Chapter 49

Ginny POV

"Where to first?" Ginny asked as she, Harry, Hermione, and Ron made their way down the bustling cobblestone street of Diagon Alley.

"Let's go to the ice cream parlour!" Ron suggested, pointing to a small shops with many table and chairs set up out front.

"Ronald, you just had breakfast," Hermione said exasperatedly.

"Fine… What do you want to do then?" he grumbled.

"I think we should start with the books on our list, then from there we can do whatever else we want," Hermione reasoned.

"Right, check it off the list, then spend the rest of the time wandering about. We can do that, and I'll even buy your ice cream, mate," Harry said, clapping Ron on the back and giving him a smile.

They continued walking down the busy street until they came to an older looking shop with stacks upon stacks of books displayed in the windows. Hermione pushed open the door to Flourish and Blotts, ushering Ginny, Harry, and Ron in first, before greeting the owner by name and handing over both hers and Ginny's lists.

"I'll need three copies each of the books from my list, thank you," she said politely as the owner shuffled into the back where they kept the books that were required reading for Hogwarts students.

The boys had gone upstairs to look at the comics and magazines, but Ginny stayed right by Hermione's side.

"So, do you know all of the shop owners by name, or just the ones that sell books?" Ginny teased lightly.

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled, "Just here and Tomes and Scrolls, so yes, the shop owners who sell books. Why? Do you have a problem with that?"

"Of course not! I just didn't know I was shopping with such an important, well-connected woman who knows all the big names in books, that's all," Ginny said giving Hermione a crooked smile.

Hermione gave her a look, but wasn't able to hide her smile, "Go get the boys, they can certainly carry their own books."

Ginny climbed the uneven and narrow steps up onto the second floor of Flourish and Blotts and found the boys flipping through old Seeker Weekly magazines.

"Come on, they've got our books downstairs and Hermione didn't seem to be too keen on carrying anyone's but her own," Ginny said ushering the boys back downstairs.

"What are we going to do? Carry them around all day? I knew we shouldn't have come here first!" Ron whined as they carefully walked down the stairs.

"Reducio." As they walked up to the counter, the shop owner cast a shrinking spell to reduce the size of each stack of books, making them small enough to fit in their pockets.

"Alright, pay the man, and you're free to do whatever you like," Hermione instructed the boys.

Harry and Ron each paid, pocketed their books, and went off in search of ice cream for Ron while Hermione and Ginny made their way to the Magical Menagerie.

The shop was loud and filled with all sorts of interesting and somewhat unpleasant smells, but that didn't deter the girls. They took their time, looking at all of the different creatures for sale. Ginny came across a cage of baby pygmy puffs, and came very close to buying one, but ultimately decided against it. Hermione found a few new cat toys that she thought Crookshanks might like, as well as an owl treat each for Harry's owl Hedwig and the Weasley family's owl Errol. When they were done, they headed off to Quality Quidditch Supplies to grab Ron's broom.

Ginny loved Quality Quidditch Supplies. She figured if she was unable to make it as a professional Quidditch player, working here may not be a terrible second option. The shop had every broom in stock, as well as every imaginable accessory that you might need for your broom or Quidditch. Each Hogwarts house was represented with Quidditch gear for sale, as well as every single club team from England and Ireland, and a few international teams. Ginny looked over the new Holyhead Harpies tops and scarves before she browsed the international club team gear.

"Hermione?"

Hermione walked away from the protective equipment section she was in to join Ginny.

"Yes?"

"Did Viktor ever tell you what team he signed with? I haven't seen anything yet in any of my Quidditch magazines about him, and I'm sure it'd be quite the announcement when he finally makes a decision. Have you heard from him at all this summer?"

Hermione shook her head, "I haven't heard anything from him yet. I might send him a letter before we head off to Hogwarts though, would you like to include one as well?"

"Sure, if you don't think he'd mind."

"Of course he wouldn't mind, Ginny, he likes you a lot! He told me if your feistiness and intelligence translated onto the Quidditch pitch, then he has no doubt that you'll become an excellent Quidditch player by the time all is said and done," Hermione smiled at the redhead.

"Really? He thinks I have potential?" Ginny asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Well, I don't know who you're talking about, but I surely think that Granger here has loads of potential…"

Both Hermione and Ginny whipped around to find Cormac McLaggen leaning up against a shelf of Beater's bats. He swaggered over to them, stopping just in front of Hermione, looking down at her with a smug half-smile that he undoubtedly considered to be incredibly alluring. It made Ginny feel sick.

"Have you ditched the French girl yet? Ready to come back to our team?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"I – Uh…" Hermione stammered, looking up at McLaggen. He was about a foot taller than her, and was using that advantage to tower over her, his smile growing at her discomfort.

Ginny saw red, her hand clenched tightly around her wand as she forced her way between the two. She glared up at the large boy fearlessly.

"Oh, I see! You've swapped the French girl for Weasley here. Well, I like redheads too…" he chuckled, looking Ginny up and down. Ginny could feel Hermione grab the back of her top, pulling her closer to her and away from McLaggen.

"Even if we did fancy boys, you'd be the last one we'd ever look at, McLaggen," Ginny said fiercely, staring directly into his cold dark eyes that appeared to flicker slightly with anger. His face began to turn red, and Ginny couldn't help but smirk lightly at his reaction. Suddenly, McLaggen took another step towards the girls and leaned down, his nose almost touching Ginny's as he spoke.

"See you at Quidditch trials, Weasley. Let your brother know he doesn't stand a chance." He straightened back up and directed his attention to Hermione, giving her a nasty smile. "I will see you around, Granger."

He gave the girls one last look over before turning and swaggering off. Neither girl moved, and Ginny felt that Hermione still had a tight hold on the back of her shirt. She looked over her shoulder to the brunette and said softly, "You can let go now, he's gone."

Hermione immediately let go of Ginny's top and Ginny turned to face her. "What a prat…" Ginny muttered, "Are you alright?" she added, gently.

Hermione nodded, "Are you?"

"Of course, it's only McLaggen. Come on, let's go get Ron's broom. He's going to need every bit of help he can get if he's going to beat out McLaggen for Gryffindor Keeper…"

They went to the counter, paid off the remainder of Ron's Cleansweep 11, and carried it out of the shop. They'd been gone a while, but they knew it was a possibility that the boys were still at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, so that's where they went next.

As they entered the shop, they spotted Harry and Ron immediately, sitting with Dean Thomas.

"What the bloody hell is that? Did you get another broom? So good now that you need two brooms, is that it?" Ron asked exasperatedly.

"Yes, Ronald, that's precisely what's going on. Ginny fancied herself a second broom. Honestly…" Hermione thrust the broom into Ron's hands. "Your parents, Bill, Charlie, and Percy got it for you."

Ron's jaw dropped and his face turned bright red as Harry and Dean laughed heartily.

"Now you've got no excuse to not beat out McLaggen, the right foul git…" Ginny grumbled, sitting down hard next to Harry.

"What? What happened?" Harry asked.

"It appears he may fancy me a bit…" Hermione started.

"A bit? He was incredibly rude and forward, he obviously wants to get in your pants, Hermione… And when I intervened, he propositioned me as well."

"He WHAT?" Ron shouted angrily, standing up.

"Oh, sit down Ronald," Hermione said calmly, pulling him back down into his seat. "Ginny took care of it." She gave a small smile to Ginny, which she returned.

Dean cleared his throat, "So I'm pretty sure I've got a good guess as to what your answer will be, but Hermione, are you my fellow 5th year Prefect?" he asked, grinning.

Hermione smiled back, "I am! Oh, congratulations Dean, that's wonderful! Look at us, two Muggle-born Prefects," she beamed.

"Congratulations to you as well, I'm looking forward to it! Well, I'm off to go and catch up with Seamus, but I'll see you all on the Hogwarts Express!" Dean exclaimed as he got up and left the shop.

"Is this really mine? This isn't some sort of joke?" Ron asked suddenly, marveling at the Cleansweep 11.

"Hey, if you don't want it Ron, I'll – " Ginny started.

"No! No, I want it! I was just making sure it's for real, that's all," he grinned as he looked at the details of the broom. "Wow…"

Ginny and Hermione locked eyes and smiled, pleased at Ron's joy and love for his gift.

"Would you like anything?" Ginny asked Hermione, nodding her head towards the counter.

"I'll go with you," Hermione said, standing and walking with Ginny to the counter to order.

"One strawberry and peanut butter, please," Hermione requested.

"Make it two, please," Ginny chimed in and put a hand on Hermione's as she moved to reach into her pocket, "I've got it."

"Ginny…"

"You just helped my family buy my brother a broom and you invested in Fred and George's business," Ginny said giving her a look. "I'll buy you an ice cream and we can call it even," she grinned at Hermione, who giggled.

"Deal," Hermione agreed, still laughing a bit. "Hey, um… Thanks, for back there…" Hermione said slowly. "That's was actually a little scary, if I'm being honest…" She looked down.

Ginny bit her lip, then reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand, "I know it was. If he gives you any more grief once we get back to Hogwarts, let me know, and I'll take care of it," she said seriously.

"Ginny, he's a 6th year, and he just so happens to be huge…"

"I don't care how old or big he is! If he comes on to you like that again, let me know, and I'll take care of it. I've got your back, Hermione," Ginny said intensely, staring into Hermione's deep brown eyes. Hermione looked back into Ginny's bright brown eyes for a moment, before they were interrupted by the arrival of their ice cream at the counter. Ginny quickly broke eye contact and let go of Hermione's hand, which she'd forgotten she'd grabbed, and they each took their cones and returned to the table with the boys.

The girls enjoyed their ice cream quietly as Ron droned on and on about his new broom. Apparently, he'd read about it in the latest release of Which Broomstick, and reckoned it was even better than Ginny's Comet 260.

"I mean, no offense Ginny, but it just doesn't have the capabilities of this brand-new release!"

Ginny bit her tongue as she tried to keep her mouth shut. She knew Ron was just excited, and didn't want to ruin that, but he certainly was pushing it.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to test that out once we get back to the Burrow, won't we mate?" Harry suggested, giving Ginny a small wink. Ginny smiled as Ron turned pale.

"Uh - Yeah, we surely can!" Ron added unconvincingly.

Once the girls finished their ice creams, they made their way back through the Floo Network to the Burrow.

"Oh, Ron, your new broom, let me see!"

It appeared that Mrs. Weasley was waiting by the fireplace in anticipation of their arrival, as she quickly pulled Ron to sit at the kitchen table and show her his new broom. She beamed at her youngest son as he went into detail about all of the little nuances of the broom. Harry joined them at the table, while Ginny and Hermione went upstairs to Ginny's room. Ginny flopped onto the cot, resting against the wall where the headboard would be, and watched Hermione unload her pocket of miniature books onto her bed.

"Engorgio," Hermione said, returning her textbooks back to their original size.

"Breaking the rules, are we?" Ginny asked raising her eyebrows at Hermione.

"Oh, it's a simple spell, it's fine."

"If you say so, Prefect Granger…" Ginny grinned, but then stopped when she saw Hermione's look. "Why wouldn't you just leave them small until you need them?"

"I do need them … We've only a few weeks until we're back at Hogwarts, I'm already feeling a bit behind, to be honest," Hermione admitted, wincing at the thought.

Ginny stared at her, "Haven't you been studying for your O.W.L.s all summer?"

"Well, yes, but – "

"Hermione, maybe you just take a moment to relax?"

"I've done plenty relaxing in France and with you so far since I've been here. I really need to buckle down and get serious!" Hermione exclaimed, getting frustrated.

Ginny sighed and pushed herself up from the wall to sit on the edge of the cot, facing Hermione.

"Can I help?"

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Can I help you in some way, so you don't feel so stressed?"

"I'm not stressed, Ginny! I'm just…" Hermione broke off.

"Stressed?"

Hermione shot Ginny an annoyed look, as Ginny smirked at her.

"Look, I understand that you feel like you always need to be ahead and on top of things. This year especially, with your O.W.L. exams and being a Prefect, I think it'd be good for you to also learn how to relax a bit. All last year, all I ever heard from you or the boys was that you were off… Studying…" Ginny realized at once that Hermione wasn't always studying when she said she was last year, confirmed by the blush that had formed on Hermione's cheeks.

Ginny cleared her throat, "Well, maybe you were relaxing a bit more last year than people may have thought. Juliette won't be at Hogwarts this year though to uh, help with that, so – So it might not be a bad idea for you to find some other way to relax… That's all I'm saying… Bill and Percy both apparently drove themselves mad during their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, and – "

"And it paid off…" Hermione interjected, the blush fading from her face and being replaced by a pointed look.

"Yes, but I know Bill surely would tell you the stress wasn't worth it. And you're much smarter than either of them, so you shouldn't have to work so hard to accomplish whatever it is you're wanting to accomplish. I'm worried about you, Hermione, that's all…" Ginny said, running a hand through her long, red hair.

Hermione studied Ginny's face before responding, "You don't have to worry about me, Ginny. I hear you, I'll work on it, alright?"

Ginny smiled, "If you do need help, let me know. Fred, George, and certainly Ron have taught me all there is to know about slacking off. Not that that's what you'd be doing…" she added quickly taking in Hermione's scolding expression. "Hopefully I'll be plenty busy with Quidditch, but you know I'll always be around if you need."

Hermione nodded, then began stacking her new textbooks on Ginny's bookcase.

"So, how are you feeling about Quidditch?" Hermione asked.

"Good. I've got a few weeks left to get some more training in, but I've really stuck with it this summer, thanks to Juliette's program. I feel confident and ready, and that's really all I can ask for," she shrugged.

"How do you think Ron will do?" Hermione asked.

Ginny sighed, "Let's just say I hope he does better than how I think he'll do… Neither him nor McLaggen are great options, but McLaggen is definitely more athletic and of course claims to be a fantastic Quidditch player… He's also a total pain in the arse though… I'm hoping Angelina takes character and personality into account as well… McLaggen would surely ruin the team chemistry that Harry said is so strong for them right now… I hope I get that reserve spot…" Ginny flopped back onto the cot and looked up at the ceiling. "I think I'll get it… I can't think of anyone else who will be as good across the board."

Hermione nodded, "Like you said, you feel confident and ready, you really can't ask for much more than that."

Ginny sat up, propping herself up with her elbows, "Hermione?"

Hermione turned from her meticulous ordering of her textbooks on the bookcase to look at Ginny, "Hmm?"

"I'm really glad we've gotten to be such good friends over this past year. It's nice having someone to talk to about all of this stuff, someone besides Ron or Harry, don't you think?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes still focused on Ginny's. Ginny sat up further so she was fully sitting up.

"Will you do me a favor?" she asked.

"What?"

"No matter what happens, can you not ever shut me out again? Just… Trust me and talk to me if you're starting to feel like pushing me away for whatever reason. I care about you, and I don't want to lose you again like I did at the beginning of the school year."

Hermione paused, then nodded in agreement, "Alright. I'm sorry Ginny… I shouldn't have done that."

"It's alright, it's in the past, right?" Ginny asked, focused on Hermione.

Hermione looked at her for a moment before nodding and returning to her textbooks, "Of course, Ginny. Consider it all in the past."