A/N - I don't own Harry Potter. I wish I did. Also, this is set in the present day (but Harry is in 4th year). This is because there will be quite a few descriptions of the 'muggleworld', and being born in 2001, I thought it would be more accurate if I set it today. Furthermore, Voldemort didn't come back in 4th year. Harry and Cedric both won the tournament, and no dark lords returned. I'm sorry if this is confusing, but this works out better for my plot bunny. :)

Chapter 1

Dear Mr. Harry Potter,

As you may know, all students must take part in a non-magic expedition after their fourth year to expand the knowledge of living without magic, and letting the magical core rest. Your magical core is where your magic comes from, and most children from 11-14 have been using it relentlessly. Therefore, as to make sure it is relaxed in preparation for your OWL year, a month long expedition around the world without any contact with magic, will ensure it is fully complete and rested.

Good day and good luck!

Victoria Ranger, Head of Magical Education

Harry looked at his letter with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. An expedition, that's like a holiday, he thought. Harry Potter had never been on holiday. When the Dursleys went on holiday to all-inclusive resorts in Spain or America, Harry had been left with Mrs Figg. On the other hand, not being allowed to use magic would be hard. He had just won the tri-wizard tournament, well, drew with Cedric. But there were a lot of foul creatures in that maze that Harry would defiantly not known how to beat without the use of a wand.

Around him he could hear the different reactions of all the other people in his year. Hermionie was gabbling excitedly about what an experience and learning curve it would be, whilst Draco Malfoy could be heard from across the hall saying about what an awful thing it was that he had to go and live like peasants for a whole month. Harry smirked inwardly. He just wished he could see Malfoy sleeping in a tent or having to shit in a hole. Well, maybe he didn't exactly wish he could see that last one...

OoOoOoOoOoO

"Settle down please, thank you. Parkinson stop playing with Malfoy's hair. You too Goyle, this isn't a hairdressers."

Professor McGonagall's posh, Scottish voice trilled over the general chatter of the fourth years. They sat in the same place where McGonagall had given Ron that lovely dance lesson, and Professors Dumbledore, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, Sinersta and Vector were in a line next to Professor McGonagall. Snape had a look of pure irritation, Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling splendidly, Flitwick had fallen over and the other three had kind smiles on.

Clearing is throat, Dumbledore popped a lemon drop into his mouth and started addressing the students.

"OK, so all of you would have read your letters by now, I hope. As well as hopefully being an enlightening and relaxing experience, you will also make some new friendships. After all, almost everyone in here is best friends with the person they sat in the same train compartment with on their first trip to Hogwarts."

Harry's eyebrows raised thoughtfully. He hadn't noticed this before. Next to him, Ron was eating a sandwich he had taken from lunch with gusto. His mind grounded when Dumbledore continued.

"So, to improve inter-house relationships, we shall be picking the groups out at random. Each group will be accompanied by one of the teachers here, myself included."

All the fourth years groaned audibly. Great. Harry thought. Holiday with Slytherins. Perhaps I should be glad we can't use magic, at least if I do get put with one of them, I will be safe, safer, anyway, thought Harry.

"Groups will be of 5. Each teacher will pick 5 names out of this hat, and these will be the groups. We will be having sessions after dinner each day for the next two weeks, and there will be a supervised trip to Muggle London, to get all the equipment required." And with that he stood next to Professor Vector, a witch Harry only knew because Hermione had pointed her out as her arithmancy teacher. She was a very intelligent looking woman, slightly formidable looking. She picked out seven names and read them out.

"Blaise Zambini, Trevor Boot, Ernie Macmillan, Padma Patil and Tracey Davis"

These students all got up, mumbling that they had been seperated from their friends, but overall not looking too annoyed. Professor Sinestra was next. A slender, dark skinned witch made most of the boys sit a little straighter. She reached in with a neatly manicured hand to pick her group.

"Dean Thomas, Michael Corner, Vincent Crabbe, Anthony Goldstein and Sue Li" She looked decidedly pissed that most of her group were boys, but the aforementioned teen boys looked rather happy.

Next was Professor Sprout. Harry hoped he might be in her group. She was friendly and had a good knowledge of plants, so wouldn't poison them accidentally.

"Ronald Weasely, Megan Jones, Theodore Nott, Seamus Finnigan and Milicent Bulstrode"

Ron cast an apologetic look at Harry and Hermionie, but quickly stood up with Seamus, laughing at something rather unflattering he had said about Sprout. Harry looked at the remaining teachers and students. Dumbledore was the next to take the names out the hat. Harry thought he didn't really want to be with the headmaster. Without magic he really was just an irritating old man with annoyingly sparkling eyes.

"Gregory Goyle, Lisa Turpin, Lavender Brown, Kevin Entwhistle, and Mandy Brocklehurst."

Dumbledore then passed the bag over to McGonagall. She picked out her names and read them out.

"Wayne Hopkins, Pavarti Patil, Leanne Hopwood, Susan Bones and Morag MacDougal"

There were only 10 students and 2 teachers left: Snape and Flitwick. Harry hoped with his life he would be with Flitwick, whilst Snape made his way to the hat. He groped around, and sneered at the names he had picked out before looking up.

"Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Hannah Abbot and Daphne Greengrass"

Harry swore under his breath. Snape and Malfoy? Seriously? Just my luck to be in the worst group. At least I have Neville. And.. Hannah? Hmm, she's alright. And the Ice Queen of Slytherin. Don't think I have ever spoken to her, but she doesn't seem to worship Malfoy like Pansy and the other younger Slytherins do.

Flitwick called out the remaining fourth years: Hermionie Granger, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Zacharias Smith, Stephen Cornfoot and Pansy Parkinson.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Harry and the rest of his group were led into one of the many unused offices after the meeting. Snape handed them a letter and told them it was the kit list.

For the Merlin Expedition, you will need:

1 Large rucksack

1 smaller bag

1 pair sturdy walking boots

5 pairs underwear

5 t-shirts

3 pairs comfortable trousers

10 pairs of normal socks

4 pairs extra thick socks

Waterproof coat

2 jumpers/hoodies

Towel & Wash kit

Drink bottle and flask

Torch and batteries

Hat and gloves

Sun cream

1 sleeping bag and bed mat

A pair of scissors

Spork, bowl, plate and cup

Sunglasses

Guide to wild plants and fungi

1 trowel

Passport (team leader will sort this out)

(Tent will be provided by group leader)

"What. The. FUCK. Is a spork?!" Draco Malfoy's drawling voice dragged Harry away from examining his kit list. He started to snigger at the comment, but realised who had said it, and stopped.

"Language, Draco. And I believe a... Spork.. (Snape looked fairly disgusted at having to say the word 'spork') is a muggle invention where a knife, spoon and fork are all in one utensil."

Malfoy looked thoughtful for a moment and then countered: "well how do you eat a steak with only one utensil? It won't cut. They haven't thought this through much. Stupid muggles."

"I assure you, we will not be dining on any fancy steaks whilst we are in the wilderness. In fact, we won't be eating any meat, unless, of course, you know how to properly prepare wild game for consumption?''

At this Malfoy had the right idea to shut up. Snape knew the boy had never much prepared himself a piece of toast, let alone know where to start when it came to preparing a chicken or steak.

"Anyway, we will embark to muggle London tomorrow, to get the equipment needed. In light of the expedition, we shall taking a port key to kings cross, then the train to Westfield, which is a large shopping centre in London. A shopping centre is an indoor area with lots of shops inside" he added, to their confused faces. "Ok, now we have that sorted, you may go back to your common rooms. Meet me by the entrance hall, tomorrow at 10am"

Harry left with Neville to go to back to the Griffindoor common room.

"I can't believe we are with Snape and Malfoy! Just my luck. At least I got you Harry"

Neville was walking next to Harry. Harry was still fuming that he was dumped with Snape and Malfoy. After helping Neville out of a trick step, they reached the fat lady portrait.

"Fortudio"

The portrait opened to Ron and Seamus laughing raucously. Hermionie was sitting with her nose in a book and looked up when Harry entered.

"Harry!'' She exclaimed, smiling. "I went to the library after we got our letters this morning and I found so many books. I got: '1003 muggle landmarks', 'Living without magic : a squib guide', 'The Lone Wanderer's guide to living in the wilderness' and Muggle plants and fungi' " suddenly remembering something, she continued, "I'm sorry about your group, Harry. But Hannah and Neville are really nice, so as long as you don't let the buggers grind you down, it will be great"

Harry remembered once again why Hermionie was his best friend. She didn't sit with us in mine and Ron's compartment on the way to Hogwarts for the first time though, He realised suddenly. Well, only for a minute anyway. Harry remembered how bossy Hermionie had seemed when they had first met. It wasn't until recently he realised it was only because she was scared, and wanted to make friends, but just came across as pushy.

''Thanks Hermionie." He said meaningfully. "Let's have a look at the book th-"

He was interrupted by Ron who had only just noticed he was there.

"Oi Mate, you never would have guessed what Seamus just said. Priceless." He was still guffawing. "Hermionie told me what group you were in. Sorry mate. That's just way shitty." Somehow Ron didn't seem slightly sorry for Harry. Harry looked over at Neville who was looking sightly offended by Ron's statement.

"It's ok. At least I got Neville," Harry said quickly, and grinned back at Neville's relieved smile.

"Whatever. Anyway, my group ain't much better. Millicent and Sprout. Ugh. At least Megan has a fit bum. Hasn't she Seamus?" Ron added suggestively, to which Seamus turned red. He said something back as Ron left Harry and Hermionie to sit with Seamus and Dean, who had now joined their group.

"When are you going to go shopping Harry and Neville?" Hermionie asked. "My group is going on Sunday. I can't wait to go to Westfield. My mum talks about it lots as she likes going with my aunt every month. I went last year with them, It's huge!"

"We're going tomorrow, day before you. I haven't been to London apart from Diagon Alley, Kings Cross and St Mungos" Neville answered.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Harry woke up the next day at 6:30. He lay listening to Ron's snores for a while, before going to the common room, his fluffy dressing gown wrapped around him. The fire was glowing, and a few pokes from the poker at the side renewed the life in it. He sat on a squishy armchair and thought about the upcoming day, and to his tri-wizard winnings. 500 Galleons. From what he could remember Hermionie telling him, a galleon was equal to about £5. That was £2500. Well I would have been ok anyway, but what's people like Ron going to do? He could already imagine Ron's ears going red at the till in a muggle shop. And he knew Draco would buy the best of everything. A pattering on the stairs told Harry someone was coming.

"Hi Harry," Pavarti said. Since the Yule ball things had been a bit awkward between the two, but Harry was determined to forget that whole embarrassing night.

"Hey Pavarti, how're you? Looking forward to the expedition?"

"Umm yeah I guess. But, well, you know Leanne?'(Harry honestly had no clue who Leanne was, only a vague image of a slightly snooty looking girl with a whiny voice) "well, anyway, she's Padma, my sisters, best friend, and for some reason she hates me. And I'm in a group with her. But at least Susan is with me, and well, I think she likes me."

Harry looked at Pavarti. "I- I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better I'm in a group with Malfoy.''

She thought about this for a moment.

"Yeah I guess. He is pretty fit isn't he?'' Harry looked at her with bemused disgust. Girls, he thought, what goes on in their brains?

They sat there for a while, looking at the dancing flames in the fireplace. After a little while people started filtering in. When Ron sauntered in, Harry quickly went back upstairs to get changed. I'm not avoiding Ron, he's just, being a little irritating at the moment.

After picking out suitable clothes to go into muggle London (black jeans, white t-shirt and one of Dudley's denim jackets with some brown boots) and his money bag, he met Hermionie and Neville, and walked down to the great hall for breakfast. After some scrambled eggs and honey on toast (one of his favourites) he went to the entrance hall with Neville. Malfoy was already there, leaning against a gargoyle wearing a cream shirt, black slacks and a smug smile. He was trying to talk to Daphne Greengrass, who was looking stunning in a simple white summer dress with sunglasses already on her face, even in the gloom of the entrance hall. Hannah rushed in with two minutes to 10, looking pretty with a simple navy and white stripy jumper, and blue jeans. But the biggest surprise was Snape, who was looking very... Normal, in a tweed blazer and dark trousers and blue shirt.

"Ready to go? Good. Here is the port key" he stated, while holding up an empty bottle of shampoo. "Now, I want every single one of you'' - he glared at Harry, who looked back innocently - "to be on your best behaviour. To cover the costs of this trip, each of you will be given £200, which is muggle money, equivalent to about 40 galleons. However, we cannot show you what to spend it on, so if you overspend, it will be coming out of your own money. However, you shouldn't need to. Ok? If everyone is ready then let's go."

Harry laid a finger on the bottle and after a second, felt the familiar jerk on his navel. An uncomfortable few seconds later he was at what he saw to be platform 9 and 3/4. But it was different. It was completely empty. It looked weird and unnatural.

"Woah, I've never seen this place so quiet" Hannah muttered beside him. They went through the wall, following Snape.

"Ok, so we need to get tickets for the tube to Wood Lane Underground Station, on the Hammersmith and City line." Snape pronounced. They went over to a ticket office, the fourth years looking in wonder at the muggle shops and the people hurrying around gabbling in different languages into these little black things that they held by their ears.

"I knew it. Muggles are mad." Draco stated. He was staring in particular at a group of teenage girls who were all making pouty faces whilst one of the little black things was suspended in the air connected to a stick.

Snape had purchased the tickets, and he led the group to a set of moving stairs. But they weren't moving like the stairs at Hogwarts, but moving down, so when one stood on them they were automatically transported downwards.

The tube was a strange experience. There were a group of muggle teenage boys, who were leering at Daphne Greengrass, but Snape gave them his foulest glare, and they got so creeped out that they got off at the next stop. When they were leaving the tube at their stop, Harry had to think fast to stop Neville's foot from getting caught in the gap. Draco looked down on everyone with his pale, pointed face. Hannah chatted to Harry and Neville the whole time, but it got a bit awkward when Harry had to hold onto the bar for support, as his armpit was right in her face.

Once they had got to Westfield, the whole group looked around in wonder. It was MASSIVE! There were sparkly shops everywhere, it was way more dazzling than Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, even Malfoy had to admit. After wandering around for a bit, the group found a camping and trekking equipment shop. Harry and Malfoy were told to find sleeping bags, whilst Neville went to look at trowels, and the girls looked at special camping clothes.

On the train, Harry had been thinking. I might as well try and make peace with Malfoy. We are going to be spending the next month in very close proximity to each other, and it will be much easier if we are not getting at each other's throats all the time.

Unbeknownst to him, Draco Malfoy had been thinking the very same thing. He and Harry found the aisle for sleeping bags, and whilst he was looking at the different types, Harry got into a big sleeping bag and hopped over to his arch-nemesis.

Draco looked round in confusion when he hard a yelp from behind him. Harry was in a bright pink sleeping bag and lying on his face on the floor, laughing hysterically.

"What are you doing, you idiot?" Malfoy asked, his voice laced with amusement. But Harry was laughing too hard to answer, and Draco found it impossible not to smile. Doing something very out of character, he found a spotty green sleeping bag, and joined Harry, hopping around the aisle.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Severus Snape was minding his own business, looking at tents, when he heard a shriek of laughter he almost didn't recognise. Was that Draco Malfoy? , he thought. No, it can't be. I have known that boy a long time and I have never heard him laugh hysterically like that. But then another, slightly higher laugh echoes through. Harry. Severus smiled, the unnatural feeling making his face ache slightly. Maybe he wouldn't have to worry too much about the two boys and their annoying mutual hatred.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

3 tents, 6 sleeping bags, and a lot of camping clothes and equipment later, the group left the shop. Harry was walking next to Malfoy, when he suddenly piped up.

"Umm, Malfoy. I was just wondering if maybe, for the next month, like, maybe you might want to be, uh, friends? Maybe. If you don't then - "

"Yeah. Alright. I was thinking the same thing, actually." Harry looked over at Malfoy giving him a small smile. "As long as you call me Draco. Malfoy is my fathers name. And I don't know, it's slightly odd hearing it if I'm honest. My friends call me Draco" he added, looking awkward.

"Ok, Draco. Call me Harry."

The two boys shook hands, and then noticed the others looking at them in shock. Well, Daphne was too composed to ever look shocked, but Neville's face was priceless.

"Well well well. Never thought I would see the day you two would shake hands.'' Snape said, eyebrows raised. He continued, "But, nevertheless, I... approve of this amity. Well, let's find a cafe for a light lunch and then we can continue shopping"