I don't own Harry Potter but I am grateful to be allowed to play with the characters
Chapter 22
Birthdays and shopping
"Happy birthday handsome."
Was followed by a sweet kiss.
"Wow that is definitely the best way to wake up."
The girl blushed but was very pleased with herself.
"I have your present here"
Hermione handed him a small wrapped box. Excitement flashed in his eyes. The package contained a small highly polished redwood box and a small card.
Harry read the card first
Dear Bambi
Please find enclosed the latest product from PBL. This is the new to market training Snitch. The instructions are enclosed.
Love Mooney
Ps This was designed by our newest collaborator, somebody by the name of Spitfire.
Pps you lucky little shit, she is as brilliant as your Mum and totally mad for you.
Harry looked up blushing to see his nervous girl biting her lip.
"Hermione, did you really design this" the witch nodded.
"Wow, would you mind explaining it to me." He knew there were instructions in the case put would rather hear about her invention from her. The girl was radiant with joy when she spoke.
"There will be time soon but we need to get going.
She called Kreacher who whisked them away to Grimmauld Place. Harry was given half hour to change when he returned he found Sue, Nev, Dudley, Sarah, Hermione and his aunt Petunia waiting.
"The wagon is ready, Hermione has planned the day."
The van pulled away and headed to Hermione's favourite theme park.
"Are you enjoying your birthday Harry" Sarah asked
"Yes is perfect" he then leaned forward and kissed his girlfriend on the cheek.
"so what did Hermione give you, when we were all told to leave so she could wait for you alone" this was said with a smirk and a raised brow. Susan could not let the sweet moment pass.
"Kreacher was around to stop any funny business." Hermione was red with embarrassment.
"Oh please cake for breakfast Kreacher was playing chaperone."
Everyone was laughing at Susan's comment.
Harry pulled out the box and handed it to the brunette. Who straitened into lecture mode.
"This is the first professional training Snitch."
She then opened the box and a beautifully engraved golden Snitch floated above the open case.
"If you take hold of the Snitch and close the case when you open your hand it will fly off and the hunt is on."
They could all see the young girls hand vibrating as if a huge Bee were trying to escape her hand.
She opened the case and her hand stilled.
"when you open the case it will return home. This one is different from the others, they will be decorated to match the professional teams using them."
The girl beamed at her friends who all sat opened mouth.
Sue was the first to break the silence "Harry if you don't marry my best friend I might."
The pair blushed as the others laughed. Harry took hold of the winged ball keeping the box open so he could examine it. The Snitch was covered in tiny etchings of two H's intertwined and a serial number 00001.
"its the first" he stated looking towards Hermione.
"It was going to be the only one until I spoke to Mooney."
Harry kissed her again for good measure. Then sat back and enjoyed the ride.
After entering the park the group made straight for the biggest rollercoaster. Being the summer the park was full, they had to wait in line for Their turn. They didn't mind. It was not a shock to them when Neville sat in the cart as it hurtled along the track looking almost bored. Hermione and the others on the other hand were screaming and throwing their arms in the air.
When they stopped for lunch they were approached by a surprise visitor. Tonks leaned down and kissed Harry on the cheek.
"Happy birthday squirt."
She then proceed to ruffle his hair and embarrass him. The young women joined them for the rest of the day. The three girls were all suffering with a little hero worship. Here was a strong independent woman working in a predominantly male field. When it was time to leave Tonks bid them all farewell for a date and disappeared into the crowd. The group tried to guess who it was. The remaining three girls had a large stuffed toy, won for them by their boyfriends. Susan had a giant, pink stuffed unicorn almost the size of her. She was squeezing it so tightly it's cartoon eyes were almost bulging.
Leaving the theme park they found Uncle Vernon wait by the van.
" Hey gang, did you have a good day?" All six nodded with beaming smiles.
"your Aunt Petunia is cooking a birthday dinner, but she is waiting for her favourite sous chef."
Harry grabbed his girlfriend's hand and dragged her to the van almost dislodging the toy from her arms.
Harry jumped from the van but was pulled back by Hermione. The girl handed him a bag, opening it she found his Kiss the Cook apron.
"You planed all this didn't you." The girl simply kissed his cheek and sent him off to play with his aunt.
Entering the house he found all the parents as well as Albus and Minerva waiting. Every female in the house insisted on kissing him on the cheek as he passed. Susan pretended to be sick afterwards and Sarah stated that Dudley tasted better. When he reached his father and uncle Mooney they had both applied lipstick poorly and added to the multi coloured kisses covering his face.
A slightly dazed Harry stumbled into the kitchen and found his aunt waiting with her Polaroid. The woman that had his mother's eyes would light him up when she laughed so freely.
Mooney needed to expand the kitchen to fit everyone. When Kreacher popped in he was pounced on by all the girls sharing Harry's look. The elf asked if he could have a picture with Harry and their matching kisses.
Kreacher slipped the photo into his jacket next to his heart.
The rest of the summer passed quickly and soon it was time for back to school shopping.
The day before their planned trip the headmaster visited the Black ancestral home. There is was a quick conversation with Sirius and Amelia. Then Albus was on his way.
The large group arrived and the magical shopping district, ready to spend their parents money.
It was agreed that flourish and blots would be last as the bibliophile in the group had plenty she wanted. Leaving the Leaky Caldron they were greeted by Tonks in uniform.
"wotcha gang are you ready for the mad house."
They all looked around until Harry went white.
"What is the wanker doing here."
"HARRY JAMES"
Amelia and Hermione stated in unison.
"Nobody gets to Harry James me, not when Lockhart is here." This was said as he gestured to a poster On a nearby wall.
Hermione smiled as she gazed at the poster.
"Really Gilderoy Lockhart is in the ally today. He is a renowned monster hunter, I bet he could teach us a lot."
Harry turned in his girlfriend "Gilderoy Lockhart is a lying, attention seeking fraud. Who would piss himself if he met a real werewolf."
"But Harry what about his books."
Harry could see the look of confusion in her eyes.
"Mione let me explain."
6th July 1986 Flourish and Blots.
"Uncle Mooney there is a boy in this book just like me but he is fighting a dragon."
The children's sitter for the day took the book from the boy. As he skimmed through the book his gentle eyes started to turn yellow as he tried to contain his anger.
"Have I done something wrong."
Remus turned to his charges, his anger died and his face softened.
"No harry you have done nothing wrong, find the book you want and then we will have ice cream."
All sorrow left the boy and he shot into the isle followed by his sister, Mooney always bought really big deserts.
Remus approached the counter and paid for the book Harry had given him, stashing it inside his cloak. The trio returned to Grimmauld place, two sugar powered tornados entered followed by a very subdued uncle.
"Kreacher could you keep the children distracted so I can speak with Lord and Lady Black."
The elf understood the use of his master's title made this situation serious and simply nodded as Remus passed him on the way to the kitchen. The tall man reached the foot of the stairs and made eye contact with his friends.
"Mooney old boy it sounded like a herd of elephants were stampeding through the house."
Without a word he pulled the offending book from his pocket and tossed it into the centre of the table. Amelia pulled it open a started to read out loud. Sirius's face became sterner as she continued.
"Who the fuck wrote this shit."
"Sirius please calm yourself."
"Are you joking Amie, this is the stuff we are trying to avoid. Kreacher."
The elf instantly appeared.
"I need Ted and Andie here as soon as possible."
The elf vanished with a pop, 10 minutes later his cousin and her husband entered the kitchen.
"Nyphadora is trying to rangle the gruesome twosome wheres the fire."
Back in the ally Harry was finishing his story.
"Uncle Ted and Auntie Andie went after the publishers, it turned out Lockhart had no permission to write the books and was very disappointed that he had to stop. The next book he wrote told the story how an unnamed child who looked a lot like me need help with a vampire clan. After that they were all about him."
"So you are saying that his books are fiction."
The look of disgust on her face evident. Harry simply nodded.
"You just wait if I ever see him I will demonstrate my displeasure."
Sirius's interrupted her tirade.
"Hermione it would be unwise to attack a professor."
The group of four turned as one.
"You what." Rang loudly along the road."
"Yep Pops told us yesterday someone at the Ministry pounded out that if the headmaster could non fill a position then they would. Lockhart was the only one to apply. So he had no choice, he did say he would like to meet with you on your first night back. Now I suggest we get books first and then get away from the circus."
Approaching the store the group of pre teens could see what was insinuated by the term circus. The store was packed full of people as the group entered there was camera flashes and the two girls found a blond peacock of a man had his arms over their shoulders neither happy at the situation.
"Well well Harry potter how fortuitous that you chose to enter the store today. The Boy who lived and the monster hunter together in the same room."
The man's hands were dangling far to closely to the girls still forming upper bodies. Harry, Neville and Sirius made to step forward. Dan was quickest.
"How dare you lay your hands on my daughter and her friend like that."
An enraged Daniel Granger grabbed the wrist of the hand hanging close to his daughter's chest and twisted. The girls rushed to their mothers as the blond screamed and fell to his knees. The crying man whimpered
"Im the famous Gilderoy Lockhart winner of witch weekly's most charming smile."
Daniel growled as he twisted more.
"Lift your head a little and I will fix that."
Dan Granger felt a hand on his shoulder and Sirius spoke.
"Allow me, Gilderoy Lockhart you have been told to stay away from my children. I have no choice but to challenge you to an honour duel."
The idiot looked up into the eyes of Lord Sirius Orion Black a man many believed capable of murder. Realising he had been released from the other man's grasp he felt he had only one choice. Standing he spoke.
"Ladies it seems in my haste to impart my knowledge to my future students, some may have felt I over stepped some boundaries. To avoid any more uncomfortable situations I offer you both my humblest apologies."
The man then bowed deeply and smiled at them. Before more could be said he was off into the crowd to peddle his wears.
"Disgusting a Muggle being allowed to lay his hands on an upstanding wizard."
"I could not agree more obviously those girls were teasing the poor man and could not handle the attention they drew."
Molly Weasleys rant was broken by Amelia's open hand striking her across the face.
"How dare you speak about my daughter like that, call yourself a mother, I suppose you would be happy with Ginny being gripped like that, draw your wand I demand satisfaction."
Molly's wand was in her hand in an instant. Arthur and Sirius both grabbed their wife's in bear hugs and turned them from the other women.
"IM SURE YOUR DAUGHTER IS A WHORE JUST LIKE YOU BONES."
Amelia's elbow court Sirius in the gut forcing him to release his grip on his wife. Amelia ran towards Molly wand raised.
"HOW DARE YOU MOLLY NO KNICKERS PREWITT."
Molly's heel stamping on her husband's toe had her released as well
Both women's wands flashed as spells began to form.
"PROTEGO"
Albus Dumbledore stood between them both hands raised a wand in one. A powerful shield had appeared between the two combatants.
"How can the light defeat the dark when we fight amongst ourselves."
Both women were taken back to their time at Hogwarts when they were being chastised by their heads of house. Malfoy senior stood next to Ginny Weasley a sadistic smile on his face enjoying the show. Sirius and Arthur ordered their families home, Dan and Emma took Amelia and the kids to their home. Molly returned to the Burrow with her children. Arthur and Sirius would finish the shopping.
Back at Hermione's home Emma took charge.
"Amelia it's a warm day can you magic swimming costumes for the kids, Dan your going to keep an eye on the kids in the pool. Amelia and myself are going to work our way through this bottle of wine and when we finish it we are going to start on that one. We are going to celebrate my friend shouting that loud mouthed bitch down."
"Line up kids Amelia is going to put that wand to good use the Granger swimming pool is open due to the early end to our shopping trip."
Lucius Malfoy and his family entered their home, Lucius in a jubilant mood his plan had worked.
"Dobby fire Whisky now."
Entering his study he sat and waited. Narcissa his wife had ordered the shopping put away and sent Draco off to practice on his broom. She felt uneasy, the man she had begged to marry was too happy about something.
"What has you glowing so much dear husband."
In public she played the upper-class princess to perfection. Not here, not her private abode.
"I have struck back for the dark lord, mud bloods and blood traitors will suffer."
A cold chill ran down her spine, what had this horrible man done. Trying to sound as uninterested as possible she asked.
"Oh I see you do like your little games Lucius."
"Not a game, by the time that little blood traitor bitch gets to Hogwarts the special item the dark lord gave me will have her eradicating scum left, right and centre."
"What have you done, a school full of innocents, our son attends that place."
Lucius's hand moved like lightning knocking her from her feet. Narcissa climbed to her feet rage burning in her eyes.
"How dare you strike a daughter of Black I will have you head."
No longer the darling wife this was Cissa Black the third of the Black sisters and just as dangerous as the other two. Suddenly the window behind her exploded inwards and a blur shot past.
"Don't ever hit my mother."
"Draco no."
Her call too late. Lucius had taken the chance to draw his wand, the banishing spell sending her from the room. As the door slammed, the last thing she witnessed was the boys broom striking Lucius in the face as the boy lept from it and rolled into a fighting stance. She pounded on the door screaming for her husband to stop as he tortured their son for standing up to him. Her threats of revenge going unheard.
"DOBBY."