"Really?" he smirked. Turning back to the assistant, who had just turned back after gesturing one of the other assistants to come over, he asked, "What would be the general view of the public in wizarding Britain, if the Lady Presumptive of a Noble and Most Ancient House was to parade about in muggle casual?"
"They would see it as a slight on the House, my Lord," she promptly replied. "Both Houses."
Turning back to Hermione, he smirked and cocked an eyebrow at her.
With a huff she rolled her eyes and said, "Fiiiine!"
He grinned and asked, "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"
"I don't know what the big deal is," she grumped. "You know I don't put on all those airs and graces."
"It's all about image, dear," said the shop assistant, cutting in. "You cannot hope to be taken seriously, if you do not dress seriously."
"Besides," added Harry. "We're going to visit Neville on Sunday, remember? You'll be visiting a wizarding home so you should dress appropriately.
"Further, we will be visiting both an allied House of the House of Potter and the Heir Apparent of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom. It will be our first visit. As such, you need to look and dress the part. It would be an insult to Heir Longbottom and the House of Longbottom if you do not."
Knowing she was both out-numbered and out-argued, Hermione just gave another harrumph and turned to the assistant, "Where do you want me?"
With a satisfied smile, the assistant led her across to the ladies' side of the store.
"Have fun playing dress-up... Barbie-doll!" he called after her.
She performed a quick pirouette and flipped him a pair of fingers as she spun past before continuing on.
One of the ever-present aurors, the Senior Auror of their current detail, said, "Well, that wasn't nice."
Harry looked at her with a grin and shrugged. "Just getting some of my own back for what she and her mother put me through a couple weeks ago."
"No, you're really not," she smiled. "You'll find she'll quite enjoy this. She's just putting up a protest for the sake of the protest."
"Lord Potter?"
Harry turned to the other assistant, who had just called his attention. She gestured to the mens' side with a smirk and said, "Shall we?"
He gave a firm nod back and made his way to the men's side of the store.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After the Mind-Healer had been visiting for the past thirty minutes, explaining why she was there, Lovegood said, "So, let me see if I have this... A wealthy widowed witch has heard about the troubles my daughter has gone through at Hogwarts, was appalled to learn of it and wants to pay for her to have as long as she needs with a Mind Healer... you... to help her through it?"
"Close," replied the witch. "The payments have already been made and will continue to be made. All of it, including the time I've been sitting here talking to you about it, has already been paid for. All you need to do is let your daughter talk to me in private. It's even been paid for me to come here to talk to her, rather than you come to my offices in Saint Mungo's."
"Why is she doing this?" he asked.
"I was told it was because this... elderly witch... was appalled to discover that a young pureblood witch had been so terribly treated and, since she has nothing else and no one else for which to spend her money on or give to, she's using it to help young witches who, she believes, need it."
"Alright," Lovegood slowly nodded. "Now, who's doing this?"
"No idea," she shrugged. "The request and payment have come through a Law-wizard of Record... a man even I trust and is never hired by any of the dark families... who is acting as agent for the witch. And the Law-wizard cannot and will not tell me due to confidentiality clauses."
Luna, who'd been sitting back and out of the way, finally had something to ask. "Are you also going to be helping Ginny?" she asked.
"Ginny?" asked the mind-healer.
"Ginevra Weasley," Luna promptly replied. "She had all these... problems back in her first year at Hogwarts."
"I can neither confirm, nor deny, that I am assisting young Miss Weasley," replied the healer. "Just as I will neither confirm, nor deny, I will be helping you if anyone other than you or your father ask."
"What about this elderly witch?" asked Xeno. "Won't she need to know?"
"Yes, sorry," replied the Healer. "As the witch, whoever it is, is paying the bill, I will have to inform her you have accepted the offer for me to treat Luna. However, besides the cost that is all she will ever know. She will not be informed of how often Luna and I talk, or for how long that help will last, except for what the cost will be.
"The Law-wizard that contacted me with the offer stated... flat out... the witch has no desire to know any more than that. She just wants to make sure young Luna is offered the help and hopes you and Luna will accept it for her."
When she could see Lovegood seemed to be wavering, she said, "Even if young Luna does not need the help offered, at the very least I can be someone there she can talk to while you're busy with the important work of the Quibbler."
Lovegood gave a sigh and turned to his daughter, "It's up to you, Pumpkin. Would you like this nice lady to come around at times so you have someone to talk to?"
"Yes, Daddy," she immediately replied. "I have a feeling it's important."
"Very well," he nodded to her.
Turning back to the healer he said, "As long as it's alright with Luna - and, as long as you quit when Luna asks you to - I have no problem with it."
The healer gave a small smile and said, "Then so shall it be."
Turning her attention more fully on the little blonde, she asked, "When would you like me to next visit so you and I can talk?"
"Can you come over tomorrow morning?" asked Luna. "I'd like to show you some of the art I've made. Daddy will be at the Quibbler offices, then."
"That sounds wonderful," smiled the healer.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After over an hour in the clothier's, Harry was ready in plenty of time with his three casual wizarding outfits and one formal set of robes. He even had that done lickety-split after one of the assistants came over bearing a swatch of deep forest green material for 'his' assistant.
Now he was over in the ladies' side and was asked to give his opinion on some of Hermione's selections.
"I honestly have no idea," he said, scratching his head. "Can't someone help me out, here?"
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