

Bill nodded his agreement and turned to his mother with a placating smile, "Don't worry mum we'll be here to look after Percy."

"That's right nothing will go wrong while your out in Diagon Alley," Charlie added slinging an arm around both Percy and Bill.

"Right then," Molly declared, "let's go shopping for school you lot."

With one last glance she swept Ginny up with her into the fireplace. The green flames flashed and mother and daughter were gone in a flurry of robes and ash. Ron, Harry and Hermione followed stepping into the fireplace together. Hermione remaining snugly tucked in between both her boy's. And in a flash they were gone following Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.

"Well now what should we do?" Percy asked looking at his two older brothers.

"We have almost a whole castle to ourselves I'm sure we can find something to do," Charlie shrugged.

"I hope everything goes okay for the rest of them,"Percy said pensively.

"Why what's wrong?" Bill asked giving him an odd look.

"Nothing really just a feeling," Percy said starring out the window at the lake.

The Leaky Cauldron was packed when Harry, Hermione and Ron landed with a thump on the ground. All activity stopped and resumed just as quickly when the patrons decided that the three weren't worth their attention. Picking himself up and dusting off his back side with a groan Ron turned to offer a hand to Hermione, who was laying haphazardly on top of Harry. Once on her feet Hermione looked around for any sign of Ginny but she couldn't see anyone resembling her younger friend in the crowd of hungry customers lining the room.

"Ron where on Earth is Ginny?"

"Mum said she would go ahead and take Ginny shopping for a new set of dress robes and for us to meet them at Quality Qudditch Supplies later after were done getting our things."

"Oh well then shall we go get our books?" Harry questioned.

The other two nodded and linked their arms together as they stepped out of the dingy room and into the bright sunlight. The Alley was crowded with shoppers. And they found themselves most often then not jostled about by the witches and wizards rushing about getting their chores done. After stopping to say hello to a few school mates the three made it to the bookstore Flourish and Blotts. Stepping inside they were met with a cool blast of air and the smell of books assaulted their nostrils. Hermione took charge and flounced off to find all their books leaving Ron and Harry to browse through the store feeling a bit out of place.

"Ah a Weasley. All alone are you?" the icy drawl of Lucius Malfoy spoke stepping up next to the two boy's a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Mr. Malfoy," Ron said curtly his face an interesting shade of red.

"And well mannered to, just like your elder brother Percy." he watched Ron for any sign of a reaction his eyes narrowing into small slits.

"How do you know what my brothers like?" Ron growled his hand twitching, he knew he shouldn't let Lucius bother him but something about the way the man was acting made him want to kill him with his bare hands for even mentioning his brother.

"He hasn't told you?" Lucius questioned affecting an injured tone, "he and I became very close when he was working under Minister Fudge."

"No I'm afraid he hasn't mentioned that," Harry replied putting a hand on Ron's shoulder.

"Hmm really. Well perhaps you should ask him." Lucius hinted a malicious smirk forming on his face, "Good day Weasley, Potter."

Ron and Harry watched him go both wondering exactly what he meant by 'very close.'

"Harry, Ron?" Hermione called running up to them looking a bit out of breath, "Is everything alright? Malfoy didn't hurt you did he?"

Both boys looked at her in confusion wondering how she could have known that Lucius Malfoy had been there.

"How did you know he was here?" Harry asked watching her closely for her answer.

"The weirdest thing happened. Draco came up to me while I was looking for our school books and apologized for the way he's treated me, asked if we could start over. Then he said he had to go he was meeting someone and that I should go find you before his father did something to you." she explained still seeming a little confused by it all herself.

"A Malfoy being helpful." Harry said grinning, "Never thought I'd see the day, how bout you Ron?"

Ron ignored the question and stalked out the door, "Let's go find mum and Ginny so we can get out of here I want to ask Percy a question."

Harry and Hermione had to run the rest of the way to Quality Qudditch Supplies to keep up with Ron. He walked like his very life depended on it. And every time they tried to ask him what was wrong he increased his pace. It was almost closing time by the time they got there and Molly was waiting outside with Ginny both holding shopping bags full of things. They joined the two without comment and headed back to the Leakey Cauldron, Ginny watching them curiously from the corner of her eye.

"Hogwarts!" Ron called out in a strong voice after he and his friends stepped into the fireplace in the Leakey Cauldron.

They were deposited with a bang into Professor Dumbeldore's office where Ron's three older brothers and Oliver sat having tea with the headmaster. Without a word to the others Ron crossed the room to stand right in front of Percy. He stared at him for a long time his eyes searching for something before he finally spoke.

"Percy just how close are you to Lucius Malfoy?"

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