Chapter one

A/N This is my first fanfic so please read and review, enjoy!

Chapter one

" So this is what a bug is, a tiny little thing that listens to Muggles and then tells the other person what they said." Ron described as his shoe got stuck to a piece of chewing gum and tried to prise it off with his fingers.

"No! I've told you before, now would you listen this time! A bug is a microscopic device which is secretly enclosed in a muggles clothing, which once turned on by the listener, senses the frequency of a voice and sends electronically patterned waves to the receivers interface."

Hermione explained as Ron, fingers still stuck together with chewing gum, but his foot successfully released, returned safely to the pavement, stared at Hermione more confused than ever and replied "oh yeah I get it now." And quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in a passing motorbike.

Sunshine mellowed over the paved London streets. It was the middle of July; the summer heat was building a tantalising taste of electricity in the air.

Hermione was showing Ron the sights of London and informing him of different facts about Muggles. Of course, they had invited Harry to join them but his Uncle Vernon had put his foot down.

" You are NOT going to parade around London, the capital of our nation with your weirdo friends and that's final!"

Vernon Dursley was really yelling at Harry now, so loud even that Hermione had to take the phone away from her ear. As this was the fifth time of asking and Vernons voice was getting increasingly angrier and louder both Harry and Hermione agreed that he wasn't going to give in.

Harry had just considered going anyway but he needed somewhere to stay for the rest of the summer holidays and he didn't want to take advantage of the Weasleys generosity. Again.

As if he had read Hermiones mind, Ron stopped admiring the bike and turned towards her.

"At least it gives me a chance to buy Harry something for his birthday" Ron mumbled " I'd like to get him something non-magic, for a change."

"Should we try in here then?" Hermione was pointing to a small dimly lit shop with an assortment of small gadgets and gizmos littering the window.

They went in, the shop was dark and smelled faintly of stale cheese. A beady-eyed man was watching them from behind the counter, his nose twitching.

"Hermione?" Ron called " What's this? Do you think Harry would like it?"

"I doubt it Ron" Hermione replied " They are nose hair clippers"

"Eurgh!" exclaimed Ron dropping the clippers back down on the shelf "Who would want to do that?"

Hermione shrugged, the man behind the counter raised his hand self consciously to his face.

" Oh, ermmm, how about this?" Ron had picked up a shiny blue watch.

"Wow, that's nice! And Harry does keep wearing that old one that doesn't work for some reason, yeah it would be nice to get him a new one"

"I see you are interested in the Locus FX 21" said the weedy counter man " Its new in. It has a built in compass, alarm, mirror, times in London, Tokyo, Paris, New York and…" the man paused before widening his eyes and dramatically saying "it glows in the dark!!"

"Cool!" said Ron and Hermione, Ron with a lot more enthusiasm.

Ignoring Ron, who was staring at the watch as if all his dreams had just come true, Hermione asked, "How much is it?"

" That watch, the Lotus FX 21?" asked the man

"Yes, this watch" replied Hermione slowly

" That will be £35, but for such a charming, and if I may add, handsome young lady as yourself (Hermione winced), I will let you take this home today for £18.95."

"Oh," said Ron, "I have only managed to save up this" holding up a ten pound note.

"That's okay" said Hermione handing him another ten pounds " I couldn't think of anything to get, lets go halves"

As Ron went to pay, Hermione glanced around the shop, when something caught hr eye. Through the window she could clearly recognise the familiar glasses and untidy hair, it was Harry.

She sprinted over to the door, wrenched it open and toppled on to the street.

" Hey Herm, where you goin' ?" called Ron.

"Harry, Harry over here" Hermione called. Harry kept walking. He wasn't alone, a pretty blonde girl was on his arm, whispering into his ear.

Ron came out of the shop.

" Hermionie, what..?" He followed Hermiones stare and saw Harry.

They both went towards Harry and the girl and Hermione pulled Harry's arm round to look at her.

"Hey," she smiled, "If we knew you were coming we would have met up with you and who is this?" Hermione nodded towards the girl who was looking startled.

Before Harry could answer the girl yanked him back round to face her.

"I knew it, I just knew it!" the girl was yelling at Harry in a high pitched squeaky voice as if she was about to burst into tears. "They all told me, about her, and now here she is. Don't go out with him, they said we have seen him around with this other girl. You could have told me you had another girlfriend, but I should have guessed, well then, are you going to introduce us?" People in the street were now falling off the kerb to stop from getting in the way.

"I don't know who she is I have never seen her before in my life" Harry replied.

"Don't lie to me, I may be blonde and beautiful but I am not stupid!" screamed the girl.

Before Harry could reply to this the girl reached up her hand and slapped Harry sharply across the face. Harry's own hand flew instinctively to his cheek. The girl then proceeded to push her way through the crowds before breaking off into a run.

Harry turned to meet the astonished faces of Ron and Hermione.

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed, "Thanks a lot, I really liked her, do you know how hard it is to find a quality girl in London?"

Harry scowled, swore at them then took off in a run in the direction that the girl had gone.

Hermione and Ron gave each other a quick glance before running after Harry, but it was useless it was mid-day and the streets were packed with people.

They stopped, Ron staring at Hermione. "What was all that about?" a puzzled look on his face.

" Lets go home," Hermione suggested, "We will call him tonight and then maybe he can give us an explanation."

***