Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine. Rowling won't let me have him. Wah!

Harry Potter and The Last Journey

Chapter 6—Nicknames and Surprises

"Are you sure this place is safe?" Hermione asked tentatively, looking around the shabby hotel where they were going to spend the night.

They had been traveling all night and they were exhausted, so they stopped at a small hotel that was extremely foreign to them in a small town outside of London.

"No, but it's the best we can do," Harry replied, walking around the bedroom.

"Yeah without being noticed, especially Harry. Were going to have a problem hiding him," Ron commented.

"True, who doesn't know me," Harry said with a smirk.

"We'll figure it out in the morning," Hermione said.

"I'm sure you will, you're the smart one Her-" Harry yawned, "'Mione," he finished.

"'Mione?" Hermione asked amused.

Harry thought for a moment, "Yeah Okay," he picked up a stray newspaper, "I dub thee 'Mione," he announced and hit her on the head. Ron laughed.

"Hey! What was that for!" she exclaimed. Harry shrugged. "Fine! Your…your…Ry!" she said taking the newspaper and hitting him back.

Harry made a face, "Ry?"

"Yeah. Har-ry. Ry."

"I don't like it."

"To bad Ry," Hermione said smugly.

"Actually its not a bad idea," Ron said, "We don't want to get caught."

Harry frowned, "True. But I still don't like it."

"You'll get used to it. What about Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Ron is a more common name he'll be fine," Harry said, "Our names are not very common so it will work."

"Okay then, now that we have that all sorted out," Hermione yawned, "Where are we sleeping?"

"You can have the bed," Harry said automatically, stepping on Ron's foot.

Hermione smiled knowingly; Harry was always the gentleman, "Thanks!" she replied while Harry dragged Ron out of the room.

"Night!" he called over his shoulder and closed the door behind him.

"That's not fair," Ron grumbled.

"What? You want her to sleep on the couch! No, I don't think so," Harry said flatly, taking one of the couches.

"Your too nice."

Harry laughed and shrugged a shoulder.

Ron hesitated, "How do you do it?"

Harry lifted an eyebrow and grinned. Ron blushed, but gave Harry a slight smile, "Easy enough. I'll help you out starting tomorrow. Right now let's get some sleep."

When Harry and Ron woke up in the morning they found a note on the kitchen table.

I think I solved our problem. I saw something when we came

into town that might help us. I'll be back later. I'll be careful.

Hermione

"I hope she isn't seen," Harry murmured.

"What problem?" Ron asked sleepily.

"Identity problem. She may be awhile," Harry answered.

Instantly Ron was awake, "So are you going to help me?"

"With what?" Harry asked with a yawn, heading to the small kitchen.

"You know," Ron said nervously, "What we were talking about before we went to bed."

Harry thought for a moment, "Oh yeah. The whole 'being nice' thing."

"So how do you do it?"

"Well its kind of natural to me, you know, living with the Dursleys and all," Harry said summoning a box of cereal and milk and sitting down to eat.

"Yeah I guess, but can you help me?"

"Uh huh sure," Harry said, then smiled slyly, "Trying to impress someone."

"No!" Ron shouted blushing. Harry gave him a look. "How did you know?" he asked quietly.

"Come on Ron, I'm not stupid. Just go for it."

"You don't mind?"

"Hell no! I think it's about bloody time. After all these years that you have been watching her."

"Have I been that obvious?"

"I don't know. Only to me I guess," Harry said thoughtfully.

"So I should go for it?" Ron asked stirring his cereal around in his bowl.

"Defiantly. Besides who knows what's going to happen while we are out there, you know. Might as well."

"Your right, I should. So will you help me?"

"Sure."

"Okay, so when do we start?"

"Right now. Sit up straight!"

"I didn't know it was going to be this hard," Ron whined.

"Well, I didn't say it was going to be easy," Harry said simply.

They had spent the whole morning trying to improve Ron's manners, which included how to walk, talk, sit, stand and eat. He basically was relearning how to do everything.

"What's not going to be easy?" Hermione asked walking through the door.

"The spells we are going to have to learn," Harry made up on the spot.

"Oh! Well of course it's not. There really an advanced level of magic."

After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence on Harry and Ron's part, Harry asked, "So…how have you solved our problem 'Mione?"

She smirked at the use of her nickname and pulled a silvery cloak out of her pocket.

Harry's eyes widened in shock, "Where the bloody hell did you get that!" he exclaimed immediately recognizing it.

"When were walking through the town last night I saw a dingy little shop that sold them."

"Are you sure that was safe?" Harry asked letting the silk cloak slide over his fingers.

"I was careful, I promise. But I was lucky I saw them in the first place."

"Lucky? Are you kidding me? You hit the jackpot in finding an invisibility cloak!" Ron whispered.

"Actually," Hermione said whipping out another from her pocket, "two."

"Two!" the boys exclaimed.

"Yeah, down right expensive too. Thank god you already have one Harry," she said handing one to Ron.

"I'll pay you back Hermione," Ron said meekly, taking it and running his hands over it in awe.

"If you get through this then you don't have to worry about it."

"Yeah, but I will anyways." Hermione agreed.

"Wasn't the person who sold them, suspicious of why you bought them?" Harry asked.

"No not really. Curious, but not suspicious. Apparently it's not unusual for someone to buy one around here."

"Okay good. Well, we'll only use them as a precaution," Harry said, "We should have something else. Like long overcoats with big hoods to hide our faces."

"That's a good idea. When we walk around in towns like this were not as noticeable. We'll blend right in," Hermione commented.

"Yeah and it will make us look like foreign travelers in other towns," Harry agreed, "We can even learn to speak another language."

"We'll have to if we travel to other counties and understand what they are saying. I have a few books that I bought that will help," Hermione said.

"Always prepared, aren't you?" Harry asked with a smile.

"Always," she answered.

"Black long overcoats, huh. Mysterious like the movie we saw at your aunt and uncles house right?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, that's where I got the idea," Harry answered.

"Where do we get them?" Hermione asked.

"We'll look around in the next town. But I'll but them. I have enough money to spare," Harry stated.

Which was true. During his stay at the Burrow on his Birthday, an owl from Gringotts came with a letter saying that he had rightfully come into his inheritance now that he was age. Which included the whole Potter fortune, a mansion in the country and a big company that had been owned by his family for generations. It pretty much made him one of the wealthiest wizards in the world.

"No kidding," Ron commented, "You can buy anything you want ten times over."

"Yeah, well its not my fault, I didn't know I had it. Besides it will help us in our travels," Harry said with a smirk.

"No shit," Ron said dryly.

"Ha. Yeah. We can also get muggle clothes for the muggle towns we visit," Hermione stated.

"Yup. I need new ones, mine don't fit me," Harry said.

"Duh. They never fit you, they're Dudley's," Ron commented.

"Shut up!"

Just then a noise in the direction of the bedroom caught their attention. Hermione got up and hid behind Ron, "What was that?" she whispered. Ron shook his head.

Harry took out his wand and quietly walked over to the door, "Who's there?" he called out sharply, "Show yourself and I won't hurt you."

A squeak was heard and a high-pitched voice along with a small creature appeared that Harry thought he would never see again.

"Don't hurt Dobby, sir. I is just trying to find you, Harry Potter, sir."

Ron and Hermione's jaws dropped in disbelief.

"D-Dobby?" Harry asked flabbergasted, "What are you doing here?"

"I is finding you, sir."

"Who sent you," Harry demanded, becoming alarmed, "Were you followed?"

"No sir, Dobby is coming on his own, sir."

Harry sighed, "What do you want Dobby?"

"Dobby wants to come work for Harry Potter, sir."

"Okay!" Harry paused, "Wait! Back up a minute! You want to come work for me?"

"Indeed sir." Dobby said nodding his head furiously, "Professor Dumbledore said that once Harry Potter became of age my contract would be released and I could go work for you."

"He said that," Harry asked softly, sitting down in front of the elf.

"Yes sir. Dumbledore is saying that Harry Potter would take Dobby and Winky in sir."

"Winky too," Harry said weakly, "Where is she?"

Dobby pointed to the bedroom, "Winky is sleeping, sir. We is following you all night and is to tired to come out after you stopped."

"This is going to be a problem," Ron commented.

"No really," Harry asked dryly.

Dobby's ears drooped, "Is Harry Potter, sir mad at Dobby."

"No. I'm not mad," Harry said, rubbing a hand over his face.

"Then Harry Potter will be Dobby's new master?"

Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione for help, but they just shrugged. They had no idea what to do either. Then Winky chose that moment to come out, and she saw them standing there. She looked better that the last time Harry had saw her, filthy and drunk on Butterbeer.

"Is Harry Potter, sir agreeing to be Winky and Dobby's new master?" she asked in her high-pitched voice.

Dobby shook his head, and then looked expectantly at Harry.

Harry hesitated, "Now is not exactly a good time for this. We have something to do."

"Dobby is knowing, sir. Dobby and Winky heard what Harry Potter and his friends is doing. Harry Potter is very brave and noble to be doing this."

Ron chocked back a laugh at this and Harry glared at him. He sighed and thought for a moment looking at Dobby and Winky's expectant faces.

"We're going to need all the help we can get Harry," Hermione put in.

"Not to mention they know what we're doing," Ron said.

Harry nodded in agreement, "Okay. I'll be your new master."

Dobby's eyes widened and filled with tears, "Thank you, sir."

"Yeah, sure. I'll even pay you too."

"Oh no! Master Harry Potter, sir. Just working for you is such an honor. Dobby is not needing paying."

"Are you sure?" Dobby nodded enthusiastically. "Uh, okay. Let's just drop the master thing okay."

"Master Potter?" Winky asked.

"How about you just stick with Harry."

"Master Harry," dobby offered and Ron burst out laughing.

"Err. Close enough," Harry said with a slight smile, looked like he was going to have to get used to being called master.

Hermione laughed, "So now what?"

"We should get going. On to the next town and out of the country," Harry said.

Hermione and Ron nodded and prepared to leave, along with their two new companions.

I need reviews, it's like candy. I'm addicted.

Next chapter. The trio find the first Horcrux!

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