The Whole Wide World, Part 1
Chapter note: Folks, there are lots of travelling going round in this chapter, plus explorations of a few famous places. I did my best, using Google to research stations, travel times, items, interior of buildings etc, but I might be mistaken, as I am not English and have never been there. Please let me know if I missed something or ten. Thank you. - Rey
Green Park Tube Station, 8th May 2004
I managed to escape everyone’s attention after dinner, grab the essentials and Sai’yo, put a Glamour and some Muggle concealer on our respective forehead markings, and flee with him to Grimmauld, whence we walked to Highbury&Islington tube station while I explained that our exploration of the wider world was starting then and there. Belatedly and sheepishly, I asked him if he had any previous appointments or wanted to grab something of his first, or if he’d rather explore later, in which case I would have left him where he wanted and proceeded with the exploration alone. But, thankfully, he only asked if he could have some weapon with which to defend himself and me.
“Guns aren’t allowed to be owned and carried by most civilians here,” I told him apologetically. “We can’t defend ourselves that lethally, too. Just… if there’s anything fishy, maybe it’s better if we run away. Hand-to-hand fighting is okay when warranted, I suppose.” It brought Luna’s points about the Jaffa culture starkly to mind, meanwhile, which made me pause mid-step, however briefly. It’s… daunting, as apparently not even Sai’yo – a mild, calm, sciency type – is exempt from the warrior-centric mindset.
Or, in a more ugly alternative, he got bullied so much that he needed a weapon to defend himself, constantly.
But all disturbing thoughts of Sai’yo and his past and his people got set aside, with my profuse if unspoken gratitude to the designers and builders of the tube station, as we arrived at our first destination. This Jaffa seems to have perfected the art of observing things without looking like observing things, and it’s quite a treat to watch him interestedly taking everything in.
It’s admitedly preferable, too, to towing someone like Hagrid or Mr. Weasley along like I experienced before, as they attracted so much attention while indulging in their curiosity.
And, now….
“That is a transportation called the tube, or underground train,” I whisper grinningly as Sai’yo and I exit the said train. “It’s Saturday night, so people are still out and about, though it’s not so early in the evening anymore. Now, do you want to try another tube? Or a bus?”
“What is a bus?” is his curious reply. So, well, that clinches it, then.
Harrods, 8th May 2004
“Umm. I don’t know what to buy first,” I admit as, after an equally interesting bus ride – for Sai’yo, at least, if not as much for me – we stand just inside the department store that is Harrods, which is even fuller than the tube and the bus this weekend night. In my first excursion here with Justin and the others, I only bought one set of formal clothes, and that was after Justin urged me most convincingly. But now I bring nothing but my self-updating ledgers – my ever-present House-work – and Muggle money and my wand and…. Well, in short, truly just the essentials and no food nor drink and not even a change of clothes. And Sai’yo is even worse than I am, especially with his sad pair of grey Jaffa uniform, boots included.
And then Sai’yo’s attention got hooked on the bookstore….
Savoy Hotel, 8th May 2004
“Umm. I think I chose wrong,” I mutter when our hotel escort opens the door to our room for the night for us. – Sai’yo and I have been kitted out fully, after I have managed to wheedle him out of the bookstore quite a few pounds lighter with my bribe of a dozen books about transportation, and we’re ready to turn in for the night or at least relax a little. I chose the Savoy because the Dursleys were always raving about it after a one weekend spent there, said to be some bonus from Grunnings for Uncle Vernon’s good performance for the year. Quite a posh hotel for refined people, Aunt Petunia said, not for the likes of a freak like me. I silently burnt with offence, that time; but now… not.
No, this type of hotel is not for me. Not because I am a freak, though. I just…. My bedroom has always been limited, utilitarian, or limited and utilitarian, and this room – though the cheapest in the hotel, I was informed at the lobby – is quite the opposite. It’s so… posh; grand, with intricately carved wooden furniture and delicate wallpapers and paintings.
Well, at least the beds seem to be comfy, and it’s all I need for the night, aside from the bathroom.
“Thank you for showing us,” I tell the escort, a little dazedly, after he is apparently finished with explaining the features of the room. “Umm. Good night.”
He bows himself out with a smile that seems rather forced.
Only some time after the door is closed do I remember that, at the shopping and eating establishments we visited in our excursion that forever ago, Justin usually left a little bit of money for the servers and helpers.
Oh. Damn. Poor escort. – Well, hopefully I see him again tomorrow and can give him the “tip,” then.
“You want to take a shower first?” I offer while stretching and making a beeline to the window.
“I can use the cleaning facilities when you are not using it,” is my roommate’s answer… and, go figure, seated at the desk, he is already deep in one of his books.
“Bookworm,” I smile, while peeping between the rich curtains, out to the nighttime busy thoroughfare outside and below. “The books won’t go anywhere, you know. I might borrow one or two, but certainly not now.” Not now, because there are so many things to see, even something as mundane as rows of vehicle lights parading down the lamplit roads below, which are flanked by so many high buildings that must be a sight on their own during the day.
I move away from the window only when Sai’yo approaches and reports that he has used the facilities.
“Oh,” I blink. “Wow. Okay. Thanks.” I never thought that the window-framed scene of a nighttime city road could have transfixed me for so long.
It just inspires me to seek other scenes, other venues… others.
I wish I bought a camera, while we were at Harrods. Oh well. Tomorrow, then. There is still tomorrow. And tomorrow we will still be free to do whatever we wish, hopefully.
For now, the bathroom and bed are calling.