Chapter 5

Diagon Alley had returned to life again now that people had adjusted to the changes enforced by the Ministry of Magic. All shops closed at the same time. No flashy window displays. All windows needed to be kept clear of obstruction so Aurors could monitor the happenings inside. All shop owners were required to join an Emergency Alert Network and attend weekly security meetings. All shop owners included Fred and George Weasley whose joke shop Weasley's Wheezing Whizzers, was doing a brisk business. Their lighthearted style was welcome during these dark times. People stopped in just for a smile and Fred and George were always willing to entertain. They were more than happy to demonstrate their lastest prank or potion. Somehow the people who just stopped in for a laugh always seemed to leave with something. Fred and George had found their place.

"Red and Purple! I don't know. It's just not right together. It's just not right." Madame Liponia exclaimed as she looked at Ginny dressed in the bridal party gown. "Does your hair always look this red?"

"Yes." Ginny said and slumped toward the mirrors.

"Mommm" Ginny pleaded as she turned from the mirrors. "My hair clashes with the dress and my skin looks sort of green. Mom, does my skin look green to you?"

"Well, Ginny it is a pretty dress but it's just not your color. Maybe with a little make-up." Molly Weasley said while she held Ginny's hair up on her neck.

"Mom"

Madame Liponia stepped forward. "You don't have to have red hair everyday."

"I'm not dying my hair!" Ginny exclaimed.

Then Fleur stepped out of the dressing room wearing her wedding gown. She was luminous in a shimmering white dress. It was modest and not to the floor and it looked perfect. Her sleek shinning hair ran along the dress as the perfect compliment.

Fleur's mother stepped out from the dressing area and said. 'EEt's prefect. You I think? Eet's perfection?"

There was no doubt Fleur had found the right dress. She seemed to glow, yet the dress was not flashy. Fleur did a spin. Just as Hermione walked into the shop.

"Fleur you look beautiful. I love it." Hermione said as she ran to give Fleur a hug and then she turned to Ginny. "And Ginny you look……nice. Did you do something to your hair?"

"NO! It's the color of the dress, my hair doesn't look good with purple." Ginny said.

Fleur came closer to get a better look at Ginny and said, "Eet's not purple. Eet's violet and my favorite color and Eet's a beautiful dress. Hermione do like violet?"

"Oh yes. I like violet. I have some violet dresses at home."

"Goot, try yours on"

A few minutes later, Hermione came out of the dressing room wearing the dress, also. On Hermione the dress looked stunning. The simple cut of the dress and the violet satin ribbons going down her back were flattering. She did a quick trill and it was clear she loved it.

"I love it." Hermione said.

"Eet nice. Ery Nice." Fleur's mother said.

"And I know my seester will look beautiful in it too." Fleur said and all the women in the room turned to Ginny.

"We can make this work. There's no problems only solutions." Madame Lopnia said as she messed with Ginny's selves and shoulders. "How do you all feel about hats?"

"NO HATS!" They said as a group.

"OK No hats"

After twenty more minutes of fussing and adjusting, they all decided Ginny was just going to have to live with a dress that made her skin look slightly green and her hair a very unusual shade of orange. Molly Weasley and Mrs. Delacour left the shop ahead of the girls to see about ordering a cake. Ginny Fluer and Hermione went back into the dressing room the change.

While they were still changing, Ginny asked Hermione, "Hermione, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

"Sure what.?"

"Well'" Ginny waiting for Fleur to leave the room before she finished. Is it possible for you to go the Little Whinging to visit Harry? I've been worried and it's not far from London. I thought maybe?"

"We've all been worried about him. He's says he's fine."

"But that's all he says. I think there's more."

"I don't know. I don't think the Dursley's would be too keen on seeing me."

"You don't have to tell them your coming. You could just pop in.'

"Ginny!"

"Not literally, just a surprise visit some day. He says he never leaves the house, I'm sure he'd be home." Ginny said.

"I think there's more too but…… Maybe my Mom and Dad could drive me up there for a time. I'd like to see him. The Dursleys treat him terribly. I'm sure he'd enjoy a visit. I'll do it."

"Oh, Thank you, Thank You! Tell me everything! When do you think you will go? Oh I wish I could go with you. But you know, Mom would never let me. Thank you." Ginny said in an excited voice. "We better catch up with the others."

Out on the street Hermione and Ginny see two familiar figures on the other side. Just ahead of them walked Draco and Lucious Malfoy. Draco was now nearly as tall as his father. He had the same slick blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. They hadn't noticed Hermione and Ginny as they moved along on the other side of the alley.

"I can believe they cleared him," Hermione said disgustedly, "cleared him of all charges for the attack on Hogwarts last year."

"I know." Ginny said as she tried to move farther to the opposite side of the street.

"It's his money that bought him out. I can believe the Ministry thought it was all an inside job put together by Snape, and they can't even find him." Hermione said.

"Hermione quiet they'll hear" Ginny said trying to hustle Hermione along.

"I don't care if they do."

"Well, I do."

Hermione stopped and looked amazed at Ginny and said. "Why should you care what they think."

Ginny tries to explain, "Well, he'll probably be back at Hogwarts next year. And the sorting hat said we should try to get along and ……….and not everything they say is untrue you know."

"Exactly, what do you mean by that." Hermione said stopped in her tracks.

"No offense but we should all be more careful. The wizarding world has let a few really bad Muggles in. I'm sure you read about the one in America that nearly exposed us by recording and trying to sell a tape of a quiddich match and the one in Italy that used the spells he learned to steal from Muggle Banks. It's all in the Daily Prophet." Ginny said.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing. Because of a few bad Muggles you think we all should hide our faces from pure-bloods." Hermione said in an even louder voice.

"No, No, I don't. I just don't what anymore trouble. I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry."

Ginny pleaded.

Hermione paused for a moment to regain her calm and said, "Ok, It's alright. Everybody is a little jumpy these days. Muggle against Wizard, Wizard against Wizard. You never know who to trust anymore."