Chapter two

It took a couple of days but Hermione with some help from Harry were able to work the portus charm. They made five port keys out of their kitchen items from the tent, a spoon, a knife, a fork, a cup and a plate.

That evening an owl flew into Minerva McGonagall's private chambers, just as another owl flew into the home of Kingsley Shacklebolt. When they read their letters both knew what they were up against if they were to even be free of Voldemort, but first they needed to talk, what they didn't know is how. Hogwarts was under Voldemort's control, the ministry as well, both Minerva and Kingsley were always being watched. They would need to work on some way to contact each other without any of the death eaters finding out.

Harry had to work out about his vaults, so he wrote to the goblins and asked if there was any way he could still access his money from another country. If they could work something out for him and no one found out then Harry offered them any two goblin made items in the vault Sirius left him. Harry remembered that the goblins liked to retrieve any goblin made items so being offered two with the chance of retrieving more just might make them help but also make sure his name was never mentioned, or anything about his vaults.

Harry packed up the tent, Hermione placed it inside her bag then held Harry's hand. They were going to apparate a few hundred miles from where they were before putting their enchantments back up again. They hoped it would mask the magic around the port key, which would take them to France; that was the first stop they needed.

For two full days Hermione and Harry would port key or apparate to different places until they finally took their last port key, the longest which would take them to Australia.

When they realised how hot it was as they were in Australia's summer, they set their tent up but this time deep in a forest where they could get some shade from the scorching heat. Once they were done they went to get some food then work out what to do. They decided to relax for a while before working on what they wanted to do now they weren't in constant danger. It was a couple of nights later that Harry received a response from the goblins.

'They agreed to help Hermione, but they said that all I have to do is go to the wizarding bank in whichever country I'm in, my key will activate a vault here.'

'So all magical countries are linked, at least the banking system is.'

'Yeah, it is, at least we can live now until we can work out what we're going to do.'

'We've got a bit of time to work that out, we need to read up on how the magical world works in this country. After hearing what Fleur said about Beauxbaton's and France I realise that they had progressed a lot compared to England. I know Australia is a commonwealth country so it's still under the monarchy, but we have no idea how the magical world works or if they have modernised or stayed in the last century, like England.'

'Yeah, why is that Hermione? We have magic which means we don't need electric lights or dishwashers, but Hogwarts, the way the ministry is run, the clothes, quills. Why is England still living in the last century?'

'I don't know, it seems they want to keep everything like the old ways. Okay, yes, you can keep traditions that show us we're different from the muggles, but surely we can move forward. I heard a few muggleborn students or halfbloods who were raised in muggle homes say they will likely use muggle items or have muggle homes, that they couldn't understand why we can't combine the two worlds as long as we keep our world secret.'

'I think it stays the same because of those purebloods, like Malfoy. Most of them have no idea about the muggle world, they have never seen how far advanced they are. You've got Voldy and his lot believing that magic is might and nothing can beat it. You and I know what the muggle world can do, especially with weapons. I doubt a magical shield could stop a nuclear bomb or a chemical weapon. The muggles out-number us by a huge amount.'

'They do and yes, a nuclear bomb could destroy a place like Hogwarts, and the surrounding area. This is why I like talking to you Harry, we understand how both world works. Ron would never believe the muggles were more powerful than witches and wizards. I also could never just sit and talk to him like this, he always wanted to talk about quidditch or food. Doesn't he have any ambition?'

'No, well, he wants to play quidditch which is a great career if you have the talent. Going to the world cup showed me how they play, Ron would never make that, not when he's too lazy to get out of bed in the mornings to train. But what we were talking about, tell me your impression of the muggle studies class.'

'It wasn't very good, most of the items she showed us were from the thirties, and forties, the history was old, a few hundred years old. There was never one discussion about world war one or two, about aircraft carries, helicopters or fighter jets. Nothing on DNA, heart transplants or laser surgery. The magical world has no idea how advanced the muggle world is compared to them.'

'I got that impression, but when it comes to the magical world I also know that unless you had money, prestige or the right blood type, most would never advance in their working lives. You know how they feel about muggleborns, I doubt those purebloods would ever allow someone like you, no matter how smart you art to become minister.'

'I thought of that after our careers advice. I would give them a chance and if I could not get a job I deserved just because they thought I was a mudblood then I might need to work on gaining my muggle education. You could do the same Harry, we could easily fake papers to make it seem like we did our schooling. My only trouble is that it would take a while, then university, I don't have enough money for that.'

'I do, I could cover both of us Hermione, I'm sure Sirius would like the fact that his families money is being used to help a muggleborn. You know, we could learn what we need but maybe we could use our magic to help in ways. We will have to tell the magical government we're here and if they are as behind as England then we explain we would rather live and work in the muggle world, but we aren't giving up our magical heritage, we will help if it's needed. If we can learn what we need of the muggle world and the magical world then maybe we can stop witches and wizards from being discovered.'

'I did think that maybe our worlds could join, but they would persecute us or blame us for things. It could end up being like the old witch trials. I realised that after hearing about the Dursley's.'

'Yeah, they would always blame me and my freaky ways when things didn't go their way. It's a shame but we would need to stay hidden, and even though I hate agreeing with purebloods or Voldy, but we do need to watch the muggles. Even though that lot want to control the muggles, which is wrong but more are finding out, families of muggleborns. You get too many like the Dursley's and they'd try to wipe us out. I mean, you're parents are fine, but not all are like that. Okay, we have some basic ideas, but we should find out what the Australia ministry is like, how their school and government work. You know what I think we should do first though?'

'No, so tell me.'

'Get some cooler clothes, I can't believe how warm I am.'

Hermione chuckled, 'Yes, it's quite different from England, but I also know the winter here is very mild, nothing like England and it only snows in the mountains. We are in the middle of their summer right now, so we're feeling the heat more now than if we arrived in spring or winter.'

'Then we need to acclimatise, okay, what about your parents, are you going to find them?'

'No, I mean I will find them but I'm not going to replace their memories. It's safer Harry, they have no idea about our world or what is going on in England. Ever since I started at Hogwarts we have drifted apart, I will always love them but they can't be part of my life, my magical life. We are safer keeping muggles in the dark about our powers. I will see them, without them knowing who I am, but I won't put them in danger.'

'It is safer, for them, right now they are just two muggles that has nothing to do with the magical world or the-boy-who-lived. Um, do you think the Australian ministry would know my name?'

'I would say they know that you or the-boy-who-lived survived the killing curse, I'm not sure if they know any more.'

'I just don't want someone here to tell that lot back home where I am. Maybe if I could speak with someone like an auror, tell them what's going on, how if they found me here could mean a war here like there is in England, so maybe they could help me stay hidden. But also if they knew some of the facts then maybe they could prepare for a war in the off chance it comes here, or they find out I'm here. Maybe the magical world here has something like legally changing your name, I could be Jimmy Black or something like that.'

'Then that's another thing we do, which means we will need to spend a lot of time at the Australia ministry. We can get the information on how this country works, read up on the school, jobs and if Australia is as far behind like England.'

'We can do that Hermione, but let's hope we can finish our education without almost dying every year. So how about we get started on dinner then talk about what we're going to do first, which I think should be buying a place to live, something we can enchant.'

'Yes, let's get started,' Hermione smiled shyly at Harry before heading into the kitchen. She thought about what he said, buying a place to live, they would live together.

Even though both knew they felt nothing for Ron or Ginny, Hermione never told Harry that she did feel something for him. She had seen some looks from Harry and wondered if he felt anything for her. Harry was very shy about personal things, she doubts he would say something to her, which meant she would need to bring up the subject. She would wait and see if she could find out if Harry felt more for her than just friendship, if he did then she would tell him how she feels.