Dawn broke as Harry met Susan, Hannah, and Hermione for a quick breakfast. Thanks to the girls, Harry did not need to do any clothes shopping. So while the Witches planned their morning, Harry asked a very male type of question. "I know that until I am asked to inspect the items, I don't need to know the details. But could you ladies take Ginny with you? As a young woman she will be needing items of that nature… but her friends are so much better shopping advisors than her mum."

Hermione just glared at him. "Are you buying?"

Harry swallowed. "Looks like I am."

Hannah jumped up and ran to knock up* Ginny.

"You do realize that it can get expensive." Susan smiled at him.

"Yes. And if I understand what I saw last month, I know that two of you will be inviting me to inspect them sooner rather than later. Also it can't be more expensive than her book habit." He jerked his thumb at Hermione.

Hermione hit him with her book. "Just so I know, was that for saying that he would be inspecting our kickers or the dig about your book habit?"

"Yes." Harry and Hermione chorused.

"That's helpful."

"To be honest, either would have earned me a rebuke, but both earned me the swat from my Swot." Harry smiled at the brunette beside him.

Hannah returned with a sleepy Ginny. "Hey Gin. I take it that Hannah explained the plan this morning. Let's get something in your belly and get you girls to the shop." Harry smiled at her. "I was thinking of three sets each… unless you think you can convince me why you need more than three."

"Convince you…" Ginny started, "Are you saying that you are buying…"

"I am saying. I escort you four beautiful ladies to the shop, arrange for you to find what you want… and then I will leave for something else and return in what? Half an hour?"

Susan and Hannah exchanged a look. "Better make it a full hour." Susan smiled at him.

"Okay. One Hour. The guys don't need to know. But I will tell Molly if she is alone." Harry looked at Ginny. "Eat."

Ginny fell on the food like Ron, and soon Harry was linked arms with Ginny and Hermione as they followed Susan and Hannah past the bank and down a side street. Harry understood why Hagrid never brought him here, the Beast of a Man was too big and these shops were out of the Weasley price range.

At the shop of Hannah's choosing, the four females entered, but Harry was blocked by a witch in silk shopkeeper robes.

"No Men."

"Even if I am paying?" Harry asked.

The witch looked him over before looking at the girls. "Four? Not even Harry Potter is that good."

Harry grinned, before flashing his scar. "I am only with two. One is my sister and the other is a good friend." He flashed his Potter ring. "They each get three sets, but other than that I leave them to you. I will return in an hour."

He turned and looked around. Not seeing anything that seemed to call to him, he returned to the main street.

He smiled, seeing two Gingers approaching Knockturn Alley. He shook his head as they looked around before they ducked into the shady side street. He shrugged, 'Well, if they start something before tomorrow morning, I will throw them under the lorry.'

He paused to look at the new Fire bolt, before moving on.

HPWQ

At the Hour mark he returned to collect the girls and pay the bill.

"So Harry…" Hannah smiled evilly at him. "When are you expecting to inspect Sue's new … wear."

"Well. As we are only thirteen, not for another two years… but anytime she feels like sharing, I will appreciate the experience."

"Good Answer." Hermione smiled and patted his shoulder. "See girls. I have already done the hard work, now we just need to stay in the saddle and ride the waves of his teen years."

Harry grinned back at the witch. "Well as I understand it, Green grass and the Patil twins are going to be there as well."

"Five wifes and I am not one?" Ginny asked, a little hurt. But under the hairy eye of Susan and Hermione, she broke into a grin. "Besides, as a sister. I will always be welcome to crash at your place when avoiding Mom."

"Just no using Harry unless invited." Hermione smiled at the ginger.

"Should we have understood that comment?" Hannah asked, frowning.

Harry shook his head. "I wouldn't worry about it. Hermione will tell you when I am ready. This is me we are talking about and I am going to forget about most everything she said since we left the store."

"See?" Hermione smiled and hugged his arm. "He already knows that I have his best intentions in mind."

"No." Harry smiled at her, "She just wants to be first."

Hermione hit his arm.

The other three laughed.

HPWQ

Back in the Tavern, the witches ran upstairs to put their purchase in their trunks.

Harry sat between Ron and Arthur. Mostly to avoid watching the slob eat.

Arthur was hiding behind his paper. Molly was styling Percy's hair while he half heartedly tried to fight her off.

Harry shook his head at the antics of the present Weasley family.

Turning to Arthur, "So Arthur. Have you discovered the purpose of the Rubber Duck?"

The paper folded down so the Patriarch could see him. "It has something to do with bath time. Other than that I am stumped."

"Since you asked, I have thought about how to respond." Harry tried for a serious expression. "You are correct about Bath Time. It is one part bathtoy, one part guardian. Its primary purpose is to distract the child while the adult washes them. It also wards off the things that attack from the depths of the tub. Most things that prey on children, usually only target single children under the age of five."

"Really?' Arthur perked up, "And what proof is there of this?"

"Most victims of the creatures are under the age of five, single, and found floating face down. The Rubber Ducky has been shown to prevent the deaths of these children."

"So… where do the creatures go?" Arthur asked.

"No idea." Harry swatted Ron's hand away from his plate, as it appeared before him… provided by Dobby. "Muggle tech can not detect them and no one is willing to let a five year old child die when a three sickle squeaky toy can save them."

Arthur nodded and returned to his paper.

"Any word on Black?" Harry speared a banger on his fork and jabbed it into an over-easy egg.

"Reported sightings in Cork…" The Prophet folded again. "Why are you asking?"

"Just that I know he was in London yesterday." Harry finished his banger as he calmly dabbed at the runny yolk with a slice of buttered toast."

"How do you know that?" Molly was towering over him.

Sipping his pumpkin juice to clear his mouth, "We had lunch with Director Bones."

"He is a crazy dangerous killer." Molly started to get huffy.

"Crazy…maybe, but any innocent person

Who spent a decade among those things would be unhinged. As for a killer… who told you that? The Only Blood on his hands is that of those who attacked him first, just like your brothers." He growled at her. "As for him being dangerous… I am the One person safe from him. He swore in blood to be my Godfather."

Molly fell back. "But He said that you were under threat from Black!" The blood drained from her face. "But he can't be wrong about this…"

"Then Albus Lied." Harry sneered.

"How did you know…" Molly sputtered.

"You just told me." Harry finished his bite, before pushing the plate towards Ron. He drained his juice and stood. "I was just stabbing in the dark. Now that I have had a second breakfast and the girls are back from packing away their last parcels, I am going to escort them to Madam Malkin's. I got my robes yesterday and need to pick them up. Ginny, you are joining us, correct?"

"£What about me?£" Ron tried to speak, chew, and swallow at the same time.

Harry stared at him as he tried to translate what his mate said. "I think your mother has plans for you. If you pass me your book list… I will get them for you, while she drags you to Olivanders. If you don't mind, Lunch at Dunnings?" Harry smiled at the Patriarch. "It might help Percy's Career and boost yours a bit. Friend and Senior Advisor to Lord Potter?"

"What do you mean?" Molly dismissed the lad's statement.

Harry raised his fist and exposed his Potter Ring. "I am Lord Potter. It's just that my Guardian is my Regent…" Susan and Hermione grabbed his arms and drug him away before he could finish the explanation.

The witches pulled him out the back door to the Alley, where they ran across the twins trying to sneak into the pub.

"Uh, guys. Two things. One, your mother is in the taproom and was in a huff. Two, I am being dragged to Malkin's and 'forced' to buy these hags new robes. Do you want to join us? I was told that you might be interested in Managing Mischief."

"You do realize that you are going to pay for that hag comment." Hermione hissed.

"Yes Dear." Harry said In the same tone as Vernon used to placate Petunia.

She glared at him. "Did you just 'Yes Dear' me?"

"No Dear."

The glare hardened. Then She sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I don't know Dear."

She punched his shoulder.

HPWQ

After a long day of shopping, a late Lunch at the cafe Dunnings, and just before heading back to the tavern, Harry followed Ron into the Owl Shop.

Ron chose a red feathered beaut. A male that knew he looked good and liked to make sure everyone knew it.

Seeing a small scops owl that was bouncing around in the cage… Harry decided that Ginny needed an owl too. Of course he had to conceal the purchasing of the little guy so as to not trigger Ron's jealousy. Buying Ron a cone of ice cream also distracted him further.

That night, after a filling feast, Harry kissed the cheek of Susan and Hermione, and turned in. He had to oversee the last repacking of his trunk.

He put his broom in the Armoury, and the now empty trunk into the expanded room. He put his last first year jersey into Dobby's Elf Compartment.

Hooking the little guy under the arms, he climbed into the fluffy bed, treating the Elf like a living teddy bear.

Dobby didn't mind… too much.

HPWQ

The next morning, three non Weasley witches and Harry sat around the main table, eating Full English Breakfasts.

Leaving Ginny at the mercy of her Mother, they left a note with Thom, as Harry paid for the Family's meal as well and headed to Kings Crossing by Black Cab, trusting Dobby to handle the trunks.

After they were a block away, Hannah broached a subject that was bothering her. "Why are you doing this… buying us everything. Not that I am complaining… just why."

"Everything for the Weasleys has to do with everything they have done for me. The Twins are troublemakers but they have watched my back ever since my first day on the Quidditch Pitch. Ginny has had it hard last year. Ron was my first Friend. Since I learned that he was actively interfering with House Potter, his standing is shaky. Percy is a quill pusher if ever there was one, but it will be to my advantage for Him to think of me as Family. Mr Weasley is hard working, and I have to walk carefully dealing with his Pride. Mum Weasley is very protective of her chickies. Her first two children left England to escape her mothering. I need a bit of mothering, and caring for them is a small price to pay." He looked out the window watching the early morning traffic crawl by. "As for you ladies, the fastest way to a Hufflepuff's Heart is through her friends. Granger loves her books, but I expect that I am going to be getting closer to her in the next three years… and I need her to know what my thoughts of her are."

"So you buy her books so you can get the knickers you just bought her, off her?" Susan smirked.

Harry just smiled.

Hermione hit him with her book.

"We're here." The cabby called back. Harry exited, helped the ladies out of the cab, before approaching the window to pay the man.

"Hey Gov. A word to the wise. Don't annoy the smart ones or the quiet ones. They'll make you pay in ways you will never see coming."

Harry counted out the amount due and tossed in another twenty pounds. "Trust me, I know. Two of them are the sweetest girls in school and the other is a librarian in the making. The Redhead is the niece of a high ranking copper and the Brunette's father is exmilitary and I believe SAS. As long as they are having fun, all is good. When they get mad, I know to not kick that Cat. Have a good day."

"You too, Gov."

"Oh I Will!" Harry laughed as he jogged to catch up with the girls.

TBC

The term 'knock up' is the term for knocking on the door or window to wake the sleeping. At the turn of the century, 'knockers' would along the shop streets, knocking on the upstairs windows.