Chapter 3

July 13th. A light blue car hovered outside Harry Potter's window. Behind the steering wheel sat a flaming red haired boy who was none other than Ron Weasley. Next to him was a bushy, brown haired girl with big front teeth. Sitting behind both of them were two adults that Harry had met only once before.

A loud honk of the horn awoke Harry that morning at 5 o'clock. He smacked his head against the dresser next to him. They were very early and very loud. Quickly, Harry grabbed his trunk from under his bed and ran to the window.

He hadn't told the Dursleys about his little trip, and he hoped they wouldn't find out about it any time soon. But if Ron kept beeping so obnoxiously, they surely would.

"Shh," Harry hissed out the window.

He held a birdcage in one hand and his trunk in the other as he balanced himself on the windowsill. Underneath him was a two-story drop into a half dead grass lawn and thorny bushes. A cement pathway would break his fall.

"Closer," Harry whispered.

Ron turned the steering wheel to the left and reversed the car slightly. Thick smoke chugged out the back pipe as he hovered, waiting for Harry to jump on board.

"Sorry, mate, it's a tight squeeze back there," said Ron.

A woman sitting in the back opened the door for Harry. She looked very much the same from the last time Harry had seen her in Diagon Alley close to four years ago. Hermione's mother, Mrs. Granger, patted the seat next to her and motioned for Harry to get in.

So, he did what he was told. First, he tossed his trunk onto the top of the car that automatically hinged it down with some rope enchantment. Then, Harry attempted to toss Hedwig on the top, but she fluttered about in her cage.

"I don't think there's enough room for you in the back," Harry pleaded. "Pig isn't up there, so don't worry. If it gets cold, just use this wool blanket." Harry had left a chunk of cloth that he had ripped from a Weasley Christmas sweater inside the cage.

Hedwig settled down a bit, so Harry pushed her on top of the car, which secured her nicely. Then, Harry leapt into the air and onto the seat. He closed the door just in time to see a shadow underneath his bedroom door. His doorknob was turning slowly but Vernon could not get in. Harry had locked the door.

"Step on it, Ron!" Harry shouted.

And he did just that. Ron floored it, and soon, the car was invisible to the Muggle naked eye. They soared high in the air and continued flying for some time.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Harry said noticing that they were staring at him.

"Hello, Harry," Mrs. Granger said. "We've heard so much about you from our daughter. She's taken quite a shining toward you."

"Mother, please," Hermione snapped from the front passenger seat.

"It's nothing he doesn't know," Mrs. Granger continued. "So, tell me, have you ever been to China before?"

"No," said Harry.

Mr. Granger tilted his head forward and leaned over his wife. "It's a wonderful place. Especially their Ministry of Magic."

"My mother and father always tell me about it," Hermione said. She turned her head to the back seat. "It's fascinating really."

"Where is it at?" Harry asked.

"You don't know?" Mrs. Granger asked. "Don't they teach you these things at Hogwarts?"

"Mother," Hermione hissed and gritted her teeth. "It's at the Wall of China. You just pass through it at the right spot, like entering Platform 9 ¾ . My parents have always wanted to go inside, but they won't let Muggles in. Once they almost did. They snuck in with a tour group and got passed the first room before they were spotted. But they travel every year to the world's Ministries, just to take pictures and try to sneak in... But they are fascinated the most with China's."

"She's right about that," said Mrs. Granger. "Their system is very similar, yet very different, from our own Ministry. Did you know they have just one person in charge of it all?"

"It's a dynasty," Mr. Granger butted in. "The Lee Dynasty was in charge since its creation several centuries ago until the 1400s. That's when another dynasty was formed."

"It's amazing that you know so much when you're not even wizards yourselves… No offense or anything, but I've never heard of Muggles knowing so much."

"We're interested in history, Harry. Whether it's magical or not, it doesn't matter to us. We still read the books that you do."

Harry nodded. "So, what happened to the Lee Dynasty?" Harry asked.

"Well, they don't really know actually. Their history scrolls just stop and start again with another name in charge."

"My parents have been researching it for years. One of their many hobbies," Hermione said. "That's why they visit so much. They think the Ministry of China is covering up something big. Every time they try to get in and ask questions, especially about the Lee Dynasty, they are threatened. Something terrible must have happened a long time ago. Well, that's what they think."

"That's really cool," Harry said.

"That's really boring," Ron blurted out.

Hermione smacked his arm hard, causing him to swerve into a thick cloud.

"You witch," Ron said. "And I don't mean that in a good way."

"I know, but you deserve it. Just keep your eyes on the sky."

Ron sighed and continued driving for several hours until they slowly descended onto another continent to refuel. It was Africa. They landed hard on an empty desert with nothing but dry sand. Ron had fortunately remembered to bring the extra fuel in the trunk and got out the car to refuel it.

Harry sat inside with the Grangers for several minutes in complete silence until finally he said something.

"Thanks for inviting Ron and me along on your trip. I know it must have cost you a bunch, and I'll do anything you want to repay you."

"Don't be silly," Mrs. Granger said. "You being friends with our Hermione is thanks enough. I remember when she was younger how she didn't have anyone to talk to or to talk about. Until her first year at Hogwarts of course. You brought out a whole other side of her."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You make it sound as if I didn't have any friends before Ron and him."

"Well, you didn't, dear," said Mr. Granger. "But, when you finally made friends, you chose the best."

Harry smiled, as did Hermione. Soon, Ron came back from refueling, sat in the front seat and started the engine. Slowly, they lifted off the ground, causing swirls of sand to circle them. Soon, a tornado of sand lifted around them, shielding them completely.

"Hold on," Ron warned as he shifted the car and stepped on the gas.

They flew through the sand, creating a big hole in the sand tornado and were off again into the sky.

The trip was long, very long. It took many more hours, soaring on top of the small dots that were cities and small drops of water that were lakes.  Eventually, with the car covered in warm, melting frost, they arrived at a row islands just under a large chunk of land called China.

"Just park the car in that oval tower building," said Mrs. Granger.

As the car fell onto the cement, Harry noticed that there were other cars parked in between white and yellow lines. A group of people with large cameras hanging from their necks and wearing floral tee shirts stood near by. One of them pointed at their car, and they all started flashing their cameras.

"A juvenile tour group," Mr. Granger sighed. "Just ignore them."

"I thought we were invisible," said Harry.

"It must have gone off," Ron said as he parked the car next to a large jeep. "I hope they didn't see us land."

"If they did, the Ministry will take care of it, so don't worry," said Mrs. Granger who unbuckled her seat belt. "Now, before we head over to the cruise ship, I don't have to remind you three about using magic? Non-magical folk like us and those tourists will be around."

"We know."

"Good. Come on, now, we don't want to be late."

The USS Galactica was a beautiful ship. It was very big with silver paint on the side and naked woman attached to the front of it. Perhaps it was some sort of mascot. In any case, the group gathered their things, handed over their trunks to the workers and walked up a short, wooden platform leading to the main deck of the ship.

Ron, Hermione and Harry would share one room together, on the bottom part of the ship. They squeezed into a narrow staircase, only a few steps with no railing at all. Down the long, small corridor were old doors, rusted walls and a swaying floor.

"I think I'm gonna puke," Ron said as he tried to lean against a wall.

"Don't tell me you get sea sick!" Hermione glared at him.

"Fine, I won't tell you."

Hermione rolled her eyes and pointed at the last door that faced them. It was the furthest door from the staircase, all the way in the back of the ship. Room number 119.

The Grangers were not too far behind them, but their room was on the opposite side of the cabins at the beginning of the hall at room number 23.

"Come on, let's see it," Ron said, pushing the key out of Hermione's pocket.

She fiddled with it and then turned it in the keyhole. Then, lightly, she pushed the door, making the hinges squeak. Both Harry and Ron jumped back.

"Our home for the next week," said Hermione as she opened the door completely.

There were two twin-sized beds divided by one wooden desk not much taller than the low beds. One plastic light hung from the ceiling and tilted back and forth as the boat moved in the water gently.

"Maybe I'm wrong, but shouldn't there be three beds?" Ron asked.

"Oh no!" Hermione yelled.

"Oh yes, we'll have to share." Ron raised his eyebrows and moved his arm around Hermione's shoulder.

But Hermione squirmed away and ran out the doorway gagging. Harry and Ron stood there laughing at the whole mess. Well, two of them would have to share a bed and it didn't look like Hermione was willing to do that.

"You better not snore," said Harry.

"Or what? You'll throw me overboard?"

"You'd be surprised," said Harry.

            A few hours later, dinner was being served. The ship had set sail and was heading toward central China. Ron and Harry entered a dining hall on the upper deck that was surrounded by glass. Some of the windows had been shattered and repaired with silver duck tape.

            It wasn't very expensive looking or even decent, but Ron and Harry weren't paying for anything, so they couldn't complain. They just grabbed a plate, some Muggle utensils and grabbed a booth in the corner.

            Hermione and the Grangers soon arrived and sat on the other side of the room. The Grangers were talking to some other folk that they seemed to know and were showing off Hermione to them.

            "Do you still like her?" Harry asked as he watched Ron stare at Hermione and eat his food.

            "What?!"

            Suddenly, Ron started choking on a piece of broccoli. His face puffed out, and his skin turned a shade of pinkish red. At first, Harry that he was joking, but it turned out, he was really choking.

Harry reached into his pocket to get his wand, but before he could, Mr. Granger had rushed over and was performing the Heimlich maneuver.

            "Just spit it out, lad," he said.

            Ron's face was now draining of all color. He made wheezing sounds, and his arms shook in the air. Mr. Granger continued pulling on his stomach and punching him until finally, a piece of a green, chewed up stem flew out.

            "Gross!" both Harry and Hermione said.

            "All better now," said Mr. Granger. "You should chew your food better. Visit me some time when we're back in London. That mouth of yours can use some work."

            "Father," Hermione said and glared. He smiled and walked back to her.

            "You ok, Ron?" asked Harry.

            "I was nearly killed by a vegetable! Next time my mum says to eat them up, I'll remind her of this!"

            Harry laughed and patted Ron on the back. "It was pretty funny at first. I knew you wouldn't die from a piece of rabbit food, as my uncle calls it."

            "Did you tell your uncle you were here?" Ron asked.

            "No, and don't tell the Grangers. I'm sure they'd send me home if they knew I hadn't asked them. They should have sent a permission slip like you did when we went to the Quidditch World Cup."

            Ron nodded. "I won't tell." He paused and his eyes lit up. "Blimey!"

            "What?"

            "Look at those clouds!"

            Ron pointed his finger at the foggy window. Through the chipping glass was a churning sea. Above it were thick clouds moving in very fast. They were so dark and dreary. Soon, they would cover the setting sun completely.

            "We better get down below," said Ron.

            "Good idea. And I'll bring some broccoli for you to chew on."

            "Shut up."

            And so, Ron and Harry left the dining hall, and Hermione soon followed them (after escaping her parents prancing her around). The three went inside their cabin, Ron and Harry sitting on one bed, and Hermione on the other. All was quiet.

            "Stop moving the bed," said Ron to Harry.

            "I'm not doing anything."

            The room was shaking. No longer was it just swaying nicely, but the room tilted all the way to the left. Harry and Ron's bed was diagonal now and knocking into the side table.

            "It's just the storm," said Hermione. "It'll be over soon."

            "Harry, did you wet yourself?"

            "What? No!" he protested.

            Ron looked up at the ceiling. A quarter-sized hole was dripping water onto the bed. Harry jumped out, as did Ron, and then they turned their heads to the wall behind the bed. There, a small, but wide, gushing waterfall came down.

            "This can't be good."