Zero

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... This was Hermione's dad.

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe... This was Hermione's mum.

They both love to laugh.

Ginny sat wrapped in a blanket drinking milk in the warm living room of Granger's house, unharmed except for the kettle-shaped marks on her face. She had climbed a tree to go upstairs and had been stopped by a branch when she fell. She told Hermione's family a series of stories about how she had caught the Kight Bus, how she had fallen into the water, how she had come ashore, how she had scared off the passing drivers, how she had been taken away for questioning by the policemen, how she had escaped, how she had seen a map of the city in a tube station, how she had climbed up the tree, how she had been thrown down and so on, and the Granger's were as happy as if they had been watching a stand-up comedy.

Ginny wasn't surprised at all. It would be funny if the unlucky one wasn't me. She thought.

"How did you manage to walk to London with a world map?" The muscles in Hermione's dad's face were sore but he still couldn't help but laugh.

"The kid is so funny," Hermione's mum shoved a piece of sugar-free chocolate into Ginny's mouth, "Why did you run away from home?"

Here came Ginny's worst fears, all the narratives just now avoided the important points, and all the key points were pixelated.

Sure enough, she needed a better reason to live in other people's house for free.

"Have you ever watched 'Kiki's Delivery Service'?" It was one of the few films she had heard about from Luffy.

"Yes, I've seen it, I like the films from Studio Ghibli."

Really? Then there was an excuse she could use!

"Then you must know that witches have to leave home once when they're young to live in unfamiliar places for a while and learn about life and gain experience."

Hermione's parents appeared interested as if they're listening to a fairy tale and nodded approvingly at this.

"Hermione, how come you've never told us about something so interesting?" Hermione's mother was a little happier than Ginny could understand.

"It's the first time I've heard of it as well... Probably only wizarding families do it." Hermione quirked her head and glared at Ginny indignantly.

"I remember the witch in the movie opened a delivery shop, what are you going to do?" Hermione's mum asked Ginny.

"I'll... help Hermione clean her room."

Hermione's parents laughed even more.

"Very ambitious. You're such an interesting girl." Hermione's mum gathered up the teacups, "Hermione, let Ginny have the guest room next to you, take her up there and rest. Rest good and work good. Remember to brush and floss your teeth before bed."

Ginny thanked the Grangers and followed Hermione upstairs. Just outside the living room, Hermione showed her real expression as a scowl. Ginny was still oblivious.

"Hermione, your parents are so nice, I thought they were going to be so mad."

"They're both humans of kindness. I'm the mad person in this house right now!"

"Come on~~~ It's a summer holiday, why aren't you happy~~~ "

"It's all because of you! Give me back gravity, the Pythagorean theorem and the window glass!" Hermione squeezed Ginny's cheek hard and threatened harshly "Don't let me see you playing hide and seek again!"

"O... kay... "

Ginny had no idea where Hermione's anger was coming from and didn't dare to ask, so she followed silently to the upstairs. There were four rooms upstairs, one of which had a blue door with a sign that said "Studying" on it.

"Hermione, your room door looks like you. I'll take the room next to you then~~~ This one is fine."

Ginny said as she went to twist the door handle next to her, and was slapped on the back by Hermione's hand.

"Nice try, you're staying next door on the left!" Said Hermione, pulling open a small door at the end of the corridor. It was a cupboard built under the steps that connected to the attic, very narrow, an old used spring mattress taking up most of the space inside, piles of clutter around it, and a yellow light bulb in the top ceiling reflecting the cobwebs in the corners.

"I thought she said guest room?"

"Did she? I only remember the word next door."

"But... "

"Dare to bargain?"

"Your humble servant will live here."

Hermione's house was so clean, even such a cupboard was almost spotless, except the cobwebs which were kept to catch the insects. She left Ginny to shower and tidied up a little herself, bringing beddings to layout and hanging a bug zapper.

By the time Ginny was limp on the bed, Hermione's mood had eased a little and she sat down on the edge of the bed and began to interrogate.

By the time Ginny threw herself on the bed, Hermione's mood had eased a little and she sat down on the edge of the bed and began to interrogate.

"Speak, why did you run away?"

"To learn about the meaning of life..."

"Don't lie to me!" Hermione drew out her pillow and threw it at Ginny, "You can fool my parents but not me, Mrs. Weasley's letter arrived in the morning and Errol is still in the attic! I'll write them back when it stops raining and you'll be surprised if you don't get a dozen of howlers!"

"No!"

"Why not, your mum and dad are going crazy! If my family didn't live in a normal neighbourhood and don't have a fireplace, you'd be in big trouble! They love you so much and you run away from home. Serves you right for sleeping in the cupboard and living the same life as Harry!"

"What did they tell you?"

"Mrs. Weasley scolded you and you left in a fit of pique."

"No! if I was that sentimental, I would have left home for the North Pole. I actually came to you to save my life."

Ginny poured out the entirety of her exile, feeling more and more chagrined along speaking. As the story progressed, Hermione's reproach gradually changed to sympathy. She uneasily twisted a corner of the sheets into a small ball with her fingers and stared at the cobwebs in the corner in contemplation.

"She used a fake wand to cast spells outside of school... Has she been warned by the Ministry?"

"Not sure, I don't think she would."

"Me neither... " Hermione sat for a while longer and stood up "I still don't think running away from home will solve the problem. But since you're already here, you can help me with my research, I'll write back to your mum and explain. Now you need to get some rest, if you want to go to the guest room... "

"No, I love it here."

Hermione nodded. She walked to the door, then reminded of something and turned back.

"The note you gave me is decoded."

"Did you? I guess the words probably mean Mary Sue."

Hermione shook her head, a look of confusion in her eyes.

"No, those three letters form a word that has many meanings, the most basic one is zero."

"Zero?"