AUTHOR'S NOTE*** Ok to answer some questions—You'll find out
what Malfoy says to Hermione in later chapters, and I happen to be
American so all money is in dollars (yes I know it should be pounds
but I'm too lazy to look up the conversion) in this chapter THANX 2
THE PEOPLE WHO REVIEWED------R/R TO THE PPL WHO
DIDN'T! –Ice Princess




Ron snapped Flying with the Cannons shut for the fiftieth time
and rolled over on his bed. Staring at the ceiling and trying to ignore
the ghoul upstairs, he wondered about August. Only a week away
until Hermione's. He had been in a muggle town only twice, once to
pick up Harry and the other to buy their lost car for their dad's muggle
work. It was interesting how muggles got along without magic. Now
that he was going to venture into the muggle world for two weeks his
father was bombarding him with questions and directions. It was
driving him nuts.

"Ron, make sure you know how to work a TV when you come
back…Ron check out pencil sharpeners for me…Ron see what you
can find out about floppy disks." Mr. Weasley was relentless.

One floor below, Ginny was huddled on the sofa pretending to
listen to the Wireless Wizarding Network, but was really
eavesdropping on her parents chat about their summer plans. They
were visiting Charlie this summer because last summer they paid Bill
a visit in Egypt. Which meant she was stuck alone in the house with
Percy, Fred and George. She shuddered at the very thought.

Back up in Ron's room, there was a sudden tapping on the
glass. It was unmistakable whom the snow-white owl belonged to. He
pushed open the pane of glass and Hedwig soared into his bedroom,
deposited a letter into Ron's hands, landed on his headboard and
started preening itself. Ron tore open the letter from Harry and to his
surprise, Hermione.


Dear Ron,

I'm at Hermione's, the Dursleys found out about my plans and
kicked me out sooner than I thought, which is probably for the better
anyway. Come over as soon as you can! Enclosed are directions (for
cars) or just have your dad hook up her fireplace to the Floo network!
See you soon, here's Hermione!
- Harry

Hi Ron, I hope you're alright…you're welcome to come over and stay
for the rest of August, we'll see you onto the Hogwarts Express, come
September first. Harry's here (Obviously) so please come! You're
going to need two major items: Muggle money & clothes! You can get
it converted in Diagon Alley- I do every year. See you soon!

-Hermione


Ron smiled as he finished the letter. It made him feel better
about the money crisis his parents were having. They had almost
drained all their savings for their trip to Romania this summer. He bit
his lip wondering where they were going to scrape up the money to
finance his trip. With trepidation, he headed downstairs to show his
parents the letter and beg for money.

To his complete shock, his parents totally agreed and gave him
$100 in muggle cash! Where or how they came up with that money
bewildered him, but he suspected that his dad finagled some funds
from the Ministry, saying it was 'work related'. Now he was free to go.
He supposed he could wear robes until he could buy muggle clothes
in the muggle world. He floated around his room, throwing articles of
clothing and toiletries into his old and battered suitcase. He pocketed
the cash, picked up the suitcase and headed downstairs, hoping that
the Floo Network was already hooked up to Hermione's house.

When he arrived on the bottom floor of the Burrow, Mr.
Weasley gave Ron a list of items to 'investigate'; Mrs. Weasley gave
him a quick hug and kiss, and prepared the Floo fire for him. Ron
stepped in and was on his way.

Meanwhile, at Hermione's, Harry and Hermione were sitting at
the kitchen table playing poker. From the moment Hermione started
playing, Harry could tell she was a card shark. Hermione's flushes
straights and pairs shot down hand after hand of Harry's. After the
fourth loss, Harry slapped his cards down on the table.

"I give up. I suck at this game. You have to be cheating." Harry
said exasperatedly. Hermione smiled and collected the cards.

"No Mister Potter, I think I'm just a lucky girl. Any ideas what to
do until Ron decides to show up?"

Harry thought she was a bit eager, but kept the thought to
himself. After all, she hadn't seen him all summer. He pushed back
his chair, got up and sauntered into Hermione's den. She had a 50-
inch TV and a satellite dish in there, and since he never got to watch
TV at home, flopped down on her leather sofa and turned the TV on.
Instantly 300 channels were at his fingertips and he chose a soccer
game to watch.

The Hungarian team had just scored a goal when a low rumble
was emitted from the living room. Ten seconds later there was an
unholy crash and the familiar voice of Ron Weasley calling from the
living room. Harry scrambled off the couch and raced at breakneck
speed to greet Ron.

Hermione skidded into the living room and was greeted with a
rather humorous sight. There, in 5 feet 10 inches of all his glory was
Ron, with sooty robes and a charcoal-smudged face. Hermione
laughed, he looked somewhat like a lanky bear.

"Fancy seeing you here Ron." Hermione giggled at the same
moment Harry arrived in the doorway.

"Ron!" Harry said in disbelief. "I'd never thought you'd make it!"

"Of course I would I had to get away from dad. 'Ron take a look
at this. Ron check that out'. I would have had to have been committed
to an asylum if I would have been there any longer."

Hermione smiled, took his suitcase and led the way upstairs.
Ron and Harry trailed behind her. Presently, she pushed open a door
to the left at the top of the stairs and Hermione's room opened up
before them. If it were possible to trap summer inside, this would
have been it. It had a landing at the bottom- her chill space, and on
the left, 4 steps led up to her sleeping space. It was all hardwood
floored and the walls were a pastel yellow. Large windows covered
one wall, and were covered by translucent billowing curtains. It had a
high ceiling and Christmas lights were looped every which way
across it. A large breezy plant stood in the corner. Two cots were set
up on the landing, where Harry and Ron were sleeping. She plopped
Ron's luggage on a cot and turned to face them.

"Well?" Hermione questioned. Harry and Ron were in awe,
especially Ron. Her room looked like something taken out of Better
Homes and Gardens, which Harry figured, probably was.

Ron crossed to the other side of her room and squatted by a
black box with buttons on it. It was surrounded by two other cloth
covered boxes.

"No don't…!" Hermione didn't even get to finish her sentence as
Ron pressed the power button on her stereo. At full volume over her
surround sound speakers came Hole's 'Celebrity Skin'. Ron was so
surprised that he stumbled and fell backwards. Harry collapsed
laughing at Ron's expense and in one swift movement, Hermione
crossed the room and tapped the off button. She stood over Ron with
her arms crossed and tried not to laugh at his amazed and dazed
expression.

"What was that? I didn't…it just…what music…." Ron sputtered.

"It's a stereo that plays muggle music off CD's that have music
programmed into them" Harry explained to Ron, who was still lying on
the floor, propped up on his elbows. "CD's are circular things that
have music encoded on them, and this thing," Harry tapped the
stereo, "Decodes them to play over those speakers. It's similar to a
wizard radio, except that it uses electricity and doesn't have the
W.W.N."

"Oh."