I found myself some provisions left in the kitchen, and packed them all in a pack that I carried on my back, with additional items such as a sleeping bag, several books and, of course, my wand. Unfortunately I did not know how to do an invisible Enlargement Charm and was forced to convey the pack as heavy and large as it was. After dressing more warmly, I set off.
The grey light of dawn was streaked with pink. Birds had started up their morning song, and I trudged along, the crisp air stinging yet refreshing. I proceeded down the dirt road. Then I turned to decide on directions. Malfoy Manor. I knew who the Malfoys were - their only son attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, and I had occasionally seen him bullying a first year or laughing with a group of friends around the castle. In the letter Mum had said it had been north of here. That's not the best start, I thought glumly, but it would have to do. I withdrew my wand, and, ignoring the fact that I would be receiving hundreds of Ministry of Magic letters expelling me from Hogwarts for using magic outside of school, I muttered, "Point me."
My wand swung in the flat of my palm to my left. I sighed. My journey begun.
I wished I could apparate. This would be a hard trip. Stowing my wand in my pocket I started forward down the road, that seemed to stretch on forever.

I stopped at late afternoon. My surroundings were still the same, really, but I barely scrutinised them as I sat down at the side of the road and pulled out a piece of bread and my waterbottle. I drank, savouring the quench to my thirst and biting gladly into the food. But then, as I finished my meal, I noticed someone coming down the road the way I had come. It was a man, with a teenager beside him as he stumbled along with the aid of a stick. He was not too old, approximately sixty was my guess. As they came closer I discerned a certain habitual leer in the man's toothy grin and an observant twinkle in the teenager's brown eyes.
The man noticed me, and straightened his hunch hastily, sweeping his dirty cloak back and patting the bald patch on his head. "Hello, my dear!" He said, with a strange congeniality. "What are you doing out here all alone?" He was coming closer with each word. The teenager muttered something to him, but with a sudden roughness the man shoved him away.
"Er -" I scrambled to my feet, and under my cloak my hand grasped my wand tightly. "I'm - er - I was on a hike but I kind of lost my way." It was a stupid, unconsidered lie, but it would have to do. I would have to respond promptly if I was to sound convincing.
"Indeed?" The man continued. He was merely three feet away, now two, but then he halted, finally. "Our car broke some way away and we're on our way walking so we can get to the town and get some help. I'm Amycus - I mean, Anthony Coleman, and this is my stepson Caleb. It's a pleasure to meet you. How much farther to town, do you think?"
"Erm - I don't know, but I don't think we'll reach it before nightfall," I replied awkwardly.
"In that case, we could camp together!" Mr. Coleman said, with a broad smile. "What do you think?" His smile seemed fixed rigidly in place.
"Of - of course," I answered reluctantly. Then I saw the teenager, presumably Caleb, shake his head urgently behind his stepfather's shoulder. I felt sick.
"Let's keep going then, shall we?" Mr. Coleman suggested.
"Yes," I replied, watching Caleb, but he said nothing more.