Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Do you honestly think I'm patient enough to write seven books of huge length? No.

A/N: First things first: to help me remember all of the shops in Diagon Alley and where they are presumably located, I used the Harry Potter Lexicon. It's a really, really great Harry Potter site! And also, I love you guys so much:D lol. I got a great response from all my reviewers. Please keep reviewing! Read on.

Back Into My Heart

Chapter Seven: Late Christmas Shopping

Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase.
- Erma Bombeck

Ginny rolled over in her bed, a sharp pain in her neck from sleeping in the wrong position. She didn't know what time she had come home from riding Paul's broom, but obviously she was fatigued when she came back, as she had jumped on her bed and fallen asleep.

Paul was so incredibly wonderful, thought Ginny with a smile on her sleepy face. But why couldn't I stop thinking about Harry? It's not like I've told him I fancy him or anything…

She sighed loudly, knowing why teenager girls were so confused and had a lot of guy problems. Guys just never gave hints to who they fancied, or if they liked you a lot or just thought that you were hot.

Making herself get out of bed, Ginny glanced in her mirror, wiped the sleep off of her face, and ran her fingers through her hair. Not caring anymore if she wore pajamas in front of Harry, she ran downstairs to see who all was awake.

"Morning, Gin," said Hermione from the stool at the kitchen counter, stifling a yawn hurriedly.

"Hey. What time is it?" Ginny sat down beside her and put her head in her hands.

"More or less, nine o'clock," Mrs. Weasley said from her breakfast-making post across the room.

"And we're going to Diagon Alley in an hour," Fleur informed Ginny, just then walking into the room.

Ginny noticed that Hermione and Fleur were already dressed and ready to go to Diagon Alley, except waiting for Mrs. Weasley to finish with breakfast.

"Er, all right. I'll go upstairs and get ready then." Ginny slid off of her stool and jogged upstairs to her bathroom to take a shower.

Twenty minutes and a warm shower later, Ginny walked into her room, with a fluffy towel wrapped around her. She quickly dried off her hair with a drying charm and pulled on her robes.

Downstairs breakfast had been made ready and was set out on the table. Mrs. Weasley, Fleur, and Hermione were sitting down eating when Ginny walked in the kitchen.

"Aren't Harry and Ron coming?" she asked sleepily, plopping down into an empty seat.

"We will just let zem stay here and zey can come later, when they are awake," Fleur told, getting herself more bacon.

"Yeah, we'll spend the whole day there." Hermione stood up, having eaten all of her meal, and made towards the stairs. "I'm going up to my room to finish getting ready. Someone tell me when it's time to leave."

"Okay," Fleur and Ginny said simultaneously, waving at Hermione carelessly.

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Ginny clambered out of her chair at the table, going to brush her teeth and find Hermione. Walking down the hallway, she paused out of habit and Ron and Harry's halfway open door.

Harry looked as though he had been slung onto the mattress on the floor and knocked unconcious. Even as Ron -who was eagle-spread across his own bed- snored very loudly, he didn't move one bit. Ginny giggled to herself, looking at the two young men, who then looked about the same as they did five years before, just larger.

She stopped giggling and began watching only Harry. His dark hair, even messier than usual from sleep, was tossed in every direction, and he had forgotten to put his glasses up, as they hung from his limp hand.

Even though Ginny halfway knew the answer to Fleur's questions from the day before, they were still at the back of her mind. She didn't want to think about it and complicate things. It was simple: Harry had no interest in her, and Ginny had Paul, who was a really great guy.

Paul would be enough for her. Ginny didn't really know if they were dating. They were sort of on the edge of dating, but they had only known each other for a few days. Still, she wondered if she could picture herself marrying Paul, living the rest of her life with him and only him…

"Ginny," Hermione whispered, coming from behind Ginny and noting the guys asleep in the next room. "You ready?"

"Yeah, yeah. I just gotta brush my teeth. Two minutes." Ginny hurriedly walked towards the bathroom, hoping Hermione hadn't seen her staring at Harry.

As Ginny turned the corner into the Weasley's upstairs bathroom, Hermione glanced in the room and smiled fondly at Ron. She looked back over to where Ginny had disappeared from, and then at Harry and the smile slid off her face as she wondered what would happen to two of her best friends. They were obviously meant to be, but Paul was an excellent guy that Ginny clearly liked a lot.

Hermione blew the hair that was getting into her eyes out of the way with a small sigh, and slowly walked downstairs.

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"Ginny, Fleur!" Mrs. Weasley summoned the girls as Hermione stood beside her, reaching for floo powder beside the fireplace.

Fleur and Ginny ran down the stairs like ten-year-olds in a moment and into the living room, where Mrs. Weasley and Hermione waited.

"Now, when will you be back?" Mrs. Weasley questioned imperiously, again forgetting that the three were of age, and Fleur was twenty-one.

"Sometime after lunch," said Ginny, slightly impatient to get to Diagon Alley. She reached in the broken flowerpot for some floo powder and waited for Hermione to step in the fireplace.

"The Leaky Cauldron!" Hermione said, trying not to choke. In a whirl of robes, Hermione had disappeared and Ginny stepped up.

"The Leaky Cauldron!" she mimicked Hermione and was gone. She held her breath, feeling the warm flames of the fire, and then the only slightly colder atmosphere of the Leaky Cauldron.

Ginny felt Hermione grab her arm, steadying her, and she turned around to wait for Fleur. When Fleur appeared suddenly, the three left the pub and Hermione tapped the brick to get into Diagon Alley.

The Apothecary and cauldron shop were the first things that Ginny saw. Farther away from the three, the stationery shop and Quality Quidditch Supplies loomed.

"So, where first?" Fleur asked, a sparkle in her eye. Ginny grinned, knowing how much Fleur loved shopping and agreed. Hermione smiled a little.

"I don't know. Need a new cauldron?" Hermione joked.

"Not really," Ginny said. "But we might can get some gifts from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Who all do you guys have left to get?"

"Everyone, except Mum and Dad. I gave them their gifts before while you were still at Hogwarts," Hermione replied to Ginny, looking at all of the shops and shoppers around them.

"Yes. I gave ze presents to my family back in France a week ago. I have found Bill something, and ze twins, but the rest I must find," told Fleur, ignoring the awestruck stares of most male shoppers.

"I'm not sure if I should get Paul something," Ginny confessed. "I mean, I guess I should. I dunno if he'll get something for me and I don't want to make him feel bad."

"Get him something and hide it with you until he gives you a gift," Hermione suggested and Fleur grinned.

"Yes, do that!"

"Maybe. But I still don't know what to get him," Ginny laughed.

"Maybe we'll see something," said Fleur.

"So Quality Quidditch Supplies?" Hermione inquired, and the three walked over to the quidditch store.

Quality Quidditch Supplies was filled with quidditch fanatics, equipment, and famous quidditch player memorabilia.

"I'll get Ron something from the Chudley Cannons," decided Hermione, going to the Canons' section.

"He still likes them," Ginny said, laughing a little. "Good thing he didn't give up on them. They won out of England this past year. And they changed their motto back."

"I always did think he was crazy." Hermione shook her head and continued searching.

"What's Harry's favorite team?" Fleur asked, with a quick, sly glance at Ginny.

"Puddlemere United," said Ginny automatically, and turned a little pink when Fleur and Hermione looked her way.

"How'd you know that?" Hermione teased.

"Just some… random…" Ginny replied carefully, her face flushed.

"And what to get ze twins? Zey have all joke supplies already." Fleur crossed her arms and glared at the goggle-eyed cashier, who quickly looked the other way.

"Yeah, and since Zonko's went out of business, the only prank store is theirs," said Hermione absentmindedly, sighing over the perfect gift for Ron.

"We could all chip in for some advertising or something."

"Brilliant, Gin!" Fleur smiled, showing off her straight, taintlessly white teeth.

"Maybe in the window of the Leaky Cauldron. Tons of people walk through there," suggested Hermione.

"Yeah, great. That shouldn't be too much. And I'm sure we can find some extra space in the window. We can ask when we walk back through there for lunch or something."

"Yes. Now we must find Ron, Harry, Bill, and Charlie's gifts. Bill likes the Appleby Arrows, but Charlie is obsessed with them," Fleur informed the two others.

"Okay," said Hermione, still worrying on about Ron's gift.

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An hour later, Ron and Harry apparated into the girls's midst, causing Fleur to shriek loudly and Ginny and Hermione to draw their wands. The two put their wands back, rolling their eyes.

"Hello," Hermione said grumpily, shivering in the cold of England's winter. They were all standing in front of Flourish and Blotts, having just come out of there.

Ginny had purchased Gilderoy Lockhart's new book, What You Never Knew: An Insider's View of St. Mungo's, for Mrs. Weasley. Harry and Ron saw it poking from her bag and chuckled.

"That nutter wrote another book?" Ron rolled his eyes and stood next to Hermione, who was looking disapprovingly at him.

"At least it's not about what other people have done. True, he probably exaggerated about St. Mungo's, but at least it's not like his other books," she said.

In Quality Quidditch Supplies, Ginny had gotten Charlie some quidditch-themed chocolates, and Harry some dragon-skin Quidditch gloves that she had heard Charlie talking about, made for an excellent grip on a broom. The gloves had been eight galleons, but Ginny was sure Harry would like them. Ron had gotten a rather pricely signed picture of the Canons team with Hermione, which took up quite a bit of space.

She would get Bill a new deck of Exploding Snap, which was one of his many obsessions. Percy could have some Gobstones, which was the only game, besides chess, that he enjoyed. And everyone always went to some muggle store to get something for Mr. Weasley.

Fleur was a little bit harder, but Ginny decided a gift certificate at Madam Malkins would be good enough for her. Alicia, Angelina, and Penny could have some sweets, along with Katie and Oliver, who were good friends of the Weasleys.

And Ginny had bought Hermione a book from the muggle store the day before. All of her presents were taken care of, except Ginny had to send Cathy, Zacharias Smith, and Jacob Summerby their gifts later.

"Me and Harry are going to the quidditch shop," Ron said, pointing towards the shop. "We'll meet you at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour?"

Ginny and Fleur looked to Hermione, who answered for them. "Sure. We'll be in Madam Malkins. See you then."

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Hermione hopped down from the small stool in Madam Malkins, and had just gotten her measurements. Ginny had decided that she didn't need any robes, but had gotten her measurements for future referenece, as she hadn't been measured in a while. Fleur, of course, being the shopaholic that she was, bought three new pairs of robes, which she admired the whole time the three walked to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Get anything?" Hermione queried, when Ron and Harry walked over to them from a small table.

"Nothing really for us, just looking around. But I got Bill and Charlie's gifts, and then we went to a few other stores for most of our other presents. Wanna grab a table?" said Ron, putting his free arm that wasn't carrying his bags around Hermione.

Hermione smiled up at him. "Sure. We can get the one over by the window."

Ginny, Fleur, and Harry followed the couple to the said table, snickering. Hermione glanced back at them, and reddened, but grinned nonetheless.

"So what presents did you get, 'Arry?" Fleur questioned once the group had all sat down at the table.

"Everyone but Mrs. Weasley's and Percy's. Anyone have ideas?"

"I got Mum the new Gilderoy Lockhart book," Ginny spoke up, patting her bag from Flourish and Blotts.

"Oh, I was wanting to read that. It sounds interesting," Hermione laughed a little, Ron's arm still around her.

Harry and Ginny snorted simultaneously, and Harry grinned at her while her face tinged pink. Ginny smiled when Harry turned away, a little pleased with herself.

She had noticed that she was constantly grinning when around Harry, while it was only small smiles with Paul. Maybe she was shyer around Paul, as she didn't know him that well.

"Gin? What do you want to drink?" Hermione asked, taking her attention away from Ron.

Ginny looked up from where she was fidgeting with her hands, and saw a waitress standing next to their table.

"Oh, pumpkin juice," she ordered quickly.

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything," the waitress said cheerfully.

The rest of the lunch was spent munching on their food and talking and smiling. Ginny found that she couldn't tear her eyes off of Harry unless she was eating, but she was even more surprised that Harry was watching her and grinning a lot too.

When Ginny had finished the meal and the others were nearly done, she glanced around at the other customers of the Leaky Cauldron. She smiled upon seeing Katie and Oliver sitting at a table near them, grinning and talking to each other. Ginny had a weird feeling in her stomach as she noticed a few other couples talking happily with each other, but stood up and went over to Katie and Oliver.

"Be right back," Ginny told the table in general.

"Hey, Katie. Hey, Oliver," she greeted them. The two turned to her, surprised, but smiled warmly.

"Hi, Gin," Katie said. Katie had been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team with her, and the girls had become friends being chasers together. "You're here with them?" Katie jerked her head at the table where the others were sitting.

"Yeah. Late Christmas shopping," explained Ginny.

"We were here for a romantic lunch for two," Oliver joked.

"No, actually, we're on our lunch breaks. I'll have to go back to work in five minutes, but Oliver already has to leave." Katie sighed a little, but gave a fond look to her husband.

"Oh, okay. Just wanted to say hi, then. Oh, hey, what are you doing tomorrow night for Christmas Eve?"

"Nothing really," Oliver laughed. "Just sitting at home."

"How boring," teased Ginny. "But anyway, do you want to come eat supper at the Burrow? Everybody's coming."

Katie looked at her husband for approval, and nodded. "Sure. What time?"

"I don't know. Come at about six?"

"All right. Thanks for inviting us," said Katie, smiling at Ginny.

"Yeah. See you then." Oliver stood up and kissed Katie goodbye, then appartated out of the Leaky Cauldron.

"I guess I'll go now, too, then. See you, Gin." Katie smiled again and was gone, and Ginny went back over to the table where the others were getting up also.

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"We're back, Mum!" Ginny cried, flushing as she stepped out of the fireplace. She had almost fallen flat on her face from flooing, but Harry had steadied her when she arrived at the Burrow.

His hand was still on her shoulder, she noticed with an inward smile. Harry seemed to see this also, and he withdrew his hand with a grin. Ginny grinned back like a fool, and quickly shook herself mentally.

"Oh, good. Did you buy everything you needed?" Mrs. Weasley hustled over to everyone and gave them hugs, although they had only been gone for a little over four hours.

"Yes," everyone who had arrived chorused.

"That's good. I really don't think you lot should have waited this long to buy Christmas presents. Most of the good gifts are gone, but I suppose since you already have everything… Well, I'm going to have a bit of a lie in. I've worked all day long, cleaning the whole house for company tomorrow night," she said and smiled pleased at everyone, and made her way to her bedroom.

"I'm going to send my presents to Cathy and those. See you lot later." Ginny took the stairs two at a time, in a rush to get up to her room. Her legs were tired from walking all around Diagon Alley, and Ginny sank into her bed, closing her eyes and remembering Harry's warm hand on her shoulder, and the smiles he had given her that day.

After a few moments of resting, she went to find Bill's new owl, which was large and strong enough for three packages. Ginny got the three gifts out of her closet, and quickly fastened them to the owl's legs.

Seeing Bill's owl fly out the window, she followed her mum's example and dozed off, without even slipping off her shoes.

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"Ginny," Fleur said, pouncing on her bed and startling Ginny. Her eyes flew open and closed again as she saw that it was only Fleur.

"What?" Ginny grabbed her pillow and curled up with her head under it.

"Everyone was going to get a really big blanket and go out by ze lake and sit. Maybe with some snacks, but eet is only three," Fleur told her, laying down at the end of the bed.

"Mmkay. Now?"

"Yeah. I am a little hungry already. Mrs. Weasley will sure have some delicious food prepared for us when we come back, so I will not eat zat much." Fleur sat up and reached for Ginny's arm. "Come on, now."

"Okay, okay. Coming." Ginny didn't move. The bed was too warm… and outside was sure to be a bit chilly. But she could always cast a warming charm on her robes. That was what she had been doing lately, as it was late December.

So Ginny climbed off of her fluffy bed and followed Fleur to the lake, where the others were meeting them.

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"You woke up?" Harry asked from his stretched out position in the middle of the blanket.

"Oh, no, I'm still asleep," Ginny said, sitting down on the blanket, near Harry.

"That was corny, Gin," commented George.

"Yes, I do hope you know that. Corniest thing I've heard in all my years," Fred added and Ginny only rolled her eyes.

"Points for trying, though," George muttered to her, and Fred sniggered.

"What did everyone bring?" Ginny asked, looking at a large picnic basket that she was sure Mrs. Weasley packed, as it was almost overflowing with food.

"Mostly pies. Some biscuits and such," Charlie replied from his seat next to the basket.

"Yes. So dig in, everyone!" Fred chimed, reaching for a raspberry pie of his own.

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"And then I said, 'Give her hell from us, Peeves!'" Fred retold the story of his and George's flight from Hogwarts.

"And he actually listened, he did!" Ron said amazedly, then with a dreamy look on his face. "It was wicked. People talked about it for weeks…"

"Yes, well, they didn't graduate," Hermione said, still disapproving of their decision to leave Hogwarts early.

"Yeah, but look how we're doing now! Business is booming," George said proudly.

"And it's all thanks to Harry!" Fred said, winking at Harry.

Harry looked modest, though it might've been because of the raised-eyebrows look Hermione was shooting at him. "It was nothing, really. They did all the work," he said honestly.

"Sure, blame it on us," Fred muttered to himself.

"Well, it is your store," Hermione pointed out.

"Yes, it is," said George proudly.

Everyone talked for a while; they stayed outside for at least an hour or two. After a while, though, the Weasley males decided to go swimming, and Fleur and Hermione went back to the Burrow.

So Ginny and Harry talked, watching the twins, Bill, and Charlie swim (they had obviously put strong heating charms on themselves) and goof around at the lake a little ways away. Again, Ginny thought of only Harry, and nothing of Paul and their kiss the day before.

"It's getting pretty cold," Harry commented, laying flat on his back.

"Yeah. I think my heating charm is wearing off and my wand's inside," replied Ginny, who was laying in the same fashion comfortably next to him.

"Want to go back to the Burrow, then? They can clean up the place, and we won't have to help when they come back." Harry grinned and stood up.

"Sure," said Ginny, reaching for Harry's hand that he had extended.

The two walked to the Burrow in easy silence, and Ginny was more attracted to him than she had been in a long while. There was something different about him than Paul, but Ginny had no idea what it was… It was times like then that she fancied Harry a lot more than Paul. He wasn't as careful, and less… guarded than Paul.

"Wow, it's cold outside." Ginny grinned up at Harry, who impulsively put an arm around her mid-back.

"Warmer?" he asked a little awkwardly, but with a grin on his face nonetheless.

Ginny felt herself heat up, and it wasn't only because of the warmth of his arm. Her face was turning steadily red, and she didn't know what she would do if someone saw them.

"Yeah," she whispered. They were paused at the doorstep, not moving, and Ginny was reminded of the previous day when she was in this almost exact situation with Paul. Then she wondered if she would be cheating on Paul if Harry kissed her. But she didn't stop to think long, as Harry was smiling softly and leaning his head in…

A/N: Yeah, I know you all love me right about now. One, there was no Paul in this chapter, and two, there's a bit of Harry/Ginny fluff, especially at the end. Really hope you all like it, and thanks so much for all the reviews. I think there was too many for me to do individual responses, so I'm just going to say that I was grinning like a fool the whole day and every time I read a review. Please, fifteen reviews 'til the next chapter::grins unashamedly: