A/N: Nothing to say or note, so on with the story!
Disclaimer: Still don't own HP… disappointing, I know… but hey, you don't either…
When we last left our beloved characters: The gang was having a few problems with Muggle technology…
"Flight 763 to Bangkok, you are now boarding," a voice said over the sound system.
A group of six stood and walked over to the counter where the announcement had originated. The group consisted of two red heads, one male (who was very tall and had a long nose), and the other female (whose hair was long and silky), a tall skinny teen with jet-black hair and a peculiar scar on his forehead, another girl (whose brown hair was wavy), and two adults, one looking much like the brown-haired girl (possibly her mother from an onlookers point of view), the other was tall with dark blonde hair and glasses.
"Here are your tickets," Mr. Granger said passing one to each. The flight attendant scanned them individually and let them board.
Ron stiffened as they neared the end of the tunnel that led to the plane. He stared straight forward, unmoving.
"You okay, son?" Mr. Granger asked.
"I'm just slightly terrified," Ron said not moving anything, but his lips.
"Come on, Ron, you're blocking the way," Hermione said, taking him by the hand, leading them to their seats in front of Harry and Ginny, toward the back of the plane. He relaxed at her touch and followed lazily behind her.
"Sit down and have a bit of Calming Draught," she told him as they sat. She pulled out a small vial of light pink liquid, unstoppered it, and handed it to Ron, who quickly gulped it down. She paused a moment to watch him, waiting to see the effects of the potion kick in. He smacked his lips and his muscles lost their tension. He took a deep breath and sighed.
"Better?" she asked.
"Much," he replied, with a smile.
"Good."
One of the flight attendants came over the speaker system. "G'day. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard Australian Airlines flight 763 to Bangkok and London. Please turn your attention to the flight attendant nearest you for our safety demonstration. Please follow along with the safety card located in the seat pocket in front of you."
Ron reached forward and pulled the card from the seat pocket. He opened it as the attendant continued to speak, barely listening to what she was saying. He heard certain words like exit, yellow masks, and lights, but didn't understand anything else the flight attendant was saying.
"In case of a water landing, life jackets are located under your seat." That he did understand. "To fasten, place the vest over your head and secure both straps around your waste."
"Wait. What?" he asked turning to Hermione.
"Well," he was turning paler by the second, "They have to prepare, in the event of a crash," she explained. He turned a light green, swallowed hard, held his stomach as his cheeks filled a little, and clapped his hand over his mouth. His eyes widen and he stood. She pointed behind them to the back and said, "Lavatory."
Ron ran past Ginny and Harry's seats, down the isle, with many onlookers. Throwing the small door open, he ran into the tiny bathroom, head first. Retching and gagging sounds came from the small restroom. A flush and running water soon followed the noises, and the red head reappeared, taking his seat next to Hermione. He stared straight ahead.
Hermione put her hand on his right knee and he turned and looked at her with a sad expression. "So much for the calming draught," she said with a smile.
Ron gave a small nod, "Yeah, my sick was a bit sparkly."
Hermione cringed at this comment and lightly scolded, "That's disgusting, Ronald."
He smiled a bit, but it soon faded as the engines roared to life and the captain spoke over the speaker system, "Good afternoon, folks. This is your captain for flight 763 to Bangkok, speaking. We'll have wheels up in just a few minutes, so please stay seated. We have a flight time of about 16 hours and skies are clear and we don't expect delays once in-flight. Thanks for flying with Australian Airlines."
The plane began to move and Ron gripped the seat cushion with all his might, his jaw clenched. Hermione was thinking he would break a molar, as the plane picked up speed, his jaw locking tighter and tighter. His arms and head began to shake violently with the amount of pressure he was putting on them. He was beginning to turn a bit blue.
Hermione's eye widened as she watched him, "Ron, breath!" He came out of a sort of trance, and drew in a deep breath.
The man next to Hermione at the window seat was staring at Ron. He looked worriedly to Hermione and asked, "Is he okay?"
"First time flying," she explained, "He's a little nervous." Hermione heard Ginny snort behind them, "A little, my arse."
Ron began to hyperventilate as the plane gained altitude, and people throughout the cabin were popping their ears from the pressure change. Hermione noticed Ron turning blue again and quickly grabbed a paper bag from the seat pocket. Telling him to breath in it, she handed it to him, with a worried expression. He put it to his mouth and it began to inflate and deflate with each breath. His breaths slowly went from sharp and shallow to long and slow.
After awhile Ron removed the bag from his mouth and sighed, "Thanks 'Mione." He was relaxed until a ding signaled the seatbelt light was being turned off. He clung to the seat cushion once again, though not as tight as before. "What was that?" he asked nervously.
Before Hermione could answer the captain interrupted. "This is your captain speaking. We are now at cruising altitude and have a long flight ahead of us. Passengers are now free to move about the cabin, but request that your seatbelts remain fastened while seated. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask one of the flight attendants. Thank you for flying with us, and we hope you have an enjoyable flight."
Hermione looked at Ron, who was still clutching the seat. He seemed very focused. "What are you doing, Ron?" she questioned, with a little laugh.
"I'm keeping the plane up," he replied still looking at the seat in front of him.
"By gripping the seat cushion?"
"Exactly."
"Ron. Plane travel is very safe," she tried to reassure for the thousandth time, "Nothing is going to-."
"That's what everybody thinks, but then a plane just drops from the sky-."
"Planes don't just drop from the-."
"Hermione?'
"What?" she asked, with annoyance at the fact he kept interrupting her.
"I have to go."
"What? Where?"
"To the loo."
"Well, then go," she said in exasperation.
"I can't move, or the plane will drop. I have to hold it up."
"Ronald, you're being ridiculous-."
"Hermione."
"What?" she asked sharply.
"I really got to go," he said, looking at her in desperation.
Hermione sighed in defeat. "Do you want me to hold up the plane?"
"No. I have to."
"Well, Ronald. What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know-."
"Well then, whisper flying and levitation charms."
"Okay," He said after a moment of thinking. He stood and made his way past a few isles of seats to the back, his lips moving rapidly.
He came back and sat down a little while later, still muttering under his breath. Throughout the plane ride he would switch between clutching the seat and muttering spells. When he and Hermione would talk, he would hang on to the cushion, so as to focus on the conversation and still keep the plane up. Then when they finished talking, Ron would begin whispering the various charms.
After the flight attendants served drinks at 4:00, Hermione stood to use the lavatory, where Ginny was already waiting in line.
"How's Ron doing?" Ginny asked Hermione.
"Hard to say, he holds on to the seat like he's lifting the plane, and whispers charms. He's a bit annoying really. How are you and Harry doing?"
"I think it's cool. It's like dad says how it's amazing they find ways to cope without magic. Harry was enjoying it until a kid behind him began screaming and kicking his feet two hours after we took off."
Hermione laughed. "Well, he did want to go by plane, initially."
Ginny laughed in agreement. "So, what are you going to do about Ron?"
"I'm contemplating slipping him a Dreamless Sleep potion, during dinner."
"This is your co-captain speaking. It's 3:45 in the morning here in London. The temperature is 2 degrees Celsius (For me and my Americans that's around 36 degrees Fahrenheit). We are just pulling up to the gate and you will be allowed to disembark momentarily. Thank you for flying with Australian Airlines and have a wonderful day."
Ron woke as the plane came to a stop and the seatbelt light turned off with a ding.
"Ron, we're here," Hermione said tapping his shoulder.
"What? Where?" he asked, a little dazed from just waking.
"In England."
"Wait, what happened to Bangkok?" he asked, now fully awake.
"You slept through the whole thing," she said.
"That would explain why I am so hungry," he said after his stomach growled.
"Well, we will find something for you to eat, once we get off the plane."
They, like the other passengers, stood and waited patiently to get off the plane. Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry went to the baggage claim and found their luggage. They exited the airport and hailed a taxicab.
"Leakey Cauldron, please," Hermione said as they got in the oversized cab.
"Sorry. Never 'eard of it, an' I've lived here all me life," the driver said, looking in the rear view mirror.
"Oh, sorry," Hermione said before turning to Harry, Ginny, and Ron. "What street is it on?" Both Harry and Ron gave her blank expressions and Ginny said she didn't know. "Um, oh. Take us to Tottenham Court Road near Shaftesbury Avenue, please. It's close to there."
"Yup, I know where that is."
After a half an hour drive into the heart of London they arrived at their destination and paid the cab driver. The sun had now risen and they stepped out on to the street. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked around remembering the night of Bill and Fluer's Wedding. Hermione's eyes became a bit glassy and Harry and Ron both sighed.
Ginny noticed their reactions, "You okay, Hermione?"
"Yeah," she said clearing her throat, "It's just- this is where we came after the wedding."
"Oh."
Harry tried to lighten the mood, "Hey, Hermione," he pointed to a pub a ways down the street, "Isn't that where that muggle wolf-whistled and invited you for- what was it- a pint?"
Hermione gave a light smile. Ginny looked at Hermione, "They didn't." Hermione nodded. Ginny gasped and sniggered.
Ron had a dark look on his face, "I would have gone and hit the guy, but we were a little preoccupied."
Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes and then led the way a few blocks to the Leakey Cauldron where they flooed to the Burrow.
Mrs. Weasley greeted them happily at the fireplace and offered them something to eat, which they all gladly took. Hermione and Ginny told of their adventures in Australia, and presented Molly with the shells they got from Rolf. Harry and Ron soon fell asleep at the table after Ron finished all the food at the table. Arthur came down an hour and a half later and began having a discussion with Mr. Granger. The grangers finally went home after lunch (which Molly insisted they stay for), for some much needed rest.
A/N: Let me know what you think! I was having difficulty deciding whether to go to Shaftesbury Avenue (from the movie) or Tottenham Court Road (from the book) but seeing as they are only a few blocks away mentioned the other. But anyway if you have any comments please review! And for those complaining about Ginny I will try and tone her down… I now have George for those… certain… comments…