Special Protection

Chapter One-- Shopping Trip

"RON! You have to get a gift for Ginny! Just because you messed up by waiting until the last minute to get her something, doesn't mean that you can blow it off! What would you think if she didn't get you anything for your birthday?" Hermione sat there waiting for an answer from Ron, but Harry chimed in right before Ron started to speak.

"Hermione, I don't think Ron would notice if Ginny didn't get him anything. He's had to put up with Fred and George forgetting all these years, he wouldn't notice if Ginny didn't even speak to him on his birthday," Harry sat back, looking hopefully at both of them, wishing that this argument wouldn't blow up as bad as all the other ones.

"You know that she won't accept that as an answer, Harry," Ron whispered at a volume level that was just a few decibels short of sonic boom.

"Fine then Ron. Ignore your sister's birthday. But when she comes to me all upset because of you, I will just tell her that you don't care about her at all, and that she might as well go and call Seamus to comfort her."

At this Ron turned a deep shade of purple. He definitely hated the thought of Ginny dating anyone, let alone one of the guys in his year, what if Seamus talked about snogging Ginny. Ugh, he didn't even want to think about that.

"All right Hermione, tommorow when we're in Hogsmeade I'll get her something. But you will have to help me, cause I have no clue what she'd want."

Hermione turned to go up to bed, looking very pleased with herself.

"So where do we go? I don't know what to get her"

"For goodness sake, Ron. You are sixteen years old, you've known Ginny for fifteen years, don't you know what she'd like?" said Hermione, clearly exasperated at Ron's dullness.

"What do you take me for? A girl? Besides, how am I supposed to know what she'd like? It's not like she's five, and I could give her a worm or something," Ron said this without looking at Hermione, and after he finished this, he looked at Harry, giving him an almost questioning stare. Harry looked back at Ron, with an equally secretive look, which seemed to tell Ron that he wasn't doing something right and that he should calm down.

"Well Ron, why don't you get her some jewelry? We can go over there, where there's a little jeweler's shop on the corner. They might have a locket that would be nice. It'd be even nicer if it had her initials on it, but I doubt there'd be anything with "V.W." on it. Unless, of course, you buy her a car" Hermione suggested jokingly. As Hermione said this, they turned off of the main street and into the Hogsmeade Jewelry Shop.

Harry turned to the other two, and said, "Well, do you think we should just look around a bit? See if there's anything that's good?"

"I think that's a wonderful idea Harry! Let's look together though...then we can decide." Hermione turned to the counter, and then let out a gasp.

"What is it Hermione?" both of the boys exclaimed at once.

"Look!" Hermione held out a small box. The boys looked at each other, and then leaned forward to look at the contents of the box. Inside was a small gold locket, with the letters "V.W." on it. Ron and Harry looked at each other, then turned and stared at Hermione.

"Hermione, how did you know?" Harry said this quietly, but before Hermione could answer, Ron coughed, and shot a meaningful look at Harry.

"I think it's perfect. It's just what you said she'd like! I don't care how much it costs, it is for my only sister." Ron yanked the box out of Hermione's hands, turned and walked to the counter to pay for it.

"Harry, why was Ron acting like that? Doesn't he think it's weird and why wasn't he surprised that I...I...predicted that they'd have a locket?"

Harry looked down and then at Hermione. "I'm sorry Hermione, I don't know why he's acting like that. You'd have to ask him."

Hermione looked at Harry for a moment as she thought about what he'd said. Gosh, Harry's grown so much since last summer, even though I can tell that he's still upset about Sirius. But I'm sure he knows why Ron is acting like this. Oh, Ron...why can't I figure you out like I can everything else?