Disclaimer: Do I look like I own things?
/wat
Hermione loved all her new classes, but when the weekend came, she was exceedingly grateful for the extra rest. It was nearly ten o'clock when Hermione's eyes finally began to open, and when they did, she let out a surprised scream.
"Good morning, sunshine!" chirped Harry. He snatched Hermione 'round the arm and bit at the air. With a jerk of the head, a strange portal – like the one Hermione had seen at the train station – appeared, and without wasting a breath of air or a tick of time, Harry jumped in. Hermione was dragged in behind him, her shriek forgotten in the girls' dormitories.
Suddenly, there was warm sunshine on her face, and grass beneath her feet. Harry helped her stand. When she was on her feet, Hermione swooned a bit, and feared she would hurl. Luckily, she kept her stomach under control. The moment she had her bearings, she boxed her strange friend around the ear.
"Hey!" Harry objected.
"You swine – what were you doing?" Hermione demanded scathingly.
Harry looked pitiful. "I wanted to show you my home," he admitted. "You haven't got any classes today, right? So we can spend all day here, right? Right?"
Hermione finally realized that they weren't anywhere near Hogwarts. "Where are we?" she demanded, beginning to panic. She looked around, a crease of worry on her forehead, trying to make sense of the lush, warm forest around her.
"Gravity Falls, Oregon," explained Harry. "Come on, let's go to town!"
Harry hooked his arm around Hermione's and began leading her away. "Town?" she echoed, and then blushed. She was still in her pajamas and – ouch! - she didn't even have any shoes. Harry seemed to realize this, and hummed in thought.
"Bam!" he said, clapping his hands at her.
A dark muck wrapped around her body, but was gone as quickly as it had come. With its disappearance, Hermione's attire had changed. She had a vest and dress shirt to match Harry's – even a bowtie – a black skirt and the most expensive-looking shoes that had ever touched her feet. She felt overdressed, but when she said so, Harry just laughed. "You can never be too overdressed! Besides, we aren't here to fit in – come on! If we hurry, you can meet the Pines-swine!"
Hand-in-hand, Harry dragged Hermione through the trees. Before long, they were walking arm-in-arm down the middle of a street. Hermione stared at the buildings around her, coming to terms with the fact that Harry had just transported her into an entirely different country from her bedside.
A thought occurred to her. "Harry, what about the time-difference?"
"I used a little space-time rift – don't worry, I'll get you back to Hogwarts in time for lunch. Anyway, there's McGucket! He's a joy, c'mon-" Harry broke away from Hermione and began running across the pavement in leaps and bounds.
Distraught, Hermione went after him. "HARRY!" she called. He was running at a little, sleep-deprived man in a suit.
The man spotted Harry running at him, and his face went white. He bolted, but Harry was faster. Harry jumped, and landed on the man. He wrapped his legs around his neck and gave a joyous laugh. "The thrill of the hunt, eh, McGucket?" laughed Harry. Hermione's legs were sore by the time she caught up, but that was the least of her worries.
"Harry Potter!" she shrieked, grabbing Harry by the back of the shirt and pulling him off McGucket. McGucket scrambled back, white-faced and exceedingly freaked-out. "What in the name of Merlin is wrong with you? That was assault! You can't just do that – it's – it's inappropriate! It's awful! Apologize to that poor man right now!"
McGucket's heart was pounding. It was that kid – Kid Cipher, he called himself. That child had been a strong source of confusion and torment for damn-near a decade. After nearly a week of silence, McGucket had dared to think that the little demon had gotten bored with Gravity Falls.
When the tyrant had jumped at him and tried to strangled him with his legs, McGucket had realized what a foolish assumption that had been.
But, what of the girl? 'Harry Potter', she'd called him...
"I am so sorry, sir," she said, stooping to help McGucket stand. "I don't know if this a regular occurrence, and with Harry, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised if it is, but- oh, Merlin, I hope you're not too upset. I'm so sorry, and I'm sure Harry is, too-"
"Am not," huffed Kid Cipher.
It was the first time McGucket had heard the boy speak in a tone that was not cruel, mocking, or head-splitting in its joyousness. The girl turned on him, red-faced and with hellfire in her eyes. Looking reluctant, Cipher muttered, "Sorry, McGucket."
Oh, Christ. That was an unusual development.
"I'm so sorry for this," the girl said again. She gave McGucket's hand a firm, apologetic shake, and said farewell. She left, dragging Kid Cipher along with her. Her knuckles were white, she held his arm so firmly. McGucket watched them as they went.
I should tell Stanley and Stanford about this, he thought, still shaking as he turned around and began walking to the Pines' shack in the woods.
A.N./ Sorry for the wee wait with this one - hit a bad patch of writers block. Which reminds me: if anyone feels like sharing ideas or suggestions, that'd be gnarly. I can't promise I'll use everything, but I can promise that everything will be useful. :)