Disclaimer: If I were JK Rowling, I would have had this up long ago. But Im not, and the characters and everything like that don't belong to me.

Author's Notes: All I can say is I'm SO sorry for not getting this up sooner. First it was midterms, then winter break, and then tests and quizzes and band. And then I finished. But it all got deleted and I had to retype these 13 pages. So I'm incredible sorry for not being a good author and getting this up sooner. But I got it up today, before I left on the band trip. I swear I'll try being better about getting the next chapter up. I really hope this chapter was worth the wait. And Thanks to my readers and reviewers who continued to stand by me in my absence. This story would not be what it is if it weren't for you guys. Thanks so much! Now- enjoy!

Chapter 11: All-Day Amusement Park

All of room #430 woke up surprisingly early on the morning following the confessions. The curtains on the windows were drawn open so the sunshine poured the room and into their eyes in the dawn of a new day. They hadn't bothered picking up last night, so empty soda cans, candy wrappers and pillows were scattered across the room in shambles. The sheets were partly off the bed, seeing as the four of them had just passed out on the bed they were talking on last night. They had stayed up exceptionally late, being on a massive sugar high, and had talked for all hours.

Hermione, Ginny, and Hannah were sprawled across the top of the bed, and Luna, at the bottom of the bed, was snoring quite loudly. Hannah had drool dripping off her chin.

Ginny was the first one to open her eyes. The second they fluttered open, she looked around the room, and realized she wasn't at Hogwarts or the Burrow, but at South Shore. She sprang from the bed and opened the curtains that covered the glass door. Instantly the room was full of sunlight, and her roommates slowly began to wake up.

"Shut the damn curtains." Luna said, groggy and slightly annoyed.

"But Luna, m'dear," Ginny said in a sing-song voice that should have belonged to the Ravenclaw she was talking to, "Neville could be waiting."

That did it. Luna, too, sprang up, now instantly awake, and accidentally kicked Hannah in the shin.

"Ow." she mumbles, and then opened her eyes, "ugh, what time is it?" she looked at the clock. "7 AM! I'm supposed to meet Seamus for breakfast in an hour!" The three girls who were awake then tiptoed over to Hermione, smiling evilly, and said at the same time "Hermione..."

"What." she said, stuffing a pillow over her head, attempting to drown out their noise. "Get up future Mrs. Ron Weasley." Ginny said, in the same sing-song voice she had used with Luna.

Hermione's eyes widened and a smile replaced her groggy frown. She sat up, smacked Ginny on the arm and went over to the mirror, looking at herself. She was already blushing, and she hadn't even seen her boyfriend yet. They were all blushing, she could see, as the others joined her at the mirror and sighed in unison together. Today was a new day.

They arrived at the hotel cafeteria at 8:15 AM, getting there fashionably late, as usual. They all glanced around once they got in, looking for the guys. They scanned with their eyes, knowing they were already there, and probably finished with their first helpings of breakfast. Hermione was the first one to spot them, seeing a tall redheaded boy she knew so well.

Ron spotter her at the same moment and smiled, waving her and the rest of the girls over. They made their way over to the circular table, and each of them was greeted by their boyfriends, as well as a good morning hug and sweet little kiss, right on the lips.

"I missed you." Ron said to Hermione, and hugged her tightly.

"I missed you more." She said, and smiled at him, winking.

The girls, in turn, blushed and kissed back, then took seats next to their boyfriends, who were more than happy to be with them.

They all boarded the Knight Buses, and headed off toward the destination of the day: a muggle amusement park called Busch Gardens. They drive to Busch Gardens was long and bumpy, and they all bounced around in their seats with anticipation as they neared the park. Hermione, being the only muggle born in their group, was supplying everyone with all she knew about the roller coasters and log flume rides.

"So the roller coaster is almost like flying on a broom. It's really fast but it stays on these two bars of metal, called a track. People get in the 'cars' of the roller coaster and them it goes up this big hill on a chain. Then the chain lets go and the roller coaster goes over the hill, and flies around the track, with many turns, loops, and corkscrews! It's such an adrenaline rush!" Hermione concluded, waving her arms in the air, as if illustrating her excitement.

"I don't think I'll be going on any 'rolley costars.'" Ron said, shaking his head back and forth.

"It's 'roller coaster', Ron, and why not?" She put her hands on her hips.

"A car flies off the track!" "Are you scared?" Hermione smirked at him.

"Maybe a little." He confessed, and the other guys sniggered at him.

"Well, if you're scared, then come with me. Maybe I'll hold your hand." She said, and smiled up at him.

"Or maybe I'll hold onto your waist for protection." He flashed her the famous Ron Weasley lopsided grin.

She couldn't help it. "Ron, what good would that do?" she asked, and smiled.

"Makes me feel secure." She rolled her eyes but kissed him on the cheek nonetheless. "Alright, I'll go. But if I die, then you're dying alongside me!" He said, and she laughed.

"Ron, you won't die. Trust me." He sighed, but knew she was right. "We're here!" Hermione shrieked and gathered up her bag.

"Now students," Professor McGonagall began, "This is a muggle amusement park. Therefore, no wands, no sickles, and no talk of magic! We have to be very careful about this. Last time this trip occurred, a student threatened a poor muggle with his wand after he cut him in line. Fifty memories had to be modified that night, and the student was sent home. We are going to try and avoid that experience this time. If we hear about anything unusual misbehavior in conduct, that person, too, will be sent straight home. Understood?" She finished with a stern look on her face. They all nodded, now slightly fearful. McGonagall smirked at their expressions and left the bus, after handing each student a small green ticket into the park..

Ron and Hermione left the bus quickly and almost ran ahead, already having previously discussed being alone all day (no doubt to snog behind some pretzel cart or something). So they sped ahead of their group and through the cement tunnel that led into the park. They handed the muggle worker their tickets and grabbed a map.

Plotting out their day, Hermione decided it was best to get Ron on a roller coaster bright and early to see what they would actually be doing the whole day. The other six, rather confused at Ron and Hermione's quick exit, walked off the bus together, and the couples held hands.

"Why do you think they left so quickly?" Hannah asked, to everyone, but to no one in particular.

Seamus just looked at her. "Han, c'mon. We all know those two lovebird wanted to be alone to go shag under a Ferris Wheel or something." Everyone laughed.

"Can we please leave the topic of my brother and shagging?" Ginny said, beginning to go into one of her 'eww' fits.

Harry laughed and put his arm around her. "Let's start or day, Gin. Six magic folk in an amusement park with no muggle-born tour guide. This should make for an interesting day." They all laughed again, and walked arm-in-arm into the park.

"Hermione." Ron whined, as he were being pulled into the entrance of the The Big Bad Wolf, a rad metal coaster with no loops, but suspended cars on the track (all joined) by his strong-willed girlfriend.

"Ron," she said simply, tugging at his arm slightly, "it'll all be alright."

He winced as the coaster sailed over their heads with incredible speed, leaving screaming voices echoing through his mind. Hermione laughed and Ron looked very panic-stricken. He was looking at the metal bars which held the track with the utmost fear, as if they were falling out right before his eyes.

He planted his feet firmly on the ground. "Ron, come on," Hermione said, "you'll be fine. You'll like it!"

"If I live through it." He muttered, just loud enough for her to hear him.

She laughed; "Ron, if you do this for me, I promise I'll do something for you later." she winked at him flirtatiously and kissed his cheek.

He looked puzzled, yet intrigued. "But just what did you have in mind?" He flashed her his lopsided grin, knowing she couldn't resist.

She kissed him right below his lips, and then met his eyes to wink at him again. He got some kind of message because he broke out in a hearty blush, and smiled. He allowed her to pull him into the line, where forty or so people were behind the barrier, waiting to get on the ride.

She smiled, "Thank you." she said sweetly, as the pulled him, more unwillingly, to the back of the line to get on the ride. "This might take a little bit." She added, looking at the line of people to the speed it was taking people to get on and off the ride, "But it'll all be worth it."

Thirty minutes later, they were standing behind the metal bar at the very front of the line, and Ron looked even more scared than before. Hermione could see the fear clouding his eyes, and she smiled. Their coaster has just pulled up into the station and the riders from the previous run were emptying out and reclaiming their belongings on the other side.

The metal bar swung open and Hermione walked past the car to put her sandals and bag at the side. Then she joined Ron and buckled her seatbelt. He was shaking slightly.

"I think it's cute how you're afraid." She said, and smiled at him.

"Bravery is cuter." He said, and smiled back at her.

"Ron, it'll be fine. I promise." She said, and he took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it gently. Then he set their hands down next to them, intertwining their fingers. She squeezed his hand gently, and the coaster began to leave the station slowly, rounding a corner then clinking its way up the first major hill. Clink, Clink, Clink.

Ron could feel his heart pounding out of his chest, and he tried not to look behind him. They were seated in the third car from the front, and he was on the end, looking over at the people on the ground, who were becoming smaller and smaller as the coaster continued to clink its way up higher. At long last they were at the top, and Ron took a deep breath, bracing himself. This is it, he thought, No turning back now.

Hermione cast one more look at her boyfriend before the chain let go of the coaster and they soared around the track; down the first hill, gaining speed. She let out a scream of pure adrenaline rush and let the wind whip at her face and let the forces tangle her hair above her head. Turn after turn, they went, the coaster whipping their necks at the side, still faster, until...

Clink, Clink, Clink. They stopped, somewhat abruptly, as the second chain grabbed onto the coaster and pulled it up the second hill, which was slightly shorter than the first one. Hermione looked at her white-faced boyfriend, and chuckled slightly. His expression was unreadable, and his eyes seemed to be glued open. Through her concern, it was still funny. She kissed him on the cheek and he blinked once, and only once.

The coaster clinked its way higher up by the chain and then it let go again. They sailed down the second hill, over a series of smaller ones, until they came by the camera. Hermione leaned over and kissed Ron gently on the cheek right in time, and he smiled at her, still frozen slightly. The coaster veered into the station and came to a halt.

The riders on board clapped and the seatbelts unsnapped, and Hermione got up from her seat and retrieved her sandals and bag from the side. Ron, walking almost in a daze, joined her a minute later, recollecting himself.

"Ron?" She asked, worry in her voice.

"That was...that was..." he started, his mouth dry and his eyes slightly glazed over, "that was...that was..."

She snapped her fingers in front of his eyes and, becoming more worried by the second.

"BLOODY BRILLIANT!" He yelled, and enveloped her in a huge one-armed hug, smiling brightly. She laughed and let out a huge sigh of relief, then walked with him down the exit ramp out into the main park.

"You really liked it?" She asked him, still laughing. "Yeah! The speed, the thrill, the fear! It was like quidditch, except no brooms and you could sit next to the girl you love!" He shouted enthusiastically.

They walked down the wooden planks of the exit ramp, their feet moving in unison, and made their way down to the photo booth.

They scanned with their eyes over the television monitors that displayed the various cars at the times the pictures were taken. They saw their faces on the screen, which was a still-Hermione kissing a shocked still-Ron on the cheek. The expressions on both of their faces were rather humorous.

Hermione handed the muggle behind the counter a $10 and in a few minutes, their picture was printed and ready.

"That's a keeper." Ron said, smiling down fondly at the muggle picture.

"It sure is." Hermione replied, smiling down at the picture of them as if it were their child.

"I have an idea." Ron said to her, wiggling his eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes, "What's that, Ron?"

"More coasters!" He shouted, and grabbed her and, running off with her towards the next nearest coaster around. Hermione had to admit that riding with Ron was rather enjoyable. Now that he knew he wouldn't die, he was having a lot more fun. They got several more pictures, and split the cost, sharing them. Sharing their memories.

- - - - -

After a couple hours of waiting in line and a few rides on bigger and faster coasters, they decided to take a breath.

"I'm starved." Ron said, rubbing his stomach.

Hermione chuckled, "You're always hungry." She heard her stomach rumble, too, "although I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get a bite to eat."

"Thanks, Babe." He said, and kissed her on the cheek.

"No problem." She said, smiling. They walked over to the little burger and fries shack, and Ron looked at the menu, evidently puzzled.

"I'll take a burger, no pickles, a medium fries, and a large diet coke." Hermione said to the cashier. Ron gaped at her, impressed. Hermione saw him. "Ron, I'm a muggleborn, remember?" She said, seeing what was in his mind. This was Ron after all. He wasn't that hard to figure out.

"Oh, yeah." He said, blushing slightly. "Do you want me to order for you?" She asked, seeing the still perplexed look on his face.

"No thanks. I think I've got it." He said, looking nervously from the menu, to the cashier, back to the menu.

He gulped and approached the checkout counter. "Um, I'll have the French fries."

"What size?" The cashier asked, lazily.

"Um...big." He said, feeling the pressure on him all of a sudden.

The cashier snorted at him, "You mean 'large'?"

"Yeah, that one." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed.

"That'll be $2.50." The cashier said, chomping on her gum.

Hermione handed over the cash to both of them over the counter, and they retrieved their food. Then, they found a small, round table with two chairs at it. She set the tray down, and wiped the table with a napkin, to make sure it was sanitary. They both sat down and began eating, when they heard...

"Hiya Ron, Hermione." It was Colin Creevey.

"Um... Hey Colin." Ron said, finishing off another fry. "Hi," Hermione said, not looking up, for fear they would be stuck with him for the whole day.

"Can I hang out with you guys today?" He looked hopeful.

Too late. She thought.

"Um...sure." Ron said, unsure, but being kind. Hermione looked from her boyfriend to the fellow younger Gryffindor and stared, open-mouthed. Ron had been the one who wanted to be alone today. Ron didn't want to be bothered with anyone else. Ron had suggested they run ahead of the crowd to be by themselves. And now Ron was allowing Colin to be with them, and this was certainly something Hermione didn't want.

"That's okay, right Hermione?" Ron asked, looking at her nervously, waking her from her internal rant.

"Yeah, sure." She said, lazily.

"Gee, thanks!" Colin said, and pulled up a chair to join them. He began to pick at Ron's fries.

"Colin?" Hermione asked him, turning to the fifth year, "Not to sound rude, but I thought you were hanging out with Justin today."

"I was," He began, looking downcast, "But I lost him. He went on Alpengeist, and then I couldn't find him after he came off. I'm terrified of roller coasters, so I stayed off. But, yeah."

This could come in handy. Hermione thought, storing the fact that he hated roller coasters in her mind.

"Ready to go?" Ron asked them, throwing his wrappers and empty cups into the nearby garbage can. They nodded. Colin was very enthusiastic not to be left out of anything this time and followed behind them eagerly, clutching his muggle backpack on his shoulders. Ron and Hermione walked somewhat quickly, whispering in hushed tones, so that he couldn't hear them, but loud enough so each of them could hear each other.

"I can't believe you said he could come!" Hermione whispered angrily.

"What did you expect me to say? 'Oh, sorry Colin, but I don't want to hang out with you. Ever.'" He mimicked, whispering.

"No, not that harsh, but something along those lines!"

"I noticed you weren't speaking up." He said quietly, rounding on her.

"You told him 'sure' before I could say anything! I couldn't just take it back, you know." She said, defensively.

"Whatever." He said, looking away from her now. "Well, what do you suggest we do?" He said after a minute, recollecting himself, assured so he wouldn't get angry.

'I say we go on a lot of roller coasters, and leave him behind. Maybe we'll get so tired and leave after a little bit." She left it as an idea.

"And if he wants to come on with us?" Ron added as an afterthought.

"He's terrified. He won't want to come on."

"How do you know all this?"

"He just said it, Ron."

"Oh," He was racking his brain to see if he really said that or not, "Okay then."

"Hey Col?" Hermione called back to him.

"Yeah?" He was jogging to try and keep up with them.

"Ron and I are going to go on Alpengeist, okay?" She shouted over the roar of the crowd.

"Okay." He looked downcast, but sat on a small park bench nearby, sulking slightly and he sighed heavily.

With that, Ron and Hermione trotted over into the growing line, which would take about an hour or so to extinguish. They didn't mind, though. Yeah, the wait would be unbearable at times, but they were kind people and they weren't about to let Colin ruin their day.

After they had ridden Alpengeist, Lochness Monster, The Big Bad Wolf, Apollo's Chariot, and Lochness Monster again, all in the length of about 4 hours, they were beginning to get agitated. This was the fifth time that they had walked off the exit ramp to a coaster to see Colin's bright and smiling face sitting at the park bench, bored, but pleased nonetheless.

"Come on." Ron said, after they had failed the fifth time. He took her hand and ducked below the crowd of people, invisible from view from where Colin would be sitting, and he waddled as he slipped out of the exit, blending in with the crowd.

"What are we doing?" She asked, allowing him to lead her.

"We're leaving him." He said, and wove in and out of the stampede.

"What! We can't do that!" She said, raising her voice.

"Yes, we can! You have your bag. You have your wallet. I have my wallet. WE have the bag of pictures. We're set to go." He said, pulling her along, standing up now.

"Ron!" She yelled, "You're forgetting one thing."

"What?" He said, still walking off toward nowhere.

"Colin!" She said, her voice raised, "We can't leave him. How's he going to get back to the hotel? How's he going to know where to go? Tell me, Ron, I'd love to know how you possibly think we can just leave him." She folded one arm over her chest. Her other arm was still being guided by him.

"Hermione. He'll be fine. He's fifteen years old. He can hold his own. Now come on. The entrance into the sweet shop is about three minutes away. So we have to walk quickly." He said, looking toward the destination. She pulled her hand out of his grasp angrily.

"Stop trying to control me!" She yelled, her eyes narrowed very dangerously.

"I'm not trying to control you!" He shouted back at her, his anger flaring.

"Yes, you are!" She yelled back, growing red with fury.

"No, I'm not! If I was, I wouldn't do it!" His ears were flaming red now.

"What's going on here?" Ginny asked, clearly confused, coming upon them while sipping her drink. The others were behind her, chewing some sweets they had just healthily purchased.

"Your brother." Hermione said, through clenched teeth, not taking her eyes from Ron's.

"Yeah," Ginny said, as the others approached closer, "what about him?"

"He's trying to control me!" She yelled, back at him, her anger coming loose again.

"No, I'm not!" He yelled, their faces dangerously close.

"Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"YES!"

"Hermione?" Ginny asked timidly, evidently very afraid.

"WHAT!" Hermione was in full-out rage mode now. She cleared her throat and remembered she was now speaking to Ginny, not Ron.

"Calm down, please." She saw Hermione relax the tiniest bit. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to come with us for a bit. We girls can go, and we'll let the other boys take care of Ron. But at the way you two are going, I don't think it's safe to be near each other right now."

"Fine." Hermione said, clenching her teeth again. She walked over to Ginny, still angry, not looking back at Ron, who had joined the guys, and had already separated themselves to his side during the argument, sensing something like this would be occurring.

"I won't be seeing you later." She spat back over her shoulder at him as they walked away, in opposite directions.

"Yeah, you can count on that!" He bellowed back, and jammed his hands into his front pockets, and muttered something under his breath, which no one could quite comprehend.

As the groups passed each other, Harry whispered something into Ginny's ear, which no one else could hear, and she nodded, agreeing. And the girls and boys walked off into separate directions. Everyone but Ron and Hermione were already planning a reconciliation for them, but they had no idea. They were too good to be true, and nothing like Colin was going to come between them. Something had to be done.
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A/N: Please review so I have things to read once I get back from my band trip! A huge thanks again to everyone who stayed by me and read this right now. I love you guys!