Okay, I think I'm done now… have fun reading chapter six and REVIEW after it!
Chapter 6: In The Muggle World
It was nearly 9:30 before Harry and Hermione caught the first glimpses of Dufftown in the distance. Hermione had re-performed the immunity charm an hour before, and their legs were back to being pain-free. They walked into the main part of the small town around 9:45.
"Well, we finally got here...now what?" said Hermione.
"I don't know," said Harry. He looked around for some sign of people still awake. He spotted a two-story building a way down the street with lights on and pointed it out.
"Look Hermione, down there," he said, pointing. Hermione looked in that direction.
"It looks like just an ordinary house," said Hermione.
"Well, we can hope the occupants are hospitable. It's the most comfortable looking place I can see."
"Okay, we'll try there. I hope they're nice people," said Hermione reluctantly. They set off for the homey looking building. When they got in front of it, however, there was a sign in the front yard. Harry squinted at it in the dim light and saw that it said, "Johnson's Bed and Breakfast."
"Wow, that's perfect, isn't it?" said Hermione, reading the sign, too.
"Yeah, finally some good luck today," added Harry. They walked up the front walk, but halfway to the door Harry stopped.
"Hermione, we're going to need some kind of story to tell them, aren't we? I mean, I'm sure they try to make conversation with their guests. And, really, how do two kids they've never seen before just turn up without any parents?"
"Well, I think we'll be staying in Dufftown for a while. I think we should come somewhat close to the truth..." said Hermione.
"Maybe...hey, how about this?" said Harry. "We're brother and sister, and our parents were murdered while we were on our way back from a day-trip in the mountains? So we just came to the nearest town there was."
"I'm not sure about that...I mean, we don't look anything alike."
"Well, one of us could be adopted," said Harry.
"Okay, you can be the adopted one, then," said Hermione. "After all, you were sort of adopted by your aunt and uncle anyway. But how were our 'parents' killed?"
"Er...a...a carjacking?" suggested Harry.
"That could work, actually," said Hermione. "But what of the fact that a thing like that would be reported on the news?"
"Oh boy...well, they wouldn't have been found for a few days, I mean, who goes looking around for cars that plummeted down a ravine or something? I suppose these people would just think that our parents hadn't been found yet." said Harry.
"But what if they call the police and tell them?" asked Hermione. She was starting to look nervous.
"Okay, so maybe this idea won't work..." said Harry.
"Wait," said Hermione. "We...we could pretend that we would prefer our parents weren't found for religious reasons or something..."
"Religious reasons?" said Harry, perplexed.
"Well, I've heard that some people don't want their dead loved ones getting cut open by an autopsy, that they just want them to 'rest in peace,' if you get what I mean."
"Oh, right," said Harry. "Okay, I think this'll work. But if they ask a question we haven't discussed, one of us will have to make up something, and we have to be sure not to contradict anything we've said before."
"Right. Okay, let's go," said Hermione. They walked the rest of the way up the walk, and Hermione pressed the doorbell. They heard sounds from within the building, then the door opened and a kind-looking woman stood there. Harry thought she somewhat resembled Mrs. Weasley, aside from the fact that this woman's hair was brown, not red.
"Why, hello there," she said kindly.
"Hello," said Hermione. "We - we were wondering if - if maybe we could, well, stay here a while?" she asked hesitantly.
"Well of course, that's what a bed and breakfast is for, come on in!" said the woman, motioning them in with her hand and walking back into the house. Harry and Hermione followed her through the foyer and a narrow hallway until they emerged into what was clearly a large and much-used kitchen. There was a huge six-burner stove on the far wall underneath a large microwave, and next to that on the wall was a double-oven. On the wall across from where Harry and Hermione stood was a large farm-style sink underneath a gorgeous bay window, which was decorated with potted plants of all sorts. Parallel to that wall was more counter space, plus a large fridge and freezer. And, to the left of the doorway was a small table that could seat four people in front of a tall window, where the woman's husband (Harry and Hermione assumed) was sitting, drinking a cup of coffee and reading a book. Beyond the table was another doorway that led into what Harry and Hermione could see was the dining room, where, underneath a small chandelier, was a large table that could seat at least twelve.
"Well don't just stand there goggling in the doorway, come in, come in!" said the woman, pulling out chairs at the table for Harry and Hermione to sit in. They accepted the invitation gratefully and both gingerly sat down on the wooden chairs.
"George, these are two new guests we have for the night," said the woman. The man looked up from his book and smiled widely at Harry and Hermione.
"Well, aren't you two a sight to see!" he said jovially. He had a full, rounded voice that made Harry think of Father Christmas, and small, round spectacles on. He was also slightly balding and his dark brown hair was flecked with gray. "We haven't had guests as young as you for quite some time, have we, dear?" he said to his wife. "Why, it'll be like having James and Claire back, won't it?"
"Yes, dear, they are quite lovely," said the woman. "I'm terribly sorry, I've not introduced myself. I'm Grace Johnson, and this is my husband, George," she said, shaking Harry's and Hermione's hands.
"We're very pleased to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson," said Hermione politely.
"Oh, I won't have any of this 'Mrs. Johnson' nonsense, it makes me feel old. Just call me Grace," she said with a smile. Hermione returned it weakly.
"Well, how did you two come about our humble home?" asked the man. Harry and Hermione shared a small glance, before Grace spoke again.
"Oh heavens, George, don't rush them, we don't even know their names, yet!" she said.
"Oh, we're sorry, how rude of us," said Hermione. "My name's Hermione Potter." Harry was about ask her why she said that when she kicked him under the table. Getting the hint, he didn't protest.
"And I'm Harry Potter," he said. "We're brother and sister."
"Oh, isn't that lovely," said Grace. "But, where are your parents?" she asked curiously. Harry looked over at Hermione, whose lower lip was trembling. He realized she was feigning being upset, so he tried to look sad, too.
"They - they were killed," said Hermione in a deliberately shaking voice. "That's why we came here," she continued. She was silent for a moment before she burst out in sobs (though her eyes were dry, Harry noticed) and buried her face in her hands.
"Oh, you poor dear," said Grace, and she promptly got up and put her arms around Hermione. George put a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry, meanwhile, was trying his very best to make himself look distraught by thinking about what they had left behind not twelve hours ago. It worked somewhat. He felt a silent tear or two trickling down his face. He then realized that Hermione's sobs were no longer fake, and realized that she, too, must be thinking about Hogwarts. He reached out his hand and placed it gently on her arm. She didn't even seem to notice. Grace finally took her arms off of Hermione and spoke.
"You two should be getting straight up to bed, you must have been through a terrible ordeal today. Come now, dearest, you'll be all right, you just need a good night's rest," said Grace comfortingly. Harry saw Hermione nod and pick her head up off her hands. She looked terrible - her cheeks were tear stained, and her eyes were red and puffy. She got up and let Grace lead her to the staircase leading out of the foyer.
"You should head up to bed, too, Harry," said George. He looked at Harry kindly through his glasses, and Harry took his hand and wiped his few tears off of his face, nodded, and followed Grace and Hermione up the stairs.
"I'm sorry, dears, but we've only got one room open tonight, but as you're brother and sister, you won't mind sharing a room, I daresay," said Grace, opening a door at the far end of the hallway. In it was a queen size sleigh bed, a large dresser with a mirror, two nightstands on either side of the bed, and a writing desk.
"This is wonderful, Grace, we can't thank you enough," said Harry, as he and Hermione stepped into the room.
"It's just what I do, dear. You two should go straight to sleep. We'll see you in the morning," she said, and she closed the door. There was enough moonlight streaming through the two windows in the room that Harry was able to turn on one of the bedside lamps.
"Hermione?" he said tentatively.
"Oh Harry," she said, walking over to him. "I - I still can't believe it... I mean, all this, it's just so...so terrible..."
"I know," was all he said. He took off his robe so he was just in his jeans and T-shirt and laid the robe on the desk chair. "We really should go to bed, I know we're both really tired."
"Right," said Hermione, sniffling. She, too, took off her robe, revealing jeans and a T-shirt as well, and she laid her robe on top of Harry's.
"You know, I'm surprised they didn't ask about our attire," said Harry. "I mean, how often do you see teenagers wearing robes?"
"I guess they get a lot of strange people, so they didn't bother to ask," said Hermione. She was currently "un-making" the bed. "I suppose we'll have to share the bed, then..." she said.
"Yeah," said Harry. At the moment, he was so tired that he could care less. No sooner had Hermione turned down the covers than she was under them, snuggling down against the pillow.
"Wow, this is comfy," she said quietly. Harry smiled slightly and got in on the other side of the bed. He laid his head down onto the soft pillow, and then turned toward Hermione.
"Night, Hermione," he said.
"Good night, Harry," mumbled Hermione. Harry smiled a small smile, then reached over and turned off the lamp.
AN: Okay, done that one. Please people, for the sake of HUMANITY, review! PLEASE!
-xXx SpicySugar xXx