22

Part 22

(Disclaimer in Part One)

*******************************************************

The sun was shining down upon them as they stepped out carefully onto the streets of Diagon Alley. Xander took in a deep breath and smiled.

“God... feels good to be outside again.”

He turned to Willow next to him and squeezed her hand.

“You’re going to love this place, Wills.”

Willow smiled and tried not to laugh as Ginny made faces over Xander’s other shoulder.

“I’m sure I will.”

Xander grinned at his best friend and felt his other hand being squeezed by his girlfriend Ginny.

“I can see you, Ginny. Making faces at me... really now.”

Ginny’s eyes widened in shock then laughed when she noticed her reflection in the shop window.

“Oh you... you had me going for a second there.”

She rolled her eyes and laughed as they walked toward Olivander’s Wand Shop to get Willow’s wand.

“Come on Willow, let’s you and me go get your wand. Xander can wait out here.”

Xander frowned and pouted at them as they laughed and ran past him into the shop.

*******

Harry and Ron watched as Willow and Ginny ran ahead, leaving Xander behind.

“Poor bloke, his girlfriend and his best friend becoming friends. He’s doomed.”

Harry smirked then winced when he heard a huffing sound behind them.

“Oh really, Ronald. What’s so bad about that? Harry.. you don’t agree with him do you?”

Harry shook his head.

“Nope... can’t say I do. My girlfriend is one of my best friends, so I can’t see a problem there.”

He grinned at Hermione and pulled her in for a kiss. As their lips touched, a flash of light blinded them both.

“What was that?”

Ron snickered then laughed out loud.

“You both got caught by one of those pepperatsi people. I saw a sticker for the Daily Prophet on his shirt as he ran off. Within the hour its going to be widely known that Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, has a girlfriend.”

Hermione groaned as Harry blushed.

“Well... no matter Harry... it’s ok. We’re just going to have to deal with whatever comes of it... together.”

Harry nodded, smiled, and pulled her against his side.

“Come on... let’s go cheer up Xander.”

Hermione nodded and they moved ahead to join Xander.

“You ok mate?”

Xander looked back at Ron and nodded.

“Yeah... just worried is all. Willow and Ginny are in there together.”

He sighed and looked in the window at his girls.

“I can see no good coming from this... no, no good at all.”

*******

Willow looked back at Xander as he pouted into the window.

“He looks so cute when he pouts... doesn’t he?”

Ginny nodded.

“Yes, it’s one of the cutest things about him.”

She looked at Willow and bit her lip.

“You love him, don’t you?”

Willow blinked in shock and turned to look at Ginny.

“Xander... well, yes... but he loves you, Ginny. I can see it in his eyes. He’s never looked at me like that... but its ok. I think he’ll be very happy with you, and besides...”

She glanced back at Xander as the others joined him and smiled. Her eyes were locked on Ron and a soft sigh escaped her lips.

“Dear lord no... please don’t tell me you have a crush on my brother?!”

Willow blushed and nodded.

“He’s so cute...”

Ginny groaned and rolled her eyes.

“Oh god.. don’t tell him until after we get to Hogwarts... please.”

Willow frowned.

“Why?”

Ginny smiled.

“Cause it will give us a few days before he gets all shy and goofy around you. We’ll need that time to get ready, and if he’s fawning all over you.. then we’ll never get ready in time.”

She turned back to Mr. Ollivander as he returned with some wands.

“Ah.. here we go.. now, Miss Rosenberg, if you would be so kind as to try this wand out...”

******

It was sometime later that Ginny and Willow emerged to join the others a few shops down. They were sitting on a bench discussing the upcoming year.

“... and you’re going to love the library, and the grounds, and flying...”

Ron nodded.

“Quiddich, mate, quiddich. You’re going to love it. We’ll have to see if you can fly and then see if you can play and who knows, you might be good at one of the positions.”

Xander looked up as Ginny and Willow joined them and smiled.

“Things go well?”

Willow nodded and showed Xander her wand.

“It’s great, Xander. It’s 10 inches, made of ash, and it has a core made of unicorn hair. Isn’t it beautiful!”

Xander nodded.

“It’s nice. Have a seat.”

He slid over some and Willow sat down. Ginny frowned and pouted.

“What about me?”

Xander smiled and took her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

“How about here?”

Ginny smiled and snuggled against him.

“Ok.. this works. So.. what’s next?”

Hermione pulled out a list and smiled.

“We need to get Willow’s books and her supplies and get her sized for robes. Harry, Ron, Xander... you three can go get her supplies while us girls go get the robes taken care of. We can meet back herein say.. an hour?”

Harry nodded.

“Sounds fine to me.”

They got to their feet and headed off in opposite directions...

******

An hour later they gathered back together then headed back toward the gate leading to The Leaky Cauldron then floo’d back home. As they arrived, they went upstairs to prepare for the upcoming day. They would be leaving early and needed to be at the station on time.

******

Moonlight shone in Xander’s window as he lay in bed, his mind too wound up to sleep. As he lay there, he heard his door open and looked over to see Willow walk into his room.

“Xander... are you still awake?”

Xander sat up and nodded.

“Yeah Wills, I’m up.”

He motioned her closer and smiled as she sat down on the edge of his bed.

“What’s up?”

Willow looked nervously at Xander and sighed.

“I’m nervous about tomorrow. We’ll be starting a new school where everything will be different. So much will be completely new for us. Are you scared?”

Xander paused and nodded.

“Yeah, some, I guess. I’m looking forward to it too. I already know that I’m good at potions, so I’m looking forward to going there and learning more about it. Having something to look forward to helps me not feel so scared.”

He paused and took her hand.

“Besides... I’ll have you there... and Ginny and Hermione... and Harry and Ron... so I won’t be alone.”

Xander squeezed her hand and smiled.

“You’ll have me, Wills, so there’s nothing to be scared or worried about. I’ll be there the whole time.”

Willow smiled and nodded.

“Thanks Xander. I... I feel a little better now.”

She got to her feet and walked to the door.

“See you in the morning.”

Xander nodded and waved at her.

“Night Willow.”

Willow opened his door and waved back.

“Night Xander.”

Xander watched the door close then lay back in bed, finally able to fall asleep...

******

“Come along now.. hurry children.”

Molly Weasley beckoned the children to her as they gathered together at the station. They were on time for once and she wanted to get everyone through before the train left.

“Hurry now... that’s it.... first you two... Fred, George... quickly now.”

Fred and George moved to the platform and then passed through. Ron and Harry followed them... then Ginny took Willow through while Hermione prepared Xander.

“It’s ok.. just run toward it and don’t worry.”

It was their turn and they rushed toward the solid brick wall... then passed through it and Xander looked around in awe at the station beyond and the large train that many children were boarding.

“This is... wow.”

Hermione smiled.

“I know.. I felt the same way... now hurry, we need to get a compartment for us before they all fill up.”

She took his hand and pulled him toward the train, following the others on board. They made their way to an empty compartment and settled in. Once inside, Hermione and Ron put on their prefect badges and moved to the door.

“We have to head forward for a while. We’ll be back later if we can.”

Harry nodded and gave her a quick kiss before they left and merged into the throng of children in the hall. Xander watched them leave then looked out the window as the train began to move on its way. As they moved into the countryside, a feeling of something new and fresh beginning filled him and he couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you thinking?”

Xander looked at Ginny and smiled.

“Everything’s starting fresh... its all new and special. Life is going to be so different from now on.”

He looked out at the landscape and smiled.

“This year is going to be something special... something special indeed...”

As the train rushed along the track toward Hogwarts and their new school year, a sense of new life seemed to fill the air... filled with new possibilities and adventures for everyone. Who knows what might happen in the year to come...

End