Mr. and Mrs. Granger led a blindfolded Hermione out of their small, cottage house, and down the pathway through a large garden. Hermione stumbled on the sidewalk, and her parents caught her.

"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked, unable to keep the anticipation out of her voice.

"We have a little surprise for you," said her father.

"A surprise? What for?"

"It's an early birthday present from your father and me," Mrs. Granger answered.

It was the beginning of August, and Hermione's eighteenth birthday was just a month away. She would be starting her seventh year at Hogwarts on September first.

Hermione had no idea what her parents would be getting her for her birthday. Whatever it was, Hermione knew, ithad to betoo big to go inside the house. Curiosity rising, she tried to walk faster and stumbled again. After what seemed like ages under the blindfold, her parents stopped her at the driveway.

"Can I take the blindfold off now?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"Just wait a minute!"

Deliberately taking as long as he could, Mr. Granger started removing the cloth around Hermione's eyes. After a few seconds, Hermione made a noise of impatience. Her parents chuckled. Finally, the blindfold came off and Hermione's initial suspicion when she was led to the driveway was correct: a gleaming red convertible stood a few feet in front of her.

Hermione's mouth fell open. It took her a few seconds for her to fully comprehend what she was seeing. She let out a squeal of delight. "Oh my gosh! A car!" She flung herself onto her parents and began thanking them profusely. "I love it!"

"It's not just any car, it's a 2005 Ford Mustang ConvertibleGT!" her father said proudly. "We got a really good deal on it, too."

Hermione carefully opened to door so as not to smudge the handle, and sat on the black leather driver's seat. The keys were in the ignition. She started the car with a shudder and gripped the steering wheel. Excitement flooded through her, and her face shone with delight. "I can't wait to take it for a spin!"

She turned off the car and began to sprint back toward the house. "I've got to get my driver's license!" A few seconds later, she reappeared at her parents' side, clutching her purse and breathing heavily from her sprint through the house.

"Wait, Hermione, before you drive it, we've got something else to tell you," her mother said. "We've talked to your friends Harry, Ron, and Ginny, and they've agreed to go with you on a little road trip that we set up for you instead of coming with us to Majorca like originally planned. You'll leave tomorrow with your new car for the United States."

"Oh, mum, dad, you're the best! There'll be so much to learn there! I can't wait!" And positively bouncing with excitement, she said, "I'll be right back," and disappeared with a loud pop.

"Where did she go?" Mr. Granger asked, bewildered.

"She did that disappearing thing again. I'll bet she went over to her friends' house to tell them," Mrs. Granger said, smiling.

"No matter how many times she does that, I don't think I'll even get used to this 'magic' thing. . . ."