A/N: Thanks to the people who've reviewed. Oh- and a couple of people said it seemed a little weird. I take that as a compliment, don't worry, even if you didn't mean it that way, but anyway- what were you expecting when I mentioned Draco's sexy dance in the summary?
"Here," Hermione said, gazing at the map of the street we were on, after a quick detour to the Ministry to look through old records and collect a map, we were in Diagon Alley, looking for the shop front that would lead us to Prince House. "It's got to be here, the store was owned by Everett Prince when the house should have been built, and the store has had no profits, since, essentially, ever."
"Is this that mysteriously tax-exempt one?" Malfoy asked, looking at it dubiously. "I don't know, I think I went in once, they sell brooms, don't they?"
"No, they don't, records say they don't sell anything- there's never been a single shipment in or out of the store. As for the tax-exempt part, it must have been bribery, it would hardly be a first for one of the old families would it?" Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"No, it wouldn't. Now, let's review the crackpot scheme again," Malfoy said, making his opinions of my plan clear once again.
"You'll go in here, you came out top in OWLs, so if there are any enchantments I'm assuming you can get past them. If we don't hear from you in three hours, we'll come back for you," Hermione said. "Meanwhile, Harry and I are literally retracing our steps. We'll start with Godric's Hollow, and go to every halfway significant place on our way back there again. Get Ginny to take the baby home, and you take Pansy in."
"Isn't she cute when she thinks she's commanding an army?" Malfoy asked me, smirking. "You're adorable. And yes, I know. I'll send you a dragon if anything goes wrong, really, or if things go right. Anything you want me to tell her for you, Potter?" God, everything, I can't even put into words the thousands of things I want to tell her. I mean, I haven't seen her in almost two years, and so much has happened since then, we're such different people than we were then. Or at least I am, I don't even know how being a parent might have changed Ginny, or the months of isolation with only the twins and a few visits from unobtrusive Order members.
It scares me sometimes, with the idea that since it's been so long, we might not fit any more. And Ginny and I always fit so well; it felt, for those weeks when we were really together, like she understood everything.
"Tell her I love her," I said, finally.
"Oh, stunningly original, Potter," Malfoy snorted.
"And tell her I'll bring them home," I added, biting my tongue to keep from spilling out everything else I wanted too say to her. Malfoy and Hermione didn't need to hear any of it. Besides, Hermione looked as if she was about to burst into tears, which is a look I know far too well. And, as always when she's decided to cry- and I'm convinced she does it consciously at this point- she hugged me. "It's all right, Hermione," I said, patting her hair.
"You are such a girl, Granger," Malfoy said, "I'll tell her, Harry. And you know I'll bring her back."
"Yeah, I do. Thank you, and when you're in there just, do whatever you have too, alright?" I said, "and get Ginny first, she doesn't look it but she's an excellent fighter. Then get the baby, then handle Pansy once Ginny and the baby are back at home, alright?"
"Hard as it is to believe, Potter, I've actually done this before," Malfoy said, "and, honestly, Hermione, this is overdoing the girly bit. Hush," Hermione pulled herself away from my shoulder and glared at him.
"If you get hurt I'm not going to heal you," she said. Of course, we both knew she would, she practically had a heart attack when Malfoy fell down the stairs and sprained his ankle a few weeks ago.
"Could we maybe have a minute, Potter, just before I go in?" Malfoy asked, giving me on of those looks of his that indicates that if I don't do what he wants, he's going to rap me over the head with something.
"Sure, I'll meet you back home, Hermione, just outside the Wards."