Paris
"Oh, Ron it's everything I thought it would be!" Hermione breathed as she stepped off the Metro. "Don't you agree Ron? RON?"
Apparently fascinated by the sliding glass doors, Ron was walking back and forth through them. "AMAZING!" he exclaimed, "Who knew? Doors that automatically open! Muggles really aren't as dumb as there are made out to be."
"Thanks a ton, Ron."
"Sweetie, you know you are the exception," he cooed as he leaned over to snag a quick kiss.
"Where are Harry and April?"
Hermione glanced around before she heard Ron mumble, "Idiots".
"What is it?" Hermione inquired, looking in the direction of his gaze. "You two, making a public exhibition of yourselves!"
Harry got off the park bench, followed by April who straightened her hair. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Never mind," Hermione said bossily, "here is the map Ron, you wanted to lead, now get us to our hotel."
* * *
"I revoke my comment about Muggles not being as dumb as they are made out to be! They are idiots! They still can not figure out how to properly make a map!" Ron stated angrily about an hour later, "Look at this thing! How the hell are you supposed to get anywhere! You can't tell where you are. And this pointy circle thing, what the hell is that? N-E-W-S? It doesn't tell you the news! It doesn't tell you anything!"
Harry bent over and turned away from the rest, suppressing fits of hysterical laughter.
"Whose idea was it to give you the map? Men, never trust them to get anywhere! NEWS! That is a compass, and the letters mean North, East, West and South. Honestly, wizards have compasses!"
"Duh, but we use to pointer spell, simply telling it where we want to go! They could come up with moving doors but can't figure out a pointing spell!"
"Ron, I never knew you could be such a prat. Look, you use the street names to help you find your way around. See that sign down at the corner of that street? Pyrenees Boulevard. Our hotel is here," she pointed to the map, "InterContinetal Paris. I can't WAIT!"
"Hermione!" Ron shouted after her but it was too later. She had ripped the map out of his hands and was racing down the streets. She then stopped abruptly, turned around and walked back.
"Forgot something," she grinned, and grabbed Ron's hand then continued her race to the hotel. Harry watched them in amusement. He was glad to see Hermione was finally opening up and relaxing yet was content with causally walking alongside April. He was thrilled to be in one of the world's most romantic city, a week before the start of school, with his best friends and his girlfriend.
Something gave him away, for April turned her head up and gazed languidly at him.
"What's the matter?" Harry inquired
"Nothing… nothing, you are just so cute when you sigh."
Looking ahead of them, Harry noticed Hermione and Ron were, well they were not paying attention of the world around them. "I don't believe they will notice," he began as he grabbed her hand "if we take a … detour."
April ran along with Harry as they dashed across and road filled with mad drivers and into a serene little park. They slowed down and strolled down a small dirt path. He slid his arm around April's waist as they walked, tossing the occasionally 'Bonjour' to a passersby.
Harry suddenly stopped in front of a fountain, intrigued by its beauty and the… liquidness of the water. It was all so perfect. Yet oddly disturbing for there was something about the water. April titled her head, and gently said into his ear, "What are you thinking about?"
"Well, it was something else but now I am not to sure."
"Let me help you… recall your previous thoughts."
"Are you sure you can do that," he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, but I could give you some more thoughts to dwell on"
"Oh really, please continue…"
She leaned into him and kissed him right there in the middle of the path. He relaxed, kissing back and the two became oblivious to the rest of the world.
* * *
"Where were you two?" Hermione nagged as soon as they arrived in he hotel lobby, "we have been waiting for ages, sitting here looking like fools." Something told Harry that the fact that they were waiting was the only thing that made them look like a fool.
Ron, however, did not join in the merry greeting. He was sitting on a chair, with a deep look of unease on his face.
"Er… April, can you and Hermione go and check in? I need to talk to Ron for a minute."
Noting the importance of his voice, she nodded, "Sure thing, hun."
April and Hermione crossed the room over to front desk. A male at the reception desk greeted them.
"Bonjour Mademoiselles! Bienvenue a l'hôtel InterContinetal Paris…"
Harry walked over to Ron, sitting down in a chair across from him. "What's up?"
"Hermione. She has… did you notice the huge bruises on her back?"
"Yes, I have and I am sorry but I can't tell you. She trusted me and confided in me. For reasons you will understand once she explains it to you, you've got to let her do this on her own."
"Why couldn't she talk to me?"
"She fears certain things. That is all I am going to tell you though."
Ron leaned back into the chair, somewhat defeated. As if his stare penetrated Hermione, she turned around a looked over at them. She blew a quick, almost ditzy, kiss to him, smiled for a second, and then turned back to the receptionist. "Does she trust me?"
"It isn't that she doesn't trust you Ron!" Harry sighed, searching for the words to explain. He reached out opening his mouth but never found them. Closing his mouth he thought over the situation. "It is for a different reason. Just believe me."
"Alright, I guess so," he started.
"Seriously, I mean it Ron. Just don't mention it, whatever you do. You might have noticed she is making a point to hide it; go along for now. Please."
Ron opened his mouth as if he was about to say something but at that moment Hermione came bounding over with April behind her. When they stopped in front of Ron and Harry, they shared a grin.
"What's up with you two?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Hermione said, "except that we got a key to the Presidential Suite!" She was practically squealing as she dangled four key-cards out in front of her.
Harry and April each took a card from Hermione and stuffed it in the wallets, but when Hermione offered one to Ron he simply stated "No thanks, I've already eaten."
"Ron! It's a key, to get into the room. Think of it as the password to the Gryffindor common room, except you don't even need to speak. Here, I'll show you."
