Hermione thought momentarily about telling her mother that she had no way
to contact the Weasley family, but then decided that it wouldn't help any.
Her mother wouldn't understand about owls and things like that. She didn't
understand much about Hogwarts and the wizarding world, except for what she
learned from Dumbledore's various letters. It just wouldn't work to try to
work out any other plan with her. Hermione had to come up with a plan
herself, which was really never that hard. She racked her brain, sorting
out different plans.
Apparating was out of the question. Even though Hermione was quite sure she could handle it, she hadn't taken the official test. It would be against the rules to try without officials there. If she even tried once, she would surely get caught.
Harry had told Ron and her about the Knight Bus before. Traveling with two strange men didn't appeal to Hermione though. Her mother just wouldn't approve either. Unless there was no other way, she would rather not step foot on that thing.
She didn't have any Floo Power. She didn't even have an open fireplace. The only fireplace the Grangers had was in Hermione's parent's bedroom, and it was closed off with mesh wire. Traveling by fireplace was out.
Waiting was the only other option Hermione had. It only had a slight chance of working though. Hermione glanced at her watch. It would only work if Ron sent an owl to her in the next two hours or so. With the way Ron kept in touch with his friends, it didn't seem likely.
What if Ron didn't contact? Mrs. Granger didn't know when she'd have to be called over to Sweden for her sister. For all anyone knew, it could be the next day. The sooner Hermione got off to the Burrow, the better. It would save her mother much trouble and anxiety.
If Ron didn't owl soon, they wouldn't have much time. It would take time for her response owl about coming over to get to the Burrow. Then Ron would have to talk it over with his mother and figure out how to get her there. They would have to send to get her there also.
Hermione sat down on her bed to think. She could go to Harry's. She knew where he lived: Number Four, Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey. She didn't want to stay there though. Harry told many horror stories about his ghastly aunt and uncle. Besides, she didn't think his relatives would appreciate if she stayed.
The Weasleys would have to take her. They were the only other wizard family she knew well enough to stay with. Whether Ron contacted or not, she had to find a way to get there.
Realizing this, Hermione pulled out a scrap or parchment. She might as well get the note to Ron ready, in case he did contact. There was no sense in wasting time. She scrawled out:
"Ron,
My parents have to go to Sweden. They can't take me with them. They need me to stay at your house until the school year starts. I think they're leaving sometime soon. Could someone come pick me up to take me to the Burrow? I hate to invite myself, but I have to stay somewhere.
I'm very sorry it's so short notice. Mum got the news just yesterday I think. I hope that doesn't matter too much and that I'll be able to come.
Please write back soon! I think my parents might be leaving tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Hermione"
She folded the parchment once, stuck it in an envelope, and wrote "Ron Weasley" on the front. She was careful not to seal it, in case she needed to add something more on it. Placing the envelope down on the desk, she took a seat again.
Crookshanks prowled around Hermione's feet, darting aptly at a moth, playing a game with it by staying mere inches from it and trying to catch it just as it started to fly away. Hermione smiled and picked her ginger cat up in her lap, where he sat looking longingly at the moth. She stroked the cat's fur, wondering if she could ever get to the Burrow.
At that exact moment, as Hermione was wondering if a message would ever come from Ron so she could use his owl to reply, an owl flew through the window. She leapt up, hoping it was Pigwidgeon. It wasn't. It was a large, snowy owl.
"Hedwig!"
The bird perched himself upon the top of her desk, extending a talon that was wrapped around an envelope. Hermione took it from Hedwig and opened it. She didn't open it eagerly though. Hegwig wasn't Pig, and Hermione couldn't send a letter to Ron with her. She opened the letter though, knowing she should read it.
"Hermione,
Aunt Petunia's mad at Hedwig. She says she made a mess of her bookself, which I know she didn't. Nonetheless, she told me to "get rid of the filthy bird" for now. I thought you should keep her for a few days. You're the most responsible person I know. Just be sure she's back in a few days.
Harry"
Hermione sighed, relieved. Thanks to Harry and Hedwig, she'd be able to send the letter to Ron. In gratitude, she fished a piece of biscuit out of a tin and gave it to the owl. Hedwig gobbled it up as fast as her beak could move.
"Do you think you're up for another journey?" Hermione asked the bird, tossing her another bit of biscuit. "Can you take this to Ron at the Burrow?"
She gave the letter to Hedwig, who took it in her talons. She hooted, then flapped out the window. Hermione watched as the owl disappeared into the distance. She hoped Hedwig would get that letter there soon.
Realizing it had been over two hours since she had first run up to her room, Hermione scurried down the stairs again. Her mother was waiting at a table. She smiled grimly at her daughter and pushed the heavy trunk towards her slightly with her foot.
"Guess who has to leave for Sweden in less than an hour?"
Apparating was out of the question. Even though Hermione was quite sure she could handle it, she hadn't taken the official test. It would be against the rules to try without officials there. If she even tried once, she would surely get caught.
Harry had told Ron and her about the Knight Bus before. Traveling with two strange men didn't appeal to Hermione though. Her mother just wouldn't approve either. Unless there was no other way, she would rather not step foot on that thing.
She didn't have any Floo Power. She didn't even have an open fireplace. The only fireplace the Grangers had was in Hermione's parent's bedroom, and it was closed off with mesh wire. Traveling by fireplace was out.
Waiting was the only other option Hermione had. It only had a slight chance of working though. Hermione glanced at her watch. It would only work if Ron sent an owl to her in the next two hours or so. With the way Ron kept in touch with his friends, it didn't seem likely.
What if Ron didn't contact? Mrs. Granger didn't know when she'd have to be called over to Sweden for her sister. For all anyone knew, it could be the next day. The sooner Hermione got off to the Burrow, the better. It would save her mother much trouble and anxiety.
If Ron didn't owl soon, they wouldn't have much time. It would take time for her response owl about coming over to get to the Burrow. Then Ron would have to talk it over with his mother and figure out how to get her there. They would have to send to get her there also.
Hermione sat down on her bed to think. She could go to Harry's. She knew where he lived: Number Four, Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey. She didn't want to stay there though. Harry told many horror stories about his ghastly aunt and uncle. Besides, she didn't think his relatives would appreciate if she stayed.
The Weasleys would have to take her. They were the only other wizard family she knew well enough to stay with. Whether Ron contacted or not, she had to find a way to get there.
Realizing this, Hermione pulled out a scrap or parchment. She might as well get the note to Ron ready, in case he did contact. There was no sense in wasting time. She scrawled out:
"Ron,
My parents have to go to Sweden. They can't take me with them. They need me to stay at your house until the school year starts. I think they're leaving sometime soon. Could someone come pick me up to take me to the Burrow? I hate to invite myself, but I have to stay somewhere.
I'm very sorry it's so short notice. Mum got the news just yesterday I think. I hope that doesn't matter too much and that I'll be able to come.
Please write back soon! I think my parents might be leaving tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Hermione"
She folded the parchment once, stuck it in an envelope, and wrote "Ron Weasley" on the front. She was careful not to seal it, in case she needed to add something more on it. Placing the envelope down on the desk, she took a seat again.
Crookshanks prowled around Hermione's feet, darting aptly at a moth, playing a game with it by staying mere inches from it and trying to catch it just as it started to fly away. Hermione smiled and picked her ginger cat up in her lap, where he sat looking longingly at the moth. She stroked the cat's fur, wondering if she could ever get to the Burrow.
At that exact moment, as Hermione was wondering if a message would ever come from Ron so she could use his owl to reply, an owl flew through the window. She leapt up, hoping it was Pigwidgeon. It wasn't. It was a large, snowy owl.
"Hedwig!"
The bird perched himself upon the top of her desk, extending a talon that was wrapped around an envelope. Hermione took it from Hedwig and opened it. She didn't open it eagerly though. Hegwig wasn't Pig, and Hermione couldn't send a letter to Ron with her. She opened the letter though, knowing she should read it.
"Hermione,
Aunt Petunia's mad at Hedwig. She says she made a mess of her bookself, which I know she didn't. Nonetheless, she told me to "get rid of the filthy bird" for now. I thought you should keep her for a few days. You're the most responsible person I know. Just be sure she's back in a few days.
Harry"
Hermione sighed, relieved. Thanks to Harry and Hedwig, she'd be able to send the letter to Ron. In gratitude, she fished a piece of biscuit out of a tin and gave it to the owl. Hedwig gobbled it up as fast as her beak could move.
"Do you think you're up for another journey?" Hermione asked the bird, tossing her another bit of biscuit. "Can you take this to Ron at the Burrow?"
She gave the letter to Hedwig, who took it in her talons. She hooted, then flapped out the window. Hermione watched as the owl disappeared into the distance. She hoped Hedwig would get that letter there soon.
Realizing it had been over two hours since she had first run up to her room, Hermione scurried down the stairs again. Her mother was waiting at a table. She smiled grimly at her daughter and pushed the heavy trunk towards her slightly with her foot.
"Guess who has to leave for Sweden in less than an hour?"