Disclaimer: I don't anything Harry Potter related (except merchandise of course)
BTW: I know this story sucks but please can you review after you read? Thanks!
The Grangers had landed in sunny Florida. At once, as Hermione came through the airport gates to the taxi runway, she did a double take. It was so hot! This was nothing like France at all – it was certainly about one hundred degrees hotter! Cassie bounced beside her, flashing her new designer sunglasses in front of her face. 'You better put yours on!' She said matter of factly, grinning.
Hermione rolled her eyes and prayed that this week would go as quickly as possible.
The ride in the rented Hummer was easier then sitting on the plane. Cassie fell asleep and snored all the way to the villa. Hermione took this chance to look outside her window and gaze at the amazing scenery. She had to admit; Ron would be so jealous! She giggled when a frowning, freckly Ron popped into her head on a Florida beach, complaining about the heat and the lack of quidditch related activities.
It was night when they arrived in their villa, grasshoppers were chanting in the long grass, stars were popping out one by one and the unfamiliar humidity left a strange damp sensation in Hermione's bushy hair. Everyone was so tired after the day's journey that they all decided to go to bed more or less straight away.
'Goodnight girls!' Aunt Jane kissed them both on the cheek and closed their doors with a silent snap. Cassie was about to say something to Hermione, but suddenly her mouth drooped in a lazy fashion and she shrugged her shoulders, muttered ''night' and dropped to sleep like a stone.
Hermione climbed into her own bed beside her cousin's and didn't get five minutes to think before, she too, fell asleep.
It was still dark when Hermione opened her eyes again. She checked the time on her wristwatch and read: 6AM. She groaned; she had already set her watch five hours behind and she was dreading welcoming the time difference. But she couldn't get back to sleep so she crept out of bed, opened her suitcase and pulled out one of her spell books. She tip-toed over to the door, all the while hearing Cassie snore loudly and preceded to the lounge to get to grips with her favourite activity. An hour later, her aunt and Uncle came out of their room, muttered 'good morning' and talked among themselves.
Then, her aunt said, 'Hermione dear, do you want to come with us to get some shopping for breakfast?'
'Alright,' Hermione beamed, gladly wanting to go for a refreshing walk. Boy was she wrong. It wasn't refreshing at all. At 8AM the sun was already roasting and she just about managed to heave herself along a stretch of sidewalk to the near grocery shop with her family. 'OK girls, we will get the essentials. You can wonder around and pick something you fancy having as a snack for this afternoon!' Aunt Jane smiled at them as she and her husband grabbed a shopping basket and walked around. Cassie straightened her shoulders and led Hermione down a sweet aisle.
'They make everything jumbo sized over here, but they usually sell some British snacks…' she twirled her finger around some items as she said this.
Hermione rolled her eyes, secretly longing for some cauldron cakes.
Finally, she decided on some skittles as these were her favourite sweets as a child. The four of them paid for their shopping and marched back to the villa – the sun more unbearable then ever.
'Are there witches and wizards all over the world?' Cassie asked Hermione, eyeing up a few kids playing on their skateboards.
'Yes, there are.' Hermione answered.
'Hmm,' Cassie pondered, 'I wonder how they cope in this weather? I mean, you all wear robes and things don't you?'
Hermione was quite taken aback by this information from her cousin. 'Yeah, how did you know that?'
'I heard my mum and your mum talking about it once,' she sighed.
Hermione smiled approvingly. 'Well, I imagine American witches and wizards, like the ones in other hot countries, find appropriate clothing. My friends, the Weasleys, put spells on their garments in the summer so they are breezier…'
'The who?' Cassie said with a slight snort.
'The Weasleys,' Hermione repeated, frowning.
Cassie burst out laughing. 'What a funny name! Do they all have weird names like that?' She asked as they reached the front door of their villa.
'Cassie, I hope you aren't being rude!' Aunt Jane snapped.
'I'm not!' Cassie expressed indignantly. 'I don't know anything about them so how should I know?'
'Well, be a bit more polite please!' Her mother said a little sternly.
Hermione had to endure a very active cousin for the rest of the day as Cassie bounced around the swimming pool, lounge, bedroom, kitchen and garden. 'Come on Hermione! Let's play volleyball in the pool!' She exasperated for the umpteenth time after lunch.
'I told you, I want to read!'
'You're so boring!'
'Enough of that Cassie!' Uncle Robert snapped as he flicked through the TV channels in a comfy chair. 'I hope you're not as rude when we go to Disney tomorrow!'
Cassie rolled her eyes and left the room, sniggering at Hermione. Hermione didn't know what she was sniggering at, but she soon found out. On her way to the bathroom, she passed the mirror in the hall and gaped at her reflection. Her hair wasn't just untamed, it was a freaking mess! It stuck out like she had been struck by lightening. 'Oh my!' She panicked.
