Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter Universe all other claimants to anything to do with the H.P. story are simply hangers on to her glory. I thank her for allowing us mere mortals to play in her world and I promise that while I have Harry in my care nothing bad will happen to him. I will leave that to J.K.R. herself in her books.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL

Chapter 19 Christmas Shopping.

Hermione and Harry woke up on Monday morning and went into breakfast, as they walked through the dining room door the conversation stopped, they sat down and Harry said, "All right, what dastardly deed am I being accused of this time?"

Then Ginny said, "So you think I am an old frump, do you?"

"No. I happen to think that you are one of the loveliest and most attractive people I know."

"So what's all this about me having another new dress?"

"Have you ever seen either of the Patil twins wear the same dress twice, to a party?"

"I don't care a fig about the Patil's."

Harry looked her straight in the eyes and said, "I am not even trying to read your mind but do you think that you can lie to me Ginevra Weasley, I know you much too well."

She blushed then stood up and started walking around the table to where he was sitting, he also stood and moved out to meet her, when she reached him she put her arms around him, buried her face in his chest and said, "I'm sorry, you're the best friend any girl could ever ask for, Harry Potter." She kissed him on the cheek then they went and sat back down.

So Neville asked, "What are we all going to do with ourselves today then?"

Tonks replied, "Well I have to go out for an hour or two, what are you all going to do?"

Then Luna said, "Maybe we should decorate the flat for Christmas."

The group all agreed that this would be a very good way to spend the day, so that is what they did, all day, Tonks was out for about an hour and a half in the middle of the morning, but apart from that they had all worked solidly, when they had finished the flat looked like a winter wonderland.

x-x

The next morning they were gathered by their Floo at ten, they were in warm robes and cloaks.

Then Tonks said, "Ok gang we are going to the International Floo Terminus."

There was a flurry of questions, all wanting to know why and Tonks said, "Because that is we are going, Harry you go first."

Starting with Harry they Flooed to the International Floo Terminus, when they all arrived there Tonks took them to a short queue signposted Paris, the girls eyes lit up.

The International Floo to Paris was not like the normal domestic one's, there were capsules that held two people seated and an operator sent you to your destination. Harry and Hermione went in the first capsule and in no more than five minutes, after a very smooth, clean ride, they had arrived at the Paris Terminal.

There were French Ministry Wizards supervising the Paris Terminal and when they saw the boy who lived, they welcomed him and told him that they hoped that this would be the first of many visits. By the time they had finished, with their welcomes, the whole group was assembled again and they went to a local Floo outlet and travelled to the Paris Studio of Madame Malkins Robes for all Occasions.

When he arrived at the shop, Harry was surprised to find that Mme Malkin herself in attendance.

He said to her, "It's very nice to see you here, I thought you were always in London?"

"Albus told me that you were all coming here today, so I thought that I would come and assist you in person."

The others had arrived and were excitedly looking around the shop so he carried on talking to her, "Please I want to pay for everything they want, but Tonks dragged us all straight here and my money is still in Gringotts, is that alright with you?"

"Of course, that's perfectly acceptable, is there anything in particular I can do for you?" she asked.

"I wonder if you could you have someone help Luna, the blond girl, she really needs it?"

Mme Malkin smiled and said, "I will take care of her myself."

Harry found himself a couple of sets of nice robes and a very elegant, dark blue travelling cloak, he told Neville choose himself a set of smart robes, but he didn't really know what suited him so Harry and one of the assistants helped Neville pick out a set of robes. The young French girl who helped them did not speak very much English but she certainly seemed to know who Harry was and appeared to be very taken with him until Mme Malkin said something to her sharply, which made her calm down.

Next he went over to Ginny and Hermione.

Hermione couldn't decide between a very pale pink dress, a shimmering deep purple dress and a very light tangerine metallic dress, so he told her to try them on and then he would choose, he told Ginny to do the same with both of the dresses she was pondering over.

When he found Tonks she had on just about the sexiest robes he had ever seen on anyone, except the Weird Sisters and she whispered in his ear, "There's this guy I want to impress."

Harry said, with a grin, "Well if what you are wearing doesn't impress him, he's a cream puff!" she laughed and went to change back into her travelling clothes.

Harry found Luna by following Neville's open mouthed stare, she looked fantastic, Mme Malkin whispered that she had found three dresses for Luna and Harry whispered back that all the girls also needed the shoes to go with each of their dresses.

Neville asked Harry what he could buy Luna and Harry suggested a travelling cloak and get yourself one at the same time, we will ask Mme Malkin, so Neville told her what he wanted and Harry told her that he also wanted one travelling cloak each for Ginny and Hermione.

The girls had started coming out showing him their dresses, at the same time as he had been talking to Mme Malkin they had decided that, when he or any of the girls decided on something she would have it packed and put it in the magic bag belonging to the person who it was for, she also packed the cloaks the girls had arrived in.

When eventually the girls had finished and came out in their normal clothes they complained that they couldn't find their cloaks, they ignored her question and Mme Malkin asked Ginny if she liked this turquoise one. Ginny was doubtful at first but Mme Malkin put it on her and led her to a mirror, as soon as she saw her reflection there was no more doubt, she looked gorgeous. Next she did the same for Hermione only her cloak was Emerald green, it matched Harry's eyes exactly and the reaction from Hermione was the same as Ginny's had been.

Harry had spent a lot of money so Mme Malkin told them that she was going to give them a treat and she produced, for the three young girls, the latest Witch Fashion hats that matched their cloaks perfectly. Harry asked for the bill and he signed it, it was just over two thousand Galleons, Neville paid for his and Luna's cloaks, then they all said goodbye to Mme Malkin and went back to the International Floo Terminus.

At the Floo Terminus in addition to the French officials, there were a lot of photographers and newspaper reporters, the photographers were just taking their photographs but the reporters wanted to interview them.

So just as he was going into the third capsule with Hermione Harry called out, "We've been buying our Christmas clothes at Mme Malkins, please send us a copy of the paper."

Then the capsule departed.

When Harry and Hermione arrived at the London International Floo Terminus there was a similar crowd of reporters and photographers waiting for them, so Harry told the reporters much the same as he had told the ones in Paris and he told the group to go to the Burrow, this time he made Ginny go first and to tell her mum that we are coming, Tonks came last.

x-x

When they arrived at the Burrow Molly and Arthur were very pleased to see them all they kissed and cuddled all of them in turn, although Molly was not looking too happy, she said quite loudly, "Aren't you the fashionable ones, those are the very latest hats I saw them in this week's 'Witch Weekly', where have you all been?" halfway through the sentence Ron had sauntered out of the lounge with Lavender Brown trailing behind him.

So Luna said, in what Hermione had taken to calling, 'her Quibbler voice', that's the one that could sell a rattle snake to your pet bunny, "Oh, Harry and Neville just took us to Paris to buy some clothes for Christmas, but the Press do make such a fuss."

You could of cut steel with the glares that Lavender Brown was giving her.

Then Molly asked them if they had eaten and Harry said "We'd love a sandwich if you can manage one, please Mum."

Lavender started whispering to Ron and Winky started flying around the kitchen, they all sat around the table and Winky started putting plates of sandwiches, biscuits, cakes and jugs of juice on the table, they were all eating for a while.

Then Harry said to Molly, "Mum would you like me to bring Dobby tomorrow?"

Winky said before she could stop herself, "Yes please," then she started to bang her head on the draining board saying, "bad Winky, bad Winky."

Arthur rushed over and stopped her and Molly said to her very sweetly, "Winky dear it is not wrong for you to want something and Harry will bring Dobby tomorrow, for you and me." Winky was cross-eyed, but smiling broadly.

By this time Lavender could contain herself no longer and said to Hermione, "You haven't really been to Paris buying clothes, have you?"

However before Hermione could answer the question an owl flew through the door and dropped a newspaper in front of Harry, he opened it and spread it on the table. It was 'Le Monde de Magie.' All over the front page were pictures of all of them and Hermione translated the pretty obvious headlines. "It says 'Harry Potter and friends Christmas shopping for clothes in Paris', well I guess that sort of answers your question Lavender."

Then another owl arrived and dropped another newspaper in front of Harry, he opened this one it was a special edition of 'the Daily Prophet,' with a different set of their photographs all over the front of it and this headline they could all read. 'Harry Potter and friends returning from a Christmas shopping trip to Paris.'

"I did tell you that the Press do make such a fuss," Luna said, again very innocently.

Lavender seamed to have acquired an acute case of 'the rats' and said snappily to Ron. "We should be going now my parents will be expecting us."

So Ron and Lavender said goodbye and Flooed away and instantly the tension in the room dissipated.

Molly said, "Why does he always have a different girl? They're all nice enough girls but why so many?"

Harry shook his head as he answered her. "I really don't know Mum, I suppose he will grow out of it. Come-on cheer up, what's happening tomorrow?"

"There's no real need for you to be here much before noon, but I could do with Dobby earlier if possible, so I don't know what to say."

Then Arthur said, "With me being Minister for Magic, we're liable to start getting visitors from about three."

So Harry said, "If the lovely ladies in my life can get ready in three hours, we can send you Dobby by about nine, would that be alright?" there was some tongue poking and rude noises in his direction, but he completely ignored them.

Molly said, "That would be fine Harry dear," there was a whoosh and Charlie appeared from the Floo, Molly went and gave him a cuddle.

He said. "Hello you lot, god I'm tired that's why I didn't Apparate, I'd of splitched myself all over Somerset."

"But we're in Devon not Somerset love," a very puzzled Molly said.

"That's precisely what I mean Mum."

Tonks stood up, gave him a kiss on the cheek then she said, "We'll all be going now and let you rest, we will see you all tomorrow late morning."

So they all said their goodbyes and Flooed back to the flat and Harry whispered in Tonks ear, "So is that who you fancy?" she blushed and nodded.

x-x

Later that evening, Harry was in the lounge sat in the middle of a sofa reading a book, there was a hubbub coming from the bedrooms and he thought trouble was heading his way.

He didn't have long to wait, the four girls stormed into the lounge and he said, "Ah it's the committee for the enslavement of Harry Potter, what can I do for you this time ladies?"

Neville cringed and tried to disappear through the chair, the girls all started talking at once and Harry said, "If you all talk at once I can't understand any of you, Ginny why don't you act as spokeswoman?"

Harry had picked her because she appeared to be steaming the most and she said, "You said that if we tried the dresses on you would choose the one you liked and I tried on two dresses so you bought them both and the shoes."

"I'm sorry, don't you like the shoes?" he was being deliberately obtuse and she knew it.

"Yes, of course I like the shoes, but you bought both dresses."

"But I liked both dresses on you."

"You said that you would choose."

"I did, I chose two dresses. So what's the problem?"

"You were supposed to pick one."

"Oh, that's the problem," he said this as if someone had just switched the light on and he had noticed that the grass was pink when it should have been green, "you tell me when I ever said I was only going to pick one dress and I will wear the other one all day tomorrow at the Burrow twins and all!" Hermione cringed but Ginny was stumped, she suddenly realised that he never said that he would only pick one dress.

"Oh!" she said and they all started to leave.

He stopped them, halfway through the door, "Before you go to bed, you must all decide which dress you are going to wear tomorrow, it will take you far too long in the morning and if you need some help us downtrodden vassals are still willing to help you," the girls skulked back to one of the bedrooms.

Quietly Neville said, "Harry, that was bloody brilliant, I thought you were a dead man."

"So did I at one point," they were still both smiling fifteen minutes later when Hermione came back in.

She asked contritely, "Will you come and help us choose which dresses to wear tomorrow, please darling?"

"Oh, I'm darling now am I?"

"You always were for me, I guessed that you would buy them all, but you know what Ginny is like she's nearly as bad as Ron sometimes. Come on both of you," she gave Harry a quick kiss and they went to their loves choose dresses for Christmas day.

It was eight o'clock Christmas morning and they were eating breakfast, Harry had asked Dobby if he would mind helping Winky today and he had nearly left them with no breakfast. He wanted to get away to Winky but he had to do his job, if they hadn't thought that it was so funny they could have been annoyed, they had soon finished eating and Dobby had cleared up and gone to the Burrow.

After Dobby had left Hermione informed them that she had been reading Eldritch Encroacher's book on 'Magical Beings', that Grizz had given her for Christmas and that House Elves usually had between six and ten babies. She was not very happy when she started telling them that the babies at six weeks became the property of the owners of the mother and father of the babies and it's even laid down how the babies should be divided between them. Harry had told her that he thought it was obscene that such legislation should be in place before Hermione could get into her stride complaining.

Harry had given Hermione her watch which was the ladies version of his Cartier and she loved it, she had given him a long black dragon-skin coat that reached down to within two inches of the ground, it looked like a travelling cloak with sleeves and he thought it was wonderful. At just before nine the girls had gone in to start getting ready so he and Neville were reading two of the books that Hermione had given them for Christmas. Then just after eleven then they went into their rooms showered and dressed, then went back to reading their book's for another half an hour.

All four of the girls came out together, they all looked sensational Ginny whispered in Harry's ear that Tonks had, had her cloak on all the time and none of them had seen her dress, he smiled.

The girls were all going to wear their travelling cloaks with the hats but being magic hats they were charmed to keep their hair in place and not to disturb it.

As they were all ready they Flooed to the Burrow.

x-x

It was quite quiet when they all arrived at the Burrow, they were greeted by Molly, Arthur, Charlie and Bill, Tonks asked Charlie to help her off with her cloak, Harry could see that she had won the instant her cloak was off and Tonks winked at him. The group put the presents they had brought under the tree and Ginny was explaining to her mum how the hats worked when there was a soft knock on the door.

Bill answered it, it was Madame Malkin, they exchanged Christmas greetings and she said, "Madame Weasley, would you do me the honour of allowing me to dress you for this Christmas Day?"

Molly was confused at first, but then she said, "Why me? What have I done to deserve such a thing?"

Mme Malkin replied, "You mean apart from being the least presumptive Minister of Magic's wife ever and your guests putting my name and fashions all over the front page's of the French and British wizarding newspapers. Besides which they will probably make the front cover of the Witch Weekly, in both countries, for the next couple of months, so please allow me, let's go up to your room for a few minutes?" she led Molly upstairs carrying a large bag.

Charlie and Tonks were sat on a sofa in the lounge talking, Hermione and Harry looked in, through the door and Harry pointed at the ceiling above their heads and asked them, "What's that?"

"How did you do that?" Charlie asked, he had conjured mistletoe above their heads, Charlie and Tonks looked at each other and kissed, smiling Hermione and Harry left them to it.

The backdoor opened and George, Angelina, Fred and Katie all came in, they all exchanged greetings with everyone and George started complaining that Charlie and Tonks were hogging the only piece of mistletoe in the house, so Harry waved his hand and mistletoe was all over all the ceilings except above Hermione and him. Katie had noticed this and called Harry over to her where there was mistletoe, but the empty patch followed him and another stayed over Hermione when she moved around, Katie told him that that was definitely cheating so she kissed him anyway.

Mme Malkin came down and stood between Harry and Hermione, she said in quite a loud voice, "Ladies and gentlemen I give you Mme Weasley," Molly came down looking at least twenty years younger than when she had gone up. She was beautiful, she had on a very elegant pale, pale green dress with shoes to match and she went over to Arthur and kissed him. Then they came over to where Harry, Hermione and Mme Malkin were stood and Arthur asked her how much he owed her.

She looked at him and said quietly, "It is a present from me and anytime you, Molly, Harry or Hermione come to my shop they will receive fifty percent discount off everything they want to buy, you are a good man Arthur Weasley and we are all thankful, now I must be going," she kissed Arthur on both cheeks and left.

Winky came in from the Kitchen, she looked at Molly then said, "Madame, yous is very beautiful today, yours dinner is ready."

Arthur went into the dining room and said, "Winky, there are only fourteen seats here where are yours and Dobby's."

"We wants to eat in here please master," she took Arthur's hand and pulled him to the kitchen, Hermione and Harry followed. There was a small table with two chairs a red tablecloth and two candles, the three of them were chuckling when they returned and they left the arrangements as they were.

Two hours later dinner was finished and cleared away, the dining table had been miniaturized then put on a wall rack and the chairs were spread around the walls. A few couples had started dancing to the Wizard Wireless, some were sat or stood talking, when all the Patil's arrived Padma and Parvati both looked stunning and they both came over to talk with Ginny, Harry and Hermione.

A few minutes later Ron arrived with Lavender Brown who was done up to the nines, Ginny grabbed Ron kissed him on the cheek and wished him Happy Christmas she passed him on to Angelina who kissed his lips so did Katie, Luna and Tonks. Then he saw Parvati and Padma who both looked like dream's on two legs, his jaw dropped, they wished him Happy Christmas, shook his hand then went back to talk to Ginny, Harry and Hermione, ignoring him for the rest of the day, all of them totally ignored Lavender.

Next to arrive were Mad Eye Moody, Remus Lupin, Mundungus Fletcher and Kingsley Shacklebolt, closely followed by the Headmaster, Professors McGonagall, Snape and Mme Marchbanks who came straight over and started chatting to Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ginny.

The Headmaster moved Tonks and Harry apart from everyone else, Harry shook his hand then they discussed the happenings of the previous day and Harry was the first to say that it must not happen again, it was too dangerous for the people who were around.

The headmaster said, "So your not afraid then?"

"I would be foolish indeed not to be afraid, but when I meet Voldemort we will see just who is most afraid. I do not fear death and I know he does. We have been working on an enchantment that if we are strong enough, well it will destroy him forever."

"Can you tell us what the enchantment is?"

Harry paused a second, then said, "Not at the moment."

"I understand, have you any idea when you may be ready to destroy him?" asked the Headmaster.

"We may well be strong enough already to destroy him utterly, but the problem at the moment is, we do not know if we are strong enough to survive the ordeal. And that we believe to be the preferred option."

The Headmaster smiled and agreed, then Tonks asked, "Would you mind if Charlie came to Chudley Salterton with us, Headmaster?"

"We have discussed it and agreed that these decisions, in future, will be Harry and Hermione's and not mine," so Tonks asked Harry and he said that they should go and talk with Hermione about it.

Harry and Tonks had finished talking to the Headmaster so they went and mingled with the rest of the company, they went over to join a group with Ginny, Mme Marchbanks, Hermione, Parvati, Padma, Luna and Neville who had also been joined by Charlie and Bill.

Harry went up to Grizz and kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "Is it Grizz today?"

"Yes I think it should be, don't you?"

"Happy Christmas Grizz, have I missed anything?"

"Not a lot, we've been putting the treatment of House Elves to rights, I think I will pester the Wizengamot about it, that should wake them up for ten minutes at least, they really need some younger blood. You lot caused a bit of a kafuffle yesterday getting all your pictures in all the papers."

Hermione said grinning, "It's getting to be that a girl can't even buy a dress in peace if she is with Harry."

An unpleasant voice sounded, "Ah, the famous Harry Potter." Professors Snape and McGonagall had joined the group as well.

Grizz reacted immediately, "And I am sure he would rather not be, famous that is. Happy Christmas Minnie and what are we going to call this one?" hitching her thumb at Professor Snape. "Misery Guts sounds good to me, please remember to take fifty points from Slytherin Minnie for his needless rudeness, can't you cast a cheering charm on him until he leaves?" most of the group were having great difficulty keeping straight faces.

"Alas not without his permission, Grizz," Professor McGonagall seemed a little bit tipsy.

Then Grizz said, "Can't he go somewhere else he's giving me indigestion?" Professor Snape stalked off they did not bother to watch where he went, "Why is he always so sour Minnie?"

"It's a long story Grizz and not for telling here."

"What were we talking about? Oh yes. What on Earth induced you to go to Paris to buy dresses?"

Minnie interrupted, "Well isn't that obvious? Look at them, they all look sensational, that's why they went. I wish I had gone with them and look at the Minister's wife, Molly looks absolutely stunning and she's had a load of children, I'm not envious I'm out and out jealous."

Hermione said, "Professor McGon…"

"Minnie!"

"Minnie, I have never heard you talk like that, we'll take you shopping if you want."

"I don't want to go shopping with you, you silly girl, I want to go with Harry Potter and he hasn't even wished me Happy Christmas."

Harry went over to her, took her in his arms, kissed her on both cheeks then lightly on the lips and said, "Happy Christmas Minnie." Professor McGonagall looked like she was on cloud nine; she went and sat down in a dream.

Grizz said, "I don't know about some people, mind if I was a hundred years younger. I must go and talk to Albus, excuse me please," she went over to Dumbledore.

Then Harry said, "Hermione let's go in the other room a minute I need to talk to you," she agreed and they went into the other room and he said, "Tonks has just asked me if Charlie can come and stay in the flat."

Hermione replied, "Well Parvati has just asked me if Padma can come, as well."

"Is it to many people getting to know where we are?"

"I don't know Harry, Should we ask the Headmaster?"

"No, I think that we have to decide ourselves and I think that the answer must be no at this time; if we say yes what will we tell Ron he wanted to bring Lavender and we wouldn't let him?"

Hermione said that she would bring Padma, Parvati and Tonks and when she did Harry explained their problem to them they all understood and they were still all friends.

Harry said to Hermione, "I need to talk to Remus for a minute."

So he went over to Remus, who was standing on his own and after wishing him a Merry Christmas, asked. "How are you getting on with that pile of papers and things that were in Sirius's old vault?"

"Well Harry, all the jewellery that was charmed has all been destroyed, the charms were all dark magic, some of it was really evil, I am about half way through the papers and I haven't found anything important, only a few interesting snippets of the Black family history, sorry Harry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about Remus, it is very good of you to do this for me."

"I am sure that if Sirius could have made it down there, he would have thrown most of it away."

"Why don't you do that then, everything that you are sure is rubbish destroy, that sounds like nearly all of it to me, then let's see what we are left with? The remainder will be a lot easier to cope with that way."

"Ok Harry I will carry on like that, if I am in doubt about anything I will ask Albus, it should make everything a lot easier."

"Thanks again for your Help, Remus."

Harry went back over to the group and Tonks said, "I think it's time you should all be going."

Instantly Charlie said to Tonks, "But it's much to early for you to go."

She smiled at him and replied, "I did not say that I would be going Charlie Weasley, I said that they should be going, so just you stop getting your knickers in a twist, I'm sure that I can think of much better things for you to get worked up over." So she kissed him.

Harry and Hermione went to the kitchen to tell Dobby that they were going to leave in a few minutes, so they went round saying goodbye to everybody eventually the group said goodbye to Molly and Arthur then they Flooed to Chudley Salterton.

Hermione and Harry were the first to arrive there, so they settled themselves on one of the sofas and Harry gave Hermione a very serious Kiss, he was still holding her very tight when the others including Dobby but minus Tonks arrived. Dobby had brought all their presents and he put them under one of the trees that had been conjured in a corner of the room, then all of them went through to the dining room and Dobby sent a load of supper food and they started eating.

As usual while they were eating their supper they were discussing the party, they decided that it had been quite a good party and they had all enjoyed themselves. Ginny told them that Tonks had sent a message that was don't wait up at this they all giggled, they were wondering what she and Charlie would be getting up to.

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