The first couple of hours on their journey they didn't speak much. They listened to some cassettes Anna had made from all different types of music. Their progress was slow; they frequently needed to ask for directions and Anna often needed to use the restroom and get something to eat. Since they already left past lunchtime, they arrived in Calais when the sun was about to set. A truck driver heading in the same direction was kind enough to point out where they could buy their tickets in the morning and gave directions to a nearby hotel. Anna seemed exhausted. She had dark bags under her eyes and it looked like she was about to cry. Conny helped her to get some essentials from her car. Conny herself didn't have anything with her besides a small handbag and some muggle money for emergencies. In one of their stops near the border, she exchanged some of her Pounds for French Francs. Anna exchanged her Guilders for Belgian Francs earlier in the day and paid for petrol, food and drinks. She wouldn't let Conny pay earlier, but now she let Conny pay for two separate rooms in what seemed a clean and comfortable hotel. She didn't even seem to wonder why Conny wanted to travel from Holland to the UK with only a handbag as her luggage. Conny figured Anna was just too preoccupied with something else to notice these things about her. Conny was glad that Anna didn't notice, because now she wouldn't have to dodge a couple of difficult questions. She however wasn't happy with why Anna was preoccupied; the pour girl seemed to have a lot on her plate. It looked like al of her belongings were packed in her small Renault. Conny was curious and wanted to help the young woman, but she didn't want to pry. After all, they've only just met. Conny did figure out that Anna was a muggle and new nothing about the wizarding world, because when they first drove off Anna mumbled that she must be really tired, because she could swear she saw a bucket on top of the hill earlier, but there wasn't anything there now. Like all muggles she rationalised the phenomenon to herself and didn't seem to think about it afterwards.
The next day, Conny woke up well rested and decided to first head to a supermarket she saw yesterday to buy some toiletries and fresh clothes. She didn't see Anna at the breakfast buffet, so she figured Anna was still sleeping. After a bit of freshening up, Conny went to buy some tickets for The Shuttle. They would leave at noon. That would give Anna plenty of time to sleep in and get herself freshened up. When she got back to the hotel, she still didn't see Anna and since the breakfast buffet was about to close, she packed some breakfast in a few napkins she found so Anna would have something to eat. Conny knocked on Anna's door. Anna opened up wrapped in a big fluffy towel from the hotel. She seemed more rested but her eyes were puffy like she had been crying the night before. 'I brought you some breakfast', said Conny, 'but I can come back later if that's more convenient?' Anna smiled. 'Thank you! No no, it's fine, I was just about to get dressed. I'll head to the bathroom real quick to get dressed, do you mind making us a cup of tea?' When Anna came back Conny put two steaming mugs on the small desk. When Anna ate her breakfast, Conny told about the tickets she bought and the time of departure. 'That will give us pleanty of time to head out there', she concluded. 'Do you have to go looking for your passport?' 'No', answered Anna, 'I've got it here in my bag with my important documents. Would you like me to pay you back in Pounds or can I use Guildens?' She asked. 'You don't need to pay me back', said Conny. 'I'm already so happy that you're willing to take me to London. Although I completely understand if you want to get home, no hard feelings', she continued. Anna's lower lip started to tremble a little bit, but her face hardened before she said firmly: 'I don't have a home anymore. I lost my job as wel. I need to start over. I might as well do that in London. My accent maybe a bit thick, but I think I can handle myself quite well and I understand everything people say.' Before Conny could respond, she looked at the small watch on her wrist and said: 'I think it's already past checkout. Let's head out before housekeeping comes.
Conny really wanted to talk with Anna about her situation, but the train ride was quite short and they didn't have much privacy. Back in the UK driving took up all Anna's energy; she wasn't used to driving on the left side of the road. A few hours later they arrived at Conny's apartment building in Kensington. A recently built structure which had a warm and luxurious appearance. Anna seemed more lost than ever. The bags under her eyes were back and her hands trembled. Conny asked: 'Anna, do you need help with anything?' 'No, I'm fine', she responded.' Anna clearly wasn't. Suddenly, Conny felt like a mother hen who wanted to protect her chicks. She threw all of her previous decorum overboard and said a bit snappy: 'Anna, you clearly aren't. You're tired, in a strange country and all your belongings are packed in your car. I think you need to stay with me for a little bit. Rest, take a hot bath and try to get back on your feet.' Anna kept silent. Conny was afraid she went too far. Then Anna said: 'You're right. I need to take care of myself. It's not just me anymore.' Conny now realised why they took so many bathroom breaks and why Anna always seemed so tired. Anna was pregnant.