What Ron and Ginny Don't Know
Chapter I – A Place To Hide
Harry Potter sat at the table alone. His two best friends, Ron and Hermione Weasley were cutting their wedding cake with all the guests watching including; Harry's fiancée Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister.
Harry was happy for them; but brooding over a secret he and Hermione had been keeping for years now. Moments ago, as they promised to love, honor, and cherish each other, Harry's mind drifted back to when he was thirteen. The summer between his second and third year of school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry he and Hermione had made a promise to Dumbledore; a promise nobody else, not even Ron and Ginny knew about.
He was sitting on the curb of Magnolia Crescent; at the playground a block from where he lived. He was in big trouble; he had just blown up his Aunt Marge and was running away from home.
Well that wasn't quite right; Marge wasn't really his aunt. Harry had been living with his mother's sister Aunt Petunia since his parents were killed twelve years ago. He had always called Petunia's husband Uncle Vernon; and Marge was Uncle Vernon's sister and they made him call her Aunt Marge.
Also saying he blew her up wasn't quite right. Marge was a bad tempered woman who disliked, no she hated, Harry; and she never passed the opportunity to say something bad about him. Tonight she was saying awful things about Harry's parents and he finally lost his temper with her.
His anger made him accidentally inflate her until she actually became the big bag of hot air that Harry always thought her to be. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were furious; they always hated magic and never allowed Harry to even speak of going to a magic school.
Worst that that, students weren't allowed to do magic except at the school. Harry had already received a warning about underage magic from the Ministry of Magic last year; so he was more worried about being expelled and arrested than he was about Petunia and Vernon being angry.
He grabbed all his possessions, everything he owned fit into his school trunk; and he took off down the street. Now, as his fury subsided, the thought that he had no place to go became primary on his mind so he sat on the curb to think.
"I'll go to the Weasleys." he thought. "Ron is my best friend and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley did let me stay there for a few weeks last summer."
Then he remembered the Weasley were in Egypt visiting Ron's oldest brother Bill. Besides, he had no idea how he would get there. The Weasley house was in Ottery St. Catchpole more than 200km from Little Winging where Harry lived.
His friend Neville Longbottom lived in a big house with his grandmother. Perhaps Mrs. Longbottom would take him in. But he didn't have any idea of Neville's address, just somewhere in London.
He thought of going to a hotel, but he would need Muggle money to stay at a hotel and all his money was Wizard money and it was also in London, in Gringotts Bank. London was closer than Ottery St. Catchpole; but still too far to walk. And the bank was on Diagon Alley; the center of all magical things in Great Britain. If the ministry was looking to arrest him they would certainly catch him if he went there.
He had to go to someplace where the Ministry of Magic wouldn't look; someplace Muggle. But he didn't know any muggles except the neighbors that lived around him; and they didn't like him, they thought he was strange.
Then it hit him, Hermione. Her parents were Muggles and they had a big house. Maybe Hermione could convince them into letting him stay with them long enough to figure out a permanent solution.
But there was still the problem of getting to Oxford where Hermione lived and then finding her house. He didn't know her Muggle address; all he knew was she lived only two blocks from the Muggle university. All the letters he had sent her went by owl post and only Hedwig his owl knew how to find Hermione.
He had set Hedwig loose when he left the house so he wouldn't have to carry her, just her empty cage. He knew she would be close and was about to call her when he saw a movement in the bushes across the street. A large black dog stuck its head out between some bushes.
Harry never got along with dogs. Aunt Marge raised bulldogs and they acted like her; they attacked Harry anytime he got close. It pays to be safe he thought; so he pulled his wand in case the dog came after him.
What he didn't know was holding out your wand out on the side of the street was the way a stranded wizard called the Knight Bus. The bus, run by the Ministry of Magic, appeared almost instantly; and the dog disappeared just as fast.
The conductor introduced himself as Stan Shunpike; explained how the Knight bus would take Harry wherever he wanted to go. Then he got Harry's trunk aboard. By then, Harry had called Hedwig, placed her in her cage, and got on the bus.
"So where do you want to go?" Stan asked.
Harry was unsure if the magical buss could find Muggle places so he asked, "Can you take me to Oxford University? That's in the city of Oxford, in Oxford shire."
"Did you hear that Ernie?" Stan called to the driver. "He wants to know if we can take him to Oxford University; that's in the city of Oxford, in Oxford shire.
We can take you anywhere; as long as it's on land. We don't go nowhere in the water. You don't seem to know much; what did you say your name was?"
Harry hadn't thought of anyone asking his name. Stan and Ernie didn't look too smart; but they did work for the ministry so he better not tell them his name. Instead he said the first name that came to him, "Neville, Neville Longbottom."
Stan said, "Well Neville, that will be 7 Sickles and three Knuts. For another Sickle you can have a tea, or hot chocolate."
"How long will the trip take?" Harry asked.
"We have two other stops first;" Stan said "so about ten minutes."
"Then no thanks on the tea." Harry said.
Ten minutes later Harry was standing on the Oxford University campus with his trunk and Hedwig in her cage.
"It's up to you now." he said to the owl. "I know I don't have a letter for you to carry; but show me the direction to Hermione's house. And fly slowly so I can follow you in the dark."
In mid summer it stayed light until after nine; but it was well after that now and getting pretty dark. Harry didn't want to lose sight of Hedwig; but he was in a hurry. He didn't want to be knocking on Hermione's door in the middle of the night. He thought it would be hard enough to talk the Grangers into letting him stay as it was; much less if he had to wake them up from a sound sleep.
Actually it didn't take that long. Hedwig flew a few hundred feet and landed; waiting for Harry to drag his heavy trunk to her. Then she went another few hundred feet and stopped. In fifteen minutes, Harry found himself standing on the front stoop of an impressive brick house.
"You're sure this is Hermione's." he asked the owl. "I don't want to be knocking on the door of some stranger."
The owl hooted and nipped his finger as to say, "I know how to find the right person."
There were lights on both downstairs and upstairs so Harry stepped forward, knocked three times, and waited. Close to a minute passed and he was about to knock again when the door opened just a crack.
A distinguished looking man that Harry judged to be around forty peeked through asked through the opening and asked, "Can I help you?"
Harry said, "Are you Mr. Granger?"
"Yes," he answered "but I'm afraid I don't recognize you."
"I'm a friend of Hermione from school;" he said "my name is Harry Potter. I know it's late; but I'm in trouble and Hermione was the only person I could think of that might help."
"Hermione has told us your story." he said "just a moment."
He closed the door and Harry could hear the chain from a safety lock slide back; then the door opened all the way. "Hermione is up in her room; but I believe she's still awake. Wait in the sitting room while I call her."
Harry went in to a nicely furnished sitting room where a woman who looked very much like an older version of Hermione was reading a magazine with pictures of dental equipment on the front cover.
Mr. Granger said, "Dear, this is Harry Potter; the boy Hermione told us about. He said he's in trouble and wants to see Hermione. Maybe you could offer him something to eat or drink while I get her."
Mr. Granger went up the stairs and Mrs. Granger said, "Would you like a drink? We have milk, sugar free fruit juice, or water of course; and perhaps a light snack to, an apple, banana, or granola bar."
"Thank you," Harry said "An apple or banana would be good; I didn't get to finish dinner because of what happened."
She moved toward a door that Harry assumed led to the kitchen and he followed. He sat at the kitchen table.
If you didn't finish dinner let me get you something more substantial." she said. "We have frozen meals for when we're in a rush. I can make one in the microwave in a few minutes. The chicken with potatoes and peas is actually quite nutritious; though Hermione doesn't like it."
"I don't want to put you through any extra trouble for me." Harry said. "I'm used to missing meals when my aunt and uncle get mad at me and send me to bed without eating."
"Nonsense," Mrs. Granger said "it's no trouble. You can eat while you tell us why you're here."
She had just turned the microwave on when the door opened and Hermione and her father entered. She rushed forward hugging Harry and asked, "What happened Harry; is You Know Who after you?"
"No, it's not him." Harry said "I lost my temper at home and did magic accidently; my aunt and uncle were furious and I just couldn't stand to stay any longer and be punished so I ran away from home."
Mr. Granger said, "They'll be worried about you; we should call and let them know you're safe."
"You don't know them." Harry said. "They won't worry; they'll be happy to be rid of me. If you call they'll get more angry thinking I might come home."
Mrs. Granger said, "I don't believe that; they can't be that bad."
Hermione said, "They are mother; Harry has told us awful storied about the way they treat him. Let him tell us the entire story before you call."
Harry related the story of Aunt Marge; but didn't mention he might be expelled or that the Ministry of Magic might be after him. After all, he wanted to be able to spend at least one night in safety; and if the Grangers thought Magical Law Enforcement officers might be knocking on their door any minute they might not let him stay.
Hermione gave him a look but said nothing though Harry knew she had picked up that his use of underage magic was breaking the law.
The Grangers asked several questions about how he was treated by his aunt and uncle and Harry answered honestly telling how he had to do much of the cooking, dish washing, house cleaning, and yard work.
They could see how ill fitting his clothes were and he explained that he never got new clothes but had to wear his cousin Dudley's hand me downs. When they asked how he was punished he told them again of missing meals and being locked in the closet under the steps when he was still small enough to fit in it.
"That didn't bother me so much;" he said "because that was where I slept when I was younger and I was used to being in there."
"They made you sleep in a closet!" Mrs. Granger said.
"Since I was a baby;" Harry said "at least I never remember sleeping anywhere else."
It was after midnight when Mr. Granger finally said, "Harry, you can stay here until school starts. We won't send you back to those terrible people and we won't call them either.
Hermione show Harry to the guest bedroom and where the loo is while I talk to your mother in private."
They each grabbed one side of Harry's trunk because it was too heavy for him to carry it by himself, and she led him up the steps. She pointed, "That's my bedroom right across from yours in case you want to talk. My parents' room is down the hall if you need anything from them, and the loo is here next to your room.
There are extra blankets and pillows in the closet; but being a warm night you may want to open the window and actually cool the room a little.
Now, before my parents come up, tell me Harry why are you here. You've been punished by your aunt and uncle enough time without running away before. There's got to be another reason you left home; tell me straight."
Just as Harry opened his mouth, Mr. and Mrs. Granger came up the steps and Harry simply said, "Can we talk later?"
Hermione nodded at him and turned to her parents. "I've explained everything to Harry so I'll head off to sleep. Goodnight Harry, goodnight mom, dad."
She closed her bedroom door and Mrs. Granger said, "Harry, we generally get up between seven and eight on Saturdays; but if you are tired and want to sleep late that will be fine. We'll see you in the morning, goodnight."
He said, "Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. Granger. I need to use the loo. Then I'll get to sleep; it's been a long day."
Once he got to his bedroom, he discovered he was too tired to even open his trunk and find pajamas; instead he just undressed down to his boxers and laid on top of the covers. Hermione had been right about it being warm in the room.
Tired as he was, he was also so nervous that sleep eluded him. Instead, he kept going over his situation in his mind. How much trouble was he in? Would he just get expelled from Hogwarts? That was bad enough.
He knew the ministry would break his wand if he was expelled; and without his wand he couldn't do magic. He wouldn't be able to protect himself from Voldemort; the evil sorcerer who had killed his parents and tried to kill Harry three times already.
He was scared of being sent to prison; but perhaps it would be better if they arrested him; at least in prison he would be safe. Maybe the ministry had a juvenile prison; a sort of reform school, like the Muggle one where Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were always threatening to send him.