To Hogsmeade, We Go
Summary: It's Hogsmeade weekend, another chance for Harry to get some Christmas shopping done. This time with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. Will he succeed in finishing?
Harry walked into Lily's quarters on Saturday morning. Lily was up and ready for the day, sipping on her first cup of tea.
"Good morning, Sweetheart," she greeted. "How much more shopping do you have left to do?"
"I don't have anything for Ron or Neville. I'm picking up a new quill for Hermione. Something else to go with her book. I have a list of what I need to get Ginny for her stocking."
"Pick up some chocolate truffles for Hestia."
Harry walked over to the table, pulling a quill and parchment close to him. He checked to quill to see if it was one of the self-inking ones. It was.
"Tell me what I need to get," Harry sighed.
The list consisted of chocolate truffles for Hestia and Lily, which Harry added when he left Lily's quarters. Honeydukes selection box for Ginny. Droobles for Ron and Neville, along with chocolate frogs. Chocolate bars for Remus, Sirius, and James. Sugar quills for Hermione.
"Can you pick up something for your Dad for me?" Lily asked.
"Sure, Mum."
"When you're in Gladrags, pick up some socks for your father."
Harry couldn't help but smirk. "Any particular ones?"
"I trust your judgment." Lily handed Harry a small pouch. "This should be enough. Let me know if I owe you anything."
"We'll be going to the Witch's Closet. Ron has a jumper he is picking up for Hermione. Do I need to pick up anything there for you?"
"No. But that would be a good place to get a gift certificate for Hestia."
"Okay, how much should I get."
"Twenty, twenty-five," Lily suggested.
"Okay. I'll bring you the stuff when we get back."
"Alright. Have a good time." She walked over, kissing her son on the head. "Don't go overboard on the candy for your Dad."
"I'm not. Bye, Mum. Love you."
"Love you too."
Harry left Lily's quarters, heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He found Ginny sitting with Hermione, their heads together.
"Should we be concerned?" Harry asked Ron as he sat down beside him.
"I don't think so, Harry."
Ginny turned to look towards the door but stopped when she saw Harry beside her.
"When did you get here?"
"A second ago." He leaned over, ignoring Ron's gagging to kiss his girlfriend.
"So, are we going to separate first? Harry and I go one way, and you girls go another?" Ron asked.
"Well, we're starting at the..."
"Bookshop," Ron, Harry, and Ginny chorused.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Yes," Ron replied.
"How about we wait until after lunch?" Harry suggested. "Ron and I will go our way, and you girls go yours."
"I agree with Harry," Ron said.
"So, we'll shop as a couple before lunch. We will meet at The Three Broomsticks and have lunch. Then we will separate. Ginny and I go one way, and you boys go another," Hermione reviewed.
"I think that would be best," Ginny agreed.
As they ate breakfast, they discussed the plans they had for Christmas. Ron was going to Hermione's family Christmas to meet her family. Hermione was more nervous about it than Ron. Ron and Ginny had heard from Molly that Charlie was coming home for Christmas.
"It would be nice if everyone could be together," Ginny murmured. She did not need to mention Percy was estranged from the family.
"It's his loss," Harry muttered. He cut his sausage with more force than necessary.
Ginny nodded, agreeing.
After they finished breakfast, they bundled up in their coats and headed to the door to wait for the time to go.
It did not take long before they were walking down to the village. Ginny reached for Harry's hand as they walked.
Harry opened the door to the bookshop, allowing Ginny and Hermione to go in.
"I can get the door, mate," Ron said, holding the door.
They walked into the bookshop, pausing to see where the girls were going.
"I saw a book in the catalog that I think Hermione would like," Ron whispered.
"Why are you whispering, Ron? She's over there," Harry said.
"Let's go this way," Ron directed.
Meanwhile, Ginny and Hermione headed to the Quidditch section. Ginny scanned the shelf for the book she was looking for.
"Do they have it?" She said as she scanned the bookshelf for the book. Lily had told her Puddlemere's seeker had released a biography. She suggested Ginny get it for Harry.
"Ginny, it's over here."
Ginny walked over to where Hermione was standing.
"They even have signed copies!" Ginny exclaimed, careful to keep from shouting.
"He would love it," Hermione murmured. "And I know Ron would love this."
Hermione picked up a book about Chudley Cannons' keeper. Ginny nodded, picking up a signed copy of the book she was looking at.
"He would," She assured her.
Ginny looked around, heading to the till before Harry spotted her. Hermione followed.
"Where are the boys?" Hermione murmured.
A whistle brought their attention toward the door. Ron and Harry were waiting for them, both holding a package.
"Can I ask what you bought?" Ginny asked.
"A prank book for Sirius and Dad," Harry replied. "I owl ordered the book I was going to get Remus."
"Is that a problem?"
"No."
They left the bookshop, heading towards Gladrags. Ron opened the door this time, allowing Hermione and Ginny to walk in first.
"After you," Ron said, motioning to Harry to go in ahead of him.
They walked into the shop, heading towards the socks. Harry had mentioned getting a pair for Dobby. Ron and Hermione agreed.
Ginny looked at a cloak for Molly and a hat for Arthur. She picked up the cloak and decided against the hat. She picked up a pair of socks with beaters bats for Fred and George. She looked at the dress robes briefly before she went looking for Harry. She found her boyfriend in line at the till with socks for Dobby and James in his hand.
She got in line behind him. "What could I get Lily for Christmas?" She asked.
Harry turned to his girlfriend.
"Uh," Harry tried to think of something that was not expensive. "She'll like anything, really."
"I need to go to the jewelry store. I thought I would get Dad a new watch," Ginny said. "Would that be something your Mum would like?"
Harry tried to remember what James had planned to get Lily. He knew he wasn't the only one who was shopping for Lily. Hestia, Sirius, and Remus would be buying gifts for her too.
"What about a necklace?" Ginny inquired.
"I think she would like that. What about Molly?" Harry asked.
"She would like anything too."
"Does she wear jewelry?"
"Not around the house," Ginny replied.
"I thought about getting your dad a model car. You can put it together."
"Now that Dad would like. What about James?"
"Anything from the joke shop."
They paid for their purchases and left Gladrags. Harry reached for Ginny's hand as they walked to the jewelry store. Harry opened the door for her, the bell ringing, alerting the clerk someone had come in.
Ginny looked around the sales racks, picking out a pair of earrings for Lily and a watch for Arthur. Harry helped her pick out the earrings. He assured her Lily would love the white gold studs she had picked.
The clerk carefully wrapped the earrings in a box. He put them and the watch in a bag, handing it to Ginny.
"Thank you," She said.
They left the jewelry shop, meeting Ron and Hermione as they went in. Ginny told Ron what she had gotten their parents. He mock saluted her before following Hermione into the shop.
Harry led Ginny into the joke shop, where they met Fred and George.
"Harry, just the person we were looking for," George said.
"Should I be concerned?" Harry asked, eyeing them suspiciously.
"No, no," Fred assured him. "We were thinking in the spirit of the holidays."
"We get James and Sirius," George added.
"A little something to say thank you."
"For?" Ginny prompted.
"Not important," Fred waved her off. "So, what can we get?"
Harry looked around. "Mum would kill me, but." He trailed off, looking around. "Anything in here."
"Thank you. We will get a bunch of different stuff and put it in a box," George said.
Once they left, Ginny turned to her boyfriend. "Are you going to tell me what that was about?"
Harry looked around before leaning in close to her ear. "I gave them my winnings from the tournament. Dad and Sirius offered to be an investor in their joke shop. The one stipulation is they finish school."
Ginny smiled. "That was very kind of you."
"I didn't want it. I talked to Dad when I remembered what happened to them at the cup. He agreed. Mum doesn't know that's what I did with it."
Ginny kissed his cheek. "Secret is safe with me."
They looked around the joke shop. Ginny found a joke book and a prank book. "What do you think?"
"The joke book for Dad?"
Ginny nodded. Harry reached for the book, looking through it. "He would get a kick out of it."
"So, is that a good idea?"
"Yeah, defiantly."
Ginny made her purchases, choosing to get the prank book for Fred and George.
"Add a stipulation that you would retaliate if they use one of the pranks on you."
Ginny smiled, looking like the Cheshire cat. "Is that how you get prank books for James and Sirius?"
Harry nodded. "They take the threat seriously."
"Have you ever pranked them back?"
"I have," Harry admitted. "They still don't know it was me on a few of them."
Ginny threw her head back, laughing.
They left the joke shop, heading towards Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. Ginny planned to get Bill and Charlie a new quill. Harry thought about getting Hestia a new quill to go with the stationary set Lily had gotten her. Ginny picked out two quills, a black feather quill for Bill and a grey feather quill for Charlie. She found a set of colored ink quills and a stationary set for Hermione.
Harry found a purple feather quill for Hestia and Hermione.
"Are you getting hungry?" Ginny asked while they waited at the till.
Harry's stomach answered by growling loudly.
"I think that answers that," Harry replied.
Once they paid for their purchases, they headed towards the Three Broomsticks. Ron and Hermione were sitting in a booth when they walked in.
"How's shopping going?" Ginny asked as she sat down.
"Very successful," Hermione said.
"What did you get for Fred and George?" Ron asked.
"Socks and a prank book. I got quills for Bill and Charlie."
"I got a stationary set for Bill and Charlie. I owl ordered a book for Fred and George."
Madam Rosmerta came over to take their order. Hermione and Ginny ordered the tomato bisque while Harry and Ron ordered the chicken and chips meal. They all ordered Butterbeer to drink.
"After lunch, are we splitting up?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Hermione said. Turning to Ginny, she asked, "Where do you want to start?"
"I need to go to the knitting shop. I thought I would get Mum new knitting needles." Ginny glanced over at Harry. "And I'll need to go to the Muggle shop."
"I think I might get Dad and Mum something from there. I got Mum a necklace from the jewelry shop."
"We're going to the Witch's Closet after lunch. I don't know where we'll go after that," Ron said.
"Honeydukes," Harry said. "I need a few things from there."
When lunch arrived, they paused their conversation. Once Madam Rosmerta left, they began to eat, making small talk over the meal. Ginny sneaked a chip from Harry's plate. Hermione did the same while the boys were talking.
"So, when are we doing Christmas?" Hermione asked. "Exchanging our gifts?"
"How did we do it Christmas in our third year?" Ron inquired.
"I think we met in Mum's quarters before we went home," Harry said. "Let me talk to Mum. See what the plans are, and then we will decide."
"When will we exchange ours?" Ginny asked Harry.
"About that," Harry began. "Mum and Dad want to invite you to our Christmas. We usually do it on Christmas Eve."
"I'll need to talk to Mum, but I don't think we're doing anything then."
"We do everything Christmas day," Ron said. "I'll be going to Hermione's family thing on Christmas Eve. I don't think Mum would have a problem with that."
"Okay," Ginny murmured.
As they finished, Ginny found herself looking forward to Christmas. Even though the whole family would not be together, this was the first one with Harry. She could not wait to celebrate with him and his family.
It was going to be a great Christmas, after all.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
After lunch, Harry and Ron headed to the Witch's Closet while Hermione and Ginny headed to the Muggle shop. They decided they would meet the girls at Honeydukes after.
Upon entering the shop, Ron located the lavender-colored jumper he saw in the catalog. Harry looked around to see if there was anything for Ginny. He looked in the accessories, finding hair ties and clips for Ginny. Feeling like he had accomplished something, Harry went in search of Ron. He found him looking at socks and stockings. Harry found the tights Ginny wore, adding them to the basket he had picked up.
"Hand me a pair, mate," Ron said, looking at the selection.
Harry reviewed the list he had for Ginny while waiting at the till. He almost had everything he had planned to get. When he reached the till, he added a gift certificate for Hestia.
After they left the shop, Harry and Ron headed towards the Quidditch shop. Ron still had to pick up something for Ginny. The Quidditch shop had more selection of Quidditch books. They did not notice Hermione and Ginny leaving the shop.
Entering the shop, Ron and Harry walked to the books. Immediately, Harry found a book he knew Ginny would like.
"Ron," He called, handing him the book. It was a book all about the Holyhead Harpies.
"Thanks, mate," Ron said, taking the book. "I see a poster I know Ginny would like."
Holyhead Harpies had released new posters. There was one of Gwenog Jones, captain of the team. The best part, she had signed it.
Searching the bin, Harry found the signed Gwenog Jones poster and followed Ron to the till.
"How do you think the girls are doing?" Ron asked.
"I think they're doing alright."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Once they separated from the boys, Hermione and Ginny headed to the knitting shop. The one thing Ginny needed was more yarn for Harry's scarf. She looked for the knitting needles, finding a pair she knew Molly would love.
"Excuse me," She said to the girl behind the counter. "Do you have Puddlemere blue?"
"Yes, dear. Right over there." She pointed to the stack of yarn. On top was the color Ginny needed.
"Thank you." Ginny walked over, picking up the blue yarn.
After she paid, Ginny and Hermione headed to the Quidditch shop. Hermione was getting Ron a new pair of Keeper gloves. The gloves he was using were an old pair of Oliver Wood's. Harry had found them in the locker room. While Hermione looked at Keeper gloves, Ginny looked in their Seeker section.
She found a pair of gloves used by Puddlemere United's seeker. Luckily for Ginny, they were on sale.
"Shopping for the boyfriend?" the clerk behind the counter asked.
"Yes," Ginny replied.
She and Hermione went to wait in line at the till, all while watching for the boys.
"I know Ron planned on coming in here," Hermione said as she stepped up to the till.
As they left the shop, they saw the boys approaching them. They didn't see them as they walked into the shop.
"Muggle shop next?" Ginny asked.
"Yes."
In the Muggle shop, they had a home section in the back of the shop. Ginny browsed the selection, looking for a frame.
"Which picture are you framing?" Hermione inquired.
"Both."
She found two frames that looked like they belonged in a boy's room.
"Do you think the boys would be in Honeydukes?" Hermione asked as they left the shop.
"I don't know."
They walked the short distance to the candy shop.
Harry and Ron were inside when they walked in. Ginny came up behind her boyfriend as he finalized an owl order.
"Hi baby," she greeted.
Harry turned to the voice, finding his girlfriend. "Hi."
"Can I ask what you're getting, or is it a surprise?"
"It's a surprise," Harry said.
Ginny went looking around the shop while Harry was busy. She picked up a Honeydukes chocolate bar and a box of Drobbles.
Making her selections, she picked up an owl order form. There was a promotion with so much off on a certain amount of candy. She picked everyone's favorite candy and finalized the order.
"Thank you. Where would you like the order delivered to?"
Ginny picked Hogwarts and paid for her order. She took the candy she picked up in the shop to the till.
"Can I ask what candy you ordered?" Ron asked from behind her.
"It's a surprise, Ron."
She paid for her purchases and walked over to where Harry was waiting.
"Would you want some hot chocolate?" He asked.
"Sure."
Harry got two cups of hot chocolate, making a note to tell Lily to pick up some when she was out. He handed one cup to Ginny.
"Thank you."
"Are you done shopping?" Harry asked.
"For today, yes. Mum and I usually go into Diagon Alley when we get home. Plus, we do the food shop in the village."
"Dad is doing the bulk of the food shop for Mum. She'll go out and get everything else when we go home."
Ron and Hermione joined them at the hot chocolate stand. Ron grabbed Harry's arm.
"Did you get something for Neville?"
Harry realized he did not. "Crap. How much time do we have left?"
Hermione checked her watch. "An hour."
"I had told him something he could get for Dad. But I had forgotten about him."
"Some best friends we are," Ron muttered.
"We'll go real quick and get something. A book on plants, and he's done."
"Sorted," Ron said. "Let's go."
They started in Honeydukes, getting a pack of chocolate frogs and Drobbles. Harry paid for the frogs, while Ron paid for the gum. Once they had purchased the candy, Ron and Harry ran to the bookshop.
"What ones does he not have?"
Harry grabbed a book about the best houseplants. Ron picked up its companion, the worst house plants.
"Harry, how about this," Ron picked up a book on the Mimbulus mimbletonia.
"Hand it over," Harry said, adding to the pile. "Go in together?"
Ron nodded. "It would be from both of us."
After purchasing the books, they left the bookshop. Hermione and Ginny were waiting for them in Honeydukes, sitting at one of the tables.
"Successful?" Hermione asked.
"Very."
Harry and Ron led the girls back up to the castle. Once back in Gryffindor tower, they separated. Ron and Harry walked into the fifth-year boys' dorm, dropped their bags and packages on the floor before falling onto their beds.
"How long until supper?" Ron asked, voice muffled by his pillow.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"I wondered if I had time for a nap." Ron sat up, picking up his packages and bags. "I'm done."
"Lucky you," Harry muttered. "I got one more thing for your sister to get."
"Is it a main present or part of her stocking?"
"Stocking."
As they sorted the presents they had bought, Harry realized Christmas would be here, whether they were ready or not.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily looked up from her book when the portrait hole opened. Harry walked in, bags and packages in his hand.
"I see you were successful," Lily commented.
"I got one more thing to get for Gin. Then I'm done. Do you have the Boots catalog here?"
"If you want the relaxation bath set, Dad could pick that up for you."
"I'll tell him over the mirrors tonight."
Harry handed Lily the things she had asked him to pick up. He took the packages and bags to his room.
"Did you have a good time?" Lily asked when Harry came back into the sitting room.
"We did."
Harry helped himself to a Coke from the refrigerator. He leaned against the counter as Lily put her book on the table.
"Are you sure it's okay that Ginny joins us for Christmas eve?"
Lily turned to her son. "Why ever not?"
"I wanted to make sure. We talked about Christmas over lunch. Well, when we would exchange presents with each other."
"Do you know what Hermione's plans for Christmas are?"
"They're staying home. Ron is going to her Nan's on Christmas Eve to meet the family."
"Must be Jane's family. I thought Ron met Hugh's."
"He did," Harry confirmed. "Hermione said her dad's family isn't getting together. Her Gran is coming to their house for Christmas."
Hermione's family reminded Lily of her own family. The two different sides didn't get along. How was it her mother had put it? Functionally dysfunctional.
"Mum?"
Harry's voice brought Lily to the present. "What is it, Sweetheart?"
"Are we going home again this weekend?"
Lily thought for a second, realizing she had planned to go home Friday evening. She planned to go home for the weekend to go Christmas shopping. And it was for Harry.
"I was planning to go home. But if you want to come, you can."
"Okay. Can you make pancakes for breakfast?"
Lily nodded. "I can."
"When could we exchange Christmas presents?"
"I thought we could have Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville over on the 22nd."
"Okay. I will let them know."
"Alright, Sweetheart. I will be leaving here before dinner on Friday."
"Okay."
Lily knew one of the reasons Harry was coming home with her was to get a start on wrapping presents. Maybe even spend time with James?
She never went home without telling Harry. If he asked, she never told him no. If she was honest with herself, she enjoyed having Harry. It allowed her and James to have time with their son, just the three of them.
Harry showed her what he had picked up that day. He showed her the model car set he had picked up for Arthur and the earrings for Molly.
"I went with Ginny before lunch. Then Ron needed to go to pick up something for Hermione. I had looked at them when I was in there with Ginny."
"And decided to wait to see if you saw something else?" Lily guessed.
Harry nodded. "I thought Molly would like earrings over a necklace."
"I think so too."
"I have one more thing for Ginny. I'm done with everyone else."
Lily nodded. "What did you get for Neville?"
Harry showed Lily the books he and Ron had picked for Neville. "We went in together on the books."
Lily hummed approvingly.
"And Ron?"
Harry pulled out a book Ron had mentioned he would like to have. It was a trivia book on the Chudley Cannons.
"I got candy to go with it," Harry said.
"Looks like you did a good job."
"Thanks, Mum."
Harry took everything back to his room. He left the bags sitting on his bed. He'll grab them before he went home that weekend. He felt he had done a great job picking gifts for friends and family.
He would pick up the last of Ginny's presents this weekend. Then he would be done shopping. It would be a matter of getting everything wrapped before Christmas.
He just hoped Ginny liked his presents.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny sat in the armchair by the fire, knitting the last part of Harry's scarf. She would have finished it while Harry was gone last weekend if she hadn't ran out of the blue yarn. Fred and George gave her a little payment for keeping silent on their plans. They were not ready for their mother to know their future plans.
Using the fact Harry was gone to her advantage, she curled up in the armchair by the fire to finish the scarf.
"He's going to love it," Hermione said when she saw the scarf. "It's going to mean more since you made it yourself."
"Lily said the same thing," Ginny commented. She smiled as she finished the last of the yellow. "Now I need one more square of blue and add the end. Then I'll be done."
She had framed the picture of her shading her eyes from the sun, leaving the other frame empty. Harry could choose which picture he wanted to frame. Lily was happy to know Ginny had gotten the book she had suggested.
"And you found a signed copy. He will love that," She assured Ginny.
To go with the book, she had bought Harry new seeker gloves. Lily assured her that the gloves were a good present for Harry.
"He'll use the ones you got him for matches. I know James bought him a pair. He'll wear them for fun."
The book, the gloves, the scarf, and candy was all she had. She had picked Harry's favorite candy when she owl-ordered from Honeydukes. She felt she wanted something else for Harry. She knew Harry would get her more than what she had gotten him. She just had this feeling.
Finishing the scarf, she took it upstairs to put in her trunk. As she put away her knitting needles, she saw something. It was an article from Witch Weekly about do-it-yourself presents. She had made a scarf, but who said she couldn't make something else?
Deciding she would brainstorm some more, she returned to the common room.
"I want one more present for Harry, but what?" She pondered.
It would be something she could make. It would be cheaper that way.
"Hey, Ginny."
Ginny looked up as Colin walked by her. "Hey, Colin."
Then it hit her, an idea, a brilliant idea.
"Hey, Colin, could you do me a favor?"