Disclaimer: I own zilch… nothing.
Summary: Deciding to take a break from the wizarding world, the trio decide to experience a muggle holiday but is it wise to expose Ron to a world he barely knows with so much 'eckeltricity'?
Author's note: This is my first fiction so please bear with me and please review! My grammar can be rather…bad. So I apologise before hand. I use British spelling as well.
Boot…English lingo for car trunk… I think.
Chapter 1: Metallic paint, seatbelts and ecklectric windows.
The wheels crunched against the dirt driveway as Hermione travelled down it going slowly so to avoid all the potholes, it was easy to tell that the driveway was not used much. Partly, she regretted her idea of having a break from the wizarding world and going on a muggle holiday, Ron had been fascinated by the idea of such a thing though she wondered now how he would cope with things that were second nature to a muggle, things such as electricity and how to switch on a light bulb.
A red roof came into view followed by the rest of 'The Burrow', Ron's far from normal house seemed even more crooked if that were possible and Hermione thought the cause might be due to Mr Weasley, a rather battered television aerial clung to one of the chimneys.
Switching off her engine, Hermione got out of the car and couldn't help smiling; it had been several weeks since she had got her muggle driving license having passed the tests with flying colours, her parents had been so pleased that they had bought her a car.
"Hemione!" A voice came from The Burrow and the seventeen year old turned to find Mr Weasley smiling at her from the doorway, Hermione could only smile back weakly as his eyes darted between her and the car. The words, Ford Anglia sprang to mind. "How does the paint sparkle like that?" Arthur Weasley asked as he approached the vehicle and touched the red paintwork.
"Hello Mr Weasley, it's called Metallic paint."
"Impressive, very impressive. Ron will be a moment, would you mind showing me the inside?"
Hermione could barely say no to one of her best friend's parents and then, the car was always insured though she doubted against magical accidents. "It's a Vauxhall, Mr Weasley." She answered as Ron's father pointed at the badge of a winged griffin and asked what its purpose was. "That tells you what it is, all Vauxhall's have them." Silently she pleaded for Ron to come and save her before her car ended up with no wheels.
"And these are?" Mr Weasley asked as he climbed into the passenger seat and pushed a button, Hermione silently cursed at leaving the key in the ignition as the passenger window shot down accompanied by a delighted laugh and ... "How on earth does it do that? It's very different from my car…well my old one."
"Electric windows Mr Weasley, that button makes them go up and down."
"Ecklectic?" Hermione swore she saw his eyes glint as he gazed in amazement at the black button, everyone knew Mr Weasley's fascination with all things Muggle especially when it concerned 'ecklectic'. Ron had informed her in his last letter that his father's collection of plugs was increasing to the point where the Kitchen cupboard he kept them in, bulged. Slowly edging to the right side of the car, Hermione hoped he would not notice her pulling the keys out and stopping his fun.
"Hermione!" At the sound of her name, Hermione turned to find Ron smiling at her and dragging a trunk out towards the car, she could barely hide her relief at seeing her red-haired friend. "It's so good to see you again" He exclaimed as he hugged her. Ron had grown even more since she had seen him at the end of the sixth year; it seemed that he would never stop. "Dad, get out of the car, mum'll flip if she sees you near a 'blasted car' again." He turned his attention back to Hermione. "Electricity?" He asked to her ears alone and to which she nodded. "He'll never change, now where do I put my trunk?"
It would have been easier if they had cheated and used Floo powder or at least gone on a train, but no, Hermione had had to say they do it as authentically as possible, the prospect of days on the road with Ron seemed more and more a nightmare as each minute passed. "In the boot." She replied to his question and opened the back of the car where her own, much smaller suitcase rested.
"Sure it'll fit?" Ron asked as he came to stand beside her, gazing with disdain at the tiny boot of the Vauxhall Corsa. "Bloody small thing that." His eyes ran up and spotted the backseats. "Even sure I'll fit in it? Couldn't you have used magic to make it bigger?"
"No and no, magic is out of bounds you know that as much as I. Underage Wizards are not-"
"-permitted to perform spells outside of school. I know, I know Hermione, but I'm sure they'll overlook it. I'll do some damage trying to fit in that."
"You agreed to the whole thing Ron." Hermione said with a sweet smile though inside she was seething with anger, it was her car she had to worry about. "Now are you going to get the trunk in or not? What the bloody hell did you put in there?"
Ron grinned as he picked up the trunk and dropped it into the boot, making the car creak and shoot down before the suspension adjusted. "You know all things, never know what to expect with muggles." His grin became wider. "Dad helped me."
Oh no, Hermione thought as she slammed the boot down, it had to be slammed otherwise it would not have closed. Oh no, why did I think of this? "Well Harry's luggage will just have to go on the roof rack. I'm sure he'll cope- What Ron?"
Looking sheepish, Ron ran a hand through his hair whilst avoiding her glare. "How do I actually… you know… get into the car?"
Hermione tried to keep her face still as she moved to the left side of the car and opened the passenger door. "You pull the handle up and then pull the door out." She then bent down and pulled the seat lever that caused the car seat to fall forward. "And then you climb in the back." She pushed the seat back into position; it gave a satisfying click which made Ron jump. "You'll be sitting in the front… until we get Harry."
"Right." And so Ron climbed in the car, shifting around until he was comfortable though his knees seemed to be wrapped around his head which was brushing the roof.
"You lower the seat and move it back, common sense." Hermione tried not to sound exasperated whilst trying not to roll her eyes.
Sighing, she settled herself into her seat and moved to put the key in the ignition but was distracted as Ron tried to figure out what the actual use was for the long black bit of material that became even longer when one pulled it. "It's a seatbelt Ron. You put that metal bit in that metal bit there. Understand?"
Finally they were moving down the drive and Hermione could not help but smile, at least Ron hadn't discovered the radio yet. "Next stop Harry's." She murmured as she pressed her foot down on the accelerator.
"What does this button do?"
"Ron!" She cried as the all the things in the glovebox spilled onto the floor. It was going to be a long journey indeed.
TBC…perhaps.