"Ugh, guys, this isn't the train" said Ron, yet again stating the obvious. Instead of the dull light and red and brown fittings of the Hogwort's Express the trio where in what looked incredibly like an almost deserted aisle in a muggle shop. The bright fluorescent lighting would probably give the workers migraine after a couple of hours, the aisle was lined with make up stands which in turn were covered in skin coloured liquids and gacky shiny stick stuff.
"Hermione, what are we meant to do now? We've got to find ourselves then teach us you and me some magic, no doubt screwing up the timelines in the process."
"Don't you think I know that" Snapped Hermione, "We don't even know where we are."
"Well, we have company" Ron said, gesturing to the reason why the aisle was only almost deserted.
A small family stood at the Rimmel make-up stand. The mother was wearing a blue summer dress and long brown hair tied back in a topsy-tail, she was still holding a mascara in her hand and her mouth slightly open, obviously shocked at the sudden appearance of three teenagers out of thin air. Next to her stood a man with his hand around her waist, he was wearing a smart black suit and freshly polished shoes, suggesting he was either going to just come back from an office job. Behind his legs there could be seen a small skirt belonging to a little girl.
The man spoke up "How the hell did you do that?" Harry could feel Hermione cling to his arm.
"We'll teach you if you like, we are promoting a new magic shop and are teaching a few tricks for free. I'm sure your daughter will be able to do it by the end of our session." Hermione was still slightly swaying as she said this but had appeared to have regained her composure, guessing by her reaction the bright pink skirt was probably attached to her younger self.
"I'd love to find out how you did that, when are you free?" Mr Granger said
"Whenever, we will be about for a few days." Harry was secretly impressed at how good Hermione was lying to her parents either she had been hanging around with the boys too long or she had more fear for the teachers than her parents.
"Ok, I'll meet you on the benches outside Marks and Sparks tomorrow, about 10.30, is that OK? How long will it take?"
"Oh, shouldn't take too long. I'll see you then, Mr -"
"Granger, please call me Adam, this is my wife Liz and our little girl Hermione. We have to be off now, look forward to seeing you". And with that the Granger's left.
Harry wished it would only be that easy for him. No doubt Ron would be the easiest to get, he already knew magic all he needed was to say one word with 2 other people in the room and no doubt Mr Weasley would probably relish going into a muggle environment.
The trio was now attracting some strange looks from the woman behind the fragrance counter. Harry was hedging his bets between being in Boots or Superdrug. "We had better move before we get done for shoplifting, just got to find me and Ron now." Harry said, now spotting a second pair of eyes staring at him through the racking. It occurred to him that they must look slightly odd, holding wands in their hands and wearing their black Hogworts robes. "If the Dursley's see us there is no chance of getting me, so I guess Ron is the logical one to find."
The group walked up and down the aisles looking for the all too familiar red hair which symbolised the Weasley's. It appeared if they where in the shop they were no longer. They moved out into a shopping centre but with the same results, neither Harry nor Ron where anywhere to be found. From Our Price to Dixons, H Samuel to Topshop they where definitely not in the immediate vicinity anymore. "Did Flitwick say how close you had to be to qualify as a meeting?" Harry asked, getting rather impatient.
"No, but we are not going to fin them now, we've been doing this for hours." Hermione reasoned. Despite the seemingly fruitless task they had gained some pieces of information. They were at The Mill Gate shopping centre in Lancashire. Hermione could remember visiting the West Pennine Moors as a child, so during that visit at some point she must have come to the centre. Ron thought his Great-Great-Auntie Kitty lived in the north of England, that was the only reason he could think he would be in the town, but he couldn't remember for certain. Harry couldn't remember going anywhere, but he was usually left in the car whenever the Dursley's went out and Mrs Figg was unavailable.
The only option now was to get some kip and prepare for the rather unusual tale they would have to tell Hermione's parents. Harry found it funny to think of possible introductions 'Hi! I'm Hermione, your daughter from my future, but that's not all, I'm a witch who had an accident at my magic school'. It wasn't going to wash, but at the same time they had believed the acceptance letter to Hogworts so maybe there was hope afterall.