Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long! I've been so busy, and I've also started another story, which is post Deathly Hallows (DH). This one, however, is still going to be pre-DH and going along with my original ideas… so I'm going to attempt to stay clear of any spoilers! So read and enjoy, not mentioning review! Oh, and thanks for the reviews already! So…I'll dedicate this chapter to those who have already decided that they like
Once in the Leaky Cauldron, the group of six split up, much to Mrs. Weasley's distaste. Arthur, who had an Order meeting with Remus, held back at the bar. Mrs. Weasley (after badgering at Ginny to keep with Harry, Ron, or Hermione at all times so that she was with someone of age) ran off in the direction of Gringotts first to see Bill. Hermione and Ron headed to the quill shop, and Harry and Ginny made their way down the street just taking in the sites. It was even more dismal than last year, what with even more escaped wizards and witches leering at them from their photographs, and fewer people in the streets. Being out in public, Harry refrained from holding her hand in the style Ron and Hermione were.
"So…where to first?" He asked her, stopping in front of the boarded up face of the old ice cream shop where Harry had many happy memories of doing homework while eating free ice cream.
"Well… I need new robes… the second hand shop's down that way." She said, pointing to her left. Harry pretended to look, and then he shook his head. Ginny gave him a strange look, and Harry felt overjoyed at his position. This was his chance to do something for Ginny, something that no one had ever done for her.
"That's not where you're getting your robes. You'll be getting yours right over there." He said, pointing at Madam Malkin's. To his delight, Ginny's jaw dropped in surprise, but it was more than he could ask for that she wouldn't shake her head. He leaned back and crossed his arms at her.
"Harry…I can't! It's more enough that you're buying my stuff in the first place, you don't need to buy me anything expensive!" She said, tilting her head, her red hair flowing out behind her. Mrs. Weasley had made Ginny change clothes before going out in public, so that now she was wearing jeans and one of Ron's older Chudley Cannon's shirts. Harry noticed that the shirt was extremely tight on her, but he guessed that that was intentional.
"Oh no. You're not getting off that easy. I'm doing something nice for my girl, and my best mate if I can catch him before he heads into the second hand shop. You're not getting anything second hand today, Miss Weasley." He said jokingly, and watched Ginny's expression soften.
"Oh…if you must…but I'm not…." She said, a little pink in the face. Under any other circumstances Harry would have kissed her, but he decided against it because of their unspoken decision to hide any signs of romance from the outside world. Harry caught Ginny's eyes, and saw that she seconded his thoughts.
"Come on, Madam Malkin's. Oh, look… Ron's heading in there with Hermione. Excellent." He said, leading her to the shop before there could be any attempt at bridging that particular topic. The bell tinkled overhead as they walked into the shop, and he heard Ron's voice saying "Oh no, just her, I won't be buying here today," his ears red.
"Oh yes you are. Get on a stool, mate. I'm buying your stuff, and I'm not buying you anything second hand." Harry said, and watched as Ron jumped and turned around, his face and ears redder than ever.
"Oh no, you don't have to…" he started, but Harry shook his head.
"Losing battle, mate. Ask Ginny." He said, and looked at the fully scarlet figure at his side. Ron gave a sheepish smile of gratitude and stood on the stool Madam Malkin was pointing at, smiling at Harry.
"Hello dears, you two as well, I'm guessing?" She said, pulling up two more stools. Harry and Ginny both stood up on the stools, and Harry amused himself at watching Ron and Ginny being measured for new robes for the first time. Ron's expression at the movements of the tape measure while Hermione was being pinned up was comical, and Harry didn't bother to refrain from laughing. Ginny blushed brighter than ever when Harry informed Madam Malkin that Ginny would also be needing new dress robes. When they were all done Harry paid out of the money Bill had sent him out of his Gringotts vault, and the quartet headed on to Flourish and Blotts.
"At least buy me second hand books, Harry… I can't let you spend that much money on me!" Ginny was saying as they walked, but Harry only shook his head and kept on walking. Ron was still issuing thanks as they stepped inside the bookstore, but that all stopped when they saw the sight inside. Crabbe and Goyle were standing threateningly in front of a knot of Slytherins looking over in the Dark Arts section. From his vantage point, Harry could recognize among them Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson. There were also three others to whom Harry could assign no names, but had seen them before. Draco Malfoy, it appeared, was still missing from the public eye, and Harry didn't know whether to think him dead or alive.
"Oh look, it's the Potter club. And Granger's holding hands with Weasley…hey Granger, attempting to step up socially? Blood-traitors aren't that high off Mudbloods, you'll have to try harder than that!" Came Parkinson's sneering voice, and Harry turned just in time to help Hermione in grabbing at the back of Ron's shirt before he could charge at the Slytherins.
"Fuck off, Parkinson. At least Hermione's face doesn't look like she ran into a window thinking that she could get inside." Came Ginny's voice from Harry's right, and Harry had a bad feeling about where this was going.
"Oooh… Ginny's mouthing off. Feeling pretty high and mighty now that you're dating the Boy who Lived, aren't you, Weasley?" Came the voice of one of the girls Harry didn't know. She was blonde with blue eyes and an extremely haughty look on her face.
"We're not dating anymore, Star." Ginny retorted.
"Ooh, decided he didn't need another fan, did he? 'His eyes are as green as a fresh,'" she started, but couldn't finish as Ginny swiftly swiped out her wand and cast a bat bogey hex on the girl whom she had called Star, her own face a bit pink at what the girl had taunted her with.
"Say it again, Benson. I dare you." Ginny bit out, a look on her face that Harry had only seen used on Ron when he forbid Ginny from something or other. Harry saw Nott pull out his wand as well, and before the hex was out of his mouth, Harry had pulled up a shield charm in front of Ginny. The spell ricocheted off of the shield and hit a nearby bookshelf, causing the books on the shelf to become wobbly and flop down on the Slytherins. This attracted the attention of most of the people in the shop, and Harry regretted coming inside in the first place.
Luckily, before the wizard at the check out counter made his way over to where the group was standing, another face emerged from behind. It was roughly scarred, and one eyeball was large and spinning around wildly. "Hey, Mad-eye," Harry said before the man had time to speak. "I guessed it would be you tailing us."
"Right you are, Potter. Bad idea, reacting to this bunch, Miss Weasley." Mad-eye Moody said. He then turned his attention to the clerk who had stopped at the sight of the famous auror.
"This lot'll be needing three sets of seventh year books and one set of sixth year. Here, they'll give you their booklists." He said, and the four gave their lists to the clerk. He bowed awkwardly, and went to go get their books. The Slytherins quickly made their way out of the shop, and Harry turned back to Ginny. She was still beat red and avoiding his eyes.
"You know I don't care about all that stuff from when we were in our first few years, right?" He said. It truly was an uncomfortable topic, Ginny's former infatuation. She nodded shyly, glancing up to meet his eyes. Harry longed to kiss her, or give her hand a little squeeze, or even hug her. But, they were in public. He just couldn't. So he gave her forearm a quick squeeze and went to go wait on the clerk. When they all had their books and Harry had paid for his, Ron's, and Ginny's, they headed out and finished their school shopping. They were about to go meet Mr. and Mrs. Weasley at the Leaky Cauldron when Harry remembered something.
"I need to go somewhere… Ron, why don't you go with me?" He said pointedly. Ron, albeit confused, followed. Hermione and Ginny decided to wait for them next to Gringotts. Harry led Ron up the street and into a jewelry store.
"Oi, mate, why are we in here?" Ron asked, pointing at the shelves of jewelry.
"Your sister just turned sixteen a few days ago." Harry said, looking around.
"And?" Ron said, obviously at a loss.
"I want to get her something nice for her. She sent me a Falmouth book for my seventeenth, I need to get her something. What in here will she like?" He asked. Ron looked dumbfounded.
"She sent you a book? She's been around Hermione too much. I dunno, mate. She likes green…thinks it goes well with her hair. So maybe emeralds?" He said, scratching his head. Obviously, Harry buying jewelry for Ginny was beyond him.
"Emeralds? That's a start." Harry said, and looked around for anything with emeralds. Then he saw it: an emerald hair clip in the shape of a bow, set in gold. Harry bought it from the witch at the counter, and they headed on their way, the clip in Harry's pocket. As they met up with the girls Harry smiled, but didn't say anything. This particular gift wasn't going to be given until they got back to the burrow.