Ginny pouted as her mother nodded slowly in agreement, seeing the merit. If it were just her and her kids plus Harry, it wouldn't have mattered too much. But, several others were going to be coming with us. Molly was a lot of things, but she wouldn't want to run afoul of Madam Longbottom or Madam Bones if she lost their relatives in the crowd.
'Plus, going later would prevent Lucius from dropping Riddle's Diary into Ginny's supplies,' I added to myself in the privacy of my mind. It likely wouldn't stop the former Death Eater from unloading his master's Horcrux on some unsuspecting victim, but it would keep Ginny safe. And as distant as I'd become from the family over the years, I still didn't want to see any of them get hurt if I could help it.
"Yes, I can see your reasoning, we'll hold off on shopping for school supplies for the day after," she said, before beaming. "Still, if anyone wants to come with me to Diagon Alley to see Lockheart later today, I'll happily take them."
Harry and the other boys all shook their heads. They weren't particularly interested in meeting the author.
"Maybe we could invite Neville and the others for a shopping trip," Harry suggested instead.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Mr. Weasley said.
"Yeah! We can get everyone in Gryffindor to come!" Ron said excitedly.
"Well, maybe all the First Years," Arthur cautioned. "Future and former. I'll send a few letters."
"Great! Hey, Harry, wanna have a game of quidditch?" Ron asked, and Harry nodded eagerly. The children soon spilled out in the backyard, even Ginny and Percy venturing out to watch and possibly participate. For the latter, he wanted to prove he could be 'fun.' For the former, a game of quidditch with her crush trumped going to Diagon Alley for a book signing.
I shared amused glances with the adults. "I'll go make sure they don't do anything too silly," I promised, and they gave me relieved look.
As I walked outside, I felt good, knowing I'd stopped Ginny becoming a victim.
'Now, I only have one more task to complete before the school years starts,' I thought to myself.
I couldn't do it now, but it wouldn't be long before I succeeded. Things were going my way!
111 ^^^ &&& ^^^ 111
The next day, Harry and I returned to the Burrow. We weren't the only ones, though. Hermione, Dean Thomas, and Sally-Anne Perks were with us. All the Muggleborn in Gryffindor were here today. And none of them looked like they'd enjoyed the ride on the Inky Express.
"You get used to it," I told them as they held their stomachs and wobbled about.
"I don't believe you," Dean said, glaring up at me.
"You're a smart boy," I grinned back. He just grumbled. I couldn't wait to see how they reacted to the Knight Bus!
'Someday,' I told myself. 'For now, I'll get to watch 'em experience the floo, next!'
We walked up to the Weasley's house, the three newcomers staring at the odd building with a sort of horrified awe.
"Welcome! You're right on time! Please, come in!" Mrs. Weasley said, greeting us at the door.
We went inside, and found we were the first ones there, with only Ron sitting in the living room with Ginny, playing a game of chess.
"Neville, Seamus, and the other girls said they'd meet us at the Leaky Cauldron," Ron helpfully explained when Hermione wondered where the others were.
"Does that include Hannah and Susan?" Harry wondered.
"Oh? Wondering about how your girlfriend is doing?" Dean asked in a teasing voice, Sally-Anne giggling madly as Harry spluttered and Ginny shot him a betrayed look.
"If they're going to meet us there, who else are we waiting for?" Hermione asked.
"Luna's gonna be coming with us," Ron said.
"Who?" Sally-Anne inquired.
"She's going to be a First Year-"
"Like our darling baby sister," Fred (or maybe George?) informed us as they entered the living room.
"And since she's our neighbor-"
"We thought it'd only be polite to offer to take her along as well," the twins revealed.
"That's nice. Hope she's doing well. Haven't seen her since I moved out of Lumpkin Patch," I mused.
"You used to live around here?" Hermione asked, and I nodded.
"Yes. In fact, I used to babysit these rascals," I said, a smirk on my face. Suddenly, it was the twins' turn to express fear, as the look on my face promised plenty of embarrassing stories. I had dirt on all the Weasleys, after all. And they knew it.
"Well played," the twins said in unison, begrudging respect in their tones.
Before I could torment them any further, there was a knock at the door, and I had a feeling I knew who it was.
I was proven correct when a tall woman with blonde hair that was almost white entered the living room, a young girl with equally pale blonde hair holding onto her hand.
"Mrs. Lovegood, good to see you again," I said, smiling warmly at her. I then glanced down at her daughter. "Hi, Luna. Excited to be going to Hogwarts?"
The silver-haired girl nodded shyly in response. "Do you think they'll have Crumplehorned Snorkracks?"
"Dunno. But you should definitely ask Hagrid. He's the Groundskeeper, so if anyone would know, it'd be him."
That brought a smile to her face, and she ran off to chat with Ginny. Her mother smiled fondly, even if there was a note of exasperation in it.
"Her father's really filled her head with some strange ideas," she said as way of explanation, and I just shrugged.
"Better an active imagination than not having one at all," I replied, which earned me a nod. She then left to find Mrs. Weasley, no doubt to gossip over the latest Lockheart book.
...
....
Join my P*atreon for 100 premium chapters ahead of the public release.
Link: pa*treon.com/MysticVerse (Remove the *)
Free members also get 2 advanced chapters for free.