Ron Weasley was worried.

His best friend had been sent home to his muggle relatives just days after the death of his godfather. Ron knew he was hardly the most introspective or insightful (he mostly agreed with Hermione's assessment that he had the emotional range of a teaspoon) but he knew that Harry shouldn't be left alone with people who hated him at a time like this. Judging from the letters he'd received from his other best friend Hermione, she agreed with him, and, in this (as in almost everything else, he thought ruefully) she was unquestionably right.

Ron knew Dumbledore wouldn't be any help in getting Harry to a better environment. Not only had he put Harry there to start with, but ever since Harry had come down from Dumbledore's office after the Department of Mysteries, he had been oddly quiet, and neither Ron nor Hermione had any idea what he had learned that disturbed him so.

Right. Dumbledore was out. In that case, his parents weren't an option either, given that they had never defied Dumbledore to his knowledge. Hermione certainly didn't have any leverage. That meant it was up to him.

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The letter he received back from Hermione after he owled her with his plan contained not only the information he'd requested, but a plethora of unsolicited but useful advice.

Dear Ron,

I agree, we simply can't leave Harry alone with those awful relatives of his, and since we can't get him out of there you'll simply have to go keep him company. I wish I could join you, but we both know there's a whole list of reasons that's not possible.

I like your plan (I know it's dishonest, but we simply can't abandon Harry, no matter what). I've enclosed another parchment to show your parents. I think it strikes the right balance between the educational opportunities about muggles (for your father) and the wards put up by the Order (for your mother). Once you've convinced them, you can go with your father to the Ministry and take muggle transit from there. I'll owl you tickets once you know what day. I know your parents likely won't be able to tell that my house is not the destination, but you should try to keep them hidden anyway.

It would be best if you could somehow bring one of those wizarding tents to set up in Harry's room, but if you can't you should at least bring bedding. Also remember to bring lots of food; I know Harry's relatives don't feed him enough for one person, let alone two (and the way you eat, you count for two all on your own!).

Owl Harry from the train station, he can send the invisibility cloak with Hedwig so you can get in the house. I put the instructions for the trains in the letter to show your parents. Good luck, I wish I were coming with you!

Love,

Hermione

Luckily, his father had never returned the tents they had borrowed for the Quidditch World Cup. Even more luckily, they had been relegated to a dark corner of his shed, hidden behind mounds of malfunctioning muggle paraphernalia. Nicking one would not be a problem. Convincing his parents that he was spending the next month at the Grangers' house, on the other hand…

"Absolutely not! It isn't safe!" Mrs. Weasley ranted at her youngest son while frying some bacon.

"Mum, the Order's put up loads of wards. It's as safe as the Burrow. Besides, with Ginny working for the twins, I'm mostly the only one home during the day. This way, you can go do things without worrying about me being home alone." Ron tried to remain calm, even though the whole plan was riding on his mother's approval. His father had already become so enthralled by the opportunities to learn about muggle gadgets that his disapproval wasn't an obstacle.

"Well…" He could see his mother weakening. "I suppose it would be nice for you to be with a friend. It's not good for you to spend so much time here alone."

"Thank you mum, thank you!" Ron threw himself at his mother and hugged her, then raced upstairs to pack.