A/N I know I disappeared for 9 months (don't worry I'm not pregnant) but I finally got around to updating my story :) I am a very very laissez-faire person, I know you all know by now. Hopefully you've taken the time to read the other stories that I have posted in my missing nine months (You haven't ? Shame on you!).I like this chapter more than I originally supposed I would. Enjoy. Then review!

Chapter 13

The mall struck Ron speechless. He was used to the busy and crowded streets of Diagon Alley, not the angry customers pushing and shoving while listening to Christmas music. Everything about it amazed him, the bright signs, the escalators, and even the vending machines. Hermione tugged on his arm to get him to move.

"Ron," she murmured, "you're a Muggle, remember? Act like one."

Nodding his acquiescence he tried to put on a bored expression. Hermione wanted to stay with him, to make sure nothing happened to him, but it was tradition for everyone to split up so nobody would know who got whom in the Kris Kringle. Realizing she wouldn't be able to she asked him, "What do you do if you get lost in Diagon Alley? When you're a child that is?"

"We go to Ms. Mabley's Lost and Found."

"Well, if you get lost in here there's a Customer Service Desk right at the entrance to the mall. Just go there and tell them to page me."

"Don't worry Hermione, I have it under control." His assurances grated her nerves and she twisted her hands while still attempting to appear to have confidence in him.

"Alright then," Madi said. "You have two hours. Be in line for Santa Claus, or else." She attempted a mock glare at her friends, Harry laughed.

Scott knew exactly what he was buying Ron. He'd thought about it and knew that he had to do something that would make Hermione happy. He'd come to a conclusion. As a child he'd always wanted a pet, his mother had point blank refused. Even if Ron's mother made him get rid of the pet, at least he'd attempted to make a friendly gesture. Seeing the neon sign proclaiming 'Perfect Pets' he turned into the store. A Perfect Pets employee shortly ambushed him; a slender redheaded girl approached him.

"Hi. Welcome to Perfect Pets. My name is Kim. Can I help you find something?"

Scott grinned. Christmas had come early, not only would he have a perfect present for Ron, so that Hermione would like him over the break, he'd have the number of this girl to have somebody to fool around with until summer vacation.

"Actually you can help me. I'm looking for a tarantula for a friend of mine..."

Harry wandered through a large department store. He had no idea what he was going to buy for Madi. He wanted it to be nice but didn't want to buy her jewellery. Unfortunately, that was the only thing he could think of. Seeing a lady wearing an excessive amount of make-up standing at the counter he decided to ask her for ideas. Even if she was old and attempting to look young, at least she was female.

"Excuse me," he requested politely.

"Yes dearie? What can I do for you?" She smiled and waddled towards Harry.

"I need help," he requested awkwardly – the hero in Harry could save the world, but he couldn't buy a girl a Christmas gift. "I have to buy a Christmas present – for a girl." His cheeks reddened with embarrassment. "She's not my girlfriend," he tried to explain, "well she could be, I mean-"

The powdered sales lady cut in. "I know exactly what you mean, pumpkin. And I know just what to do."

Ron had bought his gift for Hermione and was now wandering the mall, ogling the different displays. He had been shocked as he passed the lingerie store. He new girls wore bras and underwear, he hadn't realized it could be so lacy, and have so many strings. The main surprise had been how brazenly it was displayed. Beautiful models with airbrushed bodies stared provocatively out of the posters. "They call it underwear because it's supposed to go under what you wear," he muttered, "the lack of modesty shown by the women caused him to look away hurriedly. Ron had been enchanted with stories of the great magician Merlin when he was younger, however, the two characters in the story that had fascinated him beyond all else were King Arthur and Sir Gawain; the two most chivalrous, noble knights, in the existence of human kind. Quixotic at heart, Ron new that upholding the code of honour would be how he would try to live his life.

He had looked at a map of the mall and realized it was shaped like a wheel; the spokes were pathways towards the centre, the hub of the wheel. It appeared as if all he had to do was follow any path and he would find Santa Claus in the middle. He began his walk towards the centre, confident in his ability to reach Santa without asking directions. He reached the centre of the mall, or what he believed to be the centre, but no jolly old man wearing a suit was in sight. Puzzled he took another look around, and then decided to walk in another direction. Eventually he gave himself up for lost. The one thing he had managed to find was the information desk.

"Attention customers, if there is a Hermione Granger in the mall please come to the information desk to meet with your party." Hermione jerked upright from the counter she had been browsing at.

"Ron…" she groaned. She had already purchased her gift for Kris Kringle so had nothing to hinder her quick walk towards the desk.

"Hermione!" She heard Ron's anxious voice. "I thought you'd gotten lost or kidnapped, what took you so long? We agreed to meet here half an hour ago."

Hermione was about to open her mouth in a tirade against his unjust accusation when he quickly muttered, "I'm really sorry, I was just so embarrassed, I couldn't tell the lady that I'd gotten lost." Hermione forgave him instantly, she squeezed his hand so he would know and began to lead him to the Christmas exhibit.

"I was here!" Ron exclaimed. "There's no Santa Claus here though."

"It's actually downstairs, Ron," Hermione explained.

"There aren't any stairs around here."

"Actually," she explained patiently. "We have something called an elevator. Remember that, your dad will love it."

"What does it do?" Ron asked the question as they stepped into the crowded elevator. The doors shut. "We're in a box! It's magical!"

"Just wait," Hermione told him.

As the elevator began to drop Ron panicked. "We're all going to die! We're falling." Ron grabbed people and shook them, then made a desperate attempt to shoulder the elevator door.

Hermione spoke to the bewildered shoppers, "I'm really sorry. He's quite mad, I have him out of the asylum for the day." With that the doors opened Ron fell out; collapsing on the floor.

"Was that pay back Hermione?" he gasped.

"Oh no," she said saccharinely. "Remember you told me you wanted to be exposed to Muggle things?" Then she flounced towards the glistening replica of the North Pole.

A/N And there it is. I don't have a beta for this story but I assure you I'm looking into it. As I'm no longer allowed to do personal thank yous down here, I'll try to reply to your reviews. That you ARE leaving ;) Hint for next chapter – prezzies and mistletoe!