Finding Wendell and Monica....

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Over the next few days Ron and Hermione spent every spare moment organising for their trip to Australia, buying plane tickets, organising accommodation and other modes of transport. The day before their departure they returned to the Granger house with Harry, Teddy, Ginny and Mr and Mrs Weasley to prepare the house for Mr and Mrs Granger's return since the removal of the stasis spells the garden had grown at an accelerated rate and now the grass was three feet high and the rose bushes resembled nothing more than a tangle of dried leaves and old flower pods. The group was right at the moment watching Hermione try to teach Mr Weasley how to use the lawnmower sniggering behind their hands.

‘N-n-no Mr Weasley you have to give it a long hard yank’ Hermione said grabbing the starter cord ‘that gets the engine running yeah? Just watch’

Hermione leaned down and with a mighty yank pulled on the starter cord. With a short sputter the engine kicked into life in a cloud of petrol smoke.

‘See easy as pie’ Hermione said with a grin flicking the switch and cutting the engine ‘now you have a go. And when it starts up push it forward that way it cuts the grass got it? Then when you’re done flick the little switch on the handle’

‘Got it’ Mr Weasley said enthusiastically ‘gosh this is fun’

‘Dad it’s only cutting the grass’ Ginny said with a grin pulling on a pair of gardening gloves ‘the way you’re going on you’d think it’s the best thing you did since marrying Mum’

Harry and Ron snorted and Mrs Weasley rolled her eyes.

‘Well it is a lot of fun learning all about this muggle stuff’ Mr Weasley said with a wide grin ‘can’t wait to get inside the house’

‘Oh really Arthur this is not a museum!’ Mrs Weasley said in exasperation ‘and you are not to go noseying around. This is Hermione’s parents house’

‘Yes Dear’ Mr Weasley said meekly.

‘Okay let’s go inside the house’ Hermione said ‘Ginny are you and Harry okay to prune the roses?’

‘Yup all good’ Ginny said with a grin ‘I’ll supervise Dad so he doesn’t mow anything that shouldn’t be mowed’

Everyone laughed, Ron then followed Hermione and his mother inside. Teddy was sleeping in a porta-cot on the lounge room floor his hair changing colours ever so slowly in his sleep much like a muggle fibre optics lamp.

‘Hermione dear if you show me how to use the oven and cooktop here I’ll start on filling up your parents stores’ Mrs Weasley said transfiguring one of her hankercheifs into a cooking apron and putting it on ‘I promise I won’t be as dense as Arthur on learning about Muggle contraptions’

Ron sniggered.

Hermione gave Mrs Weasley a quick tutorial on the kitchen and all the utesils and within minutes the house was filed with the delicious smell of frying onion.

‘Okie dokie what do you need me to do?’ Ron asked as Mrs Weasley bustled about the kitchen.

‘I was thinking you could change the linen in all the bedrooms’ Hermione said ‘the only rooms that have linen on the bed is mine and Mum and Dad’s. The linen cupboard is down the end hall in the Laundry. Pick whatever linen you like. Don’t worry so much about putting sheets on the attic bedroom bed that’s hardly ever used’

‘No problem I’ll get onto it’

Ron disappeared down the hall And Hermione turned to Mrs Weasley.
‘Would you like any help Mrs Weasley?’ she asked.

‘No no dear I’m fine you head outside and make sure Arthur hasn’t run rampant with the mower’ Mrs Weasley replied in amusement ‘if you leave him on his own he may mow the entire garden flat and I’m sure your parents would like to come back to a garden intact’

‘He’ll be fine Mrs Weasley’ Hermione said in amusement ‘He knows how to use a mower already he just didn’t know how to operate it the Muggle way. A few more lessons and he could pass for a muggle gardener’

‘Oh Merlins hat don’t say that in front of him or he’ll want you to give him lessons’ Mrs Weasley said dryly.

With a grin Hermione left the house and made her way out into the front yard. Ginny and Harry were carefully pruning the roses closest to the porch and Mr Weasley was still enthusiastically mowing the large front lawn carefully avoiding the granite water fountain.

‘No Dad hasn’t murdered any flowers’ Ginny yelled over the noise of the mowers engine as Mr Weasley trundled by happily carefully avoiding the edge of a daisy bush.

‘Good!’

Hermione wandered over to the garden shed rolled up her sleeves and fetched the hedgetrimmer then much like the lawnmower kicked it into gear. She then strode across the freshly mown lawn and began trimming the overgrown hedges that bordered the entire block.

Except for a break for lunch and afternoon tea and Mrs Weasley, Harry, Ron and Hermione worked hard to get the Granger house back to it’s original state and at the end of the day their efforts resulted in a sparkling clean house a garden manicured to within an inch of it’s life and a huge pile of garden debris left on the front lawn next to the water fountain which was now back working the accent lighting casting a shadow up onto the front porch.

‘Thanks for your help everyone I really really appreciate it’ Hermione said as they sat on the front porch eating fish and chips and drinking muggle beer ‘now when Mum and Dad come back to the house they can just relax and not worry about doing anything’

‘No worries Hermione we were glad to help’ Harry said ‘what do you want to do with the garden clippings? I can vanish them magically or do you want to put them out for council green waste collection?’

‘Just vanish them’ Hermione said with a tired sigh ‘it’s dark enough not to worry about any of the muggles seeing you. Plus there’s noo much to put in one bin’

Harry drew his wand and with a wave vanished the pile of rose cuttings, dead flowers and the grass Mr Weasley had cut.

‘Thanks for doing all the cooking and filling up the fridge Mrs Weasley’ Hermione said greatfully ‘with the amount of cooking you’ve done Mum and Dad won’t have to cook for themselves for weeks’

‘Oh it was no problem dear I enjoyed it’ Mrs Weasley said ‘you make sure you bring them to the Burrow when you bring them home won’t you? I would like to meet them’

‘I’ll definitely bring them over’ Hermione said ‘I know you met them in Diagon Alley back in the summer before second year but that was only for a few moments’

‘Well when they’re up to it bring them over and we’ll have a dinner party, I’ll invite the whole family’

‘Molly if you do that the Burrow will burst’ Mr Weasley said in amusement.

‘So we’ll have it outside on the back lawn’ Mrs Weasley replied enthusiastically ‘we’ve done it before. I do like a big get together and a big friendly get together is something we all need right now’

‘Yeah well make sure it’s a dry party or keep George the hell away from any booze’ Ginny said ‘the hallway outside his room is starting to smell like vomit and vodka now. Or it did this morning anyway’

‘Hmmm I think it might be time to confiscate his wand’ Mr Weasley mused out loud.

‘Merlins nutsack I wouldn’t want to be around when you tell George that’ Ron said swallowing a mouthful of beer.

‘Ronald Language!’ Mrs Weasley exclaimed.

‘Oh he’s right Mum since we all got home George has been an insufferable pain in the arse’ Ginny said making a face ‘he’s slowly killing himself with all the booze he’s drinking and is slowly alienating everyone. He’s not the only one who lost Fred you know he was our brother too. In fact I’m surprised Percy is still trying to get through to him’

‘I think we all know why Percy is persisting with George’ Hermione said quietly ‘and from my time associated with you all I’ve come the the conclusion that every single Weasley is stubborn as all get out and eek away at something even if it seems futile’

‘Every Weasley?’ Ron said with a grin.

‘Oh especially you Ronald’ Hermione said dryly as Harry, Ginny and Mr and Mrs Weasley sniggered loudly ‘I know it’s not my place to pry but I think just taking George’s wand away isn’t the only soloution. I think hat he really needs is time and someone to talk to though I realise the latter isn’t going to happen any time soon’

‘I think Perce is the key to George going to see a Mind Healer at St Mungos’ Ginny said after a moment of silence ‘if he’s willing to persist he might get further than the rest of the family have’

‘I suppose we’ll have to wait and see’ Mr Weasley said 'how about we head back home then? It’s getting late for Teddy and we all have to be up early to get to the plane-thingy in the morning’

‘Airport Dad’ Ron said getting up and vanishing the reminants of their dinner ‘seriously you should go back to Hogwarts and re-take Muggle Studies again’

Harry and Ginny laughed.

‘You know you don’t all have to come to the airport to see us off’ Hermione said embarrassed ‘it’s not really a big deal’

‘Hermione it is a big deal you’re part of this family and we want to see you and Ron off safely’ Mr Weasley said ‘if you were apparating from the end of the garden path we would come to see you off. And you’re going to the other side of the world it’s a huge deal’

‘So you’re seeing her off on a big trip not just so you can have a nosey at how Muggles travel without the Floo Network, Apparating or Portkeys?’ Ginny said with a giggle ‘you are so transparent Dad when Ron and Hermione announced they were going to Australia on an aeroplane you practically salivated. I reckon Mum is still trying to get drool stains out of the shirt you wore that day’

Everyone fell about laughing and Mr Weasley burnt scarlet.
‘Oh alright I’ll admit I’m curious’ he admitted ‘but it does sound rather exciting muggles going to the other side of the world in a big metal tube with wings’

‘Planes are slightly more sophisticated than that Mr Weasley but when I get back I promise to tell you more about them’ Hermione said with a polite laugh.

‘Aw shit Hermione now we have to put up with him while you’re away’ Ginny said ‘you’re so going to regret making that promise’

‘I’ll see if I can make a trip to a muggle library to get some material for you to tide you over til Ron and Hermione get back Mr Weasley’ Harry said with a grin ‘in fact if you get to the point of annoying everyone at the Burrow I’ll take you with me’

‘I am so glad I’m not going to be here to witness that’ Ron said as everyone struggled to hold in raucaous laughter ‘I’ll be off getting a tan’

‘Ron as I’ve told you before the Seasons are back to front in Australia’ Hermione said patiently ‘we’ll be arriving in Ausralia in the middle of Winter. I doubt you’ll be getting a tan anywhere’

‘Bollocks’

*********************************************************

The following morning at five AM. Ron and Hermione along with Harry, Teddy, Ginny and Mr and Mrs Weasley stepped off the Knight Bus behind a huge billboard advertising the latest computer game opposite the monstrous Heathrow Airport.

‘Oh look there’s one now!’ Mr Weasley said enthusiastically pointing skywards where a huge great United Airlines 747 was launching into the air ‘it’s huge!’

‘I’ve made up my mind I’m taking you on one when I get back Mr Weasley’ Hermione said as they waited to cross the road ‘you’ll love it’

‘He’ll wet his pants’ Ginny muttered.

The group made it across the road then Hermione led them to a shuttle bus terminal that took departing passengers to the appropriate gate.

‘So where you off to luv?’ a Portly man wearing a bus drivers uniform asked Hermione when he saw her peering at the front of his bus.

‘Gate six United Airlines, Australia via Los Angeles’ Hermione said.

‘Two stops down the next bus along will get you to where you need to go’ he said ‘safe travels’

‘Thanks very much’

‘You need a bus to get around?’ Mrs Weasley asked her curiosity getting the better of her.

‘Heathrow you do’ Hermione said ‘it’s huge. The arrivals gate is on the other side of the airport. You’ll need another bus or a taxi to get there if you meet us when we arrive home’

Hermione led the group down the footpath til they arrived at a stop labelled ‘gates 4, 5 and 6’

‘Great now we wait’ she said sitting down on the bench ‘I hope it come soon we have to check in by six thirty’

‘You’ll be right the next one for gate six comes at six ten’ Ginny said reading the timetable printed upon the bus stop ‘three minutes to go’

‘Good’

‘So how long is it going to take you to fly to Los Angeles?’ Ginny asked sitting down next to Hermione.

‘About ten hours’ Hermione said ‘then we have a three hour layover and after that it’s another fourteen and a half hours to Sydney. Then we have to change to a domestic airline and fly an hour to Melbourne’

‘I think I might prefer to Portkey or Floo’

‘Maybe next time we will’ Hermione said ‘I’ve never been in a plane longer then an hour and forty five minutes so this trip is going to be a new one for me too’

‘I have a feeling you’ll handle it much better than Ron will’ Harry said setting the brakes on Teddy’s pusher.

‘I’m sure he’ll live’ Hermione said with a grin slinging her arm around Ron who was putting on a mock affronted expression.

‘I’m offended’ he said ‘Harry I’m your best mate and clearly you have no faith in me’

‘I don’t’ Harry said in amusement ‘not when it comes to long haul flights anyway. Any other situation and I would have the upmost faith in you especially if it came to someone wanting to murder me on the spot. You’d be the first person I’d call on to help fight them off but Hermione I bet you a hundred galleons that when you get to Los Angeles Ron’ll be bitchin’ up a storm’

‘Oh shut up Harry’ Ron said dryly as Ginny and Hermione roared with laghter ‘fat lot of good you do to a man’s self worth’

A few minutes later the shuttle bus arrived and everyone got on. Try as he might Mr Weasley couldn’t hide his excitement at the mutlti-buttoned dashboard in front of the driver.

‘Dad shut up you’re drawing a crowd!’ Ginny hissed as the other passengers in the bus stared.

‘But dear the buttons they’re all so exciting! And the push button operated indicator!’ Mr Weasley said a little too loudly.

Ginny smacked her forehead and muttered.
‘Oh gawd’

By the end of the bus ride Ginny had managed to calm Mr Weasley down but as they disembarked at gate six once again his eyes lit up upon seeing the lines of queues of muggles lining up to check in.

‘Gin you appear to be keeping Dad under control you supervise him while Hermione and I check in’ Ron said with a grin ‘can you manage or will I have to put him in a full body bind?’

‘Oh I am not that bad’ Mr Weasley said at the same time Mrs Weasley said ‘Ronald you cannot use magic in front of muggles!’

‘I know that Mum I’m not that dense’ Ron said hoisting a backpack over his shoulder ‘we won’t be long’

Hermione and Ron walked over to the United Airlines check in desk for first class passengers.
‘Your Dad’s funny’ Hermione said as they waited behind a middle aged couple ‘he’s like a little kid in a lolly shop. It’s going to be fun teaching him about Muggle society. I might take him to France for a look at the Louvre that’s an art museum’

‘God that would be his wet dream’ Ron said ‘a plane ride then a whole day in a muggle museum’

‘Oh Ron don’t be so crass!’ Hermione exclaimed.

‘Well it’s true, maybe the Louvre wouldn’t be his Wet Dream but a Battery and Plug Museum definitely would be’

‘I’m not sure there’s anywhere in the world that has a Battery and Plug Museum’ Hermione said ‘Muggle or Magical. But there are battery shops I could take him to one of those’

‘Hermione I’m not sure you know what you’re getting into’ Ron said with a grin.

‘Oh it’ll be a lot of fun’ Hermione said ‘why don’t you come along? The Louvre is a place everyone should go to at least once in their life both Muggle and Magical. I want to take Harry too he never went anywhere growing up’

‘We could all gone on a big holiday together before you go back to Hogwarts’ Ron said as the check in clerk behind the desk called ’Next please’

‘Good idea’

‘Flying onto Los Angeles today?’ the clerk greeted them in what Ron thought was an unecessarily bright manner given the early hour.

‘Yes then onto Australia’ Hermione replied putting her documents on the desk ‘Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley’

‘Lovely any luggage to check in today?’

‘Yes just the one between us’ Hermione said lifting the one suitcase onto the conveyor belt ‘we’re only going for a week, friends wedding’ she explained

‘Lovely you’re not carrying anything sharp or dangerous on you like pocketknifes, lighter fluid et cetera’

‘No’

‘Any alcohol over four pints?’

‘No’

‘Okie dokie here’s your boarding pass Miss Granger gate six through the metal detectors and the third gate on your left. First class pasengers will be called for boarding first forty five minutes before scheduled departure. So you should head for gate six immediately it’s a busy morning this morning and it may take some time to get through all the security checks’

‘We’ll do that’

The clerk checked in Ron then he and Hermione returned to the group.

‘We have to get to the gate straight away there’s only twenty minutes til the first class passengers are going to be called for boarding’ Hermione said ‘Mr Weasley do you think you’ll be able to get through the metal detectors and security checks?’

‘Yes dear I think I’m quite capable of behaving myself’ Mr Weasley replied dryly.

The group managed to get through the metal detectors and other security checks and arrived at gate six to a packed waiting area. Hermione took Mr Weasley by the arm and took him over to the window where a huge grey Boeing 747 with the United Airlines livery on it was waiting.

‘See Mr Weasley that’s the plane Ron and I will be flying on’ she said ‘it holds four hundred and sixteen people in First Class, Business Class and Economy Class. It’s cruising speed is about five hundred miles an hour and it’s cruising altitude is between forty and forty five thousand feet. It’s about seventy metres long that’s around two hundred and thirty one feet and the wingspan is a little less around two hundred and eleven feet or around sixty five metres. It’s maximum fuel capacity is two hundred and sixteen thousand eight hundred and forty gallons and it can fly for about thirteen thousand four hundred and fifty kilometres without a refill of aviation fuel which means it won’t need a refill til we get to Los Angeles’

‘How the hell do you know all that?’ Ron asked as Harry, Ginny, Teddy and Mrs Weasley came to admire the huge aircraft on the tarmac.

‘I rang up Boeing who manufacture the plane and pretended to be a student doing a school project’ Hermione said as Mr Weasley pressed his nose against the window and stared at the plane muttering ‘marvellous’ ‘I spoke to a really nice aircraft engineer who told me all about the 747-400’

‘I know I sound like a little kid in a lolly shop but this is just so exciting’ Mr Weasley said his brown eyes alive with excitement ‘and I’m not the one travelling!’

‘I promise when Ron and I get home I’ll take you on a plane trip’ Hermione said to Mr Weasley ‘it mght not be on a plane as big as this one but I’ll defintely take you on one. Consider it a birthday present’

‘I’m not sure dad will be able to hold out til June Hermione’ Ginny said with a laugh.

‘I’ll make it an early present then’ Hermione said.

‘Sound brilliant’ Mr Weasley said happily bouncing on the balls of his feet.

‘I reckon even if we got Ron a Firebolt he wouldn’t be half as excited as you are now Dad’ Ginny said with a laugh.

‘Get me a Firebolt and we’ll see’ Ron said with a wide grin.

‘Buy one yourself you greedy git’ Ginny said rolling her eyes.

Twenty minutes later a woman in her twenties dressed in the smart uniform of United Airlines emerged from the doors connecting the skybridge to the aircraft and to the nearby desk. She switched on the desk microphone and began speaking.

‘Good morning ladies and gentlemen this is the first call of boarding for United Airlines six twenty departing London Heathrow to Los Angeles International, passengers holding first class boarding tickets are asked to immediately make their way to gate six to begin boarding. Passengers holding boarding tickets for Business Class and Economy Class are asked to standby in preperation’

‘Well that’s us’ Hermione said turning to the group.

Mrs Weasley hugged Hermione feircely.
‘You have a safe trip dear’ she said her brown eyes shining with unshed tears ‘look after yourself and look after my Ronnie’

‘Muuuuuum I’m too old for that Ronnie crap’ Ron moaned his face bright red as Ginny hugged him.

‘I don’t need to look after Ron Mrs Weasley he’s grown up enough to do it himself’ Hermione said with a grin.

Harry hugged Hermione next.
‘I don’t need to tell you to have a safe trip’ he said thickly ‘good luck with finding your parents. I hope it goes easily for you’

‘Thanks Harry that means a lot’ Hermione said hiccuping slightly ‘oh don’t make me cry you prat’

Harry laughed.

Ginny and Mr Weasley hugged Hermione next.
‘We’ll ring through when we arrive in Los Angeles’ Hermione said to Mr Weasley ‘I showed Harry how to use that mobile phone I bought you all so don’t be alarmed if it rings loudly or vibrates I programmed it to do that. All you have to remember is not to yell’

‘Got it’ Mr Weasley said throwing her a thumbs up ‘go on you better be getting on the plane. Don’t worry about the time difference when you ring through we’ll get up’

‘It’ll only be just after midnght when they get there Dad I don’t know about you but I’m staying up’ Ginny said with a grin ‘go on sod off you two we’ll see you when you get home’

After another quick round of hugs Ron and Hermione got their boarding passes scanned and hand in hand made their way down the sky bridge and to the door of the plane. Another young woman wearing an identical uniform greeted them.

‘Well g’morning!’ she greeted them in a sharp southern American accent ‘travelling in first class today?’

‘Yes first time’ Hermione said holding out her boarding pass ‘it’s not my first time flying though it’s Ron’s first time flying period’

‘Well we’ll make sure you have an extra special first experience flying with United Ma’am’ the woman said peering at Hermione’s pass ‘alright if you’d just like to go through the curtain and your seats will be the fourth row on the left’

Hermione went through the curtain and Ron followed her moments later.
‘Wow this is posh’ he said as Hermione found her seat and slid into it ‘where can I put my bag?’

‘You can put it in the overhead conpartment or under the seat in front of you’ Hermione said ‘I‘m going to put mine under the seat in front of me, I can get at it better that way. The flight attendants will get your bag for you if you put it in the overhead conpartment though’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yeah, Ron we’re in first class you don’t have to do anything for yourself but go to the loo’

‘Really? So if I want a drink or something to eat they’ll get it for me?’ Ron asked slipping into the seat beside her.

‘Yes but don’t go abusing the privelege’ Hermione said sternly ‘an aircraft is a mode of transport not a mobile resturant. Now put your seatbelt on’

‘What for?’

‘Because it’s flying regulations. You have to keep it on when the plane’s moving and you’re in your seat unless the pilot turns off the seatbelt light’ Hermione said pointing to the overhead indicator lights ‘though they do recommend you keep them on when sitting down even when the seatbelt light is off’

‘Oh right-o’

Ron stowed his bag under the seat in front of him and put on his seatbelt.
‘So now we wait?’ he asked.

‘Yep, departure isn’t for another forty five minutes’ Hermione said settling down in the wide seat ‘we’ll probably get served breakfast within an hour of take off and lunch around midday. And there’s screens on the back of our seats see? That’ll be for the in flight entertainment. People in first class can watch what they like according to the channels’

‘Like the television back at your place?’

‘Yes and no’ Hermione said pulling a card from the pocket on the seat in front of her ‘according to this there’s three movie channels, three news channels, CNN, BBC, Sky News, and seven radio channels BBC, Comedy, kids music, classical, jazz, pop, and earth music’

‘What the hell is earth music?’ Ron asked.

‘Oh you know bird calls, whale song wind through the trees, crashing waves stuff like that, it’s good to listen to if you’re having trouble sleeping. We get headphones from the flight attendants and the jack for them is just under the left hand side arm rest of each seat’

‘So we shouldn’t get bored then’

‘Aw I can’t guarantee that Ron but you are always able to get up and walk around the whole plane we’re not restricted to the first class cabin’ Hermione said.

‘Really? I thought we were’

‘Nope but Business Class can’t come into First Class and neither can Economy but we can go into the other cabins. We’ll probably need to at some point to stretch our legs’

‘Aw I don’t know these seats are pretty roomy’ Ron said stretching out his legs and kicking off his shoes.

‘Yeah they are but are you really telling me you want to sit down for ten hours?’ Hermione said with a rasied eyebrow ‘and it’s fourteen and a half hours from Los Angeles to Sydney’

‘No way’ Ron said ‘I’m not sitting still for too long’

‘If you want to sleep I did bring a vial of sleeping draught’ Hermione said in a low voice ‘it’s not a full stregth one it’ll just make you dopey for about six hours. I wouldn’t take it past six PM because after that you’ll be too dopey to get off the plane’

‘Fair enough’

Over the next forty minutes the large plane filled with passengers in all classes til eventualy the flight attendants closed and locked the doors and the aircrafts four engines roared to life. Despite Ron’s interest in all things muggle not being as pronnounced as his fathers he sat up straighter in his seat and eagerly looked around as the flight attendants began the safety procedures demenstration. His eagerness caused Hermione to giggle.

‘What’s so funny?’ he asked her.

‘The oxygen masks will drop down , place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting other passengers....’

‘You are’ Hermione said with a grin ‘it’s funny to see you so excited about something that to me is old hat. I’ve been on a plane dozens of times in my life’

‘Well I haven’t Ron said ‘you grew up in a muggle environment where this is normal. I grew up in a wholly magical environment where the only flying talked about was on a broom. I’d never even seen a plane til today and now I’m about to fly to the other side of the world’

‘Safety vests are located directly under your seat, pull on the two red toggles to inflate. There is a whistle and a light for attracting attention....’

‘You really should be paying attention to this’ Hermione said to him in amusement jerking her head to the nearest flight attendant who was now indicating the nearest emergency exits.

‘I can’t you’re too distracting’

‘Oh? How?’

‘Oh just by existing you gorgeous creature’

Hermione slapped his arm and rolled her eyes.
‘You’re a bloody crawler Ronald Weasley’ she hissed and he shook from the effort of holding his laughter in ‘get your lips off my arse’

‘I’d like to leave them on there’ Ron said kissing her neck ‘if you don’t mind’

‘Oh shut up’

Cabin crew please be seated for take off

The flight attendants took to their seats and barely a minute later the aircraft acellerated hard and lifted into the air. The change in pressure and sudden acceleration alarmed Ron somewhat and he sat bolt upright in his seat grabbing the armrests til his knuckles turned white fighting the g-forces that wanted to push him back in his seat.

‘Ron calm down there’s nothing to worry about’ Hermione said patting his arm assuringly ‘the engines on this plane have to give a lot of thrust to get the plane into the air. We’ll level out soon and you’ll feel fine’

‘My ears feel funny’ Ron said flopping back into his seat.

‘Hold your nose and blow’ Hermione said ‘that’ll pop your ears and release the pressure, or I have some chewing gum in my bag you can have’

Ron followed Hermione’s suggestion and popped his ears.
‘That’s better’ he said ‘Merlins pants this is a weird feeling’

‘You’ll get used to it’ Hermione said ‘touch down is easier to deal with. Though in between there can be turbulence’

‘And what the hell is that?’

‘It’s where the plane hits airpockets during flight if we hit any airpockets the plane will bump up and down for a bit. Mostly it’s minor insignificant stuff but on rare occasions it can make the plane drop’

‘And crash?’ Ron yelped.

‘Ron shut up!’ Hermione hissed ‘we are not going to crash and even if we were going to don’t you think we could apparate out?’ she aded in a hiss.

‘Oh, yeah’

Ron relaxed somewhat but did’t relax totally til the plane levelled out and the flight attendants came around the the food trolleys.

‘Can I offer Sir and Madam a pre-breakfast drink?’ the same flight attendant who had greeted them on boarding asked them.

‘Oh yes please!’ Hermione said ‘I’ll have an orange juice please’

‘And Sir?’

‘Make it two’ Ron said with a nervous smile.

‘Ah a nervous flier huh?’ the flight attendant asked with a smile as she pulled two elegant crystal glases from within the trolley.

‘Just a little bit’ Ron admitted ‘it was just the aceleration and take off that felt a bit odd’

‘That’s the scariest bit we’re levelled out now you’ll be fine from now on’ the flight attendant said pouring Orange juice into the two glasses ‘have a sleep or even watch a movie between here and Los Angeles and you’ll be fine’

‘Exactly what I’ve told him’ Hermione said dryly.

‘Here is the in flight menu we’re offering today if you would like to make your choice and I’ll be around in a moment to take your order’

Ron and Hermione took the envelope of fancy paper listing the breakfast menu and began reading it as the flight attendant walked onto the next row of seats.

‘Oh Eggs Benedict!’ Ron said eagerly as his eyes travelled down the page ‘I love Eggs Benedict’

‘Yuck’ Hermione said screwing up her nose ‘the Hollandaise Sauce looks like dragon bogies Ron’

‘Yeah I know but it still tastes nice I think I might have that with bacon and french toast’ Ron said ‘I’m loads hungry I only had a coffee at the Burrow’

‘Ron you’re always hungry if you’d eaten a whole chicken you’d still be hungry’ Hermione said in amusement ‘I might have the muesli and French Toast’

‘I’m glad you want me to come with you on this trip H’ Ron said softly a moment later lacing his fingers through Hermione’s ‘you could easily have gone on your own’

‘Not easily’ Hermione said ‘I’ve become rather fond of you Ron Weasley and I need you around me. It means a lot to go and get my parents and you mean a lot to me so I wanted you to come along. Plus with you along I can undo the spells on Mum and Dad more quickly’

‘So how do suppose you’ll go about finding your folks?’ Ron asked in interest.

‘Well once we get to Melbourne and have a good sleep I’ll the nearest library and start trawling through all the local phone directories’ Hermione said ‘if I can find their practice I’ll book an appointment for a check up with them. I suppose I’ll see where I’ll go from there’

‘sounds like a good start’ Ron asked.

‘I’ll try dental hospitals too if the phonebook tact doesn't work’ Hermione said ‘it shouldn’t be too hard to find them, all dentists have to be registered to practice in Australia. If I can’t find them in the phonebook or on the internet I’ll try all the universities. I would think the places where one goes to study to be a dentist would have a list of all practicing dentists’

‘Well I suppose we’ll see once we get there’

After a hearty Breakfast Hermione settled down to read Hogwarts a History and Ron elected to watch a movie, it was four hours later after a breif sleep that time came for lunch.

‘I reckon after lunch I might take that sleeping draught’ Ron said to Hermione after the flight attendant tok their lunch orders ‘I’m starting to get bored’

‘Yeah I might take mine too’ Hermione said ‘I’ve never flown as far as Los Angeles but I know from previous experience long haul flights are no fun. You can’t go anywhere and there’s only so much radio you can listen to or movies you can watch’

‘So how long is the longest flight you’ve been on?’

‘An hour and forty five minutes when Mum Dad and I went to Zurich in the summer before fourth year. The ten hours it’s going to take to get to Los Angeles is almost six times that. Then it’s going to take another fourteen and a half hours to fly from Los Angeles to Sydney’

‘Fuck, I’m going to be crawling up the walls by then and there’s nowhere we can easily use our wands in here either’

‘What would you do with it?’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Oh I don’t know transfigure all the cutlery in first class to brooms teach everyone how to ride them then have a First Class versus Economy Class Quidditch Match, we could get Business Class to referee’

Hermione snorted.
‘Ha ha’ she said in amusement.

‘Are there shorter flights to get us back to London?’ Ron asked.

‘Yeah there is, it’s twelve and a half hours from Singapore to London and I think about seven and a half hours from Melbourne to Singapore. If we can get a flight along that route we’ll cut six hours off this trip’

‘Great’

‘Unless you want to Portkey or Floo home’

‘Naw flying will be okay I’m just not used to sitting in one place for so long, hell I even got itchy feet during exams at school and they only went for an hour and a half. I suppose by the time we’re due to come home I’ll be used to it’

‘You’ll be fine Ron, think of this as a growing experience. You’re extending your knowledge of the muggle world. And there may be some occasions when you get into the Ministry and become an Auror where you’ll have to travel by muggle means. You can put this trip on your resume as practical experience’

‘Oh ha ha’ Ron said rolling his eyes.

After lunch the cabin lights were turned off for a movie, Ron got up and silently motiend Hermione to follow him.

‘What for?’ she whispered.

‘You’ll see come on’

Curious Hermione followed Ron to the back of the first class cabin where he looked both ways and pushed her into one of the lavertory cubicles.

‘Ron w-...’

‘Shhhhh’ Ron said shutting the door behind him, locking it then casting a locking and silencing charm.

‘Can I speak normally now? Hermione asked him.

‘Sure’ Ron said with a grin flicking his wand and magically enhancing the cramped space then transfiguring the metal and plastic toilet into a squashy soft lounge chair.

‘What the hell are you doing then?’

‘I would’ve thought that was obvious’ Ron said kissing Hermione on the lips and pinching her nipples ‘I want to fuck you til you scream’

‘You want to join the mile high club?’ Hermione asked with a grin as Ron ground his burgeoning erection against her.

‘The what?’

‘Oh it’s a muggle thing it’s common for then to shag in a plane. Those who have are said to have joined the mile high club’

‘Sit’ Ron said pointing to the transfigured loo ‘and spread ‘em’

Hermione felt warmth flood her body at Ron’s authoritative tone. She sat down on the chair and spread her legs hanging them over the arm rests. Ron crouched down and hexed off her knickers revealing her wet core.

‘My my are you looking forward to this?’ he said looking up at her with a lascivious grin ‘you’re wet for me already’

‘Ron I’m always wet for y-you’ Hermione squeaked as Ron blew on her puffy lips ‘oh god I can’t believe I’m about to shag in a toilet!’

Ron carefully parted Hermione’s lips and attacked her core with aggressive yet gentle enthusiasm. He ran the tip of his tongue up and down her slit and circled her clit til Hermione was whimpering and squeaking.

Although somewhat conservative around family and friends in Ron’s opinion Hermione turned into a demon in bed. Whenever he surprised her like this she was always keen and quite often her language turned vulgar when he brought her close to but not quite over the edge of climax. His opinion was vindicated the moment he slipped two fingers into her pussy and she squeaked with a loud ‘FUCK!.

‘Be patient I’ll do that in a minute’ Ron said with a laugh massaging her pussy and feeling her clench around him.

‘Fuck you Ron Weasley just get your cock out and fuck the shit out of me!’ Hermione hissed staring at him hard in the eyes ‘my cunt isn’t for you to poke anything else but your cock in!’

‘I’m going to have to spank you for that....get up’ Ron said standing up and hexing off his clothes ‘bend over the sink’

Hermione got up and bent over the sink. Ron hexed off her clothes and immediately brought a hand down on her ample backside.

‘Ow what the hell was that for?’ she yelped.

Ron smacked the other cheek.

‘For being a naughtly little girl and having a filthy dirty mouth’ he hissed in her ear rubbing his thickness up and down her soaked core ‘naughty girls have to be punished’

‘Punish me by fucking me then’ Hermione groaned after a rough kiss.

‘And what will you do for me in return?’

‘Suck and swallow’

They were not making love like they normally did, this was pure an unadulterated animalistic fucking, having sex only to get off not to express love. Hermione spread her legs further and Ron shoved himself inside her grabbing her hips and starting up a hard fast rhythm. Hermione was forced to grab onto the sink taps for leverage as Ron pistoned his hips into her, fucking her so hard the little box containing mini bottles of mouthwash fell off the counter and onto the floor. Ron could quickly feel himself nearing completion so he hoisted one of Hermione’s legs up and with his free hand began circling her clit with his finger.

‘Oh for fucks sake Ron!’ She squealed clenching down on him.

‘Cum with me H’ he hissed in her ear with a particularly rough thrust of his hips ‘scream, I want you to gush on my cock when you come’

Hermione could only groan incoherently.

Ron could feel Hermione’s pussy begin to flutter around him and it was with amazing syncronicity that a moment later they came together. Hermione screeched like a banshee and gushed down on his length at the precise moment Rons balls tightened and he unloaded inside her.

‘Oh FUCK!’ He bellowed rubbing Hermione’s clit hard ‘shit shit SHIT!

Finally spend Hermione slumped against the mirror and Ron slumped against her resting his head between her shoulder blades.

‘Oh-my-go that was h-hot!’ Hermione heaved as each little aftershock coursed thorugh her ‘Ron you’re an animal!’

‘And you’re a hellcat’ Ron said with a laugh kissing the back of her neck ‘we’re definitely going to have to do that again’

‘Uh huh’

‘Actually I’m glad we’re travelling like muggles’ Ron said moments later reluctantly slipping from her ‘you can’t fuck on a portkey or during apparition can you?’

Hermione giggled.
‘No if you apparated you might splinch a vital part of your anatomy’ she said turning around ‘I wouldn’t want you to do that. I like what’s in your pants Ron’

‘I like what’s in yours’ on said with a grin ‘fancy another round?’

‘After that are you nuts?’ Hermione exclaimed incredulously ‘Ron whenever we shag like that I sleep like a log for hours afterwards. If we went again I’d have to be carried off the plane’

Ron sniggered.

‘Pity we didn’t take Harry up on his offer of taking the invisibility cloak with us’ she went on ‘I would quite like to have done that in the cabin’

‘Bloody Hell Hermione you’re turning into an exhibitionist’ Ron said bending down and gathering up their clothes ‘you really want to shag in the first class cabin?’

‘Not now that was a rather hard seeing to you gave me. Maybe on the flight out of L.A to Sydney I’ll consider it. It’s a longer flight there’

They got dressed and Ron undid all the spells he cast on the cubicle. They then furtively left the cubicle and returned to their seat.

*********************************************************

Four hours later the Pilot came over the speakers and announced their descent into Los Angeles.

‘Good evening ladies and Gentlemen this is your captain speaking we are about to begin our descent into Los Angeles. Local time is eleven ten AM and the local tempreature is a pleasant twenty five degrees centigrade. I anticipate we shall be touching down at LAX in approximately twenty minutes. If you are holidaying in the United States enjoy your stay but if you live here welcome home. Remember to fasten your seatbelt and return your trays and seats to their original upright positions. Crew please prepare for landing’

‘Great I need to get up’ Ron said bringing his seat back up to it’s original position ‘how long is our layover again?’

‘Four hours’ Hermione said kicking her backpack back under the seat in front of her ‘well there’s four hours between when we land here and when out next flight takes off. As we’re flying on a different airline that’s just enough time to gather our luggage go through customs check in for the other flight and ring the Burrow. Maybe even get some dinner. I’m starting to get peckish’

‘It’s only ten past eleven in the morning?’ Ron said in surprise looking outside the nearest window from which streamed bright sunlight ‘it feels like nighttime to me’

‘That’s because according to your body clock it is’ Hermione said ‘back home it’s seven forty at night. See each country I the world is seperated by separate timezones. The time difference between London and Los Angeles is eight and a half hours. If we were to stay in Los Angeles we would eventually get used to the local time. But we’re only going to be here four hours'

‘So what’s the time difference between Los Angeles and Melbourne?’

‘I think sixteen and a half hours’ Hermione said screwing up her nose in an effort to remember 'We’ll be flying into Sydney first at I think ten past midday Australian time, I think I’ve got my calculations at that time it’ll be twenty to three in the morning London time’

‘So our body clocks as you put it will be totally out of whack?’

‘Yeah they will be’ Hermione said as the noise of the landing gear being lowered started ‘all you’ll want to do is sleep. That’s called Jet-lag’

‘I’m still getting my head around all these time zones’ Ron said ‘I know it’s a bit stupid to think all countries in the world are on the same time but I’ve never had to think about them before’

‘You’ll get used to it the more you travel’ Hermione said ‘in Europe all the countries are withing a few hours of each other it’s just when you go to the other size of the world that the time differences are harder to deal with’

Twenty minutes later the plane touched down and immediately began breaking. Allthough used to the various bumping and grinding noises and actions of the plane by now Ron was still a little taken aback at the force the plane was trying to come to a stop.

‘Geez I feel like I’m about to come out of my seat’ he said to Hermione.

‘Well you would if you leant forward without your seatbelt on’ Hermione said as the force of breaking began to lessen ‘I quite like the sensation’

A minute later the plane slowed even further and turned toward the arrival gates.

‘Not long now and we’ll be disembarking’ Hermione said peering through the window ‘I think I can see the gate we’re going to’

Five minutes later the plane came to a complete stop and the pilot immeditely cut the engines.

‘Well that was an exciting experience’ Ron said as the flight attendants rushed back toward the door nearest the First Class cabin.

‘Well we’ve got to do it twice more before we get to our final-destination’ Hermione said as the loud clunk of the sky bridge connecting the plane to the arrivals gate interrupted her.

‘I don’t mind the length of it all so much with our seats being so roomy and being able to lay them flat and all’ Ron said as the other passengers in the first class cabin began leaving their seats and retreiving their hand luggage ‘I suppose we should get off the plane then?’

‘Yeah let’s go’

Hermione and Ron collected their backpacks then quickly made their way off the plane and into the arrivals lounge.

‘So now what do we do?’ Ron asked.

‘Collect our luggage then go through customs and Immigration then get to the departures lounge so we can check in for our flight out’

‘We’re not going with United again?’

‘No not this time Qantas’ Hermione said ‘they had the cheapest first class seats. On our way back I’ll try and get us on the one airline so we don’t have to go through two lots of checking in. And if we go on the one airline our luggage gets transferred for us’

‘Really? That’s nifty’

Hand in hand Ron and Hermione made their way to the baggage carousel and collected their bag. They then went through customs and immigration before following the directions a security guard gave them to the departures lounge.

‘If we check in now we’ll be able to rest up and ring the Burrow from the first class waiting lounge’ Hermione said as they stepped onto a travelator ‘do you want to get anything to eat yet?’

‘Nah let’s wait til we’ve checked in’ Ron said ‘let’s get what we need to over and done with’

‘I never thought something other than eating would take priority in your life Ronald Weasley’ Hermione said with a giggle ‘you shock me’

‘Oh shut up’ Ron said rolling his eyes.

After a longer than expected walk Ron and Hermione arrived in the international check in and departures lounge. They found the Qantas dest and checked in then made their way to the first class waiting lounge. Several men dressed in shirts and ties and a few women dressed in power suits were there tapping away at several computers dotted around the room. They were immediately greeted by a middle aged man with greying hair and an immaculately trimmed moustache.

‘May I help you?’ he asked politely.

‘Yes we’re just waiting for out flight to Sydney’ Hermione said ‘is there a private corner where we may make a phonecall and maybe get something to eat and drink?’

‘Of course of course follow me’

Ron and Hermione followed the man across the room past an enormous green leafy indoor pant and to a door behind the cnoceirges desk.

‘And what would you like to eat and drink Sir Madam?’ he asked ‘think of something and we can get it for you’

‘I’m not fussed really’ Ron said ‘maybe one of those burgers I’ve heard about and some lemonade’

‘Make it two’ Hermione said taking a seat.

‘Coming right up if you’ll make your way into this room and upon the desk you’ll find a telephone to use just dial zero to get an outside line’

‘Thanks’ Hermione said.

The concierge left them along and Hermione immediately headed for the phone pulling a piece of parchment from her pocket. Ron flopped down into one of the day beds and immediately kicked off his shoes

‘You speak to them first I need to lay down flat and stretch’ he said trying unsucessfully to cover a yawn.

‘I’ll put it on speaker so they can all hear us’ Hermione said sitting on the edge of the other day bed and picking up the phone.

Hermione dialled zero then once she got an outside line began dialling the many numbers to get through to the mobile phone she had bought for all the inhabitants of the Burrow. It only rang once before it picked up.

‘HERMIONE?’ came the loud screech of Ginny’s voice. At the precise moment Hermione pressed the ‘speaker’ button’

‘Gin you don’t have to yell!’ Hermione said in amusement ‘but yes it is me Hermione’

‘MUM, DAD, HARRY, BILL, CHARLIE, FLEUR, LOTTIE, PERCE! RON AND HERMIONE HAVE ARRIVED IN LOS ANGELES!’

‘Gin shut up!’ Ron groaned from the day bed ‘Merlins pants yelling that loud we’d be able to hear you without the phone’

‘Are you guys having a get together?’ Hermione asked in amusement.

‘Well Mum invited a few people around because she knew you’d be ringing about this time’ Ginny said ‘we only had a normal dinner. George is still being an unsociable dickhead so we could all fit at the table’

‘Ginevra Weasley language!’ Mrs Weasley scolded in the background.

‘So how was the flight?’ Ginny asked eagerly ‘did Ron bitch up a storm like Harry thought he would?’

‘Oy I heard that!’ Ron said ‘ and no I did not bitch up a storm. The flight was long and tedious but I had some Sleeping Draught Hermione bought along so I slept for the most part’

‘Lazy’ Ginny giggled ‘how long til you head off to Australia?’

‘Two hours’ Hermione said ‘we’ve checked in already we’re just waiting for out dinner’

‘So what time is it there?’ Ginny asked.

‘One thirty in the afternoon’ Hermione said ‘our plane is due to take off at three thirty, we’ll get to Australia about midday-ish their time. It’ll be about three thirty in the morning your time when we get there though’

‘You’re still going to ring through though aren’t you?’ Ginny asked.

‘If you still want us to’ Hermione said.

‘Of course I do-h-oh here’s Harry he wants to say hello’ Ginny said ‘have a safe flight to Australia yeah?’

‘No worries Gin love, hugs, kisses and fairy dust to everyone at the Burrow’ Ron called.

Hermione could imagine Ginny rolling her eyes.
‘Idiot’ she said ‘here’s Harry’

There was a short pause then Harry’s voice came over the phone.

‘Yo homies what up did you join the mile high club?’

‘Oh Harry grow some class!’ Hermione exclaimed ‘I’m not telling you that now you nosey prat’

‘So no answer mean yes’ Harry said with a laugh as in the background Ginny asked ‘what’s the mile high club? ‘Don’t worry you can tell me later. You landed safe then?’

‘Obviously we did’ Ron said dryly ‘everything good back home? No news about Andromeda yet?

‘No nothing yet though I think Kingsley has word out amongst the Ministry so people are keeping an eye out for her’ Harry said in a tired tone ‘though I don’t expect to hear anything. She obviously doesn’t want to be found. And as you know from what Kingsley said last week she did create an illegal Portkey but it wasn’t trackable’

‘Chin up mate something will come up’ Ron said ‘did you do any more Patronus tutoring sesions today?’

‘Yeah did two one at Hogwarts and another in the conference room at the Ministry’ Harry said ‘I did the one at the Ministry with Hannah seeing Neville is still in St Mungos. Gin and I visited him tonight and walked in on him snogging Hannah so hard I thought they were about to start shagging’

Ron laughed and despite her best efforts not to so did Hermione.

‘Oh be nice’ Hermione said ‘when will he get out?’

‘Well he’s hoping within the next week’ Harry said ‘he’s down to four potions a day now but the scarring on his stomach is taking a little longer to heal. But the director of the emergency medicine department where Neville is said today if he keeps on recovering at the rate he is he’ll be out by the end of next weekend. I reckon he’ll be out by the time you and Ron get home’

‘Oh that’ll be great!’ Hermione said in a releived tone ‘he got so badly injured at Lockinge Valley I thought we were going to lose him’

‘Yeah well we all thought that’ Harry said somberly ‘but we’re all fine now no more fighting no more being on the run no more crap like that. You bringing your parents home from Australia ‘Mione will be the final chapter in all this I’m sure of it’

‘So you think it’ll go smoothly then?’ Hermione said ‘I have some doubts Harry, I mean what if they hate me for what I did to them? I don’t think I could handle that’

‘Hermione you’ll be fine’ Harry assured her ‘how could they hate you for saving their lives? I guarantee you if you hadn’t modified their memories and encouraged thenm to go to Australia they’d be toast. If they do hate you for what you did then I don’t think much of them. It’s a parents instinct to protect their children and a child’s instinct to protect their parents. If they are moral people they will realise that. If they do crack the shits get them to ring me and I will tell them everything’

Hermione sniffed.
‘Thanks Harry I’m just so worried you know? So many things went wrong when we were on the hunt for the Horcruxes I just keep thinking it’s going to continue to go on’

‘Well stop thinking it’ Harry said ‘if something does go wrong you’ve got Ron there to help you out. He may be a git sometimes but he loves you and will be there to help you out of any messes’

‘Oi I am not a git!’ Ron exclaimed with a laugh ‘some friend you are Harry’

Harry laughed.
‘Okay my time is over Mr Weasley wants a word’ he said ‘though he may keep you talking right up to when you have to board your plane’

‘I heard that!’ Mr Weasley said in the background.

‘See you later Harry Ron and I will ring when we get to Melbourne’ Hermione said ‘behave yourself now’

‘Ha ha’

Sure enough once Mr Weasley got on the phone he kept up a steady stream of questions for Ron and Hermione who had to take turns eating their meals while the other talked. They were still talking an hour and a half later when the first call for their flight came through.

‘Good afternoon ladies and Gentlemen this is the first boarding call for Qantas flight QF1010 from Los Angeles International to Sydney International Australia. All passengers are asked to make their way immediately toward gate fifteen in the departures lounge in preperation for boarding’

‘Mr Weasley we really have to go’ Hermione said ‘that was our call for boarding. I promise I’ll ring through when Ron and I have reached Melbourne and had a decent sleep yeah?’

‘Of course dear you go hurry’ Mr Weasley said enthusiastically ‘have a safe flight’

‘Will do love to everyone at the Burrow’ Hermione said ‘bye!’

‘By now’

‘Merlins nutsack Dad can bang on’ Ron said rolling his eyes ‘I was starting to think we were going to miss our flight’

‘He was just curious’ Hermione said in amusement getting up and slinging her backpack over her shoulder ‘come on let’s go’

Ron and Hermione left their room and made their way down the departures lounge arriving at gate sixteen just as the second call for boarding was announced. They had their boarding pass scanned then made their way onto the plane where a male flight attendant showed them to their seats.

‘You got any of that sleeping draught left?’

‘Yeah I brought enough for our whole trip’ Hermione said ‘do you want some now?’

‘No but I’m thinking I might take a large dose after we’ve reached cruising altitude’ Ron said ‘we’re going to be on this plane for fourteen hours and I don’t just want to sit’

‘We could shag again’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Minx, I would’ve bent you over a chair in the waiting lounge had Dad not banged on for so long’ Ron said ‘I was considering getting my cock out and having a wank to releive myself’

‘Oh Ron don’t be rediculous’ Hermone said rolling her eyes and blushing hard ‘there is no way you would masturbate in front of me while I was talking to your father’

‘Yeah you’re right I don’t want to be talking dirty to my girl while my Dad is in earshot’ Ron said with a lascivious grin ‘I don’t think I could get hard if I knew my parents could hear me’

‘That I know is not true’ Hermione said putting on her seatbelt ‘remember after we got out of St Mungos after the Lockinge Valley Riot nicked Harry’s Invisitbility Cloak and shagged outside against the scullery wall? I believe your Mum was in there doing the laundry at the time’

‘Fine prove me wrong then’ Ron said in mock huffiness.

‘We are going to be flying at nighttime sometime in this flight so when the cabin lights go off I might just pay attention to your manhood’ Hermione whispered in his ear.

Ron laughed.

‘You’re turning into a tart’ he whispered affectionately in her ear.

‘Only with you Ron’ Hermione said squeezing his hand ‘if anyone else called me a tart I would hex them but with you it’s a turn on’

‘You’ve taken a measure of Libido Draught’ he said dryly ‘why are you so horny all of a sudden?’

‘It’s no all of a sudden’ Hermione said snuggling up to him ‘ever since we did it in the flight over I’ve thought about what we could do on this flight. Maybe I’m still feeling the residual effects’

‘Hermione we shagged in the loos ten hours ago you’re still feeling residual effects now?’ Ron asked in surprise ‘after we got back to our seats you crashed and only woke up an hour before we landed in Los Angeles’

‘You could say I dreamed about it’ Hermine said with a laugh ‘Ginny’s told me she dreams about it everytime Harry shags her’

Ron made a face.
‘Thanks for that bit of information Hermione but I don’t really want to picture my best friend and baby sister getting it on. It’s a bit of a libido downer you see’

‘You know when I go down on you and massage your head with my tonsils?’ Hermione said.

‘Hell yes’

‘Who do you think suggested I do it to you? Your Mum?’

‘Ginny gave you that tip?’ Ron yelped ‘oh god she didn’t?’

Hermione giggled as Ron burned in embarrassment.
‘Yep she did’ she said ‘girls talk you know Ron. All the girls in the D.A do’

‘Oh my God you talk to people like Lavender about our sex life?’ Ron exclaimed covering his face.

‘Not in explicit detail Ron you’d know I’d never tell anyone that much especially Lavender’ Hermione said rolling her eyes ‘we really only say when we had it and how good it was and when it happened where and when we lost our virginities. Incidentally Neville and Hannah haven’t done it yet’

‘They haven’t?’ Ron said in surprise ‘I would’ve thought after they got to gether they would be doing it as often as we are or as often as Harry and Gin do’

‘I think they want to take time and make sure it’s the right thing to do for them’ Hermione said ‘that’s what Hannah said she and Neville agreed on anyway. That’s sweet don’t you think? Ernie and Susan are doing the same thing too’

‘I can see why Neville and Hannah are taking their time’ Ron said ‘but Ernie and Susan? From what Seamus has told me they got together during the time all the D.A spent in the Rom of Requiement I would’ve thought out of all of us they would’ve shagged long before now’

‘Well the Room of Requirement as it was set up wasn’t exactly private Ron maybe they couldn’t find the time to get away from everyone’ Hermione said ‘if you remember what it was like when we arrived there through Ariana’s portrait’

‘Yeah I suppose so, or they’re just not as randy as we are’

‘I doubt that’s the case Hannah told me Hufflepuff is the house of horn’ Hermione said ‘when she became a prefect she was always walking in on fourth years and up blowing their boyfriends or eating out their girlfriends and the majority of them were Hufflepuffs’

Ron burst out laughing.
‘The house of horn?’ he chuckled ‘that’s hilarious really funny’

‘Well I reckon Gryffindors are right up there too’ Hermione said.

‘I reckon Ravenclaws might be ahead of us on the Houses of Horn list’ he said ‘especially if Terry and Luna are anything to go by’

‘You ask them when we get back’ Hermione said with a roll of her eyes.

‘Oh ha ha’

*********************************************************

Nearly fourteen hours later Ron and Hermione were gently awoken by one of the first class cabin crew.

‘I do apologise for waking you up Sir and Ma’am but we’re half an hour away from arrival in Sydney’ the woman said apologetically ‘if you could please return your seats to their upright positions and fasten your seatbelt in preperation for landing’

‘Thanks’ Hermione said elbowing Ron sharply ‘Ron wake up!

Ron opened an eye sleepily.
‘What?’ he groaned.

‘Get up and put your seat back upright we’re half an hour from landing in Sydney’ Hermione said putting her seat back up ‘c’mon’

Grumbling Ron got up and put his seat up he then re-fastened his seatbelt.

‘Oooh look there’s the Sydney Harbor Bridge!’ Hermione said tugging on his sleeve and pointing out the Window a moment later
‘Oh I have to take a picture of that!’

Hermione quickly dug into her backpack and pulled out her camera. She snapped several pictures of the Bridge before the plane started banking sharply.

‘You’re such a tourist’ Ron said in amusement having a good look at the huge metal structure below them ‘looks like a coathanger’

‘That’s it’s nickname’ Hermione said ‘Oh I so want to do some touristy stuff while I’m here if we have the time. After we get Mum and Dad of course. You can climb the Harbour Bridge you know there are guided tours’

‘Really? Sounds cool’ Ron said ‘we’ll definitely come back here once we find your parents we have no timeline once we find your parents’

‘Except me returning to school in September’ Hermione reminded him.

‘Yes but Hermione that’s three months away’ Ron said ‘do you want to stay here for three months?’

‘No not that long’

Twenty minutes later the plane touched down and quickly taxied into it’s arrivals gate. Hermione was virtually bouncing up and down in her seat as the flight attendants opened the doors so the sky bridge could be manouvered into place.

‘Ron we’re here!’ she said patting his arm ‘we’reherewe’reherewe’rehere!’

‘Calm down!’ Ron said in amusement squeezing her hand.

‘But we’re actually in Australia’ Hermone repeated as if afraid Ron hadn’t quite understood her ‘we’re actually here!’

‘I know but calm down or you’ll hyperventilate and I’ll have to carry you off the plane and as much as I love you I’d rather not do that’ Ron said with a grin ‘c’mon it’s time to get off the plane’

Hermione eagerly grabbed her backpack and beat Ron off the plane. He found her bouncing on the balls of her feet just inside the arrivals lounge under a sign pointing to the luggage collection area.

‘Hermione seriously calm down!’ Ron said embracing her ‘we’re here anther couple of hours and we’ll be in Melbourne then you can start looking for your folks yeah?’

‘Yeah I know I’m just being silly’ Hermione said furiously scrubbing at her eyes ‘come on let’s get our bag go through customs and immigration and head over to the domestic terminal. If we dily dally any longer I’m going to apparate’

‘Do you know the co-ordinates?’ Ron asked.

‘If course I did two plans for this trip one magical and one muggle. If we need to I can apparate us to where we need to go’

‘Really?’ Ron said in surprise.

‘Yeah. We can have dinner in Cauldron Court the Australian equivalent of Diagon Alley tonight if you want’ Hermione said as they set off toward baggage collection ‘Kingsley gave me a booklet on Magical Australia for our trip should we want to have a nosey at Magical society while we’re here’

‘I’d like that’ Ron said.

Ron and Hermione collected their bag and went through customs and immigration then after getting lost they eventually found their way to the domestic terminal where they checked into their flight to Melbourne.

‘Our seats on this flight aren’t going to be as roomy as they were on our last two flights’ Hermione said as they went through the metal detector on the way to the domestic departure gates ‘but the flight is only going to be an hour or so so you shouldn’t be too uncomfortable’

‘At this stage I’m too exhausted to care’ Ron groaned rubbing his eyes ‘what time is it? I feel muddled’

‘Here it’s ten past one PM, back home it’s twenty to three AM’ Hermione said covering a yawn ‘here it’s the middle of the day but back home it’s the middle of the night our environment says it’s not time to sleep but our body clock says it is go figure. I’ve never had jetlag this bad. When we get to our hotel I’m going to have a shower and crash’

‘I’ll follow you’ Ron said as they arrived at their departure gate ‘there might be something to be said for Portkeying and apparating next time we go on an international trip, especially one this far’

‘We’d still suffer from the time difference’ Hermione said ‘we just wouldn’t be as tired as we are now’

For the next hour and a half Ron and Hermione dozed in their seats waiting to board their plane, then when they eventually made it onto their final flight they promptly fell asleep and didn’t wake up til the jerk of the plane touching down jolted them awake.

‘Fuck that was quick’ Ron mumbled as the jet broke hard causing him to lurch forward in his seat slightly.

‘Are we here already?’ Hermione said sleepily

‘Apparently’ Ron said as their plane taxied into the arrivals area ‘Our hotel room is only an hour away’

‘Oh lovely I need to feel a duvet’ Hermione yawned.

‘Hi my name’s duvet’ Ron said with a grin holding out his hand to her.

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Idiot’ she said with an amused giggle ‘c’mon let’s get off the plane’

Ron and Hermione were one of the first off the plane and quickly made their way from the arrivals lounge to the baggage collection area.

‘Let’s find somewhere private I want to shrink all this and put it in my pouch’ Hermione said as they arrived at the conveyor belt and waited for their bag ‘ I really can’t be stuffed carrying it’

‘You could’ve put a lightening Charm on it’ Ron said as the conveyor belt began moving.

‘Yeah I should’ve but there’s nothing I can do about it now’ Hermione said through a rhinoceros like yawn ‘ah there it is’

Hermione pulled their suitcase off the conveyor belt and quickly found a disabled patrons toilet she disappeared inside it for a moment and a second later emerged without the suitcase which Ron new she had shrunk with her wand and placed inside her pouch which had been no more than a foot from her side since she Harry and he had set off on the Horcrux Hunt.

‘Okay now let’s find a money exchange shop then find a taxi’ Hermione said looking around.

After a short hunt Hermione found a money exchange shop and quickly exchanged British Pounds into Australian Dollars.

‘The taxi cue is out there’ Ron said to her pointing through the nearest door where stood a long line of bright yellow taxis ‘shall we?’

‘Lead the way my knight in shining armour’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Ha ha’

Ron and Hermione made their way outside then joined the queue for a cab. It was half an hour late before they managed to get their own car.

‘So where to Luv?’ the driver asked in a broad Australian accent.

‘The Grand Central Hotel Swanston Steet thanks’ Hermione said.

‘Nah worries!’ he replied cheerfully.

Due to the traffic it was another forty five minutes before Ron and Hermione reached the Melbourne CBD. The cab dropped them off right in front of the hotel and a concierge greeted them brightly.

Welcome to the Grand Central!’ he said brightly ‘do you have any bags?’

‘No not right now the airline lost them’ Hermione said ‘but we’re onto it’

‘Are you checking in today?’

‘Yes we’re guests’ Hermione said ‘can you point us in the direction of check in desk?’

‘Yes Miss straight through those doors and off to your left’ the concierge said pointing the way.

‘Thank you’

‘That guy looks like the porter on Platform nine and three quarters’ Ron said with a laugh.

‘All concierges look like that Ron’ Hermione said as they entered the fancy granite and brass lobby ‘they all have to wear a smart uniform....ah there’s the check in desk’

Hermione led the way across the lobby to the check in desk where two men who appeared to be in their thirties were standing in attendance.

‘Hello welcome to the Grand Central may I help you?’ the tall blonde one asked.

‘Yes we’re here to check in under the name of Granger and Weasley’ Hermione said.

The clerk tapped away on a computer keyboard.
‘Ah yes Miss Granger we’ve been expecting you one week in the deluxe spa suite?’

‘Yes but it may be longer depending on how long out business takes’ Hermione said ‘I won’t know til the end of the week’

‘Of course if you wish to stay longer just come down to the lobby or ring down from your room before Ten AM next Friday and we’ll extend your stay’ the clerk said retrieving two cards from under the desk ‘Miss Granger Mr Weasley if you’d just fill these cards out and I’ll give you the key to your room’

Ron gave the biro the clerk gave him a mildly quizzical look but then looked at what Hermione was doing and began filling out the card.

‘If you should have any special requests during your stay don’t hesitate to ring down to the lobby and we shall endeavour to help you out’ the clerk said minutes later after Ron and Hermione handed back their cards ‘the kitchen is open til ten PM and reopens at six AM the same goes for the wet area on the twentieth floor’

‘Thanks very much we might use the room service soon especially while we’re getting over the jet-lag’ Hermione said taking her and Ron’s room keys from him ‘thanks’

‘You’re welcome miss’

‘That felt weird writing with that pen thing’ Ron said to Hermione as they crossed the lobby towards the lift bay ‘I’ve only ever written with a quill’

‘You get used to it’ Hermione said pressing the ‘up’ button ‘But I’m so used to quills now I find it weird to write with a pen’

‘And all muggles use those pens?’ Ron asked.

‘Yeah children use pencils then in high school they move onto pens’ Hermione said ‘I have to say I prefer quills, writing looks more elegant’

‘Ink doesn’t last long’

‘In the long lasting ones they do, normal ones only hold a little ink’ Hermione said watching the numbers above the lift light up ‘might get some new ones while I’m here once I’m over the jet lag’

‘Merlins pants I don’t feel like I’m ever going to get over it’ Ron groaned rubbing his face ‘I need a sleep and a shave’

‘When we get to our room have one’ Hermione said as with a musical ‘ding’ the lift arrived ‘I’m going to have a shower I feel like hell’

Ron and Hermione got into the lift and traveled upwards to the twentieth floor.

‘Okay we’re room six twenty’ Hermione said looking at the key ring attached to her room key ‘that should be somewhere to the right’

And sure enough it was, after about five minutes of looking Ron and Hermione found their room around the corner from the lift and almost opposite to the door to the wet area. Hermione slipped the key into the door and it easily swung open revealing a sumptuously decorated interior the main feature being an enormous king sized bed.

‘Right now that bed is a better prospect then shagging!’ Hermione declared as they moved further into the room.

‘Like to test that theory out?’ Ron said with a grin as Hermione flopped onto the bed with a loud sigh.

‘Oh shut up Ron’ Hermione said dryly ‘we’re both too tired to do it’

‘Yeah I know’ Ron said laying down next to her ‘well we’re here huh? The start of big things’

‘Yeah and it’s scary as hell’ Hermione said a tone of fear creeping into her voice ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do if things go belly up’

‘We’ll jump that hurdle if and when it comes to it’ Ron said sagely ‘But it won’t as Harry said to you back in London all the bad stuff is behind us, now is the time for things to go our way for a change’

‘Harry is such an optimistic bugger’ Hermione said with a grin slowly sitting up ‘as he had such a rotten childhood with really no reason to be so’

‘Well now he realises with Voldemort gone and him leaving Privet Drive forever the light at the end of the better things ahead tunnel is finally in sight’ Ron said kicking off his shoes.

‘Have you been taking secret philisophy classes?’ Hermione said with a giggle reaching into her pocket and pulling out her pouch.

‘Ha ha no it’s something Mum said to Dad after the Battle’ Ron said.

‘Well I think what she said is true’ Hermione said ‘Harry is such a different person now, you can visibly see he’s no longer carrying a burden on his shoulders and mentally he’s so much better for it....okay now time to empty this thing’

‘Totally?’ Ron asked in surprise.

‘No of course not I haven’t got the energy to do it now I’ll just get out our bag and backpacks’ Hermone said drawing her wand from her pocket and pointing it on the bag ‘Accio suitcase! Accio backpacks!’

Their one suitcase and two backpacks flew out of the tiny pouch and landed on the bed. Hermione then waved her wand and the contents of their suitcase flew out and into the nearby wardrobe.

‘You know I wasn’t going to but I think I might have a bath’ Hermione said shrinking the suitcase and banishing it and the contents of their backpacks to the top of the nearby dresser ‘Want to join me?’

‘Of course lead the way’

After along luxurious bath Ron and Hermione went to bed fallng into a deep slumber ahead of their next biggest task....finding Hermione’s parents.

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