It was the last evening of the seventh year of Hogwarts. Ron and Hermione were both feeling sad but anticipation took over them. This should be a time where they look back at all the wonderful things that happened while they were at school. Now, they couldn't look back.
Hermione and Ron attended dinner out of respect for Dumbledore. The idea leaving Hogwarts didn't excite them quite that much but they would have an easier time away from it. After not eating much dinner, Ron and Hermione headed straight for their dormitories. They needed to get to bed early, not that it would make a difference, because they wouldn't be able to sleep. They were to catch an earlier train in Hogsmeade instead of the Hogwarts Express. It was better to leave as soon as possible since the recruition forms were being sent within a week. They said all their goodbyes that evening before going to bed.
They woke up early the next morning, and headed towards Hogsmeade. Techinically, they were done with school and could leave whenever they wanted to. So, they walked quietly, tired from their lack of sleep and early awakening, with their belongings floating in front of them. Now they realized they should have learned to apparate and disapparate during the summer like they were going to. But the shock of Harry's death had taken up the whole summer. The train ride to London would take up half the day.
The early train to London was empty. The only sounds were coming from Crookshanks pouncing at Ron's owl and Pigwidgeon screaming tauntingly. Everything was quiet only after noon when Crookshanks curled up in a corner to sleep. When they came to Platform 9 3/4 they got a cart, and headed out of the station. Hermione caught a taxi, while Ron watched her curiously in the process.
"Where'd ye comin from? Yer parents know?" the taxi driver asked as they were driving along.
"We came from Scotland," was all Hermione said. They told the taxi driver to stop a few blocks from where the entrance to Diagon Alley was. Hermione and Ron had to drag their trunks and cages all the way to the Leaky Cauldron. They took two rooms, left their things, and moved out to Diagon Alley. They had a quick lunch and walked around looking to see if there was anything they could find.
"We can't look in the travel agency. We'll have to fill out too many legal papers so the Ministry would be sure to find us." Hermione said.
Ron and Hermione finally decided to sit down at Floo Inc.
"We can take you anywhere in the country as long as it has a fireplace." The man who greeted them said.
"And all we have to do is pay you?" Ron questioned.
"Yes, I'm not here to make this hard for you by making you sign a bunch of papers. I'm just trying to make satisfied customers and just a little money to feed my family." The man smiled at them. There was something very fake about his smile.
"How much does it cost?" Ron asked.
"15 galleons for anywhere in Britain."
"And what about out of Britain?"
"30 for somewhere else in Europe. But then you would have to sign some papers."
Ron looked at Hermione.
"We'll be back this evening," Ron told the man
"Wait," Hermione said as they were getting up, "Can animals come with us?"
"Sorry, ma'am. There's no way they can use floo powder. They can't speak, you see." the man said.
"Thank you," Hermione said and they left.
"We should have just taken the train to the other side of the country." Ron said as they walked back to the leaky cauldron. Another owl was waiting for them when they got up to their rooms.
"It's the recruition forms," Hermione said, grabbing the papers.
"They sent them out already?" Ron said, reading the papers over her shoulder. They were to go to a meeting at the Ministry the next day.
"Ron, we have to leave as soon as possible. We have to take the floo."
"But if they can track us down here, how do you know they won't find us anywhere else?"
"We'll just have to go to a place where there isn't much magical activity. We can't go out of the country though, because the Ministry would be sure to hear about it.
"We'll have to send Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon to my house then, I suppose."
"Yes, that would be the best. I hear they deliver animals at the mailing center." So they sent off the cat and the owl, paid for their unused rooms, took their trunks, and went to Floo Inc.
"So where would you like to go?" the man asked them.
"Anyplace without to many people far from here but in Britain." Hermione said.
"I know just the place. The fireplace is in a tiny magical and muggle community at the bottom of a mountain. Charming place." Ron looked at Hermione and shrugged.
"We'll take it," Hermione said.
"Good, good. Now, that would be 30 galleons for the both of you..." They had paid and soon were standing in front of a fireplace with the name of the place on their lips. First, Hermion went. Ron waited until she was gone and then stepped in and said
"Godric's Hollow!"
Hermione and Ron attended dinner out of respect for Dumbledore. The idea leaving Hogwarts didn't excite them quite that much but they would have an easier time away from it. After not eating much dinner, Ron and Hermione headed straight for their dormitories. They needed to get to bed early, not that it would make a difference, because they wouldn't be able to sleep. They were to catch an earlier train in Hogsmeade instead of the Hogwarts Express. It was better to leave as soon as possible since the recruition forms were being sent within a week. They said all their goodbyes that evening before going to bed.
They woke up early the next morning, and headed towards Hogsmeade. Techinically, they were done with school and could leave whenever they wanted to. So, they walked quietly, tired from their lack of sleep and early awakening, with their belongings floating in front of them. Now they realized they should have learned to apparate and disapparate during the summer like they were going to. But the shock of Harry's death had taken up the whole summer. The train ride to London would take up half the day.
The early train to London was empty. The only sounds were coming from Crookshanks pouncing at Ron's owl and Pigwidgeon screaming tauntingly. Everything was quiet only after noon when Crookshanks curled up in a corner to sleep. When they came to Platform 9 3/4 they got a cart, and headed out of the station. Hermione caught a taxi, while Ron watched her curiously in the process.
"Where'd ye comin from? Yer parents know?" the taxi driver asked as they were driving along.
"We came from Scotland," was all Hermione said. They told the taxi driver to stop a few blocks from where the entrance to Diagon Alley was. Hermione and Ron had to drag their trunks and cages all the way to the Leaky Cauldron. They took two rooms, left their things, and moved out to Diagon Alley. They had a quick lunch and walked around looking to see if there was anything they could find.
"We can't look in the travel agency. We'll have to fill out too many legal papers so the Ministry would be sure to find us." Hermione said.
Ron and Hermione finally decided to sit down at Floo Inc.
"We can take you anywhere in the country as long as it has a fireplace." The man who greeted them said.
"And all we have to do is pay you?" Ron questioned.
"Yes, I'm not here to make this hard for you by making you sign a bunch of papers. I'm just trying to make satisfied customers and just a little money to feed my family." The man smiled at them. There was something very fake about his smile.
"How much does it cost?" Ron asked.
"15 galleons for anywhere in Britain."
"And what about out of Britain?"
"30 for somewhere else in Europe. But then you would have to sign some papers."
Ron looked at Hermione.
"We'll be back this evening," Ron told the man
"Wait," Hermione said as they were getting up, "Can animals come with us?"
"Sorry, ma'am. There's no way they can use floo powder. They can't speak, you see." the man said.
"Thank you," Hermione said and they left.
"We should have just taken the train to the other side of the country." Ron said as they walked back to the leaky cauldron. Another owl was waiting for them when they got up to their rooms.
"It's the recruition forms," Hermione said, grabbing the papers.
"They sent them out already?" Ron said, reading the papers over her shoulder. They were to go to a meeting at the Ministry the next day.
"Ron, we have to leave as soon as possible. We have to take the floo."
"But if they can track us down here, how do you know they won't find us anywhere else?"
"We'll just have to go to a place where there isn't much magical activity. We can't go out of the country though, because the Ministry would be sure to hear about it.
"We'll have to send Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon to my house then, I suppose."
"Yes, that would be the best. I hear they deliver animals at the mailing center." So they sent off the cat and the owl, paid for their unused rooms, took their trunks, and went to Floo Inc.
"So where would you like to go?" the man asked them.
"Anyplace without to many people far from here but in Britain." Hermione said.
"I know just the place. The fireplace is in a tiny magical and muggle community at the bottom of a mountain. Charming place." Ron looked at Hermione and shrugged.
"We'll take it," Hermione said.
"Good, good. Now, that would be 30 galleons for the both of you..." They had paid and soon were standing in front of a fireplace with the name of the place on their lips. First, Hermion went. Ron waited until she was gone and then stepped in and said
"Godric's Hollow!"