Chapter 9 - On the Continent...But WHICH Continent!

After some arrangements, Harry got a room of his own, while Ginny and Hooch bunked together in the room straight across from his. The three had had a spot of difficulty communicating with the French receptionist in the lobby of the hotel, who had mistaken them for Americans and had threatened to kick them out of the building. But once the confusion of their nationalities was settled, they had been able to book suitable lodgings for their overnight stay in the City of Light.

Ginny had been quite disappointed when Harry had declined her offer of a tour around the city. This was, after all, the city of love. He just didn't seem to get the hint. Or maybe he did and he was trying to give her a hint? She sighed. Relationships were so hard...especially if it didn't even exist yet. Ginny turned over again in her bed and readjusted her ear plugs. Hooch continued to snore, blissfully unaware of the inner conflict of her roommate.

"Get off! Get off me boat, I told ya! I don't care what you think I'm ferryin'! Just get your great lummox off me boat!" The boat captain obviously didn't agree with the sentiment that 'bigger was better.' Particularly in Hagrid's case.

"Oh I'm sorry 'bout tha'," the half-giant stammered. "I didn't mean ter cause them many leaks. An' abou' the food, I'll replace all o' it! Honest!"

But the captain would have none of it, instead vehemently insisting that they never set foot near his boat or himself again.

Trelawney and Hagrid made their way to the nearest train station on the coast of France. They were unable to obtain passenger tickets, but managed to get aboard a boxcar in a freight train headed east.

"Miserable! That poor excuse of transportation is testament to the fact that Muggles are not capable of expansion. Why, we nearly crashed three times!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Severus, that was turbulence...perfectly normal. And you don't give Muggles enough credit. Imagine how you would cope without magic!"

"I could not exist."

"But they've never known what it's like to have magic. They've had to adapt with what they were given. It's quite ingenious what they've come up with, really. I mean seriously! Do you think wizards would ever come up with a machine that can scientifically work with the natural laws to gain flight? Or the telephone...would we ever invent that if we never had the need for one? You don't give them enough credit."

Snape was not in a good mood. Nor had he been ever since they reached the airport and flew into Frankfurt, Germany. Between the two of them, they were able to rent a car, and they were now en-route to a small hotel.

"Where the hell are we?"

"Welcome to Libya, sir, now if you'll just step over here with the rest of the passengers, we'll sort this out." The police officer tried to escort Draco and Neville over to the holding station, but the young Malfoy was having none of it.

" Libya?! That is WAY off course! I need to find a -- hey! Let go of me! I'm already behind schedule as it is!"

"D-Draco? Maybe we should do as he says. This is an international incident, after all."

"Stay out of this, Longbottom. I'll get us out of this."

"Sir, please be calm. We must question you. The high-jackers claim you threatened them, and we need to find out why they were crying when we boarded the plane."

"Has the world gone mad?? I'm not standing for this! Come along, Longbottom; we're leaving."

"But--"

The hotel lobby clerk looked up at the newcomers. "Two rooms, or one?"

"Er..."

"One will be sufficient."

Hermione looked up at him in surprise.

Snape returned the look with bored indifference. "You said we were conserving our funds. I assume we can trust each other to behave decently."

Once in the room, Hermione hid in the bathroom and took a shower while Snape regarded the bed doubtfully. When his roommate reappeared, she sensed his discomfort and suggested a solution to the problem. "One of us can sleep on the floor."

He nodded in approval even as he crawled onto the bed and made himself comfortable.

"Ooh you bastard!"

Fed Ex, as it turned out, was more hospitable to oversized cargo, and allowed Hagrid and Trelawney to hop aboard one of their flights, with the understanding that they would deliver a package in return. Soon, they were on their way to India in the belly of a large mail plane. Even Sibyl couldn't hope to foresee what was in store for them.
A/N Cheese and Rice! I never remember to update this story. I'm really bad with starting things I don't finish, and this is turning into one of them. Thanks to some reviews that reminded me this story existed, and hopefully to some that will come after this is posted, I will never forget again. I just have so much going on, and writing is low on my priority. Thanks to all those who read and review this story!