Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.
Harry's New Boggart – Chapter 16 – Getting Supplies
Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were looking around a magical weapons store in Diagon Alley. Harry was under his cloak to avoid being seen. He'd wanted Ginny to stay under with him, but he wanted to avoid a fight with Ron, if possible. Ron was looking at the various swords, while Harry was looking at sheaths. Hermione was looking at types of armor. Ginny was generally looking around and noticed dragon hide boots that magically fit anybody that put them on and had hidden magically enlarged compartments in the heals where small weapons could be stored. After reading the description, she realized that the magical enhancements should allow them to fit a knife, a small handgun (according to Harry and Hermione's description), and an extra wand easily into a pair of boots. She looked at Hermione and suggested, "Come here and look at these."
Harry, under his cloak, followed Hermione and read about the boots. He whispered so that both girls heard, "Buy four pairs."
Hermione agreed and went back to looking at armor while Ginny put the boots into their self-pushing cart. She also picked up four knives that were charmed to resist the summoning charm, always be sharp, and be impossible to break. After Hermione decided what outfits were best for herself and Ron, she joined Ron in looking through the swords. Eventually, both of them settled on which sword they wanted, and ended up with swords very similar to Harry and Ginny's. Harry got himself, as well as Ron and Hermione, sheaths.
They then found that the store carried some wands that were made specifically for dueling. Although they weren't specially for them, after everyone but Harry tested the wands, they concluded that they would be good spares if they really needed them. Although they could do wandless magic, they knew that it might help to have a wand for more complicated spells, or if they were having trouble concentrating in a combat situation.
After Ginny paid for it all out of her new wallet, they all left the store and walked to a private location. "Well," stated Hermione, "I guess it's time for Harry and I to go to the library."
"Make sure to take your armor and boots," suggested Harry. "I'm changing into my boots now. You can put the dragon hide armor on in the loo at the library." Hermione nodded and took the armor, opting to change her shoes immediately. They each put both a knife and wand into the secret compartments of their boots.
"I've got one of the special necklaces on," said Hermione. "Who's got the other one?"
"Me," replied Ginny.
Harry smiled. "Good. I guess we'll see you later." He then kissed his fiancé, while Ron kissed Hermione.
"I'm ready now, Harry. Let's go on the computer," Hermione said to Harry after exiting the bathroom of the library. He had insisted that she put on the armor as soon as they got there.
After Hermione signed to use the computer, they went over to one and she began her research. Every few minutes, she'd glance at Harry. Eventually, Harry asked, "Hermione, is their something on your mind?"
Her ears turned a bit pink. "Er, well, I was wondering about, well, intimacy." Harry blushed. "I mean, well, you and Ginny seem so in love, and after you left last night, well, Ron and I guessed that you, well, you know. Ron asked me if I wanted to, well, do that, and I told him I wasn't ready. He didn't seem happy about it, but didn't pursue the matter. I was, er, well wondering how you know when you're ready for that. I don't want to be unfair to Ron." By this time Hermione's face was redder than Weasley hair.
Harry looked at Hermione for a minute while contemplating how to answer her. "The first and most important thing is not to let anybody pressure you into that. If you have any doubts at all, don't do it! If Ron tries to insist, hex him."
"Harry!" she whispered back at him.
He looked very sincere. "I'm serious, Hermione. I don't think Ron would pressure you, but if he does, make him regret it. Nobody has the right to your body. Whether you choose to give him that privilege or not is up to you."
She smiled. "Ginny said you never asked her at all. Is that why?"
He continued looking into Hermione's eyes. "Ginny doesn't owe me anything, and I don't want to make her feel like she does."
"Even now, when you're engaged?" Hermione asked. "Don't you expect certain things of her? Especially now."
He smiled. "I expect her to remain the wonderful person that she is."
"But now that you've…"
"Hermione, I don't know about other guys, but I've always allowed Ginny to decide how far she wants to go. I think that's the way it should be."
Hermione smiled at him. "She's a lucky girl."
He chuckled quietly. "Lucky to be engaged to Voldemort's mortal enemy? To be forced to wear armor under her clothes because she knows that she's a prime target?"
"Harry," argued Hermione, putting one of her hands on his, "She's lucky to have someone who loves her as much as you."
She continued working on the computer for a few more hours until she finally announced, "I've got another address, Harry!"
"Great job, Hermione!" replied Harry, smiling at her. "You really are the best!"
After they printed out the address and directions (and paid for the pages), the two of them left the library and apparated to the outside of the Burrow. They walked inside and found Mrs. Weasley busy in the kitchen working on dinner. She looked sad.
"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," greeted Harry.
"Mum," corrected Molly, looking up at him with a half-smile.
Harry smiled at her. "Mum, is there something wrong?"
"Not really, I suppose. I just didn't realize that you and Ginny were actually moving in to your house is all. Ginny told me a few minutes ago, and now she's upstairs packing."
"Oh," responded Harry with a neutral expression. He gave Mrs. Weasley a quick kiss on the cheek and stated, "I'll just go upstairs and say hello, mum."
He went straight to Ginny's room and found her alone. He closed the door and charmed it to give them privacy. "Hi, beautiful," he greeted as he walked up and quickly kissed her.
She smiled. "Hi, Harry."
"Mum told me we're moving to Grimmauld Place."
Her ears turned pink. "Er, I know I should've talked to you first, but as soon as I was alone with Ron, he started getting so overprotective, telling me that I shouldn't have done what I did last night, and I need to stop now. I screamed that it's none of his business, and that I was moving in with you tonight. I'm sorry."
He chuckled. "That's all right with me. We can move there tonight if that's what you want to do."
She put her arms around Harry's neck and looked him in the eyes. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
Harry smiled at her. "I don't know, but it must have been awful."
She slapped his arm lightly. "Why do you always criticize yourself? You're the most wonderful…"
"Someone has to. Besides, you're the one who's wonderful."
She looked at him in mock offense. "Sir, are you trying to seduce me?"
He gave her an evil grin. "Is it working?"
She winked at him. "You're getting closer."
He slightly blushed, and decided to change the subject. "So, do you want to announce our wedding date during dinner?"
She looked into his eyes. "Are you sure you want to?"
Harry put his hands gently on her shoulders and gazed into her chocolate orbs. "I'm positive. I'll marry you anytime, but if you're not sure…"
She grinned at him. "I'm sure. We'll tell them. In the meantime, I've got to finish packing, and I suggest you get started."
Supper went by quickly, with Ron trying to take twice what everyone else had. Hermione finished first, and just before she left the table, Harry asked, "Sis, could you stay here for a minute?" Hermione settled back down.
Ginny announced, "We've, er, settled on a date for the wedding."
All eyes were on them now. Harry said, "Er, August 11th."
"What?" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, "That's Ginny's sixteenth birthday! We were planning…"
"On another Death Eater attack?" suggested Ginny, causing everyone to be quiet. "They attacked on Harry's birthday, and they know I'm dating him. I'm guessing they'll attack that day, too, so we'll need to evacuate the Burrow anyway."
Hermione agreed sadly, "That may be true. But what's it got to do with your wedding?"
"Well," explained Ginny, smiling, "I figured that since it needs to be a secret ceremony anyway, this would be the perfect time. The whole family will be at Hogwarts already."
"You'll only be sixteen," stated Molly, "I won't sign…"
"Then I'll just keep on living with Harry," interrupted Ginny, looking straight at her mother with a determined look that would scare Voldemort himself.
Molly seemed to deflate at that statement. "Fine, then we've got a wedding to plan and no time to do it."
"Remember, it'll be in the Room of Requirements. It should supply everything we need except people. We're hoping Hermione will be my maid of honor and Ron will be Harry's best man."
The two nodded, although Ron didn't seem to approve entirely. Harry figured that Ron felt his sister was too young. What plans were needed, mainly who was going to invite whom (in person, to keep it secret), were made. Molly and Hermione seemed to be greatly enjoying themselves. Ron gave Harry and Ginny the silent treatment as they made their way to the fireplace with their trunks. Ginny had packed her 'essentials,' planning on taking another load every day until she had all her stuff.
When they arrived, they found that a small Order meeting was taking place. McGonagall, Lupin, Mad-Eye, and Tonks were there. They all looked at Harry in apprehension when he arrived. Harry figured they were remembering the last time he'd interrupted a meeting. He smiled and said, "Carry on. Moony, when you're done, I'd like to talk to you."
Remus said, "Sure, Harry. What are you doing here?"
"We're moving in," answered Ginny, causing the Order members to stare at the redhead who'd just arrived. "By the way, if it's all right with you, Ms. McGonagall, Harry and I are getting married at Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement on August 11th. My whole family, as well as Hermione, plan to spend the night before and after at Hogwarts since it's my birthday and the Death Eaters are likely to attack."
McGonagall looked shocked. "Er, if your parents approve, Miss Weasley, I, I have no objections."
Moony looked shocked for a moment, and then a big smile formed on his face. He got up and hugged Harry. "Congratulations, Harry! You too, Ginny!"
Tonks, in the meantime, had run up to Ginny and hugged her, accidentally tripping on the rug and pulling them both to the floor. "Are you two all right?" asked Harry.
"We're fine," replied Ginny.
"That's good thinking to have a secret wedding at Hogwarts," complimented Mad-Eye. "Just let me take care of security! You've got to have constant vigilance!"
The Order continued their meeting while Harry and Ginny took their stuff upstairs. "Which room do you want?" asked Harry innocently.
Ginny looked around for a few seconds, appearing nervous. "Er, Harry, I don't think I'm ready for everything yet, but, well, I think I'd like to share the master bedroom with you; to wake up in your arms."
He pulled her into a loving embrace. "Whatever you want, and nothing you don't want."
About a half-hour later, they were putting their clothes in the closet when there was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" called Harry as he walked toward the door.
"It's Remus. The meeting's over. Everybody else is gone."
Harry opened the door. "Good. We have a favor to ask you, and we need you to keep it a secret."
Remus' eyebrows raised. "You've got my attention."
"We want you to buy four small muggle handguns and a lot of bullets."
"What?" asked Remus.
Ginny explained, "All we can say is that they'll be used in the fight against Voldemort. We need a lot of bullets, and I guess targets and whatever else is recommended for training to use them properly. We want to have a few weapons that Tom doesn't know how to fight against."
"I see," stated Remus, sitting down on a chair at the desk.
Harry said, "It's not my preferred weapon, either. I can say that it'll be a last resort."
Remus took a deep breath. "I guess I'll do it. I suppose it is clever to have something like that. No Death Eater would even know what a gun is."
"Thanks, Moony. How much money do you think you'll need?"
Lupin shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea."
Harry smiled. "You know what. I'm just going to give you ten thousand pounds. Buy what we need and give the rest to the Order. Just get us the guns as soon as possible."
Lupin grinned, "That's very generous of you. I'll see what I can do."
Chapter end