Harry and Hermione - Chapter 5 - Goodbye Train
"Where to, Hermione?" asked Harry carrying both their bags off the train, avoiding children running in between them and hoping seriously they did not fall down the crack between the train and the platform.
"First we have to get out of this railway station, its absolutely mammoth. But we will be right smack dab in the centre of Melbourne so accomodation should be the first port of call. These Wilkins' are holidaying rather than working so they will be far less easy to find and I suspect we will be here in Melbourne for a while."
"Ok, let's keep our eye open for something really nice to eat - after we check in we can walk back and have a meal."
"What do you fancy?" For the first time Hermione seemed to have met Harry's enquiry on face value, without the desire to roll her eyes or correct him. He said he was hungry and she asked what he might like. It felt like a rather simple yet rather wonderful exchange. One Hermione will have to continue to practice if she wants to enjoy more such transactions in the future. Perhaps Harry's happiness was rubbing off on her?
"Right so, the Wilkins' have given an address in Clifton Hill for their Holiday Visa. I suggest we head over that way tomorrow and see if anyone is home." said Hermione looking between her travel book and a map and the personal details of the Melbourne Wilkins'.
"If they aren't home, we can do a stakeout. Find somewhere nearby and wait for them to get home. Then we will see if they are your parents or not."
"A stakeout? That's just your excuse to have more coffee, Harry you can't trick me." But just to show that she was being light-hearted she pretended to use a hand held radio and said into it "One flat white and one english breakfast tea, to go," and pretended to look around furtively.
Harry burst out laughing and wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulder as they walked on. Hermione laughed as well, but she was acutely aware of being so very close to Harry, but somehow not close enough.
Harry woke Hermione very early the following morning, the sun was just rising. "Hermione, I was just thinking, perhaps we should try to get there early before they head off to work or something. I don't fancy missing them in the morning and then having to wait around all day to find out they are in Sydney or something - you know, sightseeing."
"That's a really good idea, Harry, let me get dressed," I can't believe I didn't think of that, Hermione said to herself, I am shouting Harry the biggest coffee I can find today!
The sun was still not up when Harry and Hermione hit the streets. The day before Hermione had looked up that the number 86 tram from the top of their street would take them straight to Clifton Hill, but they had time to stop off for a moment. Just across the road was a little cafe, they were everywhere in Melbourne, and she wanted to get Harry a coffee for the road.
"Thanks Hermione," Harry said, grinning from ear to ear - she didn't know whether he was more happy about the coffee or the tram but she didn't think he did either! It was such a pleasant journey, the tram is a great way to travel, passengers can see everything around them but we were not zooming along like a train. Harry and Hermione had come to resent the train stopping for more passengers on their train journey but it was a pleasure to hear people dinging the little bell to hop on and off the tram. The journey seemed to be over too quickly and they too doged the bell and were let out by a park.
"Across the road, over that walkway and through the railway tunnel and we will be there."
Harry followed Hermione's lead and within minutes they were outside a two story terrace house with a tiny front garden.
"Should we knock or just wait to see who comes out?" Harry asked.
"What if it's their day off and they don't come out, or if the cleaner comes out and we think that's Mrs Wikins and my mother is still inside and we've gone off to Adelaide?"
"Right then, we'll knock."
"And say what, Harry?"
"I've got this, Hermione," said Harry with an idea forming.
Harry knocked while Hermione paced by the front gate, hoping to get a glimpse of her Mum and Dad, and thanking god Harry wasn't wearing board shorts today.
A man opened the door wearing his bathrobe and Harry put on his friendliest smile, "Good morning, are you by any chance Wendell Wilkins?" he asked.
"Michael Wilkins, what's this about?" he replied, not unfriendly but a little suspicious given it was still quite early.
"Oh your English too," said Harry putting forward his hand, "I'm from Little Whinging, Surrey, where do you hail from?" Harry had remembered how interested Professor Wilkins was in Harry's Englishness and hoped that Michael Wilkins might be as curious.
"Maidstone," Mr Wilkins replied, taking Harry's hand but still rather reserved.
"We're practically neighbours," said Harry brightly. "Sorry to bother you Mr Wilkins, but I'm actually after someone else. Have a great day."
He ducked back down the garden path before anything further could be said, offered his arm to a surprised Hermione who had yet to decide if she was relieved or disappointed that the Melbourne Wilkins' were not her parents.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, are you ok?" Harry asked he squeezed his arm a lightly by way of signalling his support and care.
"Thanks Harry, I'm ok. A little deflated I guess, but it would be crazy had it been so easy," replied Hermione.
"Speaking of crazy…"
"Whats on your mind," replied Hermione, again she noticed her response came out in a light tone, rather than responding with a tone of imminent dread.
"Did you know that St Kilda Beach is supposed to be really beautiful? It's still early so you wont get sunburned, but perhaps we could catch another tram, it's the 96 I am sure, and take a look?"
"That sounds great, we would have to catch go back into the city and back out the other side."
"I really like these trams, they are more Hogwarts Express than the train was."
"They are, rather," said Hermione chuckling a little. "I wonder if Hogwarts will be repaired and able to take students by the beginning of first term?"