CHAPTER TWO
Flying Tin Cans
Ginny woke up extremely early on the Monday they were due to leave. The battle with her mother was won and Ron, well he had soon come round once Harry had a word with him about just how much of an opportunity he'd have to spend time with Hermione. For now the plan was set: the suitcases were already packed and in the boot of her father's old Ford Anglia, who had agreed to drive them to the airport. Then they'd be off. She was so excited to get away, she was determined to get a tan and maybe even convince Hermione to try and relax and get one too. She was sure Ron wouldn't object to seeing Hermione in a bikini.
Soon enough, Hermione woke up too and rolled over in the camp bed beside Ginny's bed. She smiled lazily up at Ginny before yawning widely.
"Good morning to you too," Ginny said sarcastically.
"M… m… mornaaan'" Hermione yawned. "Oh sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me, I just can't stop yawning."
"So I can see." Ginny chuckled.
Hermione smiled. "I can't wait to get going though, I'm so excited!" Hermione beamed.
"Yeah, me too." Ginny replied.
The two girls chatted for a little while longer before deciding that five thirty in the morning was a perfectly reasonable time to get up when your flight wasn't until one in the afternoon. They both got up and got themselves showered, packed their hand luggage and got dressed before heading downstairs to get something for breakfast. Hermione had just finished her toast and was waiting for Ginny to finish her cereal when she looked at the clock and realised it was nearly seven. She had already worked out that in order to get to the airport on time, all their bags checked in and sort out where they needed to be and at what time, they should leave about five hours. Muggles were never very reliable with their timings and something was bound to change and Hermione just wanted to be prepared for this.
Ginny soon agreed that they had to wake the boys up, and after discovering Mr Weasley checking on the chickens in the garden they headed up to Ron's room. Hermione reached the door first and hesitated slightly, but before she had time to knock Ginny had burst open the door and stormed in without looking back.
"Right, up! Come on, come on. There's no time for sleeping in, we've got a plane to catch in case you forgotten!" Ginny yelled startling both Ron and Harry from what appeared to be quite a peaceful sleep.
Harry immediately sat up and bunched his covers around his groin, hiding what was a fairly prominent erection. While Ron simply groaned and rolled over, clutching the covers tightly so that he was facing the wall.
Whereas Ginny suddenly felt slightly awkward at having obviously interrupted Harry after a rather vivid dream, Hermione plucked up the courage to make sure Ron definitely did not go back to sleep.
She walked over to Ron's bed and leaned over him a little, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Oh go away Ginny, five more minutes won't hurt," Ron mumbled almost incoherently. Staring down at Ron, seeing the defined muscles in his arms and the freckles splashed sparingly across the part of his back she could see, Hermione suddenly had the urge to see just a little bit more. So without a further thought, she grabbed hold of the side of his covers and pulled, hard. She stepped back just in time before Ron tumbled out of bed and ended up sprawled across the floor, bright-orange Chudley Cannon boxers on show for all to see, looking both confused and furious at the same time.
"Ginny! What the bloody hell… Oh, Hermione? What on earth was that for?" asked Ron, seeming genuinely surprised when he realised that Hermione had been the one to pull such a stunt. He stared at her for a while longer before suddenly becoming aware that he was in fact half naked, so quickly stood up and wrapped his bed sheets around him.
This seemed to bring Hermione out of her trance and she blinked a couple of times before saying, "Well, you needed to get up, and seeing as a tap on the shoulder didn't work I figured I'd have to find another tactic. Oh, and look, it worked," she added a little smugly. "Now come on, Ginny's right, there's no time to waste, we want to see you downstairs, fully dressed," Hermione eyed Ron with a raise of her eyebrow at this, "and with your hand luggage packed by seven forty five, got it?"
"Yes mum," replied Ron sarcastically.
"Good. Now get to it." And with that Hermione whirled around and out of the room before either Ron or Harry had a chance to protest.
Ginny smiled quickly at Harry before following Hermione. As she got to the door, she turned round and said, "Oh, and Ron? Nice boxers!" Before she ran off laughing as Ron threw his pillow at her, missing by miles.
Hermione, Ron and Harry all strolled out of the Burrow in single file, with Hermione marching out in front. The front door then slammed shut as Ginny came running towards the car, her hair flying wildly behind her. Elbowing Ron out of the way she yelled, "I call shotgun!"
"What? No! Ginny, that's not fair, you know I won't be able to sit comfortably in the back," Ron protested. "I need more room for my legs. Dad, tell her?"
"I'm sorry Ron, but from what Hermione has taught me about this funny muggle game, whoever calls 'shotgun' first when the car is in sight and the driver hears, sits in the front. So, I'm afraid you three will just have to sit in the back." Mr Weasley sat matter-of-factly looking at the trio.
Harry silently got into the seat behind Mr Weasley while Hermione slid across into the middle, leaving Ron, grumbling, to squeeze in beside her. Ginny sat comfortably in the front stretching her legs out in front of her and sighing. Ron, hearing this, kneed the back of her seat heavily.
For Ron, the journey to the airport was an awkward one to say the least. He was continually aware of Hermione's bare thigh against his leg; rubbing occasionally when either of them attempted to shift position is the tiny space. And the skin of her arm felt silky smooth against the muscles of his bicep. He longed to hold her, to feel every inch of her skin touching him, not just her arm or her leg, but all of her, wrapped around him.
Ron was jolted out of his thoughts when Mr Weasley slammed on the brakes suddenly and they came to a halt. "Right then, here we are: Exeter International Airport. Everybody ok?" Mr Weasley asked cheerfully.
"Yes, thanks Mr Weasley," Hermione replied. "We'll just get our bags from the boot and then we'll be off. Thank you for driving us."
"You're more than welcome, Hermione. I just do what I can," Mr Weasley began as everybody climbed out the car. "Now, Ron, I want you to take care of your sister okay? Keep her out of trouble, do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I know," Ron said unenthusiastically.
"I am old enough to take care of myself you know, dad!" Ginny said defiantly.
"I know, dear. I'm just under orders from your mother, don't stun the messenger!" Mr Weasley chuckled, helping Harry and Ron move the bags from the boot onto the pavement. "Right, I'll be getting back now then, but have a fabulous time all of you, look after each other, come home safe and I'll see you all in ten days time!" Mr Weasley then proceeded to give each of them a hug before making his way back onto the main roads and back to the burrow.
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny all stood on the pavement watching Mr Weasley drive off before each finding their respective suitcases and making their way inside the terminal.
Ron immediately felt a little nervous. Although Hermione had explained everything that was going to happen, he couldn't help but be slightly apprehensive. He followed Hermione through the crowd and stopped behind her when they came to a queue of people. When they finally got to the desk Hermione spoke to the woman behind it before lifting her suitcase onto a conveyor belt and waiting for her ticket. Harry then did the same with his suitcase and Ginny with hers. Ron was last and once he had seen his suitcase disappear behind a black curtain he turned to Hermione and smiled. "What next?" He asked feeling pleased with himself that he had coped with the first part of this adventure.
The four of them wandered over to a large seating area and waited there until their flight number was called. They all had a chance to browse round the shops and Ron had stocked up with supplies for the flight, determined that aeroplane food would surely kill him.
Soon enough the trio and Ginny were boarding the plane and waiting for take off. Hermione sat next to the window and was soon joined by Ron, whilst Harry and Ginny sat in front of them.
It was then, that Hermione could tell how nervous Ron was. He kept turning around and looking down the aisle, and wringing he hands together tightly, and when the cabin crew were displaying the emergency exits and procedures Hermione saw him double check under his seat that his lifejacket was there, seemingly having forgotten that he was in fact a wizard and could apparate away if necessary. As the plane began to move Hermione looked over at him and saw the strained look on his face as he tried to stay calm. She reached over and took his hand, stroking it slightly while smiling calmly at him. He looked back at her and immediately relaxed, grateful that she was there.
Soon the plane took off and they were on their way, Ron more excited than ever.