Chapter 2
Muggle Motorway
Slightly shaken from the outburst of affection of his aunt, Harry clambered into the back of the car. Hermione's parents smiled nervously from the front.
"Um hello," Harry said as they continued to stare at him. "Thanks for offering the lift."
"It's really no problem," Hermione replied for her parents. "We should get going shouldn't we?" Her father nodded and finally turned away. "I can't believe you didn't tell your uncle and aunt we were coming, how could you just leave like that?"
"Come on Hermione, they'd lock me up or something again it'd be so much easier not to tell them," Harry said, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
"But you're a qualified wizard now. You could use magic to prevent them," Hermione persisted. This was of course true but Harry was looking for any excuse to not tell Hermione the real reason he hadn't told the Dursley's he was leaving.
"You didn't want to leave did you?" Hermione said. "You hated it there but now the times come you don't want to go out alone into the world do you Harry? You won't be alone me and Ron will follow you wherever you go."
"Hermione," Harry sighed. He knew she'd keep her word; she and Ron would follow him anywhere. They had followed him into dangers before many a times but he couldn't risk it this time. If he was going then he would make sure it was alone.
Rain was bulleting against the window, the lights of the motorway blinding. Hermione pulled out a heavy text book and was reading by the light of her wand. Harry watched her but he wasn't thinking about her. It wouldn't be long before he saw Ginny again, the last time he'd seen her hadn't been a happy memory. At Dumbledore's funeral he had told her he couldn't be with her that he had to go alone to face Voldemort because if she came he would surely use her to get to him. Still this summer whenever he was not pondering over the choice he had to make his thoughts wondered to Ginny.
The lights of the motor way had gone. They were now driving along a dark curving road. Harry could see nothing but black out the window, it must be getting late. Suddenly the car screeched to a halt. Mrs Granger screamed.
"Hermione what's out there," Harry whispered.
"I don't know," she murmured. "Harry don't." But Harry was already getting out the car. His wand held high, ignited, he squinted for the cause of the car stopping. Someone grabbed his shoulder.
"Harry what if its him," Hermione cried in his ear.
"Keep your voice down," Harry hissed. "It can't be not here." Someone was there though, in the wand light Harry could see a figure coming towards them.