The Secret Life of Harry Potter

CHAPTER 4 - Unexpected... 152 Dolphin Road

As Hermione started up the car, she asked, "Harry, have you ever thought of learning to drive? I mean, you live in the Muggle world (no matter how much you hate the Dursleys) and it's the only place you can get away from the stares and everything."

This came as a shock to Harry, he hadn't even thought of driving.

"Um, actually, I hadn't! It never really occurred to me that I would ever need to drive, me wanting to become an Auror and all," Harry replied. "Driving would be too slow. It would be good though. Like you said, the Muggle world is the only place I can avoid all recognition." As he finished, they were already driving on the motorway.

"Hey, Hermione, where about do you actually live?" Harry asked, realising he hadn't ever asked her about her life before Hogwarts. The only thing he knew is that her parents were both dentists.

"Oh, it's about a two and a half hour drive. It's not that long if you have something to do or someone to look at..."But the drive to pick you up went on for ages!" Yeah, time always seems to slow when you want something...

"Well then, I'm glad to be of assistance!" Harry laughed as he (or tried to) give her a half bow in the car... resulting in him hitting himself on the dashboard. Hermione laughed at this as well.

***

It seemed like no time at all when Harry realised the car was slowing and pulling into a driveway (a really long one at that). As Harry looked up in front, to where they were driving, he saw a-a palace! (Well, not really, just a very big house.)

"Umm, Hermione? Do you live here?" Harry asked in awe as he looked at the huge house they were driving up to.

"Of course! Why else would we be here?" she said, as she suppressed a giggle. "Honestly, Harry, why do you look so surprised? You know both of my parents are dentists... they earn heaps!"

"Err, sorry," he mumbled. "I never really put two and two together. I mean you needed to get your school supplies somehow. So," he said as he got out of the car and clapped his hands together. "Are you going to show me around or not?"

"Yes, of course, Harry! But first, we need to get you're things up to the guest room." So between the two of them they carried Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage up to a room on the second floor.

"Right. This is your room. There's a bathroom across the hall." She pointed at a door pretty much opposite his bedroom door. "There's a wardrobe in there--" Hermione pointed to two doors in his room. "--if you want to unpack. My room is two doors to your left down the hall. There's a kitchen and lounge room downstairs, a pool out the back. We both have a TV and DVD players in our rooms and the movies are in the closet, the door between our two doors. That's about it for now. What do you want to do?"

Harry was still dazed at the size of his room (it was huge!), but he finally came to his senses.

"Err, would it be Ok if I just unpack now?" Harry asked cautiously. "I can come and get you when I'm finished."

"Sure Harry! Remember, you're the guest! I'll be in my room...two doors down," she repeated at Harry's questioning look. Harry thanked her as she left his room, but something caught her eye. He was wearing her bracelet!

"Oh, My, God, Harry! You're wearing the bracelet I gave you!" He must really like it! If I had given something like that to Ron, he would've said he liked it just to be nice. That's what I thought Harry was doing... but he's actually wearing it!

"Yeah, I really like it! It was a sweet idea, but I'm guessing you didn't get it in a Muggle shop?" I wonder why she's so surprised! I mean, why wouldn't I like something Hermione gave me? Why did I just think that? Hermione is my FRIEND! I mean, I couldn't like her...could I?

"Well, it's surprising, but I did get it in a Muggle shop. It didn't have the engravings then, though," she added quickly at a startled look from Harry. "I did the engraving myself, actually," she continued, smugly. "It's a simple charm. Plus, I can do magic outside of school now, seeing as I'm almost eighteen. I'll just let you unpack now, shall I?" And with that, she left Harry's room.