Disclaimer: J.K's only. Oh yeah; all ride names and place names do not belong to me…they belong to Alton Towers (A theme park for those who don't know) And my beta's computer is out of action for the mo' so this chapter hasn't been proofread; sorry for any mistakes! Now that's sorted…

Chapter 7

Silence fell on the three people. The only sound was of the kitchen clock, ticking loudly above their heads.

Finally, "Er, well, yes this is very nice, Pansy." Draco quickly took another bite of his meal, avoiding Hermione's gaze.

She was shell-shocked. What the hell just happened there? She quickly glanced at Pansy who only smirked. Sheesh, that was like a Slytherin custom; you have to smirk, otherwise get lost. Hermione glared in return and took another mouthful of the delicious lasagne.

"So," Pansy began, holding her wine glass. "What shall we do tomorrow?"

"We?" Draco raised an eyebrow, pausing in raising his fork.

"Yes, Draco, we." Pansy rolled her eyes. "Hermione, any ideas?"

"Who else would be coming?" Hermione asked, her voice unwillingly high.

Pansy shrugged. "I don't know; Ron, Ginny, maybe Harry…"

"No thanks. I don't want to spend my day with a bunch of Gryffindors." Malfoy immediately said before Hermione could reply herself.

"Don't be so childish, Draco." Pansy scolded, frowning. "You should be over that sort of pettiness."

Malfoy only harrumphed. Hermione turned to Pansy, "Yes, I think I should be able to. Olivia and her sister will be looking after the shop for a few days…where are we going?"

"Oh, I'm not sure. What about the park?" Pansy suggested, sipping her wine elegantly.

"The park?" Malfoy repeated sceptically. "I am literally wetting my pants in excitement. Honestly, is that the best you can think of?"

"Alright then, Mr I-Think-I-Know-Everything, why don't-" Hermione began angrily.

"I never said that-" he interrupted smirking. "However-"

"-you think of an idea of where to go if you think Pansy's idea is that shocking." She challenged, ignoring the interjection.

"You're on." Malfoy's eyes glittered. "How about a theme park?"

Hermione was surprised. "A Muggle or wizarding one?"

"Muggle. Why not experience the way they do things?"

"That's an excellent idea!" Pansy clapped her hands excitedly. "Which one? I don't know any good ones…"

"Alton Towers. I went there when I was thirteen in the summer holidays. It was amazing!" Hermione couldn't help but grin at the plan. "Of course, we'll have to change our gold into Muggle money, but I'll sort that out when we go."

"See, I told you my idea would be good." Malfoy smirked. Again.

"No, you never actually said that. You just said that-" Hermione argued, scowling at him.

"Guys, guys, please give it a rest. You're like an old married couple!" Hermione wondered if Pansy said that on purpose to irritate her. Probably. She sent her a huge scowl which made Pansy fight off a smile.

"So then, is it settled?" Malfoy asked loudly. "Atoln Towers tomorrow?"

"Alton." Hermione corrected, folding her arms. "Get it right."

"Go away." He frowned, throwing a piece of lasagne at her face. It hit her on the cheek and she hissed in outrage.

"Why, you little-" Hermione splashed her wine over his crisp white shirt.

Pansy gasped. Malfoy went pink. Hermione laughed. "Serves you right."

"Bitch." Malfoy remarked, grabbing his wand and siphoning away the red stain on his chest. "You'll pay for that."

Hermione continued to chuckle. "Yeah, 'cause I'm really scared now."

"Oh, stop it you two." Pansy snapped. Hermione stared at her in shock. It was the first time she had heard her lose her temper at someone other than Ron. "You're forever bickering; just grow up."

"Sorry Pansy." Hermione apologised quickly, shovelling down the rest of her food.

"Yeah…sorry." Malfoy managed to say without laughing. "What time and where shall we meet, tomorrow?"

"Meet here at nine in the morning. Where is this place, Hermione?" Pansy asked, glancing at Hermione.

Swallowing, "Staffordshire, near Birmingham."

"Apparate then?" Pansy suggested hopeful. "Is there a wizarding village near there?"

"Yeah, it's actually in Staffordshire. I know an Inn; I think it's called The Dancing Hippogriff. We could probably floo instead."

"Ha!" Malfoy snorted into his food. "What a name."

Hermione only rolled her eyes and finished off the last mouthful of her food. "Wow, Pans', that was great. Thanks for letting me stay tonight as well."

"Nah, its okay, Hermione!" Pansy shrugged. "Do you want dessert?"

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm extremely full." She patted her stomach and grinned.

"You'll need to burn off those extra calories, Granger." Draco finished his wine and nodded towards her.

"Draco! Don't be so rude!" Pansy reprimanded, slapping him around the back of the head. "She is as thin as a pin! Hermione, you could never be fat; ignore him." She added, her gaze softening as she turned to Hermione.

Hermione only stared maliciously at Malfoy.

Laughing, Malfoy stood up from the table and stretched. "Well, I must be off. Thank you Pansy for a delicious meal. See you tomorrow, you two." He grabbed his coat which was slung on the back of his chair, and then Apparated.

Pansy began to clear up the dishes. As Hermione got up to join her, she turned and said; "You so like him."

--

Hermione woke feeling refreshed from a good nights sleep. Remembering they were going to Alton Towers that day, she squealed happily and jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. She had a quick shower and met Pansy out in the hallway as she opened the door.

"What time is it?" She asked, rubbing her head with a towel.

"Eight thirty. I've already flooed Ginny and Harry; they looked very tired, if you know what I mean." She added with a wink.

"Oh, Pansy. What about Ron?"

"He's coming over in just a minute. Draco should be here soon as well. I assume we're going to Diagon Alley first?"

Hermione nodded as she went into the bedroom she was using. "By the way, I wouldn't dress up too much if I were you. There's going to be water rides."

Pansy only shrugged. "We can dry ourselves with our wands."

"I'll talk to you and everyone else about that in a minute, after I get dressed." Hermione gently closed the door and threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt. She dried her hair with her wand, drew it up into a pony tail, slipped on some comfy shoes and strolled back into the hallway, where she joined Pansy in the living room.

"You look nice," Pansy looked her up and down.

"I do? Thanks. I thought I looked like a tramp, to be honest." Hermione laughed and grabbed her bag from the table next to the sofa. As she sat down, her smile faded as her mind wandered to the events of the day before. She cringed inwardly and tried hard not to break down into tears on a day that was supposed to be full of fun and laughter. She knew that her friends would be keeping a close eye on her, especially Ginny and Pansy, but she made a mental note to herself to not let her thoughts dwell on something so unhealthy. Easier said than done. She sighed sadly and ignored Pansy's look of concern, pretending that her sighing so depressingly was absolutely normal.

At that moment, Harry and Ginny appeared through the fireplace, both trying not to yawn.

"Why so early?" Ginny grumbled as she threw herself upon the sofa, between Hermione and Pansy.

The fireplace burst into green flames just as Harry sat down on the floor, and Ron stepped out grinning. "A theme park, huh? Ace."

There was a loud crack from the room next door, and Draco Malfoy appeared from around the corner, smirking per usual.

"What's he doing here?" asked Ron, the grin wiped from his face and the venom evident in his voice.

"He is coming with us, Ronald, and you better get that or you may as well go straight home." Pansy growled at her boyfriend who scowled at the floor, muttering curses.

"Right, guys, I need to say something about wands." Hermione began, standing up, once Malfoy made himself comfortable on an armchair. "As we will be in a Muggle environment, you need to be very aware that you cannot do things like Apparate from the back of a queue to the front, or dry yourself magically in front of Muggles." Her gaze fell on Malfoy as she said this and he only stared back innocently. "If you are going to dry yourself, or use any other form of magic, please make sure no one is looking? There will be hundreds of people there so if someone sees, imagine the work which has to be done by the Ministry to obliviate everyone."

Everyone nodded back, including Malfoy. She continued. "Also, the cost to get in will be about twenty five pounds, but I'd bring about thirty five just in case you want refreshments."

Only Harry nodded at the last sentence. Hermione sighed. "At the current rate, that'll be about seven galleons."

Everyone else suddenly understood. "That's not very expensive." Malfoy stated, looking fairly shocked.

"It's a good thing, Malfoy. Don't look so outraged." chuckled Harry, shaking his head.

"Oi, Potter, watch your mouth."

"Right, let's go to Gringotts!" Hermione ordered quickly, before an argument could arise. "Meet just outside, okay?"

"Yes, sir!" Malfoy did a mock salute, laughed, then Apparated.
"What. A. Dick." Ron shook his head in disgust at the spot from where Malfoy just vanished.

"Come on, let's just go." Hermione muttered and Apparated.

Arriving outside the huge bank, she spotted Malfoy leaning casually against one of the pillars outside. Reluctantly, she went up the three steps which led into Gringotts and stood beside him, waiting for the others to arrive.

"Bet you don't go on all the rides." Malfoy challenged, staring down at her small frame.

"Bet I do," She answered back haughtily, poking her tongue out.

"How much?"

"Twenty Galleons." Hermione grinned.

"Deal. What if we both go on all of them?"

"Neither of us pays." Hermione replied simply. There was an awkward silence and she was beginning to wonder where the others had got to. A few moments later, Pansy and Ron appeared together. "What's taken you so long?"

"Ginny forgot her purse and bag." Pansy giggled. "I suppose she got quite forgetful and disorientated after their long night."

"That's my sister we're talking about!" Ron poked Pansy in the rib and she wriggled out of his arms, still giggling.

As Pansy and Ron joined Hermione up on the steps, along with Malfoy who had begun to edge towards the entrance, Harry and Ginny arrived next to them, making Pansy jump.

"Sorry about that!" Ginny panted. "Shall we go in?"

Hermione nodded and Malfoy immediately led the way into the bank, strolling up to one of the numerous desks of which a Goblin sat behind. "I'd like to exchange seven galleons into Muggle money, please." He said confidently, handing the fat coins into the gnarled hand of the Goblin.

The Goblin nodded and handed back several notes to which Malfoy stared curiously at, pointing at the woman on the crisp paper. "Who's that lady?"

"The Queen; she reigns over Great Britain." Harry told him. "That's a five pound note you have there, the slightly bigger one is a ten, and the largest is a twenty."

Amazingly, Malfoy didn't reply with a snarky comment, but continued to examine the Muggle money closely.

Once everyone had their money exchanged, they traipsed over to the Leaky Cauldron where, one by one, they stepped into the dirty fireplace yelling, "The Dancing Hippogriff, Staffordshire!"

--

Hermione tripped slightly as she came out of the fireplace into the stifling warm Inn. If it weren't for the arm which quickly snuck around her waist, she would have fallen flat on her face in front of many pot-bellied male wizards, gripping tankards of Firewhiskey, regardless of the very early hour. She flinched as the arm touched her, around quite an intimate part of her body, despite the fact it had saved her humiliation. Damn you, Theodore Nott, she thought angrily, for making her feel like this! She then quietly cursed to herself as she didn't want to ruin this day with the poisoning thoughts of that disgusting man.

"Thank you," she managed to say to Malfoy, just loud enough to be heard of the roar of voices.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" asked Pansy, touching her lightly on the arm. Again, her body convulsed slightly. Stop it, she screamed inwardly.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Let's go." She answered a little too quickly for Pansy's liking. She led the way through the gloom and found the entrance to the Inn. She twisted the iron ring and the light spilled into the Inn as the door opened. A couple of wizards shrank away from the light, and gave them all dirty glances, before continuing drinking and chatting after the door closed behind the six intruders.

"Cor, was that dark, or was that dark?" Ginny looked back at the battered wooden door. From the outside, it looked like a burnt out building and similar to the Leaky Cauldron, Muggles' eyes seemed to go from the antiques store on the right to the small newsagents on the left of the Dancing Hippogriff.

"Not to mention sweaty." Pansy muttered.

"Hermione, is there a bus stop anywhere?" Harry asked, waving a hand in front of Hermione. He laughed as her eyes focused in on his face. "You were in a different world there. Did you hear what I said?"
"Oh, sorry Harry. Was it something about a bus stop?" Hermione plastered a smile onto her face.

He nodded.

"Yeah, there could even be a Park and Ride somewhere…" Hermione trailed off, thinking.

"What's that?" Malfoy asked curiously.

"Where you park your car in a car park, a coach or bus comes and you get in, which then takes you to your destination."

"But we don't have a car." Said Ron, confused.

"I know, that's the thing. Hang on, there's a sign." Hermione pointed to a brown sign which stated that Alton Towers was half a mile away. "Anyone fancy a walk?"

Everyone immediately said no.

"Wait! I have an idea!" Malfoy said excitedly. "Why can't we Disillusion ourselves and then Apparate? That way, people can't see us arrive, and they shouldn't be able to hear us because of noise around that area."

"But we've never been there, Malfoy." Harry pointed out.

"Granger has," he replied defiantly. "Haven't you?"

"Yeah…I suppose it could work if we all did side-a-long Apparition." Hermione pondered. "I'll come back for you all, so wait here. Who's coming first?"

"I will!" Ginny almost screamed. Finding a secluded part of the street they were on, Hermione cast the quick spell over them both. Feeling as if water were trickling down her neck, she grabbed hold of Ginny's wrist, and Apparated with a pop.

They appeared by a clump of trees, the adventure park's entrance just visible between some tree branches.

"Wait until everyone is here." She instructed to Ginny, before going back to fetch her other friends.

Eventually, when everyone had been successfully Apparated, and Malfoy had bragged about his amazing idea, they set off towards the entrance, trying to melt in with the few people who were traipsing up to the booths. As they arrived at an early time, nine o'clock to be precise, they didn't have to wait long in the queue. After ten minutes, Hermione came face to face with a chubby man, his moustache neatly combed. "Six adult tickets please."

"That will be £155.40, please." He replied in a drawl.

"Come on guys, pay up." Hermione called over her shoulder, passing her own money through a hole in the glass.

Harry's hand appeared by her eyes and she waited patiently whilst he quietly pointed at the different notes needed to the rest of the party.

"Foreign lot, here?" The man's mouth twitched.

"Er…yes. They're from Norway." She said quickly on the spot. She heard Malfoy give an affronted cough from behind her and she smiled slightly. Harry's hand shot forwards again with more notes in his fists and Hermione passed the rest of the money through.

"Here's your change, have a nice day." The man handed her six tickets, along with three maps, and they all passed through the gate.

"Norway. Norway." Malfoy repeated under his breath. "Of all the places, Norway?"

Rolling her eyes, she handed a map to Ron and Pansy, one to Harry and Ginny and kept one for herself and…Malfoy. Just brilliant.

"Where do you want to go first?" She asked everyone.

"Ooh, that looks scary!" Pansy pointed towards a tall red track, twisting over the branches.

Snatching the map from Hermione, Malfoy found where the ride was situated. "We need to go up there and head around to the right. It's called Spinball Whizzer."

"That sounds like a good name for one of George's products; Spinball Whizzer!" Ron exclaimed, grinning.

"Yeah…" said Malfoy slowly, shifting his eyes to the left and right. "Whatever Weaselbee."

"Shut-it, ferret!" Ron snarled, about to draw his wand.

"Ron! Remember where we are!" warned Hermione, sending him a furious glare.

Seething, Ron folded his arms and sulked next to Pansy. The party of six began to stroll towards the ride, all the while exclaiming things – quietly, of course – about how Muggles managed to do things without magic, and staring at strange objects like fire hoses.

True to their word, Hermione and Malfoy spent the whole day competing with each other. They didn't go on one ride without one another, determined to put each other off. When lunchtime came, they all stopped for a quick bite at a burger kiosk, ignoring Pansy's warnings of saturated fats pumped into the burgers.

"We have three more rides left and they're the worst ones." Hermione grinned, mischievously. "Oblivion, Nemesis and Air. Malfoy, up for the challenge?"

"You bet." His eyes narrowed whilst he arrogantly held his head high.

"Anyone else?" She dared.

"No thanks; not after this, I'm afraid." Ginny swallowed her last bite of burger and patted her stomach. "I'll just puke it all up again."

"Ditto." Harry agreed, taking Ginny's hand and kissing it lightly.

"Pansy?" Malfoy arched an eyebrow towards his friend who shrugged.

"Maybe. Depends what it looks like. Ron, are you going…my, you don't look too good." Pansy pressed a hand to his forehead. "You have a fever, babe. I don't think you should go on anything now."

Ron nodded. It was true; he didn't look well whatsoever. He was sweating, despite the cool temperature and his face had no colour.

"He might need some Pepper-up." Hermione whispered quietly into Pansy's ear.

"We'll have to go home, then." She muttered, looking crestfallen. "Oh well, guys, it was really great seeing you today, but Ron looks like he's going to barf. We'll see you tomorrow. Thanks Hermione." She gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, took Ron gently by the hand and they disappeared amongst the crowd.

"I hope he feels better soon," Ginny craned her neck to try and see his red hair but to no avail. "Shall we go to the next ride, then?"

Hermione nodded and pointed to the nearest ride on the map. "Oh dear, it's Nemesis."

"Is that a forfeit I hear coming along?" Malfoy asked playfully.

"No," Hermione snapped. "I was merely building the tension."

"Building the tension, my arse." Malfoy said quietly so Hermione couldn't hear him.

"This way," Hermione started up a slight incline and before long, they reached a huge queue.

"Oh, this is just marvellous." Malfoy scowled and folded his arms as he and Hermione joined the back.

"We're going to get some Candy Floss and then we'll come back." Harry called over his shoulder as he and Ginny headed towards a pink kiosk.

"What in Merlin's pants is Candy Floss?" Malfoy asked, looking incredulous. "Sounds to me like a disease!"

"A disease?" Hermione threw back her head and laughed. The first true laugh she had all day and it just so happened to be caused by Malfoy. "No, no, you eat Candy Floss. It's pretty much pure sugar wrapped on a stick in a fluffy ball."

"Oh," He turned slightly pink in embarrassment. "Is it nice?"

"On the rare times I was allowed it – my parents were dentists which are basically teeth healers – it was rather tasty. Very sticky though if your fingers get wet."

"Can…can we have some afterwards?" He asked shyly, avoiding eye contact.

"Of course!" said Hermione earnestly.

"Thanks." He murmured with a hint of a smile.

They waited in the queue for almost forty minutes, (which included a very impatient Draco Malfoy cursing the Muggle world) before finally clambering into the seats.

"Scared, Granger?" Malfoy sneered.

"You wish, ferret." She laughed at his stony expression. "Get ready to pee your pants."

Before Malfoy could answer, the ride began to move slowly up a steep incline. At the top, the track disappeared from beneath their feet and they began hurtling around loops, corkscrews and every other move imaginable.

It was over in a minute and as the ride slowed to a halt, Malfoy and Hermione shakily made their way off and over to Ginny and Harry who were chatting on a bench in the sun.

"Wow, judging by your faces, you look like you had a good time." Giggled Ginny. "What's the next ride on the agenda?"

"Air." Hermione managed to say. "C'mon, let's go."

Once again, the queue was huge and once again, they waited for almost an hour. Hermione was still feeling shaky from Nemesis, and it didn't help when they hopped onto Air and the ride flipped them so they were facing the floor. Malfoy cursed loudly and someone next to him laughed.

Hermione had to say, and she thought Malfoy did too, that Air was a very exhilarating ride. It honestly felt like she was flying. But then again, Malfoy flew a broom so he already knew what it felt like to feel the wind rushing through your hair at speed. She screamed loudly as the ride dipped and curved around a corner and she heard Malfoy whoop.

The ride flipped them back over to their upright position and Hermione felt dizzy as she stepped off the platform and joined Harry and Ginny.

"You alright? You look pretty pale…" Ginny got up and stared at Hermione closely.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Where's Malfoy?"

"Behind you." Said a voice. She turned and he stood there smirking. "Giving up, Granger?"

"Hell no. I would never give you the satisfaction." She scowled. "Let's get this over with, Malfoy. You won't be so cocky after Oblivion."

Harry laughed at Malfoy's upset expression. "C'mon Malfoy, don't look so scared."

"I'm not scared, Potter." He sneered back and stalked ahead in the wrong direction.

"Er, Malfoy?" Hermione called, giggling. "It's this way." She pointed in the opposite direction he was heading, and his cheeks turned light pink.

"I knew that…I was only testing your sense of direction." He sniffed haughtily.

The other three laughed and made their way with difficulty through the busy throng of people.

By the time Hermione and Malfoy actually managed to get on Oblivion, it was almost four o'clock.

"Make sure you read what it says, Malfoy." Hermione winked, grinning.

Malfoy strained his neck to see around the neck brace as the ride began to crank up a steep slope. "What says what? What are you talking about, Granger?" He asked in a panicked voice.

"Scared?" She crooned in a menacing voice. The ride began to crest the top of the slope. "Read!" She cried out.

Malfoy's eyes scanned the drop below as the ride hung them there for one second. All he saw was a huge gaping hole and the words 'DON'T LOOK DOWN'. The ride dropped and his stomach went up into his throat. He swore loudly and heard Hermione scream and laugh manically from beside him as they were both engulfed by darkness.

The ride slowed down and Hermione continued to laugh as they both got out of their seats. This was by far the best day she had had in a long time. "You alright there, Malfoy? Wasn't too scary for you, was it?"

Malfoy didn't answer but only sent her a withering stare.

Ginny and Harry laughed when they saw them both. "You should take a look in the mirror, you two." Ginny winked.

"Can I have some Candy Floss?" Malfoy asked randomly.

"Um, yeah. There's a stall over there." Hermione pointed. "Do you need some money? I seem to remember you running out at lunch."

"Oh…thanks." He muttered and took the money hurriedly before joining a short queue.

"Did you have fun, then?" Harry asked, slinging an arm around Ginny's shoulders.

"Oh yes, today's been brilliant." Hermione beamed, clapping her hands like a small child. "What about you two? Have you enjoyed yourselves?"

They both nodded. "Definitely. Whose idea was it again?"

"Mine," Malfoy returned with a huge pink ball. "This is great stuff. Get your brother to sell it in his shop." He nodded towards Ginny, accidently brushing his hair in the Candy Floss.

Hermione smothered a giggle and managed to croak out, "Shall we go back then?"

"Yeah, I'm knackered." Malfoy continued to stuff bits of pink into his mouth like a toddler.

Checking the map, the four of them headed back into the crowd, Ginny and Harry holding hands, Hermione leading the way and Malfoy munching on his snack with Candy Floss in his hair.

Long! I know! I hope you enjoyed that immensely; I know I did! Sorry if I got some facts wrong when writing about Alton Towers as I have never actually been there. As I said at the beginning, everything belongs to JKR and Alton Towers! Oh, except the plot ;)

Thanks for the reviews!