Erised Revisited

5. Party preparations

"Neville! Thank God you're here!" Harry sprang up from the tree he had been sitting under and ran to shake his friend's hand vigorously.

Harry's enthusiastic greeting apparently startled Neville who responded shakily. "Hey, Harry. Uh, nice to see you too?"

"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you. I just remembered though, it's your birthday too! You can help take some of the spotlight off me!" Harry was genuinely grinning for perhaps the first time since the now infamous Draco incident.

"My birthday was two days ago. But how did you even know that it was near this time of year?"

Harry awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Oh. Well ... uh ... you see... hmm." Can I tell Neville about the Prophesy? It might actually involve him.

"Don't worry about it, Harry. I don't really care. As to my birthday, I got a new wand out of it. Gran was really upset when I told her about Dad's old one getting broken, but she finally forgave me. Took her long enough though, I mean really, I was only fighting Death Eaters, that's all. Look at my new one, Harry!" Neville drew the wand slowly and carefully. "Isn't it fantastic? Twelve and half inches, blood oak and dragon heartstring. Ole Olivander almost fainted dead away when it chose me, said it had been laying about the shop for centuries."

"So you'll share the birthday burden then?" asked Harry eagerly.

Neville shook his head regretfully. "Sorry, but don't you think that would be awful for everyone? I mean, I don't really care about getting gifts and all, but if we say we are celebrating both our birthdays, people might feel uncomfortable that you're the only one receiving presents. I think it's best to keep me out of it."

Harry's smile faded quickly. "I suppose you're right. Bugger."

"He is right, and very sweet too for thinking of how others would feel in that situation." Hermione had come up from behind Harry, smiling brightly at Neville.

Neville blushed. "Hey, Hermione, it's good to see you again."

"And you. Don't mind Harry too much. He's been in a foul mood ever since he ran into Draco in Diagon Alley."

"Ron owled me about that. I think I'd be smiling for weeks if I managed to get a free poke at that git." Neville mimed taking a swing at an imaginary Draco.

Hermione's smile was gone in an instant, replaced by an expression of exasperation. "Honestly! Boys!"

Utterly baffled, Neville watched her leave in a huff. "What's her problem then? I didn't mean to offend her."

"I think she's allergic to testosterone. Any trouble getting here?"

Neville shook his head, turning back to Harry. "Not until I reached the outer boundary, then the reporters got rather thick."

Harry made a face and looked over Neville's left shoulder. "Yeah, I can see them from here, bloody vampires."

"Hah! Bloody vampires, that's funny." Seeing Harry looking darkly at the throng of reporters, he amended, "Or maybe not."

"What's the commotion?" Harry pointed to the reporters who had sprung into a whirl of activity.

Neville craned his neck. "I dunno, looks like someone is trying to get through."

The small crowd suddenly parted with great speed. All of them seemed to be holding their noses and/or retching as they fled. Fred and George Weasley were left standing in the vacated space, grinning evilly. Their own eyes were watering as well. They proceeded to cross the threshold of the magical boundary that was keeping the reporters at bay. Once past it, they turned and started walking backwards, making rude gestures at the reporters as they went.

They were so intent on their insulting deeds that they passed by Harry and Neville and went a good distance before they noticed the other two young Wizards. Fred and George stopped and laughed at themselves and each other before walking forward to greet Harry and Neville.

Scratching at his cheek, Fred grinned mischievously. "Ah, sorry 'bout that, got carried away you know."

"Do you really want to be getting on the bad side of those reporters?" Harry asked in a warning tone.

Fred shrugged. "Reporters don't have any other kind of side. Besides all publicity is good publicity, especially if it's bad publicity. Who wants to buy practical jokes from someone with a polite, respectable reputation?"

George threw one more rude gesture towards the reporters before turning to back up his brother. "Quite right.If just one of those useless lumps of flesh over there writes about how we almost suffocated them today with our new and improved dungbombs, then we can expect a significant and immediate jump in sales."

Fred jumped in, "So you see, paradoxically, even useless lumps of flesh have their uses."

"Speaking of useless lumps, good show on using Draco Malfoy for a little stress reduction," George said to Harry with a 'thumbs up' gesture.

"We still owe him a thumping for that time after the Slytherin Quidditch match last year. Left before we could deliver," added Fred.

Neville laughed. "Ah, but you left with such style!"

George put a hand over his heart in a thoughtful motion. "It was one of our finer moments, perhaps our finest yet."

Fred turned away from Harry to address Neville. "Neville, old man, might we have a private word with Harry?"

George dropped his hand to his side. "We won't be long."

"Yes, that's fine. I suppose I should go find Hermione and apologize, though I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to be apologizing for."

George grinned knowingly. "Remember who you're talking to, Neville. No need to tell us about Hermione. That one has absolutely no discernable sense of humor. We'll come find you soon. Once she sees us, she'll forget all about being cross with you."

"Our mere presence is enough to unhinge the poor girl." Fred spoke as if this fact confused him, but then he grinned as well.

As Neville walked away, the twins took positions to either side of Harry. He was immediately on guard.

Fred linked his arm into Harry's with some force. "Let's take a walk, shall we Harry?"

"What's all this about?" Harry asked now very worried.

George linked his arm forcefully into Harry other arm, assuring no escape was possible. "Just a chat."

Fred continued pleasantly enough, "Having a nice stay so far?"

"I suppose," answered Harry slowly.

"Our old room comfy enough for you?"George was also being very pleasant - too pleasant.

"I suppose," answered Harry even slower.

"It's not much, but we did so much in there, invented so many things - Extendable Ears for example." Fred included a raised eyebrow with his words.

Harry swallowed, mental alarms screaming.

George tightened his grip on Harry's arm. "We never would have gotten away with any of it, if we didn't have some sort of precautions against snooping or tampering or unauthorized use."

"Er, Fred, George, please ...uhm...I really didn't mean to--" Harry was fairly certain he was in for some manner of pain.

Still pleasant but also tightening his grip, Fred continued, "I must admit that we were somewhat careless with the password choice, sentimentality getting to us as our years advance."

"But passwords are not the only defense against prying eyes," added George.

"Or ears."

George nodded approvingly to his brother. "Oh, nice one, Fred. So, Harry, my boy, you should learn to be more careful in the future. Getting caught by us is no big shame, we know all the tricks, but back at school that Umbridge hag nabbed you once or twice as well. We think you need to start being more careful."

Harry breathed in relief. "So you're not angry?"

Fred loosened his grip on Harry's arm. "That'd be a bit hypocritical of us, to be angry at you for using something that we invented and set up."

George also eased the pressure. "We know that you would never use anything you hear in a malicious fashion."

"At least no more malicious than we might." Fred smiled.

"We are having this little chat to point out that if certain knowledge were to be made public, you now have as much to explain as we do," warned George.

"So no sense in any of it becoming public. Agreed?" Fred held out his hand for a shake.

Harry took it with a small smile. "Agreed."

Fred released Harry's hand abruptly. "Right then. Now that that's out of the way, whose daft idea was it to make your birthday a formal affair? I mean I managed to find some really smashing purple robes at Malkins, but honestly, I ask you, formal? Dad's not going Percy on us, is he?"

"No, that'd be Ron. It was his idea to dress for the occasion." Harry struggled to keep from laughing, certain that he knew which robes Fred was referring to.

George snorted in disgust. "You're joking. Ickle Ronniekins? I don't believe it. Wait, yes, I do believe it, but I detect the foul stench of First Girlfriend Syndrome." Then he sniffed himself. "Or is that left over dungbomb?"

"Susan wasn't anywhere nearby when Ron suggested it," Harry stated in a defensive manner, though he didn't really feel the least bit defensive.

George shook his head sadly. "Doesn't matter. The evil clutches of the First Girlfriend are all-knowing and all-controlling."

Harry felt the urge to smile, but fought it down. He was determined to stay in the bad mood he had been in for the past few days. "Susan's alright. Your mum was the one who finalized the decision. Thought it was a brilliant idea."

"Having bloody money will be the end of this family," muttered Fred.

Again, George shook his head sadly. "Too right it will." But then he brightened. "Well, my most handsome of brothers, shall we go save young Longbottom from young Granger?"

"Mm, let's. I just love those disapproving looks she gives me. Keep hoping she'll threaten to put me over her knee."

"Hah! Not before me, she disapproves of me loads more than she does you."

"Codswallop! Did you hear how she yelled at me over testing the Skivving Snackboxes on those first years? The girl has quite an impressive pair of...lungs. Do you reckon having so much volume lets her generate so much volume? She curled my nose hair with that rant."

"You dolt! That was me she yelled at."

"Oh, was it? Are you sure? I keep mixing us..." They continued to argue about which one of them Hermione disapproved of more as they walked towards the house, leaving Harry to retake his seat under the tree.

"So what did they want then?" Ginny's voice sounded from behind the tree's thick trunk.

"Sorry?" asked Harry as he turned to face her. She had a packaged tucked under one arm.

With her free hand, she thumbed over to her brothers. "Fred and George. I saw Neville, and he said the twins were having a talk with you."

"Oh that. They wanted to know whose idea it was for the party to be formal. They were a little surprised that it was Ron." Harry managed the selective answer smoothly.

"I'll bet. Speaking of which, I've come to give you your present. It's early, but then you'll see why I want you to open it now." Ginny sat, crossing her legs and holding out the package for Harry to take.

"Alright. Thanks." Harry took the package from her and shook it near his ear.

Ginny giggled. "Better hope it's not some of Fred and George's fireworks. You might loose your head that way."

"Oh. Good point. Well, it was silly to shake it when you want me to open it right now anyway."

"Yes, silly."

Before Harry could stop himself, he said, "I can be silly sometimes you know." Harry managed to stop himself from adding, 'silly and ridiculous,' which would have most likely given away the fact that he had been recently listening to certain things that he should not have been listening to. This kissing business must be bothering me more than I thought.

Ginny looked at him quizzically. "Uh, oh-kaay. Good to know."

Harry looked down to the birthday gift, grateful for the distraction, and quickly busied himself with opening it. It was a very nice pair of black shoes.

"I think they'll go really well with the dress robes you bought."

Harry nodded his approval. "They will. Thanks. I hadn't even thought of buying shoes to wear with it. All I have are these brown ones I have on now."

Ginny shook her head in wonder. "Brown shoes with gray and black dress robes? Honestly. Boys."

Harry chuckled. "You've been hanging around with Hermione too much."

Ginny nodded in grudging agreement. "Oh, almost forgot, I wanted to ask you to let me have a look right after you get dressed. Not sure what mayhem Fred or George or any of my other dear brothers will have planned, so I'd like to see the new shoes and the new robes on you before anyone mucks it all up."

"Alright with me, I was going to get ready about three so come to the room about a quarter after?"

Ginny huffed. "Fifteen minutes? Damn. How nice that must be. I reckon it will take me at least an hour."

"I'm sure the result will be well worth it."

"Are you? ...And why is that?" Ginny cocked her head to the side and smiled demurely.

Harry smiled back. "Well, you always look nice. I'm sure you remembered to buy shoes that would go with the white robes of yours."

"How did you know I bought the white ones?" asked Ginny suspiciously.

"Oh, well. I guess I just assumed you did, since that was the last set I saw you in. Perhaps it was presumptive of me," covered Harry.

"No, not too much. The shop was severely lacking in selections near my size and taste."

"Sorry. So you don't really care for the ones you ended up with?"

Ginny shrugged. "They're alright. There were certain ...benefits I appreciated."

"And I'm sure Dean will appreciate it too. Is he coming to the party?"

"Wh? -- Oh, Dean. Yes, he has to help his father with something this afternoon, but said he should be along in time for dinner. That's alright with you isn't it? That I invited him?"

Harry smiled amiably. "Of course it is. We're roommates and get along fine. It will be nice to see him before the term starts."

"Oh, good then." Ginny smiled but... She seems disappointed, what did I say? What didn't I say?

She turned to leave and looked back over her shoulder, "I'll be by a quarter after three then."

Harry allowed himself to watch her walk away, very much appreciating the view. When she was gone, he returned to his tree until it was time to dress for the party.

*

The new robes fit wonderfully. This was the first time Harry had tried them on since Madam Malkin had altered them. Harry could imagine Ginny shaking her head at that too, and commenting about boys again. The change in the fit of the robes was noticeable, even to Harry, who, despite the girl's praise in the shop, did not consider himself a good dresser. After all, from having to deal with Dudley's leftovers there was little to work with. The robes now moved with him instead of fighting his motions, and it seemed to imbue him with confidence that, just maybe, he did look good in them. The shoes were also a pleasant surprise in that they seemed to form themselves to his feet and continuously pulse and vibrate in a soothing manner. They were obviously enchanted to do so and must have cost Ginny quite a lot of gold. He would definitely need to think of a way to thank her.

As he turned to look into Fred and George's mirror, it let out a wolf whistle and made a few suggestive remarks in a husky female voice. Harry attempted to make his hair behave, but it was having none of that. In a fit of frustration, he violently shook his head and ran his hands through his willful hair, consciously avoiding the motions he had seen both his father and Ron use in previous months. He was not trying to appear 'Quidditchy' as they had. He just wanted the whole damn mess to lie down. He finally stopped his attack on his head and looked up. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. Obviously, his hair was determined to be contrary. After such a forceful attack, Harry would have expected it to be even wilder, but there was actually some semblance of order now.

He continued to scrutinize his appearance so closely, that when a knock at the door sounded, he almost jumped out of his new shoes. He chuckled at himself for being so edgy, but then reminded himself that he was supposed to be in a bad mood and stopped the chuckle with a final scowl into the mirror.

Harry opened the door and completely forgot how to scowl or frown or do anything else besides smile. However long Ginny had taken getting ready, the results were more than worth it, as he had predicted. Her long red hair was accented by a few braids and small white flowers, and the styling framed her smiling face just so. Her dress robes had also been altered to fit much better and accented her lithe form just so. Harry blinked, curious if this vision would disappear when he did so.

The smile Ginny had initially worn faded slowly to that same odd expression she had when she first saw him in these robes. She muttered something he didn't quite hear.

Breathing had suddenly become difficult, and Harry was only able to utter, "Sorry?"

"I said...I may need to help Hermione with hers."

"Oh." Harry was fairly certain that was not what she had said, as the last word sounded suspiciously like 'knickers,' but he forced that thought away as it was best not to dwell on images of Ginny's knickers. He was having a tough enough time dealing with just how perfect she looked in her white dress robes. Notions of her more intimate apparel might have far reaching consequences he was not ready to deal with...yet.

Ginny explained, "Her dress robes, she was having a little trouble with it so I might not be able to stay here long."

"Right. Well, you just wanted a look, yes? The shoes are perfect and the most comfortable things I think I've ever had on any part of my body. Thank you, but they are really too much." Harry turned around in a clumsy manner to give her a full viewing of his outfit.

"Not too much, just right I'd say. You look magnificent."

Harry stopped turning at one complete revolution and gave an uncomfortable grin. "So do you. You looked great in the shop but now...wow."

"Madam Malkin did an incredible job. It's even comfortable now. It wasn't when I first tried it on. It was a bit binding here and here." Harry tried to look at the areas of her body she indicated with each 'here' in a detached appraising manner, but he ended up licking at dry lips.

"Yes," Harry squeaked but then continued in a normal voice, "She did do a good job, didn't she?"

"Alright Harry? You sound funny."

Harry cleared his throat. "I'm okay." Then he offered her his arm. "Would you like to go down the stairs together?"

"Well, I did tell Hermione that I would help her dress, but it is her fault she's having so much trouble. The black robes were much easier to get on."

Harry laughed, curiously no longer able to maintain his bad mood. "No doubt. There was much less to them, wasn't there?"

Ginny laughed in response and took the proffered arm. They walked to the stairs and began to descend into a cacophony radiating from the lower level. The sounds of music, loud voices, and manhandled crockery were unmistakable.

However, as the lower room came into view for them on the ill lit stairway, all sounds but the music died. The shock of the lowered volume stopped the arm-linked couple on the fifth stair-step from the landing. There was a crash of a single plate, and Harry looked over to see Mrs. Weasley staring at them with her hand over her mouth in look of absolute astonishment. As Harry searched the other faces of the room, he discovered they were all looking towards his way, and they were all just as flabbergasted as Molly Weasley. Harry looked over to Ginny, who shrugged back at him. She obviously did not know what the problem was either.

Of course it was one of the twins, Fred specifically, wearing his shatteringly awful purple robes, which broke the spell on the room. "Oi! I thought this was a birthday party, not a ruddy wedding. When does the vicar arrive?"

Confused, Harry finally saw his and Ginny's reflection in the glass of the family clock. In the dim light of the stairs, his robes looked completely black. The blue trim of Ginny's had been muted and actually made the rest of the robes look that much more of a pristine white. They did look like they belonged on top of a multi-tiered wedding cake.

Harry again turned to Ginny who wore a look of wide-eyed surprise as she had also seen the reflection. As she turned to meet his gaze, she broke into hysterical laughter when she saw his expression of abject horror. Harry's expression changed from that of horror back to one of confusion as Ginny continued to laugh until in tears.

As the room resumed its melee of sounds Harry tried to start forward down the stairs again. "Er, right. Well, shall we go on down?"

Holding him back, Ginny burst into a fresh peal of laughter. "What Harry? Not going to kiss the bride?"

"Er, no," he responded shakily and, after disengaging his arm from hers, continued down the stairs alone. His good humor was gone, and he was not entirely sure why. It had taken all of Harry's self control not to grab her and kiss her on the stairs instead of walking away. But to kiss her in front of everyone... To kiss her and have her laugh even harder because he probably was a horrid kisser... To ask what exactly was so damned funny that she was in tears...To acknowledge that he had actually wanted to kiss her... It was all too confusing and too frightening to contemplate at the moment.

It was best just to get on with the party.