Well… Here we are again. It's been a while hasn't it? Well, it's to be expected when one runs face first into a wall of life. Many things have happened since the last chapter. The one that would be most interesting to my dear readers I'm sure, is that my old laptop quite inexplicably died. But I've got a new one now. One that I have been assured by a salesman (who absolutely must have been a Slytherin) is top of the line. Not that I would know, but I'm certainly enjoying it more than the old one. That's not to say I've been complacent with this story. In fact, I've been using my admittedly small down time to do some plotting so not all is lost.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers and surprisingly 0 flames so far. This chapter is for y'all.

Also, I'm still in the market for a Beta to help me with all these red and blue lines and such things.

And to the guest that asked if I'd consider writing a Harry/Sam story, well, as I've said I haven't really written before so I was waiting to see how this one went. It seems to be doing well enough… I can't say I've got any ideas for such a story. However, if you've got an idea or something you WANT to see in such a story, feel free to PM me and let me know. That goes for anyone. If you get Ideas or story suggestions or just need a friend to talk to for some reason, my door is as they say, Always… open.

I also feel the need to point out that while I HATE what Rue 21 has turned in to over the years, I remember a time back in the day where there wasn't a "hooker in a bandana" shirt it be seen and they sold actual clothes like solid color button down shirts and such. Where pants didn't come with holes in them and you had to do actual activities for them to get there lol. (I'm old I know)

Also, there's a poll for an opinion about whenabouts the romance should start in earnest.

Now, this isn't all the protections and more will happen later in the story, but i figured, I'd throw out there that if anyone has an idea for a nifty protections or something to make the Boy's lives easier, and you want to see it in the story, comment below and i shall endevor to to so. your idea will be credited in an A/N should you submit one.

Now enough with my ranting and on with the chapter.

-Donnethan

Chapter 8: Purchases, Pranks, and Protections.

"Will you quit bein a damn girl and get down here already!" Dean demands yelling up the stairs. "It's just shopping. You're not gonna die."

"Right. See, you say that. But the last couple times I've been shopping..." Harry air quotes as he mopes down the stairs. "...I really did almost die. Besides, don't act like you're so excited to galivant around in some bloody great building full of people." Harry finished with a snark. The boys had decided to take him to a shopping mall since there was a chance to get some of the stones and other assorted sundries he needed in addition to just clothes.

To say Harry was nervous would be an understatement. He remembers his last several trips to Diagon. Well, all his trips to Diagon really. The best one had to be his very first, with Hagrid. Back when he was unaware and nobody realized he had reentered the Wizarding World. After that it had just been one big pile of nonsense after the other, even in Hogsmead it was still ridiculous. Now, Harry didn't really believe he was going to be mobbed for his identity or attacked because of an evil group of idiots, but that didn't make him any more comfortable with the idea of large groups of people that he hadn't spent seven years getting used to. 'Oh well. Nothing for it.' He thinks as he descends the stairs.

"Oh, come on Harry it's not that bad. Who knows. You might even start to enjoy being anonymous" Sam reasoned as he reached the bottom with as much dignity as one could have after throwing what was most certainly NOT a tantrum. "At least nobody knows who you are. Well… I mean EVERYBODY knows who you are. Just not that your Real." He continues amusement glittering in his eyes.

"Stupid Puppy eyed moose. Thinks he's so bloody logical…" Harry grumbles as he passes Bobby who was sitting at his old weathered desk chuckling at his plight.

"COME ON LADIES, LETS GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD" Dean yells from somewhere outdoors. Probably by the Impala.

Harry gives Sam and Bobby one last dark look before accepting his fate as unavoidable and trudging out the door in the direction Deans voice had come from.

The weather seemed to be reflecting Harrys mood as he looked up at the overcast sky from his place in the back seat of the Impala. The only saving grace of the trip in his opinion is Deans taste in music. Though, who would make a cult after a shellfish, regardless of how blue it may or may not be Harry had no idea. As he continued to listen he couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the lyrics. Looking up he caught Deans raised eyebrow in the back-facing mirror. "Anyone who could meet the great vulture and not be a little wary is out and out mad." Harry says with a crooked grin. Seeing Dean trying to fight a smile and hearing Sams snort of agreement he returns to gazing out the window, noticing that a few bars of sunlight have started to poke through the dreary haze.

Harry casts his gaze about the large building they're pulling into. It's a two-story monstrosity with square plaster covered pillars along the length holding up an awning that he assumes is to protect the passerby from the elements. There are large widows spaced intermittently under large neon lit signs proclaiming what is to be found behind them. Artistically arranged greenery clusters around the doors and windows apparently providing scenery. A large domed glass pavilion acts as a locater for what seems to be the main entrance to the complex. A mass of people milling to and froe looking like cattle with their slightly lost expressions. All in all, it doesn't seem like a pleasant experience for anyone involved.

'Positive outlook Harry.' He thinks to himself 'Maybe it won't be so bad. …well, here goes nothing.' As he notices Dean and Sam start to get out of the car, making sure whatever various weaponry they had chosen to take on this excursion was properly concealed. The brothers take up a position on either side of Harry like some sort of body guards. That image not helped along by the twist of chance that the only clothes they had that happened to be clean were their so called "fed suits". both being taller than Harry himself just helped further the ridiculous image along. Body guards indeed. As if he weren't perfectly capable of flinging the both of them over his shoulder like a sack of dirty potatoes.

Harry himself was dressed in the same war torn outfit he had crossed over in. sans robe of course. A dark grey pair of trousers with a slight scale pattern signifying their material being a supple dragon hide rather than a more ordinary leather. They were tight, but not too tight. The best for maneuvering around a battlefield. A gift from Remus. A pair of stiffer more durable pair of dragon hide boots in black. Those did good to make sure that no matter what rubble he stepped on it wouldn't be getting through to his fleshy walky bits. And whomever he kicked would certainly feel it. Those and the matching belt were charmed to fit him no matter how much he grew or how rotund he felt the need to become. Those were one of the many Christmas gifts from Sirius prior to fifth year. He had on a Gryffindor red silk dress shirt that Hermione had gotten him for his birthday when she decided to update his wardrobe after the yule ball. Apparently, any respectable man need at least one dress shirt. He had had nine. She always did go a bit overboard when she found a crusade. The most significant thing he wore though was on the ring finger of his right hand. Remus and Sirius had teamed up and, he wasn't quite sure how they managed it, but they had given him his parents' wedding rings. James was a simple not too wide band of burnished rose gold. Lilys was also a subdued rose gold, a bit wider than usually found on women's rings, and with a single vivid green square cut ruby in the center flanked by two chocolate diamonds which were apparently supposed to represent both his parents respective eye colors. Harry thought the idea incredibly sweet and had blubbered the night away at the two men that had given them to him. Altogether he supposed he LOOKED like someone who might need body guards. 'Well maybe the appearances will let us get through this quickly' he thought.

"You ready for this?" Sam questioned with an evil smirk playing about his giant smug face

"Yeah, you think it's funny now. I wonder how amusing you'd find it if you had hot pink hair" Harry retorted with narrowed eyes.

Sams amused expression got worried as he patted his hair and glared at Deans muffled laughter. "You wouldn't. Not the hair…" he pleaded.

Harry shot him a smirk and winked at Dean as he turned to make his way through the doors that proclaimed "Woodland Hills" guessing that to be the name of the shopping center.

The brothers follow him in trading looks. Sam apprehensive and Dean still chuckling.

"See, I told you it wouldn't be that bad." Remarks Sam as they get back in the Impala after stowing their admittedly large number of bags in the trunk. Some of them riding in the back with Harry.

"You did." Agrees Harry. "The anonymity is great. And these clothe are a proper sight more comfortable than the ancient nonsense that the wizarding world wore." Indeed, Harry had tried on a few and then subsequently had a field day gathering as many as he could in as many colors as he could. Though they all stuck to the same basic theme as what he had on currently. Business Casual the nice lady at a store called Rue 21 had called his "look". He had acquired quite the collection of collared shirts both long and short sleeved, black and grey trousers, and a few vests to match them. Sam had helped him purchase his new "fed suit" custom tailored at a store called Dillard's. The people there weren't very pleasant, but the feel of the suit was nice. Dean had helped him pick out a couple ties in various solid colors. Turns out Harry has a bit of a vendetta against printed ties of any sort as those are the only kind his whale of an uncle always wore. Upon hearing that Dean added two more, one in a nice dark blue and one in a very lovely and calming dark green that immediately became Harrys favorite color. He learned from the salesman that the color is called Zomp. After the clothing was all purchased and bagged and being toted around by a very amused Sam they went store to store looking for the various other things they would need. They found most of it at a shop called Earthbound Trading Co, the herbs they couldn't find in the mall, not that the brothers expected to be able to do so, but the found an "alternative medicine" shop on the way back to Bobby's that could fit all their needs.

"Did you get enough clothes though?" Sam shot right back "You've got enough for a different outfit every month!" he said with a snicker.

"Oh Yeah? How often do you boys do laundry out there on the road?" Harry came back with. "Besides, I can fit all of it in one bag." He says with a pout. Dean chortling at his expression from the mirror as he began to do just that. His clothes began to stream out of their bags, divest themselves of tags and size stickers, fold themselves and shrink into the magically extended front pocket of the bag in question. A dark brown leather messenger style bag with copper clasps that had more pockets than he really knew what to do with.

Sam watched the clothing with rapt attention, still fascinated by any displays of magic that weren't trying to kill someone. Even Dean was sneaking glances in the rearview. Though he seemed a bit wearier than his doe eyed brother.

"So, you intend to do all this hoodoo tonight?" He asks from the driver seat.

"It's a full moon tonight so it'd be best." Harry replies looking thoughtful. "The bigger wards will go up tonight, but I'll start the smaller stuff after I sort through all the things. Hopefully by now Bobby has the salt and whatever Iron he could get together." They had been out for at least six hours and the day was wearing down.

"Well, you just let us know what you need help with." Dean says. Sam nodding along with much more enthusiasm, excited to see the improvements he could make.

As they were pulling back into Singer Salvage Yard, they noticed a surprisingly large pile of what they assumed to be the iron inhabiting a clear space close to the house.

They came to a park and got out, going to the trunk to load themselves down with their not so plundered bounty. As they came to the porch, Bobby came out to meet them maneuvering around the several industrial size bags of salt that stood there. He looked over their bag laden arms with a "An here I expected there to be more"

"Oh, these are just the supplies for the protection" Sam replies with a smile.

"Yeah, you should see the clothes. He's a regular fashionista" Dean throws his two cents in with a vicious grin at Harry who just raises his eyebrow and rolls his eyes.

"I take it it's those kinda snappy comment is what earned ya the hair?" Bobby asks, eyebrow still raised.

Twin looks of horror followed that statement as their eyes snapped toward each other. Sams long hair had gone a dark purple at the root that faded into a blinding hot pink at the ends. Deans had become that Zomp color with sea green highlights. Their eyes widened and they let out a pair of slightly less than manly shrieks at the sight. Harry was to the side roaring with laughter at their distraught expressions. Even Bobby was chuckling as he relieved them of some of their purchases.

"You boys decide to play nice and I'll change it back for you" Harry decrees amidst his giggles.

At the boys' frantic nods harry snaps his fingers and lifts the glamour. Fun is fun, but there's no point in making them suffer. He levitates the rest of the bags and joins Bobby in the other room to sort through them, missing the conspiratorial glance the brothers send each other.

Harry was sitting at the dining room table surrounded by every doorknob in the house while the hunters looked on. He had a pile of various metals around him and he was busy coating one in bands of each one. One brass, one iron, one bronze. Then on the underside he made an inlay of a silver rune.

"Why you changin the door knobs" Bobby asks taking one from the finished pile and inspecting it.

"Well, these are all the metals that something is allergic to that the three of you know of. If they try to grab it, you'll know. The rune is for protection and will make a mild ward in the door. Not enough to deter anything seriously determined, but enough to make it take a second to get through.

"Huh…" Bobby says. "never thought of that."

Sam watched in bemusement as Harry tore up the door jams and made holes in the floor about three inches wide the width of the door. While he had Dean digging out similar holes in the threshold of all the windows.

"What's going in the holes?" He asked a grimacing Harry.

"Pass me that salt" He replies gesturing to one of the large bags he had brought in from outside. It was the kind of salt that one would put down during an ice storm or some such, but it would still work. "Watch this" he says concentrating on the bag as the salt began to flow out and pour into the gap in the floor. When it was full he raised his hands and pushed them together slowly. The salt mimicking jis actions and compressing into a solid bar and settling into the new gap becoming flush with the rest of the floor. A gesture of his hand later and it was even the same color.

"Permanent salt lines. Neat" Says Sam looking impressed. "Are you doing it to the windows too?"

"Yup" says Harry. "if you want to finish digging out the doors, I'll go use magic to dig out the Devils traps so they're exact."

"Permanent Devils Traps too?" Sam asks.

"Oh yeah. And, since they'll be the same color as the floor you won't even have to hide them. But they'll be a different material so they'll still work." Harry answers with a shark like grin.

Dean follows Harry around the house with a bucket of rocks separated by what kind they are, handing them to him as he asks for them.

"What are we doing this for again?" he asks

"I'm putting up a sort of ward that makes it to where if anything bad DOES get in, it can't get out." Harry replies with a shrug.

"So what, like a Hoodoo birdcage?"

"Pretty much. Except it won't be pleasant for whatever unfortunate bird comes to call it home."

They trade nasty grins, slightly disturbing a passing Sam who had his hands full of dried herbs to use for preparations for the main event that night.

As the day began to die Harry walked outside followed by all three hunters. Each of which was carrying silver bowl that Harry had melted together earlier from the load of jewelry they had purchased. Each was filled with herbs and certain stones. And pure fresh water. The four of them had spent about a half hour pouring over a map determining Bobby's property line and where the exact locations were for each of the cardinal directions. Harry gestured for them to set everything down on the porch and follow him as he went to consider the mass of disused railroad ties that bobby had assembled. They were solid iron and about the proper length. He considered them carefully and snapped his fingers to clear them of rust. He levitated one and concentrated on it. Deciding to make it more of a block shape than the traditional I that they were. That being done to the lot, he knew there wouldn't be enough so he took a deep breath and began the process of making the gemino. He kept it up until he had ten times the original amount. All about ten feet long. He cast them with protections from rusting and warping along with being tampered with. Then, sincerely hoping the secluded location was worth it drew the familiar symbol of the Devils Trap in the air, like he had seen a young Tom Riddle do his name. He then proceeded to send the ties flying into the air and to their designated locations. Keeping his senses on all of them when they landed he used his magic to fuse them together into one massive design. A Devils Trap a thousand feet in diameter at the very least. It didn't cover the whole property, but it did cover anywhere someone was likely to go.

After the trap was done he promptly sat on a stair and took a couple deep breaths. He was nearing the verge of what he was used to using his magic for. He knew he had access to more, but he'd have to use it more often to be able to acclimate it.

"You dooin ok there" Dean asks him a bit of concern leaking through his expression.

"Yeah." Harry tells him "Just not used to using so much at once."

"Do you need to take a break and do the rest tomorrow night?" Sam asks, his concern blatant.

"No, tonight is the best night for it. Let's get it over with." Harry replies standing up.

As the Devils Trap had come together, true night had fallen and the full moon was shining. Harry took out a sharp silver knife and made a clean incision in his palm, squeezing a fist over each bowl to get the amount of his own blood he though he needed in each one. Fortunately, is didn't require too terribly much. He one bowl to each of the hunters before sending his floating over to true north. He nodded to each of the guys to send them on their way before grabbing a bag of the stones he needed to get this done. Tigers eye for strength, Garnet for power, Amethyst for protection, Opal for Durability, and Onyx for stability. They were each inscribed with the rune for protection. He made a gesture with his hand and each went rocketing in a different direction they would alternate in sequence one every ten feet til they got to the cardinal points where a fist sized quartz would act as an anchor for the ward. Satisfied that the rocks and the Hunters were in their positions, Harry apparated to his spot at true North. He gathered his bowl and held it in both hands before beginning to chanting a language he didn't know. But he had the Headmasters knowledge as a pronunciation guide. As he came to the end of the first of four parts, his bowl jerked from his hand and hung in midair, catching alight with a brilliant green flame. Continuing and judging from the startled shouts from each direction he knew that the same was happening for each of his companions. As he came to the end verse of the chant, the fires turned solid white, a beam shooting out from each and connecting in the air a hundred feet above them. The ward began seeping out from that connection point and joining around the cardinal lines. As the chant was done and the magic hit the stones he had time to register one thought as he saw it flare a brilliant emerald green before starting to fade to invisibility.

'Oh Bugger. Not again.'

Before the darkness of Magical exhaustion claimed him.