Chapter 31
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After discussing it with Harry and her mother, Hermione decided to invite Neville and Harry on the shopping trip she planned to take Elsie on. She had considered inviting Eloise and perhaps Padma and Parvati, making a girls' day out of it but was worried about how she would manage the two wizard raised girls' reactions to a shopping mall on her own. From what she knew, Eloise had even less exposure to the muggle world than Elsie who had at least spent time at the Grangers and been exposed to quite a few movies already. At least with Harry there to back her up the other couple would find the outing somewhat familiar and Mrs Granger had offered to go along to provide another opinion on the clothing. Hermione would have liked to invite someone who knew more about both muggle and wizarding fashion but she didn't think that anyone other than Katie or Leanne might and she wasn't close enough with either to contact them about a shopping trip.
Hermione was glad she'd chosen to start at the local mall early on a weekday when the shops were relatively quiet, rather than travel into the larger department stores in London when she noticed Neville's and Elsie's nervous reaction to the car ride even on the quiet local streets and to the other shoppers. She grinned at them reassuringly, reminding them that they'd seen shopping malls in some of the movies and the reality was probably a little more like the shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade than those American movies so there was nothing to be worried about.
Harry held her hand as they walked in, hoping to encourage Neville and Elsie to do the same and take comfort in each other's presence. Emma led them to the shop that Hermione had found two of her formal dresses in and Hermione encouraged the magically raised girl to look around and try on anything that struck her fancy so they'd get a good feel of size she was and what colours and styles suited her best.
Harry had warned Neville that dress shopping would involve a lot of waiting around and giving opinions only when asked on their part and the need to find something he liked about each dress even if he didn't really like it. Neville did his best but it was clear he was embarrassed commenting on someone else's clothing and appearance. The two wizard raised teens were shocked at the short skirts, and low spaghetti strap necklines displayed on the mannequins in the window. Hermione reassured them that nobody expected Elsie to dress like that unless she wanted to, and there were plenty of dresses they would find more acceptable.
Elsie found undressing in a little cubicle separated from her husband, friends and complete strangers by only a curtain and thin divisions that didn't even go all the way to the ground nerve wracking, and it got even worse when after looking at the fit of the first couple of dresses, Mrs Granger suggested that she needed to be properly fitted for some new bras before they tried on anything else. Thankfully she sent the boys to amuse themselves and bring back coffees while she and Hermione led Elsie into the lingerie shop where a complete stranger made her strip off her top and tutted over the fit of her bra before making her remove that as well and actually touching her while she measured her up.
Elsie had to admit that the bras they chose for her fit better and looked far more appealing than her old one though they didn't feel much more comfortable. She tried to choose only the plainest and most concealing ones and Hermione agreed they were great for everyday wear when she would be exercising or training with Harry but encouraged her to buy several others, some of what she called push up bras for under party dresses and some horrifyingly small scraps of lace to wear in the evening for Neville.
"You mean I should show him these?" Else whispered blushing furiously. "I couldn't possibly!"
"That's what they're designed for, to make you feel sexy and confident and to turn on your partner. You and Neville are married. You do realise that you're going to have to start trying for a baby at the end of the year?" Hermione said.
"What does that have to do with wearing such indecent underwear?" Elsie asked.
Hermione chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't wear something like that anywhere someone other than Harry would see me but they're not indecent, there's nothing wrong with your husband thinking that you're sexy. Harry likes to see me in things like this, he likes it a lot and I like to make him react like that," she admitted.
"I don't think that Neville sees me like that," Elsie said.
"The question is, do you want him to see you like that? Because I guarantee that lingerie like this can make him start thinking of you that way," Hermione replied.
"I don't know," Elsie stammered.
"Then let's get these and put them away in your trunk until you do know whether you want to wear them for him. Or even for yourself if you find that they make you feel like a strong, confident, sexy woman," Hermione suggested.
"But it's a waste of money, if I'm not going to wear them," Elsie protested.
"Neville and Harry have enough money not to need to worry about a small purchase like this, and who knows if you'll want them while you're at Hogwarts when we can't get back to muggle shopping, you won't find a shop like this in Hogsmeade," Hermione said encouragingly. "The only excuse I'll accept for not buying these for you is if you can honestly tell me it would make you uncomfortable to know that you had them."
"It will if Mum finds them!" Elsie said.
"Elsie, you're married. Your mum has no right to be going through your trunk or your drawers," Hermione said bluntly. "If she doesn't like what she finds then tell her that it's her problem. Neville is your husband; you're allowed to be intimate with him in whatever way you choose. I'll put some security charms on your trunk keyed to you so nobody else can go looking though it, next time I come over if you like"
Elsie looked at the lingerie that she couldn't even bring herself to try on. "They'd look ridiculous on me," she said softly.
"I don't think they would, you have a very nice figure. You're just not used to making the most of it but if you'd rather that I find something less revealing, I can," Hermione offered. She ducked out and returned with several silk teddies. "These will make you feel and look amazing. I didn't get red so your mum has no reason to be scandalised."
Elsie laughed remembering the conversation about the colour change charm, but she didn't think that the colour of these lacy outfits would pacify her mother. She didn't know what Hermione had said to Harry but he never used red when they battled. "They feel lovely," she agreed.
Fitted with underwear they met back up with the boys and went back to look at dresses. Elsie had to admit that the better fitting bra did make a difference with the way the top of the dresses fitted and looked and they quickly were able to find what styles suited her. Elsie was relieved that none of them were as short or low cut as the dresses on display in the window. Hermione giggled when she mentioned that to her.
"I think that you'd look great in something like that but the wizarding world is definitely not ready for such a culture shock. Can you imagine, your mum or Neville's gran's faces if they saw one of us in a dress like that, or McGonagall's, and honestly I think we're still a year or two too young for it," Hermione said gesturing to a silver sheath minidress.
"I think we've time for a break before Neville's suit fitting, and from wearing the shoes Hermione bought me for Christmas I can tell you're not going to want muggle shoes. What do you want for lunch?" Emma asked them.
"They sell food here too?" Elsie asked.
"They sell just about everything other than cars and real estate here," Harry said.
"That's an exaggeration, there are a lot of things you'd have to go to a specialty shop elsewhere for, these are shops designed to cater to everyday needs for the majority of people, but yes they do have food, both grocery shops and mini restaurants," Hermione said poking him.
"We should have McDonalds. Show them the true muggle experience," Harry suggested.
"We should have real food, show them that this world isn't so different to ours," Hermione countered dryly.
Emma laughed. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Hermione this time. How about we go to the food court and let them choose their own meal, show them the different foods available in this world, there are burger's there for you Harry that will taste far better to Neville and Elsie than McDonalds."
It was safe to say that the food court blew Neville and Elsie's minds, they wanted to try different thing but after Harry warned them how hot some Indian and Thai food could be were a little nervous about it too. Especially the dishes that had ingredients they didn't recognise.
"I love curries, how about mum and I get some of the mildest ones I used to introduce Harry to them, and you can try a mouthful," Hermione said enthusiastically knowing her mother shared her love for all Indian foods.
"I'm going to get a burger and chips, it's a meat pattie in a bread roll with cheese, salad vegetables and tomato sauce," Harry said decidedly. "And a chocolate shake."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, knowing Harry would be sick if he ate all that fat and dairy in one sitting, but she knew he'd actually eat very few of the chips, and he'd share his shake with her. "You've had pizza when you were visiting. There's a place that sells that and other Italian foods that you'd probably like Neville. A lot of their foods have a tomato or creamy based sauce. You don't have to try everything today, we can come back here anytime you visit. We don't need Mum to bring us, there's a bus."
Elsie bravely tried the Korma and the Butter chicken and Sag that Emma and Hermione had ordered, but it was Neville who ended up finishing Harry's chips and burger which he'd cut in half. Hermione had pushed an extra fruit salad at Harry having bought it for him knowing that he wouldn't be able to eat enough of the fatty foods he'd chosen though the burger was indeed far healthier and to his tastes than the McDonalds he'd talked about wanting.
Elsie had looked forward to Neville's suit fitting where the attention would be on her husband but found that even then, Emma wanted her opinions on what cuts looked best or more in keeping with the wizarding world and which accessories would go best with each of the dresses they'd bought for her. She was relieved when Hermione left them to the measuring and fitting part of purchasing a suit and dragged her off to the bookshop, though even that was intimidating with so many books on topics she didn't know anything about. With pictures of cars, or planes or outer space, or worse, couples in intimate embraces on the covers.
"How do you know which ones you'll like," Elsie asked as Hermione quickly picked up a couple and put them in her basket without looking at them.
"These are the new titles by some of my favourite modern authors, and the latest book Harry's been waiting for in a series he's reading. Other than that, it depends on what sort of story you like. Do you like murder mysteries or horror, or books that make you laugh or cry? Books that you know are said to be true stories about real people or that people have written about themselves, or books about politics and intrigue? There are books about people our age or books either written a couple of hundred years ago or written recently but set a long time ago. I prefer some of the books actually written back a hundred years or so ago and I think you might be more comfortable with some of those as well, but you don't have to buy anything today. I have a lot of books I'd be happy to lend you to try. Then if you find one you love enough to want your own copy we can come back."
Elsie smiled relieved not to be having to make more choices today, "Are there books on muggle plants?" she asked.
"There are and I know Harry and Neville didn't come in here while we were busy so maybe you'd like to show him them later, I could send Mum home and we could catch the bus back," Hermione suggested showing her the gardening section.
They met up with the boys and were glad to flop onto the back seat of the car. "Why do I feel like I've been duelling all day when we've not really done anything?" Neville asked.
"Because you're used to duelling, standing around waiting and giving opinions when asked, or trying on clothes and having to make decisions is tiring," Harry replied.
Emma laughed at them, and promised them a quiet night of dinner and snacks on the couch watching movies to recover.
-o0o-
"Gin you're going to have to get over Harry Potter," George said.
"He will never be yours," Fred agreed with his twin.
"You're going to ruin Ron's wedding," George began.
"…and embarrass all the family if you don't stop…" Fred continued.
"…trying to break up Harry and Hermione," George completed the warning.
"But worse than that… Fred said.
"So very very much worse…." George interjected, nodding sombrely.
"You're gonna miss out on living," Fred warned.
"…if you spend your life moping…" George continued.
"…about what never will be!" Fred declared.
"Harry doesn't love Hermione, I know he doesn't. She was selfish to ask him to marry her," Ginny said pouting.
"It's not like she could have forced him," George argued.
"The ritual they used would only work if he was willing to marry her," Fred said bluntly.
"And you know Harry's too stubborn to be forced into anything," George said.
"He's definitely that! Too stubborn to lay down and die, that's our Harry," Fred agreed.
"The thing is they're not just married, Gin," George began.
"They're bonded for life," Fred continued.
"There's no divorce possible," George said.
"No cheating or affairs either," Fred added.
"Not that you'd want to be his mistress if he were still married," George pointed out.
"They can't ever be with anyone else," Fred said.
"The ritual they used didn't fall out of fashion because it didn't allow for betrothals and marriage contracts," George said.
"It's a huge commitment to make, bigger than most people want when they marry," Fred agreed.
"I don't even think one of them dying could change it," George said seriously.
"The vows were eternal," Fred stated.
"Even in the next great adventure as Dumbledore calls it," George said.
"Harry will be Hermione's," Fred said
"There's no point wishing that Harry loved you instead," George said sympathetically.
"He couldn't be with you even if he did," Fred pointed out.
"All it would do would make him miserable," George agreed.
"I don't think he'd be capable of loving you even if he wanted to," Fred stated.
"If you really loved him, you'd want him to be happy with Hermione," George said bluntly.
"She's the only hope he has of a family," Fred said seriously.
"And you know that's all he's ever wanted," George reminded her.
She'd heard it all before but this time with her brothers she actually listened. If they were right, Harry would never be hers. She had no hope with him at all. But why would he have done that to her. Didn't he realise that they were destined to be together.
No she realised that he didn't know that, and now it was too late for her to show him that he was destined to be hers. He'd tied his destiny to Hermione's instead. Her heart was broken.
Molly and Arthur had noticed the change in Ginny after the twins' conversation with her. Arthur was concerned about her mood but pleased that Ginny had finally realised that she wouldn't be able to win Harry back from Hermione and wouldn't cause a huge disruption to Ron's wedding trying.
Molly was more sympathetic and also felt vindicated, her daughter was now showing the signs of the broken heart she'd been telling Arthur she was suffering. Unfortunately, she couldn't take any joy in being right while Ginny was so upset and Arthur forbade her from trying to help.
"Ginny has finally come to the realisation that Harry will not be leaving his wife for her. It is better that she comes to terms with that before she's allocated a marriage partner of her own. Giving her false hope that this might change will be cruel," Arthur said firmly.
"Arthur, you know I believe in the sanctity of marriage as much as anyone does, but can't you see that these forced marriages are not the same thing at all. There will come a time when the law will be changed and a lot of these marriages will end," Molly said.
"I'm sure you're right about the ministry matched pairings, but the ritual that Harry and Hermione and the other students used didn't just marry them without a legal bonder, it bonded their souls with magic, there is no separation from each other for them, a divorce just isn't possible. That's why the ministry had to accept those marriages and not annul them in favour of more magically compatible pairings. That's also why the bonding didn't work for Ron, he wasn't mature enough to make a lifelong commitment, we should be grateful that Ginny refused to try the ritual with Harry because I don't think it would have worked for her either," Arthur tried to explain again.
Finally, Molly seemed to understand. "They really formed a permanent bond, there's no undoing it?" She asked horrified.
"From what I read of the ritual they've bonded not just for this life but for the next, if they are reincarnated they'd be born as a mated pair and if not they will be together for an eternity in the next world. Ginny needed to understand that her dreams of Harry coming to see her one day and telling her he made a mistake in marrying Hermione can never come true and it seems the twins have managed to convince her. It's better that she grieves what cannot be now than holds false hope in her heart which would prevent her making the best of her own marriage. The best thing you can do for Ginny is to accept that Harry will never be your son-in-law and accept the match the ministry chooses for her," Arthur said gently now that his wife was no longer arguing against him.
"So Harry has thrown away Ginny's chance for a perfect match not just in this life but any future reincarnations as well," Molly said mournfully.
"No! If Harry was Ginny's perfect match then she wouldn't have broken up with him when he tried to ask her to marry him, she would have made any sacrifice necessary to stay with him. The ritual wouldn't have worked if Harry had regrets that he was paired with Hermione instead of with Ginny." Arthur replied firmly. "If she didn't love him enough to do that and Hermione did then Hermione's the match Harry needed, and from what Ron says they are truly happy together."
Molly's eyes filled with tears, but uncharacteristically she didn't wail or protest his words.
A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed followed or favourited this story for your support.