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Warning minor Harry/Ginny ship
Chapter 12 - Shopping
The sixth year students waited at the school gate chatting excitedly about their unexpected trip to Hogsmead. Harry stood smiling when Ginny came up to him and whispered, "Harry, how did you get my brother to agree to this? I would have thought he'd never go for you spending money on him. You know what's he's like about anything that looks like charity."
"I told him I will be sending the bill for everything to the Malfoys and will sue them if they refuse to pay it. The more we spend today the more the Malfoys will have to fork out." Harry said with a smirk.
Ginny laughed, "Harry, that's brilliant!"
"Have you been wearing the necklace, Gin" Harry asked in a serious tone.
"I never take it off except to shower. Just imagine if my dorm mates saw it." She replied as she slightly pulled her neckline away from her to show Harry the flash of jewels. Harry was looking at other things beside the necklace.
Ginny realised what he was doing and blushed as she elbowed him away. "Harry James Potter!"
"What?" he said innocently.
Soon the group of students were approached by the three people who would be their escorts today: Madam Hooch, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks.
"Wotcha, Harry." Tonks said as she came up to him but her tone sounded a little off to Harry and she certainly didn't have her usual happy face on.
"Hi Tonks." Harry replied thinking about what Sirius said in his letter.
"Well lets get moving then." Madam Hooch said as she opened the school gates. "You are all to stay together today." No one argued.
The group made their way into town.
"Do you mind if we grab a quick bite first Madam Hooch? Some of us missed breakfast." Harry said.
"No, I could do with a bite to eat myself." She agreed. Madam Hooch led them to the three broomsticks and soon they were happily munching their brunch. Harry pulled Tonks aside from the others for a chat.
"Tonks, I want you to read a section from a letter that Sirius sent me. I think you should know" Harry told her.
Tonks, eyeing him a bit stiffly, regarded the paragraph Harry indicated.
5.I left you everything I could possible leave you. I know you don't want it but don't let it go to my other relatives whatever you do. I can't leave anything to Tonks and her mother due to their disinheritance from the Black family, lots of legally binding claptrap and so forth in the family trust prevents it. I don't think you should offer to give them anything because I know they are both too proud to take anything that looks like charity. They may be a bit put out by it at first but hopefully they will get over it in time. Give them some time and blame me for doing this if it helps. Use the inheritance to give yourself a better life. Both your parents and I would want you to do that. Spend some money on yourself kiddo. That's an order!
"I checked it out too and it's true. I can't even give you some as a gift without violating the Black Family Trust and then everything would go to the Malfoys." Harry told her after the shock of what she had read passed.
"I understand Harry and I am sorry I was mad at you. It's not your fault. Its just mumsy has been going on and on about it. I guess some of it stuck when it shouldn't have." Tonks apologised.
"No that's not what I mean Tonks." Harry replied, "I can't give you a knut from the Black family fortune but I am also the heir of the Potter family and I am free to do whatever I want with the money my parents left me, so how much do you and your family want?" Harry asked.
"What?" Tonks exclaimed.
"Look I am going to use the Black money for everything else but for this, so the Potter fortune is available to correct this stupid limitation in the Black Trust." Harry explained.
"I couldn't…" Tonks objected.
"Tonks, Sirius made me his heir and successor. That means we are now kinda like family. And family should look out for one another. So let me do this. Let's start with a million. Then when you need more let me know and I'll transfer it into your vault." Harry argued.
"A million… Oh Harry! No, no, no! Please no!" Tonks stuttered.
"Tonks!" Harry objected.
"No Harry. It's too much. I make a good living as a Auror and Mumsy and dad are fine too. But thank you for the thought of doing this." Tonks said gratefully.
"At least let me buy you and your family something." Harry said.
"Well I could do with a new Dragon Hide vest. The old one has taken to many curse hits recently to be trustworthy." Tonks replied.
"That's a great idea. I'll pay for a complete set of battle robes for you. Hungarian Horntail is suppose to be the best. I'll order those today if we can go to the armourer here in Hogsmead. What would your parents like?" Harry replied.
"Harry, Horntail is really expensive. Just the vest will be fine." she shrieked.
"No Tonks, I'm getting you the complete set and anything else that can help keep you safe. You're the one cousin I have that I actually like and I'll be damned if I'm going to lose you to some scum sucking death eater because you don't have the right gear. I could never live with myself if that happened. Please Tonks let me do this for you. In fact I am going to do it for all my friends. The money doesn't matter. Now how about your parents?"
"I just don't know what to say Harry. I guess I'd better just say thanks for now. As for my parents Harry you don't need to…" Tonks said.
"No Tonks I need to do this. If I am the head of the Black family now, I need to at least try to make up for the past stupidity that denied your mother her rightful place in the family. Try and work out what your mother would really like and I'll get it for her." Harry replied.
"Well there is this figurine in Diagon Alley she has always wanted but it's really expensive…" Tonks replied biting her lip.
"If you can get the shop to send me the bill Tonks, I'll take care of it. Tell your mother I consider her the best part of the Black family regardless of what the stupid Trust rules say and if there is ever anything else I can do for her, she has only to let me know. As I said Cousin, family should look out for one another." Harry said looking pleased with himself.
"Cousin. I like that." she then grabbed him and gave him a big kiss in front of everyone.
"Way to go Harry." Seamus said loudly.
Harry laughed until he saw the expression on Ginny's face. She was getting up to leave but Harry blocked the door dragging Tonks with him. "Ginny, I'd like you to meet my new cousin, Tonks."
"Cousin?" Ginny asked still looking furious.
"Yeah, I'm Sirius's heir. So I guess that makes us kind of cousins." Harry said seriously.
"Kissing cousins obviously." Ginny's sarcastic response came back.
"Oooh yes!" Tonks said making an attempt to kiss Harry again but Harry held her back.
"Sorry one per customer." Harry said laughing.
"Your not really mad at me just because Tonks gave me a friendly kiss, are you Gin?" he asked.
"Weasleys, as you well know, have a bit of a jealousy problem." Ginny said giving Harry a fearsome stare. "But I'll try to keep it under control. For now." With that Ginny turned and walked away to join the others in a huff.
"Ouch Cous, you better watch your step with that one." Tonks joked.
Harry frowned at Ginny's departure but turning back to Tonks said to her, "I don't suppose you'd be willing to do me a really big favour, Tonks?" He asked hopefully.
"Anything, Harry. Anything at all." she replied and Harry got her aside to talk without being overheard by the others.
"Well, if you have all eaten let us pay the bill and get shopping." Madam Hooch announced once everyone had finished their food and drinks.
"My treat." Harry announced as he pulled a platinum Gringotts card from his moneybag.
"Harry!" Hermione shrieked, "When did you get that?"
"A little while ago. Beats carrying around a sack of heavy gold coins." Harry said.
Madam Rosetta presented Harry with the bill and Harry tapped the card to it and instantly there appeared the correct amount of Galleons on the table, which Madam Rosetta accepted gratefully.
"It works in the muggle world too as a credit card." Harry told his friends as he put the card away.
"Gringotts just introduced them a few weeks ago." Hermione said, "I was thinking of getting one for myself but I don't think it would be justified as I don't have a vault at Gringotts."
"Ah! Yes! " Harry muttered, "About that. You see… Well here." Harry said as he shoved something into Hermione's hand.
Hermione looked down puzzled to find a key in her hand. "Harry, what is this?" she asked.
"That's the key to your vault at Gringotts. When you are next there, ask the goblins to set you up with the charge card." Harry said, "Gin, this is yours and Ron, this one is yours." Harry added as he quickly produced keys from his pocket for his friends.
"Harry, I don't have enough galleons to justify a vault," Hermione replied still looking surprised.
"You kinda do, Hermione. I put some into the vaults." Harry said quickly and quietly as the rest of their shopping party moved a little away from them.
"Harry, I can't take your money." Hermione said and the two Weasleys were quick to agree.
"Look, if something should happen to me…" Harry said earnestly. His friends objected but he continued, "if something happens to me, you will need that money to get yourselves as far away from Voldemort as you can. Look guys, we are in a war and if things go bad, you are going to need resources. That's what this is. It is not charity. So don't even think about not taking this especially you Ron. I want you guys to be safe. It is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. No more arguments and don't tell anyone about this. Not even the Order or Dumbledore, okay."
The four friends moved to catch up to their friends. "How much…" Hermoine hesitatingly asked.
"A million," Harry responded, "each."
"Pounds or galleons?" Hermione asked as she staggered at the amount.
"Galleons." Harry replied. "That's about 5 million Pounds Sterling or about 9 million US dollars."
"Great Merlin!" Hermione gasped.
"You may need every knut to get you and your families out of England if Voldemort takes over." Harry said earnestly. "Each of you needs to plan a secret escape route. Tell no one, not even each other. Just be ready in case…" Harry replied giving his friends hard stares. They nodded reluctantly.
Ron was walking like a drunken man with a glazed expression. Ginny was taking it a little better but looked ready to cry at the idea of something happening to Harry. Harry was resolute though and his friends could tell there was no arguing him out of this. Harry was pleased he had finally worked up the courage to give his friends the contingency money he had set up for them over the summer at Gringotts. He knew now they had a chance even if he should fail. That was a comforting thought.
The rest of the morning passed in a daze of shopping. The girls soon got their wits back and dragged the boys into the robe shop for robes to replace the ripped ones in their dorms. Harry insisted they got the top quality fine egyptian cotton robes for school wear and dress robes in fine silk. He talked the girls, Hermione, Ginny, Tonks and even Madam Hooch into getting robes for the balls that Harry would be having for his courtship rituals. Strangely Hermione choose Ron's formal robes colours to compliment her own. No one said anything aloud but Ginny winked at Harry and Seamus laughed until Neville stood on his foot to shut him up. The robes would be sent up to the castle this afternoon after the extra embroidery of the Gryffindor crests was done.
Next was the bookshop and each of the boys received brand new copies of their textbooks as well as all the parchment, ink, quills and other supplies they would need in their subjects. Hermione of course looked guilty as Harry insisted the ten or so new books she had found interesting in the shop were added to the pile.
Harry dragged the others into the small armourers shop where he ordered them all battle robes made in Hungarian Horntail hide, (the best and most expensive type) along with concealable wand holsters and belts for holding various vials and items for battle. Harry told them all he would be getting this type of stuff for all the DA members at the first Hogsmead weekend anyway. Anything that would help protect his friends he was going to get despite their objections over the cost. No one thought to question why Harry didn't order any of these items for himself.
A few other visits were completed which included buying complete NEWT potions sets for his friends including a unmeltable cauldron for Neville. Neville objected stating he wasn't in potions anymore but Harry pointed out that he still made some potions in his Herbology work. Neville gave up reluctantly and accepted the kit.
Finally they made it to Ron's favourite shop, Quality Quidditch supplies (Hogsmead Branch).
"Professor McGonagall mentioned something about a donation to the school's Quidditch supplies, Potter. What did you have in mind? We could use virtually anything at the moment." Madam Hooch asked.
"I know Madam Hooch. The Quidditch uniforms are coming apart at the seams, the pads and guards are worn out and the school brooms are knackered." Harry responded.
"Unfortunately, my colleagues don't see the need to spend more of the school's limited budget on sporting equipment as they call it." Madam Hooch said seriously.
"That's ridiculous. My flying has saved my arse more than once. If everyone had more skill in the air it could be a real asset in the war." Harry said hotly. Madam Hooch nodded her agreement vigorously. "Tell me this Madam Hooch if you had an unlimited budget, what would you replace the school brooms with?"
Madam Hooch began discussing the strengths and weaknesses of various brooms. Ron soon joined the discussion with his own views. Madam Hooch's dream list got longer. New cleansweeps for the beginners, Nimbus 2001 brooms for the intermediately skilled and for the top flyers on the school teams Firebolts. Harry laughed at the dream like expression on Madam Hooch's face as she regarded the list.
"All that is well and good but I suppose we should get back to reality. If you could donate a couple of the cleansweeps to the school Mr Potter, they would be a real asset in the flying classes and perhaps some new leather guards for the Quidditch teams. Or is that too much?" Madam Hooch said.
"Let me see what I can do." Harry said as he snatched up the broom list from the counter and went to talk to the shop owner. Harry pulled a letter from his pocket and showed it to the man. Soon the owner was shaking Harry's hand vigorously with a broad smile on his face as his assistants were busily taking notes and running about getting various items. The manager totalled up a bill and hesitantly gave it to Harry. Harry studied it and asked a few quiet questions to which the manager agreed and made adjustments. Finally satisfied Harry nodded and produced his charge card. This time when Harry touched it to the bill no galleons appeared but a slip of paper materialised on top of the bill, which the owner accepted without hesitation.
Harry came back over to his friends smiling. "Well that's done." he said. "It'll take a couple of days for them to ship the order up to you Madam Hooch."
"Why didn't any money appear Harry?" Hermione asked.
"For amounts greater than five thousand galleons the charge card delivers a bankers draft instead of coins, Hermione." Harry told her.
"So you got both cleansweeps and the leather guards then Mr Potter. That's most generous." Madam Hooch congratulated him happily.
"Oh! I got more than that, Madam Hooch." Harry said smiling deviously, "I got them all."
"All?" Madam Hooch asked uncertainly.
"Yup! Your complete list, all the cleansweeps, nimbus 2001's and the firebolts." Harry said and his old flying instructor went wide-eyed, "Plus I got completely new sets of uniforms for each of the house teams and International standard dragon hide protective guards." Madam Hooch looked ready to faint and slumped heavily into a nearby chair. "And I got a set of practice balls for each team and two sets of international standard Quidditch balls for the matches." That did it. Madam Hooch fell to the floor in a dead faint.
"I think you killed her." Ron said.
"I hope not." Harry replied as he and Ron went to help drag the old witch off the floor.
"Oh! Mr Potter!" Madam Hooch said as they revived her, "I was having the strangest dream. I dreamt you were buying the school dozens of new brooms."
"Ah! It wasn't a dream Madam Hooch." Harry replied.
"Oh! Ooooh!" she shrieked.
"Just sit there Madam Hooch and take it easy. It will be all right in a minute. Have a glass of water." Harry said as he conjured a glass of water for the faint old witch to drink.
Only one of Harry's friends noticed that Harry had not drawn his wand to conjure the glass of water. He had done it wandlessly without a moments hesitation. Hermione's eyes grew wide at the implications but she wisely chose not to say anything. She needed to think about this and possibly visit the library…
The group decided they needed another break before resuming their shopping and headed to the three broomsticks. Madam Hooch ordered a shot of fire whiskey for herself, which she downed in one go. The others were satisfied with butterbeers. Harry felt an all too familiar presence long before the door to the pub opened and Snape walked in. He was dressed in more casual robes than they were use to seeing him in but they were still black.
Harry sighed as he watched the man stalk over to the bar and order a drink. Harry had no doubt the man had seen the group and was ignoring the students. Harry got up from the table and headed over to the bar.
"You and I need to parlay." he said from a few feet behind Snape. Harry hoped the man understood his use of the word parlay to denote a temporary truce.
"And what Potter makes you think I would be interested in anything you have to say." the man sneered as he looked around. "Especially after getting me fired from my job."
"You and I both know that Dumbledore will get you off next week, so don't give me that garbage about being fired. What I need to talk to you about is Draco Malfoy. I'll be over at the table in the corner if you decide to listen for two minutes otherwise to hell with you." Harry stalked away from the man and sat down at the isolated table.
Snape's glare at him was filled with utter loathing but when he had been served his drink at the bar, he made his way over and sat down.
"Say what you have got to say Potter, I haven't got all day. But remember this place is not secure." Snape hissed with loathing in every word.
Harry glared right back but carefully reframed from looking Snape in the eyes. "You need to find out how Volde… how the Dark Lord is managing to get Draco Malfoy to believe I am his life mate." Harry stated bluntly.
"This is not the Dark Lord's doing, Potter." Snape snarled.
"Yes it is!" Harry snarled right back, "This is exactly the type of shit he pulls. Divide and conquer. Malfoy and I have disliked each other from the moment we met. Now suddenly he thinks I'm his life mate and you don't find that a bit suspicious? I would have thought you of all people would want Malfoy to choose someone else. You need to have Malfoy examined to find out how Voldemort's doing it."
Snape reared at the Dark Lords name. "Don't say his name you idiot."
Harry sneered right back, "I've earned the right to call that arsehole anything I damn well like, Snape."
"You're a fool Potter." Snape snarled and he got up and stalked away.
Harry walked over to his friends who had seen the encounter and seemed to be holding their collective breaths.
"Wow Harry, what did you say to him?" Neville asked, "I've never seem him that angry."
"Let's just go okay." Harry said shortly and in silence they left the three broomsticks to resume their shopping. It was a good thing they only had a few remaining items to get. Once that was done they all made their way back towards the school.
As they entered the school gates Tonks drew Harry aside. "Harry, Kingsley and I will leave you here now you are safely back in the grounds but I just wanted to say thank you again for all the battle robes and the other things you brought me today. And I know mumsy will flip over that vase. You really didn't have to you know…" Tonks told him.
"Yes I did Tonks. Those stupid Trust rules needed to be gotten around. I just glad I could do it. You be safe now."
"You too cousin and I will see you real soon." Tonks said as she waved goodbye and joined Kingsley heading back out the gates.
Happily chatting as they all walked up to the school, Harry signalled Ron to drop back a bit and using his friend's body to shield him from the others, Harry activated the Marauders Map. Right in the entrance Hall awaiting them was Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy.
"Ron, I am going to use my cloak and make myself scarce until the coast is clear. Tell Madam Hooch I have gone to look at the Quidditch field or something. Dumbledore will know it's a lie but without proof he won't be able to do anything. I'll duck off at those trees ahead. Cover for me okay." Harry whispered to his friend. Ron nodded and walked on as if nothing had happened. Not far ahead the group passed a small clump of trees where Harry slipped aside unnoticed and donned his invisibility cloak.