Disclaimer: Characters from the Harry Potter novels obviously belong to J.K. Rowling. I own Arion (haah… yes I do… and his alter-ego Professor Caelestis) and Inkdependant Quills and the Auxilium Memoria. :Heeh:

Author's Note: Hmm… what to say… intro of some characters in this chapter.

Author's Note Part II: Sorry guys! I'm reloading this chapter! Found… to my great despair, some rather obtuse mistakes, and I just can't live with them!

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Chapter Five: A Surprise Encounter

She was gazing longingly at Madam Malkins' trying very hard to decide how to split her remaining time. Gladrags or Malkins? Mainstream or quality? Finally, she settled for Madam Malkins'. Her short black hair bristled in the summer breeze as she pulled on her companion's sleeve.

"Hey, I'm going to go check out Madam Malkins'… I told mum that I'd get myself some half-decent dress robes this year." The young man next to her, also sporting black hair, though in a shaggier, longer variation nodded his assent. From across the street, Draco Malfoy was staring at this strange duo, an uncharacteristic ice cream cone in his hand. She was very pretty in all the right ways. He was damned sure he'd seen her somewhere too. Ditching the ice cream in a nearby rubbish bin, he followed the couple into the store. At least the girl has style, he noted. Far too many young witches today were running off to places like Gladrags where they all ended up more or less buying the same two or three dress robes, wearing them to Hogwarts' functions… it was more or less like wearing skanky uniforms. Disgusting. Draco sneered at the thought.

He entered the shop and fixed his eyes upon the two black-haired figures in the back corner… in the woman's section… He noted with apprehension that the more chic and pricey selections were near the front of the shop. Shrugging it off, he approached them… it was amazing how fast girls could change, he decided as he saw that she was already in a dress: a rich burgundy one. Very becoming.

"It looks brilliant, Gin. Great contrast with the hair." The girl rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh… Gin, so she had a name.

"Oh for crying out loud Re - ", the girl suddenly stopped as she caught him in the mirror, " – omulus." She pivoted and faced him. Draco drew in a sharp breath… the girl looked stunning close up. Where had he seen her before? "Can I help you?" she asked, and he snapped back to the present. The girl – Gin, sounded none too pleased at his observation of her.

"I was just admiring a beautiful young woman in a breathtaking dress." he offered smoothly. "Draco Malfoy, pleasure to meet you." The girl looked him up and down. Then she laughed. A light tinkling laugh and his blood was on fire.

"Pleasure is all mine Mr. Malfoy. My, you're very smooth with the ladies." she said turning back to her dress.

"And does the young lady have a name?" he asked. The young man next to Ginny made a very irritated sound. Gin however turned to him with a broad smile.

"Gin… for Virginia. Please, call me Gin though, the latter is so formal. This is my brother, Romulus." Draco looked him up and down. Brother, eh? Well, then he'll have to be dealt with. Putting on a winning smile, he offered his hand which Romulus grudgingly took.

"Your sister knows how to steal a man's heart."

"Man? How quaint." came his biting reply. Draco frowned a little… and who was he to speak like that to him? They were obviously not of a high classed family as he'd never seen them before and they obviously weren't well-off enough to shop in the recent arrivals section. Virginia's tinkling laugh caught his attention again as she laid a hand on Romulus's arm.

"Now, now, brother dearest. Don't scaring off all my suitors. So, Mr. Malfoy. How do you think I look?"

"Brilliant, though, I must point out, there are far nicer selections over there." He said, nodding to the front of the shop.

"Ah, nicer, yes… but sadly, my taste and my pocket only go so far." She was quite the charmer. Draco put on his infamous smirk.

"How about the lady lets me find something for her? A gift from an admiring pursuer?" She looked delighted and nodded her consent. Draco strode to the front of the shop and expertly began flipping through the dresses. Shopping with his mother, sad though it sounded, had provided him with more than enough experience in women's fashions, and Draco himself was a very tasteful young man.

At the back of the shop, the two black-haired siblings were having a much less pleasant experience.

"What are you doing!" Remus whispered harshly. Ginny glared at him.

"I'm making friends."

"With the son of the man who contributed to Sirius's death? A Death Eater in the making?" Ginny grimaced at the reminder.

"Oh really, Remus, I thought maybe at my age I'd say something that obtuse, but you… really, you're hurling surprises at my today. First that business with Harry, and now this. I'll have you know that I'm perfectly aware of what I'm doing."

"Yes, and I'm sure he will be just as accommodating when he discovers that you're Ginny Weasley." She scowled but schooled her expression as Draco made his way back to her. He noted that the brother still looked rather unhappy about the situation. Meh, sore loser. He held out the dresses he had picked. Gin looked on with a bright smile. They were lovely dresses, to be sure. She felt like Cinderella.

"Green, my House colour… I attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He said by means of explanation. She smiled at this.

"I know someone who goes as well, she says it's wonderful."

"She's spot on. Brilliant place." He affirmed, handing her the green one, beckoning to the changing rooms. Ginny shrugged off her robes and pulled the dress up around her. It was a deep emerald like Harry's eyes and had straps that extended around her neck. She was reminded of the dresses of American women in the 1950s though this one was long and had a bodice that showed off her waist and hips. She imagined herself looking like she normally would, with red hair, in that dress. Smiling, she opened the door of the dressing room and modelled the dress for Remus who looked very surprised and Draco who was drinking her in with his eyes. His features eased into a smile. "You look beautiful, Virginia." Ginny curtsied.

"All thanks to your wonderful taste, Mr. Malfoy." Draco nodded in appreciation and did his best to memorize her. He handed her the next dress, a midnight blue confection that shimmered with movement. It was a dress of fluid material like Invisibility Cloaks, almost velvet, but lighter. Ginny took it and went in to change. This dress made her look Greek with its accentuation at the ribbon just under her chest and smalls sleeves that perched around the shoulders. Draco nodded in approval but liked the first one better. Finally, he handed her a black dress which Ginny blanched at. It was gorgeous, but so… revealing! She could see Remus tense up at the suggestion. Not wanting to start anything resembling a dispute, Ginny plucked the dress out of Draco's hand and hastily shut herself in the dressing room…

It was black like the night. Its halter straps were thick and made of silk. There was a cut at the front of the dress that extended well below her chest and the clinched fabric of the waist accentuated her figure. There was a slight train of shiny silk in the middle of the otherwise matt black fabric. A similar streak of silk also ran in the front from where the cut ended below her chest to, widening to a sheet of floaty material down the front of the dress.

Ginny opened the door of the dressing room apprehensively; she had definitely never seen herself like this before. Remus spluttered slightly but Draco, Draco couldn't find any words that could mean a damn at that precise moment. Breathtaking? No, that was too tame a word. It was halting, yes… but also an understatement. Ginny blushed under his gaze.

"You're having that dress." Draco said, finally. He gestured for her to go in and change… he'd be expected back at the Manor soon, he'd have to make it quick. Ginny didn't need anymore encouragement; she changed very quickly and came out wearing her normal robes again. Draco took the dress from her and went to look for Madam Malkins, leaving Ginny with a slightly distraught Remus.

"Well… I couldn't have looked that bad."

"Of course not." He replied with a hoarse voice, it just wouldn't do for Ginny to know how reminded he was of Lily Evans at that moment. Remus took charge when Draco came back with the dress, immediately making excuses for them – their mother was waiting for them and they must leave. Draco could hardly get a question in edgewise as to what her surname was or where she was from before they were out the door.

Very frustrated, Draco looked at the spot near the door from where Virginia Something-or-another had just disappeared. He vowed then and there to see her again somehow.

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Remus and Ginny returned with a pop to Grimmauld Place, her various items clutched under her arm. Remus muttered a few spells and transfigured both of them back to their normal selves.

"That was a lovely time." Chortled Ginny, ascending the stairs with her packets. Too disgruntled to make any semblance of a reply, Remus went into the kitchen to let the Order know they'd returned.

Upstairs in the privacy of her room, Ginny unpacked her dress and looked at it lovingly. Who knew Draco Malfoy could be so charming when he wanted to be? She'd only ever known him from his biting insults but she'd heard rumours of his manner towards people he deemed worthy. Well… if Virginia could be worthy, so could she, Ginevra Weasley. Fingering the material, she hung it up in her wardrobe and looked over her other items. She'd taken advantage of the trip to use most of her savings… she would not appear clothed like a rag dog that year at Hogwarts… for one, her skirts were becoming indecently short, and her shirts too tight. She was very pleased with her new school robes and immensely happy with the Quidditch gloves she'd purchased for herself. Next came her school books… she wouldn't make life harder for her parents by asking them to by her texts for her. She would mostly use Fred and Georges' old ones, but she was taking some courses that they'd never touched… Advance Seventh Year Transfiguration and Potions for example. She'd also gotten a new potions kit… heaven knew why she liked the subject so much… it could've been because Snape amused her to no end. Finally, after packing fresh parchment and several new Inkdependant Quills into her school trunk, she reached for Harry's birthday present. She'd searched high and low, browsing through almost ever shop and nearly driving Remus insane with impatience looking for something suitable and heartfelt.

After sharing that moment with Harry, she found herself knowing him far better… knowing exactly what he needed. It was a very personal gift, she knew he'd know the moment he saw it. The gift was a manifestation of something that had both damned and redeemed her.

The diary was a deep red… the shopkeeper had informed her that it was made of dragon's hide… a rare species found in the northern snows of Siberia… She'd asked for Harry's name to be embossed inside the front cover. Its corners were capped with golden caps that prevented them from rubbing and wearing out. She specifically saw to it that the diary had manual and magical locks. Keys would be needed, passwords, charms… all personalized for Harry. Across the front of the book she'd asked Diagon Alley's Magical Tattoos for Magical Persons' Master Tattooist to etch the words Auxilium Memoria. To help remember. That was her purpose. That was how Lohengrin had dictated that she'd help Harry in this battle. Those were the words scrawled across her own back…

Suddenly, she remembered it with a shock… her back. The black dress she'd worn and modelled for Draco had no back. He could easily have seen the tattoo… If he did, wouldn't he have asked? He had a practiced eye… wouldn't Remus had seen it too? Surely Remus would have mentioned it… Ginny felt nauseated with the sudden anxiety. Human transfiguration of that level would not have covered up the tattoo… Merlin help me.

A shout from downstairs brought her attention to the time… It was seven in the evening… dinner time. Brilliant. Ginny took the diary she meant for Harry and placed it in the small silk bag she had bought to hold it in. Clutching it to her for support, she made her way downstairs and placed her gift amongst the myriad of other ones on the Family Room table.

Dinner was an excellent meal. Molly Weasley must have burnt out a few brain cells with her cooking… everything from Sheppard's Pie and Yorkshire pudding to Ham Pie, her homemade lasagne and smoked salmon fettuccines dressed the table. A crowd of all the Order members, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, all the Weasleys, Arion, Hermione, and Remus were present. With almost twenty or so people crammed into the dining room, the affair was lively, animated and Ginny saw Harry's eyes brighten for the first time in ages. He ate with the fervour of a starved prisoner sampling everything in seconds and thirds. Ron, needless to say, outdid Harry by at least double while Ginny herself piled liberal servings onto her own plates.

When pudding was finally served (cherry pie, homemade ice cream, chocolate gateau and wine for the adults) everyone was almost full to bursting, but still honoured Molly's great cooking and did the meal justice.

At last, Ron declared that he was finished and that present unwrapping time would begin, everyone filed into the Family Room in various states of elation. Molly spruced up mugs of hot chocolate while everyone sat in a huge circle on the ground with Harry in the centre looking abashed at his mountain of gifts. Never had he received so much!

He got some real splendid stuff that birthday… well, seventeen was an important age in the wizarding world. From Molly and Arthur he'd received a heavy pocket watch that was apparently a family heirloom, as all the Weasley boys looked on with admiration and a little envy.

"Hey! Where's my family heirloom?"

"You'll get yours Ronald, just like Bill, Charlie, Percy and the twins got theirs." Molly said firmly. Ron grinned, not really all that affected in any case… just trying to get a rise out of his parents. Tonks had gotten him a set of professional Quidditch robes, charmed into Gryffindor colours which Harry received with such appreciation that everyone laughed.

The gifts ranged from the entire new range of Weasley's Wizard Weezes, dress robes from Hermione (a surprise to everyone), letters from his parents to one another (a gift from Dumbledore which Harry took with a shaking hand). Remus had produced an animal unknown to everyone in the room save Hermione.

"An ocelot, Remus!"

"Yes, and ocelot. Perfectly harmless, I assure you." The baby ocelot was a beautiful thing and it immediately cosied up to Harry, purring.

At last, the only remaining present was Ginny's, looking a little sad all by itself on the table in its rich silk bag. Harry looked at her curiously as he reached for it.

"I thought you'd need something like it." she said by means of explanation. Remus smiled knowingly from the circle, aware of Ginny's purchase. He'd felt very calm the moment she bought it, as if she'd sealed some deal with Fate and all would be good.

Harry took the pouch and reached in, pulling out the diary. His eyes widened just a little, enough for Ginny to notice it when he saw the diary. Ginny looked over to Arion who caught her gaze and offered the first small genuine smile that she'd ever seen him give her, and gave her a small nod.

Harry fingered the beautiful cover of the diary.

"Auxilium Memoria?" he asked.

"It means 'to help remember' in latin." she said, smilingly, "Hopefully that's what it'll do… help you remember." Harry looked at her meaningfully and to everyone's utmost surprise, he reached over and gathered Ginny a long, tight hug. Everyone looked on with a bit of shock, while it took Ginny several seconds of blinking before she gathered her wits and hugged him back. When he let go she was a very attractive shade of red. "Well, the locks on that diary are about just as hard to break through as that hug there, Harry. Very crafty of you." She said lightly, breaking the awkwardness. Harry laughed along with the others. Ginny looked very relieved as she continued, "I'll show you exactly how to open the diary later on… wouldn't want to spill all the secrets to everyone, now would we?"

"No indeed!" laughed Harry who slipped the diary back into the silk pouch and thanked everyone heartily. They all went through his gifts again, making comments, expressing admiration. Bill started recounting stories of his Hogwarts days while Dumbledore delighted everyone with his tales of his youth.

Finally, the fire in the hearth threatened to fizz out and everyone finished their hot chocolate before climbing lazily up the stairs to bed. Ginny and Arion stuck behind to help Harry get his gifts upstairs: there were so many of them and a small wildcat, no less.

Arion left the two of them in his room to go through the locking and unlocking procedures of the diary. It was more or less fruitless as Harry was beyond concentrating. Instead, he just looked at Ginny for a while and finally said,

"I feel like I've known you forever." Ginny met his gaze with her own golden-brown one. Her lip quivered ever so slightly. She'd always felt a bit like crying whenever anyone said something flattering and heartfelt to her. It hurt her for them to say it, and she didn't know why.

"You'll always have me here Harry, never forget it." she whispered. He strode up to her and crushed her in another hug. Ginny felt her breath steal away. "Harry… you can always depend on me. If not me, the diary."

"I know. Thank you." He whispered. Finally, the small ocelot pushed its way between them and he let go of her with a playful, warm smile, "Feisty little one ain't she?

"A girl is it? Are you going to give her a name?"

"I'll figure something out… I don't suppose you can call a cat like this any regular old name."

"No indeed." laughed Ginny. Harry looked at her with real fondness and appreciation.

"Get some rest Gin, it's well past midnight." he said. Ginny returned the smile with one of her own and shut the door quietly behind her.

She left Harry's room that night feeling a sense of content that she hadn't felt in ages. It was a feeling of warmth and gladness of the heart as if for once the planets had made good their alliance and the Gods were smiling down at them. Smiling inwardly, she made her way back to her room and fell into one of the deepest and restful sleeps she'd had in a long time.

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Notes:

Draco: I told you he'd be part of the story! In a good way too!

Virginia: I also told you I'd use the two names interchangeably!

Romulus: In Ancient Roman mythology, the founders of Rome were Romulus and Remus… twin brothers raised by a wolf. It was the first name that popped into my mind when I first read about Remus… so I kind of passed that on to Ginny.

The Dress: The black dress is modelled after one of my own from Jessica McClintock. It's absolutely gorgeous and I wore it to a ball in Vienna during summer time. I think it'd look stunning on the Ginny that I see in my mind.

Ocelots: Ocelots are beautiful wild cats that live in the jungle… (Panama… etc. etc.) They're gorgeously spotted and so elusive that scientists and photographers find it hard to capture them on film. Anyone have a suggestion for a name:Grin:

The Tattoo: Auxilium Memoria… hmmm… soon we'll discover the true nature of Ginny's infamous Lohengrin tattoo!

Hope you guys liked this chapter! Review!

- PT