Title - Getting Away 3/24

Author - Lena

Pairing - Harry/Ron, Harry/various OC's (slash and het), Ron/OC (slash)

Rating - this chapter - PG

Feedback - [email protected]

For warnings, disclaimers, etc. please see chapter 0/24 - msg#11257

Chapter Three - Traveling - Monday/Tuesday

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry asked for the eighty-fifth time, it seemed.

Ron had a gleam in his eyes. "Yeah! Won't it be fun?”

Harry was hesitating. Ron now had the same fascination with the Muggle world that his father had, usually to the same unfortunate outcomes.

Ron was throwing clothes in a battered brown suitcase they had found at a second hand shop.

Harry looked over his shoulder at what he was packing. He pulled out a maroon jumper and held it up to Ron. "We are going to the beach. You're not going to need this. Why don't we just buy some stuff when we get there?''

Harry was worried that they would look like idiots in their odd muggle clothes. They bought more what was comfortable, not particularly fashionable. Ron shrugged, "I don't care, less packing."

Harry put the jumper back in the dresser drawer. Harry sighed and walked over to his suitcase on the floor. He leaned down and poked through the clothes in it. He had dragged it and his clothes from his room to Ron’s.

Ron hummed to himself. Harry looked over at him. Ron was so happy. He was going on vacation without his family and was ecstatic. Harry was nervous. Ron didn't understand a lot of Muggle ways and he inevitably got into trouble with Harry in tow.

Harry knew he wasn’t going to get out of it, so he resigned himself to dealing with Ron and a Muggle vacation. He checked their plane tickets, their passports and the reservations for the hotel. Everything looked in order. He hoped he wasn’t forgetting anything.

Mr. Weasley called from downstairs, “Boys, you about ready to go?”

Ron yelled back, “Yeah, Dad, be down in a minute!” He shut his suitcase with a click and turned to Harry and said excitedly, “Let’s go, Harry!” Ron picked up his wand and swished and flicked his suitcase across the room. Harry dashed over and snatched Ron’s wand from his hand. The suitcase landed with a crash in the middle of the floor.

“Hey!” Ron cried out.

Harry shook his head. "If you want to go on a muggle vacation, you might as well start now! Muggle’s carry their luggage!” Ron groaned but said nothing. He walked over to his suitcase and picked it up by the handle.

Harry and Ron carried their luggage down the stairs and into the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were waiting for them. Mr. Weasley said, “Now, Harry, you have Granger’s telephone number?”

Harry said, “Yes.” They had made arrangements with Hermione, that if Harry and Ron needed anything, they could call her parents, who, in turn, would contact Hermione and the Weasleys. Harry did his best to remind Ron how to use a telephone, but he hoped that if they needed it, Harry could call.

They were using Mr. Weasley’s latest enchanted car to drive to Heathrow Airport. Mrs. Weasley was getting teary and hugged both Harry and Ron tightly. “Please be careful, boys.” She stood outside the door of the Burrow waving goodbye to them as they got into the car and Mr. Weasley put their suitcases in the boot.

As they sped down the road, Ron talked excitedly about their plans, and what the plane ride would be like, and if the hotel would be nice... Harry and Mr. Weasley didn’t bother talking.

Soon they were at the airport. Mr. Weasley pulled to the curb and stopped the car. The boys got out and got their suitcases out the boot. They both said good-bye to Mr. Weasley and looked around at all the people, wondering what they should do next.

A man in a uniform came from behind a barrier and grabbed Ron's suitcase. Ron yelled, "Hey, leave that alone!" Ron grabbed at it and the two tussled with the bag.

The man said, "But sir, I'm trying to check it for you!"

Ron said, "Check it? What do you mean?" Harry rolled his eyes. They weren't even out of London yet.

Harry got into the tussle and said in a low voice to Ron, "This is his job. This is how you leave your luggage at the airport."

Ron scowled at the man and let go of the luggage. Harry continued, "Ron, you have to be careful."

Ron said, "I know, but it's going to fun. So what if I get confused sometimes."

Harry said, "I just don't want us to get in trouble...as usual."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron put his hands on his hips in defiance.

Harry sighed, "You know what I mean?"

"So I like to have fun? Is that a crime?"

Harry smirked, "It has been!"

Ron yelled, "Oh, shut it, Harry!" Harry laughed as Ron stomped his way into the lobby of the airport.

They went through security, which Ron found fascinating, and Harry found unnerving. They walked to their gate after having to ask many questions. They found their gate, received their boarding passes, and sat in a couple of chairs.

They watched the people walk back and forth, most definitely hurrying to their various destinations. When their plane was announced, Harry and Ron got up and joined the line of people to go through the gate to the plane. Harry was feeling very apprehensive, though Ron looked thrilled. He was smiling at all the people and saying hello.

Harry was getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. True, he wasn't afraid of heights, being used to it on his broom. But on his broom he had control, this plane was huge and who was flying it anyway. Neither Harry, nor Ron had ever been on a plane. Hermione had told them all about it.

Harry stood in line, staring out the window of this huge plane. Ron poked him in the ribs to move him along. Harry stammered, "Look...R...Ron, the plane is...how are they going to get it in the air?"

Ron looked to where Harry was pointing and said, "Isn't it cool?"

Harry shuffled along in the line and reached the lady who was taking the boarding passes. He must have look scared because the lady said, “First plane trip?” Harry dumbly nodded his head and Ron pushed him along again.

Harry and Ron walked down to the plane and reached the door, where another lady, was standing saying hello. Harry and Ron looked down at their tickets and began looking for their seats.

They found them next to each other, one next to the window. Harry’s stomach was still upset, so he gave Ron the window seat. Harry wasn’t planning on looking down or out. The lady came by and said, “Are you settled? If you need anything, push this button and a flight attendant will come by.” She smiled brightly. Harry looked up and the button she was pointing to. That is what they were...flight attendants.

Ron had his hand against the window, pressing his face right up to it. “Look, Harry, look!”

Harry said, “No, that’s okay.”

“Come on, Harry?”

Harry felt the plane revving up and his stomach lurched. "No, Ron." Ron reached up and pushed the button the flight attendant had told him to push. He leaned up in his seat to look for the lady. He pushed the button again. Harry just wanted him to sit down and stop bouncing around.

A flight attendant came running up the aisle. "Sir, please just push the button once. Can I help you?"

Ron grinned, "Yeah, when are we leaving?'

The young lady looked exasperated and said, "In just a few minutes. Please put your seat belts on."

Ron said, "Oh!" and he tried to lock the two pieces of belt together. The lady sighed, leaned over Harry and grabbed Ron's seatbelt and clicked it together. Harry seeing what she did, fastened his as well. He, at least, had been in cars as a child and understood the concept of seatbelts.

Harry took a sniff of the air around the attendant and thought she smelled nice. As she leaned up away from Ron, Harry looked up and smiled at her. She smiled back. She said, "If you need anything else..."

Ron said, "Well, Harry here, is nervous about the plane." Harry glared at Ron. He could have throttled him.

The lady put her hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Is this your first time on a plane?"

Harry mumbled, "His, too!" and pointed at Ron.

She said, "That's all right to be a little nervous. Now, I need to get back to my own seat, okay?" Harry nodded. She smiled again and left to the front of the plane.

The plane began to move forward along the runway and Harry gripped his hands around the armrests. Ron was back to pressing his face against the window.

A voice came over the speakers, which made Harry jump a bit. "Hello! This is the captain and we are clear to leave in a few moments. We expect a good smooth flight to New York. If you would watch the attendants for instructions, we would appreciate it."

The attendants stood and showed everyone what to do in an emergency. This alarmed Harry. They were preparing them for a disaster? Harry grabbed the foldout instructions that were in the pocket in front of him. He looked at it intently. He decided to ask the attendant, when she came around again, if they had ever had an emergency.

The attendants went to sit down again and the plane revved even louder. Harry gripped the armrests again. The plane began to shimmy and move faster down the runway. Faster and faster, until the plane lurch upward and Harry was forced into the back of his seat. There was a scraping sound that came from the middle of the plane, then Harry's stomach leaped up in his throat, as the plane shifted upward into the sky. Harry looked over to Ron, who was no longer looking out the window, but clutching his stomach and was leaning as far back as possible in his seat. Harry noticed the clouds and blue sky floating by out the window of the plane.

Ron grabbed Harry's hand tightly and moaned out loud. The plane eventually leveled out and Harry's heart stopped pounding so hard. A creepy feeling came over Harry. He wondered how in the world this plane was able to get up into the sky and stay there. That he was in the air. He looked over to Ron, who had his eyes shut. He had removed his hand from his stomach, but kept his other hand on Harry's.

Harry said, "Ron, I think it's okay, now."

Ron opened his eyes and said, "Bloody hell, that was frightening. Not even Dad's old Ford was that bad, really. I thought it would be more fun. Even riding brooms, didn't prepare me for that!"

Harry smiled and said, "Well, with a broom, we have control. This huge plane, you can't even see who is in charge." They both relaxed a little.

The loudspeaker crackled and the captain spoke again. "Well ladies and gentleman, we will be serving dinner and drinks in a little while, but in the meantime please enjoy our movie..."

This fascinated Ron for the next hour, although he thought the plot of a bunch of children learning how to use magic was a bit ridiculous. Harry, on the other hand, thought it was entertaining enough. This kept their minds off the plane high up in the air, until the food came by, and that took their attention.

A cart came by and the attendant gave them a choice of chicken and beef. Harry took the beef, Ron the chicken. Harry's stomach was calm enough to eat, so both boys enjoyed the food, though Harry thought it was a bit dry.

Ron was too antsy to sit for long and began walking up and down the aisle. He finally didn't come back for a long while, so Harry began turning around in his seat looking for him. He spied him in the attendant's area behind a pulled open curtain, talking to the lone male flight attendant. Harry chuckled to himself. It never took Ron long to make friends...or get dates.

Ron came back and told Harry that "Rick" would have shown them around New York, if they didn't have a connecting flight to Miami. Ron mumbled to himself, "Maybe...we can change the flight?"

Harry said sharply, "Ron!"

Ron jumped and said, "All right, Harry!"

Rick came by occasionally to grin at Ron. Harry didn't let himself look too friendly when Rick would come by. When it had been awhile, since Rick had sauntered by, Ron would sit up in his seat and look around. Ron got up and wandered around the airplane.

Harry needed to go to the loo, so he got up and stood in the aisle by his seat. He finally saw a small sign that said 'lavatory' in the back of the plane, so he headed in that direction. As he walked down the aisle, the plane bumped a little. He started to panic, but saw Ron and Rick talking in the back. He asked Rick what the plane was doing. Rick said, "Oh, that's turbulence. Sometimes, it happens. Bumps in the sky, but it's no big deal. Although, if it gets too much, the captain will ask everyone to go back to their seats." He glanced at Ron.

Harry said, "Thanks." He pushed the door to the lavatory open and squeezed in. It was tiny and he turned himself around to face the toilet. He started to do his business, when the plane lurched again. Harry put his hand out on the wall and he had trouble standing straight. He didn’t like this at all and it was making it nearly impossible to finish what he needed to do.

When the plane stopped lurching for a second, he quickly finished and washed his hands. He pulled the door open and walked out. Ron was standing awfully close to Rick, talking. Harry ignored him and continued to his seat.

Harry read some magazines for a while that were in the pocket in front of him. This reminded him of the emergency pamphlet. When a flight attendant walked by, he stopped her and asked about any emergencies that had happened.

The lady flight attendant smiled at him and said, “Oh, don’t worry about it. It can happen, but rarely does. It’s just something everyone should be aware of.” She looked at Ron’s empty seat and continued, “Where’s your friend?”

Harry said, “I don’t know. He was in the back talking to Rick.” Harry turned to look and didn’t see Ron or Rick.

The flight attendant followed his eyes to the back of the plane. She placed her hands on her hips and sighed like she was very annoyed. She stomped to the back of the plane and stood in the back, watching the lavatory doors. She busied herself with some trays, while she scowled at the doors for a few more moments, when one of the doors opened and Rick came out. Harry could see that she was talking to him angrily. He quickly walked up the aisle to the front of the plane, but she continued muttering at him.

Harry continued looking back, when he saw Ron come out of the same lavatory. Harry turned back around and groaned. He ignored Ron until he got to Harry’s seat and asked to get back to his. Harry moved and said, “Ron, how was that even possible?”

Ron feigned ignorance and said, “What?”

Harry said, “I saw you come out of the same lavatory as Rick just now.”

Ron had the decency to blush and whispered, “All we did was snog!”

Harry said, “You always say that.”

Ron leaned back in his seat and said, “Well, it’s not like we didn’t think about it, but we didn’t have time.”

Harry said, “How did you fit in there?”

Ron said, “Well, it was a bit difficult, but we managed.”

Harry looked over and shook his head at him. “Obviously.”