A/N: Very sorry for the delay! Please forgive us! Hope you like it.
Chapter 2: Trip to Diagon Alley
"Harry are you ready yet?" Ginny called up the stairs. Harry hurried down the stairs, and stumbled with his sock that was lingering on his toes from his half hearted attempt to put it on while going down the stairs. "Good Merlin girl! You should still be getting ready."
Ginny giggled then replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "You forget Harry that I am a Weasley girl – therefore I am an odd girl." Harry nodded in agreement, he supposed for growing up with only brothers and being the only girl in the family she was quite girly. Well that and the only person besides Mrs. Weasley that even came close to a girl was Percy. Harry laughed out loud at the thought and Ginny just shook her head at him.
"Come on you." She said grabbing his hand and leading him out the door. There was a black car with heavily tinted windows with Remus Lupin leaning up against it. Harry eyeballed the car, half expecting several other Order members to pop out any moment. Remus smiled knowingly, "Nobody else is in the car, Harry. In fact it will just be the three of us all day."
Reassured, Harry opened the door for Ginny and did a cheesy bow and muttered, "Milady…" Ginny sniggered and plopped into the back seat followed by Harry as Lupin got into the front seat. The car ride was mostly silent, with the exception of the faint tunes of the radio. The ride wasn't ass-numbingly long either or cramped like the last car ride he'd taken.
When they arrived Remus parked the car in muggle London, outside the Leaky Cauldron. Tom greeted them at the door in the usual manner, "Can I get you anything, Sirs, Madam?" Remus requested three butterbeers and led Harry and Ginny to a table in the corner a little out of sight, and then sat a few tables away.
Tom of course was back in no time with the order. They thanked him and he retreated back to his duties. "So … thanks for inviting me." Harry said. Ginny nodded. "Where are we going?" He asked. Ginny bit her lip and thought for a moment because she knew where she wanted to go just not in a particular order.
After a few moments thought she answered him, "Gringotts to get my money, Madam Malkins for my new robes, then Muggle London." "Why Muggle London?" He asked. "Because I think their clothes are nice too." She replied with a mischievous grin.
Harry sipped some of his butterbeer and then a small burped escaped his lips, "Sorry." He said a little sheepishly. Ginny just giggled and then took a long gulp of butterbeer herself, sat up straight and let out a belch. Ginny broke out in a fit of giggles again when she saw Harry's face.
"What (giggles) did you (giggles) expect? I grew up (giggles) with all brothers!" She managed to say between giggles "Bloody hell! I've never even herd Ron burp that loud." He exclaimed.
Ginny's face was still slightly pink from the laughter but wasn't giggling anymore, "Well Ron at least beats Percy – who never participated because it was 'immature'. However I learned from the best-"Harry interrupted her, "Fred and George?" She nodded proudly. They herd some hushed laughter and looked over to find Remus had also found humor in her 'talent' as well.
They finished up their drinks and then headed over to Gringotts. Ginny's money was in a section of her families vault. When they entered it there were several distinct separate piles all across the room.
In the middle was her parents, the one to the left was labeled 'Ron' and the one to the right of the middle was labeled 'Ginny' and the final pile was in the back labeled 'Fred and George'. Ron's pile was the smallest, but no pile was very large as it was.
Harry felt very guilty remembering his large pile that was bigger than each of these combine.
Once Ginny had filled her money pouch they headed back up and out to the streets of Diagon alley once more. Harry tugged on Ginny's sleeve to get her attention, "Looks like there is a new store here." He pointed a little ways down. Ginny read the sign 'Muggle Things sold here.' "We can go there after, they might have clothes." Ginny said.
They entered Madam Malkins and the shop doors bell rang a sweet ding as they did so. Ginny mindlessly started for the second-hand section, which was located in the back. "Ginny, where are you going?" Harry asked looking to the right where the Girls clothing were. "Oh. Yeah, sorry I guess I'm just you know … used to heading over there." She replied as she made her way to where Harry's eyes were set.
Remus told them to mind there P's and Q's (which Ginny had no idea what he was talking about.) and that he would be looking in the men's. Harry enjoyed having Remus as a chaperone. He knew that he and Ginny could be trusted not to wander off. "I am only getting some school robes here." Ginny said, bringing Harry out of his thoughts.
"Ok, do you mind if I look at some Quidditch robes over there for a moment?" He asked. "No, go ahead." She replied sweetly. After Harry headed off Ginny grabbed a Gryffindor set of robes (they came with everything included: tie, skirt, shirt…) and then her eyes lingered on the Slytherin set.
She really liked their colors, and they looked good on her. She looked around to see where Harry was then when she was sure he was occupied she grabbed a Slytherin set as well and went to the counter. "Find everything all right?" asked Madam Malkin. "Yes, thanks." Ginny replied then handed her the money and took the bag. "Harry, Remus." She called. They looked up from the robes and headed in her direction.
Once out of the shop they headed to the new Muggle shop. When they reached the front of the new shop the large sign above the door read 'Muggle Things'. "Is that the name?" asked Ginny. "Guess so." Said Harry. "How clever…" Ginny said sarcastically. A bell chimed as they entered the door. "Remus can you shrink my bag so it will fit into my pocket, please?" She asked before he wandered off. "Sure." And with a wave of his wand it shrunk to fit neatly inside her pocket. "Come on Harry."
Ginny pulled Harry over to her section. The inside of this store was similar to Madam Malkins but also had a few other muggle things rather than just clothes and shoes. Ginny was flipping through the racks and when she found a shirt or pair of pants she liked she would pile them on Harry's outstretched arms.
Only did Ginny stop when all that was visible of Harry underneath the pile was the top of his messy black hair. Ginny giggled when she noticed how large that stack was. "Are you alright back there Harry? Can you breathe?" She sniggered. Harry replied in a very muffled voice, "Barely…" Ginny led him to the dressing room and had him set the pile on a chair.
"I can't be in here." Harry said preparing to leave. "Sure you can." Ginny replied slyly. Harry just raised his eyebrow at her and had a seat in front of the dressing room she chose. Ginny popped in and out with one sexy outfit on after another. At one point Harry had to think about cold showers and Dudley …
Once finished with the mountain of clothing she had picked out she chose to keep a little less than half, which again still buried most of Harry on the way to the shoes. "I wish they had shopping carts." Complained Harry. "A shopping car? What like a little car they let you drive around in the store with?" Ginny asked confused.
Harry looked at her amused, "No a shopping cart. Like c-a-r-t." He explained. Ginny just nodded and proceeded to the shoes. She looked around and then her eyes settled on a pair of shoes. They were all black with the exception of dark purple design on the side. "Oh I love these." She said.
A little after Harry had explained that she needed to find her size, (which confused the hell out of her because wizard shoes magically fit) were they able to take her stuff up to the counter. The clothes were rather inexpensive Harry thought. Before they left Ginny ran back with one of her new shirts and pants and the new shoes and put them on.
"Want some ice cream?" Remus asked. They both nodded and Ginny lead the way out the door. When she stepped outside it was as if the wind shifted directions abruptly. Then a pair of silver, cold eyes met her own brown ones. She knew exactly who he was – Draco Malfoy – and he wasn't with anyone, not even Crabbe and Goyle. Ginny thought he looked rather sad.
Their gaze would have gone on forever, but Harry grabbed Ginny's hand with his free hand that wasn't holding any bags. "Come on, Gin." He said sweetly. Ginny took her eyes away from Draco's cold stare that seemed somewhat lighter than usual. "Wha-" Ginny shook her head, "Oh sorry Harry." Then she unclenched her grip and let Harry and her fingers lace together.
Harry looked back as they were walking and saw who Ginny was staring at. They reached the front of the Ice cream shop and before she followed Harry in she glanced down the street to find Draco sneaking another look back at her as well and then swiftly entered behind Harry. If Harry had noticed the 'look' he gave no sign of it.
They went up to the counter to find Lavender Brown. "Lavender?" Said Harry. "Hello Harry, Ginny. Oh and hello Professor Lupin!" She greeted them. "Hi" replied Ginny. "What do you work here?" Harry asked kindly. "Yeah. My relatives own this place and since my parents … umm …" She started getting teary eyed. "They were killed by Death Eaters." She said quietly as a silent tear fell from her eye.
Harry and Ginny pulled her into a hug over the counter. Lavender's Uncle let her take an early lunch break and Lupin bought them all some ice cream. They sat and Lavender told them how she was spending the weekend with Parvati and Padma and got an owl by the Ministry telling her what had happened. "If I wasn't with Parvati and Padma I wouldn't be here either I guess." She said after a long silence.
When her break was over they went back to the burrow. Harry and Ginny told Ron and Hermione about Lavender's Parents and about the new Muggle store – which Mr. Weasley over-herd and made a startling cry of excitement scaring the shit out of them.
"That's terrible!" Said Hermione earnestly. "So I bet she's not all giggly anymore, huh mate?" Ron said smiling. "Ron!" cried Hermione, hitting him in the arm hard. "What?" He asked defensively. "Oh great." Mumbled Ginny. "Yeah." Agreed Harry and then he and Ginny left Ron and Hermione to bicker…..