Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, no matter how much I wish otherwise. I do not own DC characters as well.

Chapter Seven

Harry starred at the phone by his bedside when he woke. The time difference had been a little confusing to him, but he was pretty sure it was the opposite time of the day back home.

He sighed, wiped at his eyes, and then swallowed the bullet.

"Hello?" A familiar female voice answered after several long rings.

"Hey." He said simply.

"Harry! Where are you! Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Really." Harry shrank back into his pillow at the sound of her worried voice. "Didn't you get my letter?"

"Really? You really thought I'd be fine with a letter?" Hermione's voice pitched in disbelief.

"Hermione. Please. I just wanted to get away for a while."

"Are you coming back?"

"Of course. I'll be back for the train before school starts. I promise. I just, wanted a real vacation. One with no one trying to kill me. Without being stuck in Grimmauld."

"I just, it isn't safe on your own."

"I'm doing alright. Dumbledore hasn't found me, so I'm not that nervous about Voldemort showing up for afternoon tea. I'm safe. I'm, actually having a good time. I know you're mad at me, and the Order's probably beyond pissed. I just wanted to talk to you, to let you know that I'm not going after Voldemort or anything that insane right now. I'm just, taking a vacation."

"Will you tell me where you are?"

"No, I'd best not."

"Fine." She sighed. "Everyone's been completely mental looking for you."

"I did write a letter." He wasn't that contrite at that.

"Harry." She stressed his name again.

"Yeah. I know. I'm not that sorry honestly. I've been sight-seeing. Sleeping in. No cleaning. I just…I needed this. Can you understand that?"

"Yes. I don't really agree with you not giving me some kind of notice-"

"I thought you would tell Dumbledore-" Harry defended himself instantly.

"You should know me better than that." She didn't quite snap, she sounded exasperated more than anything.

Harry huffed. "You didn't write me last year when he told you not to."

"I learnt my lesson on that. I thought I was protecting you."

"I don't need that kind of protecting"

She sighed into the phone. "I already promised I wouldn't do that again. Do you really think I'm such a-a goody two shoes I would rat you out if you weren't going off to do something dangerous on your own?"

"I…I just. I needed to not have to justify myself."

"Harry…I may not get what you're going through, but I get it." Her voice was softer now.

"I'm sorry. Just to you." He finally answered her.

"That's something at least." Her voice pitched in banal satisfaction.

"How's Hedwig?" Harry asked to fill the silence.

"She's adjusting. She's been missing you terribly though. Dumbledore keeps trying to get her to take you a letter, she won't."

"That's my girl." He grinned at the mental image of his snowy rebuffing the colorfully robed Headmaster.

"I'm staying with my parents, since you're not at Headquarters, and it's such a tinderbox there now with you gone. They're planning a few vacations. I think Mum wants to go to the beach before the summer's over."

"Sounds fun. You should spend time with your parents. We get you nine months of the year, and more."

"I do miss them. It will be, I just have to put her off long enough for my wound to finish healing." Awkwardness entered the conversation again. "What have you been up to exactly?" Hermione's voice rose a pitch, clearly trying to cut that train of thought off.

"I've, actually met a girl. We've been hanging out. A Muggle, so don't worry. Smart like you."

"Pretty?" She had a tone in her voice, both amused and something else.

"Yeah." He admits. "She's just moved to the city, and doesn't know anyone. It's nothing like it was with Cho."

"Don't do anything rash Harry."

"I won't do anything to put her in danger. She's really, amazing. I wish I'd met her, after this mess was over."

Harry went on to talk about what he'd done, telling her about the different stores he'd seen in just the walking distance he'd covered. Hermione was used to the city, but his world was Privet Drive and Hogwarts. He'd barely been in London to shop for Diagon Alley and to go to Grimmauld and the Ministry hearing. She let him talk for a while, listening to the normal things he'd done in the short amount of time he'd been in the city.

She was thrown for the loop when he confessed to being ignorant of superheroes, and had said that she just never thought to talk about them. They both were unsure about how much the Wizarding World knew about the caped phenomenon, and Hermione ventured hesitantly that she was sure Dumbledore would know. Because they were both underage, they weren't allowed to join the Order. So neither could guess as to whether or not the Order would seek help with Voldemort from outside of their community, or if it already had.

"You really had me worried you know." She reminded him gently as the conversation ended.

"I'm sorry I made you worry."

"You promise, you'll be back for the train? And you'll stay safe? No running into danger without me."

"I promise."

"And, you'll call me, at least every three days. If you don't I will have this number traced." Harry felt his heart drop. He stared at the phone cradled in his hand briefly in shock. That had never occurred to him. She had his location at her fingertips.

"'Mione."

"No ''Mione' about that. I won't tell Dumbledore about you calling, and you won't miss one of our check-ins. Deal?"

"Yeah. Deal."

"Really Harry. If you're going to run away again, try to at least shield the calling number from the party on the other end."

"You're a little scary sometimes."

"One of us has to be. Bye Harry."

"Bye."

TBC