Now and Forever

Chapter 10

Harry, Ginny, Arthur and Molly met Ron and Hermione at Madame Malkin's robe shop.

"I don't see why Harry and I can't wear the dress robes from our wedding," Ron grumbled to Hermione.

Hermione squeezed his hand and smiled at her reluctant shopper. "Ginny may want you in different colours than what you wore for our wedding. She's only going to do this once, you know, so she'll want it to be perfect."

"Honestly, I think Harry's the one who's more interested in it being perfect," Ron said, nudging Hermione and nodding toward Harry and Ginny, who were browsing the men's dress robes a bit ahead of them. Harry was pulling out various robes and holding them against himself to see Ginny's reaction to them. He seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit.

"That's understandable," Hermione said, watching Harry with a fond smile on her face. "He grew up with nothing 'normal' at all. I think he's trying to begin a normal life, and part of a normal life, in his experience, is a nice wedding. Think about it. Every wedding he's been to has been a very pretty one, with beautiful clothes and flowers and decorations and good food. Why should he want anything less for himself and Ginny?"

Ron shrugged. "Well, when you put it that way . . ."

"Why don't you boys look for robes together, and I'll help Ginny. That's what matrons of honour are supposed to do."

Ron looked at her with a puzzled frown. "Why are you a 'matron' instead of a 'maid,' anyway? It makes you sound old."

Hermione stood on tiptoes and pulled on his shoulders so he'd bend down, then kissed him lightly. "Because we're married, silly."

"Oh!" Ron watched her move away, fully aware that he had a sappy grin on his face. She had him well and truly wrapped around her dainty little finger, and he didn't mind one bit.

* * *

As he and Ron looked for new dress robes for the wedding, Harry murmured, "How's it going at the Burrow?"

Ron grimaced. "It's a nightmare, really."

Harry felt awful. He turned to face Ron. "Then come back to my place. You know you're welcome there."

"No, it's your and Ginny's turn to have the house to yourself. And it's only for a little while. Once Ginny goes back to Hogwarts, we'll be back."

Harry frowned, wondering how to convince Ron to move back, but not wanting to be pushy about it. "If you're sure--"

Ron nodded. "It'll be fine. Mum's over the moon that we're there. She and Hermione are getting along better than I expected. And Hermione and I aren't there that much anyway."

"Why not?" Harry put the robes he'd been looking at back on the rack. Black's elegant, but it just doesn't seem right for our wedding. What colour will work? He scratched his head as he tried to find something that pleased him.

"We're working in her parents' house, getting it ready to sell."

Startled, Harry turned to stare at Ron. "That has to be hard on both of you, mate. How's Hermione handling it?"

"Better than I expected, but still, she's having a rough time. Being at the Burrow is good, actually. Mum's doing a good job of helping Mione get through it."

"D'you need help at the house?"

"Nah. Mione has to choose what to keep and what to sell, so it's all down to her, really. I'm just there to do the heavy lifting and hug her sometimes." Ron sighed. "Or provide a shoulder for her to make soggy."

"Sorry, mate. That can't be much fun." Sensing Ron would rather act normally than be the object of too much sympathy, Harry went back to shopping.

"It isn't any fun at all, really. Well, I do enjoy seeing the photos of her when she was little, but even those upset her. She's determined to get it finished during the holidays, though."

"Why?"

"She wants to move on, and that house--well, it just hurts her to know that it's empty now."

Harry nodded. He understood how painful it was when a house reminded you of someone you loved. Number 12 Grimmauld Place still held haunting memories of Sirius despite the redecoration of the rooms he and his friends had done since the house had become Harry's. He changed the subject back to dress robes and a few minutes later had Ron laughing, his gloomy mood gone for the moment. Harry smiled, pleased that he'd cheered Ron even for a moment. That's what best friends are for, after all.

* * *

After Ron and Harry dug through all the appropriate robes, they still hadn't made a decision. Harry was torn between black and deep blue, both of which were similar to those he already had.

"Let me see," Ginny said, watching as Harry held up first the black robes, then the blue against his body for her approval. "Hmm, no. Neither of those is right." She started digging through the robes on the rack and pulled out a set of emerald green robes. "How about these?"

"You don't him want to look like a Slytherin, do you?" Ron said just before Hermione grabbed his arm and gave him a quelling look.

"No, but I know what colour I want Hermione to wear, and your robes and Harry's should go with that colour," Ginny said reasonably as she held the green robes up to Harry.

"Hermione's wearing green?" Ron said, looking at her speculatively.

"No, peach," Ginny replied absent-mindedly. She looked from Harry's face to the robes and back at his face, then smiled. "These match your eyes exactly. I thought they would."

"Your first dress robes were green, Harry," Molly added. "I bought them because I thought they'd look nice with your eyes."

"And they did," Ginny said. "I remember how handsome you looked at that first Yule Ball."

Harry took the robes from her and turned to face a mirror, holding the robes in front of him. "Oh, she's right!" the mirror said. "They do match your eyes! Lovely!"

"Cheeky mirror," Ron grumbled. "I'll look like a Christmas tree in green robes."

"No you won't," Ginny said, handing him a set of robes that matched Harry's but in a darker shade of green. "Try these on."

A few minutes later, both Harry and Ron were decked out in quite elegant robes. Ginny gave Harry an approving nod. "I like them."

"Whatever you want, sweet girl," Harry said. He looked at himself in the mirror. The colour looked nice with his dark hair and green eyes. "If this is what you want, they're fine with me."

"But I look like a bloody Christmas tree," Ron grumbled.

Hermione stood on tiptoes and kissed him. "You look so handsome. You should wear green more often."

Ron frowned at her, then looked in the mirror. He considered his reflection a bit, turning this way and that. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, Ron," Molly said with a sigh, "I should have made your sweaters green instead of maroon. That colour is wonderful on you."

Ron stared at her. "Really?" Feeling a bit better about it, he turned to Harry. "What do you think?"

Harry took his time looking Ron over. "I think you look fine," he said at last.

"Then it's decided!" Ginny said. "I love these. Do you want some embroidery on them? I imagine you could have a design on them if you want."

Harry looked at his robes, which were plain but quite elegant. "No, I like them as they are. Ron can have embroidery if he wants, though. We don't have to match."

"No, plain is good," Ron said. He shared a look with Harry, then both of them grinned. "Are we finished?"

"Yes, I think so," Hermione said, straightening the collar of his robes. She stood on tiptoe and tugged on his shoulders so he bent down a bit. "You look yummy," she whispered in his ear, filling the last word with a whole world of meaning.

Ron straightened in surprise, a blush on his face. "Oh! Well. Um." Hermione just laughed. "What do you think, Dad?"

Arthur had kept his opinions to himself so far. Now he raised an eyebrow as he answered his son. "I think you'd do well to go along with what the ladies choose."

Ron grinned. "Right."

Harry looked at his watch. "I need to leave. It's time for me to meet Dan." He unbuttoned his robes as he spoke.

"I'll go with you," Ron said, eager to get away from the robe shop.

"But--" Hermione said as Ron stepped out of his robes, having only opened the top three buttons.

Ron picked up the robes from the floor and hung them up, then turned around and took both of Hermione's hands in his. "Sweetie, I'll be happy to look at what you chose when we get back, but if you want a Christmas present, you're going to have to let me do some shopping." He raised his eyebrows, teasing her.

"Oh! Okay, then. You boys have fun," she said, shooing them out of the door. "Harry isn't supposed to see Ginny in her wedding robes before the ceremony anyway."

Harry kissed Ginny and grinned at Hermione. "I can take a hint." He and Ron waved as they left the shop and walked down the street toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"It's such a nice day, isn't it?" Harry said, looking up at the sparkling icicles hanging from the eaves of the buildings around them.

Ron looked at him in surprise. "It's bloody freezing! What are you on about?"

Harry smiled at his friend. "You have no idea how brilliant it is for me to be shopping with my own family, or soon to be my family, anyway. And Ginny and I will be married in a few months." He shook his head, amazed at the wonderful feelings that threatened to overwhelm him. "No Dursleys. No Voldemort. And Ginny's with me. This will be the best Christmas ever."

Ron grinned. "I'm glad you're happy, Harry."

"Me, too."

Ron stopped off in a shop to look for Hermione's Christmas present while Harry met Dan Jacobs in the Leaky Cauldron. When Harry entered the pub, he had to blink a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dark interior.

"Harry! Over here," a man's voice called.

"Dan! Thanks for meeting me," Harry said, shaking hands with his friend.

"My pleasure." Dan Jacobs was nearly as tall as Harry, with thick brown hair that insisted on falling into his face and bright blue eyes. He and Harry had become friends after Dan's band, Toads in the Loo, played for the Yule Ball at Hogwarts the previous year. "What can I do for you?" Dan asked now.

Harry pulled off his cloak and settled into the booth across from his friend. "You know Ginny and I are getting married, right?"

"Yes, you lucky dog! She's a beauty! When is it?"

"March 26, the Friday before Easter break at Hogwarts," Harry replied. "We'll be married in the Great Hall, with all the students there and some guests, as well. We'd like your band to play for the reception--for the wedding too, if you know any wedding music."

"I'd be honoured to play at your wedding, Harry, and I know the lads will be, too. Yes, we know some wedding music. You mean like a wedding march for when Ginny comes in and that kind of thing, right?"

Harry couldn't believe his luck. Ginny would be ecstatic about her favourite band playing the wedding march as well as the dance music at their wedding! He crossed his fingers under the table, hoping everything would work out. "Yeah, that's it. Are you free then?"

Dan pulled out his wand and tapped his watch. A small roll of parchment scrolled out of the band near the watch face. He tapped it again, and more parchment rolled out, showing the calendar for March. "We have a gig just after Easter, but we're clear for a few weeks before then."

"Great! What do you charge?"

"Tell you what. I'll do this for you if you'll do something for me," Dan said, a teasing gleam in his eye.

Harry laughed. "You do know I can't sing, right? Nor play an instrument?"

"That isn't what I want you to do."

"Then what is it?"

"I know you don't like to trade on your fame, but for once, would you mind being 'the famous Harry Potter'?"

Harry frowned. Dan knew him well enough to understand how uncomfortable it made Harry to be treated like "the famous Harry Potter." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and studied his friend's honest face. Dan was comfortable with his celebrity, but then again, he'd chosen to be in the public eye. Harry's fame had been forced on him. He decided to trust that Dan was a good enough friend to not put him in an unpleasant situation. "What do you want me to do?"

"If 'the famous Harry Potter' wrote a glowing review of our new album, your influence could help it be a chart-topper." When Harry shook his head and started to say something, Dan went on. "I know you like our music, and I also know that you have a huge fan following, even bigger than before, thanks to your success with the Lions so far. What do you think?"

Harry couldn't believe what Dan was asking. Why would anyone care if Harry Potter liked an album? "You really think my comments about your music will make a difference?"

"Yes. And that's all the payment I'll ask for playing at your wedding."

Harry snorted. "I think I'd rather pay you. And when you read my writing, you might agree."

"Just keep it simple. You and I have talked about music enough when we've run into each other here at lunch time that I know how you feel about my music, and how you express yourself. I think you'll do a wonderful job."

"If that's what you want, then that's what you'll get," Harry said, "and if you don't like the way I write it, you can edit it however you want."

"I don't want to be accused of putting words in your mouth," Dan countered. "I'd like you to send the review directly to the Daily Prophet just after we release the album."

"Okay."

"Thanks, Harry, I mean that. I know it's an imposition―"

Harry laughed. "When Ginny hears that you've agreed to play at our wedding, the reward she'll give me will more than pay me for suffering a bit of publicity."

"Then I'll have to find more ways to impose on you," Dan teased.

Laughing even harder, Harry snapped back, "You're on!"

* * *

After Harry and Dan parted, Harry found Ron finishing his purchase in a shop. He shared his news with Ron, who turned to Harry, shaking his head in amazement.

"That is so cool! Toads in the Loo playing at your wedding. Wicked!"

Harry just grinned. He couldn't wait to tell Ginny and see her reaction.

He and Ron were nearly back at the robe shop when they heard a commotion behind them.

"Harry! Oh look! It's Harry!" a young woman called. "Harry! Over here! And Ron's with him!"

"Yeah, but Ron's married," another woman said, sounding a bit dour.

"Harry isn't!" That comment elicited a round of giggles. The sound of excited girls chattering grew louder as the group neared Harry and Ron.

Harry looked at Ron and sighed. "This is the worst part of the job, as far as I'm concerned," he murmured. "I'd rather be in the hospital than dealing with fangirls."

"Yeah, it can be a real pain," Ron agreed. "It'll be better for you once you and Ginny are married, though. They're not nearly as pushy and rude to me as they were before Mione and I got married."

Harry sighed. "I hope you're right." He and Ron pasted smiles on their faces and turned to face the onslaught of fans.

"Sign this for me, Harry!" "What are you doing here?" "Where are you going? Can we join you?" The questions poured out of the girls, who clustered around them eagerly.

Harry recognized them as regulars at the Lions' games, most of them old enough to have finished Hogwarts a few years before him. "Now, ladies, you all have plenty of autographs by now!" He smiled as he spoke, trying to be pleasant but also planning to get away from them as soon as possible. "We're doing some holiday shopping with our family."

"You don't have any family!" one of the younger girls said. "You're an orphan!"

"I'll be your family, Harry!" a young woman at least several years older than him said, sidling up to Harry and touching his arm while batting her eyelashes and smiling at him.

Harry removed the woman's hand from his arm gently and sighed. "Yes, I'm an orphan, but I'm marrying into a huge family, and we're out shopping today. Have a nice holiday, ladies. See you at the games." He backed away as he spoke, then turned with Ron to continue toward the robe shop.

"Who's he marrying?" one of the group said plaintively.

"Where've you been?" another snapped. "He's still engaged to that redheaded cow he was with at Hogwarts."

Harry and Ron heard every word. Harry's back stiffened and he pressed his lips together, trying to restrain the ugly retort building inside him. We have to maintain good relations with the public, damn it. He huffed out an impatient breath, then glanced at Ron.

"That's not on, mate, not on at all. When we get out of sight, let's hex them."

That startled Harry into a laugh. "Good idea. I wish we could do that."

Ron sighed. "Yeah, me too."

Harry could feel the presence of the group still following them, but at a distance now. He sighed again, glad they were about to enter the shop.

As he and Ron passed through the front of the shop, the fitting area in the back came into view. Ginny was standing in front of a mirror in beautiful ivory dress robes with some sparkling design worked into the fabric. Her hair spilled down her back in brilliant contrast to the delicate colour of the robes.

Harry felt a flutter inside as all his worries and burdens just flew away. Had she ever looked more beautiful? How did I ever get so lucky? "Wow" was all he could manage to say.

His comment startled Ginny. Her eyes found his in the mirror. "You're not supposed to see me!"

A mischievous grin crossed Harry's face. "It isn't our wedding day yet, pretty lady." He stopped next to her, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lightly, then stepped back to admire her. "Is this the one? You look fantastic!"

"I like this one a lot, but I still have a few more to try on," she said, spreading the skirt so he could admire the beautifully embroidered decorations on it. "I think Mum likes this one best so far, don't you, Mum?"

Molly was wiping her eyes and sniffling. "You just look so beautiful, Ginny. I'm just . . ." She waved a hand ineffectually in front of her face, then pulled out a hanky and blew her nose. "I'll be fine. It isn't every day we take our only daughter out to buy wedding robes."

"Did you find something, Mione?" Ron asked, slipping an arm around his wife's shoulders and rubbing a gentle thumb on her cheek.

"Oh, yes, and it's beautiful! Look at this," she said, beaming as she led him to a rack to show him gorgeous robes in a soft shade of peach with a delicate gold pattern on the skirt. Parvati Patil knelt in front of it, doing something to the hem.

"Parvati! What are you doing here?" Ron said.

"I'm apprenticed to Madam Malkin," Parvati explained. "I'll work here a few more months, then go to Paris for more training."

"You've always had the best eye for fashion of any of us," Hermione said. "You'll be a brilliant robe designer."

"This is one of Parvati's designs," Ginny said, spinning around so the skirts of her robes billowed around her. "I love it."

Parvati smiled and Madam Malkin beamed. "She's a good worker, and you're right," Madam Malkin said. "She does have a gift for design."

The chime on the door rang as someone else came in.

"I'm sorry, but I'm completely tied up with a wedding party. Could you please come back later?" Madam Malkin said without glancing toward her new customer.

Harry and his friends all jumped when they heard someone cry, "Incendio Maxima!" The back of Ginny's robes erupted in flames.

"Aguamente!" Harry and Hermione cried at the same time. When the water from their wands hit the flames, they sputtered, went out for a moment, then rekindled.

While Hermione, Ron, Molly and Arthur poured water on the still-burning robes, Harry shouted, "Finite Incantatem!" After what seemed like a lifetime, but in truth was only a matter of seconds, the fire was extinguished.

Ginny was screaming in pain and fear. Harry did a Transference Spell on the smouldering robes, throwing them on the floor away from Ginny just as Ron ran toward the door saying, "I'll go after her. You stay and take care of Ginny."

"Right." Harry whipped off his cloak and wrapped Ginny in it, being careful to not put any pressure on her burns. He held her against him and let her sob on his shoulder while he tried to sense how badly she was injured. He didn't even glance up when Hermione ran past him to follow Ron.

When her crying abated a bit, he kissed the top of her head and said, "Gin? Sweetie? I need to see your burns so I can heal them. I can't sense them well enough this way."

Molly and Arthur were hovering behind them. "How are you, dear? Where does it hurt? Let Mummy see, darling," Molly crooned.

"It hurts, it hurts," Ginny moaned.

Harry glanced up when Arthur conjured a bed beside Ginny. Harry helped Ginny lie on her stomach on the bed so he could work on her burns.

"We should take her to St. Mungo's," Molly said, trying to look at Ginny past Harry's shoulder.

"I can do this, Mrs. Weasley. Just give me a minute." Harry slid Ginny's scorched hair aside, trying not to cringe at the smell. "It's not too bad, sweet girl. Just a few minor burns. I'll have you fixed up in no time."

"Good thing those robes had so much fabric at the back," Arthur said.

"Yes, or she would've been burned much worse," Molly agreed.

Ginny realized she was more frightened than hurt. She quieted now, relieved that Harry's spells were easing her pain. "Are they going to leave scars?"

"No, love, your skin is as beautiful where it was burned as anywhere else," he assured her.

His words comforted her almost as much as the healing of her burns. She relaxed and sighed, grateful that he was gifted with a healing talent as well as his other skills.

"Turn your head the other way so I can check that side of your neck," Harry said.

When Ginny turned her head, she saw the pile of scorched cloth on the floor, all that remained of what had been beautiful robes. Parvati knelt beside the ruined garment, looking a bit stunned.

"Parvati, I'm sorry," Ginny said.

Parvati looked up at Ginny, her beautiful eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It isn't your fault. You're the victim here."

"But it was your design."

"Yeah." Parvati sniffled, then shook her head and sighed. "My first design, actually. I drew these years ago." She sighed again. "It's okay. I can make more."

"Who was that?" Madam Malkin said, looking toward the door. "Why would anyone want to set those robes on fire?"

"It was probably a fangirl," Harry growled, doing his best to control his temper. "There was a group of them outside when we came in."

"But why--" Madam Malkin said.

"Because they want Harry for themselves," Ginny snapped. "They think I'm a cow."

"They'd say that about anyone I was with, you know that," Harry said quietly. "They're a bunch of nutters, that's all, just mad."

"Yeah, mad about you," Ginny snarled. "I can't fault their taste in men, but they're all mad as hatters."

"Too right," Harry said. He bent closer to her back, moving his hands slowly above her to check for more injuries. "I think that's all of them." When Ginny started to move, he touched her shoulder. "Rest a minute. You've just been through quite a shock."

Ginny rolled onto her side and slid her hand along her back. "It doesn't hurt anymore! Thanks."

"I'm glad I could help." He looked up at Madam Malkin. "Do you have underwear? Her things are a bit scorched."

"Of course. Let me bring her something." The shopkeeper left to rummage in her stock for Ginny's size.

When she returned, Harry said, "How much do I owe you for those robes?"

The woman straightened up and stared at him in surprise. "You don't have to do that, Mr. Potter. It wasn't your fault."

Harry got a stubborn glint in his eyes. "I'll pay for them. You and Parvati shouldn't have to suffer a loss because of some stupid fangirl."

The woman's face flushed with pleasure. "Thank you, Mr. Potter! That's very generous indeed."

"Thanks, Harry," Parvati added, gathering up the ruined robes and getting to her feet. "You're so sweet."

"Yeah, that's why the fangirls are mad about him," Ginny said, wrapping his cloak around herself again so she could sit up.

"How are you feeling?" Molly said, sitting down beside her daughter.

"I'm okay now, Mum. Don't worry."

"It's my job to worry about you, you know," Molly said, smoothing Ginny's hair away from her face. Molly shuddered as burnt ends broke off and fluttered to the floor. It could so easily have been Ginny herself that was so badly scorched.

Ginny finally noticed her hair. "Oh no. It looks awful! And smells worse. What am I going to do?"

"Trim it," Harry said, not understanding the problem.

Ginny stared at him. "You don't understand. I'll have to cut off a lot!" She looked at her mother. "How bad is it?"

Molly sighed and put her hand on Ginny's back near her shoulder blades. "We'll have to cut it to here, I think. Or maybe shorter."

Ginny's hair had been past her waist. She shook her head and looked up at Harry, her eyes misty. "I was growing it out for the wedding. I know how you love my hair long."

Harry sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm in love with you, not your hair. I'm just glad you're all right."

"Fine, then I'll just cut it off short like Tonks's hair and wear it in spikes," Ginny said, trying to be funny. Her quivering lip gave her away, though.

Harry kissed her, then tucked her head into his shoulder and just held her until her trembling stopped.

Just then, Ron and Hermione returned.

"Did you catch her?" Harry said.

"Blood damned useless leg!" Ron growled, pounding his fist against his gimpy leg. "I lost her. I just can't run that fast."

"And he wouldn't let me go after her." Hermione seemed quite indignant about it.

"I don't want you to get hurt!" Ron said. "I'm the one in Auror training, not you."

Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Who fought in the war right beside you? Me! I'm capable of chasing down a stupid fangirl!"

"Mione," Ron said, scowling at her, "I have training you haven't had."

"My training was good enough for the war!"

"Hey!" Harry cried. "Stop it, you two. Bloody hell, you'd think we were back in school." When they subsided, he went on. "Did either of you get a good look at her?"

Ron sighed. "About five foot four, long brown hair--straight, not curly or wavy--a dark cloak and shoes, nothing else distinguishing that I can think of. Her hair's darker than Hermione's."

"That's a start then," Harry replied.

"We ran into a couple of Aurors while we were chasing her. They continued the chase," Ron said. "Maybe they'll catch her."

"If she doesn't just Disapparate," Arthur sighed. "It's a wonder she stayed in front of you two so long."

"We didn't give her time to Disapparate," Ron said. "We weren't that far behind her. She kept dodging through the crowd, or I would've hexed her to stop her."

"Well done, lad! And you too, Hermione," Arthur said approvingly.

"The Aurors will come here to take statements from us when they catch her," Ron continued.

"Well, that's it, then, isn't it? That's all we can do for now," Harry said. "Thanks."

"No problem," Ron replied.

Hermione had sat down behind Ginny and Harry. "How are you?" she asked Ginny.

"Harry healed me. I'm a little sore, that's all. But my hair is ruined."

Hermione lifted Ginny's hair and looked at it. "What do you mean, ruined?"

"Mum says it has to be cut off to here," Ginny said, indicating the spot on her back.

"Have you considered layering it?" Hermione said.

Ginny looked thoughtful. "Layering it? No."

"I don't know how to layer hair," Molly added.

"But Parvati does," Hermione said with a smile. "Shall we have her look at it?"

Ginny brightened instantly. "Yes! What a good idea, Hermione!"

"Should I even bother to ask for an explanation?" Harry said, glad to see Ginny looking happier, "or just leave you girls to it?"

"Just leave us to it," Hermione replied. "Ginny will look fine."

"She'd look fine even if she were bald," Harry said, leaning over and kissing the tip of Ginny's nose. "Are you okay? Do you want to go home and rest, or shower, perhaps?"

Ginny sat and thought for a long moment, then straightened her shoulders, her eyes bright and determined. "That's very tempting, but I came to buy wedding robes, and I'm going to keep trying them on until I find the right ones."

Harry grinned. "That's my warrior princess."

Hermione and Parvati took Ginny into the back of the shop to do something with her hair and let her change her underwear. While they were gone, two weary-looking men entered the shop.

"Wotcher, Harry, Ron," the first man said. "We lost her. She Disapparated when she got far enough ahead of us. The crowds of shoppers in the streets were no help at all."

"Did you get a good look at her?" Harry said. "Oh, these are Ron's parents, Arthur and Molly Weasley."

"Hello, Arthur," the second man said. "I've seen you around the Ministry. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Weasley. I'm Tom Powell, and this is Mike McQueen. We're instructors at the Aurors School. That's where we met the lads."

"Thank you for your help today," Molly said as she shook their hands.

"I wish we could've caught her," McQueen said, shaking his head. "Did she leave any evidence at all?"

"Would the robes she burned have some trace of a magical signature on them?" Harry said.

"They might. Where are they?" Powell said.

"I'll get them," Madam Malkin offered. "Pavarti took them into the back room."

Soon the two Aurors left with Powell carrying the ruined robes in a bag.

"We should guard the door so this kind of thing doesn't happen again," Harry told Ron. "Tell the girls we'll be outside, all right?" Harry told Arthur and Molly as he and Ron walked toward the front of the shop.

"You boys be careful," Molly warned.

"We will, Mum, don't worry," Ron replied.