HP In The USA

Chapter One: Fun In The City

"Harry."

Harry could hear his name as through from far away. He blinked his eyes, and could see the fuzzy outlines of his friends and the airplane. He put on his glasses, and Ron's face, peeking over the sear in front of Harry, came into view. "Harry," said Ron again. 'The plane's going to land soon. You better get ready." Ron turned back around, and Harry could tell he was rummaging around, trying to put all of his stuff away. Harry sat up and did the same. As he had been asleep for most of the flight, it didn't him long. He grabbed a stick of gum and a book, and settled in for the descent.

Ginny was also reading a book, but, surprisingly, Hermione wasn't. She was furiously scribbling in a notebook, and Ron was staring as her tiny writing filled up page after page.

Not ten minutes later, the pilot announced descent, and Harry put his book down to stare out the window. He saw nothing but water, and he was just starting to wonder why they were landing when he saw a huge island, bright green with small beaches surrounding it. Harry gasped when, next second, Manhattan came into view. Harry knew it was Manhattan, because the island was covered with buildings, and barely visible in the center of the island was a large, green rectangle (he guessed that it was Central Park.) Ginny leaned over to look out the window, too.

"Isn't that beautiful?" she whispered. They were low enough to the ground now that tiny cars the size of ants were visible. Houses surrounded by impressive lawns dotted the landscapes, and swimming pools were abundant.

A few minutes later, Harry could see the airport, and not long after that, the plane touched down. It coasted to a stop in front of the terminal, and once the pilot turned off the seatbelt light, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stood up. Ron stood up too quickly and hit his head on the overhead compartment. He rubbed the sore spot while the others grabbed their bags, and together, they left the plane.

"Thank you for flying United," said the stewardess as they stepped into the terminal. Hermione and Ginny beamed brightly and said thank you, but Harry and Ron simply muttered "thanks" and shuffled past, Ron still massaging his head.

The airport was crowded and bustling. People laden with suitcases, backpacks and briefcases ran past, parents chased after their children, and teens meandered with their headphones on. Ron looked around, his mouth open in awe. "The airport in Florida was nothing like this."

"New York is one of a kind," Hermione said. "Prepare to be surprised by everything in this city."

Hermione found where to go to get their baggage, and lead the way. They collected their baggage and went to the arrivals lobby. Hermione looked around the room, as though she was lost.

"What are you looking for?" Harry asked, looking around also.

"Our driver," Hermione replied simply. Her eyes searched the room a bit longer. She seemed to spot someone, and hurried over to the other side of the room. A tall black man in a dark suit was standing with a sign that read "Granger". Next to him was a petite blonde woman with a clipboard. Hermione greeted the woman as if they were old friends, and introduced her.

"Harry, Ron, Ginny, this is my agent, Mallory," Hermione said. "Mallory, this is Harry, Ron and Ginny."

"Ah, the famous Harry Potter," Mallory said with a wide grin and a wink as she shook his hand. "And the Weasleys. Pleasure to meet you." She shook Ron and Ginny's hands in turn, then looked to Hermione. "You have all your luggage?" Hermione nodded. "Good. Let's go." She and the driver led the way outside. Ron's jaw dropped and Ginny gasped in delight.

"A limo!" Harry said. "Ace!"

The driver, who had introduced himself as Joseph, opened the door, and Mallory, Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry climbed in. They settled in as Joseph prepared the limo (including loading their luggage), and got in himself. He turned towards his passengers as he locked the doors. "Are you ready to see New York?" They nodded and smiled. Joseph started the limo and pulled out into traffic.

As Joseph navigated towards the highway, Mallory pulled out a stack of papers from a briefcase. "Hermione, you received all the papers I sent you?" Hermione nodded and held up a folder. "Good. So you know the route."

"Yes. Today, we're starting at Barnes and Nobles on the Avenue of Americas, right?" Hermione asked. Mallory nodded, and Hermione continued. "Tomorrow's a free day, then we go to New Jersey."

"What are we doing at...where was it? Barns and something?" Harry asked.

"Barnes and Nobles," Ginny corrected. "It's one of the largest chains of bookstores in the States."

"We have to go to a bookstore?" Ron asked.

Mallory just stared at him for a second. "For the book signing," she replied, as if speaking to a dumb person.

"Book signing? What book signing?"

"Don't you know?" Mallory asked, incredulously. Ron shook his head, and Harry looked just as bewildered, as Hermione blushed and Ginny tried to stifle a giggle. Mallory pulled a book out of her briefcase and passed the book to Ron. Ron scanned through the first few pages and passed the book along to Harry.

"That's pretty good, Hermione," Ron said.

"You wrote a book about us?" Harry asked, angrily. "Without even asking?"

Hermione shifted guiltily in her seat. "Well...I...er...I first wrote it for fun, but there was this writing contest...and I won..."

"Go and read it, Harry," Ginny said. Harry sighed and opened it to a point about halfway through. He read a short passage.

"It's pretty good."

Hermione blushed again, but this time from pleasure. "Does that mean you're not angry anymore?"

Harry grinned. "Of course I'm not angry."

The ride to the hotel took nearly an hour. Joseph was an excellent driver, and kept up a running commentary on the city. It was rather comical, and he eventually admitted that when he wasn't driving, he was a stage actor. "You're going to see Rent tonight," Joseph said. "A few seasons ago, I played Collins."

"So you can sing, too?" Hermione asked.

"Obviously," Ginny said. "Collins has the best song in the production."

"And which one do you think that is?" Joseph asked.

"Live in my house," Ginny sang. "I'll be your shelter. Just pay me back in one thousand kisses."

"Be my lover, and I'll cover you," Joseph joined in, and the two harmonized quite nicely.

When they finished with a nice octave, Mallory, Hermione, Harry and Ron started clapping. "Why haven't you ever sung for us before?" Ron asked Ginny, who shrugged, her face red with embarrassment.

"That was very good, Miss Weasley," Joseph complimented.

"Thank you," Ginny whispered.

"Ooh, look," Hermione said, pointing out the window. "It's Central Park." It was the first real patch of green that they had seen since leaving Long Island, and it was huge. Four blocks across and over fifty blocks long, Central Park includes a reservoir, a zoo, a conservatory garden, a pool (which froze over and became a skating rink in the winter), tennis courts and acres of garden for tourists and those who lived in the city to enjoy picnics. Looking out the window of the limo, Harry saw horse-drawn carriages, a large fountain and many people enjoying the clear skies and warm weather.

Joseph slowed down as they neared the western side of the park, and stopped in front of a very impressive skyscraper that was directed across the street from the park entrance. After parking, Joseph opened the door, and one-by-one, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny exited and stared, open-mouthed, at the building. Mallory stepped out of the limo and, grinning, waved her hand. "The Plaza Hotel," she said.

Mallory checked them in, and Joseph and a bell boy carried the luggage upstairs to a large suite. It was on the tenth floor, with an remarkable view of the city, especially Central Park. There was a small lobby, decorated with warm oak furniture, a large entertainment center and rich, red carpet. Two bedrooms led off the lobby. Harry and Ron claimed the room decorated in blue and gold, while Hermione and Ginny took the other room, decorated in different shades of purple and silver.

Mallory gave them enough time to wash up and change into nicer clothes before herding them back down to the limo. Joseph greeted them once again, and drove them downtown. It was pretty much a straight shot, and they stayed on Fifth Avenue the entire time. They passed some luxury clothing shops (such as Bergdorf Goodman, Escade, Salvatore Ferragamo, and, of course, Saks Fifth Avenue), some New York City landmarks (the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal and the Empire State Building), stopped for lunch at a small place called Serendipity's, and eventually reached their destination.

They stopped in front of a large and impressive looking Barnes and Noble, one of the largest chains of bookstores in America.

"What's the long line for?" Hermione asked, looking at the queue of people that reached down the block and extended beyond the corner.

"You," said Mallory, smiling, as Joseph opened the door.

"ME?" Hermione blanched. She froze in her seat and wouldn't move until Ginny pushed her from behind, and Ron grabbed her hands to pull her up. It was the shock of Ron actually touching her that seemed to wake her from her reverie. She straightened and walked out of the limo as if in a trance. Joseph smiled at her. "Not used to being in the spotlight, eh?"

Ginny laughed. "It's usually Harry."

"I'm fine with giving it up," Harry shrugged.

"Break a leg," Joseph said as he climbed back in the limo. "I'll see you in a few hours," he called through the window before driving off.

"Come on, they're waiting for you inside." Mallory put her arm around Hermione's shoulders, who still looked scared, and steered her towards a side door. Harry, Ron and Ginny followed.

They walked through a small, dark corridor and ended up in what looked to be the staff room. Mallory introduced them to the manager (Mrs. Janelle Reyes) who gave them a run-through of what was going to happen.

"First, I'll introduce Miss Granger, who will read a little bit from the book," Mrs. Reyes said. "And the press will take pictures. Then, we'll have a short question-answer session, followed by the signing itself. You have about," she checked her watch. "Five minutes until the cameras are due to arrive, so you can rest back here." She gave Hermione a bright smile. "Mallory, would you come with me?" Mallory nodded and followed Mrs. Reyes out of the room, but not before turning to Hermione. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Just sit back and relax. You'll be great." She also smiled, and shut the door behind her.

Hermione sank into a chair and put her head in her hands. "Did you see how many people were out there?" she asked. It came out very muffled, but her friends understood her anyway. She lifted her head. "I thought I would be OK. I've gone up and talked in front of crowds before. Why am I so nervous?" And indeed, Hermione was nervous. Her hands were noticeably shaking, and her face was white as chalk.

"It'll be fun," Ginny said, giving meaningful looks to Harry and Ron.

"Yeah," Harry said, catching on. "Don't worry about it."

Hermione looked at him. "You're used to this kind of thing. How do you manage it?"

"Well, I learned something from playing Quidditch...It's called square breathing," Harry said, before teaching Hermione his never-fail breathing technique (simply taking deep breaths for long counts of four.) Hermione sat quietly breathing for the rest of the five minutes, and looked noticeably calmer when Mallory and Mrs. Reyes returned.

"Come on, let's go," Mallory said, holding the door open for Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione. Mrs. Reyes led the way into the store. There was a small stage set up, on top of which sat a table with a blue tablecloth, a large sign with a picture of Hermione's book and a small pile of the book itself. In front of the stage was a small crowd of photographers and journalists. Behind the journalists was the crowd waiting to get their books signed. Once Hermione came into sight, the crowd burst into applause.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said Mrs. Reyes, who was standing on the stage. "Thank you very much for coming out today. I'm sure you'll enjoy this very much. So, without further ado, I give you..." she held out her arm and Mallory pushed Hermione onto the stage. "Miss Hermione Granger!" The crowd screamed like crazy, and so many flashbulbs were going off, Hermione could barely see. However, she walked confidently onto the stage, waving and smiling as it's she done this her whole life.

After sitting down, Hermione opened her book. "Chapter One: Will and Won't," she read. Smiling at her friends, who were sitting just off to the side of the stage, she continued. "Harry Potter was snoring loudly. He had been sitting in a chair beside his bedroom window for the best part of four hours, staring out at the darkening street, and had finally fallen asleep with on side of his face pressed against the cold window-pane, his glasses askew and his mouth wide open." Ginny nudged Harry, who smiled.

"And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." Hermione shut the book. She had been reading for about twenty minutes, but the audience had been listening raptly the entire time. There was just something about hearing the author read the book herself...

Harry, Ginny and Ron energetically joined in with the applause. When the cheers finally died down, the first reporters started shouting out questions. They ranged from mild ("How'd you get the idea to write the story?") to embarrassing ("If these characters were real, would you want to date Harry, or Ron?") To Harry's astonishment, Hermione was pretending that the story was fictional. When he asked Mallory about this, she simply replied with "who would believe that it was true, anyway?"

After what seemed like thousands of questions, the most of the reporters left (a few stayed with their photographers, in case something exciting happened during the book-signing) and Mrs. Reyes, let the crowd of fans make their way up to the stage. The first few people to approach the stage were extremely excited, almost too excited to be allowed. Many were clutching their copies of Hermione's book as if they were lifelines. A few boys slipped her their phone numbers, and one man (who was about thirty) even kissed her hand. She blushed, as did Ron (only his blush was of anger, not embarrassment.)

Hermione's hand began to cramp about halfway through, and her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. The line slowly wound down, and, when her hand felt as if it were about to fall off, the last person left the store.

After Mrs. Reyes thanked Hermione, and gave her a couple of free books (Hermione was in heaven as she skimmed through them) the group of five left the store. Joseph was waiting with the limo.

"Hands sore?" Joseph asked as he held open the door.

"You have no idea," Hermione replied.

"There's some ice in the fridge," Joseph said. Mallory climbed in last and Joseph shut the door.

"There's a fridge?" Ginny asked.

"I guess so," Harry replied. He and Ginny searched the limo for it. They eventually found it next to the TV. They tossed Hermione an ice pack, and helped themselves (and Ron) to sodas.

"Mallory, are we ready to go?" Joseph asked from the front seat.

"Yep. Let's go."

"Right-oh!" Joseph turned the key and the purr of the engine reached their ears.

As they drove back uptown, Mallory asked Hermione what she thought of the book signing.

"One word," Hermione replied, holding up her hand. "Ouch."

Everyone laughed.

About fifteen minutes later, Joseph stopped the limo. He pulled over and, after parking, opened the door for his passengers. He bid them farewell and drove off. Mallory led Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione across the street, towards a building with a large, brightly lit sign, reminiscent of the golden age of Hollywood, that read "Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum." Albert Einstein was standing in the doorway.

"He looks so lifelike," Hermione said.

"Wow," said Ron, reaching out to touch it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Mallory said. "These statues are worth a lot of money." Ron pulled his arm back as if he had been burnt.

They continued through the door, and passed a few more wax figures, including Hugh Jackman dressed as Van Helsing and Derek Jeter in his Yankees pinstripes, on the way through the lobby. Mallory handed them their tickets, and all five approached a blue, velvet staircase. An attendant took their tickets, and them to climb the stairs up to the Opening Night Party. Harry looked questionably at Hermione, who shrugged and led the way up the stairs.

There was a small landing at the top of the staircase, with a wax figure of a 1930's movie star. On the opposite end of the landing was another staircase, this one with plush mahogany carpeting. It wound around until they reached another landing. This landing held an elevator, and two more wax figures, one man in a tux, holding up a woman in a sparkly red dress. Hermione said that they were Rogers and Astaire, and explained that they were famous movie stars and dancers from the 1940's and 50's.

They rode up the elevator (inside was an attendant in an elaborate costume involving a lot of buttons, and a funny hat) which exited opposite a large doorway, partially covered with a mahogany curtain. Another costumed worker, dressed as an old-fashioned bellboy, just like the elevator attendant, held open the curtain as Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Mallory approached.

"Welcome," he greeted as they passed through.

They had walked into what looked like a large garden party. The ceiling was dark blue, speckled with stars. White patios stood around the sides of the room, which was full of people, both real and wax.

Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Mallory amused themselves for awhile in this room. They shook hands (the attendant said it was OK to touch to figures) and took pictures with celebrities such as Patrick Stewart (in his Capt. Picard regalia), Princess Diana, Sean Connery as James Bond, and Harrison Ford. Harry found a Jennifer Lopez statue that blushed when you squeezed her bottom.

Mallory soon hurried them out of the room, and they all meandered through the museum. They passed about a hundred wax figures, of famous people, living and dead. Music celebrities (Madonna, N Sync, and Mallory's favorite, Elvis); movie stars (Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Scarlette Johansson); athletes (Lance Armstrong and Babe Ruth); politicians (JFK and Pres. George W. Bush); and other celebrities (Paris Hilton was popular among the guys) dotted the four floors that made up the museum. Harry and Ron went into the Hall of Horrors, which depicted, among other things, Marie Antoinette's beheading. Mallory, Hermione and Ginny passed this by (it was very lifelike, or so they heard) and waited for Harry and Ron outside the Hall. Both the guys came out fairly quickly with slightly disgusted looks on their faces.

"It's was cool, but really gross," was all they would say.

Finally, the five reached the last room of the museum, where a demonstration was going on, showing how the wax statues are made. They stood and watched for about fifteen minutes, when Mallory said they had to go, in order to make their dinner reservations.

Joseph met them outside the museum, and held open the door of the limo. They climbed in and settled into their seats. Their jet lag was starting to catch up with them, and Ginny almost fell asleep on the way to dinner. She probably would have, if the restaurant hadn't been only three blocks away.

The five passengers and the driver got out of the car (once Joseph had parked, of course) and entered the small steakhouse that was right in front of them. After sitting down at a cozy booth, the girls on one side, the boys on the other, and receiving their menus, everyone got quiet. Ginny was dozing again, but everyone else was contemplating the many food choices. Hermione elbowed Ginny, who sat up and began reading the menu. By the time the waitress had returned, Joseph and Hermione had both chosen New York Strips, Mallory had decided on surf & Turf, and Ginny had opted for a London Broil. Harry and Ron were still mulling over the menu, but in the end, Ron got a bacon cheeseburger, and Harry ordered a steak with all-you-can-eat shrimp.

It turned out that Harry could eat quite a bit of shrimp. The waitress kept refilling their sodas, and bringing new platters of shrimp for Harry.

"You must have eaten five plates!" Hermione commented as they left the restaurant.

"And they were good,' Harry grinned. Jet lag had also (apparently) made then all hungry, since the plate with anything left on it had been Mallory's.

Ginny headed for the limo, but Joseph stopped her. "Oh no, you're walking to the theater," he said. "It's only a few blocks away, and I'll pick up when the show's over."

"You're not going with us?" Ginny exclaimed.

Joseph smiled. "I've other people to drive, Miss Weasley. I'll see you in a few hours." Joseph climbed into the limo, but Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny turned to Mallory, who led the way to Nederlander Theater on 41^st Street, where Rent has been playing for the last decade.

The tickets were picked up at Will Call and scanned, and ushers showed them to their seats, which were a few rows up in the mezzanine level. Hermione took in the ornate furnishings of the theater, Harry read his playbill, Ron and Mallory discussed the show (Ron was slightly familiar with it, since Ginny had the soundtrack and made him listen to it all the time) while Ginny dozed, yet again.

At a few minutes till eight, the house lights dimmed, and the band began tuning. At eight o'clock on the dot, Ginny sat straight in her chair, wide awake from the music blaring from the stage.

For the next two and a half hours, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat, staring at the stage, mesmerized. Ginny, of course, knew all the music, but had never imagined the staging to be quite like it was. By the middle of the second act, even Ron and Harry had tears in their eyes. Both were practically bawling by the time the show ended. All four, as well as Mallory and most of the audience, gave a standing ovation to the actress who had played Mimi. As they exited the stage, Hermione and Ginny began singing "Seasons Of Love".

"How do you measure, measure a year? How about love..." they belted out. Joseph was waiting outside, and he joined the song. "In truth that she learned, in times that he cried," they sang together. "In bridges he burned, or the way that she died!"

Once they were safely in the limo and on the way back to the hotel, their version of "Seasons of Love" had ended. Ginny and Joseph sang "I'll Cover You" again, and then sang the reprise to that song. Harry, Ron and Hermione were almost crying again. Not long afterwards, though, Ginny and Hermione were asleep.

No one remembered the trip from the limo to their hotel rooms, but as they all woke the next morning amidst warm and fluffy sheets, they must have gotten there... somehow...