Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 33: The Art of Waiting
Harry Potter had made one very sensible decision before leaving Hogwarts that morning. He had exchanged a generous amount of wizarding money for Muggle pounds.
At the time, he’d thought it merely prudent. After all, three pure-blood Slytherin girls wandering through a Muggle shopping centre were bound to discover things they wanted to buy, and he wasn’t entirely certain any of them understood the concept of a credit card.
By half past twelve, he was beginning to think he should have exchanged twice as much.
“Harry!”
He turned. Victoria stood in front of a shop window, pointing at a pair of black leather boots.
“Look at those!”
Harry smiled. “They’re nice.”
“Nice? They’re bloody gorgeous!”
Georgina hurried over. “Where?” Victoria pointed. Georgina stared. Then gasped.
“Oh, Merlin.”
Adrian, standing beside Harry, watched the two girls with growing concern.
“Is that good?”
Harry sighed.
“For them? Very.”
“For us?”
“Depends how long you enjoy standing around.”
The shoe shop was the first disaster. Or triumph, depending on one’s perspective. Georgina entered with the intention of buying one pair of shoes. Within five minutes, she’d found six.
“Oh, these are lovely!”
She held up a pair of dark-red ankle boots. Victoria nodded approvingly. “Those would look brilliant with your black skirt.” Georgina smiled. “Exactly!” Then she spotted another display.
“Oh!”
Adrian looked up.
“What?”
“Look at these!”
She held up a pair of elegant black heels. Adrian smiled. “Very nice.” Georgina looked delighted.
“You think so?”
“Absolutely.”
She hurried towards the fitting seats.
“Right. I’m trying them on.”
Harry and Adrian exchanged a look. Harry nodded towards a nearby bench.
“Come on.”
They sat. Ten minutes later, Georgina emerged wearing the black heels. She stood almost six feet tall without them. With the heels, she towered over Adrian by several inches. She looked down at him.
“Well?”
Adrian stared. Then smiled.
“Wow.”
Georgina blushed.
“Good wow?”
“Very good wow.”
She grinned.
“Even though I’m taller than you?”
“Georgie, you’re taller than me without the shoes.”
“True.”
“And you look beautiful.”
Her smile softened.
“Thanks.”
Victoria, watching from a nearby mirror, grinned.
“Oh, that’s disgustingly sweet.”
Georgina stuck out her tongue. Harry laughed. Draconia, meanwhile, was examining a pair of elegant cream-coloured shoes.
“These are rather lovely.”
Hermione glanced over.
“They’d go beautifully with your coat.”
“Precisely.”
Victoria found a pair of low-heeled black boots. She tried them on, stood, and walked a few steps. Harry looked up.
“Those suit you.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
She glanced at the price. Then nodded.
“Right. I’m getting them.”
Georgina, meanwhile, had discovered another shelf.
“Oh, bloody hell!”
Adrian closed his eyes. Harry laughed.
“Another pair?”
“Three.”
Adrian sighed.
“Of course.”
By the time they left the shoe shop, Georgina had purchased four pairs of shoes. Four. Adrian was carrying three of the boxes. Georgina carried the fourth, looking as happy as a child on Christmas morning. Victoria had bought her boots, Hermione a comfortable pair of flats, and Draconia the cream-coloured shoes she’d admired. Harry looked at the growing collection of bags.
“Right. Clothes next?”
Draconia smiled.
“Naturally.”
Harry sighed. Adrian looked at him.
“How long do you think?”
Harry considered.
“An hour. At least.”
Adrian stared.
“An hour?”
Harry nodded gravely.
“If we’re lucky.”
The clothing shop was enormous. Rows of dresses, skirts, blouses, jumpers, jackets, and trousers stretched across the floor. Mirrors stood between the displays, and a long row of changing rooms occupied the back wall. The girls scattered almost immediately. Victoria headed towards the dresses. Georgina discovered a display of fitted jeans. Draconia began examining a rack of elegant evening clothes. Hermione took out her shopping list. Harry stared.
“You’re actually using that?”
Hermione looked up.
“Of course.”
He grinned.
“What have you got left?”
“A cardigan, two blouses, a pair of trousers, and a winter coat.”
Harry blinked.
“That’s very specific.”
“That’s why I made a list.”
She headed towards the women’s clothing section. Harry watched her go. Then turned towards Adrian. Adrian was looking at the changing rooms.
“Do we follow them?”
Harry shook his head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because they’ll be trying clothes for at least an hour.”
Adrian frowned.
“And what do we do?”
“Something sensible.”
Twenty minutes later, Harry and Adrian were sitting outside the changing rooms. Harry held two shopping bags. Adrian held five. Neither had spoken for several minutes. From behind one of the curtains came Georgina’s voice.
“VIC!”
“What?”
“Does this make my bum look enormous?”
A pause. Then Victoria replied, “Georgie, your bum’s always been enormous!”
“VICTORIA!”
Harry covered his mouth. Adrian turned bright red. Then Georgina burst out laughing.
“YOU BLOODY COW!”
Victoria laughed so hard she could barely speak. Draconia’s voice emerged from another changing room.
“Girls, would you please behave yourselves?”
“Sorry, Draco!”
A moment later, Hermione called, “Victoria, could you pass me the blue blouse?”
“Which one?”
“The dark blue one.”
“This?”
“No, the other one.”
Harry closed his eyes. Adrian looked at him.
“Is this normal?”
Harry nodded.
“Apparently.”
Then Victoria emerged. She wore a fitted dark-green dress that fell just above her knees, with a simple neckline and a narrow belt at the waist. Harry stared. Victoria smiled.
“Well?”
He swallowed.
“Wow.”
“You said that last time.”
“Because it keeps being true.”
Her cheeks turned pink. She stepped closer.
“You like it?”
Harry nodded.
“Very much.”
She smiled. Then leaned down and kissed his cheek.
“Thanks, handsome.”
She disappeared behind the curtain again. Adrian watched her go. Then looked at Harry.
“You’re a lucky bloke.”
“I know.”
Georgina emerged next. She wore a fitted cream blouse and a dark-blue skirt, paired with the black heels she’d purchased earlier. Adrian stood immediately. Georgina grinned.
“Well?”
He stared. Then smiled.
“Georgie, you look incredible.”
Her face lit up.
“Really?”
“Really.”
She turned slowly.
“Even with the heels?”
“Especially with the heels.”
She laughed. Then kissed him. Harry looked away politely. From behind the curtain, Victoria called, “STOP SNOGGING AND HELP ME WITH THIS ZIP!” Georgina laughed.
“COMING!”
Draconia emerged a few minutes later. She wore a beautiful dark-red dress with a fitted bodice, elegant sleeves, and a flowing skirt that fell just below her knees. The cut was simple but sophisticated. Harry looked up. Even he had to admit she looked stunning. Draconia examined herself in the mirror.
“Hmm.”
Hermione emerged from another changing room wearing a smart navy cardigan and dark trousers. She stopped.
“Oh, Draconia!”
Draconia turned.
“Yes?”
“That dress is gorgeous!”
Draconia smiled.
“Thank you.”
Victoria appeared behind her.
“Bloody hell, Draco!”
Georgina gasped.
“Oh, that’s beautiful!”
Draconia turned towards the mirror again. She studied her reflection. Then smiled.
“Yes. I rather think it is.”
Hermione nodded.
“You should get it.”
“Perhaps.”
Victoria grinned.
“Perhaps? Draco, if you don’t buy that dress, I’ll bloody buy it for you.”
Draconia laughed.
“Very well.”
She looked at the price tag. Then smiled again.
“And it’s remarkably inexpensive.”
Harry leaned towards Adrian.
“That means it’s expensive.”
Adrian nodded.
“Definitely.”
The next dress was even more striking. Draconia emerged wearing a deep emerald-green dress with a fitted waist and a graceful skirt. The colour complemented her blonde hair beautifully. Hermione stared.
“Oh, that’s lovely.”
Victoria grinned.
“Draco, you look bloody fantastic.”
Georgina nodded enthusiastically.
“That one’s even better!”
Draconia examined herself in the mirror. She turned slightly. Then smiled.
“Yes.”
Hermione approached.
“The green really suits you.”
Draconia looked at her.
“Thank you, Hermione.”
Harry noticed Hermione and Draconia exchange a friendly smile. By the time Hermione finished her shopping, Draconia had bought both dresses, Victoria had chosen two outfits, and Georgina had added several more items to her collection. Unfortunately, they still weren’t finished. Harry looked at his watch.
Then at the changing rooms. Then at Adrian.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
Harry smiled.
“Somewhere I think you’ll enjoy.”
Adrian glanced towards the changing rooms.
“Shouldn’t we tell them?”
“Probably.”
Harry approached the curtains.
“Vic?”
“Yeah?”
“Adrian and I are going to look around another shop. We’ll be back in a bit.”
“All right, handsome!”
“Tell Georgina.”
“Will do!”
Draconia’s voice emerged from the next cubicle.
“Potter, kindly ensure that Selwyn returns before Georgina purchases the entire establishment.”
Harry grinned.
“No promises.”
The music shop was on the same floor, a short distance away. Harry had noticed it earlier. Its windows displayed electric guitars, keyboards, headphones, compact discs, and enormous posters of musicians. Adrian stopped outside.
“What’s this?”
“A music shop.”
Adrian looked through the window.
“Muggle music?”
“Exactly.”
Adrian frowned.
“Like the Weird Sisters?”
“Sort of. But there’s a lot more.”
He grinned.
“Come on.”
They entered. Almost immediately, Adrian stopped. Music was playing through the shop’s speakers. A driving drumbeat filled the air, accompanied by a distorted electric guitar and a singer whose voice sounded as though he’d spent the morning arguing with someone. Adrian stared.
“Harry.”
“Yeah?”
“What in Merlin’s name is that?”
Harry smiled.
“Rock music.”
Adrian listened. The guitar grew louder. The drums thundered. Then the singer launched into the chorus. Adrian’s eyebrows rose.
“Bloody hell.”
Harry laughed.
“Good, isn’t it?”
Adrian considered.
“It’s certainly ... energetic.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
Adrian looked around.
“Where are the musicians?”
Harry pointed towards the speakers.
“It’s a recording.”
Adrian frowned.
“Like a wizarding wireless?”
“Yes. Except you can buy the music and listen to it whenever you like.”
He picked up a compact disc case.
“On one of these.”
Adrian examined it.
“A little silver disc?”
“Yep.”
“All that noise comes from this?”
“Exactly.”
Adrian turned the case over.
“Extraordinary.”
Harry led him towards a display marked ROCK & ALTERNATIVE. Rows of compact discs filled the shelves. Adrian stared at the covers.
“Who are all these people?”
“Musicians. Bands.”
Harry picked up an album.
“Ever heard of Nirvana?”
Adrian shook his head.
“Should I have?”
“Probably not. They’re a Muggle band.”
He showed Adrian the cover of Nevermind. Adrian examined it.
“Why is there a naked baby swimming after money?”
“I’ve never really understood that myself.”
Adrian looked doubtful.
“And this is a famous group?”
“Very.”
“Interesting.”
Harry selected another album.
“How about Oasis?”
Adrian looked at the cover.
“What’s an oasis?”
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