Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thank you so much for the reviews! I never expected to get so many!

Chips: anglais lingo for French fries… not potato chips though it doesn't really matter.

Chapter 2: Service stations and the magic of window-screen wipers.

It was all going well, Ron seemed content to stare out the window as they sped down the motorway towards Little Whinging in Surrey to save Harry from having to spend time with the Dursleys, who, having found that Sirius Harry's godfather was dead, treated Harry even more like dirt. It was only a matter of time before one or the other ended up dead.

"You know." Ron stated matter-of-factly as he tore his gaze away from watching the many tree's fly by. "I think I prefer the train, can walk around and feel your legs, they've been dead for ages."

Hermione grinned. "Well this is a lot smaller then a train."

"Even so you think they would have catered for people with long legs." He grumbled as he fiddled with the seatbelt, he had done so for the last half hour saying that it was rubbing his neck or that it was too tight and made him have to constantly hold his breath in; Ron had shut up after Hermione had said he should loose weight then.

"You can walk about in a minute; we're going to stop at the services. I need some petrol and I'm rather peckish." She stated as she changed lanes and suddenly beeped her horn as a male driver almost cut her off. "Bloody men drivers! My gran drives faster then him! This is a motorway not-" Her words were cut short as a thought came to her, she was not suffering from road rage, she certainly wasn't, she was a mature female witch who didn't let her temper get the better of her. Road rage? What was road rage?

"Services? Petrol?" Ron asked in wonder as he gazed over his shoulder to see the cause of Hermione's outburst.

"You don't think the car runs on air do you?"

"Well…I…it runs on air? Car's don't run on air, Hermione even I know that and I don't spend much time with muggles."

That we can tell. Hermione thought ruefully as she turned off the motorway and into the service station, flying swans on a sign greeted her as she drew the car to halt. "It's a muggle saying Ron. Just forget about it. The car runs… I mean." She couldn't think of another word. "The car needs petrol to move; didn't your dad ever tell you when he had his car?" At the blank expression on her friends face she sighed. "Let me guess, magic."

Ron almost tumbled out of the car as Hermione opened the door, she had put the child lock on because she hadn't quite trusted him to not mistake the door handle for the window switch, the only reason Ron didn't land in a heap was the fact he was still belted into the car. That'll teach him not to lean on my windows! "Press the red button, mate."

"Well that certainly was a…Ow!" Ron winced and rubbed his head, he had forgotten just how high a car was and hit his head on the roof as he got out. "I don't think I could get used to this." He drew his wand from his pocket. "Just one wave and the roof will be gone."

"Don't!" Hermione said a little too loudly causing several other 'welcome breakers' to stare. "Look, put away your wand, we're around muggles remember?!" She hissed as she dragged him towards the service station by one arm. "Don't say anything unusual."

"Yes Hermione." Ron said meekly, his eyes scanning the large building in front of him and widening slightly, obviously impressed by what muggles could come up with without magic. He jumped slightly as the automatic doors sprung open, a strong smell of coffee hitting both as they passed through.

"Right where do you get the petrol from then?"

"Not here silly." Hermione suppressed the urge to slap some sense into him for she would be slapping him for hours, maybe even days. "The car has to be with us to get the petrol."

"You mean you drive it in here?"

"No," She said sweetly as though talking to a five year old. "There's a petrol station outside that we go to, here's where we get food and go to the you know…where we go to relieve ourselves."

"Oh-"

They walked down the corridor, following the sign for the toilets, Hermione winced every time Ron pointed at something and almost shouted his amazement, she had almost tripped over him when he had spotted the arcades and stopped suddenly, asking whether he could try one. A child in a sweet store would have been less hassle.

"Now there's the toilet, go in and do you business and wait for me outside." Hermione said bluntly. She was glad that they would be seeing Harry soon; he would know how to cope with Ron. "And remember," She added, "Wash your hands afterwards and then stick them under the thing that blows hot air." Hermione was rewarded by the glare Ron shot at her as he mumbled about knowing how to use a toilet.

Five minutes later, Ron had a wide grin on his face as he came to stand beside her. "And you say they don't have magic."

Hermione glanced around her making sure that no-one had heard them, one of these days she was going to have to teach Ron about the word discreet. "I got us some chips and drinks of coke –they don't have pumpkin juice- and what is so amazing?"

"The toilet flushed without me having to even push the button."

"That was a bit of information I did not need to know." She said, wrinkling her nose. "We'll head back to the car now and fill up with petrol and in an hour we should be at Harry's. By the way if you spill anything in my car, Nearly Headless Nick will suddenly have some competition."

"I get your point." Ron mumbled, taking the food of Hermione. "No spillage."

Back at the car, Ron had as much trouble getting in as he had before, the reason being that he had his hands full though he managed not to spill anything much to his and Hermione's relief, maybe when Harry joined them things wouldn't be so bad. "What's that smell?" He asked suddenly as a strong smell made its way up his nose causing him to cough.

"That, my friend, is the sweet smell of petrol. Don't worry, you'll get used it." Hermione said as she stopped the car next to one of the petrol pumps and opened the door. "While I'm gone don't touch anything, don't even move." She added before slamming the door and proceeding to fill the car with petrol. Ron merely gazed about him, watching the muggles getting the big nozzles and shoving them into a hole in the car, he made a note to himself to take muggle studies in his spare time, never had he seen his father do such a thing with the Ford Anglia.

When Hermione returned they began once again on their journey, both were excited about being reunited with Harry and going some place where he wouldn't be recognised, it would be a relaxing break for them all.

Suddenly spots of rain hit the windscreen as the heavens opened, Hermione sighed at the sudden turn in weather, British weather could never be trusted.

"Do you want me to use the Impervius spell on the windscreen? I'm very good at it now." Ron said producing his wand.

"No, that's not needed; window-wipers will do just fine." Hermione said as she switched them on. "I was taught by my driving instructor that you have to leave it for a bit before switching them on, stops the screen from smearing."

Ron looked just slightly disappointed as he put his wand back in his pocket, grumbling that the Ford Anglia would most likely have needed it, Hermione had to agree as she doubted the car even had working window-wipers. "Maybe I'll let you drive." She said, trying to cheer Ron up.

"Really? This car is very different from what I drove."

"Not this car, I'll let you have a go on a racing arcade and a go-kart."

"Oh-"

Houses began appearing in the distance and they soon passed a sign telling them to take the second exit on the roundabout to reach Little Whinging. Hermione felt her stomach twist with excitement as they entered the village. "Now keep an eye out for Privet drive."

It was quite easy to spot the road and in no time they were parked up outside number 4 Privet Drive. Hermione had never been there before but from the way Harry had described it, she had expected some kind of fortress not a small village home. "Well we're here now."

Ron was already out the car and walking towards the door, Hermione caught up with him just as he rang the doorbell. A grey haired Mr Dursley answered, his face falling at the sight of them. "No salesman." He stated and almost closed the door before spotting Ron, "Don't I know you?" He asked through narrow eyes.

Probably as the son of the one who destroyed your fireplace. Ron thought with a smile at the memory from some years ago. "Is Harry in?" He asked without answering the first question.

"Ron! Hermione!" Harry pushed the door aside, almost making his uncle fall. "Come in, I'm sure you're … tired." He added looking at Hermione's less then perfect state. "We can all have a cup of tea before we set off. My trunks all packed- nice car Hermione!"

"Thank you Harry, Ron seems to disagree." She said as she entered the house, a startled Mr Dursley backed up against the wall, his moustache almost bristling with anger.

"Well I had to guess where the boot was, looking at it you'd never think it had one, just slopes straight down at the back and then it has a lot more buttons then the Ford Anglia ever had."

Harry merely laughed. "It's great to hear you again, I'm so glad we're doing this."

TBC..

Responses to reviews: (I always like to reply)

Jess: I've written more, though I'm not quite sure how long the whole story is going to be… I have lots of ideas.

Orian'sbelt: Thank you very much! I have no idea what's going to happen so I guess we're all waiting.

Lovablechick213: I should be updating everyday though sometimes it will be every other day. Glad you liked it! I am interested in the beta thing though at the moment my friend is doing it and it helps that you know British words!

Elkebaby: How are Harry's relatives going to react? Afraid that's in the next chapter. Harry really didn't give Uncle Vernon time to react.

Phantom radio: Glad you liked it, and what can I say cars vary as do their handles.

Kaitee: Thank you, I am continuing and hopefully I'll finish it. There's a lot more to come.

Ann: Less interesting then Ron? True but then he hasn't experienced many Muggle things thanks to his relatives…have to see how he reacts. A Nightclub is currently at the top of my thoughts for some strange reason...and a theme park.

Kwndnl: I hope you find this chapter as funny… I was trying to cheer myself up whilst writing chapter 1. Glad you liked it.

Cassiopeia Stargazer: I'm not at all offended; I was thinking that when I posted the chapter but a Ford Anglia and Vauxhall Corsa are completely different cars, they barely look the same so I just played it up at bit… I have friends who don't know how to get into some cars and I myself have attempted to open a window…the fact that it was actually a door handle. I admit I did exaggerate a bit.

LMD09: Thank you!

Heather: Thank you and I am continuing it. All these responses have motivated me to write more.

Br34: Glad you like it and I have updated.

Next chapter… how will the Dursley's react to having another witch and wizard in the house?