Chapter 58: In Which More Postcards Arrive
Harry retrieved the next postcard two days later. It was a night shot of a place that looked unreal. A black pyramid with a beam of light shooting out of its tip sat in the foreground. Behind it was a castle that looked like it belonged in Hermione's Disney World postcard. A small version of the Empire States building, and something that looked like the Space Needle were nestled amid a forest of hotels, and lights spread into the background. There was no text on the card, and none was needed, even Harry could identify Las Vegas.
Vegas Baby!
Hello all. We've made it to the land of sin! It's loud, bright, tacky, and hot. (Got up to 51 today, although the locals tell us it's no big deal because it's "dry heat.") It's also, though God alone knows why, the fastest growing bit of America. It seems like everyone wants their own personal bit of the paradise in the desert.
It's also fun. Lots to do. Lots to see. Lots to eat. Out of space, more soon,
Hermione
The second shot was of green table with five men sitting around it. Snape had a pile of chips in front of him, and Hermione was sitting on his knee.
H&G,
We almost began to feel bad about playing for money against muggles until Snape noticed that three of them weren't and the fourth was cheating. Lots of magic of all types here. He still won. It pays to practice Legilimency and Occlumency at the Poker table. (Being able to vanish those extra aces doesn't hurt either!)
Rolling in it,
Hermione
The final Vegas card showed up a day later. Three pictures alternated on the card. One shot of a sign outside a restaurant: All You Can Eat Steak Buffet and Nude Review! The second was a view of Snape on the rollercoaster on top of what Harry had mistakenly identified as the Space Needle. The third was a street filled with Wedding Chapels.
Ginny and Harry,
How about it? Elope in Vegas? I don't think so! I'll be making all of you dress up for us! Severus rode the rollercoaster eight times. I felt sick just watching him. You guys and your broomsticks! The sign made me laugh, it's just so…
On a more cultural note, we've seen Cirque De Soleil, which was fantastic, and some remarkably well done Muggle Magic (or Illusions as they call them). Have George get you a copy of anything with Penn and Teller in it; I think you'll like it.
Love,
Hermione
The next card had two views on it. The first one was a city painted pink by the sunset, ocean in the foreground, mountains in the back. The second was a beautiful garden alive with colours, a Spanish style spire rising from the background.
H&G
The costal adventure begins. We are starting in San Diego, by tonight we'll be in San Francisco. Start in the desert and end in a cool, foggy port city. It is somewhat staggering to think of the number of climates available here. By the time we finish this adventure we'll have also seen a temperate rain forest, a volcano, and a taste of the cool damp that says home!
Love,
Hermione
The Golden Gate Bridge spanning the bay, water hidden by fog, and the tops of the buildings of San Francisco gilded with sunlight graced the photo that showed up next.
Thought this was pretty.
H
Friday morning. Ginny was feeding their youngest, and Harry was riding herd on the two older ones, who had just finished their breakfasts, and were doing all in their power to avoid being cleaned. He wasn't precisely sure if it was one or both of them that kept vanishing the damp rags he was trying to use to wipe them off. He finished and told them to go and play. Harry walked to the box that Hermione's post cards arrived in and checked for a new one.
It was there. This one featured images of the two of them in a convertible car driving on a very curvy road on a cliff overlooking the sea, Snape on a massage table, a blissful look on his face, and little wads of cotton wool between his toes, both of them sitting on a picnic blanket amid what looked like a vineyard, and Hermione in a nice dress nibbling on something in a tony restaurant.
Hello Luvies
Ahh… the life of the childless international witch. It's gruelling! Today we were up at the crack of 10:00, and then over a light breakfast of fresh fruit and croissants, we planned the day. Drive to wine country, get massages, manicures, pedicures (in Snape's spiky handwriting: I did no such thing!) then onto a picnic lunch among the vines, heavenly wines, cheeses, and artisanal fresh bread. Followed by a nap (safely out of the sun) and then wine tasting. After a bit we'll stir ourselves enough to get dressed, and head out for dinner. It's hard, hard work I tell you! But somebody's got to do it!
Love,
Hermione
Harry looked at the back of the postcard, and debated about letting Ginny read it. At least right now, while she was nursing the youngest, and the older two were in the midst of a screaming row.
He settled the oldest two down. After several moments of sibling squalling, he was able to get Ron playing with his toy broom and JS sucking his thumb and colouring. Ginny looked up from Molly and asked, "So, how's Hermione?"
"She's doing fine."
"Fine?"
He handed her the card. Her eyes took in the images, and then read the back. She sighed.
"I miss it."
"Me, too. But we have something they haven't figured out yet?"
"What?"
"When this one," he caressed Molly's cheek, "heads off for Hogwarts we'll be 34 and 33. Still very, very, young. When their youngest heads off, they'll be what, 40 and 60, 45 and 65? Time is on our side."
She smiled at him. "I still miss it."
"I know. Want to see if your mum or Fleur can take the kids tonight?"
"That sounds like a good idea."
Two days later a new postcard arrived. This one had two scenes, both of the same beach, but at different times. The first shot was from the middle of the day; a sand beach filled with people, all of whom were looking up at the sky filled with bright colourful kites. The second shot was at night, and the sky was now devoid of kites, but filled with Muggle fireworks.
H&G,
We got to Lincoln City, Oregon in time for the Fourth of July parade and fireworks. Watching the Yanks all proud of their home is making us a bit homesick. We'll be driving to Seattle tomorrow, and then back home the next day.
Love,
Hermione
Three days later, instead of a postcard, Ginny heard a familiar voice at her floo.
"Can I come over?" Hermione asked.
"Of course!"
Hermione stepped through and was greeted with hugs from Ginny and Harry, kisses, and cries of "Aunt Hermione" from the children. She smiled brightly. "I've missed you guys."
"And we missed you," Harry said. "Now, tell us all about it."