Chapter 7- Girl talk

The following Saturday Ruby and Alice had a rare day off together so they decided to go shopping in Diagon Alley to get dresses for the ball. It was only the second time Ruby had attended; in her first year she had forgotten an assignment and had spent the entire weekend trying to finish it. The previous year had been enjoyable but Ruby was glad that this year the majority of her family would be there, Uncle Ron's complaining always made formal events much more entertaining.

"So what colour are you looking for?" Alice asked her as they looked through the gowns in Madam Malkins.

"I'm not sure, I usually go for green or blue but maybe I should choose something different?"

"I'm going for black, I've put on like half a stone since we moved in together. I think it's the ice cream and wine. I'm going to get some of those muggle knickers that suck everything in as well."

"But you'll be eating, they'll be uncomfortable." Ruby pointed out, Alice was only slighter larger than her but whilst the majority of Ruby's fat was on her chest and bum it often helped her attract men, with Alice all her weight was on her stomach and legs which sometimes made her self-conscious, especially when she couldn't hide it under work robes.

"So, if it gets that bad I'll take them off and hope no one notices. How about a darker blue?" Alice pointed out a midnight blue floor length gown.

"Perhaps, I was thinking of a pale yellow, or maybe purple."

"Purple would look nice, how about this one?" Alice picked up a dark purple dress that fanned out slightly at the end, it was lovely. Ruby looked at the price.

"It's a bit too expensive, I wasn't planning out spending over twenty." The dress was twenty five galleons.

"Tell you what, I'll chip in the other five and it can be for your birthday present."

"Really? That's great, thanks Alice."

"No problem, now help me find something and then we can go and have lunch, do you need to get anything else?"

"Yes, Grandma's birthday present. Can we pop to the wool shop, there's a book that I know she'll like, hey how about this one?" Ruby picked up a black strapless dress that finished just below the knee.

"Umm, I'd rather have straps just in case I get too drunk, and I want floor length so I don't have to shave my legs."

"What if you meet a handsome gentleman who wants to have his wicked way with you and you haven't shaved your legs?" Ruby asked, laughing at the drunk remark. Alice did have a tendency to get too hot and tug on her clothes when she'd had too much.

"I doubt it, who's going to try and pull me with my dad there?"

"Someone who didn't go to Hogwarts and doesn't know who he is?"

"True, alright I'll shave but I still want straps."

After another twenty minutes of browsing they found a dress that Alice liked, it was black, floor-length with thick straps and it sparkled; Alice loved glitter.

"It's soooooo pretty, let's get them and go for lunch." She said excitedly pulling Ruby towards the till. Madam Malkin greeted them warmly and checked that the dresses fitted them correctly before selling them to the girls.

They went for lunch in a sandwich shop near Flourish and Blotts and Alice started asking Ruby about Henry and the plans for her birthday.

"So, we still get a party?"

"Yeah, on the Sunday night though so see if you can get Monday off."

"With my dragon of a supervisor, I'll be lucky. I'll just make sure I get a hangover potion and a Perk-me-up potion ready. I can't wait to see Ali, I'm so glad he's coming to the ball."

"Me too, we haven't partied together for ages. I bet he'll be a bit nervous though.''

"Alistair Shacklebolt, nervous. Have you met him before Ruby?"

"I know but it's his first public event since he came out, he's bound to be a bit apprehensive."

"You know what he'll say Rubes!"

"I know 'that's what Firewhisky is for', it sounds like it's going to be a busy, alcohol-fuelled weekend."

"I know, I can't wait, only two weeks to go! Is Henry looking forward to it?"

"Yes, very much," Ruby said, putting down her sandwich.

"What is it?" Alice asked, looking across at her. Ruby sighed; she never was very good at hiding the truth from Alice.

"I…just sometimes I think he's only dating me because of who I am." Ruby said, very quickly and after glancing around to make sure they wouldn't be overheard.

"Rubes, everyone dates someone because of who they are." Alice said, looking confused.

"No, I don't mean because of my personality, I mean because… because I'm a Weasley, and a Potter as well I suppose."

"I'm sure he isn't, you're probably just being paranoid." Ruby tried to hide her annoyance but she clearly didn't do a very good job.

"You're really worried about this?"

"Alice, every time we go out, he picks the restaurant, he books it under my name and then we always end up in the gossip column!"

"You think he's tipping off the papers?" Alice asked, looking surprised.

"I think it's a possibility, I mean we never end up in the papers when we go out!"

"We're not dating, it's not gossip."

"Yeah, but we're still daughters of Dumbledore's army! Rosie and that bloke she's dating from the Ministry rarely get in the papers but Henry and I always do!"

"Rubes, don't get too hung up on this. Henry's a great guy and I'm sure he's not tipping off the papers, it's probably just a coincidence." Ruby knew that it wasn't but she let it go, slightly miffed that Alice had not sided with her.

That evening Ruby found herself out to eat again, this time though it was with her Aunt Minnie. They met at Ruby's flat and then apparated to a small, traditional restaurant in the small Wizarding section in Edinburgh. The waiter showed them to their table by the window and they browsed the menus before placing their orders.

"So, how is work going?" Aunt Minnie asked, taking a sip of her Gillywater.

"Well thanks, I'm really enjoying emergency healing, every day is different."

"I'm sure, do you still have classes and assignments?"

"I have a few classes this term, more after Christmas, and I have an assignment every few weeks, Healer Kyle picks the topic. The last one was about how to deal with difficult patients."

"And how was it?"

"Good, he said I seemed to have a good grasp of the correct protocol but that to remember that if they are too difficult just call security and have them escort them out of the hospital."

"Without treatment?"

"Yes, we give them plenty of time to calm down though so we're covered legally."

"And how are you getting on with young Mr Malfoy?" Ruby rolled her eyes.

"I can't believe Uncle Harry said that, I was mortified!"

"Yes I have to admit I was rather surprised, I don't think your father finished the rest of his meal."

"It was completely uncalled for, he knew what had happened. It was just that when he came into the office Scorpius got all flustered; you know as people do when they meet Uncle Harry, and he said 'I've just left Ruby in bed' or something like that, he looked so embarrassed when he realised what he's said."

"I can imagine! What is he like, Scorpius?"

"He's alright, he's smart but a bit arrogant with it."

"That's a family trait."

"He seems to really want to do well though and he gets on well with the patients. Healer Kyle is quite impressed with him…"

"With who?" Came a voice from behind Ruby, she jumped before turning around.

"Henry! What are you doing here?" She asked, surprised and a bit annoyed that he had gate-crashed Aunt Minnie's birthday treat; she had only asked him to book the table because he knew the manager.

"Just popped home to see my parents and I thought I'd come and say hello. Are you having a nice time, Professor?" He asked, standing next to Ruby and putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, lovely thank you Mr Chang. Ruby was just telling me about how she's getting on at work."

"I heard, who is Kyle impressed with?"

"Scorpius." Ruby said, bluntly. Henry's face changed, serves you right, she thought bitterly.

"Oh, yes he seems to have made quite an impression on you too, Ruby." He said, almost coldly. "Anyway I just wanted to say hello, enjoy your dinner. I'll see you next week darling" He leant down and kissed Ruby squarely on the lips, she did not make any effort to kiss him back. He left, clearly at bit put out, and Ruby took a large sip of wine.

"He seems well," Aunt Minnie said, as their starters arrived.

"Yes, he is," Ruby replied picking up her fork and stabbing one of the prawns with unnecessary venom.

"Are you having problems?"

"No…well, I'm not sure. Anyway it doesn't matter this night is about you and your birthday." Aunt Minnie nodded and then blew on her soup.

"Just like your mother." She muttered as she sipped the Leek and Potato soup.

"Why?" Ruby asked, unable to stop herself.

"She never liked talking about her problems either."

"She doesn't now."

"Oh Ruby, she does much more now, you would believe the difference!" Aunt Minnie said, putting the soup spoon back in her bowl.

"Actually, speaking of mom, has Granddad been in touch with you yet?"

"Yes he has, last night actually, he popped over with some of your Grandmother's muffins, Robert's great grandchildren were delighted." Aunt Minnie's brother Robert had two children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren and Ruby knew they were all frequent visitors to McGonagall Manor.

"Did he tell you about the letter?"

"He did, I bet you wish you'd never seen it?"

"Yes, I wasn't prying it was just on the coffee table and 'H.M. Prison Service' was on the envelope. Aunt Petunia wasn't expecting us. I don't think she's even opened it."

"Have you spoken to her about it?"

"No, I don't know what to do. Do you think I should talk to her or tell mom?"

"I have no idea." Aunt Minnie answered and Ruby felt herself fill with disappointment; she had always thought that her Aunt Minnie had all the answers, especially regarding her mother.

"You don't?" She asked, hopelessly.

"No, I told Arthur the same. I'll have a think about it over the next few weeks, we have some time before we must decide whether or not to tell her. I'll try and talk to Eliza and see what kind of place she's in. If she's having a bad time anyway then we don't want to make things worse." Ruby nodded, every so often her mother would go quiet and would appear bogged down by the past. It didn't happen as much anymore but Ruby knew that after the war it had been a difficult few years. The last time her mother had one of these episodes had been when Ruby was in her first year of healer training and she had moved to the Burrow for a few weeks per her father's request. She had hated seeing her mother upset so she had complied, and then felt disappointed with herself for the whole time she had been away.

"She seems okay at the moment, she's getting into the new project."

"Yes, she seems to be making good progress."

"Do you know what it is?" Ruby knew than her Aunt Minnie had a high-level clearance at the ministry and had been instrumental in helping her mother develop Remus's Remedy.

"I do and I will only say one thing about it."

"What?"

"Eliza Potter will never change her attitude to the world; she thinks that every problem has a solution." Ruby smiled, Aunt Minnie always tended to use her mother's maiden name, perhaps it was a habit that teachers could never quite shake.

"How are the twins getting on?" Aunt Minnie asked, an hour later when they were starting their desserts, Ruby had waffles and Aunt Minnie had a Lavender cheesecake, something that Ruby had never had the desire to try.

"Alright I think. Annabel sent me a letter yesterday; she's got detention tonight for pranking the Slytherin Quidditch team."

"What did she do?"

"She transfigured the beater's bats into normal muggle bats so they broke with one hit and they spent the rest of their practice trying to escape the Bludgers." Ruby said with a wry smile.

"Well, I'm glad to see Transfiguration has made it into their pranks. Do you know if they are planning to continue it to NEWT?"

"Annabel definitely wants to, it's one of her favourite subjects, she wants to be an Auror."

"Marvellous, and Immy?"

"She wants to play Quidditch."

"Of course she does, I'll have to try and get to Hogwarts to see their next match, do you know when it is?"

"It's on my birthday, Gryffindor verses Slytherin, Louis made the Slytherin team as seeker and he's really worried they're going to try and kill him."

"Oh dear, who is the Gryffindor seeker?" Aunt Minnie asked with a chuckle.

"Lily, she's really good apparently, Uncle Harry was over the moon."

"Of course he was. Did you know I was the one who gave him a spot of the team in his first year?"

"No, how?" Ruby asked, smiling; she knew that her Aunt Minnie was an avid Quidditch fan but she couldn't imagine her interfering with team selection as a Head of house, Ruby's dad always said that she was very fair and didn't show favouritism, except with Eliza.

"He tried to get Neville's rememebrall back from Draco Malfoy during their first flying lesson. I saw it through the window, it was an outstanding catch. I went to collect him, he thought he was going to be expelled I'm sure, but I took him straight to the Quidditch captain and told Oliver Wood that I had found his new seeker." Aunt Minnie had a faraway look on her face and Ruby smiled at the memory.

"What was Professor Longbottom like in school?"

"Neville? Oh, during the first four years he was a shy, forgetful boy…"

"As shy as mom?"

"No, no one was as shy as Eliza. He was just a bit downtrodden, I blame his grandmother, anyway in fifth year when he went to Dumbledore's Army it helped his confidence and then in that horrible year before the battle he was a leader, a true leader."

"What was it like, that year?" Ruby asked, carefully. She trusted her Aunt Minnie to tell her if she didn't want to answer.

"It was… difficult. During the first term I had no idea where your mother was, or Harry I assumed they were together with Ron and Hermione, until your father broke into Hogwarts and into my office to try and get some sleep potions for her, she had turned up injured and hadn't slept well. He was desperate…"

"Didn't she have the blanket?"

"No, the Death Eaters took it from the Burrow when the Ministry fell. Anyway Neville was leading the students in the rebellion, with Ginny and Luna Lovegood, and the staff were trying to protect students as best we could but it was hard. After Christmas I learnt that your mother had been captured."

"How?"

"Draco Malfoy implied it after a lesson, we didn't know where she was but we found your father, he was in a bad way. I had no idea where Eliza was until the final battle, apparently the Order and Dumbledore's Army had both had meetings, separately, and decided that it was best that I didn't know she was in Azkaban. I think they were worried that I might try and rescue her."

"Would you?"

"Perhaps but it would have been suicide. Anyway I only found out where she had been just before she jumped." Aunt Minnie's eyes had become misty and Ruby reached over the table and held her hand.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's fine. It's only natural for you to be curious. I haven't thought about it for a while, one pushes these things aside."

"I know, anyway do you want tea or coffee?" Ruby said, trying to steer the conversation away from the past.

"Oh yes, tea would be lovely. I must say this is a lovely restaurant; I shall have to tell Robert about it. And I know Eliza would like it here, nice and quiet."

"Yes, I was thinking of bring her and dad here on his birthday, he's always a bit down then." Her father was never very happy on his birthday and she knew he missed his brother then more than any other time of year.

"Good idea, I know he'll like the menu. Do you have work tomorrow?"

"Yes, it's a late shift though, ten till ten."

"They are long shifts, twelve hours! How do you keep going?"

"Tea, and chocolate usually. Scorpius uses those muggle energy drinks though."

"I remember that James got hold of one of those from your Uncle David one year, he was only four, and he was bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day. Harry had to take him out because Ginny was very pregnant with Albus and she couldn't keep up with him!"

When Ruby entered the office the next morning Scorpius was just making a drink.

"Tea?" He asked as she sat at her desk,

"Yes please, how are you?" She asked, pulling out her books and parchment.

"Good thanks, can't wait until this module is over, bloody childbirth I'm scared for life! Anyway did you have a nice time last night?" He asked, Ruby smiled she remembered that module well, her friend Josh had passed out.

"Yes thanks, you?"

"Just a quiet one at home with the books, you looked nice with your hair down." Ruby paused in the process of underlining the title of her essay and looked up at him, slightly freaked out.

"What?"

"Your hair, it looked nice down, I know you have to keep it up here…"

"How do you know my hair was down?" She asked, he walked over to his desk and threw the paper at her; it was open on the gossip column.

Ruby looked down at it and felt herself quake with anger, there in full colour was a picture of her and Aunt Minnie at the restaurant, taken from outside, with Henry kissing her on the lips, she was slightly pleased that even in the photo it appeared she was not encouraging the kiss in any way, she read down to the attached text.

Rumours that Ruby Weasley and Henry Chang are soon to be engaged were boosted last night by a sighting of the couple with Ruby's god-mother, Professor Minerva McGonagall, now retired Hogwarts headmistress and close confident of Ruby's mother, Eliza Weasley nee Potter. Is it possible that Henry and Ruby were telling McGonagall the news that the rest of the Wizarding world is so anxious to hear?

Ruby stood up quickly and crossed the office.

"Tell Kyle I'm in the Potions department if he asks." She said, without looking at him. She stormed down the corridor and stabbed the button for lift before taking a deep steadying breath whilst waiting for it.

The doors opened and Ruby was surprised, and quite pleased to see her mother talking with Matilda. She had planned to go and rant to Alice but her mother would be even better.

"Ruby! You look cross." Matilda said. Her mother exited the lift and looked at her assistant.

"I'll see you back at the office, Matilda." She said quietly. Matilda left and Eliza looked at her daughter with concern in her eyes.

"What's wrong Ruby? You look ready to spit nails." She asked, Ruby checked the room next to the left and was pleased to see that it was empty, she walked into it and her mother followed.

"Have you seen the paper?" She spat, as soon as her mother had closed the door.

"No, I came straight here this morning, I haven't seen a paper, why?" She asked calmly, Ruby passed her the paper and she saw her mother read it quickly and then pass it back to her.

"You need to talk to him about this Ruby, how did he know where you'd be?"

"I… I asked him for a recommendation and then he booked the table, by the bloody window again! Then he just turned up, I was really annoyed, I think he knew that someone was taking the picture because he kissed me despite the fact that he was annoyed about Scorpius…"

"Why was he annoyed about Scorpius?"

"Oh, James told him about what Uncle Harry said at dinner the other week. And then when Henry came in I was just telling Aunt Minnie that Hl Kyle was impressed with him. I think he's jealous, he was really annoyed that I went out with him last month, thank Merlin James didn't mention the bed comment!"

"Ruby, calm down. You need to talk to Henry about this, and I think you should also speak to Aunt Audrey, or maybe Ginny if you want to keep things discrete."

"It's not just the picture, it's all this crap about us getting engaged, I get enough pressure from Grandma and Aunt Petunia as it is…"

"Petunia won't see this, and don't worry about Molly, she's too focussed on Teddy and Vic at the moment. Don't feel pressured into anything, Ruby. You're still young, there's no rush…"

"Easy for you to say," Ruby muttered and her mother smiled.

"Your father and I were different, it was a different time Ruby. We'd just lived through a war, you haven't, you can afford to take your time."

"I know, sorry that was a bit rude." Ruby said, slightly embarrassed. "Anyway I better get back, thanks mom."

"No problem, do you want me to have a word with Ginny for you? I could make it sound like it's coming from me and your dad rather than you?"

"Yeah, actually that would be better, thanks mom."

"You're welcome, did you have a nice time last night? Apart from Henry's interruption."

"Yeah, it was lovely; it's a nice restaurant I think I'll take you and dad there for his birthday. Aunt Minnie thought you'd both like it." They walked out of the room and Ruby saw Hl Kyle and Scorpius walking towards them.

"Ahh, there you are Miss Weasley, I thought you were down in Potions?"

"I was going there sir but then I saw my mom."

"Oh I see, nice to see you again, Mrs Weasley, your daughter is a real asset to the team here." Ruby blushed and her mother smiled but didn't reply. "Anyway we've got a patient, room seven, hex gone badly."

"Right sir, I'll just grab my wand, I'll be there in a minute." Scorpius and Kyle walked off and Ruby hugged her mother and then ran to get her wand.

The next two weeks passed quickly and before Ruby knew it, it was the day before her birthday and Alistair Shacklebolt tumbled out of the Floo and leapt over to his two friends.

"FINALLY! Longest bloody month of my life!" He said, pulling Ruby and Alice into a hug.

"I know, we've been sooooooo excited! So how are you?"

"Great, Romania is fucking awesome! Is your Uncle Charlie going to be there tomorrow?"

"I think so."

"I want to thank him, saved my sanity. Now let's get pissed. I've got Romanian vodka."

"And we've got the pizza menu, ice cream and the hangover potions." Alice said, pointing them all out.

"Nice place." He said, looking around and putting down his back pack.

"Are you going to stay here?" Ruby asked as they moved to the dining room table.

"Yeah, I'll stay tonight and then go and see the folks tomorrow. Have you got your dresses?"

"Yeah we'll show you later, so any gossip?"

"Nah, not really, still getting to grips with everything." Alistair said, looking quiet for a moment. Ruby poured out the drinks and passed him one.

"But I hear you're nearly engaged to that stud Henry, congrats Rubes, you did good!" He said, tipping his glad towards her in a salute. She had only seen Henry briefly in the last two weeks because they had both been busy, her Aunt Ginny had told her mother than she would find out if someone was tipping the paper off next time an article appeared.

"I am not nearly engaged! Have you been reading the prophet?"

"Well, yeah. I'm not living here but I need to keep up to date, it wouldn't look good if the Minister's son had no idea about global affairs!"

"The gossip column is not global affairs and…"

"Jeez Rubes, touch a nerve did I?" He said, holding out his arm.

"Yep," Alice said, taking a long sip of her drink and then grimacing.

"Sorry, it's just I had all this at the Burrow on Sunday. Henry and I are not engaged." She said firmly.

"Okay, sorry, so what's this I hear about Scorpius Malfoy getting you into bed?"

"WHAT!" Cried Alice, looking at Ruby.

"It wasn't like that! Who told you?"

"My dad, he explained the spell and stuff, he said it was hilarious though." Alistair said, grinning. Ruby hastily explained the situation to Alice and she looked quite put out.

"Why didn't my dad tell me? Scorpius must have been mortified when he realised what he said."

"Yeah he was, I think he was a bit star-struck. You know what people are like around Uncle Harry. I nearly killed him; my dad spat his drink out all over the table." Alice laughed.

"What's he like, Malfoy?" Alistair asked.

"He's alright, smart and he'll probably make a good healer." Ruby said.

"He good looking?"

"Definitely," Alice said with a smile.

"Yeah but he knows it."

"Some people find arrogance attractive, any flirting between you two?" Alistair asked. Ruby hesitated remembering the day with the witch who had fallen off the chicken shed, and then the other week when Scorpius had told her she looked nice with her hair down. She clearly hesitated for slightly too long.

"Really? Oh my god Rubes! You're dating the sexiest guy on the planet and then you flirt with a Malfoy!" Alistair said. Alice also looked surprised.

"We're not flirting, he just made a comment about liking my hair down." She said, telling part of the story.

"He going tomorrow?"

"Yeah I think so."

"What about Henry?" Alistair asked.

"Yeah he's coming with me, they don't like each other. I think Henry's jealous because Scorpius and I got pissed together."

"Is there something to be jealous about Ruby?" Alice asked, looking unsure.

"No, we're just friends, or maybe not even friends, just colleagues. It's complicated given…"

"Given that he's a Malfoy and you're a Weasley." Alistair finished and Ruby nodded before finishing her drink in one go.

"Anyway, pizza…"

A/N More time with Aunt Minnie and we finally get to meet Alistair. What do you think?

Next chapter; Ruby's birthday, the St Mungo's Ball and an unexpected situation.

Thanks to mozie for beta-ing!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Lol, just hang on, it will come!

LUG-14- Thanks, I love your reviews!

witchprincess33- Lol a chicken! I'll try and work it in just for you!