Chapter 9 - Harry's Decision
Something had woken up Harry just at the right time. He couldn't explain it himself, but he was subconsciously having doubts as he rubbed his eyes lazily and looked out the window; the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon.
"Why is it that the plan looked so much better when I was awake?" he said to himself with a yawn.
Nonetheless, Harry got himself ready (a bit more slowly than usual) and bundled himself in winter clothes for the day and headed toward the closet.
He opened it rather slowly, a bit hesitant most likely, peered inside, and gave a half grin. There it was, leaning right against the side of the wall, immaculate and untouched.
"Here it is," said Harry out loud as if he was talking to someone. "No turning back now." He grabbed the broomstick and held it delicately in his hands - as if he was saying goodbye. After taking a deep breath, he propped the broomstick over his shoulder and headed quietly out the door.
***
The alleys of Hogsmeade was no doubt a lot calmer and quieter than Harry was used to seeing. Though the sun was just peeking over the horizon, many stores were dark and empty, while some of them, the owners were just opening them up and preparing for a hard days work. The light snowfall did give Hogsmeade a peaceful feel nonetheless. However, this scenery alone was starting to worry Harry a bit.
"Maybe I came a little to early," he said to himself wearily. "But I have no other time to come. This'll have to work!"
He picked up his pace a bit and prayed that she would be there. She had to! Finally, after quickly walking down an alley, he came to the place he was looking for: "Lynda's Wizard Anythings".
The stores curtains were closed and it seemed a bit dark at first, but a dim light that came from the back of the store gave Harry a bit of hope.
"Hello? Is anyone in there?" he shouted as he knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"This is not good," Harry said shaking his head. He tried knocking again. Still no answer.
"What am I going to do!?" he sighed exasperatedly, sitting on the front steps of the shop, placing his broom stick in his lap, and burying his head in his hands. He sat there for a few moments, wondering what else he could possibly do when suddenly from behind him…
"Harry…?"
His head shot up and swiveled his head around.
"Ashley!" exclaimed Harry happily.
"What are you doing here?" she asked with a smile, not used to such a warm smiling face at this time in the morning.
Harry was too pleased to see her to answer.
***
After Ashley had let Harry in, dusted some snow of his robes, and gave him a goblet of hot chocolate, she stood behind her counter with Harry on the other side, ready to engage in conversation.
"So what on earth are you doing here at such an early time?" she asked in a half curious, half annoyed sort of way.
"Hold on a second," Harry said, and turned around and walked toward the front of the store carefully, making sure that he didn't step on anything in the way.
The front displays of the manikins were covered by a sheet. Harry quickly moved it aside to get a peek and smiled.
It was just like Harry had faintly remembered: the two manikins, one of them dressed and the other not. But Harry was looking contently at the dressed one. The one with the fine red elegant dress. Harry laughed softly through his nose and expressed his joy to himself with a small, "All right!" He covered the manikins back up and made his way back to Ashley, who had a confused and bewildered look on her face.
"Ok," she said slowly. "What was that all about?"
"I need a favor," said Harry seriously and to the point. "I need that red dress over there."
Ashley continued to look at him with the same confused look on her face. Then gradually, as what Harry had said became to register, a smile crept on to her face, which in turn made its way into a laugh.
"Ok," she said again between her uncontrolled giggles. Harry didn't seem to think anything was funny.
"What's so funny?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I mean come on Harry," Ashley answered, trying to control her giggles, "It's not everyday that a guy comes here at the crack of dawn and asks for a dress. What do you need it for? I'm positive you're not in desperate need of one."
"Oh its not for me!" Harry said hastily, turning a bit red and chuckling a bit with Ashley. "It's for a friend of mine."
"I'm sure it is Harry!" answered Ashley sarcastically. "No! I'm kidding!"
Harry was starting to feel very impatient with her.
"Tell me what happened," she asked in more serious tone. "Why would you need a dress so badly?"
Harry began explaining to her all about Hedwig and how she was attacked by two wild eagle owls, how he had mindlessly used Hermione's box as a weapon, and how the box and its contents, which happened to be Hermione's dress for the Christmas Ball, had gotten destroyed in the whole ordeal.
"Oh I am so sorry," said Ashley, feeling very sorry for Harry.
"Don't be," he added. "Even though Hermione says that it wasn't my fault, deep down, I know that she knows its my fault. And no matter how much she denies it, I've done something wrong Ashley, and I have to make up for it."
"And the reason you want that dress is so that you can pay Hermione back for the dress you ruined?"
"Exactly!" proclaimed Harry, his eyes lighting up. However, Ashley sighed sorrowfully.
"I'm not going to lie to you Harry," she added sadly. "That dress on that manikin is very expensive. That's why no one was buying it."
"I figured that," said Harry calmly. "That's where I need a favor."
He had her undivided attention as she was anxious to hear what exactly his favor was.
"Well…" started Harry embarrassingly, "since I don't have any money on me right now…"
"I'm sorry Harry," she interrupted, and she really looked it, "but I can't let you have that and you pay me back later. It's against company policy and I'm very faithful to my grandma…"
"Oh but wasn't it!" assured Harry. "I was thinking of something else…"
"Like what?"
"Well…" said Harry again, turning a bit pink and rubbing the back of his neck. "I was thinking more along the lines of a… a trade?"
"Trade?" repeated Ashley incredulously. "And what would you trade for that dress?"
Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled the item he had been hiding into view. Ashley's knees almost gave way when Harry had shown what he wanted to trade. He handed it over to her and she took it hesitantly.
"Harry…" she said mesmerized, her wide eyes on the thing that was in her hands. "This is a Firebolt Broomstick."
"I know," said Harry softly, his thoughts that this may be the last time he ever saw it again. "I want to trade this for the dress."
"But - but…" startled Ashley. She seemed to be looking for a reason not to take it. Harry was already one step ahead of her.
"I know that this broomstick is probably worth twice as much as the dress," he explained, "but I don't want the difference of it. I just want a simple trade, my broomstick for your dress."
"But this is your Firebolt Broomstick Harry!" Ashley said incredulously. "This is your most prized possession!"
"I know," Harry replied in the same and calm voice. "But I owe a friend a favor because of my stupidity. I have to give up something."
"Well I can't wait for the look on her face when she finds out that you gave up your prized broomstick so you could replace her dress!" she said, her face lighting up.
"Oh! I'm not going to tell her," Harry simply put.
The minute she looked at Harry, her face fell; Harry didn't look as heartedly as she did. "Why not?"
"Because," said Harry as he rubbed the back of his neck again, as if that would explain it, "I just don't want her to. Trust me, it'll make things easier, that's why."
Ashley took her eyes off the broom for a moment and placed it gently on the counter. Her eyes were narrowed suspiciously.
"Let me get this straight," she said in a heated tone. "You want to trade in your Firebolt Broomstick, for a dress for a girl that's your best friend, who you happen to have a crush on, because you ruined her last one, and to sum it all up, you won't tell her that you did it?"
Harry nodded slowly, however a bit surprised at Ashley's tone change. "Yeah… and for whatever situation that may come up, please don't tell her, or anyone for that matter."
"Harry…"
"Please!?" he begged.
"…that is the most sweetest thing I've ever heard!" she proclaimed. "I've never heard such great deed before!"
Harry didn't seem to be listening to her. "Promise me that you won't say a word."
"I won't," Ashley promised. "Though I don't know when I'd ever see her. I don't even know what she looks like!"
"That's right," laughed Harry. "But anyway… thanks Ashley…"
"Anytime Harry," smiled Ashley. "But…"
"What?"
"I still don't agree with accepting the Firebolt. Don't you have something else?"
"Not including my Firebolt, I don't have anything with enough value," explained Harry. "Besides, I think the trade is worth it."
"But Harry…"
"Could you help me with the dress?" interrupted Harry, not wanting to hear of the Firebolt anymore.
***
After taking the dress off the manikin, Ashley went ahead and packed it neatly in a white box and took the initiative to put a white bow on it.
"You didn't have to…" blushed Harry as she handed the box to him.
"Of course I did," she made certain. "It's the least I could do."
"Thanks again Ashley," thanked Harry for about the hundredth time.
"No problem," she replied. "Go and make Hermione a happy witch."
Harry smiled.
"Which reminds me," added Ashley, "Hermione hasn't receive her gift yet huh?"
It took Harry a while before he got it. "That's right!"
"You've forgotten about it?"
"Not entirely," admitted Harry.
"Then she'll have two great gifts from you! But she'll only know of one," she added sadly.
Harry nodded, gave a small smile, and started for the door, the box under his arm. He paused at the doorsill and took one final look at Ashley.
"Bye Ashley and thanks again…"
"Bye Harry," she waved and smiled, hearing him say thank you for the hundredth and one time. "And good luck."
"Make sure you take care of her for me," he said, motioning toward the broomstick on the counter.
"I will," replied Ashley. And with that Harry closed the door behind him and was gone.
A/N: To all the readers out there, just to let you know, this story is FAR from over. We may be in on an emotional adventure for Harry here…