Chapter 9. Road Trip
Disclaimer. HHR forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever. We could go on with this for eternity. ^_*
AN: I dedicate this chapter to my last reviewer AnEndHasAStart1992. Thank you so much for the long review. It really motivated me to write this chappie. I am starting to write another AU fic but I'm not planning to post it yet until I'm sure I write it right. :) For now, happy reading!
Still two years ago…
Hermione and Harry were both asleep when the bus suddenly halted. Harry woke up and saw the bus conductor and driver getting off the bus. The bus has stopped for several times already after it left London. It was almost lunch time, but they were just a few kilometers away from the Seven Bridge.
Aside from the fact a turtle is faster than the bus, the traffic was heavy. But Harry was not worried. The bus stopped three times already and it still continued with the trip. Hermione was sleeping soundly beside him. They had the greatest conversation earlier. And both decided to get some shut-eye since both of them were unable to get some good night sleep last night.
Harry noticed the conductor getting back on the bus and loudly announcing. "We can't continue anymore. We would be transferring you to the next bus going to Cardiff."
There was a loud buzz among the passengers. The conductor continued to explain the situations to the passengers. The dismayed passengers are now angry. Harry grunted. Talk about comfortable ride to Cardiff, I just could have apparated, he thought. He looked at the girl beside him. Well the good thing is that I have company, he concluded. He could not leave the girl in this unfortunate situation and he realized that he also enjoyed her company too much.
Harry looked at Hermione. She looked great when asleep. Well she looked great even when awake, thought Harry. She gently shook Hermione awake and told her, "We will be transferring to another bus."
"For real?" Hermione asked. She wearily stood up and picked her small luggage thinking if she'll apparate or not. But she looked the guy beside her. She decided against it. Harry is a nice company, she thought. They got off the bus. She saw hoards of passenger sitting on the side of the road, patiently waiting for the next bus going to Cardiff.
It was almost noon and the sun is high and hot. Hermione took out her folding umbrella and pulled Harry under it.
The first bus passed, but it was too full and only a few passengers were able to get in. Both Harry and Hermione decided to let the older passengers get into the second bus.
Harry looked at his watch, it was already past one o'clock, we were supposed to be in Cardiff right now, he thought.
Hermione saw him looking at his watch, "I think you should call her." Harry looked at Hermione, puzzled. "Your girlfriend, remember?"
Harry was surprised with what Hermione said. They have been on the road the entire morning and they are standing here for almost two hours already and he hasn't thought of calling Ginny.
He guiltily got his phone and dialed Ginny's number. She answered on the first ring. "Where are you," Ginny greeted.
"I'm still on the road. We will be transferring to another bus," Harry explained.
"What," Ginny said. "That's why I wanted you to just apparated instead or use your car to get here. Just apparate here right away Harry."
Harry shook his head. "I'm alright. I'll call you again later." He got off the phone and looked at Hermione. "Satisfied?"
"I didn't say anything," Hermione reacted raising her both hands above her head.
"Let's eat," Harry suggested and started to cross the road.
But Hermione went against it. "The next bus would be here soon. We don't want to miss it."
"I'm hungry and I am eating. Are you coming with me or not," Harry said hotly.
Hermione looked so undecided. She finally raised her arms and grabbed her bag. "You got me. Food is one of my greatest weaknesses. Let's make it quick."
Harry laughed and grabbed Hermione's bag. He carried it with him until they reached a small restaurant on the other side of the road.
Like what Hermione predicted, they missed the bus. They were the only passengers left on the side of the road. Their original bus was already towed away. And it was almost three in the afternoon.
"Argh Harry," Hermione said angrily. She was trying to keep herself from strangling the guy standing beside her. "I told you, we're gonna miss it."
"Well, it's not my fault," Harry said defensively. "You ordered another cup of rice."
"What?" Hermione reacted loudly. "You're the one who insisted on eating. You just have to have another serving of that medium roast beef of yours, even when you already ate your first serving. And it is not an extra cup of rice, it's only a half of a cup!"
"What's the difference," Harry answered laughing so hard. "We missed the bus. The next one is taking forever."
Instead of answering back at Harry, Hermione got her phone and started replying to the messages sent by her officemates. They are all worried, Hermione furiously thought. And it is because I agreed with this git beside me. Well, a good looking git. She stole a look at the guy beside him. He is wearing a black v-neck shirt and a grey vest, a black trouser purposely torn on the knees and a black sneaker.
"That's it," said Harry. He was looking at the sky and saw dark clouds gathering. "We are not staying here until it rains. We should go back to London."
"I'm hitch-hiking," Hermione said in a spur of the moment.
"What?" Harry asked loudly wide eyes. "That's dangerous. You don't know who's gonna pick you up," argued Harry loudly.
"Don't shout at me," Hermione snapped. I need to be in that conference. I will be making the company's presentation tomorrow night. I have to be there." Hermione looked at Harry's angry face. "You don't have to come with me." She hoped he would just go back so that she can apparated to the place silently. But Harry has other plans.
"Oh, I'm coming with you. Somebody needs to keep an eye on you," Harry retorted. Hermione has no choice but to do stand up to what she said at the first place. She waved her hand on the first car that past them.
"Are we really gonna hitch-hike? There are robbers out there." Harry said trying to change her mind.
"Not everybody would steal your wallet Harry." exclaimed Hermione.
Hermione raise her hand again and a battered van stopped in front of them. "Need a ride?" asked a clean looking man inside the van.
"Yes, we do. We need to get to Cardiff but everywhere with a bus station would be fine," said Hermione.
The man motioned them to get into the van beside him. Harry was not comfortable with this idea, but Hermione has already got into the van, and he has no choice but to follow. Immediately, after getting inside the van, the rains started to pour.
Hermione started to talk with the driver, but the driver was very quiet. After an hour of driving, Harry felt something was wrong. The man turned right, Harry thought, I thought the way to Cardiff was straight until you reach Pound Hill to turn left. And this is definitely not Pound Hill.
"Uhm, where are we exactly are you going again?" asked Harry.
"To Cardiff," said the driver shortly.
"But why do you turn right instead of left. Isn't Cardiff supposed straight one, until reaching Pound Hill," said Harry.
The driver pulled the van on a stop on the side of the road in a middle of a heavy rain. He took something behind his back and Hermione shouted when she saw it was a gun.
"I am sorry," the man said while pointing the gun at them. "My daughter is sick and in the hospital right now." He pointed the gun at the two and collected their wallets, mobile phones, everything valuable in their bag, and even Harry's watch and Hermione's necklace and earrings.
Harry was thinking of ways on how to get the gun from the driver, but he was pointing it too close to Hermione that he doesn't want to risk her safety. His wand is secured on invisible wand holster on his arm and didn't want to pull it until the last second. After collecting their valuables, the man continued to drive and dropped them off at a vegetable and fruit stand at the side of the road.
It was still raining and they were standing lost on the side of the road. Harry shouted at Hermione, "I told you, there are robbers out there!"
Hermione defended herself, "Well he looked nice. You did not even think he would rob us."
Harry raised his arms and looked at the heavens, "Why do I find this woman so impossible!"
Hermione slapped Harry's back and started to walk towards to the small fruit stand. She started to talk to the woman standing behind the stall.
"Can you please help us?" asked Hermione slowly. "We got robbed and we don't have anything on our pockets. We need to Cardiff tomorrow."
The old lady looked at Hermione and then at Harry. "Well there's a small truck that goes to Cardiff every morning. It leaves at four in the morning."
"Tomorrow?" asked Harry. "We don't have a place to stay."
The old woman looked at Harry. "Are you married?" Harry looked at Hermione and was taken aback by the question. "Cause if you are, you can stay here tonight. I don't like unmarried couple staying on my stall."
Hermione shook her head immediately, "Yes we're married. The robber took our wedding rings."
The old woman looked at Harry, she looked a bit doubtful with what Hermione said. Harry nodded and placed an arm around Hermione's waist. "We're newlyweds," Harry added. Hermione shivered at the touch of Harry's skin to her wet clothes.
"I'll let you sleep on the other room," the old lady started to get into the small house behind the stall. "Wait, I have my eyes on you," she reminded the young couple.
A/N: Finger sore in typing and its only 1900 plus words. I'm lazy, I know. I also know you know that Harry is an Auror and he can easily beat the robber even one hand behind his back. But remember, he thinks of Hermione's safety first because he thought she's a muggle. And he really can't show anything magical because he's bound to secrecy to protect their world. Also, I'm not sure if I got the road right. I just based it on the map. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Reviews are appreciated.
