Crystal Power

Chapter 10: - Bye Bye Mr Potter

"What the Hell has he done to you, Gin?"

"Harry, listen to me and listen good. Nothing has happened to me, I am not under the influence of any curse, I have not ingested any potion with mind altering effects and I'm not intimidated by him into acting this way."

"Ginny, can I talk to you without him?" Harry pleaded.

"Draco?" she smiled at the blonde who returned her expression and left with a pointed glare at the other man. She lowered her wand and wordlessly her fiancé approached her and ran his fingers through her tresses and down onto her porcelain skin. She looked impassively at up him, he sighed and leant in and pushed his lips against hers. Her eyes closed but she didn't respond, he pulled back and gazed sadly at her.

"Oh, Ginny. Does this mean...?" he asked mournfully. Slowly she nodded, his hand trailed gently over her skin. "Does this have something to do with Malfoy?"

"Harry, I just need time. Draco is just letting me have that, no pressure. I miss them."

"They miss you. Fred and George are frantic the business is going to go down the pan if they don't get to see you. Plus they'll kill me, Bill and Charlie are with them and Herm is worrying too. This is killing them."

"Do they know about Ron?" Her voice was small and strangled.

"They knew before you even told me. The clock. They are worried 'cos it still says you're in mortal danger. Gin, come home please then we'll take you to Hogwarts, you'll be safe." Harry smiled and looked hopeful.

"No, I'm staying here and then I'll go to Hogwarts. Draco's no threat or danger to me. He'll let you have Ron's body I know he wasn't responsible; he's punished who was responsible. It's my fault, you know. I should have helped him escape or found a way to get you here before he.... everything has changed now." The fiery female smiled, and kissed the man congenial manor, she held her hand at his cheek tracing small circles with her thumb. "You need to shave. Promise me something Harry."

"Anything," he replied, coving her hand with his.

"Promise me that you'll look after Herm." He laughed. "I'm serious, she's just lost her, near enough husband and you have my full permission to put my brothers in a full body bind if they feel the urge to come after me."

"Gin, your wand?" She frowned. "It's not... it's identical to Malfoys and it's glass."

"I don't understand it, it's something to do with a prophecy. That's why I'm staying here, I can try to understand it, it has something to do with both Draco and I and power of three." She sounded unsure but definite.

"All right, owl me. That's the promise I need, I'll ask Herm about the prophecy. Be careful." He ran a hand through her hair and apparated away. Sighing Vir slunk down into a chair and stifled a small sob.

"Vir, are you all right?" A blonde head peered around the door.

"Draco, I... I'm fine." He walked fully into the room and sat on the floor by her.

"I thought you might like a drink." He handed her a bottle of butterbeer with a smile.

"Thanks, I wish you and Harry could get along. You are so alike. I am all right to stay here aren't I?" Her eyes were large and sad.

"Of course, you return to Hogwarts in two weeks anyway. But, I have to leave next week; I start my new job. We'll go to Diagon Alley soon and get your new supplies."

"But, I have no money and I can't get Ron's."

"Virginia, I will get everything you need. Don't worry, I will not you go without anything."

"NO, I'M NOT ACCEPTING CHARITY FROM YOU!"

"Vir, consider it a loan. You Weasleys are so stubborn..."

"That is the pot calling the kettle black," she interjected.

"Whatever, I want you to have it. You will be the only person other than the house elves, so take the money as payment for house sitting." She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "We'll deal with it later."

"Oh, and no-one at school will be suspicious. I mean I need robes, books, cauldron, everything. It'd be weird having all new things and everyone will know my parents..."

"All right, I will give you my books and my old cauldron. I don't need them anymore, do I? Then nobody will think anything of it and then you can have new robes." Vir started to open her mouth. "No arguments."

*****

"Draco Malfoy hurry up, if we don't get there soon Diagon Alley will be swarming with students that will see us." Vir shouted.

"And that's a bad thing?" Draco replied from behind her.

"Yes, Harry told me that everyone suspects you of the murder him included. If we're seen together imagine the Prophet's headlines."

"Vir, I told you I didn't. You know exactly who did and together we will prove it."

"I know, I'd just rather not be seen or at least identified with you."

"That is just so nice isn't it, I allow you to stay here and you don't want to be seen with me." He tried to put on a puppy dog expression but failed causing Vir to burst into hysterics. Draco threw some floo powder into the heatless fire. "Diagon Alley." Vir followed and found herself in the Leaky Cauldron. She left the pub through the back and found Draco.

"Should we get stationary first?" she asked.

"Yes it'll probably be the quickest. I could always have custom made robes made for you...."

"No, Madame Malkins is fine," she replied with finality.

"All right." He tapped the bricks in sequence and Diagon Alley was revealed. Draco took her to Gringotts first and withdrew several galleons to Vir's disgust. They walked down the virtually deserted street to the stationers and entered. She picked up a discount pile of standard parchment, several quills and two bottles of ink. He tutted and snatched the merchandise off her replacing it with high quality paper and inks.

"Draco, I don't need expensive equipment." She grabbed her original supplies back.

"Humour me," he argued.

"No," she said firmly placing the goods on the counter. Reluctantly Draco paid the owner and Vir took her package from the shop. "Will you stop trying to make me get expensive things I can't afford."

"All right. Let's get you your robes." His robes billowed as he walked towards Madame Malkins. When they stepped through the door the elderly witch dashed over to them.

"Mister Malfoy, I haven't seen you in here since your third year." Malkin smiled.

"Miss Malkin," He dipped his head. "Could you please fit Miss W... Leoni for her seventh year school robes and a pair of dress robes, please."

"Of course, on the stool my dear." A tape measure flew around recording Vir's measurements while Miss Malkin disappeared. When it stopped Draco offered a hand to help her down. She pushed it away and got down herself and stood patiently. Miss Malkin came back levitating a pile of robes. "How many work robes do you need?"

"Erm, three." She turned to Draco. "Sorry, I don't have any after..." Obviously bored Draco rolled his eyes and frowned at her.

"Stop acting like you're a huge hassle. Can we also dress robes in a purple if possible." Malkin smiled again and found some robes of the required description.

"I think a lilac will look divine with her hair colour." With a swish of her wand the robes hung in front of Vir. Draco cast a critical eye over her and smiled.

"Are they silk?" he asked the robe maker.

"I have them in shot silk, is that alright?"

"Excellent. Oh, and we'll take a pointed hat and winter cloak."

"I'll have them wrapped right away Mister Malfoy." All the robes we're wrapped and Vir was irate at the cost. She stormed back to the Leaky Cauldron without a second glance. Draco ignored her and carried the packages into Borkins and Burkes. He was well known in Knockturn Alley but especially in this shop. There were cabinets of objects that could inflict a vast array of Dark Magic but he was in there for a certain set of items.

"Ah, young Mister Malfoy what can I help you with today?" The mans voice was sleek, but Draco knew he only had eyes for money.

"I am looking for the seeking charms you had. A pair."

"Ah yes. I remember the ones. One a sapphire, the other a ruby." The man dug around in the cluttered counter and produced the items. Draco examined the blue pendant and the red ring.

"I'll take them. I do trust they are of quality, it is on your head Borkin." They were wrapped quickly in brown paper.

"They are of the finest quality as usual, sir." Draco dropped several galleons onto the counter and slipped them into his pocket. He swept from the shop back to the pub and returned home.

*****