CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TO AMERICA
To Harry, the rest of the weekend was a blur. Hagrid's visit was short but enjoyable and the limited amount of time that he and Hermione could spend with Ron didn't seem to be enough. Before the two of them knew it, Ron and Ginny had left from Hogsmeade station and were well on their way to King's Cross in London. The couple spent the rest of the morning packing and Harry was called to the headmaster's office that afternoon.
Harry made his way down the hall to the familiar gargoyle that seemed to guard the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's inner sanctuary within the castle. He quietly spoke the password and stepped on the moving staircase that brought him up the tower and deposited him in front of a large oak door. Harry knocked and after a few seconds was invited to enter.
"Ah, Harry. Please have a seat, won't you?" Dumbledore said with a smile. "It's been quite some time since we've last spoken, how are you doing?"
"I'm doing fine, actually." Harry said truthfully. "I was beginning to wonder if anything more was going to happen this year. It seems to be hurried and full of accidents."
The headmaster nodded silently. "That it has, Harry, that it has. I assume you are wondering why I've called you here just before you left on holiday."
Harry smiled. "I reckon it has to do with keeping an eye out while abroad. Since I'm due for another attack, it would be my best guess as to what this is about."
Dumbledore laughed. "Indeed, yes, that is exactly why I've called you here. You haven't been far from England your entire life and I also wanted to caution you about the risks you take when visiting other countries. America is rife with turmoil and the wizarding world is affected by the events that have transpired there as well. You'll be traveling with the Grangers, and they've got quite a bit of worldly knowledge, albeit muggle knowledge, but don't be afraid to look to Miss Granger for help if you need it."
Harry smiled. "She's already gotten three books on experiencing America the wizarding way." Both of them laughed. "But I'll be on my lookout for anything out of the ordinary, well, as out of the ordinary where magic is concerned. When I was with Lupin this summer, I gave him a mirror that Sirius left behind. I have its twin and if there are any problems, I will contact the order for assistance if it's necessary."
"Good thinking, Harry." The old wizard said with a smile. "Very well, just keep in mind that you have help should you need it and we'll see you after you return from holiday."
Harry smiled at his mentor and took his leave. This is going to be a fun holiday! I can't wait to see what other parts of the world look like.
Harry made his way through a tapestry and up a flight of narrow stairs before he got to the hallway to Gryffindor tower. There were many such shortcuts around the castle that allowed people to reach different floors faster than using the main staircase. He was looking forward to spending the rest of the afternoon with Hermione.
When he reached the portrait of the fat lady, Harry spoke the password ("Whizbees") and climbed through the hole that lead him to his common room. Hermione was reading one of the library books on America from her usual spot in front of the fire. His seat was saved for him by a napping Crookshanks.
"Good reading?" He said as he picked up the purring cat and sat down. Crookshanks immediately curled into his lap and fell back asleep. Harry absentmindedly scratched behind the ginger fur ball's ears.
"There's loads of information here!" Hermione said excitedly without looking up from the book. "It turns out that the United States has over one hundred schools dedicated to wizardry!"
Harry let out a low whistle. "That's a lot, but you have to admit, the country is much bigger than England. Wouldn't it also be safe to say that with all the different people living there that there is at least that many different magic styles that are practiced?"
"Pretty close, there are around one hundred twenty different magical practices being taught across the country." Hermione smiled. "Trelawney would be ecstatic to find out that there is a school devoted strictly to divination: The Lilydale Divination Institute in upstate New York."
Harry chuckled. "Well, let's hope that we're not staying there! I don't need a whole school predicting my death."
Hermione laughed. "Well, I don't think we have to worry about that. I owled mum and it turns out that we're going to be staying in Colorado Springs. They have a friend that practices there and they are letting us stay in their cabin. Apparently, it's got a full view of the Rocky Mountains and isn't that far from the convention center!"
"I just remembered something." Harry said with wide eyes. "The only muggle clothes I have are Dudley's seconds. I don't have any clothes that fit me besides my school uniform and robes!"
"That's right!" Hermione said as she shut her book. "Do you want me to owl mum to see if we can come tonight? We can shop for some clothes for you tomorrow before we have to leave for the airport."
"I think that's a good plan." Harry smiled and kissed her cheek. "Please let her know that I'm sorry about the sudden change of plans? We can use Hedwig, she'll be faster."
Hermione smiled and pulled out a roll of parchment and a quill. After a few moments of her frantic scribbling, they made for the owlery and sent Hedwig on her way. It wasn't until lunch that the snow owl returned with an affirmative response and they replied that they'd take the Knight Bus to the Leaky Cauldron as soon as possible and sent Hedwig back on her way with instructions to stay at the Granger's.
An hour later, Harry, Hermione, and their chaperone Hagrid, made their way to Hogsmeade with their trunks in tow. With a wave of a wand, the Knight Bus appeared with a bang and swerved to a stop in front of the trio.
A conductor stepped out of the triple-decker, purple bus and began to speak loudly.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is -"
"Hello, Stan." Harry said with a smile.
"'Arry Potter! 'Ey, Ern! It's 'Arry again!" Stan Shunpike called excitedly to the driver.
"Hello, Harry!" Ernie Prang shouted from the driver's seat.
"Now you two best be careful out there, yeh hear?" Hagrid said as he passed their trunks to Stan. "No tellin' wha' yer gonna find out there with you-know-who still out an' about."
Harry smiled. "Don't worry, Hagrid. We'll be alright. If there is anything that we can't handle, we'll contact Lupin."
"Alrigh' then, off yer go." Hagrid said as Hermione and Harry both gave him a quick hug.
"Happy Christmas, Hagrid." They said as they climbed aboard the violently purple bus.
No sooner did the two take their seats than the familiar bang echoed and they were shooting down a country road. After a few moments, there was another loud bang and they pulled next to an old wizard carrying a walking stick and wearing tartan robes. He smiled at the couple sitting on the first floor of the bus and disappeared up the narrow steps to the second level.
"We'll need to get money changed at Gringotts." Harry said absently. "It's good that your parents are meeting us at Diagon Alley instead of at King's Cross. Is that closer to where you live?"
"Only slightly." Hermione said with a smile. "We live in Marylebone. It's pretty nice there, quite quiet. My dad moved us there when I was little because the neighborhood was so nice."
Harry smiled. "Privet Drive is quiet as well, well, except when something shows up and makes a racket like the Knight Bus." He laughed.
Hermione lost herself in giggles. "I'm sure that having this monster suddenly show up in the middle of the night was quite the surprise."
"It was! I thought they were going to run me over." Harry laughed.
BANG!
"'Ere we are, Diagon Alley." Stan said from his seat.
Harry looked out the window of the bus and saw the Leaky Cauldron in all its non-descript glory between the bookstore and record shop as always. Standing just outside were Mr. and Mrs. Granger.
Hermione got from her seat and hurried out the door. "Mum! Dad!" She shouted as she flung her arms around her dad's neck.
Harry watched the scene for a few seconds before helping Stan with their trunks. As he got off the bus he started to get nervous. He'd met them briefly once before during second year, but that was before he started dating their daughter.
"Harry, it's good to see you again." Mrs. Granger walked to him and shook his hand. "How have you been?"
"F-fine, ma'am." He said shyly.
"Oh, no need to be so formal, Harry, you can call me Elizabeth." She said with a smile. "Robert, come and say hello."
Hermione's father walked over to Harry and extended his hand. "Hello, Harry." He said without smiling. "Glad to see you again."
"Nice to see you too, sir." Harry said awkwardly as he shook the offered hand.
After everything was off the bus, Stan waved and shut the door. With a loud bang, the bus was gone.
"I'm never going to get used to that." Mr. Granger said as he helped Harry with the trunks. "We'll get these in the boot then we can get to Gringotts." Harry smiled awkwardly and stepped back as the older man shut the boot of the car.
"Alright, who's up for a treat before we exchange our money?" Mrs. Granger said happily as she pulled her husband to her side. Harry and Hermione both smiled in agreement and the four entered the wizard pub.
After tapping the third brick from the left, they all bustled down the cobble-lined alley to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Harry got the first thing he ever had to eat in the wizarding world, chocolate and raspberry cone with chopped nuts. Hermione settled for strawberry and peanut butter, and the Grangers each had a simple sundae. Harry watched the small family chat about the happenings at the school. Mrs. Granger looked at Harry with concern from time to time when something came up, such as the Quidditch match that landed him in St. Mungo's for two weeks. Thankfully, no mention of Voldemort was made and after the ice cream treat, they made their way to Gringotts Wizard Bank.
They passed through the outer and inner doors and into the long room that the main transaction area of the bank consisted of. Everyone in the wizarding world knew that this was just the surface of a vast network of interconnecting tunnels under London. There had only been one attempt that Harry knew of to rob the wizarding bank and that was foiled because the vault in question, number seven hundred thirteen, had been emptied earlier by Hagrid and himself. Only a few people knew who the perpetrator was and Harry was unsure if Quirrell was still alive but after the state that he and Voldemort had left him in, it was assumed that he'd died shortly afterwards.
Harry made his way to one of the Goblin tellers and waited patiently to be addressed.
"Ah, Mr. Harry Potter." Said the Goblin. "What can I do for you today?"
"I'd like to change some money to muggle money please." Harry replied. He still thought Goblins were rather creepy.
"How much would you like to convert?"
He looked at Hermione and shrugged. "How about five hundred galleons to pounds, please?"
"Very well. We will need your key." Harry produced the small golden key to his vault. "It will be a few moments, if you don't mind the wait. Please stand to the side." He handed the key to an awaiting Goblin.
Harry did as he was told and Hermione stepped up to the teller. "I'd like to exchange some money to pounds please." She said nicely as she produced a pouch full of wizarding coins.
The Goblin counted her coins and frowned a bit, then after a few strokes on his adding machine began to count out the pounds she was due. A few moments later, another Goblin appeared with Harry's key and a sack of Galleons. The teller then did a few calculations and counted out the pounds for Harry as well.
"Here's your key, Mr. Potter, and your exchanged currency. Will there be anything else?" He asked in a very businessman-like manner. Harry shook his head.
"That's all, thank you." He said as he took his money and vault key.
After they had left the bank, Hermione looked at Harry's wad of bills as he tried to shove it into his pocket.
"Harry, that's a lot of money, are you sure that you could take that much out?" She asked him worriedly.
Harry nodded. "With the interest and everything, this amount will be replaced by time the term is over." He said nonchalantly. "My parents left me a small fortune and I've never taken the time to count it all."
Hermione's eyes went wide. "I didn't know you were rich, Harry."
Harry blushed. "I generally don't talk about it much. With Ron and his family as poor as they are and I never want the Dursleys' to find out, they'd have it emptied in a matter of minutes."
Hermione frowned. "I wish there was some way you didn't have to deal with those awful people, Harry." Without thinking, she took his hand in hers. "At least you only have one more year at Hogwarts and you can get your own flat."
Harry smiled and squeezed her hand. "That's true. And I don't have to worry about the Weasleys anymore, not with Mr. Weasley becoming the new Minister and all."
"AHEM!" Mr. Granger cleared his throat from behind them. Harry's insides filled with ice and he looked to Hermione who had a very concerned look on her face. "Just what's going on here, young lady?" He said gruffly.
Hermione turned to Harry and gave him a fleeting apologetic look with her eyes as she let go of his hand. "Uh, well, H-Harry and I are, sort of, um, Dating, dad." She finally stammered.
Harry turned to see a very red-faced Mr. Granger looking between him and his daughter. Mrs. Granger, however, seemed to be delighted.
"Why didn't you tell us, dear?" Mrs. Granger hugged her daughter and beamed at Harry.
"Yes. Why didn't you tell us?" Her father looked close to exploding.
"It was a rather recent development, sir." Harry said shakily. "I didn't mean any disrespect." He looked at Mr. Granger for a moment before looking to the street.
Mr. Granger looked around quickly then said "We'll discuss this at home." And without a further comment, he strode back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Don't mind him, dears." Mrs. Granger said after a moment. "I'll talk to him." She beamed at the young couple again and ushered them to the pub. "We better get there quick, your father can't get back through the wall and we don't want him to get any angrier." With that, Hermione's mother went ahead of them to try and calm her husband before he got too angry.
"Oops." Hermione said after a few seconds. "I should have warned you, I didn't tell my parents about us."
"I sort of got that." Harry said with a slight smile.
"My father is a little over-protective of me." She said as they started walking back to the pub. "He doesn't like the idea of me dating." She blushed as a tear charted its course down her cheek. "You should have seen the way he blew up when I told him about Viktor. It was a while until I heard the end of it."
"Is that why you never followed up with him?" Harry asked quietly.
Hermione shook her head. "No, Viktor wanted more from me than I could give him. I visited him in Bulgaria for a week over the summer and things got a little too intense. I was lucky that my dad let me go, but I had to call every four hours to let him know things were ok."
Harry nodded. "He didn't do anything to hurt you, did he?"
"Oh, no not at all. It was just pressure to do more mature things with him that I wasn't ready for. He got upset but he didn't do anything. We broke up when I got on the Knight Bus to come home." She replied. "Don't get me wrong, he was nice at first, and I'm sure that he'd have been gentle, but it was a bit too fast for me. Then when I got back, Ron asked me out and I said ok after thinking about it a few days. The rest you know."
"Well, I'm glad you didn't get hurt while you visited him." Harry said as they caught up to her parents. They were looking at something for sale at the Apothecary.
"Ready to go, Mum? Dad?" Hermione asked tentatively.
Mr. Granger smiled at his daughter. "I'm sorry, honey. Yes, let's go."
Harry touched his wand to the appropriate brick and the archway to the Leaky Cauldron reappeared. They shuffled through the opening and back through the pub before getting into the family car.
"Oh, where's Diana?" Hermione asked her mother.
"We left her with a baby sitter, honey." She said with a smile. "She's going to be happy to see her big sister!"
Hermione beamed.
"How old is Diana?" Harry asked.
"She's one year." Hermione said with a smile. "She's just adorable!"
The trip to the Granger's house was rather uneventful. Harry couldn't help but feel a bit paranoid as Hermione's father kept looking in the rear-view to make sure there wasn't any inappropriate touching going on between his eldest daughter and her boyfriend. After twenty or thirty minutes of busy traffic, they pulled into a quiet residential area. The road was lined with trees and the houses were easily twice the size of his uncle's. There was enough room between the houses that there were small, private gardens with wrought-iron fences and ivy around them. They soon pulled into the driveway of a lovely Tudor-style home.
"Here we are!" Hermione said happily. She opened the door and let Crookshanks out. "Don't cause any trouble, Crookshanks." She said with a smile to the cat. The ginger, flat-faced cat looked up at her, let out a meow and trotted off into the garden with its bushy tail sticking straight up. Hermione laughed at the sight and went to the boot for her things.
After dragging the heavy trunks to Hermione's room and the guest room on the upper floor Harry was treated to a tour of the house.
"Obviously you've seen my room and the guest room." Hermione began matter-of-factly. She took him by the arm and showed him where the bathroom was located, introduced him to her sister's nursery, and then brought him downstairs to show him around the spacious living room, dining room, and cavernous kitchen.
"Mum and dad had it remodeled a few years ago while we were at school. It was a surprise to come home to a completely rearranged house!" Hermione was saying excitedly as they sat in the living room. "I talked to mum. She said that we wouldn't have enough time to shop tonight but we could do it tomorrow morning."
"That's fine." Harry said with a smile. "Um, how's your father about us?"
"I haven't breached the subject with him yet." She admitted. "But he'll come around when he finds out what a great guy you are."
Harry smiled at the complement. "I hope so."
The doorbell rang and Hermione got up to answer the door. She shrieked in delight and pulled a small bundle from a lady on the front porch. "Diana! How's my baby sister?" She said as she tickled the baby's chin.
Harry looked up at her and smiled at the sight just as Mrs. Granger came in the room to talk to the baby sitter. "Thanks for everything, Mary." She handed over a fiver and took the diaper bag from the young woman before closing the door. "How's my little girl?" She asked as she kissed the baby's forehead. There was a happy sounding gurgle that brought Mr. Granger into the room.
"There she is." He said beaming at the little bundle and he gently pulled her from Hermione. He looked the part of a great father, Harry thought as he looked over the sight before him. Hermione waved for him to join them.
"Harry, this is my little sister, Diana." She said beaming.
Harry looked at the bundle in her father's arms and smiled. "She's a cutie. I'm sorry I didn't know that you had another daughter, congratulations." He said as he looked at Mr. Granger.
To Harry's surprise, the older man smiled at him. "Thanks, Harry. Do you want to hold her? I have to get back to the kitchen."
Harry nodded and gently held the squirming bundle. "Hi, I'm Harry." He said as he tickled the baby's chin. "I'm a friend of your sister's. Pleased to meet you." Diana giggled and grabbed Harry's finger and just as quickly started sucking on it.
Hermione laughed at the sight. "Mum, I think she's hungry."
Mrs. Granger came over and smiled brightly at her daughter. "I should say so. Come here, you little monster." And she took the baby into the other room.
The night went by quickly and to Harry's relief Mr. Granger seemed to warm up to him. They talked about several things from school to Quidditch, which Harry had to explain the rules to. ("I'd rather like to see a game of that. It sounds far more interesting than football.") Hermione rolled her eyes as the male bonding rituals began. By the end of the night, Harry was exhausted and was looking forward to a good night's sleep. Hermione joined him upstairs and whispered goodnight to him followed by a quick kiss before she quietly went to her room. Harry fell into his occlumency trance as he climbed into bed and promptly fell asleep.
The next morning, Harry was up at the crack of dawn and took a quick shower before anyone else had time to wake up. Hermione came out of her room when she heard Harry's door close and she followed suit. They met each other in the kitchen for a bite to eat before their shopping trip.
"Morning." Harry said with a smile. He wrapped his girlfriend in a tight hug before he turned back to making tea. "What would you like to eat?"
She smiled. "You don't have to do any of that, Harry. You're our guest here."
"It's ok." Harry said. "I don't like being waited on. Besides, I'm used to doing all the cooking when I'm at the Dursleys' anyway." He added nonchalantly.
Hermione frowned. "Well, I'll cook breakfast." She said as she went to the refrigerator. She pulled out some bacon, ham, and eggs and then pulled out some cookware.
Mrs. Granger waked into the room while wiping her eyes. She'd obviously showered and got ready for their outing. "You two are bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning." She said as she stifled a yawn.
"Sorry, ma'am." Harry said. "I'm not used to sleeping too late in the muggle world and Hermione is usually up before me everyday."
"Hermione up early?" Her mother said incredulously.
Hermione blushed. "I can't study late at school, mum. The other girls in my room get irritated with the light. So I have to get up early to do it."
"I find that hard to believe." Mrs. Granger said with a smile. "To tell you the truth, it's rare to get her out of bed before ten when she's home."
"Mum!" Hermione hissed through clenched teeth.
Harry smiled but held in his laughter at the exchange. Mrs. Granger smiled back and headed for the stove to take over breakfast.
"Why don't you let me take over breakfast, dear." She said with a wink to Hermione. "You two go and watch some TV."
Hermione smiled a grateful thanks to her mother and took Harry's arm on her way out the living room. "Thanks, mum."
Hermione lead Harry to the front room and the soft sofa that they had shared the night before. She grabbed the remote from the coffee table and turned the TV on to the BBC News channel.
"There have been no results for the mysterious disappearance of the Smyth family who were last seen in SOHO." The reporter said from his desk. "Police are searching the area and have expanded the search to Mayfair and Strand."
The hairs on the back of Harry's neck stood on end. "I don't like the sounds of that." He whispered to Hermione. "It looks like he's starting to make his move again."
"Well, it's a good thing that we'll be in America in twenty-four hours." She whispered back as she turned off the TV. "I should start picking out some clothes for the trip."
"Harry, Hermione, breakfast is ready." Mrs. Granger piped in from the kitchen.
"Coming, mum!" Hermione called back.
The trio sat at the kitchen table and dug into their breakfast.
"This is really good, ma'am." Harry said after washing down a piece of toast with some orange juice.
Hermione's mom beamed at their guest. "Please, Harry, call me Elizabeth, its ok. And thank you."
After finishing, Harry quickly cleared the plates and started the dishwater running.
"Harry, you don't have to do the dishes." Hermione said with a smile.
"It's ok I'm used to it when I'm not in school or at the Burrow." He flashed a roguish smile at her and started scrubbing at a plate.
"I'll help you then." She laughed. "You're impossible sometimes."
"Why don't you dry? There aren't that many to wash."
Hermione grabbed a dish towel and began drying the dishes as they were rinsed. They didn't take long and before they knew it, they were all in the car, minus Mr. Granger who was watching Diana, and on their way to a men's store to shop for Harry.
The morning flew by as they went from department to department picking out clothes and new shoes. Harry was happy the two women were along with him, the sheer selection was a bit overwhelming. After selecting several outfits and at least two pair of shoes, they hit the local pub for a quick bite before heading back to the house.
"We have three hours before we have to leave. Be packed and ready by then." Mrs. Granger called up the stairs as Harry struggled with his new luggage. He was just getting things ready to take downstairs when Hermione knocked on the door.
"Are you decent, Harry?" She called sweetly from the hall.
"Yes, come on in." He replied with a grin.
She entered with her new book under her arm. "I think I'm all ready, how about you?"
"Well, seeing as I don't have as much to pack as you do, even with the new clothes ..." He just managed to dodge the playful slap. "Hey, I was just pointing out that I'm done." He laughed.
"Well, you're looking pretty sharp." She said with an appraising look. He was wearing a pair of dark pants and a dark green dress shirt. "You didn't have to wear any of it today, you know, it'll be a long flight."
Harry smiled. "Yeah, but I can only handle wearing clothes that are three times too big for so long."
Hermione frowned. "I wonder if mum and dad would let you stay with us this summer."
"I'd like that, but that might be a little bit of an imposition on my part." Harry said after giving her a quick kiss. "I'll probably stay at Grimmauld Place if anything. With any luck, Sirius will be back with us by then."
Hermione nodded. "Well, we should get downstairs. We need to be at the Airport soon."
There was a tapping at the window just then and Hermione crossed the room to open it. "Oh, there's a delivery." She said with surprise. She opened the window and the owl flew directly to Harry, dropping off a large envelope before leaving the room again.
"I wonder what this is." Harry said as he opened the envelope. A passport and a plane ticket fell into his hands along with an itinerary. There was a note attached.
Dear Mr. Potter,
You seem to have forgotten that you will need a passport to travel abroad. We have provided one for you. While we were
at it, we got you a plane ticket that matched the itinerary of the Granger family. Please enjoy your holiday and
we'll see you next term.
Happy Christmas,
Minerva M. McGonagall
"Well, that would have hampered my trip." He said with a laugh as he handed the note to Hermione. He looked over the papers and noted that they all seemed to be in order. Hermione looked over his passport and smiled.
"It does help, and they did a good job with your passport. I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm surprised that they got you on the same trip, it's usually packed for holiday travel." She said approvingly.
"Harry, Hermione, time to go." Mr. Granger called from the bottom of the stairs.
"On our way, dad!" Hermione replied. She retreated to her room and emerged with her luggage just as Harry grabbed his and they packed their belongings into the car. An hour later, they were strapped in their seats and eighteen thousand feet in the air on their way to America.