Chapter Seven
Hermione tightened her grip on her backpack as she hurried down to the courtyard where she had been told to meet her headmaster earlier on.
"Hermione what's the rush?" Harry questioned lengthening his strides so as to keep up with her quick ones.
"I'd say that she's trying to get rid of us, Harry." Ron uttered walking at pace with his sister, who was trailing slightly behind.
Hermione uttered a short groan in protest.
It was not like Ron said, that she wanted to leave them behind, but instead it was more of an urge, as if something was telling her to hurry and that she did not have any time to waste. But of course, to explain such an urge to her best friends would be something deemed unimaginable.
"Hermi-oh!"Ron stopped in mid sentence as he reached the courtyard. There, Malfoy was seated on a brilliant white stallion, and to his right Professor Moody was seated on a brown mare
"Granger, could you be any slower?" Draco scathing tongue cut through the air.
Hermione ignored him and looked at the black mare in front of her with apprehension.
"You do know how to ride don't you Granger?"
Hermione felt a wave of de ja vu, thank goodness she had been riding since a young age and thus unlike her previous episode with the broom, she was able to mount her horse with ease.
"Professor will you be following them?" Pansy questioned, she had arrived earlier with Draco; he replied with an evasive snort.
"Yes he will be" answered Professor Dumbledore, appearing from the shadows from which they had not seen him in.
Ron let out what seemed to be a cheer, which was hurriedly turned into a cough when he saw his Hermione's disapproving look.
"All set?" Professor Dumbledore questioned, receiving equal nods from his students.
"Very well then, traaa." The headmaster uttered, and Professor Moody grabbed the bridles of the horses with one hand and a portkey with the other and the three of them disappeared from sight.
"Professor! But- we hardly got to say goodbye!" Ginny uttered in semi-shock, she had not expected Hermione to leave without any warning. "Ahhh- but then the goodbyes would have only made the journey harder no?" Dumbledore replied, with a twinkle in his eye. The four of them simply stared at him. The headmaster took a deep breathe in, "I believe the kitchen is preparing eggs-ben for breakfast, I shall be seeing you all shortly." And with that, he left his four students behind in the courtyard, busy contemplating his earlier words.
"-What exactly did he mean by journey?" Ron questioned still unable to grasp the fact that Hermione had left.
"I did think that they would be only gone for a week." Pansy replied in frustration.
"I am not too sure, but I have a funny feeling that we will not be seeing them for much more than a week," Harry replied, and began to follow Ginny up the trek to the castle.
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Hermione blinked, seconds earlier she had been looking at her friends and on Hogwarts grounds, then she felt a tingling sensation in a bellybutton, before she could place it, she was transported to her current surroundings.
She looked around; there was really nothing to which she could place her bearing with.
Suddenly a car whizzed past her, blaring its horn, "Get of the fucking road! Hillybillys.." The rest of his comments were lost to the wind. Hermione glared at the disappearing car as she followed Professor Moody's lead to the road shoulder.
"Where the hell are we?" Draco questioned, his arms crossed defiantly across his cheat and a murderous glare aimed at his mentor. Professor Moody ignored him and began to attempt making various hand signals with his fingers. Hermione could not help but let a small smile dawn on her face; her teacher did look rather ridiculous.
Then with a sudden cough of realisation, Professor Moody arranged his fingers in that of the universal hitchhiking symbol and stood silently by the road side.
Malfoy stood silently by his horse, an amused smirk on his face. He could hardly see how his professor was going to get a ride that managed to fit all of them, as well as their three horses. He was about to point this out to his mentor when a gigantic bus pulled up alongside them.
Hermione looked up at the bus in amazement. She had been watching the road and was quite certain she had not seen it drive up. She had a strong feeling that it was magical.
Indeed, her thoughts were confirmed when her Professor was greeted by the driver heartily and soon their horses and the three of them were on board the bus and rushing down the highway. (the horses had been placed in a trailer which was conveniently attached to the back of the bus)
"Professor, where are we going?" Hermione questioned as she watched the scenery whiz past her.
"London" He replied briefly before turning back to his magazine, which reminded Hermione vaguely of the muggle Cosmopolitan. Hermione sighed, realising that he was not in the mood to answer questions. Instead, she pacified herself by taking in the scenery as they travelled by.
"Granger." Hermione turned slightly to face Draco who was seated across the aisle, his legs stretched across the double seat.
"Yes?" She questioned, his presence had entirely slipped her mind.
"What are you reading?" It took Hermione some time to comprehend his question. She had forgotten about the book which she had laid across her lap, too busy with inspecting the view to read. She had started off with an essay on the properties of Dragon scales, but knowing the nature of the book, the essay was probably long lost in its vast compilations of scriptures.
"You never change do you Granger?"
"And you would know this because- you have stalking me all your life?"
Hermione and Draco broke into a chuckle, already setting the mood. Hermione noted with brief surprise that it was he who had started the cordial conversation.
"Hardly Granger, please don't flatter yourself on my behalf."
"Flattery? I find it disturbing."
"That's where you are wrong Granger, it would be a girl's dream to be stalked by such a handsome, perfect man-"
"and you are definitely not all that." Hermione replied briefly.
Before Draco could reply, Professor Moody jumped to his feet and exclaimed "We are here!"
Hermione peered out of the window in surprise. They were at a quaint hotel along the outskirts of London. Hurriedly she followed her Professor and Malfoy out of the bus and into the cool evening sunlight. She had failed to realise that they had travelled the entire day, it felt like they had hardly spent an hour abroad the bus.
"Professor, where are we?" she questioned slightly disorientated. From the cars whizzing past along the road, she was quite sure that they were still in their current world, and that they had not passed over into Aretuglam.
"Brawn's hotel." He replied vaguely, lifting up his luggage bag and carrying it towards the hotel doors. Hermione sighed loudly before turning and lifting her luggage bag, making her way towards the doors of the hotel. Malfoy followed slightly behind.
Draco could not help but look at the hotel lobby interior in disgust. It had obviously seen better years. The walls were lined with wallpaper which was fading due to overexposure to the sun's rays. The carpet seemed to be bogged down with water leaking from the ceiling. He watched as his Professor strode confidently to the hotel counter.
"Good evening, I have a reservation for three rooms."
The receptionist looked up at Professor Moody in disdain, sneering through his glasses, he turned to the computer the right and punched in a few numbers.
"Name?" he questioned monotonously.
"Mr. Hurbert." Professor Moody replied. The receptionist looked up once more and eyed their Professor before returning to his computer.
"Rooms Three-oh-one, Three-oh-eight and Three-oh-nine, its on the 9th floor." He answered shortly, sliding the respective keys across the counter and towards their Professor. He caught them and nodded thanks to the receptionist before dragging his luggage bag towards the lifts. As the lift doors closed, Hermione opened her mouth to question her professor. He shook his head lightly and turned to face them. "Now kids, we are here on holiday, we are to relax. I would like to check out this rare specimen of mankrill bird early tomorrow. It can only be seen at 4 in the morning, so be ready be 3.30. Remember what I taught you and please do not get into trouble. Behave appropriately." He added as the lift doors opened at their floor. He then tossed Hermione and Draco their room keys before dragging his luggage to the right of the lifts. Hermione and Draco found that their rooms were to the left and headed towards them in silence.
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