Breaking into empty Muggle homes was a deceptively easy process. One simply had to know what signs to check for first. During the holidays and much of the summer, homes were often abandoned in the short-term for visits to relatives" houses or trips abroad. Hermione had to pick her targets carefully. Most houses and flats in larger cities were equipped with security systems that she couldn't disconnect without magic. She learned early on in her life as a fugitive that small villages and the countryside were the best options available for short-term stays. When it was time to choose a new place, she surveyed the inhabitants. Learned their schedules. Deciphered their movements. Estimated how long she could sleep in their beds and eat their food before they returned home to catch her where she wasn't supposed to be.