"Hermione, Mum wants to talk to you!" Ron called up from down the stairs. Hermione sighed and put down her book. She'd been expecting this to happen for a while now, she'd just hoped it would be later and not sooner. She walked downstairs and sat at the table with Mrs. Weasley.
"Good morning, Hermione."
"Good morning, Mrs. Weasley. Ronald said you needed to talk to me?"
"Yes, it's about your trip to Australia." Knew it, Hermione thought.
"What about it?"
"I know you don't want anyone to go with you, but I really must insist that someone does! You can't just go down to Australia by yourself, sweetheart, you need to have someone there with you. Don't say anything, I realize that you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. But I don't think you realize just how draining, emotionally and physically, this could be. What if when you get there you can't take off the spells? Or what if it takes years to find them? I know you want to do this alone, but I must insist that you at least consider taking someone with you."
Hermione sighed and knew that there was no use in arguing with her. Today at least.
"Yes ma'am. I'll think about it." Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"That's a good girl. Now, will you be joining us for dinner?"
"No ma'am, I have a few more things I need to get before I leave. But I'll be here in the morning. Goodnight, Mrs. Weasley."
"Goodnight, dear." Hermione stood up, retrieved her book, and Apparated back to her home.
She walked into the kitchen and began making dinner for herself while mentally going over her checklist again. Clothes, check. Books, check. Wand- Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hermione?"
"Maybe, who is this?"
"Michael! I haven't seen you since last summer. How are you?" Hermione smiled as she recognized the familiar voice of her childhood friend.
"Not too good, but hopefully getting better."
"Oh yea, I heard about your parents. When are you leaving?"
"Well, I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but Ron's mother is insisting that I bring someone with me, so I don't know when I'll leave." She sighed. "Which sucks, because I really wanted to leave. It's been so long since I saw them. I miss them so much." There was a silence on the other side for a moment. Then, "Well, what if I went with you? I've known you and your family since we were seven, and it's been a while since I've seen you. I could pack tonight and be ready to leave in the morning."
"Michael, that's brilliant! Yes, that would be wonderful."
"Great. Well, I'll see you in the morning then!"
"See you then!" Hermione hung up the phone and continued making her dinner. That night, she went to bed with a smile on her face and, for the first time in a while, hope.
The next morning, Hermione woke up early and left a message for Michael telling him to be at her house at eleven. Then she put her bags by the door and Apparated to the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was already awake and making breakfast.
"Goodmorning, dear!"
"Goodmorning, Mrs. Weasley."
"Have you decided on whether you'll be taking someone with you on your travels?"
"Yes ma'am. An old childhood friend of mine called me last night and offered to go with me. I grew up with him and I thought it would be a good idea. We're leaving at eleven."
"Well, alright dear, if you think he's trustworthy. He is aware that you're a witch, correct?" "Yes ma'am, and he's a wizard. But his parents sent him to a different school than Hogwarts."
"Well, alright. As long as you have someone with you, I think I'll sleep better at night." She called upstairs, "Boys! Get down here, breakfast is ready! And please be sure to wake up your sister. Though I'm sure Harry can handle that." Her last sentence had been muttered. A few minutes later, they were all sitting at the table eating. Everything was fine until Harry asked, "So, Hermione, when are you leaving?"
"Well, I'm suppose to be meeting Michael at my house-"
"Wait, who's Michael?" Ron was staring at her.
"He's a friend I had when I was a kid. I see him during the summer because his parents decided not to send him to Hogwarts."
"Why's he going with you?" Hermione glared at his disapproving tone.
"Because, Ronald, he's my friend and he offered to come with me." Neither of them spoke to each other the rest of breakfast. Then, when she had said her goodbyes to everyone else and was about to leave, Ron asked to speak to her privately.
"I don't understand why you're upset with me, Ronald."
"You rarely see this guy, 'Mione, why are you taking him?"
"Because, I told you, he offered to come."
"Well, why not me?"
"Because he offered first!"
"Well, why don't you tell him to bug off and let me go instead?!"
"Here we go again, Ronald! I am not a last resort! If you wanted to go, you should have said something weeks ago when I started planning this!"
"But, Hermione-"
"No, Ronald! I'm tired of you always treating me like this! I'm leaving now. With Michael. That's final." She turned from Ron with tears in her eyes and Apparated from the Burrow.