Erised Revisited

3. Seeing Red

"So, how is it the Floo Network is safe now when it wasn't before?" Harry asked, eyeing the fireplace suspiciously.

"Before, the Ministry wasn't admitting that You-Know-Who was back. Now they are, and they've improved security everywhere, especially the Floo. You never seem to appreciate something until it's taken away or threatened as such. The Wizarding community on the whole trying to function without the Floo would be disastrous," Mrs. Weasley answered.

"It was sure a pain in the arse last summer not being able to use it," muttered Ron to Harry.

"Speak for yourself, I still hate the damn thing," Harry whispered back.

Ron snorted a laugh at Harry's obvious discomfort.

Harry was surprised that he and Ron were the only ones gathered to leave for Diagon Alley so far. As Mrs. Weasley trudged upstairs to hurry the girls along, muttering something about the girls' late nights, Harry rubbed a hand over his face to hide his expression as a torrent of different emotions washed over him. There was guilt at having listened to the girls' conversation for so long. There was anger at what had been discussed during the last part of what he had heard. There was curiosity about how much longer they stayed up chatting about his romantic abilities, or lack thereof. There was dread at having to face them after having violated their privacy in such a manner. He was still struggling as to whether or not to tell them about the bugging of Ginny's room.

"Remember, you're helping me with the late birthday present for Susan. Let's take care of that first."

Harry sighed. "You'd be better off with Hermione or Ginny helping you."

"Ah, c'mon, Harry."

"Alright, but don't blame me if Susan dumps you because of any advice I give. Do you have any ideas at all?"

Ron shrugged. "She's got a thing for unicorns."

"I guess that's a start."

As Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and Ginny entered the room, Harry's shoes suddenly became very interesting to him. He didn't recall that gash in the well-worn leather being there. And he noticed the left one could use a retying. He crouched down, facing away from the girls.

"Morning, Harry, Ron." Hermione sounded tired but excited as well.

"Morning all." Ginny just sounded tired.

"Where's Luna?" Ron asked.

Hermione answered, "Oh, she left before dawn. Said she had some proofing to do for her father."

"Alright, Ron, Ginny, here's some gold for today." The clinking of coins sounded.

"But mum, this is the same amount we always get," Ron complained.

"And?"

"Well, Dad's promotion, I figured we might have a little more now."

"Your father got a promotion, not you. I fail to- Oh, all right. Here." Again, there was the sound of coins changing hand.

Harry stood to see from the sour expression on Ron's face that he was still not satisfied with the pocket money that had been handed out. He risked a quick glance at Ginny to see what her opinion of the money situation was and saw her shaking her head and smiling at Ron in disbelief.

Mrs. Weasley spoke again, "There will be several Aurors to act as guards for you all when we get to the Leaky Cauldron. You are not to leave their presence. If at any time I see that you are attempting to sneak off on your own, we will return here immediately. Is that understood?"

There was some grumbling from all the teens, but they knew if they did not agree that there would be no visit to Diagon Alley.

"Alright, just let me check and see if things are sorted out over there." Mrs. Weasley made her way to the fireplace and made a short Floo call. She walked back to the group with a wide smile. "Arthur is waiting for us now. I didn't think he'd be there, but he wanted to make sure we were well watched after."

One after the other the group made its way through the fireplace to end up at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry stumbled out and after steadying himself smiled at the memory from before his third year when he ended up staying at this place after blowing up Aunt Marge. The smile faded as he remembered the subsequent events of that year and his meeting his godfather. He once again buried any thoughts of Sirius and looked around to see what was going on.

They were in a circle of ten witches and wizards that Harry guessed they were the Aurors of the guard detail. Harry did not recognize a single one of them. To his right, the circle parted and Mr. Weasley walked through, smiling one of the biggest smiles Harry had ever seen.

Mr. Weasley clapped his hands together with a loud smack and then rubbed them. "Ready for a big day, all? Pity that I can't join you, but I'm afraid that there's just too much going on at the office. Everything has been taken care of though. You should have a smashing time today."

Mrs. Weasley seemed a little confused by her husband's enthusiasm. "Yes, I've already told them about the security arrangements, Arthur."

"Oh yes. Shame about that, but a necessity you know. They will remain as unobtrusive as they can, but there may be inconveniences. Still though, I've spoken to most of the shopkeepers on the Alley, and you all have accounts set up. There are limits of course, but do buy yourselves some nice things today and have fun."

Mrs. Weasley rushed forward and dragged her husband from the circle. They immediately launched into an excited discussion. The credit accounts were obviously news to Mrs. Weasley, and she didn't seem very happy about it.

"I knew it was too good to be true," moaned Ron forlornly.

The conversation between the adult Weasleys seemed to calm and then Mrs. Weasley leaned forward to hug and then kiss her husband. Harry smirked as Ron rolled his eyes at his parents' public display. Harry imagined that Ginny was also rolling her eyes but still could not bring himself to look over at her.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley returned to the circle arm in arm. Mrs. Weasley smiled and spoke, "Well then, let's go buy too much stuff."

"Yes!" Ron exclaimed.

Each person was assigned two guards, and the group then split up. Amazingly, after they only took a few steps, the guards seemed to vanish. Harry figured this was to attract less attention and to allow counter attacks from concealed positions if needed, both things he could understand from his own experience with invisibility. Mrs. Weasley and the girls took off for parts unknown, and the boys went off to look for a shop that might have something for Susan. About three blocks away from the Leaky Cauldron, Harry and Ron stopped in front of a rather frilly shop called Curious Curios. They shared a dubious look, and then shrugged simultaneously before entering the store.

"May I help you boys?" asked a witch looking down from a tall stepladder. She was arranging some figurines on a high shelf. She reminded Harry uncomfortably of Delores Umbridge.

Ron spoke hopefully, "Do you have anything with unicorns on it?"

"Several pieces, but I'm afraid they are not arranged as such. If you want to look around for a time, I can gather up a few things and present them to you."

"That would be great. Thanks."

Harry and Ron made their way slowly around the shop. Each of them kept their hands firmly at their sides or clasped behind their backs as if touching any of these delicate objects might infect them somehow.

"Harry?" Ron came to a stop, seemingly interested in an impossibly tiny crystalline chess set.

"Mm?" Harry paused in front of some odd turquoise objects, trying to figure out what they were.

"Do you think about Hermione a lot?"

"Wha-? Hermione? What are you talking about?"

"Yesterday, when we were practicing, you had all those images of Hermione in your head. I understand that you didn't want to admit to what you were thinking about while she was standing there, but you can be honest with me."

"Uh, Ron, those images weren't there until you started poking around in my brain. That is, they were my memories, so they were in there somewhere. But you were the one who wanted to see them."

"Why would I want to see your memories of Hermione?" Ron acted confused, but it seemed that at least some of the confusion,was exaggerated.

Harry turned slowly to look at Ron and gave him a sly smile. "Well, Ron, I don't really know. Why would you?"

Ron opened his mouth to respond and then closed it. He opened it again and made a strange gurgling sound. Mercifully, he was saved by the witch returning with a selection of unicorn items. It was immediately obvious there was only one item worth considering, a gold bracelet consisting of sixteen unicorns. When worn the unicorns would spring into motion and trot around the wearer's wrist. It reminded Harry of a miniature carousel.

"This might do." Ron was trying hard not to sound excited. "What do you think Harry? Will Susan like it?"

"I keep telling you, I don't have the first notion about what girls like." Harry felt this was even truer after what he had overheard the previous night.

"That piece is thirty galleons," the witch said smiling.

Ron snorted, "Thirty?! You are joking, doesn't look to be worth more than fifteen."

"You must not know much about fine jewelry then. Twenty-eight." She feigned insult.

"I know enough. Sixteen." Ron also sounded insulted.

"Young man, I have real work to do. Let's be sensible about this. Twenty-five." The witch was growing more hostile.

"I am sensible. I think that's the problem. Eighteen." Ron's sarcastic tone was blistering.

"Twenty-two," she snapped

"Twenty."

"Done!" The witch beamed. "Well done, young man."

"You have an account for Ronald Weasley?" With the haggling done, polite tones once again entered the conversation.

"Weasley, sounds familiar, maybe just today in fact, let me check...No, I have a Ginny Weasley here. No, Ronald. Same family I suppose, but I have strict rules on credit accounts."

"Damn, Dad must have figured I'd never set foot in this kind of place."

"I have the coins, Ron. I'll give them to you and you can charge something for me in a different shop."

"Bloody marvelous! Thanks Harry! Susan will just love this."

Harry smiled and handed the coins to the witch, who magically gift wrapped the bracelet and bid them both good day. They left the frilly store very quickly.

"So, where to next?" Ron asked happily.

"Madam Malkins I suppose. I think I've grown another two or three inches. My school robes are really too short."

"Oh! That'll be great! New robes! I've never had brand new robes. Definitely, let's go there then. Some really nice dress robes for you should set us about even."

"Alright, though I don't know that we need dress robes this year."

"C'mon, Harry. We can wear them to your party. It's going to be an event whether you want it to or not, might as well look good."

"Damn."

They entered the clothing shop and then hesitated, trying to decide on dress or school robes first. There were very few other patrons in the place at the moment. It made more sense to buy the school robes first as there might be more students arriving any moment, and they would probably only be interested in school robes, but Harry wanted to get the dress robes out of the way. He started towards the nearest rack and began to sort through them quickly. He was halfway through the second rack when he passed one by and then flipped it back. So far it was the only thing that had even remotely caught his eye, and it had done so in a grand way. The robes were a shimmering dark charcoal color with black trim. He lifted them off the rack slowly taking them in. This was it. No question. He made his way to one of the dressing rooms and saw that Ron was also on his way to one with an arm full of different robes. He closed the door behind himself and donned the new dress robes. They fit almost to perfection. They were just slightly too long but that was easily tailored.

"Harry? Can you come have a look?" Ron's voice pleaded from outside the dressing room.

"Hang on." Harry finished doing up the robes.

As he opened the door he saw Ron fidgeting in a set of dark purple robes. Harry thought they looked awful - too Lockhart-ish.

"Do you think Susan would like this?"

"Ron, I'm going to say this one last time, I have absolutely no bloody idea what girls like or don't like."

At that moment, Ginny exited a nearby changing room wearing some new school robes. She seemed to be stifling a laugh, probably at his exasperated statement to Ron. As she caught sight of Harry in the dress robes, she stopped laughing and gave him possibly the oddest look anyone ever had; being that he was who he was, that was saying something.

Her odd expression turned into an equally odd smile. She then cocked her head to one side, put her hands on her hips, and said, "That's not exactly true, is it, Harry?"

"What isn't exactly true?"

She nodded her head towards him. "Did you pick those robes out yourself?"

"I did," Harry answered, somewhat defensively.

"Well then, you do know something about what girls like; you look absolutely incredible. The trim matches your hair nicely and the charcoal color really seems to bring out those eyes of yours." Ginny smiled appreciatively but her tone was that of a professional appraisal.

Harry's eyes narrowed slightly, and he cocked his own head to match the angle of hers. Is she serious or having a go at me? "Er, thanks. I was going to go find Madam to have them fitted."

Ginny's smile grew. "Good show." She then turned to a nearby mirror and started to pull at her robes in various places, testing the fit of them. Over her shoulder she said, "Ron, the one you have on is horrible, like something Fred or George would wear. Try again."

"Bugger." Ron stalked off to his changing room, ripping at the robes' catches.

"Wow, Harry! You look wonderful!" Harry turned to see Hermione smiling at him. She was also trying on some school robes. He grinned at her and then shot a look of apology over to Ginny for doubting her honesty. She did not see it, however, as she was still absorbed in the mirror.

Hermione followed Harry's gaze. "Ginny, can we can't let the boys out buy us in clothing. Pavarti and Lavender would never speak to us again."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Ginny answered as if she were barely listening.

"I'm going to find myself some dress ones myself." Hermione turned to rush off to the far end of the shop.

Ginny sighed in resignation as if that were the last thing that she wanted to do but turned from the mirror and followed dutifully. Harry's eyes followed her as she trudged away and were drawn to the way the new robes clung to her lower body. He was snapped back to reality as she turned behind a rack full of witches dress robes. Just in time it seemed as Ron chose to emerge from his dressing room, this time in navy robes with blue trim.

"Well?"

"Much better, but you should ask Hermione or Ginny."

Ron smirked. "Oh, I don't know. Apparently you made a good choice. Ginny really liked the robes you picked out."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Y'know, I don't think she and Dean are going to last much longer." Ron was trying to sound noncommittal but failing.

"You don't say." Harry tried to keep his tone even. He still wasn't sure what to do about the bugging of Ginny's room, or the information obtained from it.

"Never thought it would, they just don't seem right for each other."

Harry fought down the temptation to ask him if anyone would seem right for Ginny to Ron, and replied tonelessly, "You're probably right."

"Course I am. Who do you think she should be with?"

Harry's anger surfaced. "Damn it, Ron! Last time, and I mean it, I don't know what girls like so I really couldn't say who she should be with."

Ron ignored the outburst and continued, "I think she was doing better with a Gryffindor, just didn't have the right Gryffindor."

"There's Madam Malkin, be right back." Harry didn't know why he had suddenly become so uncomfortable, but he rushed away from Ron just the same. Luckily, he had actually seen Madam Malkin and managed to have her mark his robes for alterations. She also commented on his choice of robes and how very honored she was that Harry Potter was her customer. Harry retreated from her as quickly as he could and still remain polite. He seemed surrounded by people determined to make him uncomfortable.

As he gathered some school robes to try on, he spied Hermione at the other side of the store, looking at herself in a mirror. She had picked out a dark green outfit that looked rather Victorian. Harry was unfavorably reminded of Professor McGonagall. He let his nose wrinkle in dislike for her choice and hoped she would not ask his opinion. Ginny's head floated into the scene above a clothing rack. It was shaking negatively, and she held up a lacy black outfit. Harry bit his upper lip to keep from laughing as Hermione's eyes almost popped from their sockets. Then she blushed like a Weasley. Ginny and Hermione entered into a lively, animated discussion. Harry guessed that Ginny was trying to talk Hermione into at least trying the black dress robes on. Ginny draped the black ones over the rack and left Harry's visual to return a moment later with some maroon dress robes. Hermione made a grab for it, obviously taken with the design and color but Ginny snatched them away. From the hand gestures, Harry could tell that Ginny was forcing Hermione to try the black outfit first. Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms self-consciously.

"Oh fine then!" Harry heard Hermione shout. She grabbed the black dress robes and stomped off to the changing room. He wondered if Ginny were just doing it to get even for making them try on the dress robes in the first place. Ginny took a few steps after Hermione, trying not to laugh, and emerged from behind the clothes rack. Harry swallowed, hard. The white dress robes trimmed in light blue seemed to flow around her. Good God, she looks just amaz -

"See anything you like, Harry?" Ron's amused voice sounded over Harry's left shoulder.

Harry quickly looked down to the rack. "Er, they're just school robes. Nothing special."

"Nothing special? That's a fine thing to say."

"What are you blathering on about?"

"I suppose, after a time, you just get used to looking at them, but they really are nice if you take a minute to appreciate them."

Harry shot a quick guarded look at Ron. "Alright, so they're nice."

"There you go. Just have to try and look at things in a different way sometimes. I know -" Ron stopped talking abruptly. So abruptly that Harry looked up at him to see what was wrong. He was staring open mouthed and bug-eyed in the direction where Ginny had been standing. Harry looked over to see what was affecting Ron so.

Hermione had emerged from the dressing room. She was blushing, probably because the bust line of the dress robes was daring to an extreme. Ginny was silently clapping her approval.

Harry, clearly amused, looked back at Ron, "You were saying about looking at things in a different way..."

Ron finally exhaled a long held breath. "She's got- She's got-"

Harry struggled not to laugh at Ron's sudden and obvious awareness of Hermione's cleavage. He had to admit that it was rather impressive, as was the current enhancing presentation, but Ron's reaction simply overshadowed Harry's own shock at the developments.

"Sorry, Ron? She's got what?"

Ron tore his eyes from Hermione and looked Harry in disbelief. Harry was pinching his own leg to the point of bruising to keep the look of innocence on his face and not falling to the floor in laughter.

"She's got ... some bloody nerve wearing something like that in public."

"Really? Ginny picked it out for her, looks very nice to me. What specifically don't you like about it?" Harry looked back over as if to give another appraising view - not something he had to force himself very hard to do.

"Don't look at her. She's not decent!" Ron made an attempt to cover Harry's eyes but Harry swatted Ron's hand away with an irritated smirk.

As Ginny helped adjust the straps of her outfit, Hermione finally looked up and over to discover that she had a very attentive audience. Her eyes grew even wider than they had when first presented with the black lacey thing she now wore. She clapped a hand to her mouth, turned completely red, and disappeared into her dressing room.

Ginny calmly walked over to Harry and Ron.

"I think you two will have to leave if I am to talk her out of there. Would you mind finishing up here quickly and going on to another shop?"

Ron muttered something intelligible and turned to stomp away. Harry was looking at the ceiling, still trying not to laugh. He felt utterly guilty for having such fun at both his best friends' expense, but it was all too much.

"Alright there, Harry?" Harry continued to look up but could tell from Ginny's voice she was close to laughing herself.

"You're turning into an evil one, Ginny, but that was bloody priceless." Harry took a deep breath for its calming effect.

"Enjoyed the show then?"

Harry finally looked down into Ginny's mirth filled eyes. "Oh God, yes! Ron was completely out of sorts."

Ginny raised a suggestive eyebrow. "Not that show."

He realized how much better she looked in the white robes now that she was closer to him. This was quite the realization too, seeing as how she had been such a complete vision earlier.

He smiled warmly, "Oh... that show. Actually, I rather preferred the one before it."

He folded the school robes he had picked out over his arm, turning away quickly to find Madam Malkin. Ginny was left staring after him, looking completely baffled by his statement.

"You liked that green monstrosity of hers?!" she called after him.

He stopped abruptly and turned slowly. He swallowed at a small lump in his throat. "No, not that one either. I liked the white ones with the light blue trim."

He smiled at her confused expression. As she slowly looked down to look at her own outfit, he started to turn to leave. He just caught her head whipping back up with a wide-eyed expression of surprise as he walked away.

*

Harry found Ron on a bench outside the clothes shop, not looking too happy.

"What's wrong with you?" Harry asked cheerfully.

Ron looked up suspiciously. "Nothing. Where else do we need to go?"

"Flourish and Blotts. I want to ask them about Occlumency books. There have to be more sources that Durmstang."

"Alright, then we go home?"

"What about the Quality Quidditch Supplies and lunch?" Harry's stomach rumbled loudly to add emphasis to his question.

"Not interested. Not hungry."

Harry looked at Ron with alarm. "What?! What's-"

Ron cut him off, "Let's just go, Harry."

Harry recognized his mood and chose not to press further. "Okay."

The welcome bell tinkled as they entered the familiar bookshop. There was a table display just inside the shop for a new release; Dr. Wedteid's Advice for Young Wizard's on Matter's of the Heart Volume 3: The Basics of Kissing. Harry looked up past the ceiling to Heaven; Very bloody funny.

He gave the table a wide berth, consciously reminding himself that he was not a Ravenclaw. He located an attendant near the center of the store and asked about Occulmency only to be met with a blank stare of ignorance. The attendant finally shrugged his shoulders and suggested that Harry look around as it was possible that they had something on the subject. Somewhat dejected, Harry started towards the darkest, dustiest part of the store figuring if an obscure text were anywhere, it would be there.

He had just started on the second stack of books when he bumped into someone behind him.

"Oh, excuse- " Harry bit off the polite phrase as he met the cold, gray eyes and pointed face of Draco Malfoy.

Instantly, two wizards, his guards, appeared to either side of Harry. Draco's eyes flicked from one to the other and then settled back on Harry. Draco's wand arm relaxed and a muscle in his right cheek began to twitch. Harry stared back, and his scar began to pulse, not with pain, but with power. They continued to stare each other down and the tension grew overpowering.

Draco's face changed slowly from an expression of quiet hatred to a maliciously, sweet smile. He spoke with sarcastic sympathy, "Heard about your dog, Potter. Pity that. Still though, badly bred mongrels ought to be put down."

It took two very long, completely silent, seconds for Harry's brain to register and decipher what Draco was talking about. Then Harry saw red.