Ginny's cheeks flushed instantly, and she glared at the twins, her ears burning slightly.
"Don't talk nonsense! I just... I just think this potion seems very effective!"
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Draco.
Mrs. Weasley couldn't help but laugh out loud, gently patting Ginny's shoulder to defuse the situation:
"Alright, alright, stop teasing her. It's only natural for girls to love looking pretty."
Ron stood to the side with his arms crossed, a look of complete acceptance on his face, secretly muttering to Hermione and Draco:
"All they do is tease Ginny from morning till night, just like they used to tease me. If this keeps up, Ginny will curse them sooner or later."
Draco glanced at the bottle of hair conditioner in the shop window and said casually, "Take it if you like, it's a gift."
The Weasley family stunned for a moment.
Mrs. Weasley quickly and gently waved her hand, "No, no, this is too expensive, I really can't let you spend so much."
Arthur nodded slightly, clearly also agreeing that it was inappropriate.
Ginny blushed and shook her head in refusal. "I can't take it, everything here is too expensive."
Draco had initially intended to say that his family was a shareholder in the store and wouldn't have to pay, but seeing Ginny's insistent refusal, he didn't press the matter further.
He dislikes forcing people to do things against their will, and he doesn't want the other person to feel indebted to him.
"Fine," Draco shrugged slightly, "Since you don't want it, I won't force you."
Ron stared at the words " Malfoy's Gentleness Potion" on the shop window and couldn't help but ask:
" Draco, did your family... collect royalties? How come you have Malfoy- style item?"
Draco glanced at the sign. "My family owns this business; it's not about copyright or anything like that."
Ron was stunned for a moment before he realized, "... Shareholders?! So your family can call the shots in this store too?"
"No wonder the prices are outrageously high; it's owned by the Malfoy family," Fred remarked.
"So, saying you'd deliver it is like taking something from your own shelf," George said.
"Yeah, that's right." Draco didn't boast any further.
Ginny, listening nearby, became even more embarrassed. "See, I told you we couldn't accept it... we definitely can't accept this."
Draco, seeing her earnest refusal, simply smiled and said, "Fine, whatever you say, I won't see you off."
The group chatted and laughed for a few more minutes in front of the beauty and apothecary, when Mrs. Weasley suddenly remembered something and clapped her hands:
"Oh dear, we need to go back to Gringotts to store our things before heading back to the Burrow, otherwise it'll be inconvenient if it gets too late."
Arthur immediately chimed in, smiling as he looked at Draco and Hermione: "We'll head this way first. Thank you so much for today, Draco."
"Yeah, it's time to leave." Ron said, carrying a stack of new books. "I don't want to lug all these books around anymore."
Fred patted Draco's arm. "See you at the start of school, Malfoy. Hope to see you make a fool of yourself again."
Ginny looked up and said softly and sincerely, "Thank you, Senior Malfoy, you really helped us a lot today."
"Be careful on your journey," Hermione said with a smile and a wave.
"See you when school starts." Draco nodded slightly.
The Weasley family, carrying their newly purchased textbooks, turned and walked towards Gringotts, chatting and laughing as they went.
Once the figures had completely disappeared from the alleyway, the area quieted down, leaving only Draco and Hermione standing side by side in the faint fragrance of the beauty potion shop.
Hermione, holding her book, glanced at Draco.
"Just now... you were quite generous, giving Ginny such an expensive potion."
Draco looked at her. "What?"
"It's nothing," Hermione hummed softly. "I just didn't expect you to be so considerate towards the Weasley family."
Draco immediately detected the hint of jealousy in her voice and happily took a half-step closer. "Jealous?"
Hermione's ears burned slightly, and she turned her face away, stubbornly saying, "I didn't, I was just reminding you that Ginny is embarrassed to accept things, so don't give things away so casually next time."
"Okay, I won't deliver next time. And if I do, I'll need my wife's permission first." Draco smirked.
Hermione froze abruptly.
" Draco Malfoy! This isn't home!" Hermione scolded, but secretly she was overjoyed.
"What are you afraid of? Our story has been published in the newspapers, the entire Wizarding World knows, why would we need to hide it?" Draco pulled Hermione into his arms.
Hermione nervously glanced around quickly, and only after confirming that no one was watching did her tense shoulders quietly relax. "Well, we can't just say things like that in the street..."
Draco lowered his head and gently touched the top of her head, his voice low, husky, and full of affection:
"Understood, young mistress. Shall we go inside and take a look?"
"You can go in, but you're not allowed to talk outside."
As Hermione spoke, she gently stepped out of his embrace.
Somewhat flustered, she opened the small otter-shaped shoulder bag and quickly stuffed a stack of newly bought textbooks into it.
She raised her hand to tidy her slightly messy light brown hair, tugged at her cardigan, and tried to appear calm and composed.
Draco watched her shy yet trying-to-be-composed appearance, a smile spreading across his face.
"Don't worry, young mistress, I promise I won't say anything."
"You..."
Hermione bit her lower lip, but in the end, she could only let out a soft sigh. She was completely helpless against Draco.
"Never mind, let's go."
The two walked side by side into Ms. Prim's beauty and pharmacy.
Upon entering, a sweet and gentle floral fragrance mixed with a faint scent of magical herbs wafts towards you.
The shop displays rows of crystal-clear glass bottles filled with pink, light blue, and pearl white medicines and essential oils.
The shelves were neat and elegant, and in the corner sat several pots of delicately blooming magical flowers.
Hermione instinctively slowed her pace, curiously looking around. Draco, walking beside her, became much more subdued.
Mrs. Prim recognized Draco from afar, greeted him respectfully, and then left the two of them alone to make their selection.
Hermione walked over to the bottle of hair conditioner that Ginny had picked up earlier, picked it up and examined it, muttering to herself, "This is indeed very gentle... no wonder Ginny likes it."
"Do you like it? I can ask the shop assistant to wrap it up."
Hermione glanced at him quickly and shook her head slightly. "I wasn't talking about me... I was talking about Ginny."
"I'll do whatever you say." Draco didn't expose her.
Hermione glanced up and saw that he really did look well-behaved, and the shyness in her heart slowly dissipated.
She gently took Draco's arm, and like any ordinary young couple, they strolled quietly.
Mrs. Prim, standing behind the counter, pretended to organize the account books while openly gossiping about the two of them.
Witches and housewives would occasionally push open the door and come in, but when they looked up and saw Draco Malfoy, they would pause for a moment.
Usually, this young master would either pass by in a hurry with Lucius or come alone to pick up his pre-ordered items.
Today, he actually stayed quietly by a witch's side, patiently accompanying her on a stroll, and his eyes were so gentle.
Everyone was secretly startled, but dared not look too closely, so they pretended to pick things out while frantically glancing at each other out of the corner of their eyes.