Harry and Ron were all packed and ready to go. Harry had talked Ron's mom into letting them walk to Ottery St. Catchpole alone. When the Burrow was not clearly visible Harry stopped walking.
"Why did you stop walking? And why didn't you let my mum have someone walk with us?"
"Because we are not walking all the way to Ottery St. Catchpole. We're going to apparate. Well, I'm going to apparate, you'll be side-a-long."
"Just to Ottery St. Catchpole and not all the way to Hermione's. Why not? Wouldn't it be quicker to just apparate to her house?"
"Sure it would be quicker but I am not comfortable going that far with you side-a-long. I am not sure how it will go. Just relax and trust me. I know I can do this. I just want to be on the safe side Ron."
"Wait it's too light out to apparate."
"I have the invisibility cloak, Ron."
"Oh, right."
Harry flung the cloak over them, Ron held on to Harry's arm, Harry remembering the three D's turned on the spot. The feeling of being squeezed into oblivion did not bother Harry that much this time.
"That was bloody weird. I am not sure that I like it. How can you stand it?"
"I have done this a few times. Oh, I'm sorry I meant to warn you what it feels like. Apparition is different when you're the one in control than side-a-long."
Still under the cloak they looked around to be sure that there was not one soul around. Once it was clear that the alley way was deserted, Harry pulled the cloak off of them and put it away.
"Now what do we do? I might not know exactly how far but I am sure we have a long way to go until we reach Hermione's."
"We'll walk for a while. First we need to find a market for something to eat and drink. I don't have a lot of Muggle money on me so it will probably be sweets."
After an hour they finally found a market. Harry bought some chocolate bars, soda and some water.
As they resumed walking, Ron eagerly took the chocolate bars but was a little hesitant about the soda. He gave it a try and liked it.
"How do Muggles do it? Walking or even driving to where they need to go, it's so slow."
"I am used to it and it's not that bad. You just grew up differently than Muggles. Walking and driving where you need to go in the Muggle world is just a way of life."
Ron just shrugged his shoulders. As they continued to walk, Harry was looking for a deserted alley. He was becoming tired of walking and sure that Ron was sick of it.
"Ron this way." Harry said as he found a deserted alley on the left.
Once in the alley, Harry pulled out the cloak and flung it over them. Ron once again grabbed hold of Harry's arm and a moment later they were in a park. Harry chose the park as he had spent quite a bit of time in it through the years and knowing that no one would be in the park at that time. Harry put the cloak away and they started walking again. A few streets before Privet Drive Harry stopped walking. Ron not paying attention walked right into the back of Harry, nearly sending them both to the ground.
"Why did you stop this time?"
"I'm summoning the Night bus so we can get to Hermione's." Harry said as he firmly grasped his wand and stuck out his arm. Almost instantly the Night bus was in front of them.
"Hello, again Harry. I see you have a friend with you this time. So where to tonight?"
"Godalming, Surrey. Preferably Gosling Way."
"Very well. Take it away Ernie."
Harry paid Stan and they made their way to an empty spot for them to sit.
* * * * * * *
Ron and Harry walked down Gosling Way looking for Hermione's place. Harry finally saw the house they were looking for and walked up the walkway and knocked on the door. The door opened and there stood a fairly tall woman who looked like an older Hermione.
"Hello Harry, Ron. Hermione has talked a lot about you."
Harry smiled and Ron blushed slightly.
"Come on in." Mrs. Granger said.
As they walked in the house Mrs. Granger called for Hermione. Hermione walked out of the kitchen and ran over to the boys and hugged them both.
"How long are you staying?"
"About three days and then we're going back to Ron's. If your parents are all right with it would you like to go with us?"
"I would like to but I don't know if my parents will let me."
"It will be fine with us Hermione. Any way, I am speaking at a conference and you would not enjoy yourself at all. I am sure that it would be boring for you." Mr. Granger said.
"Thanks dad." Hermione said as she hugged her dad.
Hermione led Harry and Ron to a guest room.
"So what have the two of you been up to? I can see that Ron hasn't got himself in more trouble."
"Harry bought Ginny a Cleansweep Six for her birthday."
"Harry! You didn't?"
"I just thought she would like a broom of her own."
"But a Cleansweet Six."
"Hey, Mrs. Weasley is fine with it."
"Why?
"Mum saw Ginny flying around on Harry's broom. Ginny is really good, she handled Harry's broom like it was something she has done all her life."
"Harry, you only bought the broom so that Ginny would have her own broom?"
"Well, Fred, George and this one here were giving her a real bad time. Saying that she doesn't know how to fly and doesn't know anything about Quidditch and she showed them with my broom. I thought that a broom faster then her brothers would be justifiable."
"Anything else?'
"It was Ginny's birthday." Squeaked Harry.
Hermione tried not to laugh. Ron looked at Harry questioningly.
"So, Hermione what's for dinner?" Harry quickly asked.
"Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and a variety of beverages to choose from."
"You know, I've never had Muggle cooking before."
"Ron it's food, no different than what you eat at home or at Hogwarts. There is only one difference, and that is it's prepared and cooked without magic."
Shortly after the conversation had ended Harry left the room. He decided to try and make it so that Ron and Hermione were alone as much as possible, no matter how difficult it may be.
"Oh, Harry could you please let Hermione and Ron know that dinner is ready?'
"Sure."
Harry went back to the room and let them know that dinner was ready. The three of them headed to the kitchen. Harry took a seat at the left end of the table so that Ron and Hermione had to sit next to each other. As they ate Hermione kept glancing at Ron. Every time she glanced at Ron she was relieved that Ron was not eating like a ravenous pig like he usually did. After the dinner the three of them went back to the guest room.
"Don't stay up too late."
"We won't. Oh mum, they are going to need the cot and extra bedding and pillows."
"Oh, right. Your father and I will bring it in shortly."
"Thanks mum."
"Thanks Mrs. Granger." Harry and Ron both said.
Harry, Ron and Hermione went back to the guest room. A half and hour later Mrs. Granger and Mr. Granger came into the room. Mrs. Granger set the bedding and pillows on the bed. Mr. Granger set up the cot. All that was left was for the boys make the bed up on the cot.
"Harry you take the bed. I'll take the cot."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. You sleep on the cot at my house, I'll sleep on the cot here."
"Okay."
"I'll see both of you in the morning." Hermione said as she left the room while yawning.
Ron and Harry made the cot up for Ron. Ron climbed in bed, pulled the blankets over him, laid his head on the pillows and began to softly snore. Harry laughed as he climbed in bed. He pulled the blankets over him and laid his head on the pillows. He had been yawning for some time and thought that he would go right to sleep. He just couldn't sleep.
'I know it's not Ron's snoring that is keeping me from sleeping. Why does this happen to me? I'm probably used to the beds at the Dursley's, the bed at Hogwarts and the cot at Ron's. Why didn't I argue with Ron about the cot? I really should have. Then again I could be on the cot now and not able to sleep.' Harry thought as he rolled over onto his right side.
Harry finally fell asleep an hour later.
'What the bloody hell have I been sleeping on? Why am I not in my bed?' Ron thought as he opened his eyes. He looked around at the strange, bare walled room. Panic started to set in but then he saw Harry asleep on the bed. Ron was a little confused. As he was starting to remember he heard a knock on the bedroom door and it opened a crack.
"Are you guys awake?" Hermione asked quietly.
Ron got up off the cot and walked out the door.
"Harry's still asleep. I don't think he slept well last night."
"What makes you think that?"
"At my house for the past week or so he has been up early. At least up long before me."
"Well, he is more comfortable in the Wizarding world. Right now he's in the Muggle world again. A better situation of course, but still the Muggle world."
"You saying that, I hope he wasn't thinking of the Dursley's."
"Me too. Oh, breakfast is ready."
"Should we get Harry up?"
"No, let him sleep. We don't know how long he has been asleep."
Hermione and Ron went to the kitchen. They sat next to each other and ate in silence. As Harry woke up he looked around and the bare walled room and sighed in relief that he was not at the Dursley's. He got out of bed and went to the kitchen.
"Good morning Harry." Mr. Granger said
"Good morning" Harry said in return.
"Did you sleep all right?" Asked Mrs. Granger.
"Yes. Thank you."
Harry sat down and ate his breakfast, though very hungry he did not eat like a ravenous pig. At lunch Harry barely ate anything and went out to the back yard. The grass was deep green and well groomed. There was a picnic table and benches under a shade tree. Harry walked over to the picnic table and sat down on one of the benches. Shortly after Harry sat down on the bench, Ron and Hermione walked out the back door and over to where Harry sat.
"Harry what's wrong?" Asked Ron.
"And don't tell us nothing. We can tell that something is bothering you." Added Hermione.
"Sirius is on my mind. The last I heard anything was from Remus, and he didn't know anything new. As far as he knows Sirius is still in Azkaban."
"Didn't Remus also say to ask Dumbledore if he has heard anything?" Ron reminded Harry.
"Harry, have you asked Dumbledore?" Asked Hermione.
"No, not yet."
"Harry, you should ask and right away. Also you should tell Dumbledore what you have told to me, Ron, Fred, George and Remus."
"He does suspect something. I had planned on telling Dumbledore once school resumes, but I guess I could do it sooner. I just thought that it would be easier to tell Dumbledore when school resumed so that I could send a letter to the Daily Prophet at the same time."
"I know I suggested that you wait a while, but why not ask Dumbledore about Sirius now and send a letter to the Daily Prophet?"
"I don't want to use Hedwig for the Daily Prophet. I don't want it known that I know things. I'd never get a moments peace. At school I could use an owl from the owlery to send a letter to the Daily Prophet."
"Hey, Harry what owl did you use when you sent that letter to my mum?"
"I transformed a rock into an owl."
"So, do it again. Just wait until after my parents go to bed. Wait a sec, you transformed a rock into an owl?"
"Yes, so. I guess I could transform some rocks into owls."
"Harry, write the letters now so it will be quicker once you transform the rocks."
As the sun went down the three of them went back inside the house. Harry started on the letters.
"There you are. Your mother and I are going out to dinner with some old friends. There is plenty of food in the house. You think the three of you will be all right? I could call and have order something to be delivered."
"That won't be necessary. We'll be just fine, thank you Mr. Granger." Harry replied.
Twenty minutes later Mr. and Mrs. Granger left for dinner.
"Harry, um…I uh…. don't know how to uh…. cook." Hermione said nervously
"Don't worry about it. I know how to cook, I've had quite a few years of practice."
"Who cares about who can cook and who can't. Hermione, Harry don't you both see how perfect this is? It's just the three of us. Harry can transform the rocks into owls and send the letters. We don't have to wait until late tonight."
"Harry, have you finished the letters yet?"
"Nearly, just have to finish the letter to the Daily Prophet."
"Since you finished the one to Dumbledore, let's send it now."
They went out back and with in no time at all Harry found a couple of rocks that were satisfactory. He transformed one into an owl, placed the letter to Dumbledore in its beak and it took off in flight. Once inside the house Harry finished up the letter to the Daily Prophet. He transformed the other rock into an owl, placed the letter in its beak and it too took off in flight. The following day, Ron and Harry decided to leave for the Burrow early. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were fine with the three of them leaving early.
* * * * * * *
As Dumbledore was getting ready for the new term an owl he did not recognize landed on his desk. Dumbledore took the letter and read,
Professor Dumbledore,
I was wondering if you have heard anything new about Sirius? Is he still in Azkaban? If so, how much longer do you think it will be until he is released? Also there is something I want to talk to you about, something I should tell you. I will be at the Burrow. Hope to hear from you soon.
Harry.
Dumbledore wrote his reply to Harry and prepared to travel.
