Chapter Seven: Shopping

"Harry, can you walk with us?" Gwen asked suddenly and he nodded. She set him on his feet gently so she could help him choose some clothes, "Here," she conjured a tether, tying them together with about five feet between them.

He was already dressed in a simple red flannel shirt, a pair of jeans, and sneakers. Draco matched, only his shirt was light blue. Draco also differed in that he refused to be separated from his guardian, clinging to Kevin as though his life depended on it.

"Why are you buying me all this stuff?" Harry asked quietly, tugging on the bottom of her shirt. She spun and knelt, asking softly, "What else would we do? You need this stuff…"

"I always wore Dudley's old stuff…I've never had anything new…"

"What about toys or books or-?"

"I am to cook and clean Ma'am; I have no time for toys or reading…"

She pulled him into a tight hug, whispering, "Not with us okay? You can play and read all you like as long as you're safe and happy…" before releasing him.

"Really?" he was hesitant to believe her.

She nodded, "Yep, Hermione and Ron are picking out some books for you and Ben and Julie are getting a bed for you and one for Draco and bed sets for them, fluffy and warm ones and after we're done getting you some clothes we're going to head to the toy store and you can pick out anything you want there…"

"I don't have any money."

She laughed, "You're such a funny kid Harry; we're paying for you, Kevin and I are very well off because the jobs we do are very dangerous. So you and Draco have nothing to worry about."

"Thank you."

"No thanks needed, we love you Harry and we want you to have the best…" she grinned before saying, "So let's get back to shopping and then we can go to buy some toys."

"Yes." He nodded.

"Runt," Kevin finally said after trying to juggle Draco and finding clothes the size of the frustratingly tiny child, "I have to put you do—"

"NO!" Draco cried, holding on tighter.

"Draco, stop, I'm not going to leave you, but I need both hands here." He set the boy down on his feet only for Draco to latch onto his leg. He sighed; it was progress at least. Cue him dragging that foot along as Draco was sitting on it.

Soon enough they found themselves in the toy store.

"Why's there an old broomstick here?" Harry asked, pointing to a smaller more kid friendly version of the Firebolt.

Gwen chuckled, telling him, "Put your hand over it and say 'Up!'."

"Why?" he asked.

"Trust me."

He shrugged and did as told, nearly breaking his bowels when it jumped to his hand, "What the-!"

"Harry, language."

"Do you see it floating?!"

"Magic. Now follow my lead," she summoned her own broom (a Nimbus Two Thousand Two which she didn't use much because she didn't really like flying by broom but she had gotten one just in case), "Take it firmly, with both hands," she demonstrated, "and swing your leg over it, like you're getting onto a horse," she waited until he had done so and nodded, "Good, now keeping your firm grip you kick off firmly and then put your feet on the foot rests; like this," she kicked off and hovered, bobbing slightly. He gulped but did as told, surprised when he managed to copy her. He did wobble however. Where she was floating six feet above the ground he couldn't go higher than four and a half

"Good, now lean forward slightly." She demonstrated and shot off before wheeling around to face him. He nodded and mimicked, surprised to move forward at, at least, five miles per hour. He pulled up the handle slightly to stop.

"You're a natural Harry!" she exclaimed with glee, "C'mon, land and we'll get you a whole Quidditch set…"

"Quidditch?"

"It's kinda like football on broomsticks. Ron can show you how to play it."

"Great…How do I get down?"

"Just point the nose towards the ground and put out your feet…" she did as she was telling him to and he copied her again, landing safely.

Over in the toddler section Kevin was having a more difficult time of things with Draco. The little blonde boy was very easily frightened and very clingy still.

"You don't want to get him a toy," the shopkeeper told Kevin conspiratorially.

"I don't?"

"No, no, no, a child that timid needs to feel safe, try getting him a dog, a very large dog; there's a pet-shop down the way…"

"And that'll help him?"

"Definitely, definitely."

"Alright."

And so Kevin and Draco headed to the pet shop. As soon as they entered the shop an English Mastiff came up to them, snuffling at Draco's feet before a very long red tongue shot out to lick them. The little boy giggled and laughed, kicking slightly although the dog was not deterred. Kevin tried setting Draco down and was relieved when the boy did not fight him. The dog was much larger than Draco but very gentle and promptly laid down to allow Draco to pet him. Although as soon as the boy was straddling his back the dog stood up and began moving around very carefully.

Kevin spied the shopkeeper, the same woman who had sold Hermione Crookshanks, and asked calmly, "Is that dog for sale?" as he pointed to Draco and the dog.

"Evander? Of course," she grinned, "He's two years old, fully grown, and fully trained. And Floo trained as well."

"Sweet, how much?"

"Three Galleons and five Sickles for him and everything you'll need."

"Perfect."

And so she took him to pick out items, including a harness with stirrups and a horn to make riding Evander easier for Draco. There was even a cinch for a leash behind where Draco would sit.

Draco was loathed to leave his newfound friend but did so to allow Kevin to put the harness on Evander and then promptly mounted the dog again.

"Got a hold?" Kevin asked his charge who nodded fervently in return. And so they headed out, meeting back up with the group at the Three Broomsticks. Gwen raised an eyebrow but nodded, not upsetted by the dog. They Flooed back to Hogwarts, Dumbledore being very amused by Draco's new ride, and were relieved that Evander could go up and down the endless staircases without trouble. He was very surefooted while moving around.

Later that night, after they had explained to everyone having not witnessed the accident in Potions what had happened, as they ate dinner Harry tugged on Gwen's sleeve, asking, "Can I ask him now?"

She smiled and nodded, calling out, "Ron, Harry needs to ask you something." Ron, amazingly, stopped eating, "Yeah?"

"Can-Can you teach me how to play Qu-Quid-ditch?" Harry stammered out, flushing as he was very shy.

"Sure thing." Ron grinned, nodding.

Draco was still very quiet, Evander laying on the floor behind him and enjoying a steak sent up for him by whoever cooked the meals, but was apparently more secure than before as he wasn't in Kevin's lap. After dinner Draco stepped into a stirrup and swung his other leg over Evander's back like a pro-rider and the group headed up to Gryffindor. The two boys were bathed and put to bed, a second bedroom having appeared in the Levin-Tennyson apartment and having been furnished by the things bought that afternoon, being wished sweet dreams and goodnight, Evander laying on a large dog bed in the same room to make Draco feel safe and secure. Harry cuddled with his dragon, enjoying having an actual, bed let alone an actual room, to sleep in.

"Okay," Gwen spoke as she shrugged on a light coat, Kevin doing the same, Ben and Julie were sitting on the couch, Hermione was sitting in an armchair, "they're asleep and unless someone-" she glared at Ben, "-does something stupid and loud they should stay asleep. The dog's with them. We'll be back within the hour."

And with that, they left to chat with Dumbledore about how long Harry and Draco would remain little. Which turned out to be about three months. Oh joy.