Chapter 56: In Which We Get Postcards

The first postcard arrived at Grimmauld Place three days after Hermione and Snape had left. Because of the long distances, Hermione had set up a pair of boxes that allowed letters to apparate between them. Harry had one of the boxes. She had the other.

It looked like a Muggle Postcard until Harry hit it with his wand and said, "Revelio." Then the building on the front "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" was replaced with wizarding photos. Each time he tapped the card, a new photo would appear.

The first photo was Snape floating in a pool. It was followed by both of them standing in front of the Eric Clapton display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The final picture had Snape, Hermione, and several people Harry didn't recognize, although one looked remarkably like Ron, sitting at a table, laughing and eating.

He flipped it over:

Harry & Ginny

We've just gotten here. Lots fun things to do and learn. Snape is working on his wandless magic. I'm being further versed in the joy that is Rock and Roll, and we're all eating on a regular basis. I'll tell you who everyone is when we get back.

Love,

Hermione.

The second postcard came two days later. It showed the Statue of Liberty. When Ginny activated it, she saw Snape sitting at a tiny table with a huge sandwich in front of him. That was followed by Hermione waving at the camera wearing an I Heart NY T-shirt. The last photo showed both of them in an art gallery looking at someone sitting on a chair.

Hello Luvs,

We have made it to the Big Apple. Much to see and do. I highly recommend the Stage Deli if you ever get over here. Severus thinks me in the T-shirt is funny. I think a woman sitting on a chair for days at a time and calling it art is funny.

Laughingly yours,

Hermione

The next card was also New York. This one featured the skyline as its Muggle shot, and then morphed into Snape and Hermione at a table in an upscale restaurant with something that could have been food or could have been art, sitting in front of them. Hermione looked like she was trying to figure out how to eat it. Snape was tucking into his.

H&G

I couldn't resist sending another shot. This is molecular gastronomy. The thing in front of us is foie gras that has been somehow coaxed into forming a knot. This was part three of a many part meal. I'm thinking regular gastronomy might be more my scene. Some of it was really tasty, but I could go the rest of my life without ever encountering fried mayonnaise again.

Love,

Hermione

One last New York post card arrived a day after the molecular gastronomy one. (Which involved a heated discussion between Harry and Ginny on what exactly mayonnaise was, and why on earth someone would want to fry it.) It was just a Muggle picture, with a few words from Hermione on the back. Snape and Hermione sat in a horse drawn carriage in front of a large park. He had an arm wrapped around her, and she was resting her head against his shoulder.

Can't do New York without the horse drawn carriage ride in Central Park. I'll want this one back when I get home.

'Hermione

A line of houses in pink, green, blue, and yellow stretched from the one side of the photo to the other on the next day's card. Each house was awash in vibrantly contrasting gingerbread detailing, looking like someone with a major speed habit and a jig saw had been at work. The line of text at the bottom of the card read: Cape May, New Jersey. The next image was of Snape reclining on a beach chair under an umbrella, while Hermione stood next to him watching the waves. The next shot was Hermione riding a wave in on a boogie board.

G&H,

The Americans call this Victorian. Severus calls it horrifying. "Even the curly cues have curly cues!" I'm tempted to agree. The beach (they call is the shore here) is lovely. I've taken up boogie boarding.

Love,

Hermione

Another post card showed up later that day. It was a plain Muggle one that said Sunset Beach, Cape May. The picture was a lovely beach sunset, with something that looked like small black bunker sticking out of the water.

Harry,

I had to send you this; I think you'll appreciate it. (Tell Arthur about it as well; he'll have a giggle.) That black thing in the water is the top bit of a battleship that sank here during The Great War. Apparently some brilliant yank engineer decided that since metal was in great demand, why not build a concrete battleship? Amazingly enough it sailed almost a kilometre before it sank like the rock it was.

Love,

Hermione

Two days passed without a postcard, then came one with the image of garden hidden behind a house, visible though a wrought iron fence. Butterflies flitted about the photo. The text read:

H&G,

We were warned not to go to Charleston in the summer: too hot, too humid. They were right; it's like walking through soup here. We stayed just long enough to take this shot, and then headed further south. We'll try again in the fall one of these years. Next up: Florida.

Love,

Hermione

A large castle sat in the middle of the picture. In the background fireworks exploded. The post card read "Cinderella's Castle." Some faint memories for Harry of movies seen briefly before Dudley bullied him out of the room arose at the sight. When tapped it showed Snape and Hermione standing next to an enormous cartoon mouse. (Harry had a hard time explaining why this was a big deal to Ginny and his kids.) Snape was scowling. Hermione was smiling. The back read:

G&H

Snape lost the bet to see which one of us was better at blind apparition. He doesn't look pleased to be spending time with Mickey, but I've not been cruel. You should have seen the costume I would have worn had he won. All I can say is: I do not make a pretty Jasmine! We're enjoying the rides, and tomorrow we're off to the Keys! Probably be home in a week or ten days.

Love,

Hermione

The final post card that week was a picture of a sea turtle swimming through impossibly green water; the words 'Key Largo' graced the bottom right corner. When tapped it revealed Snape and Hermione on the beach, both tanner than in their earlier shots. The next tap of Ginny's wand revealed Hermione underwater, colourful fish dancing about her.

Ginny and Harry,

We came, we saw, we dove! As I write this we're both healing up from a massive case of sunburn, but we had a very good time getting it. We're also eating and indecent amount of crab and conch. Another day or two here, and then off to the West Coast, where we'll rent a car, and drive from almost Mexico to almost Canada.

Love,

Hermione

P.S. It's always a good plan to go on vacation with a Potions Master, especially after too much sunshine!