Before Things Change, Harry Potter Year 6

6. Draco's Detour

Lilly's POV
That evening, when it was sunset, Fleur found me sitting near the garden looking at the skies. She was carrying a tray and she said, "You wanted to talk ozer tea?" I smiled nodding.
Fleur and I correspond with each other every month, so it was nice to actually see her in person.
I asked her about Bill and we talked about them for a bit. She asked Neville and I said, "Neville and I are still dating, we don't plan on leaving each other anytime soon." She smiled and sent her condolences to me because of my dad. I said, "Thank you."
I changed the subject to her work and we talked about our work, her family, my life at school and she said suddenly, "Zank you, by ze way."
I asked, "What for?"
She smiled saying, "For everyzing. Saving my seester and myself two years ago. You've inspired me to do bezzer. You made me want to 'elp people... I work at Gringotts with Bill to learn better Eenglish to be able to communicate bezzer with others. I want to make a difference because of you."
I smiled saing, "You're welcome, Fleur. We're here for a reason, might as well make it count." She smiled and sipped her tea. I asked after I sipped my tea, "How are the wedding plans going?" She smiled and said, "We plan on getting married in France with flowers and all our family and friends... Speaking of which, will you be one of my bridesmaids?"
I smiled and said, "Fleur, you have your little sister, Gabrielle and Ginny, surely that's enough?"
She said, "Wi, but if you didn't inspire me to make a difference, I wouldn't 'ave meet Bill. So, we 'ave you to zank."
I smiled and said, "I'd be honored."
We hugged and I realized it was nightfall after we talked for a little bit more. I said, "Wow, we've been talking for ages!"
She smiled saying, "Eet was great talking, Lilly, but I must 'elp, Messes Weasley, make dinner." She left and I smiled up at the sky finishing my tea. She is so sweet, I just wish everyone would stop being mean, it's like she's Umbridge!

I spent most of my time at the Burrow the next few weeks, but I mostly split myself to be with Neville, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Fleur at the same time.
At Neville's we mostly did what we did all summer, relax. At the Burrow, we played Quidditch, which was fun.

It was Neville's birthday and I stayed with him the whole day. I took him to a lake in a forrest full of magical creatures and we had fun identifying plants and at the end, as we watched the sun set, I said, "Happy Birthday." I handed him a box. He opened it and it was more Herbology books he didn't have, various candy, and a picture of his mum and dad when they got their picture taken when they became official Aurors.
He hugged me and said, "Thank you, how did you get this picture?"
I said, "It's was on their profile, I thought you would like to see them." He kissed my lips asking, "Thank you, love." I smiled and we watched the sunset cuddling.

Harry's birthday was rather gloomy, but he was cheered up when he was named Quidditch Captain! Ron commented to me, "Ha, Lilly, that's one thing you'll never get!" I gave him a dirty look and walked out telling Mrs. Weasley that I am spending the day at Neville's house where it was much less negative and much less rude... in truth I went to the Ministry and threw myself into work, I went over the plan for the trip to Diagon Alley and Dumbledore requested Hagrid do it, which I granted. I saw Ron try to make more jokes where Mrs. Weasley snapped at him in return. He said, "Blimey, you can't even make a joke around here anymore..."

It was Saturday and Bill passed Harry and I separate full monery bags at breakfast. Ron wanted to know where his was and Bill said, "That's already their's, idiot! I got it out of your vault, Harry, Lilly. It's been taking about five hours for the public to get their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much." Harry and I said our thanks and Fleur commented how he was so thoughtful and I smiled putting my gold into my rucksack.

We went into a Ministry car and drove to the Leaky Cauldron where Hagrid was waiting for us. I hugged Hagrid and Hagrid, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Madam Malkin's and saw Draco there with his mother while I went to Flourish and Blotts with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny. I got loads of new books and I squeezed them all into my bag.

We went to Weasley Wizard Wheezes and it was brilliant stuff. Fred was giving us a tour and George soon joined us. I handed them a list saying, "Here is an order form of five hundred Shield Hats, Gloves, and Cloaks. Rufus ordered it." The pulled me into a twin sandwich hugging me close and I gasped, "Can't breathe!" They let go kissing each of my cheeks. I blushed and Fred explained how the Shield Hats, Gloves, and Cloaks protected against minor jinxes and hexes to Harry.
George said, "This is cool, look! Instant Darkness Powder, we're importing it from Peru. Handy if you make a quick escape."
"And our Decoy Detonator are just walking off the shelves, look," the objects were literally walking off the shelves. "You just drop one surreptitiously and it'll run off and make a nice loud noise out of sight, giving a diversion if you need one." Harry said it was handy and I agreed.
George tossed Harry and I a few and they told Harry and I to pocket anything we wanted. We protested, but Fred said, "You two gave us our start-up loan, we haven't forgotten."
"Take whatever you like, and just remember to tell people where you got it, if they ask," said George. George walked away helping another customer and I smiled and pocketed a few Decoy Detonators, an Extendable Ear, and a few Instant Darkness Powder. I smiled and Fred walked us over to where Ginny and Hermione was. Fred and Ginny got into a little argument about her having too many boyfriends and going through them a bit too fast. I looked at the Pygmy Puffs. I selected a purple one and a pink one. I brought one to a wizard in the magenta staff robes to pay and Fred came up saying, "Again, Lilly, you don't have to pay!"
I said, "I insist!"
He said, "I refuse!" I laughed and gave up in surrender.
He hugged me once more saying, "Thank you, you believed in us and helped us. We can't thank you more..."
I said, "No, thank you. Other than being with Neville, this is the happiest I've ever felt since last year... What you guys are doing is really incredible. Given dad was a prankster, this is really refreshing."
He smiled and kissed the top of my head. He turned to a customer and I noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione under the Invisibility Cloak. They motioned for me to come, but I mind messaged them, "Go, I'll keep Hagrid distracted!" They left in pursuit of Draco. I talked to Hagrid a bit and we talked for a bit until they came back. Malfoy was getting something at Borgin and Burkes, it was something he didn't want his mother to know about... I hugged the twins once more before we left thanking them and they thanked me again.
Things were changing, but at that moment, I was happy and from that moment onward, I refused to depress myself about dad. He wouldn't want me to be like this, so I won't.

Thanks for reading! Vote please! :)
-Lilly :)