A Different Beginning

Diagon Ally

After entering Diagon Ally through the Leaky Cauldron, Harry, Lily and Selena stopped to look around.

"Well, why don't we get some ice cream, and see if Neville is there," Lily suggested.

"Yay," Selena said, and skipped off in the direction of the ice cream parlor. Harry just nodded, and followed. Lily looked on, worriedly. It was around Harry's birthday, and whenever that time of year, Harry always closed himself away, not completely, but no one knew why.

At the ice cream parlor, Harry had just finished paying for his butterscotch sundae when a family of redheads entered. His eyes instantly were on what looked like the youngest, a girl with pretty brown eyes. He quickly looked away when she walked passed him.

"Harry, over here," Selena called to him. He quickly walked over to the booth where she was sitting. Harry's eyes stayed on the girl, and he couldn't help but notice she got one scoop of dulche de leche on a sugar cone. Harry got up to throw away his bowl. He walked towards the trashcan, not paying attention. Suddenly, he bumped into the girl, spilling her ice cream all over both of them, and causing the girl to fall down.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry," Harry exclaimed, holding his hand out to help her up.

"Oh, no worries, this was my favorite shirt though," the girl muttered, accepting his hand and standing up.

"Let me buy you a new one," Harry offered.

"No, really, it's alright," the girl protested.

"Please, it was my fault, I wasn't paying attention," Harry insisted.

"You don't even know me," the girl stated.

"Well, I'm Harry," Harry told her.

"Ginny," she replied.

"See, now I know your name and that you need a new ice cream cone and shirt," Harry said.

"Well, I can't just leave," Ginny pointed out.

"Come with me," Harry grabbed her hand, and led her to where his mom and sister were. Lily looked up in surprise at and ice cream covered Harry and mystery girl.

"Mum, I wasn't looking where I was going, and spilled Ginny's ice cream on her, can I take her to get a new shirt?" Harry asked.

"Um, sure, but I will have to come, and so will her family," Lily replied, not surprised at all by Harry's kindness, "Hello Ginny, I'm Lily, and this is Selena."

"Hi," Ginny said shyly, "Come on Harry, I have to talk to my mum." They walked over to a table a few feet away, where a women and boy around Harry's age sat.

"Hi, I'm Harry, and I, uh, kinda spilled your daughters ice cream all over, so I was wondering if I could go buy her a new shirt," Harry started, looking guilty.

"Oh Harry, you don't need to, we can just clean it when we get home," the elderly woman replied.

"Please, I insist, it was all my fault, and besides, I could use some more friends," Harry urged, then put on a puppy dog face, "My mom and sister will come along." Then Lily and Selena walked up.

"Hi, I'm Lily Potter," Lily said. Ginny's mouth dropped open, and she stared at Harry.

"Molly Weasley, this is my son Ron, and well, you know Ginny," Mrs. Weasley introduced the family.

"Weasley, you say, James has mentioned your husband, he is very impressed with the work he does," Lily complemented.

"So can we go?" Harry asked, impatiently.

"Very well, meet us back here in about an hour," Mrs. Weasley sighed. Harry jumped up in joy, and practically dragged a flabbergasted Ginny outside.

Once they were walking a good 30 feet in front of Lily and Selena, Ginny turned to Harry.

"You didn't tell me you were Harry Potter," she accused.

"Sorry, but most people like me because I'm famous, and the boy-who-lived. I just was looking for someone to like me for who I am," Harry replied, looking down. Ginny's face instantly turned soft.

"I half know what you mean," she said quietly, "I have six older brothers who I suppose I will have to live up to at Hogwarts." Harry laughed. Ginny punched him lightly on the arm.

"It's not funny," she huffed.

"I know, it's just, I feel like I've found a perfect friend in you," Harry smiled, unable to explain what he was feeling. Ginny blushed, and muttered a thanks. Harry laughed again, and pointed at a shop up ahead.

"How about we go in there?" he suggested.

"Sure," Ginny replied. They headed in, and were greeted by a witch holding a measuring tape. Ginny wandered off to look at the shirts, while Harry waited for Lily and Selena to catch up. Selena joined Ginny, while Lily pulled Harry aside.

"Well," Lily stared at her son.

"Well what?" Harry asked innocently.

"Why are you being so kind to this girl you just met?" Lily asked, "It's not that I don't like her, it's just that you usually don't do things like this."

"I don't know myself, I just feel like she's what I need right now," Harry answered, and smiled when he saw Ginny running towards them, holding a brown shirt with red flowers.

"What'd ya think?" Ginny asked.

"Uh, looks great," Harry replied, not too sure about what to say. Lily shook her head, and walked over to the floo.

"Ready to pay?" Harry asked.

"Yup." The two headed over to the counter.

"So, tell me about your family," Harry started.

"Well, there's Bill and Charlie, they're in Egypt and Romania. Bill's a curse breaker and Charlie works with dragons. Percy is sorta, well, really focused on schoolwork, never stops mentioning he's prefect, Fred and George are twins, and love to play pranks, then Ron, who you saw earlier, and then me," Ginny finished.

"Wow," Harry said, looking a bit flustered.

Ginny laughed, "They're all nice, you should come by sometime to meet them." Harry just nodded, still a little winded.

"Harry… you don't have to pay for this," Ginny said quietly, looking at the price.

"Come on, I feel like I should," Harry replied, taking out a galleon, "Besides, you picked it out."

"I didn't know it was that much," Ginny protested.

"Gin, I know I just met you, well, spilled ice cream on you, but I feel like I want to be friends with you, so I'm starting out like this," Harry said confidently.

"You can't buy friendship, Harry," Ginny frowned, and turned to leave.

"Ginny, wait, stay, that's not what I meant," Harry called after her. He quickly paid for the shirt, and raced after her.

"Sorry, but I did mess up your other shirt, and I'm not buying your friendship, it just," Harry fought to find the right words, "You're the second person I know who will be my friend because of who I am, not because I'm the bloody boy-who-lived, and I want to keep that feeling."

"Harry, am I really the second person?" Ginny asked. He nodded.

"Neville, is my only friend, mostly because I've known him since I was 1, so, he couldn't judge me."

"Harry, I'll be your friend, but you can't just keep buying me things, the shirt I'll take, just because you kept insisting, and I kind of know it was your fault," Ginny decided, smiling.

"Oh thank god," Harry sighed.

"Ready to go?" Lily asked. The two of them nodded.

"Change of plans, we're flooing to the Burrow, where Ginny lives, and we're going to have supper with them, since it's late," Lily explained. Ginny's face lit up, and Harry smiled.

A/N: Here's chapter 3, it's longer to make up for the short chapter 2. I'm still not entirely sure where this story is going, but I'm glad people like it. Chapter 4 will be up tomorrow morning, maybe. I have half of it written, (sorta) and I might finish it tonight. Review please :)