Journey to Oz (For Plain Laura Jane & Aleysk)

[PlainLauraJane]

Ron cursed as he struggled to pull his massive suitcase onto the pavement. He shuddered in the cold and immediately regretted telling Hermione he'd travel by stupid muggle aeroplane. Balancing the case against his leg, he zipped his coat up properly and pulled the hood over his head to protect himself from the rain. As he did, a car drove through a big puddle that he'd failed to notice and soaked him head to toe. He quickly, and instinctively, pulled his wand out of his pocket; determined to curse the perpetrator but they had long gone.

Sighing, he pocketed his wand before anyone noticed and took hold of his suitcase again. "Stupid muggle cars and stupid muggle transport..." he cursed under his breath before starting to make his way to the tube station, fighting through the crowds of shoppers. He repeated the instructions Hermione had given him in his head. "Tube station, ticket, go to Heathrow, get off at Terminal 3, meet Hermione... Tube station, ticket, got to Heathrow, get off at Terminal 3, meet Hermione..." How hard could that be?

He bumped his suitcase down the steps to the foyer, bought his ticket with surprising ease then joined the mass of people waiting for the next tube. His heart was pounding, this was so exciting and he was glad to get a break from his overbearing family - the death of Fred had been hard but he was ready to get on with his life now the memorial service was over and done with. His mother had argued against him leaving with Hermione but he had to do it, he had told her, or he would have gone nuts. And Hermione needed him - he couldn't let her wander a foreign country by herself.

Ron boarded the tube and found a seat, making sure his suitcase with close. He took a deep breath then smiled. A few weeks in the sun with Hermione would do him a world of good!

[Aleysk]

Hermione couldn't stop fidgeting, her usual calm exterior anything but as she nervously awaited Ron's arrival. She'd laughed like anything when he insisted he make his own way instead of accompanying her, until he ensured her he'd be fine. What was he thinking? she wondered. He'll never make it on his own! I shouldn't have left him to do it himself. I hope Molly made sure he didn't forget anything.. She had been immensely proud of him and the conclusion to their adventure with Harry, but Ron would always be Ron and she would always worry.

Nonetheless, she'd simply been glad to have him so willing to accompany her. It was over; Voldemort had been defeated, her family was safe.. She hoped, anyhow. That was the basis of their new quest. A journey to Australia to find the Wendell and Monica Wilkins who had once been her parents and would once more as soon as she lifted the enchantment. Her fingers closed inside her pocket, upon two things: the plane tickets, and her wand. I miss you mother, father.. I'm coming to get you. I promise.

A loud shriek from an unhappy child broke into her thoughts and hastily, Hermione tugged her suitcase from the warpath of a family obviously in a hurry to board their plane - so much so that the feet of bystanders were endangered by the squeaking trolley wheels belonging to not one, but two carts. Ron, where are you! she thought, checking her watch for the seventeenth time in the past five minutes. If we miss the flight, you'll be in big trouble, Ronald Bilius Weasley! Apparation had been her suggestion, but he'd never quite forgotten his splinching and blanched at the thought when she suggested.

The Muggle way it was. At least he understand how to dress like one. She couldn't help but smile as she straightened the pale blue sweater and unhooked a bushy curl from a loose thread around the collar.

[PlainLauraJane]

Ron pushed his way from his seat on his tube. He had drifted off to sleep somewhere between Piccadilly and Hammersmith but luckily the couple sat next to him had launched into a huge domestic around Hounslow and had woken him up just in time to gather his thoughts and get off at the right stop. Pulling his case he made his way back up to the surface, melting under all the layers he had put on. "Bloody hell..." he hastily got rid of his coat, stuffing it into the rucksack he had slung over one shoulder. "Be prepared.." his mum and Hermione were both always reminding him and now he was prepared but too bloody hot.

He surfaced back into the cold September air and shivered. Keeping his head down he ran towards the terminal, narrowly missing colliding with a large muggle family on their way home from some exotic location by the look of their tans. Once back inside the warmth and cover he scanned the crowds for Hermione, his heart caught in his throat and his stomach swimming with nerves. What if she's changed her mind? What if she doesn't want me tagging along with her, ruining her trip? What if I let her down? He ran a hand through his hair as he started to panic - had he already missed the flight?

[Aleysk]

If it weren't for the large crowd, Hermione would have screamed. The plane would begin boarding in minutes, and there was still no sight of him; no mop of red hair above the crowd for he'd grown taller and lankier still, she swore. Fiddilng with the lock upon her suitcase, she tentatively sat upon one of the many plastic chairs lining the terminal. It was a long flight to Australia, she assumed. Long enough to not want herself exhausted before it even begun. Outside she could see large fat drops of rain pelting at the glassed windows. "Summer in Australia," she murmured absentmindedly, yet again checking her watch.

Overhead the speakers crackled and a sharp woman's voice came clearly over the speakers. "Flight open for boarding.." was all she could hear above the din of the rain and what seemed almost an entire class of young children who'd suddenly appeared clutching stuffed toys, comics, and sweets. The number and destination came shortly after, before the second piercing crackle signified the ending of the message. Hastily, she stood once more.

Ron! Almost urgent now, her level brown eyes scanned over the faces, searching, searching.. Goodness, will you hurry up! With a fond anxiety she wished she'd taught him how to use a mobile phone first. Back and forth she paced across the carpet and tile floor, a sheet of paper with her to-do list written in beautiful cursive creased beyond repair.

[PlainLauraJane]

Ron grinned as he finally spotted Hermione wearing a massive hole in the filthy carpet. He headed towards her, picking up speed as he got closer. She looked stunning, stressed, but beautiful as per usual. He lopped upside her and rested his elbow on her shoulder, casually leaning towards her.

"You waiting for me?" He gave her his biggest puppy dog smile. "I almost fell asleep on the tube but it's okay because this couple woke me up!" He laughed. "And I got soaked, can you dry me? I forgot the spell..." He trailed off as he spotted the scowl on her face.

[Aleysk]

"Ronald Weasley!" she screeched, jumping a mile in the air as he snuck up to her, dripping wet. "We're going to be late!" grabbing the front of his sweater she quickly released it, yelping in disgust as soaked threads tickled her palm. Dragging them into the shadow of a plastic pot-plant, she fished her wand from her pocket and silently siphoned the water from his clothing. "Now hurry up!" With surprising strength, she pulled him toward the gate.

"What took so long?" Hermione hissed under her breath as they waited in queue for a very bored looking attendant to scan the tickets then nod and wave their arm to admit the equally bored passenger. Would he never learn to be on time? "Half an hour ago I asked you to meet me here!" As though proving a point, she shoved the watch under his nose and allowed him to see the actual note flashing upon the dial. Briskly she extracted their own tickets, glad she'd not left him in charge of those too. She held no doubts he'd have lost them, or forgotten to put them some place safe away from potential disaster; torrents of rain were still streaming down along the glass, leaving no inch dry.

[PlainLauraJane]

"I forgot how long it would take and mum made me pack so much..." Ron tried to justify himself even though he knew it was pointless, Hermione was mad now and would be for a long while. She's got 24 hours to stew over this, he thought. She'll probably make the most of it...

Sighing heavily he allowed his mind to wander away from her voice, which usually he loved listening to. This was a technique he had learnt years ago when he first started doing things that annoyed her. Instead he tried to work out why his fellow travellers were flying... Were they off on the same adventures as they were? He smiled as he made up little stories for them in his head, managing to completely block out the bollocking Hermione was giving him.