Chapter 10

“Didn't I warn you guys that it was going to be this hot?” Hermione asked with an air of self-assurance.

“Yeah, you did,” Ron replied grudgingly. Why does she always have to be right? he asked himself. He looked at her, dressed for the hot weather in shorts and a t-shirt, and then looked down at his own jeans. Thinking quickly, he did a severing charm on the bottom of his pants so that his jeans were short and came to just above the knee.

“Good idea, mate,” Harry said, doing the same thing. “Hard to believe how hot it is here.” Harry swiped his hand across his forehead to get the sweat off. “Glad we don't have too far to go for our hotel.”

“Where are we staying, Harry?” Hermione asked, shifting her bag on her shoulder.

“We're going to the Prince Conti French Quarter Hotel,” Harry replied, giving Hermione a smile.

“The one that was built in the 18th century?”

“That's the one,” Harry answered.

"Ah, so is this place old and dusty as in old and dusty?" Ron asked. "Or is it old and dusty and called 'charming and remodeled to look antiquated' so we have to pay triple the price to stay there?"

Hermione looked at him and rolled her eyes. "It's old, yes, but it's not terribly expensive."

"Besides, Ron, that's my worry," Harry said, looking at him. "Remember? This is my thanks for all the help you two gave me over the years."

Ron wasn't sure why it always made him uneasy when Harry paid for him, but it always had. He reckoned he just liked pulling his own weight, no matter what it was about. "Yeah, well – we woulda done it anyway, ya know. And for my part at least, if I ever get the chance, that money's coming back your way."

"Me too, Harry," Hermione agreed.

Harry opened his mouth, but quickly closed it again.

Ron didn't need to know Divination to realize what his best mate had been planning to say. He could almost hear Harry saying that he had money because his family died and that he had more money than he knew what to do with. Yeah, Ron thought, that's exactly what he'd be sayin'.

The rest of the short walk to the hotel passed in uncomfortable silence, and it wasn't long before the three of them stood looking up at the massive Prince Conti Hotel. Ron's eyes widened at the look of it. It had to be expensive, and he quietly wondered how he was going to ever pay Harry back.

As they entered the hotel, his heart began to sink. Yeah, it was a nice hotel, but he'd be forever paying him back.

Hermione must have noticed the look on his face, because she leaned over to him and said, “Ron, don't worry about it. Just enjoy yourself and have fun.”

Easy for you to say, Ron thought to himself, but remained quiet. He knew that her parents were both dentists and that she probably had a lot of money.

After Harry got the three of them checked in, they were shown upstairs to their hotel room, which was a suite.

“There are two bedrooms, so you can have one, Hermione, and Ron and I will take the other one. Yours has a queen-sized bed and ours has two twin beds. I just figured it would make more sense for all of us to stay in the same room.”

“Okay. I'll go unpack and let you guys do the same.”

Ron went into the other bedroom and chose one of the beds, laying his rucksack on it. He couldn't help looking around at the room while he unpacked. He'd never stayed in a place like this, and he doubted he'd have the chance to again anytime soon. He took Hermione's advice and put on something cooler, since it was so hot outside.

“Wonder where the wizarding shops are here,” Harry said, coming into the room and putting his own rucksack on the other bed.

“Dunno. Maybe we can ask at the desk.” Ron finished his unpacking and then went out into the common room of the suite where he found Hermione sitting on one of the chairs. He thought he smelled something sweet as he walked into the room and caught a tube that Hermione tossed him.

“Here's some sunscreen if you want to use it.”

“Thanks,” he said, taking the tube and putting some of the goop over his arms and legs. Finally, he put some on his face.

Harry came out of the bedroom, and Ron tossed him the tube.

"So, where do you want to go?" Hermione asked as Harry put the sunscreen on.

"I was thinkin' we could ask at the desk and find out where the magical shopping area is. Ya know, since we're in the magical part of the hotel,” Ron suggested.

The three of them decided that was a good idea and set off for the front desk. As they stepped off of the elevators, they turned to the right and made their way toward the desk.

“Can you tell us where we can find the wizarding community in New Orleans?” Hermione asked the witch at the desk.

“Of course, darlin'. In fact, here's a map for the three of you. It will take you the most direct way. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me.”

“Thank you. We will let you know if we need any more help.”

Ron gave Hermione a smile, and they made their way to the door. But just before they left the hotel, they heard a ghostly voice.

“Un changement vient!”

Three sets of eyes turned in the direction of the sound, and they saw a ghostly woman floating down the hall away from them.

Ron looked at Harry, and the two of them looked at Hermione.

“Do you know what that means?” Ron asked, figuring she probably knew.

Hermione's eyes were open wide as she nodded. “A change is coming.”