Disclaimer: I do not own the characters

Harry Potter and His Heritage

Chapter Five: Friends or More?

Two days later Ron, Hermione, and Ginny arrived. They all were surprised to see how at home Harry was in the apartment. Perhaps it was the fact that Harry never had a real home before, and this would be the closest thing to home until he had a family, a family all his own.

While the three were lost in thought, Harry noticed the small changes of his friends. Like the little glances Hermione and Ron would sneak at each other. Harry noticed how Hermione's hair wasn't as bushy and it made her look much more lady like. Ron also had minor changes like how the color of his hair was a little less orange looking, how he grew about n inch, and how Ron was beginning to get more muscular. 'Perhaps its from all the Quidditch conditioning,' Harry thought. At Harry's first glance of Ginny, he immediately noticed that she had changed the most. Her body was changing, she had grew about two inches, at least, and she had a hair cut. Her hair now was shoulder length and had soft layers in the back. Ginny started blushing when Harry was staring at her. She had not completely gotten over Harry, she had just realized that he would probably not ever go out with her.

"So I guess I should give you guys the official tour," Harry said. First Harry showed Ginny and Hermione to their room remembering, "Ladies first." Harry even carried Ginny's things as Ron carried Hermione's. Next he showed them where the bathroom was. they would all have to share one shower, but that was fine for them. The Weasleys had nine people living in their house with only one shower. Then Harry took them to the room he would be sharing with Ron. After the little tour, Harry introduced them to Brownie.

When Hermione first saw the elf she said, "A house-elf Harry! You know what I think of them."

"Brownie interjected, "I'm a chef elf, Miss. I specialize in cooking. And I enjoy working for Master Harry, he is a nice master, plus I love to serve, it was so dreadfully boring when mast Harry was away."

"Hermione, you have to realize house-elves love to serve, they don't care if they are getting paid or not," Harry explained further.

"Wow! Harry how did you get a chef-elf?" Ron asked.

"From the Estate."

"What Estate?" Ron questioned further.

"The Potter Estate. There's actually two more over there, along with my personal elf, and a few house-elves."

"Some times I forget your rich," Ginny said.

"It's new to me too. I'm used to being a person's slave and wearing Dudly's old clothes.

"Your not in his old clothing now," Ginny pointed out.

"That's because I made Remus take me shopping. Remind me to never go shopping with him again. I swear I didn't know there were all those different types of robes," Ron, Hermione, and Ginny burst out laughing at that comment.

Ginny even said, "I'll take you shopping some time if you want. As long as you buy me an outfit and you pay your own way."

"Mate, I bet ya she's ten times worse to go shopping with then Professor Lupin," Ron responded.

"Well then I guess I'll have to take her out one time to see who's worse. Say Gin do you want to go tomorrow?"

"Sure! I'd love to."

"Ron, Hermione do you want to come with us?" Both declined, which gave Harry a plan. He would have to ask Ginny if she would help him though.

The next day just as he promised Harry and Ginny went shopping. First they went to Gringotts to let Harry pick up some money, then they stepped into muggle London, and they spent the whole day shopping. At lunch Harry proposed his plan to Ginny. He described how he thought Hermione and Ron fought with each other as a way of flirting. It was also a way for them to show attention to one another.

Finny agreed with Harry, but asked him how he planned to get them together. Harry replied, "We could act like we're dating, and force those two to be alone together."

"Alright, but what happens when they find out it is just a hoax?" After Ginny said that she mentally added, 'I wish it wasn't a hoax, I wish it was for real'.

Unknown to her and Harry, Harry read Ginny's thoughts, and he said, "Ginny do you want to go out with me, for real, not as a hoax?"

"I would love to, but how did you know I was thinking that?"

"You said it out loud, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't, I was thinking about it, but I didn't say it out loud."

"Uh-oh, I think I have some powers that I don't know any thing about. When we get back remind me to owl Dumbledore and Remus."

"Okay, now back to shopping," Ginny said standing up.

"Yay," Harry replied sarcastically.

"I'm not bad to go shopping with."

"No, you're not. Plus you're much prettier than Remus."

"Of course I am, he's a man."

The two started cracking up at Ginny's last comment. Then out of the blue Ginny asks, "Harry, are you going out with me because you heard my thoughts, or do you really want to?"

"I really want to. Just it made me more confident when I heard that you wanted to go out for real. Ginny, I would never ever hurt you like that. Besides you have six older brothers, who are all bigger than me." After saying that, Harry laced his fingers through Ginny's, and they walked down the street. Ginny felt so much better when she felt Harry take her hand, it was like a weight was taken off her shoulders.

After the day of shopping Harry and Ginny walked back to the Leaky Cauldron so they could Floo back to Prong's Flat. As they were walking there, Ginny noticed that Harry became nervous. When she asked him about it, he replied, "I'm worried about Ron's reaction."

"Don't worry, the worse thing he can do is start a fight, and if does you can throw him out. He won't like going back to mom."

"Thanks for calming me down Gin," Harry said and then pulled her into a hug.

When they arrived at the flat, Harry saw Remus. Remus went off saying "why didn't you tell any body where you were going? When you go out your supposed to have an escort."

"I'm sorry, I'm not used to being so restricted in my own house. We did tell some one; we told Ron and Hermione."

"And I'm sorry I went off. I just don't want anything to happen to you. You are my only reminder of my old friends."

"Moony, when Gin and I went shopping, I accidentally read her mind."

"Hmm, I think James had some special powers as well. I'll talk to Albus about it. He might know something more about it," Remus said then changing his tone, "so it's Gin now, huh?"

"Yeah, she's my girlfriend."

"Oh Merlin, why couldn't Sirius be around for your first girlfriend?"

"He was, Ginny's my second."

"But he didn't go over the whole Birds and Bees with you, did he?"

"No, but I know all about it from primary school."

"You don't know about wizarding protections, then. Basically there is a potion that you both take, that way you both are aware of your decision."

"Okay," Harry said trying to get out of the conversation as fast as possible.

"Have you told Ron yet?"

"No, we were going to tell him when we cam home, but you were here."

"Do you want me to stay when you tell him?"

"Would you please? Ron never seemed so big before."

"Well he has grown."

"That's not funny, Moony. Thought that was a Marauder's come back."

"Thank you, now go tell Ron so I can leave."

Remus and Harry walked out of Harry's study, and found Ron, Ginny, and Hermione conversing in the living room. Harry sat down and began, "Ron, when Ginny and I were out shopping, I read her mind and it was about how she would love to go out with me. And since I have been fancying her for a while, I asked her out, and she said yes. So now your sister and me are going together."

"That's great Harry. I always hoped it would be you. Some of those boys at school don't have very honorable intentions. But remember, if you hurt Ginny in any way, you are dead, and it wouldn't be by Voldemort."

"Okay," Harry replied, a little bit scared.

"Now I have to go owl Mom so she can tell the gang."

"Great," Harry said sarcastically.

"Now Harry I'm going to get going. I'll talk to Albus tonight to see what he saids. And tomorrow I'll come over to tell you and start your driving lessons."

"Thanks Moony."

"No problem Harry, now have a good night."

"You too, good bye," and with hat Remus apparated out of the flat.