Chapter XV- Ginny's Suspicion

Their arrival at Fortescue's wasn't as terrifying as Harry thought it might be. He could just imagine Ron's reaction to his new wardrobe, which was really very unlike anything he'd ever owned before, but found he didn't really have to worry. Ron was far too occupied, as were everyone else, with chatting with the newest arrival.

"Hermione!" Harry called out as soon as they were close enough to the group not to disturb everyone out shopping. It was indeed Hermione, who was apparently doing her shopping as well, if her bags were any indication. Upon a second look, he also realized that Hermione's parents, whom he recognized from their brief introduction several years earlier, were sitting at a nearby table, talking to Mr. Weasley. Harry made his way over, pushing through the crowd that always appears whenever you're trying to get somewhere, aware that Draco was still on his heels. When he finally got there, Hermione rose from her seat and greeted him with a hug and a swift peck on the cheek. Harry nearly laughed at the look of jealousy that passed briefly over Ron's face.

"How've you been, Harry?" Hermione's normally bubbly greeting was tempered with concern. He knew that she was asking about how he was dealing with Sirius, and was again somewhat uncomfortably aware that, since the arrival of Draco, he had actually managed to forget what had happened. Or maybe 'forget' wasn't the right word, he still remembered every painful detail of that day. It just... hadn't seemed as painful, and hadn't crept to the front of his mind as often. It felt a bit like he was betraying his godfather's memory, but he also felt, for the first time since the incident, that he could answer the question honestly.

"I'm doing alright, actually." He gave her a smile as she gave him a suspicious look. Mildly satisfied, but not quite believing him, she finally noticed the person standing directly behind him. She gave a little gasp and stepped back quickly. Harry merely looked over his shoulder to see Draco putting on his best 'I'm threatening, fear me' look. Harry turned around and swatted him on the shoulder, ignoring him when Draco responded with a pouty noise that sounded suspiciously like 'meanie'.

"Stop trying to look scary. It doesn't work anymore." Harry threw over his shoulder as he strode over to an empty seat at what was obviously the 'kids' table, knowing that Hermione would require an immediate explanation. Still pouting, Draco followed, taking the seat next to Harry and carefully placing his owl on the ground in the space between them, giving it another happy glance as he did so. No one apparently noticed this, except for Ginny Weasley.

Normally, she wouldn't quite win awards for being observant, but in this case, it was hard not to be. Particularly when Harry was looking far more edible than she had ever seen him, and Draco wasn't looking what you'd call unattractive. Far from it. And so, being a normal, average female, Ginny was having a hard time not paying attention to the two boys across from her. Though her crush on Harry had faded, she still tended to notice what he did, if only because he was becoming very much like another brother to her- one that she knew wouldn't fly off the handle if she ever tried to- gasp!- date someone.

It was only because of the natural urge of a teenage female to ogle hotnesses that Ginny noticed the look that Draco gave to the owl, and it was because of that look that Ginny stopped looking merely for the eye candy and started looking for the little clues. She found them. Plenty of them.

First was the fact that Harry was dressed like something out of a men's fashion magazine, which she seriously doubted he could accomplish on his own- Harry Potter he might be, fashion maven he was certainly not. Next was the ease with which they were... well, touching each other. It was nothing obvious, Ginny admitted to herself that she wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't been looking, but from the light swat to Draco's shoulder to the ease with which they were elbowing each other while recounting to Hermione the story behind Draco's arrival, they were simply in contact with each other just slightly more than normal, and for just slightly longer than normal each time. It was small and probably insignificant, but she stored it away for reference anyway. And Ron had said Draco talked Harry into taking Advanced Potions...

Ginny Weasley was developing a suspicion, but she wasn't going to voice it anytime soon. If she did happen to be right, it would be far, far too early, and if she was wrong... Well, she would have two of the most powerful young wizards in the country quite annoyed with her. Looking over at Hermione, though, she had an idea. She wouldn't be in class with the two of them at all, but Hermione would. And she was willing to bet that Hermione would be willing to help her keep an eye on them. After all, she thought as she gave both of them another appraising look, who wouldn't be?

The idea would have to be placed aside though. At the moment, Florian Fortescue himself had appeared to take their orders. Which took at least ten minutes of ordering, reordering, inquiring as to what everyone else was having, and quibbling over which toppings to add. Draco was the only one who knew exactly what he wanted. Fortescue seemed to know what Draco wanted, too.

"The usual, Mr. Malfoy?" He asked, politely but a bit coldly. It was almost enough to make Harry wince, comparing that voice with the one that had been speaking so jovially to all the others at the table. Draco, however, took it in stride, and actually seemed to be making an effort to be obsequiously cheerful. He nodded happily.

"That's correct. One Double Chocolate Avalanche, extra chocolate." Harry thought he was the only one who noticed the childlike glimmer that appeared in Draco's eyes as he ordered, but he was wrong. Ginny noticed it, and the answering smile that graced Harry's countenance. This, too, was filed away.

After they had eaten, which took a while as they spent as much time talking as they did chewing, they asked for their bills. It came as a surprise to most of the table when Fortescue informed them that their bills had been "already taken care of." Ron, in particular, responded with a rather intelligent;

"Huh?"

It spoke for most of them.

Harry looked around briefly at the other tables, searching for anyone who might have decided to pay for their ice cream. He didn't see anyone. Someone who'd already left? He thought back through the time they'd spent there, ordering, talking, then the sundaes had arrived, and Draco went in to get more napkins, and... that was it.

Harry shot the blond a suspicious glance, and was rewarded with an almost imperceptible shrug. He cocked an eyebrow, silently but obviously looking for more information. Draco gave up and looked happily down at his owl, then back up at Harry to mouth a quick and silent 'thank you'. Harry smiled, and kept quiet. Telling, then, would be Draco's prerogative.

Ginny observed the silent conversation, which was only helping to confirm her hypothesis. Her theory about the owl had just been proved correct, and she was fairly certain that it was Draco who had turned Harry into a 'My Size' Ken doll. She needed to consult Hermione on this one, and she was sure, judging by Hermione's rather quick acceptance of Draco during their ice cream break, that Hermione would at least be willing to listen to her suspicions.

It took only minutes to get Hermione's parents to agree to let her come stay at Grimmauld Place for the remainder of the summer, promising to drop her off at the corner of the street the next day. She did need to collect up her school things, and those were still in her bedroom at home, she explained as they passed out of Diagon Alley and back into the Leaky Cauldron. Ginny looked positively ecstatic about Hermione joining them, as did Ron, but for completely different reasons. Draco watched the proceedings with amusement, wondering just how happy the redheaded boy would be to know that even the Slytherins were aware of his long-time crush. Hell, even the Hufflepuffs knew, and for that to happen it had to be quite obvious.

Draco got stares as he picked up all his purchases. Even Tom, who never really looked very interested in anything that went on in his own pub, was staring. They stared further as Draco managed to pack everything into his new trunk to carry it back, up to and including several bags of Harry's purchases. It was Harry who voiced the obvious question.

"How in the world did you get all that to fit in there?" The Grangers, in particular, looked very odd with their mouths hanging open. They were marginally used to strange happenings, seeing as how their daughter was a witch, after all, but managing to fit a pile as large as Draco's into one trunk was just a bit over the top. Draco gave them all his best 'why do I put up with this?' look.

"What's the point of buying a trunk in Diagon Alley if you're not going to get a magic one?"

There was really nothing else to be said after that.