Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.

If You Can Help Her – Chapter 19 – Dress Robes and Jealousy

The next few days went rather peacefully since the truce. Harry managed to talk Ginny out of retaliating for the last prank Fred and George had pulled on them. Ron and Hermione were spending a lot of time together, leaving Harry and Ginny alone to do the same.

The day before they were to leave for Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley brought Harry and Ron the clothes she'd purchased while they were at the world cup, including something they didn't expect. Both Harry and Ron had a nice set of brand new dress robes. Harry's were bottle green and Ron's were black. "What are these for?" asked Ron."

"Your school letters said you needed dress robes for formal occasions," answered Mrs. Weasley. "You're just lucky we could afford them. If we'd had to buy Ginny new Hogwarts' robes, you'd have been stuck with the most ghastly dress robes I've ever seen."

"How come you didn't have to buy Ginny new robes?" asked Ron. "I thought she got taller this year."

"Because Harry was kind enough to let Ginny have his robes from last year, since he can't use them anymore. It only took a few small adjustments to make them fit her."

"So now Ginny's wearing Harry's robes?" asked Ron, appearing aggravated.

"It was either that or chuck them in the rubbish bin," explained Harry defensively.

"Fine," replied Ron sarcastically, "The great 'Harry Potter' saves the day, yet again!" Harry's ears went pink.

"Ronald Weasley!" shouted Ron's mum, "How dare you behave so rudely toward Harry when all he has done is a small favor to your family! You don't even deserve..."

Harry sneaked out of the room as fast as he could while Mrs. Weasley told off her youngest son. This was even worse than the howler she'd sent Ron during their second year. When he got out of the room, he noticed Ginny was coming closer to the room with a smile on her face, apparently eavesdropping. "Ginny Weasley," scolded Harry with his hands on his hips, imitating her mother. "Are you trying to listen in on your brother's punishment?"

She put her head down in mock shame. "I just wanted to find out what he's in trouble for this time."

He took her hand and made her walk with him down the stairs. "I think he's mad that you got my old school robes."

"What? He wouldn't get mad if we bought them second-hand from a store, so why shouldn't I get them from you instead?"

"Well, er," explained Harry nervously with his head down. "Your mum kind of said that she wouldn't have been able to buy him nice dress robes if I hadn't given you my school robes, and he started talking about the great 'Harry Potter' saving the day and some rubbish like that."

"What is wrong with that git?" exclaimed Ginny. "He's still jealous of your money! I thought he'd stop being so petty once he got together with Hermione!"

Harry chuckled, "Give the girl some time to work. I mean he's only been dating Hermione for a few days."

"What about me?" asked Hermione, who looked up from the book she was reading upon hearing her name mentioned.

"Oh," replied Harry, grinning, "Ginny thinks you haven't improved Ron fast enough. I reminded her that you've only had a few days to work on him."

Hermione sighed, "What's Ron done now?"

Later that night, a harassed-looking Ron came down the stairs and gave a half-hearted apology to Harry, in front of his glaring mother. Inwardly, Harry wondered why some parents demand that their children apologize for things they're clearly not sorry about, but he went along with it, accepting the fake apology and playing Ron in a game of wizard's chess, which he almost won. Ron was surprised by Harry's improvement and asked, "When did you learn to play like that?"

Harry smiled, "Ginny's been giving me lessons. I think I'll be able to beat you at least once before Christmas."

Ron's face turned red. "Ginny's been giving you chess lessons. No doubt in exchange for your robes! What else has my little sister been giving you?"

"What is your problem today," asked Harry, clearly upset.

"My problem is that we don't need charity from you! And I don't like you trying to buy my little sister..."

"Ronald Weasley," came Hermione's voice, sounding very much like Mrs. Weasley. Her face was completely red. "What do you think you're doing? Harry has never been anything but kind to you and your family, and he has never mistreated your sister! So stop trying to accuse your best friend of acting like Malfoy and admit your problem! You are jealous of Harry!"

"I am not!" shouted Ron.

"And the stupid thing about it is that he hates his fame, and he'd give his whole inheritance away without a second thought to have what you've got – a family that loves you!" With that said, Hermione stormed out of the house, her eyes full of unshed tears.

Everybody in the room started staring at Ron, whose face was now pale, wondering what he would do. He looked at Harry. "I, er, guess I owe you an apology mate. I just..."

"Don't worry about it, mate," replied Harry, "but I think you should go after Hermione."

"Er," responded Ron. "I guess so." He then turned around and marched through the same door she'd gone out.

The next day, things were back to normal when Harry went down to breakfast to find Mrs. Weasley talking to Amos Diggory's head, which appeared to be in the fireplace. Harry didn't pay too much attention to what was being said, except that he needed to speak to Mr. Weasley, who left as soon as he was done speaking to Mr. Diggory. They took three muggle taxis to King's Cross Station, went through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and boarded the Hogwarts Express for what promised to be a most interesting year.

-IYCHH-

Chapter end