Chapter 09 – Shopping, Skipping, Skating

London

"This" Harry said looking around them, "Is a shopping centre. The Americans call it a Mall. I took Cissy to Knightsbridge before and I promise I'll take you Bella. But you aren't going to want to slob around in designer clothes. This is where this place comes in"

"How so?" Bella asked.

"Because it sells off the rack clothing in a variety of Styles, Colours and Sizes" Harry said. "Urh... Oh" he said trailing off with an embarrassed smile.

"What is it?" Cissy asked.

"I urh... Know nothing about women's sizes. I can't tell you what sizes to get... Let me think for a moment here... Oh I know, tell the shop assistant you need help with sizes. Tell them; urm, oh hell"

"We'll think of something... But you're making it sound like you're not coming with us" Cissy said.

"Oh I am, but there are a few places that I won't. For the sake of my blood pressure" Harry said with a grin.

"Such as?" Bella asked curiously.

"Underwear shopping" Harry said with a chuckle. "Anyway, I know a few shops that might do it... But, a bit of a warning. Considering the way Bella reacted to your Skirt that first night Cissy... Put it this way, younger = shorter for the most part."

"Oh... Is this a ploy to see more of my legs Harry?" Cissy asked.

"Well, I'm not against the idea with either of you" Harry admitted, blushing ever so slightly, "But there are also jeans and all that. Trousers and stuff, but Jeans are more our 'age' and skirts too from what I've seen, I mean... Look around."

They did, and had to admit Harry was right. "I think I'm going to be saying 'Eye's Up' A lot" Cissy remarked.

Harry smirked, "I don't know why you bother. I ignore you anyway" he said striding away towards the nearest likely shop.

Bella laughed and put her arm into her sisters. "Come on Cissy, let's go get mugglified."

-#-

"I will pay you to wear that" Harry said. They had been shopping awhile and he was currently standing with Bella who was browsing some clothing with a slightly shocked look on her face.

"What?" Bella asked.

"That skirt... I'll pay you to wear it" Harry said with a grin. He picked the item off of the shelf.

"That will hardly cover my bu... decency" Bella remarked.

"Of course it will, but it WILL flash nearly all your leg. I am really into that idea" Harry said with a smirk.

Bella looked at him and smiled slightly. He had been treating her better and better as time went on. He certainly hadn't flirted much with her. This was the first sign that they would really hit it off. They certainly had a compatible sense of humor. But there was also a past there that Bella wasn't sure they would be able to get past. That said, he had been nothing but courteous towards her and she appreciated that. Still, it was nice to see him treating her the same as Cissy. Well, approaching that level. Harry and Cissy should just get down and get it over with as far as Bella was concerned. There was some real spark between the two. Cissy had to forget she had been twice his age. Now she was more like a very mature 16 year old. Not that the age was THAT accurate. They both passed easily enough for 18 after all.

Bella's eyes turned sultry, "And how will you pay me Harry" she asked in a throaty voice.

Harry blinked in surprise and then smiled at her, "Well I'm sure we can come up with a payment plan that will fit you perfectly."

Bella laughed and leaned on his arm for a moment. A feeling of intense attraction leapt between the two of them, bringing pleasure along for the ride. Just as it had before. "Oh my" Bella said. Removing her hand and smiling slightly.

"I have no idea what's going on there..." Harry started.

"... But I kind of like it" Bella finished.

They looked at each other, a heat wave forming between them... Metaphorically speaking. It was a little soon in their new friendship to be pushing the boundaries in that direction though. Harry broke the stare and smiled. "Well, whatever it is it's worse for me" he said.

"How do you figure that?" Bella asked. She knew damn well it was intense as hell for her.

"Because I now have to stand behind something till I ... subside a bit" Harry said sidling behind a rack of clothes.

Bella laughed sexily at him. "Tell you what Harry... I'll wear this" she said taking the skirt off of him. "If you spend..." she paused, wondering how far she could, or should, push this. "30 Seconds touching my leg with it on." she said, deciding to just go for it and hang the consequences.

Harry's mouth opened and shut a few times, his eyes showing shock. Bella was starting to worry she had gone too far. Then he smiled, "Deal"

Bella laughed again and added the Micro Mini to her collection of clothing.

Harry noticed that Bella and Cissy had very different styles. Cissy was currently trying on some of the smarter wear clothing. While Bella was much more casual in her choices. Though Harry knew he was going to be having some serious blood flow issues around them both.

Bloody Libido.

-#-

Harry sipped his cappuccino with relish, "Ahh that's good" he said.

Bella sniffed hers while Cissy drank happily. Cissy had spent time in Italy and Cappuccino even got to the Wizarding world there. Bella though had not been out much all things considered. She certainly wasn't that well travelled outside of the UK.

"Go on, give it a whirl" Harry said with a teasing smile.

Bella met his eyes and smiled slightly. "What do I get this time?" she asked.

Cissy looked between the two as they bantered back and forth for a while. There was a very new dynamic between them. New as in that day. Flirting outrageously and quite a bit of heat behind it. Like it wasn't so much flirting as foreplay. She wasn't sure how to feel about that. She had sort of had Harry to herself in that regard. Perhaps she had held herself back too much. Now missing her chance as it were. Did she even want a chance? In her head she was older than he was. Bella not so much, she hadn't really matured much after school. Hadn't had the chance, going from school girl to monster in a blink really. Mostly as an act to start with and then later on actually being insane enough to be a monster. Even Cissy knew that. So Bella had NO problems with her attraction for Harry. Cissy had to admit she was attracted to him. Her son was virtually the same damn age. Of course... he wasn't really her son. He was Lucius's son always had been really. But still... it was a stumbling block for her. As much as she wanted to show him what she had meant about going down on her knees.

She frowned into her coffee. What the hell! There was something odd about this though. From barely talking to friendly to flirting hard enough to super heat the table... That was a bit weird. Perhaps it had something to do with that touch reaction? Cissy uncrossed her legs and recrossed them again. Harry perked up in shock. "Oh; sorry" Cissy said innocently.

Bella half frowned and looked at her sister. What was that? She was finally having some fun after like 20 years and Cissy interrupted it. Why would she do that? Bella knew that Cissy liked Harry, but she wasn't doing anything about it. Bella was more than happy to do something about it. Up to and including shagging his brains out. She doubted Cissy would even think of doing that. But then Bella had been the girl who would... back in her Hogwarts days. Not that Cissy was a blushing virgin bride at her wedding either. The thing with her particular area of expertise, you had to practice... Her thoughts derailed and went flying all over the place. No... No way... Could he?

Meanwhile Harry was totally unknowing and unaware happily sipping his coffee and looking around.

"Urh..." Bella said slowly. "Urm" she added, "Erm..."

Cissy blinked at the change in her sister. They had been having a minor staring contest when suddenly Bella's eyes had flown wide open and a shocked look had entered her eyes.

Harry turned to Bella with a worried look, having never seen her look so unsure of herself. Cissy was at a loss as well. "What's up?" Harry asked.

"You know... This" Bella said reaching out and laying a hand on Harry's arm.

Harry's pupils dilated and he said in a charged tone of voice, "I dimly recall" he said sarcastically.

Cissy frowned, oh it was like that was it?

"I think I might know what it is, but... It's hard to explain." Bella said.

Cissy looked at her, the two had an unspoken discussion and Cissy got a eureka face.

"Okay, Cissy get's it... me, not so much" Harry said.

"There's a branch of magic" Bella began, "It's pretty rare to find practitioners, or those with talent or natural ability in it... but... I think you might have that talent... We touch, we get feedback and that's what's causing me, us, to get urh..."

"Excited?" Harry ventured.

"That'll do" Bella said. "Really it's amazing to find someone with the gift."

Harry blinked, "Oh, OH! Right... Urm...I get what you mean." He said finally.

"Well, this is ... what's that word... Cool" she said with a big grin.

Cissy inwardly growled. If this came down to a competition, if she decided to make it a competition. Bella had a bit of an advantage. Or, more than that really. Because to practice one had to act.

"Whys it cool?" Harry asked with a faint smile.

"Because I can teach you" Bella said. Then blushed, "I mean, if you want me to. It's just teaching and I am sure if you don't like me that much we can do something else."

Even Cissy was surprised by that sudden rush of information.

"Urh... I do like you that much Bella. I also like you as a friend okay... I think you're bloody hilarious actually. I think you're both amazing and so far I have to say this is my best summer ever." Harry said, looking at them, both seriously. "I have you two to thank for that."

They both melted. They didn't want to but there it was melt down.

"What guy can say he spends the summer in the company of two amazingly fun, sexy and intelligent women." Harry added.

Cissy was rather hoping he would stop soon before she thought fuck it and kissed him age difference or nay.

Bella had no such hang ups and leaned across and kissing him gently on the lips. A surprisingly chaste kiss for her. "Thank you Harry" she said smiling.

Cissy thought Fuck it.

Harry blinked and smiled as Cissy also backed away, thanking him and smiling. "Wow" he said. "Remind me to say that stuff again sometime."

"It's not so much that you just said it." Bella told him, "It's more that you meant it. Now shut up before I smear my lipstick all over you" she added with a twinkle in her eye.

"Bit late for that Bella" Cissy commented, "He's covered."

Harry laughed. Then dabbed at his face with a napkin, "Did I get it?" he asked.

Cissy opened her mouth to deny it, when Bella kicked her. Cissy looked across and saw the mischief in her sisters eye and felt a little impish herself. "Of course Harry" she said in stead.

"Right, well... There is a skate rink here... Want to try it?"

"I don't know how to... Skate" Cissy hazarded.

"Nor do I" Harry admitted. "That's half the fun of it. It's a roller rink so shouldn't be too hard... should it?"

-#-

Harry grunted with the impact. So far he had gotten the general hang of Skating, it was stopping he was having trouble with. His natural reactions and balance meant he didn't often fall over. But this stopping thing was tricky.

Cissy rolled up beside him, coming to a graceful stop and laughing at him. He smirked at her. It was strange, but Cissy and Bella seemed to be doing pretty well. He would've thought that with only his memories to go by this would be harder for them that it was him. Apparently he had been wrong.

Bella swooped in, hitting the plastic divider hard and rebounding off. Landing on her arse.

OK, not that much better. At least Bella not so much.

Harry laughed, and held out his hand to help her up. Bella growled playfully and yanked on his arm. Sending him sprawling on top of her. Not something either of them minded. Especially when they made bodily contact and shocks of pleasure went through them both. Cissy dragged Harry off of Bella pretty fast. Not that Harry noticed, but Bella did.

The two sisters glared at each other for a moment. There were lines being drawn up in an invisible war between the two. Harry had no idea. He may have knowledge in his head, not of his own. He may have some skills that defied belief but he was still only 16 years old and not that knowledgeable about women.

"I just need to have a ... word with Bella a moment. Harry could you be a love and grab us a drink?" Cissy said, eyes on her sister.

Harry finally got a clue about the strange atmosphere between the two. He was, however, woefully inadequate to the task of understanding what it was all about. "Oh, okay Cissy. I'll be back in a minute" he said. Gliding backwards a bit before he set off fairly smoothly across the rink.

The two sisters looked at each other steadily. Cissy finally helping Bella to her feet.

"What are we doing?" Cissy asked, leaning against the barrier.

Bella smiled slightly, "I'd say that was obvious. Since we started this little shopping trip you and I have been competing for Harry's attention. It's only gotten worse since we came onto the rink."

"Yes, but why?" Cissy asked. "We don't know him that well. You in particular."

"Warning me off Cissy?" Bella asked, more curious than annoyed.

"No. I mean, I did see him first" she said, the last with a smirk. "It's not like you to chase a man at all Bella. Normally she give them that smile of yours, snog them and lead them away panting."

Bella snorted, "Been a while since I did that last. Like... god a decade or two."

"I'm twice his age." Cissy said.

"No; you're not. You have to stop thinking like that. Your body is leading you on this, but your brain is over thinking things." Bella said. "We're 16 again my darling sister. We've got some hormonal baggage with that for sure. The fact we've got a white knight. Who, just happens to be gorgeous with some sexy eyes... " she trailed off her meaning clear. "Add to that, he's saved us both from our own personal hells. Gone out of his way, especially with me, to be nice to us. It's a hell of a cocktail. I know I'm hot for him. I won't deny it. I don't particularly want to fight you for him though"

Cissy got that message loud and clear. Bella WOULD fight for him if she was forced to, but if she did as Bella suggested. Forgot her mental age as it were. What other option was there? She didn't want to fight her sister for a bloke either. That sort of thing didn't end well generally speaking. Especially since she and Bella had just found each other again. In a way it was a shame Andy wasn't with them too. But then she was happy with her place in life. No need for second starts or spells.

"You know what I think?" Bella said finally, she too had been thinking apparently.

"No, what?"

"You like him. He likes you. That much is obvious. He likes me too, and you know I like him."

"Urm... Not sure I follow." Cissy said obviously confused.

"We've done the conforming thing. Both of us in our ways conformed to what people expected of us."

Cissy frowned, so Bella ocntinued, "I say we don't conform. I say we do what we want this time around. Have some fun doing it too."

"Right... and this has to do with the Harry situation what?" Cissy asked.

"We both do him." Bella said succinctly. Causing Cissy to cough up a lung. "I don't think he'll mind. He's not the conformist type. I'm not just talking sex either. Though I will be shagging him shortly. You know sex magic... pretty much a given I'll be shagging him. But that's not what I mean. I mean the whole thing. We both 'ask him out'" she said with air quotes. "We put it forward as that we're both asking him out. I think he'll be interested. I also think he may take some persuading, but he'll go for it. It won't be the first time you and I shared a man."

Cissy was bright red, but smirked, "It would be the first time we did it knowingly though."

Bella smirked back, "That's true. That bastard. But Harry isn't like that. Only way this will work is if we're up front. Honest with him and each other. I don't want to fight you, and I don't want to loose out on a guy like that either."

Cissy nodded thoughtfully. "I don't even know if I can get over the fact I'm... mentally... twice his age yet Bella."

"I'm just saying think on it. In the meantime. Let's have some fun. Stop fighting and chat, flirt and what ever else comes up with him."

"What ever else comes up?" Cissy asked with a slight smile.

Bella bobbed her eyebrows at her and they exploded into laughter. Harry slammed into the wall beside them. Holding, luckily, sealed bottles of water for them. He looked at them, "Everything okay now?" he asked. Eluding to the tension from before. It didn't seem to be apparent any more but... Who knew.

"Yeah, we're fine," Cissy said, sharing a secretive smile with her sister. In truth Bella's idea had merit, and she was right about something else as well. They had conformed to what people thought of them, had expected of them.

Wasn't it the point of the exercise to start again?