A/N What this really has to do with the whole story, I dunno. But as usual, it's pretty much writing itself. If you aren't in the mood for silliness, and a bit of romance skip it, 'K?
Otherwise, enjoy! Harry and Hermione did!! So did the author.
( PS to the person or persons who don't like this font size or color: Sorry, I write all in this font. It's crispy and crunchy!)
Paris - Part 2
"Another Kind of Box"
Once they had settled into their seats on the Eurostar, Harry felt he just had to ask Hermione a question. "Hermione, is this the way your family travels all the time? 'Cause if they're doing it just for me, they really didn't have to go with the luxury trip.I'd be happy riding on any old train, ship or anything."
"Maybe it is you, a little." Hermione answered with a grin. "But let's not complain. Mom still seems to feel she should have tried to take you from the Dursley's sooner. So, we'll have an extra nice holiday, nothing wrong with that, is there?"
Harry shook his head and moved a little closer to her." It would be an extra nice holiday for me if we only walked around a new place, and maybe checked out some French food. Aunt Petunia is convinced they won't feed me well. Like she ever cared before!"
"Speaking of food..." said Hermione, "Mind going down to check out a few of the other cars? The food they serve isn't prepared by house elves, but it's good enough. I'd like to check on Crookshanks too, and maybe Hedwig would like to see us."
Harry got up and pulled Hermione up with him,"Yeah, poor things , stuck back there with those non- magical animals. I brought Hedwig some owl treats."
"And I've got some of Ron's favorites, dried spiders. Fred and George left a whole bag of them,I heard them say they were working on a special treat for him, so I hid the bag." She grinned as she held up the bag that even to Harry looked like a horrible bunch of hairy squiggles . "Maybe they'll at least get distracted by something else, and leave Ron alone for a while."
"We can only hope! And I'll send them an owl with a new idea, maybe something else to eat, in case we run into Malfoy again." Harry pretended to shudder at the idea. of seeing Draco before term started, but he knew he wouldn't mind having another of the twins' inventions with him, just in case.
They passed Chris and Ivy a little further back, having a glass of wine, and Ivy reading Witch Weekly, hidden inside a Tattler magazine. Chris, Harry was happy to see, had apparently decided to plunge into their world all the way, since the Daily Prophet was tucked inside his copy of the London Times. He could see Chris looked perturbed and asked, in a low voice, whether there had been disturbing news.
"No, just the opposite, Harry. Fudge is still insisting there's no reason to suspect Voldemort might return to power Any real news we should be aware of is being covered up." As soon as the word was out of his mouth, Chris looked shocked at himself. "Oops," he said. 'I'm afraid I've been listening to you and Professor Dumbledore talking far too much, Ivy. I'll be hearing from the ministry before I've even begun my, er, "course".
"Maybe you'd better keep it He Who Must Not for a while Dad", said Hermione, nervously, looking around her. "We'll be back soon, just getting a snack, checking on our animals and exploring a bit."
" Don't wander too far," Ivy reminded them. "Remember this train travels anyplace from 150 to 185 miles per hour. The trip doesn't take long."
"We'll remember" said Harry, suddenly eager to have a few moments alone with Hermione. Who knew when they'd have a chance for a private moment again. IF he could call a baggage car full of animals, with Crookshanks staring at him suspiciously, private.
They continued through the cars, and Harry was amazed at the different cars, and the different types of accomodations. The Hogwarts Express having been alike in all the compartments, he realized afresh that Hermione's parents had gone all out to get them the best seats, and now weren't even upset that they'd decided to leave them to explore.
He pinched his leg hard and jumped, causing Hermione to give him a startled look. "Harry, what happened? " she asked, worriedly.
"Ah, just pinchng myself to be sure this is real." he answered her, trying to give an evil leer. "And the idea of 'hafing the private time vith you, Hermy Own Ninny!' is making me vant to hurry along."
"Poor Viktor!" she said, trying to look as if she was feeling bad for the Bulgarian Quidditch star, but failing."Well, I do have to admit... " and she lowered her voice and bent to rub Harry's leg where he'd pointed to the pinch, "I won't mind having your arms around me. And maybe, just maybe, a kiss or two, Mr. Potter?"
"I think I can manage to fill that order, Miss Granger. Unless you'd prefer to unpack some of your books and catch up on your reading." Harry answered , trying not to break into a run at her words, but feeling he could fly back to the baggage car without a broom of any kind.He was happy to see Hermione looking as if she was having the same dificulty, so he took her hand and they began to hurry down the aisles that were not as wide as the ones in their own car.
Finding the baggage car, exactly as deserted as they'd hoped it would be, Harry and Hermione gave Hedwig and Crookshanks their treats ('UGH, thought Harry, as Hermione shook out a pile of the spiders. They looked even worse out of the bag. Where had Gred and Forge gotten such huge ones?') Then looking around, Harry spotted a large box in one corner, covered in blankets.
"Um, how about sitting down back here for a few moments?" he asked Hermione, in what he hoped was a casual voice. Hermione, he noticed, had once again turned the very pretty shade of pink that seemed to have replaced her once magenta blushes. He wondered what had made the difference, the felt himself go a bit red, as he realized the difference was probably himself.
Hermione looked really happy, he couldn't help but notice. She sat down close to him, putting her head on his shoulder, giving him a chance to smell that delicious Hermione scent that he had finally realized wasn't perfume, or shampoo, but just Hermione. He sighed, without meaning to, making Hermione giggle."Tired already, Harry? Too much excitement for one day?"
" I'll take too much excitement any day then," Harry answered her in a husky voice. "And I'd say these should be called the deluxe seats, if anyone should ask me! Mmm, Hermione........ !" he murmered, as he felt her arms go around his neck, and he lowered his head to hers. The time passed, and neither of them had any idea, after a few moments, that there were any animals in the car, magical or otherwise.
Harry felt as if his head was full of a very pleasnt mist, and he was grateful not to have to give any thought to his legs, since they felt like his arm after Gilderoy Lockhart removed the bones. He could feel Hermione trembling a bit, and realized with a start that they had probably been back in the car for quite some time.
Oh, Hermione felt so good in his arms, he thought. How had he been able to go all those years not having someone to hold him. He knew Hermione felt nothing like his mom would have, and yet he realized now how much he'd missed being loved as he grew up. Even thinking these somewhat sad thoughts , Harry broke into a large grin - he would enjoy making up for lost time by spending as much time as possible this way with Hermione. Who would have ever expected the bossy little bookworm to turn into this...
"Hermione,I guess you were right." he whispered. " I should have known."
"Right about what?" she whispered back, surprised.
" You once said that you do everything well," he said teasingly. "I thought you were making a joke at the time, but you weren't."
" Well, I......" she began, but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and the sounds of a man whistling. They froze, and watched as the uniformed man walked by the cages of the animals, checking each one.Since they weren't hidden by Harry's invisibility cloak, all too soon the man spotted them.
"Couple of lovebirds, eh?" he said with a smile. Then he looked more closely at them, and where they were sitting. "Bit young to be traveling alone, aren't you? And I don't supppose you have any idea what you're sittting on, do you."
" My parents are with us!" said Hermione, indignantly, "And we're fifteen, well, almost."
" Heh, how almost, young lady? " the man asked, with a twinkle." Few months I'd say."
"At any rate, " said Harry, attempting to appear strong. "What were we sitting on? Something very valuable? I'll be happy to pay for any damages, but I don't think we hurt anything."
"Perhaps not, but you may be having nightmares when you see what's under here." The man slowly pulled back the blankets, obviously hoping to scare them out of their wits. There they saw what had to be a coffin,but being so accustomed to living with ghosts, neither Harry nor Hermione felt the alarm the man was obviously hoping for.
"No one in there but still, you youngsters need to be more careful where you carry on. Ghost might have rose up and....." said the man, trying to look stern.
" Ah but we don't really......" began Harry, but stopped when he felt Hermione's foot come down hard on his own.
"Ooooooh, noooo!" Let's get out of here! You won't tell my Mom and Dad will you, PLEASE? They'd be SO upset!" Hermione moaned.
Harry had to turn around, pretending to cough hard several times .Hermione was good, anyone would have to admit that, as he saw the man melt as she looked at him imploringly, tears ready to fall from her brown eyes.
"Now, now, young lady, don't cry!" he said in alarm." You, young man, take your young lady back to your seats, and we'll forget about all this."
Harry and Hermione nodded and they left the car, Harry still coughing and Hermione's shoulders shaking with what the train employee thought was fear, but Harry knew was mufled laughter.
As she walked by, he patted her shoulder comfortingly, causing Hermione to shake harder, and bury her head on Harry's shoulder, as if embarrassed. Harry didn't think they were going to be able to get away quickly enough, but once out of the car, Hermione straightened up and hissed, "Race ya to the food car!" before nearly flying up the aisle.
Snorting with laughter, so that he could hardly breathe, Harry followed, thinking, 'A great kisser, and one who can think fast! What more can a teenage wizard ask for?'
What indeed? Next time we arrive IN Paris. Maybe not as much romance(excuse me, I said MAYBE. Perhaps a bit more intrigue.
Who'll turn up to make the holiday more or less pleasant? At this point, your guess is as good as mine, but it will come, more or less fully formed.
Birthday celebration coming too! What will Harry's gifts be this year? Will the Weasleys appear for the party?
Bye for now,
~ Circe