Summary- Harry, Ron, and Hermione join the WPP to hide from their enemies. Hermione has a run in with Draco, and leaves him somewhat confused.
~
Hermione felt the familiar tug behind her navel as she lurched back and found herself in front of the oddest arrangement of people you ever saw.
Hagrid was there, as tall as he was, along side Madam Maxime, whom Hermione had not really seen since the final task of the tri-wizard tournament. Lauren was at her side, breathing deep; Snape was there as well, looking on with a very peculiar look across his pointed face. Jessica and Jared were standing side by side, looking on in anticipation, as though they wanted to believe so hard it was she. Professor Rain and McGonagall were there as well; McGonagall looking rather misty eyed. Professor Dumbledore stood there, looking mighty and powerful, and Fawkes was perched behind him on his stand. The former Professor Lupin leaned casually against Dumbledore's desk. And there, along all the chaos and mixed emotions, were Ron and Harry, both with tears in their eyes.
The two boys disregarded all coolness and ran over to their friend. Ron scooped Hermione up and held her while Harry joined into the embrace. Both boys covered Hermione in kisses, (which they blushed about later) and held her so tight Hermione thought she heard a rib crack, or her liver explode, but really all she could feel was the warm embrace of her two best friends.
After all the, ahem, formalities where put aside, Dumbledore took order and explained everything that was going on.
"In light of recent events," He said gravely. "I have decided that Miss Granger-Prewit is no longer safe at Hogwarts."
Hermione gave a small gasp and both Harry and Ron grabbed her hands. Surly the headmaster wasn't going to send her to another school? Away from them? Was that why Madam Maxim was there?
"Miss Granger will have to leave Hogwarts."
Dumbledore spoke what many people in that room feared.
"What?" Ron cried. "Hermione has to stay here!"
"She can't leave!" Harry agrees in a desperate tone.
"So I have decided, after careful consideration." Dumbledore proceeded, as though not hearing the two boys' pleas. "That Miss Granger will be transferred to a muggle high school, until is safe to return."
Dumbledore let his word hang in the air for a moment before adding... "And she will be able to take two people of her choice with her."
Harry and Ron were right in the middle of protesting when what Dumbledore said registered.
"What?" Both of them yelled in unison.
Hermione flushed, but looked horrified. "Leave Hogwarts?" She cried, tears starting to roll down her face. "I have to leave my home? The place I spent the last four years of my life at? What about the library? I spent more time there then I did in the great hall! Professor I can't leave! Hogwarts is my home! I'll be damned if I let some half-dead moron kick me out of my home!"
Hermione stopped and realized what all she said, and cried openly. She then got up, and left the room.
Ron and Harry looked startled. They had never seen Hermione get that emotional; surly Dumbledore knew that would happen.
"I knew that would happen." Dumbledore said, sighing. "But its necessary, Hogwarts is no longer safe for her, and we must protect her."
Harry and Ron nodded.
"What next, Professor?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore smiled. "I was hoping she would stay around for this news. You see You, Ron, and Hermione are to be going to a muggle high school- Jared and Jessica's muggle high school. You three will share an apartment together, and pretend to be regular, muggle students."
Jessica shrieked with joy and Harry and Ron looked at their Professor, dumbfounded.
"You mean it, Professor?" Ron asked carefully.
"Of course." Dumbledore said. "And at night, Professor Rain will come, so that you all will not fall behind on your studies, and to help Jessica and Jared with their Wicca training."
Harry and Rom smiled widely, and then dashed out of the room in hot pursuit of Hermione.
~
Hermione sat alone in an old tower. The tower itself was draftee and unreal. The smell of moss and decay could be detected, but Hermione didn't care. They wouldn't find her until she wanted to be found, and she didn't.
She was leaving Hogwarts. Leaving. Hermione couldn't believe they were kicking her out of her home, the one place she felt something for. She belonged here. She worked and studied and was petrified within these very walls, and now they are taking it all away.
Hermione didn't notice another figure step into the circular tower; she just laid her head against the window and let the tears fall.
"I could push you, you know." A cold voice said. "I could push you out the window and make it look like suicide."
Hermione didn't even look up. "Go ahead." She said. "It would be less work for me, wouldn't have to move or anything."
"What the hell is the matter with you?" Draco Malfoy finally emerged from the shadows, into the moonlight streaming through the single window. "Do you have a death wish?"
"I wish I were dead, if that is what you mean." Hermione replied, sounding nothing like the former happy Gryffindor girl. "I also wish you would leave me the fuck alone."
Hermione stood up and tried to cross the room, but Draco stopped her, grabbing her roughly by the shoulder.
"I want you to tell me something, first." He said.
Hermione glared up at him.
"Why didn't you rat me out to everybody, you knew it was all my doing." His eyes were confused, but still dangerous.
"I would do anything for an old friend." Hermione said simply, and then twisted out of his grasp and out the door before he could say another word.
Draco stood there a minute before it registered…an old friend?
Hermione left the sanctuary of the crumbling tower and headed the way towards the kitchens, however, she never made it.
"Hermione!" It was Ron.
"What, Ron?" Hermione said in a tired, defeated voice.
"Come on Hermione! Cheer up, Harry and I will be going with you." Ron said desperately, trying to cheer his friend up.
"I'm leaving Hogwarts Ron." Hermione said in a dull voice. "I won't make you and Harry follows me."
"We want to go!" Ron said. "And so do Jared and Jessica, their excited!"
"Why would they be?" Hermione asked, sounding a bit curious now.
"We're going to be going to their high school!" Ron exclaimed, grinning like someone told him Christmas was coming early, not that he was going to high school.
Hermione grudgingly brightened at this news; it was by far the best she had heard recently.
"But Ron." She said. "What about magic? How can I stop learning now?"
"You won't have to." Ron said, and grabbed her hand. "Professor Rain is going to come at night and catch us up on our work; you'll still be the best in the school without even being there!"
Hermione actually smiled at this. "He is?" She asked.
"Of course." Ron said with a reassuring smile. "You're the smartest witch in years, Mione; Dumbledore isn't going to let you go that easy!"
This time Hermione laughed. A real, eye glittering laugh and Ron joined her. They laughed until their sides hurt, just because it felt so good to be happy again, even if only for a short while.
"You and Harry are coming with me?" Hermione asked, once the laughter subsided.
"Well I know I'm going!" A new voice said from down the hall. Harry walked up and wrapped Hermione in a tight hug. "You're going to have to do more then get kidnapped by a bunch of homicidal deatheaters to get rid of us, Mione."
Hermione hugged him back and kissed bother Ron and Harry on the cheek, and laughed again. "I really don't deserve to have friends like you." She said happily."
"We get to room together." Ron spoke up. "Dumbledore said we get an apartment and we all share it. We're to act like normal high school students, and obviously, we can't tell people who we are."
Hermione nodded. "I guess we should go back to Dumbledore." She said.
Ten minutes later they were all in the headmaster's office again, just as when Lauren and Hermione first came
"Glad you're back." Professor Rain began. "Remus and I will be taking you to your new home."
Lupin stepped up. "Yes, from now on, Hermione, You, Ron, and Harry are to be part of the WPP."
"Witness protection program?" Hermione asked slightly confused.
"Almost." Lupin said with a smile. "Wizards' protection program. It's how we place different wizards and witches who are in some sort of danger. It was started after the downfall of Voldemort. When the deatheaters were still strong, we had to hide important wizards, mostly in muggle communities. It has a lot to do with the same spell they used on your parents, Harry, only without a secret keeper. It doesn't work as well, but this way your fate doesn't rest within a single soul."
"And with that said." Dumbledore announced. "It is time you share the details with the students. Rain, Remus?"
Rain took a step forward. "We have already selected a house for the three of you." He said with a proud demeanour. You will each have your own bedroom, although you must share a bathroom. There is a large kitchen, living room, and a study, which I think Hermione will find to be very well equipped. It's a flat with a basement that has three different port keys that lead to three different ministry locations, one for each of you in case you are discovered, which is unlikely. The Flat is one block away from your new school."
Lupin stepped up: "Ron, your parents have been notified, but we did not disclose your exact location, in case of veritaserum, and Hermione, your parents have been moved to a new location, under a confundus charm. They believe their new neighbourhood was their original home. This is to scramble up placement charms. Am I forgetting anything Albus?"
The old Professor smiled. "There is the money issue." He said
"Ah yes." Lupin said, clearing his throat. You will have a five hundred-galleon allowance to buy the necessities and school supplies. You will need to exchange that into pounds at Gringotts. You of course can also get whatever other money you want, if desired. You will also each be given an emergency port key for use in an emergency. It will be in the shape of a piece of jewellery and can be activated by tapping it three times with your forefinger. Hermione, your necklace already acts like a port key, it will transfer you to the nearest safe place, witch we can program to always be Hogwarts if you wish. Harry and Ron, you too will be receiving necklaces. Just simple gold chains, so do not worry."
"We're really leaving?" Hermione asked in a meek voice. "We really have to leave Hogwarts?"
"Not forever, drear." McGonagall spoke up. "But we all care for your safety. We were actually planning on doing this to Mr. Potter before all this came about, so please, don't believe it is just you; we care about all of you, because all of you are in danger."
"What are you going to tell my brothers and sister?" Ron asked. "And what about the rest of the school? Don't you think they'll be just a little curious?"
"We are telling your siblings the truth, Ron" Sirius said. "They can handle it, I'm sure. The faculty has been informed, although the only people who will be aware of your location are those in this room. We will tell the student body you are on an exchange trip to another school, and technically, it isn't exactly a lie."
"An exchange trip!" Hermione said, her eyes brightening. "That's right! This could be a learning experience! Why didn't I think of that?"
Ron and Harry both groaned in unison, and the adults laughed at their very odd sort of friendship.
"I have a lot of learning to do, don't I?" Ron asked then. "I can't even work a felly tone right."
"Telephone, Ron." Hermione corrected.
"See?" Ron asked. "Proves me point."
"That's ok, Ron." Jessica said. "We'll all help. Now, who's ready to do some school shopping? You three can't go to our school looking like that!"
Hermione grinned. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
~
"You have failed me Lucius." Voldemort said in his usual cold voice.
Lucius Malfoy shivered. "My apologies, my Lord. But I swear, I do not know how-"
"Silence." Voldemort said, in a slightly stronger voice. "It does not matter now; your son will keep an eye on her at that blasted school."
"My Lord?" Another strong male voice said through the dark. "I am afraid that is impossible. That muggle lover Dumbledore has moved her. He has put Weasley, Potter and her somewhere else, into hiding; they are no longer at school."
"Is that so, Draco?" Voldemort's eyes narrowed into slits. "And what did Dumbledore say, exactly?"
"He told us they are involved in an exchange program, my Lord. They are attending another magical school."
"I see."
~
"Here we are." Lupin said to the trio. "This will be your home for as long as you need it."
It was near midnight, and Hermione, Ron, Harry, Remus, and Rain were standing outside a small looking home in the middle of a quiet neighbourhood. They had just been to Diagon ally, Gringotts, specifically. Hermione knew that Wizarding money was worth a lot, but the muggle money they got in return was quite a bit. And both her and Harry had taken out money from their privet vaults.
Rain gave each of them a key. "Here you go." He said. "There is only one way in, which is this way. There are anti-apparation spells all over the property, so no one can Apparate within one hundred feet of the house. The only ways out are through this door and the port keys in the basement."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Remus, and Rain stepped inside the house. Rain hadn't been kidding; the house was quite large. They came into a cloakroom, where they hung up all their coats and things. And next was the kitchen. There were already a refrigerator and freezer, oven and microwave. The whole kitchen was white, and a ceiling fan with a light was running over their heads.
"Professor?" Hermione said suddenly. "It doesn't look this big from the outside, is it all magic?"
Rain gave a sly grin. "Maybe."
Remus cleared his throat. "All the rooms are white, as is all the furniture. We figured you all would like to decorate. Now, for the rules. Number one, this goes without saying- no magic in front of muggles, unless it is Jared and Jessica. Two- no one will be able to gain access to this house unless properly invited, somewhat like the vampire rule. Three- you may use all the magic you like in this house, especially for your schoolwork. Professor Snape has been kind enough to transfigure a portion of the basement into a potion's lab, so that you may not fall behind. The bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs, Hermione is the first, Harry's is the second, and Ron is the third. They re all connected by a door, so you all have access to one another's room. I suggest you lock your doors at night, but not the doors to one another's room. After ten o'clock every night this house will go under shut down spells- no one will be able to get in, and no one will be able to get out, except for Professor Rain, who will come to be your tutor."
Hermione smiled. "This place is lovely." She said. "I think we can make the best of it."
"That's what I like to hear." Rain said. "I knew you three would be alright, you're all survivors. Remember, this is just a minor setback, before you know it you'll be able to come back, and you'll have a fantastic experience under your belt."
They all nodded, then Hermione said. "Alright, now I think we need to do some shopping."
Remus and Rain smiled. "Alright, I think this is where we leave you, School starts tomorrow, Hermione, Harry, I'm sure you know what you need, so help Ron out. School is at seven thirty."
Hermione nodded, but Harry said- "Wait, what about Lauren, what happened to her?"
Remus winked. "Lauren is brushing up on her espionage, and she had to go back to her school, but don't worry, you'll see her at the end of the week. She is training with Professor Snape every weekend."
Harry frowned slightly, but sucked it up. "Alright." He said.
"Remember," Remus said. "Just tap your necklaces three times with your finger and you'll be sent straight to professor Dumbledore's office."
The trio nodded and said goodbye to Remus and their professor.
After they had gone, Hermione turned to her friends. "Alright, what do you want to do first, shop or decorate and explore?"
Ron and Harry looked at each other. "Let's decorate." Ron said. "Its midnight, we can shop the day away later."
Hermione grinned. "Ok."
They set about the kitchen, looking at the various things. It really was well furnished, only everything was all white. The refrigerator was a freezer and refrigerator in one, with an ice and water maker, which Hermione had to teach Ron how to use. The countertop ran across two of the four walls and cabinets where above Hermione head is. Only Harry and Ron could reach them easily.
"Now we know where we can put things we don't want Hermione to get." Ron joked. Hermione just elbowed him.
There was an island in the middle of the room, with three bar style stools sitting around it. Hermione opened a door next to the refrigerator; it turned out to be a pantry, with loads of shelves. They could stock two months worth of food in here.
There was a white sink, with a dish drainer on one side, and a window over it. A coffee maker, which made Hermione's day, a microwave, and an oven. Hermione and Harry wouldn't let Ron go near any of it.
"How are we going to decorate?" Hermione asked.
Harry and Ron shrugged. "How about blue?" Harry said. "Blue is one of my favourite colours."
Hermione looked around. "Okay." She waved her wand, and muttered a spell. A blue mist spilled out from her wand as she waved it around the kitchen. She waved it around a couple more seconds and then stepped back.
"There." She said with satisfaction. "How do you like it?"
Now the room was bright with blue and white paint. The spell was very effective, as it even smelled like wet paint. Different shades of blue covered the walls in a sponge design. The cupboards she left white. Light blue curtains where fluttering in front of a now-open window. There were now blue and white checkered tiles on the floor. The island was white, with a blue trim, and the bar stools where white with a blue cushion.
"Fantastic Mione!" Harry said.
"Yea." Ron added. "I'm going to make you do my room."
"It's a real easy spell, guys." Hermione said. "All you have to do is say the charm, and vision what you want. All it takes is some wrist flicks and some concentration."
"Hey!" Ron said. "We still have a bathroom, living room, and study to do. You feel up to it, Mione?"
Hermione laughed. "Sure, but I might not be as generous. I get to pick the bathroom colour."
Ron and Harry looked at reach other wearily. "Uh oh."
They trio made their way to the living room, which was right outside the kitchen. It was lovely, furnished with a large fireplace, which reminded them all of The Gryffindor common room, two over stuffed sofas, and three very comfortable looking lazy chairs. There was a bookcase on one side, and the staircase on the far side. A side table was sitting in between the two sofas, and smaller tables sat beside each of the chairs.
"I think we all know what to do with this room." Hermione said. Harry and Ron nodded.
Hermione said the charm again, and within a few seconds, the living room looked just like the Gryffindor common room, only a bit more compact.
The walls where now a burgundy red colour, with hardwood floors. An enormous rug lay on the floor with the Gryffindor crest upon it. The fireplace looked just like the one in the Gryffindor common room, and the Hogwarts coat of arms was over it. The chairs where red, and the sofas were a darker burgundy, almost black. The tables were a dark hardwood.
"Perfect." Was all Harry could say. "Absolutely perfect. You're amazing, Mione."
"I know." Hermione said with a modest grin. "Now, what about that study?"
The trio opened a door on the far side of the room, beside the stairway. Hermione opened it first and gasped when she looked inside.
"It's the Hogwarts library!" She said in delight."
"No it isn't." Ron said. "But it's a replica of it."
Ron was right. Somehow the teachers of Hogwarts made an exact copy of Hermione's favourite place even her favourite table was there, with a note on it.
Isn't it amazing what a little magic will do? Use it well.
-Professor Minerva McGonagall
"Told you, you were her favourite." Ron said smugly.
Hermione hit him playfully. "We had better see to our rooms and the bathroom, then." She said with a grin, and one last longing look at the beautiful library.
The three ran up the now-hard wood steps and walked into the first door on the left- the bathroom.
It was a very large bathroom, looking to accommodate more than three people. There were three large sinks, a large hot tub in the corner, a square shaped bathtub that could fit ten people, and a stand-up shower. A large circular window was on the ceiling, like a skylight.
"I have the perfect design." Hermione said.
She waved her wand, and a light, shimmering yellow spilled out of it, it floated out over everything, and covered the room with a warm yellow glow.
"Fantastic." Harry breathed. "It's almost as effective as a cheering charm."
"Yellow is the colour of cheerfulness." Hermione said. "That's why I like it so much."
"Well it looks good." Ron said. "Now, we need to tackle our own rooms."
"Think you can handle your own?" Hermione said teasingly.
"I think so." Ron said with a grin, and headed off to the bedroom down the hall.
"What about you Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Prepare to be amazed." Harry returned, and then left to his own bedroom.
Hermione took one look around the bright bathroom, and then headed to her bedroom, which was the first door, right across the hall from the bathroom. She stepped inside and wasn't surprised to be blinded by the bright white. There were three large windows, including a window seat, which Hermione immediately wanted to use for reading. A big three-poster bed- just like at Hogwarts was beside another window. She had a large dressing table; complete with a humongous mirror and many drawers she could fill. She crossed the room and opened another door, and saw that it was a very large walk-in closet.
Hermione smiled. This was definitely not going to be as bad as she thought.
She thought for a moment about what she wanted, then began to wave her wand. This particular design took a couple of minutes, compared tot eh couple of seconds she used for the other rooms. When she was done, she looked around in satisfaction.
She had chosen an Arabian theme. Gold's, reds, yellows, they were all there in her room. Her bed, instead of a canopy, a sheer glittering red and gold cover around it, was draping down from the ceiling. The window seat was piled high with various pillows, all begging to be sat upon. The walls had different harem designs, which mesmerized Hermione. Grinning, she turned and left to go see how the boys were doing.
The first bedroom was Harry's, and he, like she thought he would, had picked blue. It was a much darker blue than what was in the kitchen, and much simpler than Hermione's design. Hermione noticed that their rooms were exactly alike, only arranged different.
"Good job, Harry." Hermione said, patting him on the back.
:"Thanks, should we see how Ron is doing?"
Hermione grinned and nodded, and the two friends walked down the hall a little more.
They came to Ron's room to see that it had completely bed transfigured into a Chudley Cannons haven. It looked nearly like it did back at the burrow, only more extravagant. Orange walls surrounded them, and Ron had an orange bed cover and drapes. On the walls you could see people zooming around on broomsticks, and snitches flickering gold every so often.
"Hey!" Harry said. "That's pretty cool." Then his face fell. "I forgot how much I'm going to Miss Quidditch."
"Hey Harry." Hermione said, putting her arm around him. "We're all going to miss it, but wait until you all get into some muggle sports, you might like them."
"I always wanted to try basketball." Harry said thoughtfully. "I was just always too short."
"Well, now you're not." Hermione said. "Maybe it's not too late to join."
"What's basketball?" Ron spoke up, looking confused.
"Muggle sport." Hermione said. "We'll teach you someday."
Ron just continued to look confused.
"Ok guys, now how about some shopping?" Hermione asked. We all need to get school clothes. These clothes we're wearing now aren't going to cut it, and the clothes we bought in London over the summer won't last us a week. We also need groceries, and school supplies."
"What do we need for school?" Ron asked. "I already have a ton on parchment and quills."
"Muggles don't use parchment and quills." Hermione said patently. "They use notebooks and pencils. We all need to get that, plus some other various things."
Ron looked terribly confused, and Hermione couldn't blame him. Jessica was the first muggle he had ever gotten to know, and now he was expected to go and be surrounded by hundreds. Hermione was glad she was raised a muggle.
"It's nine o'clock now." Hermione said, doing a time spell, we have to be back by ten, let's get going."
The three friends took another look throughout their magical house and walked out the door, Harry being last, and he locked it. After making sure they all had their key, they walked down the street.
"Are we going to have to walk the whole way there?" Ron asked.
"No, we'll take a bus here." Hermione said, stopping in front of a bus stop. "There will be a bus here in a couple on minutes, and we can catch a ride on that downtown where we can do our shopping."
Harry smiled. "Can you believe that in all my life, I never took a muggle bus? Ever?"
Hermione grinned. "There's a first time for everything." She said. "Just have your money ready, Harry, can you do Ron's?"
They had tried to teach Ron how to handle and count muggle money, but he was as hopeless as his dad was. He didn't understand how paper could be worth anything, and finally Hermione had given up, leaving Ron in Harry's hands.
After waiting on the bench a couple on minutes, a bright red bus stopped. The trio climbed in and, to Hermione's surprise, Ron got the money right. They then proceeded to the back, where Hermione sighed with relief.
"Glad that part is done with." She said with a grin. "Good job Ron."
Ron grinned. "Harry counted it out for me." He said.
They all laughed, thinking how silly they were being. After riding in the bus, and watching a couple houses go by, Hermione saw that they were nearing the shopping complex.
"We're here." Hermione said.
The bus stepped in front of a large clothing store, and Hermione nodded to her friends.
"We'll start with clothes, then school supplies, then groceries, ok?"
"Alright." Harry said, and Ron nodded.
They walked into the nearest store, and one by one went in. It was a regular shopping mall, full of different styles. Hermione's eyes grew big at the prospect of buying a completely new wardrobe, and dived for the nearest display.
Two hours later a very happy Hermione left the store with two very weary looking boys. They all carried about four bags each, and now had enough clothes to last at least a month.
"It's a good thing you know the washing charm, Mione." Harry said. "Because I would rather kiss a skrewt then go clothes shopping with you in the near future!"
Hermione was in too good a mood to think up a good retort and just smiled.
"Her, we need to shrink these if we're going to be able to carry food and stuff." Ron said.
The three friends ducked into an ally real quick and each shrunk their bags, leaving one regular sized one.
"Poor muggles." Ron said. "How can they bear having to live without magic?"
"Remember Ron," Hermione said. "When we're at school, you are a muggle; magic doesn't exist except at cheep magic shows."
"Right." Ron said, saluting her. "Where to now?"
Hermione looked down the street. "There's the office supply store, we'll get our school stuff there."
So the three walked down the street, swinging their air-light bags as they walked. No one would know that each of them were carrying so much, just another perk to being a wizard I guess.
Hermione was the first to step into the brightly-lit office store. She loved the way they smelled. Crisp, fresh paper and clean polished floors.
Ron looked like he had just stepped into another dimension. He stared at the huge lights above their heads and the hundreds of computers and TV's lining the walls. Different phones of every shape and size lined one wall, and computer chairs on another.
"Come one Ron." Hermione said, pulling him towards the school supplies.
She picked up a shopping basket and beckoned Harry and Ron to do the same. She strolled down the isles, picking up pens, pencils, notebooks, highlighters, and a calculator, everything she would need. Harry knew he needed all this on his own, but Ron watched her every move, grabbing exactly what she did.
Hermione laughed a little. "You can get different coloured highlighters, Ron." She said, motioning to the pink ones he picked up, like hers. "See how Harry got yellow? You could get green or blue, even orange."
Ron grinned and traded his pink highlighters for orange ones, not to anyone's surprise.
"I don't understand these." Ron said suddenly, picking up his package of pens and pencils. "How can you write with these? We didn't even buy any ink! All these are little sticks of wood, and plastic."
"The ink is inside the pen, Ron." Hermione said patiently. "And there is lead in the pencils. When we get home I'll show you how everything works, ok?"
"Alright." Ron mumbled, "but I still think this is very weird."
Harry smirked at his friends and turned back to the book bags he was looking at. Hermione came up on his left and Ron at his right.
"I almost forgot about a bag." Hermione said, picking up a sporty purple and blue one. Harry picked up a red one.
"At least I know what these are for." Ron said, while he picked out a blue one.
"Do you guys want to buy a television?" Hermione asked. "I left all the stuff I bought at the beginning of the year at Hogwarts. Well, everything but my cell phone, that's in my trunk at the house."
"Television!" Ron cried. "Yes!"
Hermione and Harry laughed. "Alright." Harry said. "We'll but one and a DVD player while we're at it. We can have a movie night on Friday."
"We'll explain later." Hermione said before Ron could ask what a DVD or a movie was.
About fifteen minutes alter the trio came out of the office supply store, Hermione carrying all the clothes and all the school supplies, Harry carrying the TV and Ron carrying the DVD player. They ducked into another ally and shrunk all their stuff, so everyone was now carrying two bags of stuff.
"One more stop." Hermione said.
"And I understand what that is!" Ron exclaimed. "Food!"
Hermione laughed. "Yup, and there's the grocery store."
The three walked into the sliding doors, Hermione and Harry grabbing Ron before he could go look at the doors again. Luckily he was distracted by the amount of food in the large grocery store.
"Where to first?" Hermione asked.
"Let's start at this end, and work our way over." Harry said, pointing to the fruit section. They all nodded in agreement and grabbed a shopping cart. Putting whatever they personally wanted into it.
Nearly two hours later, they finally emerged, all struggling heavily with their load. They barely made it to a secluded spot before their bags broke, but luckily, Hermione had a very fast hand.
"Well." Hermione said, now carrying three bags of stuff, "I think we're ready to go home."
Harry and Ron nodded and they walked to the bus stop, talking idly about how at this time they were usually in potion's class.
The bus picked tem up rather quickly, and they set off for the ten-minute ride back to their new home, newly furnished and decorated of course.
"Whew." Hermione said, once they all were in their kitchen. "I'm so tired."
"We still have to put all this stuff away." Harry said, his Dursley training kicking in, they always made him put away the groceries.
"Oh, well that's simple." Hermione waved her wand and the room was filled with flying cereal boxes, milk, juice, soda, macaroni and cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, bread…Harry and Ron watched as the things put themselves away. The ice cream going in the freezer, the lunchmeat in the refrigerator.
"Wow." Harry said. "I really regret being a muggle for the first half of my life; it used to take me an hour to do that."
"Hey," Hermione said, after all the food was in place. "Me too, but now it's a lot easier. Since I was a prefect…" A look of sadness crossed her face for a second. "I got to do magic at home; my parents loved that trick."
"It's all right, Mione." Ron said, putting a comforting arm around her. "You're still a prefect, Dumbledore said he wasn't going to replace you."
Hermione gave him a sad smile. "I know, but it still upsets me, I feel like I'm running."
"You aren't running." Harry said. "I'm part of this too, remember? Dumbledore was going to send us away anyway, would you have come if it were just me going into hiding?"
Hermione looked at him. "Of course." She said. "I would have come to Siberia if you needed to go there."
"There." Ron said. "We're all in this together."
Harry and Hermione smiled. "Together." The said.
