Harry Potter And The Great Getaway
Chapter 4: The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled...
As soon as Draco left and Harry secured the floo, Hermione rushed in. "So? How did it go?"
Harry let out a huge sigh of relief. "Actually, a lot better than I thought it would. He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no, either. He wants a week to think it over, talk it over with his parents – and then he'll take it."
Hermione smiled, then paused. "Are you sure that this is a good idea?"
Harry looked at her dumbstruck. "How the hell are you considered the brightest witch of our age? Not only is that the dumbest possible question you could ask, but this is the worst possible time to ask it – immediately after I've fully committed to this plan. Are you deliberately trying to sabotage this, or just drive me mad?"
Hermione's hands flew up to her mouth in horror. "I'm so sorry!"
Harry shook his head. "Never mind. You've always been a little like that; I thought I'd gotten used to it, but I shouldn't have let that slip."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Hermione, I love you like the sister I never had, but you've always had that sliver of insecurity and self-doubt that you let out every now and then, usually at the worst possible time. Ever since we figured it out, we've managed to work around it, but I guess I wasn't as careful as I should have been."
Hermione closed her eyes for a long moment, then opened them, her face as frozen as her voice. "And just who is this 'we' that figured this out?"
Harry blushed. "You weren't supposed to hear that part."
"Never mind, you needn't answer. Who else could it be but Ronald?"
"Um... look... uh..."
Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it. This is hardly the time or place to discuss it, and I really can't argue with the truth of it. It's something I'll have to think about and deal with it later." She held up the envelope Harry hadn't noticed before. "Our travel documents arrived from Gringott's."
Harry took the proffered envelope and tore it open. "This is so cool. I actually have a fake ID! I've always heard about them, but I figured I'd never get any. Everyone knew who I was, what I looked like, when I was born – everything. But now I'm..." he faltered as he looked at his passport. "...I'm Harry Parker?" He looked at Hermione. "I thought you said I was going someplace where I could just be 'Harry Potter,' not 'The Boy Who Lived' or 'The Chosen One.' If all I wanted was to get away from it a little, I could have gotten this same fake ID, put some makeup over my scar, and gone anywhere. Why the hell should I risk jumping into a whole new world if all I'm going to do is change my name?"
Hermione struggled to explain herself without violating her oaths. "It's... it's more than just the name, Harry. You said you just wanted to be Harry, and that's what this is all for. You can be just Harry. You just can't be Harry Potter."
Harry had returned his gaze to his passport, and another detail caught his eye. "And what the hell is this? 'Date of Birth 31 July 1993? I'm supposed to pass for 13? In case you hadn't noticed, Hermione, I haven't looked 13 in over a decade!"
"You won't be 13 when we get there. You'll still be 26. You see..." she paused to group her thoughts again. "You see, time moves a little differently where we're going. We're leaving here in 2006, but getting there in 2019. And you'd have almost as much trouble passing for 39 than you would for 13." She took out a second passport. "See? Hermione Garrett, born 19 September, 1992."
He gave her a questioning look. "Hermione Garrett?"
She sighed. "Just like you can't be Harry Potter, I can't be Hermione Granger. I can't explain it here; I've taken binding oaths. But I promise you, Harry, as soon as we get there, I'll explain it all – especially why I think this trip is just what you need."
Harry looked dubious. She pressed on. "Harry, I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm asking: please, just trust me on this. There are things I simply can't explain before we go. But I promise you I'll tell you everything I think you need to know, and answer all your questions, once we're there. But until then, I'm begging you to trust me."
Harry sighed. "You know I can't tell you no when you put it that way. But you're telling me everything once we're there."
Hermione let out a breath of relief. "Thank you. Now, when do you want to go?"
"I'm meeting with Malfoy next Tuesday, when he'll tell me he's taking me up on his offer. I told him about the precautions we've taken, plus there are all the other ones I didn't tell him about. I also said that I'd be going out of sight for some time before I actually left, to watch him for a bit and see that he's keeping his word. So I'm thinking Wednesday morning."
"You mean you're not going to keep an eye on him for a few weeks first?"
"Use a little logic, Hermione. If Malfoy thinks I'm watching him and waiting to pounce at the first sign of treachery, he'll be on his best behavior. Since he has no way of knowing how long I'm watching him, won't he act like I am standing right over his shoulder? And if he thinks I'm watching him, does it really matter whether or not I am actually watching him?"
Hermione stared at him, stunned, for a long moment. "Harry James Potter, just when did you get so deviously brilliant?"
He smiled. "I've been hanging around with you and Ron for way too long for me to not pick up some things. Plus, there's a tremendous amount of overlap between being an Auror, being a teacher, and working in the Weasley's joke shop, especially when it comes to dealing with brilliant, devious people out to get you, one way or another." The smile grew into a grin. "Voldemort and his death eaters had nothing on a classful of seventh-year Slytherins when it comes to cunning and deceit, and they both come far behind George Weasley."
Hermione smiled wryly. "So, right after you manipulate Malfoy into taking on the job and con him into thinking you're spying on him, we just up and disappear?"
"That about sums it up. So we have a week to pack and get ready to go." Harry paused. "I know you can't tell me too much about where we're going, but can you give me a few hints about what it'll be like, so I'll know what sorts of clothes to pack?"
She smiled. "I'd planned on 'buying local' once we get there, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give you a little guidance. We'll be going to their version of America. More specifically, the southern part of the country, towards the beginning of summer. So expect a lot more sun and heat than we're used to."
