Everything is J.K. Rowlings. I only claim the plot. Everything else is hers, all the characters and the magic, all of it. Please let me know what you think though, I encourage feedback of all kinds, just be nice about it!
It's not super action packed but here it is. I feel like it's lacking but I needed it to build towards other things. Anyway.
So any ideas or suggestions on what our Slytherins should do for their redemption? I have a few ideas but I'm very open to any suggestions. Anything that could be a business or a charity that would benefit the wizarding world. Again, I have some ideas but I'd really like to know what you guys think would be the best directions the snakes took. Your opinions based off your reading of them. Let me know and message me with your thoughts!
Chapter Twelve
"Are we still going shopping today?" Astoria asked nervously. It was breakfast. Harry sighed. He had almost forgotten about the shopping trip he was supposed to take with the three people who had trashed his trust the day before. His emerald orbs glanced at the three in question, his head was already hurting at the thought of dealing with the three alone but he knew he they wanted a second chance to prove their worth and he knew he had to give them that chance.
"Yeah. We can still go. Muggle world first though," Harry declared, feeling hopeful at making the three purebloods as uncomfortable as possible. Sure it was spiteful and vindictive but he felt it was necessary. "We will leave at ten. But we are going disguised," he added. This was met with curious looks by all at the table.
"Ashamed to be seen with them?" Draco seethed.
"Not at all. I've never wanted a public life and I want to stay out of the papers as much as possible. Reporters seem even more hellbent on finding me. Plus, I haven't announced our situation yet and it's best to announce it first before the media makes things into something it isn't."
No one spoke at that and they continued to eat. Well, none of them really ate, just moved food around their plates and nibbled but that was it. Harry had drank again the night before. The elves had been true to their word and had restocked the liquor cabinet. After the day he had had yesterday, Harry had felt justified in down the liquids, Draco and Tracey beside him. The three hadn't talked last night, but they had still stayed up and shared their presences with each other. It was a comfort at least, didn't make him feel so alone in drowning his stresses. Harry had collapsed onto his bed early that morning just like the previous. Harry felt it would soon become a routine but he wasn't sure if he was against that. Routine was good, right?
During breakfast, a letter had arrived from Nadrig with his account card, which would act as a credit card in both the muggle and magical worlds, freeing him of the need to carry punches of galleons. It was a rather convenient feature and Harry made a mental note to send the goblin a note of thanks.
Breakfast was over almost as quickly as it had begun and Harry slipped into some jeans and a t-shirt, his gut twisting a little as he thought about the upcoming trip. What clothes would the Slytherins recommend? He had never been strongly fashionably inclined so he doubted he would even know if they were trying to trick him, especially if they were subtle. But they had been genuine yesterday, so holding to the hope that they were genuine today as well, Harry walked down the stairs. The snakes were already there, Blaise, Pansy and Astoria stood as he arrived, dressed in inconspicuous muggle clothing. Harry inwardly questioned if they already had the clothes or if they had just transfigured their wizarding robes.
Astoria wore a yellow sundress with wedges, Pansy wore a tight dress that showed every curve and pumps, while Blaise was dressed in a more expensive version of what Harry himself wore. Once he arrived he brought out his wand and started to charm his features. Pansy and Blaise mimicked him while Daphne charmed her sister who was still to young to do magic outside of school.
Harry gave himself brown eyes and sandy blonde hair and glamored his skin to not look so haggard. Blaise made himself paler with longer hair and lighter brown eyes. Pansy smoothed her skin of any scars that cluttered over her porcelain frame, made her hair light brown and into a bob. Daphne charmed Astoria to have green eyes, and blonde hair that matched well with her yellow dress. Astoria's scars were also hidden away. Harry thought briefly about why no one had glamored their scars before, but then supposed that it was already known that they had all fought and suffered and to hide the fact would be more disgraceful.
"So what are you lot going to be up to while we're gone?" Harry asked curiously.
"Probably have a look about the Potions lab," Draco shrugged.
"I'll be in the library," Daphne declared.
"Same," Theo nodded.
"Outside in the greenhouses maybe," Tracey sighed. Gregory merely gave a shrug and didn't speak. Harry let him be and turned to the other three. He was beyond nervous about leaving five Slytherins alone in his house and to be out shopping alone with another three but he couldn't show it. It was only a couple hours. What was the worst that could happen? Besides, he felt uneasy staying in the house as well. Everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells after yesterday's catastrophe, it was unnerving and he hoped that the outside world would give him a fresh perspective to his thoughts.
"Alright, so let's be off." He lead the the group out the front doors. The four walked in silence through the front courtyard. Reaching the edge of the property, the same spot where they had all arrived only two days previously, Harry faced the other three. Their charmed features were unnerving but Harry wouldn't let the unease grip him. He was determined to have a decent day. He held out his arm to Astoria, who couldn't apparate. Pansy gripped his other arm, while Blaise linked up with Astoria. Turning on the spot, Harry envisioned Muggle London and felt the tug of apparition.
The four popped into a small, dirty alleyway and quickly detached themselves from each other. As if afraid someone would witness their close contact despite their disguises. "Where are we?" Pansy asked, sniffing the garbage filled alleyway.
"Muggle London," Harry replied.
"Obviously," the witch huffed. "Specifically?"
"Bond Street and Mayfair," Harry replied. "Now come on. My aunt mentioned that they had good shops here once. Might as well give it a try."
"Do you not know much about muggle London?" Astoria asked curiously, walking quickly to catch up with Harry, as did Pansy and Blaise.
"Not really. Didn't experience it much as a kid. My aunt and uncle didn't really like taking me anywhere but to Kings Cross to get rid of me for the year," Harry shrugged, not looking at the Slytherins as the four exited the alley into a bustling street. Muggles rushing all around them, many talking on their phones, groups of teens laughing together and parents clutching their children close. Cars and taxis whizzed by on the street, the flashing billboards illuminating brighter than any storefront light.
"Wow," Astoria breathed as the young witch took in the sights.
"What are those things the muggles are talking into?" Pansy queried as a rather important business man pushed past them without even a look back. "Ugh, so rude."
"Cellphones. It allows muggles to talk to each other from anywhere in the world." It was Blaise who responded before Harry even got the chance and he turned his charmed brown eyes onto Blaise with a questioning head tilt. "What? Is it so surprising that I know a bit about muggles? I've dealt with my fair share of them." Was all the Italian said before taking the lead of the group and heading confidently through the mass of muggles and towards one of the shops across the street.
Harry noted how confident and comfortable Blaise seemed to appear, far more so than Pansy or Astoria who stopped in terror and awe at almost everything they saw and struggled to walk through the throngs of muggles. It didn't seem to affect Blaise much. Harry wondered how much of a 'fair share' Blaise had dealt with.
Walking into the first store, Harry didn't catch the name of, he felt a flicker of fear. The place screamed expensive department store. Mannequins dressed in tailored suits, brightly lit displays of watches and ties. "Come on, Potter, it's just clothes," Pansy scoffed from behind him, pushing on ahead.
Muggle or not, Pansy knew fashion. Trailed by Astoria the two witches began sorting through suits, debating the colors that would match best with Harry. While the witches discussed fabrics and colors, Blaise wandered to the ties and shoes. The Italian would be pulled into debates with the two girls occasionally when discussing pairings with the items he had but the snakes never even turned to include Harry in the discussion. Which, he supposed, was for the best, he was at a loss. It all looked the same to him. Occasionally, Blaise would walk over and drape a couple ties about his neck and hold a watch up to the tie and tilt his head, muttering something before taking both items and returning to the stands where they came from.
After thirty minutes, the group had gathered a hefty stack of clothing options and the snakes pushed him into a dressing room before shutting the door. For a moment, Harry panicked that this was all just a ploy to escape. His senses heightened at the thought and his gut twisted.
"We are still here," the annoyed huff of Pansy stated as though guessing where his traitorous thoughts were leading him. "And waiting!"
Biting back multiple choice words from escaping his lips, Harry quickly stripped down and grabbed the first suit. It was a charcoal black and grabbed an emerald green silk shirt. He could have stood gaping at the materials in his hands. These were the finest and softest clothes he had ever felt let alone wore. Sliding into them he could have almost sighed at how comfortable they were.
"Stop being a damn princess, hurry the hell up," Pansy snapped. Rolling his eyes and not glancing at himself in the mirror in the room because he had no desires to see his haunted reflection, he stepped out of the dressing room. The three snakes all turned to face him and he could tell by their impressed glances that the suit was good. Blaise had been leaning leisurely against the wall - was that a Slytherin thing? Harry wondered briefly - Astoria was prissily sat upon one of the dressing room lounges chairs, ankles cross delicately, and Pansy also sat on a chair look bored out of her mind, examining her glamored fingernails.
"You look good...Harry?" Astoria said sweetly, testing his name on her tongue with uncertainty. Harry counted it as progress if someone else was now starting to use his first name and he gave her a short reassuring nod.
"Yeah, suppose you do clean up alright Chosen One," Blaise remarked. "Next one." With a groan, Harry shut the door and pulled on the next set. This time a grey suit and dark blue shirt. The response was much the same from the Slytherins before Blaise ordered him to put on the next one.
"Are these things not all the same size?" Harry sighed.
"What's your point, Potter?" Pansy responded.
"Well, if I already know the first two fit fine, then why bother trying them all on? I mean won't they all fit the same?"
"You aren't weaseling your way out of this, Potter," Pansy smirked. "Now go. Next." Harry glared at her and her demand. His charmed eyes starting to fire up in anger.
"Maybe, Harry, has a point," Astoria chimed in, obviously taking a page from her older sister and trying to come the situation down. "Most of the suits are very similar. It's just the colors that are different. So instead of trying them all on, just the ones of a drastic color difference. From there we can make decisions on which ones can be kept." Neither party spoke for a moment, still glaring at each other.
"Think on it this way, Pans. The quicker Saviour here gets done, the sooner we can go to the next shop and then the next and the next and the next," Blaise pointed out, his expression anything but interested but his eyes were sharp and alert.
Remembering that the quartet had the whole day ahead to go shopping seemed to appease Pansy because she gave a deciding nod and waved her hand. "Alright fine. Only try on the other two major colors and we can move on from there. Gritting his teeth, Harry jerked back into the dressing room. Holding his breath and counting to ten...and then to twenty...and then to fifty. Merlin's beard, what was he supposed to do count to one hundred? Growling out in frustration, Harry let out his breath and gulped in some more. He thought holding one's breath and counting was some relaxation technique. But obviously the inventor had never tested the method when dealing with Pansy Parkinson.
Focusing on getting into the next suit, a dark blue one, he soon stood before the Slytherins again. "Not the best," Pansy mused.
"No, it would clash with his eyes a bit too much," Astoria agreed. With the witches in disagreement on the suit, Harry disappeared and came out once more. This time the suit was white. "My, my, I do believe with your real hair and eyes this would work perfectly." The youngest Slytherin replied smiling widely, it was the widest smile Harry had seen since the Battle. Did shopping really make the girl that happy?
"So it's decided. The charcoal, the grey and the white. And take all of the shirts we got you. I'm sure you'll be able to pull them off well enough," Pansy declared standing up and smoothing out her dress.
"Well, well, was that a compliment?" Harry asked giving a cheeky smirk.
"Ugh, not on your life, Potter. Merely an acknowledgement of my skills as a fashionista." With that, the witch spun on her heel followed by a smirking Blaise. Astoria remained to wait for Harry to change back into his previous clothes.
"Merlin, why is she so difficult?" Harry muttered, clad in his own clothes once again.
"Because it's Pansy. I don't think she knows how to be anything but difficult," Astoria replied. "But she grow's on you. You won't find a more honest person, I can tell you that right now. And you definitely want her on your side in a fight." Harry said nothing more and simply followed the girl out of the store after stopping off at the cashier and purchasing the clothes. Glancing at the price, Harry gaped like a fish out of water while Astoria merely sighed, fished for his wallet and handed the clerk his card with a sweet smile. "Don't be such a flobberworm," Astoria hissed, leading him out of the store loaded down with the bags.
Outside the store, Harry spotted Pansy and Blaise, leaning against the wall of the building. Pansy had a cigarette between her lips and was taking a long drag as Harry and Astoria got closer.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry snapped in astonishment.
Pansy barely glanced at him as she spoke, her tone suggesting their conversation was about the weather. "You have your vices and I have mine. You don't see me judging so I would suggest you do the same."
Having no right to argue that statement, Harry said nothing more and merely glanced out at the muggles walking along the street. Completely unaware that they were in the presences of two witches and two wizards. Completely unaware encased in their blissful bubbles the horrors the four had witnessed almost a month ago.
"What are they driving in?" Astoria questioned finally breaking the silence.
"Cars," Blaise responded, again before Harry could even open his mouth. "It's a piece of machinery that transports muggles all over on roads, not quite as effective as our methods but still given their lack of magic it is rather impressive."
Harry could hardly believe his ears. Did Blaise Zabini, a pureblood Slytherin, just remark that something muggles had invented was impressive?
"You seem to know quite a lot about muggle technology, Blaise," Harry commented, trying to appear cool and nonchalant but knowing he was probably failing. He had never been good at being subtle.
"So? What's your point. I told you earlier, I've dealt with my fair share of muggles. Move on."
"If you say so. I just think it is rather impressive," Harry replied before pushing himself off the wall and starting to walk towards the next store. "Well? Are you three not wanting to put me through more misery or what?" he called back to them, inwardly pleased in feeling as though he had gained the upper hand. The snakes exchanged looks before trailing behind him, Astoria snickering, Pansy smirking, and Blaise glaring.
The muggle shopping experience ended three hours later and before entering the wizarding world for robes, the four stopped off at a cafe for lunch.
"So what is good here? What do the muggles eat?" Astoria asked curiously scanning the menu that the waitress had left for them.
"Most anything is good," Blaise shrugged.
"Yeah, from my experience you can't really go wrong with a cafe sandwich," Harry added.
His curiosity over Blaise's knowledge almost too much to contain but he knew that if he just started blurting out questions he wouldn't get anywhere. Daphne had been right, it was time he started using other Houses' methods and Slytherins were known for their patience in matters of gaining information so it was a technique Harry was going to try.
The waitress returned and gathered their orders, flashing them all a cheery smile she turned and walked away. Silence reigned over the table as the four avoided looking at each other for too long. Instead they all seemed content to muggle watch from their table on the cafe's outdoor patio as Pansy puffed out another cigarette or two. The silence was surprisingly, and luckily, not awkward or uncomfortable. Instead it was almost pleasant? Harry doubted that was the right word but he didn't dwell on it too much. It felt all too similar to his nights drinking with Tracey and Draco. There was a comfortable silence that would fall upon them but they all knew it wouldn't last long.
Food arrived and Harry realized how hungry he was when he saw his roast beef sandwich placed in front of him. Ravenously he started wolfing it down, who knew shopping could consume so much energy. The other three followed his lead and they were all eating silently. Astoria with a deli sandwich, Blaise with fish and chips and Pansy with a bowl of soup.
Finishing around the same time, Harry paid for the meal with his card and then they all glanced at each other before wordlessly rising and leaving the cafe. "That was actually really good," Astoria commented softly. As though the concept of muggles eating well had never occurred to her before.
"Glad you enjoyed it," Harry replied, leading the way into an alley. Once there he sent his bags home to the Estate. Astoria tentatively grabbed his forearm, while Pansy and Blaise took up their positions from that morning. Taking a deep breath, Harry disapparated them to Diagon Alley.
Hiding in the alley beside the Leaky Cauldron, Harry made sure everyone redid their glamors and charms. He wasn't going to risk being noticed, especially not in Diagon Alley. Once satisfied that their appearances wouldn't shift, the four stepped out and walked quickly towards Madam Malkins. The blaring orangeness of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes on the corner of the street sent a shivering pang through Harry. The store was still shut down, had been since the Battle. Ever since Fred had been lost. His throat burned as the memories returned unwillingly. Maybe he should stop by and see if George was in? But not knowing what he would say if the former twin was there, Harry brushed the thought aside. He must have slowed to a stop as the stared at the garish building because he felt a sharp poke in his back, followed by three quick jabs at him pulling him sharply out of his reverie. Whirling around he glared as he witnessed Pansy about to jab her wand at him again.
"Can I help you?" he hissed.
"Yeah. You can start moving," she replied, crossing her arms. "No use just staring at the building. Staring won't fix things, so get moving." Not waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and stomped off towards the clothing shop where Blaise and Astoria already stood waiting in the covered doors shade.
Sighing, Harry dragged his feet forward and followed the others inside. The faint bell jingled to alert the store owner of their presence. "Ah! Welcome, welcome!" Madam Malkins tittered, coming out from the back of the store to greet them. "What can I get for you?"
"We need him to be measured," Pansy ordered, pointing her finger at Harry. "We need at least five robes for every occasion and season. And don't skimp on the quality. We want the very best materials for them all." When the woman didn't move immediately, Pansy crossed her arms, tapped her foot and glared at the woman. "We are waiting. And I don't recommend it is wise to keep us waiting. We are very busy, so do hurry up." The woman said nothing but Harry could tell the seamstresses demeanor had deflated.
"I apologize for my….colleague. She can be such a bitch I know," Harry told the woman in a sympathetically conspiring tone. "But this is her at the best of times, so it probably is wise to heed what she says." seeming to be heartened at the shared disapproval of Pansy, (though the seamstress was still unknowing of her identity) the woman nodded and ushered Harry onto a small platform.
"Hmm...I'll show you what a bitch I can be if you don't watch yourself," Pansy threatened, fingering her wand dangerously.
"Why don't we go and sit down while Madam Malkins takes his measurements?" Astoria suggested, pulling Pansy with her as she walked to the seats lining the stores entrance, not allowing the older Slytherin to protest much. Plopping into the seat in a seething huff, Pansy complied but didn't retract her glare from Harry the entire time he was measured. It was unnerving and Harry felt unease trickle down his spine and it was all he could do to not shiver under her glare. He hoped the time in the store would be enough to help Pansy forget her anger but doubted it.
After many pokes and prods with sharp needles, Harry was free to step off the platform. Madam Malkin's took their requests for colors and then bustled towards the back promising to be back shortly with the order. Glancing at his watch, Harry noticed that it was almost four. He had been away from the Estate for quite awhile and was already restless to return to the sanctuary. Luckily, the glamours and charms had kept him and his colleagues disguised but still, being out with so many people and all the crowds had his discomfort growing. An hour later, Madam Malkins bustled back out, her arms loaded with robes. It was perfect timing on her part because Harry, Pansy and Blaise were about to draw wands with Astoria pleading for peace between them all.
The arrival of their purchases though proved a good distraction because the snakes took that time to sort through all of the robes, discussing and critiquing the colors and the materials. Finally all satisfied they allowed Harry to purchase them before quickly exiting the shop. Feeling the charms start to fade, Harry gave a quick nod to Pansy and Blaise who were quickly reverting to their former selves. The two nod and disapparated on the spot. Astoria latched onto Harry's arm before he copied the movements of his former classmates and disapparated. Hoping the flash of lights he caught ouf the corner of his eye were merely a glare on his glasses.
Landing with a thud, Harry took a deep breath of the fresh clean air that now surrounded him, taking in the view of the Peverell Estate. Pansy, Blaise and Astoria were all their normal selves again, so Harry assumed he had reverted back to his own self as well. Sending his wizarding purchases to his room, the four set off for the house.
Entering through the doors and walking into the lobby Harry saw the other five lounging on the multi colored couches and chairs, all looking up when the four walked in.
"All in one piece then, eh?" Tracey teased.
"Just barely," Blaise replied, sliding into the seat beside her.
"Doesn't matter," Daphne declared. "Pay up. All of you." The witch held out her hand to the other four Slytherins who had stayed, all of them groaning as they dug into their pockets and tossed her a couple galleons from each of them.
"You guys bets on if we would last the day?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Well, yeah," Theo replied, as though that was obvious.
"You are welcome, sister darling," Astoria said flouncing over to sit on the armrest closest to her sister. "Now cough it up."
Daphne smirked and divided her earnings in half and gave it to her sister.
"You little snake," Pansy hissed at the fifteen year old but there was no malice behind her words, if anything there was only pride.
"So how did it actually go?" Tracey asked.
"Not bad. Potter could do with some modeling tips but I suppose he can pull of a suit decently enough," Blaise replied.
"I think they had me buy almost all of muggle London," Harry griped sourly.
"Only half? I was expecting at least three quarters worth," Theo commented dryly and against his better judgement Harry snorted.
An easy silence settled over the group before reality hit Harry like a ton of bricks. What was happening! He couldn't honestly feel this comfortable with a bunch of Slytherins? His time outdoors must have done something to his head. Sure they were supposed to work together and overcome their differences. But have comfortable silences? Joke together? Jumping up with a start, Harry mumbled something about putting his new clothes away before he stumbled towards the stairs.
Unfortunately his lame excuse couldn't even be fullfilled because as he entered his room he saw Zabkey putting his last robe into the closet.
"Oh Master Harry! Zabkey is so glad to be seeing you. Zabkey put all of Masters new clothes away for you Master." The squeaky voice of the elf was just so filled with pride that Harry's irritation of not being able to take care of the matter himself evaporated.
"Thanks Zabkey, that was really thoughtful of you."
The tiny elf beamed. "Is there anything else that Zabkey can do for you Master?"
"No that is all, thank you Zabkey." The elf nodded and gave a small bow before disappearing.
Harry wandered into his closet and saw that the little elf had color coordinated all of this suits and shirts on one side of the closet and his robes hung color coordinated on the other side. His new shoes lined the floor and he had new shelves acting as a vertical barrier between the two sides now filled with ties and watches, all neatly on display. It was certainly better than how Harry had planned on putting away his clothes. Going to the dressers, Harry saw that his new underclothes and casual shirts were all tucked away as well. It had been almost unbearable to have to shop for boxers with Pansy and Astoria snickering behind him as he did so. But Blaise had insisted that Harry needed a new everything and that the ragged clothes that Harry claimed as undergarments were disgraceful.
Unwittingly, Harry did admit that it felt nice to wear such nice things. With an a forlorn sigh, Harry collapsed onto his sofa, allowing his mind to wander over the day as he waited for dinner.