Finding Wendell and Monica....

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It was four days later on a Monday before Ron and Hermione felt strong and well rested enough to begin the search for Hermione’s parents. They had an early breakfast and ventured outside for the first time heading for the Melbourne Library just up the road.

‘Okay what’s our strategy?’ Ron asked as they walked through the cream coloured entrance hall.

‘To find the local business phone directories and write down all the dental pracitces listed’ Hermione said ‘including the ones in hospitals. Then if it takes all morning we break for lunch and start ringing around. We can do that back at the hotel’

‘How many dental practices do you think there are?’ Ron asked.

‘Oh there could be hundreds’ Hermione said as they entered a huge room filled with study desks, shelves upon shelves of books, rows of computers and dozens of magazine and newspaper racks ‘Victoria has a population of two and a half million people so there will be loads to service the population’

‘We could be here for weeks’

‘Yeah well if takes that long it takes that long’ Hermione said leading him toward the enquiries desk.

‘Can I help you?’ the librarian behind the desk asked.

‘Yes I need the best phonebooks that lists all the dental practices in Victoria’ Hermione said ‘private and public ones and all dentists practicing in hospitals too’

The womans eyes widened in surprise.
‘Every one in Victoria?’ she said ‘that could be thousands’

‘Yeah well I’m trying to track down two particular people’ Hermione said.

‘Well your best start would be the Yellow and White Pages’ the librarian replied ‘phone books are located next to the newspapers and magazines under the desks holding our Atlases and Foreign Language dictionaries’

‘Thanks very much’ Hermione said ‘and is there a private room where we can work undisturbed and alone?’

‘Of course you’re welcome to use the Audio Visual room located between rows twenty six and twenty seven’ the librarian said ‘if you’re lucky you may get it to yourselves at this early hour.

‘Thanks very much’ Hermione said greatfully.

‘No problem. I hope you find who you’re looking for’

‘So do I’

Hermione and Ron threaded their way through the rows of tables and desks til they came to two long display tables which shelved all the atlases and foreign language dictionaries. Directly under the slanted tops about halfway down were a stack of phonebooks that covered all states and territories in Australia.

‘Holy shit Hermione there would have to be two hundred phone books there!’ Ron exclaimed ‘where do we start?’

‘Pick up any phonebook that has Melbourne CBD or Regional Victoria on it’ Hermione said crouching down to look at where the Victoria phone books were shelved.

‘Right’

It took them ten minutes to gather the required books and by the time Ron and Hermione headed to the Audio Visual room they were each carrying a dozen phone directories each. Ron dumped his books on the nearest table then drew the blinds and locked the door with his wand.

‘Okay let’s get started’ Ron said ‘in here are your parents H I know it’

‘Oh I do hope so’ Hermione said drawing two quills a pot of ink and two rolls of parchment from within her ‘let’s start on the small regional directories and move onto the Metropolitan directories’

Ron grabbed the nearest directory and began leafing through the pages til he found ‘Dental’ he then dipped his quill in the ink and began writing down the listed dental practices.

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Four hours later writers cramp and a deafening growl from Ron’s empty stomach caused Hermione to lay down her quill.

‘I have to take a break’ she said wearily as her stomach took it’s turn in rumbling loudly ‘I have writers cramp something chronic and I’m hungry enough to eat a horse then chase it’s jockey’

Ron laughed.
‘Me too’ he said cracking his knuckles ‘how about we go to Cauldron Court? You said it’s the Aussie version of Diagon Alley’

‘I was going to suggest that’ Hermione said rolling her head side to side and cracking her neck vertabrae ‘we’ll have to pick up some more ink we’ve only got a quarter of a pot left’

‘So shall we leave our work here or put it all back?’ Ron asked getting to his feet.

‘Let’s put back the directories we’ve looked through already then we won’t get what we’ve done and what we’ve yet to do confused’ Hermione suggested picking up a small pile of read through phone books ‘then let’s lock the door and cast a Muggle Repelling Charm on the door handle that ought to leave what we’ve yet to do alone’

‘Sounds good’

Ron and Hermione gathered up the directories thay had already looked through and left the Audio Visual room. Ron cast the Locking and Muggle Repelling Charms then pocketed his wand and followed Hermione down the rows of news papers and magazines back to the Phonebook shelves.

‘I have a feeling we’ll be writing down names and numbers for a whole week’ Hermione sighed as they headed back out to the entrance hall ‘then there’s all the ringing around. Our phone bill is going to be revolting’

‘All the hard work will be worth it though’ Ron said squeezing her hand.

‘I hope so I’m just a little disheartened we haven’t come across anything yet. I thought it might be easy that’s why I started with the Melbourne CBD directory. But there’s no W and M Wilkins listed as having their own practice’

‘What if they haven’t opened their own practice and are just at one practice with half a dozen or more dentists in it?’ Ron said ‘if there are lots of people at the one practice there mightn’t be room in their directory advertisement to list very name’

‘You know I hadn’t thought of that’ Hermione said thoughtfully ‘that would definitely be the case if they are at a hospital’

‘So how many hospitals do you think are in Victoria?’

‘Oh there could be hundreds’ Hermione said ‘everything from the major ones like the Austin Hospital the Royal Melbourne Hospital and even the Royal Childrens Hospital’ Hermione said ‘Mum and Dad both did their internships at the Paediatric Depatment of the Great Ormond Street Hospital after graduating so they could be practicing Paediatric Dentistry...then there’s the little regional hospitals right in the middle of nowhere. At this stage Mum and Dad could be the other side of the country in a totally different state. If that’s the case we could be in Australia for weeks. We could spend a couple of months alone in Western Australia that’s the biggest state in the country’

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves’ Ron said as they walked out into the sunshine ‘we’ve only been in the country four days and been looking for your folks for four hours. Plus we could always go to the Muggle Relations Department of the Australian Ministry and talk to them. They would have contacts in the medical field I’m sure they would be able to help us out if we get desperate’

‘I had thought of that but I only want to resort to the Australian Ministry if we get totally desperate’ Hermione said leading them down a little lane partially blocked by a large ‘WORK IN PROGRESS’ sign ‘Okay let’s apparate, take my hand’

Ron laced his fingers through Hermione’s and was immediately pulled into the tight suffocating compression of apparition. A moment later it stopped and he opened his eyes to see that Hermione had apparated them into Cauldron Court. It was just as busy as Diagon Alley back in London with all manner of Australian Magical folk buzzing to and fro.

‘Shall we be blatant tourists and have a nosey or head straight to lunch?’ Ron said with a grin watching Hermione’s head go backwards and forwards as if watching a tennis rally.

‘Oh I so want to look but I’m starving!’ Hermione groaned watching a little old witch totter into a nearby apothecary and a distinguished looking wizard dressed in an elegant pinstriped three piece suit exit the robes shop opposite.

‘Let’s get lunch then’ Ron said as they started down Cauldron Court ‘there’s a café up there want to sit outside? It’s a nice day’

‘Yeah that would be nice’ Hermione said ‘c’mon’

Disregarding every single shop on their way to the café Ron and Hermione entered the quaint little bistro from which emanated the alluring smell of espresso coffee and garlic bread. They joined the queue leading to the front counter studying the menu written on a chalkboard above the bustling barista.

‘I don’t know about that eating a horse and chasing it’s jockey bit but that steak and chips deal looks good’ Ron said pointing to the menu ‘hey hang on do we need to get any Wizarding currency?’

‘No one peculiar thing about the Australian magical community is that they use the same currency as muggles’ Hermione said ‘so the Australian dollars and cents I got at the airport currency exchange shop will do us. Convenient don’t you think?’

‘Yeah sounds good’ Ron said as the queue crept forward ‘I don’t know if it would go down well in Wizarding society back home. People like the Malfoys would have a fit if we suddenly changed from Galleons, Sickles and Knuts to Pounds and Pence. Wizarding Britain has existed on the same financial platform for a thousand years I’m sure we’ll continue on for another thousand years without changing’

‘True’ Hermione said ‘I might go for a steak too’

Hermione and Ron ordered their lunch when they got to the head of the cue then took the table number placecard they were given and went outside sitting at largel table under a canvas umbrella.

‘Fancy reading a paper?’ Hermione asked as they watched people enter a newsagents directly opposite the café.

‘Sure’ Ron said ‘if they carry international papers can you get a Daily Prophet?’

‘Sure, back soon’

Hermione skipped across Cauldron Court and entered the newsagency. She didn’t return for almost fifteen minutes and had only been sitting down for a nanosecond before their meals arrived.

‘What took you so long?’ Ron asked as Hermione dropped their papers on one of the spare seats.

‘I arranged to have the Daily Prophet and the Oracle the Australian Wizarding paper delivered to our hotel room every day at least for the next two weeks’ Hermione said seizing her knife and fork and spearing a chip ‘because I’m a tourist I had to fill out some paperwork’

‘So they have Prophets then?’

‘Yup but because Australia is nine hours ahead of London we won’t get it til late afternoon or mid morning back home. It takes time to get all the ordered Prophets here’

‘So people here order the Prophet?’ Ron asked in surprise ‘way over the other side of the world?’

‘Apparently so’ Hermione said after swallowing a mouthful of chip ‘the shopkeeper told me there are quite a few British immigrants here. They come to work in the Ministry or retire to the sun and sand up in Queensland. And because Australia geographically is a big country there’s a magical town akin to Hogsmeade back home in every state and territory’

‘Really?’ Ron said in interest ‘Percy would be interested in that’

‘Yeah the town in Victoria is Brackenwood it’s just outside Halls Gap in the Grampians’ Hermione said ‘the shopkeeper said if I had the time to visit it’s worth a look for tourists’

‘So is it the same size as Hogsmeade?’

‘Apparently so it’s identical in set up apparently’ Hermione said ‘Two pubs a stationary shop a confectionry shop, two café’s. Local healers rooms, private Lawyer firms and a Pub called the Ducks Nuts which to me sounds like the Hogs Head back home. A place to go if you want to do something secretive’

‘Let’s add Brackenwood to the list of things to do once we find your parents’ Ron said sipping his lemonade ‘sounds like somewhere to go and relax’

‘Yeah and we’re going to need to do that once this is all over’ Hermione said with a sigh ‘I was stupid to think this would be over and done with in a few days’

‘No you weren’t you were just hoping from the heart’ Ron said ‘And you know it could happen in a few days we’ve barely started looking. When we get back the first name we find would be W and M Wilkins’

‘You’re enntirely too optimistic Ronald Weasley’ Hermione said with a smile.

‘Now I might be but you’re usually the one who’s upbeat’ Ron said with a grin ‘I’m trying a bit of reverse psychology’

Hermione giggled.
‘That’s romantic’ she said.

‘Aw I try’ Ron said his ears going red ‘so at what point are we going to start ringing around?’

‘Let’s fill up a parchment sheet each both sides then go back ot the hotel and start ringing’ Hermione said ‘If we fill up a piece of parchment we can spend tomorrow morning after breakfast ringing around. Then if we have no success we’ll go back to the library. We can always go back there after closing to look if it goes on too long. I’d rather ring up a short list then get more and more disheartened with one big list’

‘Makes sense’ Ron said ‘well I’ve already filled up one side of my sheet of parchment and half of the other side how are you going?’

‘I’ve done about one and a quarter’ Hermione said ‘about thirty practices all up. Adresses, phone numbers and websites only ten of those listed induvidual dentists’

‘We’ll get there’ Ron said confidently ‘It’s Monday now I think by Friday we’ll have an answer’

‘You think so?’

‘I know so’

‘Geez I hope so Ron I really do’

After an hour and a half of lunch Ron and Hermione ventured further up Cauldron Court calling in by the Wizarding stationery shop Robertsons to stock up on ink. Hermione then apparated them back to Swanston Street and they resumed their search for Hermione’s parents.

As Ron had suspected he and Hermione filled out more than two sheets of parchment and stayed in the library long after the muggles had left and they were yawning every few minutes.

‘Right that’s it we’re finished for the day’ Ron said after watching Hermione.

‘But R-...’

‘No but Rons’ Ron said waving his wandand packing up the parchment, ink and quills that had been using ‘Hermione it’s 10PM. We are not staying her throughout the night. I know finding your parents is important to you, Merlins bag sacks it’s important to me too but you are not sleeping in a library as much as I know that would turn you on’

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Oh shut up Ron’ she said with a wry smile ‘well I suppose we better get going, we’ve done twelve hours of solid work'

‘And we are not doing that much tomorrow’ Ron said firmly levitating the discarded phone books in front of him ‘we are not and I repeat not coming in here until we have called each and every number on the list’

‘B-b..

‘No buts geez H you’re arumentative’

‘Oh shut up’ Hermione said slinging her handbag over her shoulder and waving her wand so the phone directories they had yet to look at shrunk and flew up to a high shelf behind an unused computer monitor ‘c’mon let’s go I fancy having dinner at one of those Asian noodle café’s that are so prevelant around here’

Ron and Hermione put away the used phone directories and left through the entrance hall, not through the main doors but through one Ron had transfigured into the wall next to an old stone bust of some long dead muggle luminary.

‘You know when we ring the Burrow and tell everyone we spent the first day of our trip in Australia in a library no one’s going to be surprised’ Ron said with a laugh as they wandered down Swanston Street ‘Percy will probably want pictures’

‘Oh he will not’ Hermione said rolling her eyes ‘be nice to Percy Ron’

‘Oh I’m just teasin’’ Ron said with a grin ‘he knows that’

‘Well if you think Percy will want pictured Harry and Ginny are going to want to know is we shagged on one of the tables’ Hermione said dryly.

‘We can go back there and have a crack if you like’ Ron said with a laugh ‘tired as I am I reckon I could find the energy to swing a leg over you’

Hermione gave Ron a playful dead arm.
‘I repeat my statement of a few days ago’ she said with a grin ‘Ronald Weasley you are a complete and utter inbred arse’

‘Actually I believe your words were ‘Ronald Weasley you inbred arse’ Ron said ‘at no point in time did I hear the words complete or utter pass your lips’

‘Picky butt head’ Hermione said with a sly smile

‘Stubborn arse’ Ron countered.

‘Ha! Me a stubborn arse?’ Hermione exclaimed going along with the joke ‘pot kettle black’

‘Argumentative sod’

‘Tosspot’

‘Git’

‘Prat’

‘Gobshite expert’ Ron said laughing in earnest now.

‘Bullshit artist’

‘Pussy licker’

‘Oh sod off I am not....ring pirate’

‘Ex..what the hell is a ring pirate?’ Ron asked momentarily stopping in his tracks.

‘A gay man’ Hermione said slinging an arm around his waist ‘you know a fairy, fruit, a paid up member of the Barbara Streisand fan club, a card carrying friend of Dorothy and so on’

‘Oh really? Who’s Barabara Streisand and Dorothy?’

'Barbara Streisand is a famous Muggle singer’ Hermione said ‘the wizarding equivalent would be say Celestina Warbeck and Dorothy is Dorothy in the muggle movie Wizard of Oz, she’s the main character. The Wizard of Oz and Barbara Streisand are really popular in gay culture’

‘How the hell do you know so much about the gay culture?’ Ron asked as they crossed at a pedestrian crossing.

‘I don’t know much about it personally it’s just a muggle impression of gay culture’ Hermione said ‘it’s not necessarily true though people just assume all gay men are into Barbara Streisand and the Wizard of Oz’

‘Facinating, that’ll go in my Random Facts about Muggles notebook’ Ron said with a grin.

‘Oh shut up you so do not have a Random Facts on Muggles notebook’ Hermione said rolling her eyes ‘you are so full of it’

‘Nah not me’ Ron said with a grin ‘you might be full of something later if you behave’

‘Nah I think I’ll misbehave’ Hermione said with a giggle ‘especially if you spank me like you did on the plane to Los Angeles. That was the best fun’

‘I’ll have to do it more often then’ Ron said as an Asian Noodle resturant came into view ‘how about this place?’

‘Yeah it’ll do’

Ron and Hermione entered the lemongrass scented shop and were immediately served by the wrinkliest woman Ron had ever seen. They both ordered a simple beef and black stir fry and then sat down in a corner table finally getting around to opening the Daily Prophet from the day they had lost flying to Australia.

‘Hey the Ministry is starting the Quidditch Cup up again next weekend’ Ron said to Hermione as he perused the sports section ‘how brilliant is that? Seriously it’s the best news’

‘Oh just the best’ Hermione said with a laugh ‘the best news since Harry defeated Voldemort we simply must go to a game when we get home’

‘Oh shut up’ Ron said ‘anything that you think is just as good news? Flourish and Blotts have a buy one get one free sale going?’

‘Oh ha ha’ Hermione said dryly ‘just hilarious Ron really witty’

‘Anything about Harry?’ Ron asked a moment later.

‘Of course the usual speculative crap about what the big secret surrounding Voldemorts downfall is. I tell you we’re going to have to do a press conference or interview with someone about the battle sooner or later, some of this speculation is rediculous’ Hermione said making a face ‘Rita Skeeter’s latest theory is Harry resorted to Dark Magic to bring down Voldemort’

‘Ginny’ll have a fit when she reads that’ Ron said flicking through to the front of his copy ‘and Mum will have to be stopped from going to Diagon Alley and marching right into the Prophet offices and strangling Skeeter. If I were Rita Skeeter I’d start watching my back Mum’s got a record now....ha ha’

‘I reckon when we get home we should try and convince Harry to do an interview with us to someone in the press’ Hermione said ‘do you think he’d consent to giving an interview with Mr Lovegood?’

‘That loony old berk?’ Ron exclaimed ‘Hermione that bastard sold us out to the Death Eaters. He could’ve got us killed!’

‘He only did it because he was trying to save Luna, Ron I know if you were in his situation you’d do anything to save your child’ Hermione said sternly ‘He’d already lost Mrs Lovegood Luna was his last link to her’

‘Yeah....well’ Ron who didn’t quite look ready to forgive the older man ‘I suppose so. But I would trust him to print the truth more than the Prophet right now’

‘There you go you’re not too sore on him then’ Hermione said ‘I know you’re not keen at the prospect of giving an interview Ron but read Rita’s article and the surrounding crap has to be stopped. It stresses Harry every time a falsehood is printed about him. I think he’d know he has to tell the facts about the past twelve months or it’ll get out of hand’

‘I think it’s gone beyond that’ Ron said ‘but you do have a point If he arks up about it we can take Ginny aside and see if she can convince Harry’

‘Hmmm’

‘But Harry is fine the thing we’ve got to worry about is finding your parents’ Ron said ‘that really shouldn’t take long’

‘Well according to your crystal ball Friday is the day’

‘Yup I’ve always said Trelawney would rub off on me’ Ron said with a laugh.

‘Oh what a load of rot’ Hermione said rolling her eyes at Ron’s joke 'a total and utter load of crap’

‘See totally and utterly passed your lips that time’ Ron said with a snort as the same wrinky old woman delivered their dinner ‘yeah I know shut up Ron’ he added as Hermione opened her mouth.

After a few minutes of eating Ron spoke.
‘Do you want to try the pool area when we get back to the hotel?’ he said adding some soy sauce to his rice ‘if we get in there after closing we could have it all to myself. Maybe a bit of relaxing skinny dipping could be in order’

Hermione giggled.
‘Sounds good’ she said ‘we don’t get much chance to do it back at the Burrow do we?’

‘No, well we’ve never tried but considering how busy back home is and how nosey everyone is I doubt we’d get the chance’ Ron said ‘but one day I’d like to shag you til you screamed amongst the bulrushes’

‘Really Ron you have the libido if a nymphomaniac on death row’ Hermione said going pink in the face 'we do it so often I’m going to get friction sores’

‘Not the way I prepare you’ Ron said with a grin rubbing her inner left leg with his foot ‘in fact....’

‘Oh Ron not here!’ Hermione hissed ‘really have some decorum people can hear us!’

‘Great maybe we can give them ideas’ Ron said with a laugh.

‘Oh brother’ Hermione said rolling her eyes ‘you’re a very naughty boy Ron’

‘Will you spank me then?’

‘Maybe’

After their dinner Ron and Hermione walked back to their hotel and made their way back upstairs. Hermione immediately unpacked all their notes from their days work next to the phone on the small study desk in the corner of the room’

‘I want to start early tomorrow’ she said setting up a quill and inkpot.

‘How early?’ Ron asked ‘business hours are nine to five’

‘Well I want to have had breakfast by nine so we can start ringing right at the start of business hours’ Hermione said ‘I want to go out tomorrow and get a mobile phone so both of us can ring at the same time. It’ll go quicker then.

‘Well I’ll start ringing around on the stroke of nine AM while you go and get a mobile’ Ron said ‘saves us going out at the same time and gets some work done’

‘Oh okay then I’ll ride with that’ Hermione said ‘I saw a mobile phone shop near the library when we left for lunch I’ll go there’

‘Do you think we should ring home before we go for a swim? Ron suggested as he sat on the end of the bed and kicked off his shoes it’d be mid afternoon there now’

Oh yes!’ Hermione exclaimed ‘can you dial out? I want to change into my swimmers’

‘I thought we were skinny dipping?’ Ron said pausing as he reached for the telephone.

‘We are but I can’t walk down the hallway naked Ron unlike you I do have some personal decorum’

‘Oh ha ha’

Ron punched in the numbers to the Burrow’s mobile and took the handset to the bed where he sat down. There was a breif silence before it started ringing almost instantly it was picked up and Harry’s voice came through the ear piece.

‘Good afternoon you have rung the Ministry of Sexual Experimentation incorporating the BDSM and S and M departments those departments are busy right now as it’s the height of the whips and chains season but if you hold for a moment I can put you through to the normal sex department where someone who works in the Vanilla sex office will be more than happy to take your call and answer your enquiries’

‘Harry James Potter you are a sick sick sick puppy’ Ron said as on the other end Harry roared with laughter ‘what if it was someone else ringing?’

‘Who else would ring?’ Harry said chortling ‘you and Hermione are the only ones who know this number. I knew that when it started ringing it would be you or her’

‘Well reasoned I suppose’ Ron said ‘how’s everything back home?’

‘Oh the same really nothing exciting has happened since you rang us last night’ Harry said ‘the Death Eater Trials are due to start in two weeks and the first up are the Malfoys. I hope you and Hermione are back by then because you’ll be two critical prosecution witnesses’

‘I’ll let Hermone know’ Ron said ‘are you still going on Demontor Banishing Missions and tutoring people on how to produce a Patronus?’

‘Yup doing half and half’ Harry said ‘I went on a mission this morning with Percy and Charlie for a huge infestation just outside Edinburgh it was a shit of a job and took up almost an hour and a half to do it and when we were finished we were all knackered so Kingsley sent us home and we’ve all been snoozing the morning away since we got back. Charlie is still out of it. Percy got up about half an hour ago’

‘So is everyone home?’

‘No just me, Percy, Charlie, George of course and Ginny your parents are in Diagon Alley doing a shop. Though it’s going to be a smaller one than usual because you and Hermione aren’t here and you’re not eating everyone out of house and home’

‘Oh very funny mate hilarious stuff’ Ron said dryly.

‘So how’s the searching for Hermione’s parents going?’ Harry asked ‘any progress?’

‘Yeah of sorts’ Ron said ‘we spent twelve hours in the Melbourne Library today writing down dozens of names under the dental hospitals and dental practices sections in the phone directories we collected. We’re only a quarter of a way thorugh the pile. We’ve got a list big enough to start ringing around in the morning. I told Hermione because we spent so long working today and she was just about falling asleep on the table we had to stop for the day but as usual she was so stubborn I had to threaten her with the Imperius Curse before she would move’

‘Oh I heard that and Harry that’s a load of crap!’ Hermione called coming out of the bathroom dressed in a red bikini and her hair done up in a messy bun.

Ron cast an Amplification Charm on the phone then levitated it so Hermione could hear Harry too.

‘What’s this I hear about you spending twelve hours in a library today ‘Mione?’ Harry said in an amused tone ‘do you have to spend time in a library even on your breaks?’

‘Ha ha Harry this is not a break whatever Ron has told you’ Hermione said rolling her eyes ‘and I didn’t look at any other books but phone directories. A trip I’m sure you’ll agree isn’t my usual foray into libraries’

‘So no photos of the said library then?’ Harry asked laughing in earnest now ‘once you find your parents are you going to do a library tour of the world?’

Ron laughed.

‘Oh Harry be nice’ Hermione huffed ‘I do not spend that much time in libraries you’ll get a pimple on your tongue for telling such porkies’

‘That’s debateable’ Harry chortled ‘Ron said you can get the Daily Prophet over there’

‘Yeah and did you read the usual bile from Rita Skeeter in yesterdays?’ Hermione said ‘Harry you have to do something to prevent such crap. I was saying to Ron at dinner tonight when we get back we ought to go to Mr Lovegood and tell him about the lead up to the war as an exclusive. You know he’ll tell the truth and not lie about you’

‘You want me to spill my guts to Xenophilius?’ Harry asked incredulously ‘Hermione that weird old git nearly got us killed!’

‘As I said to Ron Harry he was only trying to protect Luna the only remaining link to his wife the love of his life’ Hermione said sternly ‘not for a minute do I believe if Luna hadn’t been kept hostage by the Death Eaters that he would’ve volunteered any information. He’s just not that type. And you know from previous experience he’ll publish the truth. If you’re really worried we can make him take an Unbreakable Vow’

‘Well....I....Oh I dunno Hermione I’m just not ready to spill my guts just yet’ Harry said.

‘I’m not saying you have to do it just yet Harry’ Hermione said ‘wait til Ron and I arrive home from Australia’ Hermione said ‘that might be the end of the week it might be in a month’s time. But we’ll do it all together I promise you that you don’t have to do it alone. But I think you know giving a exclusive interview to Mr Lovegood is the only way to shut up people like Rita Skeeter’

‘Yeah you have a point’ Harry said in a defeated tone ‘well I’ll jump that hurdle when I come to it I’m not going to worry about anything til you two get home’

‘Maybe we should stay in Australia permanently so you’ll stop worrying permanently’ Ron said with a laugh ‘you’re such a worrywart mate’

‘Am not’

‘Are too’ Ron and Hermione chorused.

‘You worry more than Mrs Weasley’ Hermione said with a giggle.

‘Now I know you’re crapping on Hermione’ Harry said dryly ‘okay okay I get it I shouldn’t worry so much. But for me it’s just become a habit’

‘Well it shouldn’t’ Hermione said ‘hey I’m going to get a mobile phone tomorrow so Ron and I can ring around the practices we wrote down today I’ll let you know what the number is so you can ring through if you want’

‘Great Ginny’ll want to do that’ Harry said.

‘Ginny will want to do what?’ came Ginny’s voice in the background ‘Oooh are Ron and Hermione on the line?’

‘No it’s Rita Skeeter I’m giving her an in depth interview’ Harry said dryly ‘yes it’s Ron and Hermione do you want to say hello?’

‘Of course you nut!’ Ginny said with a giggle.

‘Harry press the little blue button and that’ll activate the speaker’ Hermione said ‘then we can hear you and Ginny at the same time’

‘Oh okay hang on’

‘There was a loud beep then Harry’s voice.
‘Can you hear us now?’ he asked ‘testing one two three’

‘Yeah we can’ Hermione said ‘Ginny?’

‘Yo I can hear ya’ Ginny said ‘how’s things going?’

‘Slowly’ Hermione said ‘we spent twelve hours in a library today writing down the names adresses and phone numbers in every phone directory we could. So tomorrow morning Ron and I are going to start ringing around. I think this is going to take weeks finding my parents but Ron reckons we’ll find them on Friday. I’m doubtful sounds like something Trelawney would say’

‘You could find your parents on Friday Hermione you never know’ Ginny said ‘I doubt it’ll take weeks you’ll be back here by the end of the month I’m sure of it’

‘Yeah so stop worrying’ Harry said with a laugh.

‘Oh shut up Harry’ Hermione said dryly ‘don’t be an irritating git’

‘So have you had any time to check out any magical areas?’ Ginny asked eagerly.

‘Only breifly’ Hermione said ‘we had lunch in Cauldron Court today but didn’t linger longer than it took to have lunch get some papers and stock up on ink. Once we’ve found Mum and Dad we’re going to do the full tourist experience Muggle and Magical and get everyone back home some souvenieurs’

‘Oooh lovely’ Ginny said ‘you know you’re lucky Mum and Dad aren’t here if Dad knew we were talking on the phone to you he’d yank it off Harry and me and bang on til the battery died’

‘Ginny the battery isn’t going to die I put an Everlasting Charm on it’ Hermione said ‘it hasn’t gone flat yeat has it? And we’ve been gone five days’

‘Oh that makes sense then’ Ginny said ‘Harry did say something about them normally having them to be recharged every day’

‘Yes normally you would have to’ Hermione said ‘when I get home and take the charm off it you can be sure it’d go flat immediatley. I was thinking of giving the phone to Mum and Dad when they eventually get home’

‘Good idea, once you get home we’re not goint to have much need for it’ Ginny said ‘are you still jet lagged?’

‘Not so much’ Hermione replied ‘our body clocks are still out of whack a little but it’s no big deal we should be fine and running on Australian time by the end of the week. I so want to take all you lot all the Weasleys down here for a holiday it’s such a nice place and we haven’t even been out of the city. I can’t wait to get up north where it’s sunny and warmer’

‘Well maybe on the first anniversay of the Final Battle’ Ron suggested ‘but to satisfy Dad we’d have to travel the Muggle way’

‘Oh don’t say that he’d wet his pants’ Ginny said ‘you should’ve seen him after your plane took off at Heathrow. You know we spent another two hours at the airport because he was being so damn curious? Some bloke who works for British Airways overheard him talking and took us behind the scenes where they service and maintain the planes and we got a tour of one of the planes that looked like the one you flew out on. It was hilarious. He got into the cockpit of the plane and was able to sit in the pilots seat he just about squealed like a pig’

In the background Harry laghed heartily.

‘We saw the first class cabin of this 747 and it looked really posh’ Ginny went on ‘you two certainly travelled in the lap of luxury didn’t you?’

‘Well it was pretty comfortable’ Ron said ‘you’re kidding about all this aren’t you?’

‘No way Dad was like Hermione is in Flourish and Blotts had to heard about all the latest innovations in aviation technology what all the buttons and switched did and exactly how an aeroplane stays in the air’

‘Oh shut up’ Hermione said as Harry and Ron roared with laughter.

‘Normally when Dad goes into one of his Muggle technology fads Mum usually tells him to behave himself but this time she was just as interested’ Ginny went on ‘it was pretty interesting to be honest, now all Dad wants is to actually have a ride on a plane. He could die a happy man then’

‘I’m sure’ Ron said.

‘Percy heard all about it we got home and wants to come to the airport when we go and pick you up’ Ginny said ‘his Muggle tech interest is not as big as Dad’s but he still likes learning about the way muggles do things’

‘But Perce is a nerd he like learning about everything’ Ron said ‘that’s why he went into the Department for International Magical Co-Operation so he could learn about other Wizarding comunities’

‘Don’t let him hear you say that’ Ginny said with a giggle.

‘Oh I tell him all the time we all do’ Ron said as Hermione interrupted with ‘Be nice to Percy!’ ‘Harry said he’s up, go and get him and I’ll tell him he’s a nerd’

‘I’m not doing that’ Ginny said with a giggle ‘tell him when you get home, at the airport. You can say ‘Hi Perce good to see ya you’re a nerdy werdy’

‘Oi your nickname of him is Nerdy Werdy not mine’ Ron said dryly ‘mine is Ned Head’

‘Oh did all you lot spend your childhoods torturing Percy?’ Hermione asked in exasperation ‘the poor man’

‘I wouldn’t define it as torture’ Ginny said ‘just gentle familial teasing’

‘Oh you’re all nuts’ Hermione said dryly ‘well you two we’re going to hang up and go for a swim. Love to everyone back home and we’ll ring again tomorrow night’ Hermione said ‘maybe a bit earlier when everyone’s at home’

‘Okay ‘Mione you two take care’ Harry said ‘we’ve got the phone all the time so ring us the minute you find your parents won’t you?’

‘Of course you’ll be the first to know’ Hermione said ‘see you later’

Hermione hung up and banished the phone back to the study desk.

‘C’mon let’s go for a dip’ she said swinging her legs off the bed ‘last one in is a rotten egg’

'That sounds like a challenge' Ron said with a grin 'is it?'

'Wait and see' Hermione said whispering in his ear and lipping his earlobe.

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