Well hello there! Happy Easter to one and all, hope everyone's eaten loads of chocolate!

Nother chapter for you perusal, let me know what you think. Much appreciated.

Sarah XxXxX ;)


Chapter 18

'Maroon Harry? I thought you were going for green again,' Ginny had just arrived at Harry and Hermione's house and was observing Harry turning around in front of Hermione's full-length mirror.

'Well, I set out just going for a replacement set of robes but Madam Malkin said I should try something different and new. You don't like them do you?'

Ginny stifled a yawn and shook her head.

'No, it's not that I don't like them, I just- wow!'

'What?' Harry whined, thinking about the extra time he would have to spend shopping for some more dress robes.

'Nothing, I just noticed your eyes, they err, they really stand out! Turn this way.'

Harry turned towards Ginny

'I can change them on Monday after work.'

'No don't, they're really smart and your eyes look really…really striking and…sexy!'

A grin spread across Harry's face and he walked up to Ginny and gave her a slightly enthusiastic kiss hello.

'Oi! Not in my bedroom thank you!'

Ginny looked around Harry and the door, which had been obscuring her view of most of the room, and saw Hermione led on her bed reading.

'Oh, sorry Hermione,' Ginny apologised, 'didn't know you were there.'

'Yes well I am! So how are you this afternoon Gin? Recovered from last night?'

'Yeah just about, bit tired, but then again I fell asleep didn't I? So I can't really complain!'

Hermione smiled.

'Well I'm sure you looked better than Harry did this morning, I think I can safely say that Harry's eyes were neither striking nor sexy when he woke up this morning!'

'Aww, were you a bit rough this morning my darling?' Ginny asked Harry, stroking his face with her thumb.

'Just a little bit.'

'Aww bless you.'

'How about you Hermione?'

'I was fine thank you very much, Butterbeer and Firewhiskey I can handle which is strange considering three glasses of wine sends me loopy!'

'Strange girl,' muttered Harry.

Hermione chose to ignore Harry's comment.

'Are you busy this afternoon Ginny?'

'No why?'

'I was just wondering if you had a couple of hours to spare. I need to do the same as Saviour Boy here and buy some new dress robes for the ball, I was wondering if you'd help me.'

'Of course I will, I haven't been shopping in ages and I could do with a bit of time out from revision. It doesn't seem like I've stopped since I started in January for my NEWTs.'

'Good that's settled then, you coming Harry?'

'Not unless you allow me a good hour in Quality Quidditch Supplies, it's a while since I indulged in Quidditch things.'

'Hmm, well I suppose we can allow that, and it's not as if you're gonna complain are you Ginny?'

'Probably not, no! Merlin I wish I had more time to play Quidditch, I really miss the carefree feeling it gives you.'

'Yeah flying's great,' Harry's eyes glazed over, memories of flying and Quidditch filling his brain.

'He-hem! When you've finished daydreaming about Quidditch maybe you could let me know what time you want to go.'

Ginny smiled.

'Well I'm free as of now so it's up to you two.'

'Have you eaten yet?' Hermione asked Ginny.

'No, not yet, I only just had breakfast. I had a lie in,' she said shyly.

'Me too!' replied Harry, 'it's only weird people like Hermione who manage to get up before midday!'

'Hey I'm not weird!'

'Of course not Hermione,' Harry said with a smile, 'I'll just get changed into my jeans and we can go if everyone's ready.'

'Well I only just arrived, so am therefore ready to leave!' replied Ginny.

'Give me a minute to put my shoes on and find my purse. Oh, and I need my Gringotts key if I'm buying dress robes, something tells me three sickles and nine knuts isn't quite going to cut it!'

'No you might need a bit more than that H,' agreed Harry as he left to change into his favourite muggle attire. Ginny stayed in Hermione's room to wait for him.

'Do you know what colour you want Hermione?' the younger witch asked.

'Not really, I've had light blue, I've had light pink, maybe I should go for something more…I dunno, bright and striking. What do you think?'

'Well, you've got brown hair which means you can pretty much go with any colour that you want, not that I'm jealous at all!' Ginny mock scowled, Hermione grinned, 'and if you fancy a change from pale colours how about a scarlet or deep purple, or you could go to the opposite end of the scale and go for black.'

'Yeah, I could go for black,' Hermione said whilst putting her other pair of trainers on, 'and I know it's a good colour for fancy pants clothes, but I can't think of black without thinking of sadness and death, especially after everything that's happened, so I think a really bold colour would be better. I like the idea of red though.'

'Well at least you have an idea of what you want, I'm sure Madam Malkin will have something you'll like, even if she doesn't she can make you some in like a day or so.'

'That's true,' she reached into her work bag and fished out her purse, took her wand off her nightstand and put them both into her other slightly smaller shoulder bag, 'I'll just have to see what takes my fancy. Thanks for helping me Gin, I don't think I have the energy to do this myself!'

'That's ok Hermione, you know I'll help my best friend when she needs fashion advice!'

Hermione smiled, 'Have you decided what you're wearing for the ball yet?'

'I've still got plenty of wear left in the dress robes I bought with my first wage so I'll probably just wear those.'

'Your royal blue ones?'

'Yeah those ones.'

'It has to be said you look amazing in those ones.'

'Aww, thanks H!'

'Are you two ready or are you just stood there gassing?' Harry hollered from the bottom of the stairs.

'I think that's our cue to leave don't you?' Hermione asked Ginny.

'I'd say so.'

The two witches walked down the stairs to find Harry ready to leave.

'In your own time girls, in your own time.'

'We will Harry, don't you worry!' Ginny replied laughing.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs the three of them apparated to Diagon Alley.

After a quick stop off at Gringotts at which all three of them topped up on funds they made their way straight to Madam Malkin's.

Hermione walked along the rows of dress robes, pulling out the occasional one, taking in the detail before putting it back. Ginny was on the other side of the shop doing exactly the same thing and Harry was sat on the chair in the front of the shop reading the day's Daily Prophet, knowing that his job was to give his opinion only when asked to.

Hermione and Ginny picked out four sets of robes for Hermione to try on in the small changing room. She came out wearing a set of dark purple robes made of floaty material with spaghetti straps and a diagonal line in the material.

'What do you think?' she asked Ginny.

'They're nice but I think the red ones will suit you better.'

'Yeah me too, I'll try those next.'

She disappeared again and three minutes later emerged again, this time wearing the bright red dress robes, which had caught her eye almost instantly. The top was a corset with ribbon to fasten it, (wands were so handy when it came to doing them up on your own) and the skirt was ankle length with a kick at the bottom and a slit up the left hand side. Ginny walked up to Hermione, she had been getting the position of the Chudley Cannons in the league table from Harry, and was surprised to see they were fourth from bottom, their highest position in years!

'Oh wow, they're much better, do you like them?'

Hermione smiled, 'Yeah I do, the colour's stunning; I thought it would be quite scary on me but it's really nice. Harry, what do you think?' she said slightly louder so Harry would hear.

Harry glanced up and his eyes widened.

'Wow Hermione, you look…great! Really pretty!'

'Thanks Harry!' Hermione replied with a grin on her face.

'Close your mouth Potter!' Ginny said, pretending to be annoyed, which Harry fell for instantly.

'No I didn't mean, I…I…'

Ginny started laughing, 'Stop stressing Harry, I'm just winding you up!'

'Works every time!' Ginny mumbled, Hermione laughed.

'So are you going to try the others on or are you going to take the plunge and get those?'

'I feel like I should try the others on, but I don't think I'm going to like them as much as I like these!'

'Well then you should just get those then!'

'I think I will! Wow, that was much easier than I thought it would be. Oh, wait, do you think I should have the skirt taken up a bit, or is it ok this length?'

'Well you won't know until you decide what shoes you're wearing with it.'

'That's true.'

'Can I just point out I agreed only to dress robe shopping, not to shoe shopping!' Harry added from the other side of the shop, peering over the top of the paper.

'You're in luck Saviour Boy, I think I have some shoes that will go, so if Ginny agrees with me you'll be saved of shoe shopping.'

'I'll believe that when I'm in Quality Quidditch Supplies!' He went back to his paper.

'Which shoes were you thinking Hermione?' asked Ginny.

'My silver strappy sandals, I have a matching bag so that's,' she raised her voice, 'another thing we don't have to shop for!'

Harry turned the page of the paper, still not believing a word Hermione said.

'I think they would work, if they're the ones I think I remember seeing you wearing then yes, definitely.'

'Good, are you sure they look ok?' Hermione asked, showing her one last thread of insecurity.

'Yes Hermione, you look beautiful, now take them off before you change your mind.'

Hermione smiled, 'Ok, I'll be out in a minute!'

It was actually five minutes later that Hermione emerged from the changing room, having checked nearly every inch of the fabric for plucks and pulled seems. When she was finally happy she took the four sets of dress robes out into the shop and gave the three she didn't want to Madam Malkin, who apologised profusely for not helping them more, but she had been busy with another customer the entire time they had been there. Hermione paid for the robes and shocked the still-reading Harry when she stood in front of him, robes safely in the paper bag, ready to leave the shop.

'Really?' he asked, 'Are you sure this isn't a cruel plan to get me all happy only to tell me you have at least five hours worth of shopping still to do?'

'Yes Harry, I'm sure, now lets get the staring at the latest racing broom over and done with shall we?'

'If you insist Hermione, if you insist.'

They left the shop and headed straight for the sporting store. Ginny and Harry spoke excitedly about the mark three Firebolt that was on display in front of them (imperturbable charms placed on every inch of it,) and Hermione looked at the new Chudley Cannons robes and merchandise available to their adoring and extremely loyal friends. After a mere half an hour in the shop Ginny and Harry had had enough of looking at something that neither one of them had a good enough reason to buy, both of them having perfectly good brooms themselves.

Because the three of them had expected to be trailing around shop after shop looking for dress robes and various accessories, they had nothing else planned for the rest of their Saturday afternoon. They were now hungry for some food - having only eaten breakfast a couple of hours earlier - so they went to their favourite restaurant and indulged, especially on puddings.

The rest of the afternoon was spent lazing around in the garden at the Burrow, laughing with the twins when they dropped in for their weekly visit home, and just relaxing and soaking up what they thought would probably be the last of August's hot sun, with September, and the ball they had been talking about for most of the day, just around the corner.