Chapter 24: London

Harry stood in the school's entrance with about a hundred other students, both wizard and muggle. The hall buzzed with excited voices as everyone discussed the places they wanted to go to. Neither school had ever had a field trip to London. Due to safety concerns, only students sixteen and older with permission were allowed to attend. There would also be additional protection with aurors disguised as Muggles. Interim Minister of Magic, Kingsley had written to Harry numerous times in the hope to convince him to accept a personal bodyguard. Kingsley worried for Harry's safety due to the Muggle unrest and recent articles in the London Prophet. Harry had appreciated his concern but had declined all offers. He knew he could handle whatever came his way and anyway, he would be a normal teenager, walking around London.

As the hall hushed Harry turned to see Professor McGongall step up the stairs. On the fifth stair she turned to the group. The Hogwarts students turned to face her and most of the muggles did as well. Many of them had learned, quickly, not to get on Professor McGonagall's bad side. As Harry looked on to McGonagall he felt a small hand slip into his.

"Hi!" Ginny whispered.

"Hi." Harry smiled as Ginny leaned her head against his shoulder. He knew he should listen to McGonagall's rules, but he couldn't stop staring at Ginny. She was beautiful.

"Portkey? What's a portkey?" Harry snapped from his thoughts and turned to Dudley who had suddenly appeared next to them with Victoria.

"It's an item that has been charmed to send you elsewhere." Dudley nodded as the group began walking out to the Quidditch field.

As Harry and the group walked down to the field, Ginny hopped ahead to talk with Luna and Vivan. Harry couldn't help but watch Ginny as she walked. Her hips swayed effortlessly, and her long hair swung as she walked.

"Hey!" Harry jumped as a hard elbow hit his arm. He turned stunned to see Ron.

"She's my sister." Harry's checks turned pink as he looked away. He saw Ginny turn to stick her tongue out at Ron before giving him a not-so-subtle wink, making Harry blush harder.

As the crowd reached the Quidditch field they formed lines. Each line leading to a teacher with a clipboard. The group joined the line leading to Professor Flitwick. As they approached him, he called out "Potter, Weasley, Granger…brown boot to your left." Flitwick pointed over his shoulder. The Golden Trio walked over to the old brown boot. Ginny, Luna and Victoria walked to a shovel. Harry could not see Vivian but noticed Dudley walking towards them. His face nearly matched Uncle Vernon's when he was skeptical. He stopped next to Harry, staring at the boot. Harry could hear the confused voices of muggles around him, with witches and wizards explaining.

"It's a boot…" Dudley stared at the boot, as if waiting for it to do something.

"Yes. Portkeys are random items. Mainly used so muggles don't notice." Dudley's eyes knitted together as he nodded in confusion. Harry watched as Professor Flitwick jumped up to the new metal benches. He lifted his wand to his throat to amplify his voice. Harry and the others listened as he explained to the muggles what the old objects in front of them were. He also explained that two teachers would remain with the portkeys so if students wished to return to Hogwarts early they could, but all students were expected to return no later than 7:30. Harry grabbed hold of the boot as Flitwick counted down.

"Grab it." He turned to Dudley who immediately grabbed the boot.

"7…6…"

"Wait what happens if you let go?" Dudley asked. Harry could see he was afraid, but before he could answer Ron did.

"Don't. You won't make it."

"3..2…" Harry felt the familiar pull as he and the others spun through the air. The familiar sensation of arrival came and he watched as Ron and Hermione let go. He too let go. He hit the ground like a sack of potatoes. He was never good at this. Ron laughed as he grabbed his hand to help him up. The two turned to Dudley and the other muggle they travelled with to see them stumble to their feet.

An hour later Ron and Harry had slipped away from the group. Ron noticed a shop on the corner of a London street. He had quietly mentioned a necklace he had seen he thought Hermione would like. The boys agreed to meet the others at an ice cream shop in an hour. They walked back to the tiny shop and Ron peered in through the window.

"Good it's still there." Ron jumped into the store and immediately asked about the necklace by the window. Harry slowly walked around. He noticed a blue bowl filled with little gold and silver rings. He picked one up before turning away. In the corner was a metal tree decoration. Different bracelets and necklaces hung from the twisted branches. He was looking at a few when Ron came over, a look of defeat on his face.

"Can't afford it." He shrugged at Harry. Harry looked back at the tree.

"What about these? They're 10 pounds." Ron and Harry looked at the necklaces and bracelets for a few minutes.

"Hey, this is perfect. Better than the window one." Ron pulled a necklace off the tree, showing it to Harry. The silver necklace was in the shape of a book with a blue gem in the center.

"Perfect for Hermione." Ron nodded looking down at the necklace.

"I'm going to get it." Ron stepped away, leaving Harry to look. He almost left when his eye caught a thin black bracelet with a simple gold heart charm attached. Harry grabbed the bracelet and brought it to the counter. Ron was beaming as he took the small little bag from the woman behind the counter.

"Apparently it's her birthstone too." He beamed as Harry dropped the bracelet on the counter.

"Have you been here before?" The cashier asked Harry.

"No, I don't think I've ever been on this street in London." Harry shrugged as he paid the woman. She looked puzzled.

"I could have sworn you looked familiar. Well boys, hope your girls enjoy their gifts." The woman handed Harry the little bag with the bracelet. He quickly pocketed the bag. He wasn't sure when he'd give it to Ginny and wanted it to be a surprise. Ron on the other hand, wanted to give Hermione the necklace immediately.

The two boys talked about their girls as they walked down the street to the ice cream store. The two had an agreement when talking about girls. Since Ginny was Ron's sister and Hermione was like a sister to Harry, they avoided certain conversations, but in truth the boys were happy for the other.

As they entered the ice cream shop Hermione stood up at a large table, waving them over. Ron subconsciously straightened his back and walked over to Hermione beaming. Ron's confidence was noticeable as he approached Hermione. Harry sat next to Ginny who was happily talking to Luna and Neville. Harry heard Ron tell Hermione the stone was her birthstone and tried to hide his laugh. Ron had said it so proudly for someone who didn't know until he was buying it. Harry turned to see Hermione smile as she took the necklace and immediately put it on.

"It's beautiful!" Hermione hugged Ron and kissed him on the check.

The group walked to the counter to order their ice cream. Harry turned to Ginny to see what she wanted.

"You don't have to always pay for me."

"I know, but I like to." Harry shrugged as he walked up to the counter. He quietly mentioned to the man behind the counter that he was buying everyone's ice cream. As Neville pulled out his wallet, the man handed him his ice cream and told him he was all set. Neville looked at him in confusion.

"But I haven't paid." Neville held a few muggle coins in his hand, trying to pay the man.

"Yea, but he did." The man nodded at Harry, who was slinking back toward their table. Neville smiled taking his ice cream. As he sat across from Harry, he thanked him and happily dug in.

"You know you didn't have to." Ron sat down next to Neville, sticking the spoon straight into his mouth. Harry shrugged.

"I know, but I wanted to." Harry smiled at his friends.

"Well, I quite appreciated it, Harry. It was a nice surprise." Luna sat next to Ginny. The group looked at her dish, Ron was the first to ask.

"What is that?"

"Sweet Corn. It looked delicious, but I wasn't expecting popcorn to be on top." Luna smiled before taking a scoop. Ron gawked at her as she contemplated the new flavor.

"Well?" Hermione asked skeptically.

"I do like it, but I do not know if I would get it again." Luna plucked a popcorn piece from the top and plopped it into her mouth.

"Can I?" Ginny lifted her spoon. Luna nodded. Ginny took a small scoop.

"It's good. Its sweet but also has a little salt from the popcorn. Is that bacon?" Ginny licked her spoon clean.

"Yes, it's vanilla with caramel bacon and popcorn. Would anyone else like to try?" Neville was the only one who accepted her offer. The two traded ice cream and agreed the Sweet Corn was good, but neither would get it again. The group talked and laughed for a long time after finishing their ice cream. It was only when the shop became busier and tables filled up, that they decided to leave. Harry couldn't help but smile as the group walked down the street. The others walked ahead of Ginny and him. Ginny held his hand, swinging his arm back and forth. He knew she was waiting for him to ask her to stop, but he just smiled at her silliness. Harry saw Hermione and Luna point to a store down the street.

"Death to witches!" A loud bang echoed behind them, and Harry felt a pain in his chest. His body went cold and numb, except his chest. An intense pain grew, and he lift his hand to his chest. As he pulled it away, he heard Ginny's voice, but it sounded far away. He could feel a hot sticky substance on his hand before he collapsed. He felt something around him as he hit the ground. As his vision blurred, he could hear screams from people around him. He recognized one of the voices closest to him as Ginny's but couldn't understand what she was saying.