Symbiosis 9
Author's Note: As some of you already know, I was forced to stop working on my stories due to the too-hot summer. My computer refused to work for several months due to the heat and humidity. But I'm back now so I'll continue this story. I'm not sure what ride they shall go on next but I'll think up something. Oh, and someone a while back was concerned that Remus would go home with the Malfoys. Don't worry, he won't! I just added him to the story to even out the numbers for riding the coaster. It's no fun to ride alone, you know. I suppose I could have had Lucius ride with Harry but then Narcissa would be by herself. So it was a number problem really. Nor could I just have Ron show up, not to mention the Weasleys would get into a fight with the Malfoys – defeating Hermoine's purpose. At the moment, I have no intention of bringing the Weasleys into this story. They are off doing business for the Order no doubt…
The small group exited from the Eagle again and clustered together in the middle of the wide avenue. Draco had never imagined that Muggles would have anything so exciting. Riding on the roller coaster had been almost as much fun as playing Quidditch if not more so. Most Quidditch games were usually spoiled by the fact that Potter always beat him and that left a sour taste in his mouth. And how was he supposed to beat a Fire Bolt, anyway? It was the fastest broom in the world! But these roller coaster things were great! He just had to sit in the seat and hang on for dear life, the wind blowing through his hair. And even sitting next to Hermoine wasn't too bad, which was a bit surprising. If only she'd stop throwing her arm over his shoulder! Gryffindors and their closeness! Ha!
His gray eyes flickered around the nearby area, searching for another ride to go on. Of course, it had been a bit unnerving trusting his life to a strange Muggle contraption, especially one that towered so high up in the air! Yet he knew Granger would never kill herself or Potter…
"So, are you enjoying yourself, Harry?" Remus Lupin asked as he smiled at the green-eyed boy. "That old coaster is a real blast, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is." Harry admitted. He had been scared to death during the entire first ride, his knuckles white from gripping the metal bar in front of him. He had been sure he'd fall out of the seat on that first steep hill and had even felt his body lift upward, only the thin bar across his thighs holding him in. His nerves were still jumping wildly and he made a show of adjusting his glasses. He just prayed that Hermoine wouldn't think of food. If she did, he was liable to throw up. Worst, she hadn't even been hanging on! His emerald eyes shifted to his best friend where she stood next to Draco. She was getting way too chummy with the blonde Slytherin, even if that was the plan. Before they'd know it, they would be laughing together. Turning back to Lupin, Harry excused himself. "Excuse me for a moment."
"Of course, Harry."
"Hermoine," Harry said as he reached her side. "Wasn't it a bit reckless not to hang on to the ride? What if you would have fallen out? You could have been killed!"
Lucius and Narcissa also waited for her reply, curious. Since they had been seated directly behind Hermoine and Draco, both had noticed her hands up in the air.
"Oh, Harry! You worry about too much!" Hermoine laughed. "It's a ride, Harry! As long as you remain seated, you can't fall out! It's designed that way. Besides, about half the people that ride on roller coasters put their hands up in the air."
"Yet you won't ride a broom…" Harry remarked dryly.
"Well, I just don't like brooms." Hermoine admitted quietly as she glanced around to make sure no Muggles were in hearing distance. Satisfied they were still alone, at least for the moment, she moved forward and gave Harry a tight hug. Releasing him, she stepped back slightly and smiled brightly. Her plan was working brilliantly so far. Draco had not only enjoyed riding the Eagle but had dragged them all back on it a second time. His parents seemed to have enjoyed it, too. Anyway, she guessed they did. Although Narcissa had complained of the loud noise the rides made, Hermoine couldn't really blame her for that. The amusement park was a wildly different environment than Malfoy Manor. They needed to get out and see the world and what it had to offer, to learn to unwind and actually have fun. That, more than anything, was the problem with Slytherins. They were always so serious. Well, when they weren't acting like stupid, insulting gits, that was! Waking from her inner reasoning, she thought it best to reassure all of them. "Trust me! The Muggles check the rides all the time! They have control panels that would tell them if something was wrong with a ride. And they even have stairs on the roller coaster you can walk down if it stops on the hill."
Lucius turned to regard the steep hill. He had been unaware the Muggles had steps up there in case of an emergency. Perhaps they were not really as stupid as he had thought…
"Hermoine," Draco interrupted as he nudged her arm with an elbow. Once he had her attention, he pointed towards another large ride a bit down the paved sidewalk. "What's that big owl cage thing?"
Following his finger, Harry was surprised to see that Draco was right. The next ride over did look like giant owl cages! The thing had three giant arms that poked high into the air; each arm an equal distance from the other. Thick metal bars stuck out of the end of each arm, much like petals on a daisy. And from each steel petal hung giant owl cages. As Harry gawked at the unfamiliar ride, the arms slowly revolved so that the cages were lifted high into the air.
"Oh! That's a type of Ferris wheel." Hermoine explained as she watched it move. "As you can see, it moves very slow but you can see the entire park from up at the top. Normally a Ferris wheel is this huge wheel that slowly revolves around and gives you a bird's eye view of everything in sight. But only two people fit on a normal wheel so I guess this one is good for family groups…"
"Well," Lucius remarked as he placed an arm around Harry and Hermoine's shoulders from behind. "Why don't we go on it then? Were you not saying yesterday about us being a pride of lions?"
Harry gulped, his stomach protesting. He could feel the weight of the Death Eater's arm across his back near his neck, his gloved hand resting on the curve of his shoulder. It was bad enough he had to spend the day with the man, but this fake friendship act he didn't need. Without moving, he shifted his gaze sideways to Hermoine and noted she appeared slightly nervous, too. Good. At least she remembered what Lucius really was: a Death Eater and probably Voldemort's right hand man, unless Wormtail had that privilege? But the rat-like man seemed to be more of a flunky. Stepping forward so the arm fell free of him, Harry started to stalk towards the ride. "Let's go then."
Within moments they reached the ride, the name Tri Wheel spelled out in big three-dimensional letters. One of the giant owl cages rested on the ground and Hermoine led them right up to it. One by one they crawled inside and the ride attendant closed the door, securing it. A round bench ran around the outer circumference of the cage except for where the door was and everyone settled down on it. Harry made sure he was seated between Hermoine and Lupin, although he kept a careful watch on the Malfoys. He still found it hard to believe that Hermoine actually trusted the tall platinum blonde man with the hard gray eyes. What was to stop him from sending a secret message to the other Death Eaters? He could have easily done that any time last night or even this morning! Could that be Lupin's real reason for showing up at the park today? Had the Order sent him to rescue them from the clutches of the Malfoys? If so, what was Remus waiting for, a moment alone perhaps or was it a scheduled rescue at a certain time? Shifting on the wooden bench, Harry glanced out between the bars of the cage. The bars were wide enough apart that he could see an unobstructed view and he eagerly scanned the area for other Order members. A slight frown creased the corners of his lips when he didn't spot them immediately, but maybe that was to be expected. The Malfoys would have to be caught unawares, no doubt. And the Muggles: their safety would have to be seen to as well. Lucius Malfoy was a dangerous man and all possibilities had to be taken into account carefully to ensure success. The last thing Harry wanted was for some innocent Muggle family to get killed because of him; he had enough deaths on his hands the way it was and didn't need more on his conscience.
Draco sat between Hermoine and his mother on the wide bench. He had to admit he'd never been in an owl cage before and glanced around with interest. In the center of the cage a round handrail rose from the floor but the Pureblood leaned back and ignored it. If Granger wasn't hanging on to anything, he didn't need to, either! His stomach gave a slight jolt and his gray eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly recovered. The cage had risen off the ground and was now slowly moving upward, the funny feeling in his stomach being similar to when his broom lifted off the ground. Glancing upward, he couldn't help but notice the big steel ring the cage hung suspended from and he tried very hard not to imagine it breaking. The Muggles surely knew what they were doing…
An uncomfortable silence had settled over the group and Hermoine spoke up in an attempt to fill it in. "So, how do you like the amusement park so far?"
"Well, I must admit I never imagined that Muggles had such a place like this…" Narcissa said from where she sat between her son and husband. Her blue eyes scanned the area outside the cage with frank curiosity. All sorts of strange Muggle objects poked up from between the green trees and the gray pavement. Flags and banners waved in the wind gaily and the sun shown brightly from above. It truly was a nice day; the sky slowly turning into a brilliant blue. Down below the pavement was starting to become more crowded as hundreds of Muggles arrived with their families in tow. A slight frown crossed her face as she realized she'd have to rub elbows with them in a manner … be surrounded on all sides by the horrid beasts!
Picking up on his wife's mood, Lucius took her hand in his own and squeezed it. He had felt the same trepidation at the zoo yesterday until he had realized the Muggles were quite blind to the truth. "Don't worry, Narcissa. As long as you don't do anything obvious in front of them, they don't know."
"Are you sure?" She asked, her voice uncertain. Like any Pureblood, she knew the reason for the enforced secrecy: Muggles killed witches and wizards. For the moment she was safe, the bars of the cage forming a sanctuary of sorts; yet she knew all too soon the ride would come to an end and then she'd have to face her fear. The big owl cage was slowly spinning around near the top of the ride now and she could see the thickening crowds below. Excited voices floated up to their ears as well as shrieks from the other rides. This was all combined with the thumping music from other rides and the loud whine of the motors that made the rides go. "I … I've never been out between Muggles before…"
Hermoine couldn't help but smile at the sight of Lucius holding his wife's hand to comfort her in the strange and frightening situation. It was sweet actually and she hoped that Harry noticed. To make certain that he did, she jabbed her elbow into his side to get his attention, motioning with her eyes. She needed him to see the proof that he wasn't as cold-blooded as they had thought; that maybe there was hope for him yet. Everybody could use a little hope. Still smiling, Hermoine started to reassure her. "Oh, Muggles aren't really all that bad. Just act normal and they'll think you're one of them. Besides, they really don't know magic even exists and at the moment they're all busy running from ride to ride."
The Pureblood witch glanced down at her disguise. She supposed in the designer blue top and the black pants she did look like a Muggle. The thought was a little disturbing, actually. To live one's whole life without magic! How could Muggles do it? Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to imagine what it would be like: no house elves, no wand, no flue powder or apparating, even no Quidditch! It would be utterly horrible! A tremor passed through her body and she quickly reopened her eyes to reassure herself it was just a thought, nothing more. Yet how could Muggles not realize she was a witch? How could the physical appearance of the two separate groups be so similar and yet be so different on the inside? How could such a thing come to be? Up until this moment, Narcissa had never really given any thought to Muggles. They had always just been there as annoying but distant creatures. But now ignoring them was not an option. The remote enemy was suddenly up close and had a face. They were real now. "How … how can they live without magic?"
"Well, they have refrigerators and freezers and cars…" Hermoine started to explain, but then stopped when she saw the blank expressions on the Purebloods' faces. Of course they wouldn't know what a refrigerator was. They used magic to keep food fresh, not technology. "They use science…"
"Science?" Narcissa asked as she turned to look at the bushy haired girl sitting on the other side of her son. The witch realized that Hermoine was in the perfect position to explain it all to them, as she had a foot in each world.
"Science is how Muggles study the world and explain how it works. They make up rules. For example, the rules of gravity tell us that things fall to the ground when dropped. Magic follows rules as well. If you don't do a spell the right way it won't work."
Draco's gray eyes flickered to Harry and he laughed. "Potter knows that rule all too well in Potions, don't you, Potter?"
Remembering he was supposed to be befriending Draco, Harry nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I do."
"I guess all you really have to know is that Muggles have found other ways to do everything you do with magic." Hermoine decided that maybe the simple explanation was best. She certainly wasn't going to admit she didn't really know how a car or refrigerator worked. No, that would be too complex. "And in some ways they have surpassed it, you know. Muggles have walked on the moon and have dozens of satellites up in orbit."
"Ah, come on, Hermoine! Do you actually expect us to believe that?" Draco rolled his eyes and sneered at her, skeptical of her words. "We're Purebloods, not stupid! Although I expect Longbottom would fall that that one…"
"But it's true!" Hermoine insisted. "Neil Armstrong walked on the moon's surface way back in the 1960s and he did it with Muggle technology!"
Harry nodded. "It's true."
Draco was still suspicious and suspected some sort of prank at his expense. "And how exactly did they get there?"
"In America they have this place called Cape Canaveral where they launch rockets into space. People often watch it on their TVs but many go down to the launch site to see it in person. I understand it attracts huge crowds. It's supposed to be a spectacular thing to see…" Hermoine informed them.
The Slytherin teen frowned. He didn't like the idea that Muggles could do things that Wizards couldn't. It just wasn't right! They were Muggles!
"And this sat-thing?" Lucius prompted.
"Oh! They're like big cameras up in space that track stuff on the ground. They follow weather patterns around the globe and also help aircraft land or take-off." Hermoine explained, a bit relieved that Wizards knew what cameras were and had their own that created moving pictures.
Draco craned his head back and stared up at the sky. Was there some Muggle thing up there watching him?
Harry snickered. Stupid git!
"What are you laughing at, Potter? You think it's funny that some sat-lite is spying on us?" Draco scowled; his fine whitish-blonde bangs hanging in his eyes.
That was too much and Harry guffawed loudly, slapping his thigh with a hand.
"Oh, it's not funny, Harry!" Hermoine complained, annoyed at her friend. They were supposed to be making friends with the Malfoys, not laughing at their ignorance of Muggle technology! Sliding closer to Draco, she wrapped a reassuring arm around his shoulders. "You just ignore him. I think the stress from the last few days has finally gone to his head. He's always bent a bit out of shape when he comes from his Uncle's house, you know. And to answer your question, I'm sure that the satellites can't see us. They're not made that way. They track bigger things, like airplanes or missiles, things like that. They don't care what individual people do…"
"Oh…" Draco replied; his voice a bit strained. The fact that her arm was around him was making him a bit nervous. If they were on the ground he could have pulled away but they were trapped inside the blasted owl cage and he was uncertain exactly what he should do. Should he do anything? It really wasn't all that bad really and it certainly wasn't the first time Granger had touched him. He had stopped worrying about Mudblood contamination a while ago, sometime yesterday to be exact. Not that he was supposed to use the word Mudblood anymore, but then his father couldn't read his mind. He was OK just as long as he didn't say it. Her bare arm felt warm against the back of his neck and on his shoulders. It was kind of nice in a weird sort of way yet it made his insides jump around and that wasn't exactly good. The problem was he wasn't exactly used to getting touched very much. The Malfoys weren't like the Weasleys who hugged each other all the time. Slytherins didn't do that sentimental mush thing and certainly not in public! His mind quickly zipped back to what Harry had told him yesterday at the zoo, that he had better get used to being hugged by Granger. And now that he thought about it, he realized it was true. Hadn't he seen her hug Potter or Weasley a few times in the past? His eyes flickered past Potter to the outside of the owl cage. The ride was coming near the ground and soon he'd be able to exit anyway. She would be forced to release him and then he didn't have to think about it anymore…
Until next time, that was.
With a gentle bump, the cage settled onto the ground and the ride attendant opened the door. One by one they all climbed out and filed through the ride's exit. This ride had lasted much longer than the roller coaster, mainly because it had moved at a much slower pace. Once they were through the exit and had moved off to the side, the Purebloods stared in shock.
The park was literally filled with Muggles!
Narcissa clung to her husband's arm, slightly frightened. Where had they all come from? They swarmed through the wide avenue like ants. No two were dressed exactly alike. The clothing styles varied from simple T-shirts and shorts to dresses to jeans and so on. The Muggles laughed, pushed baby strollers, drank assorted drinks, smoked cigarettes and lined up by food booths. A few teenagers wandered by toting huge stuffed animals bigger then themselves! And over there … was that toddler on a leash? Children with sticky faces and hands ran screaming past, the parents racing to catch up with them. Even an elderly man in a wheelchair rolled past pushed by a younger man. Yet no one spared them even the slightest glance.
"You see?" Hermoine remarked as she stood near the Pureblood witch. "They don't know."
The older witch nodded her understanding and felt slightly relieved.
Draco watched the swarming crowd and realized this place was far more crowded than the zoo had been. But unlike his mother, the crowd of Muggles didn't concern him all that much. No, he was looking forward to going on another one of those rides, preferably something a bit more exciting this time. That owl cage one had seemed boring after the exhilaration of the Eagle. The back of his neck felt slightly cool now that Hermoine had removed her arm and he tried to ignore that fact. Still, he supposed he had liked it in a way, even if it had made him nervous at the time. Maybe getting hugged once in a while wasn't so bad after all. "So, what ride should we go on next?"
Harry shrugged as he eyed the crowd for possible Order members. "Don't ask me…"
"Come on, Hermoine." Draco urged as he grinned at her, his teeth perfect and white. "Recommend another one of those exciting rides. That last one was kind of dull…"
The teenage witch glanced around as she tried to remember what ride was where. Truthfully, she was surprised that the blonde Slytherin had actually liked the roller coaster and had willingly, no, eagerly had boarded it a second time! Pulling the mental map of the park up in her mind, she considered the nearby possibilities. "Well, there's a water ride nearby if you don't mind getting a little wet. It's nice out so our clothes should dry pretty fast."
"A water ride?" Lucius blinked, taken aback. "I hadn't realized this place had water rides…"
"Oh, it has several of them." Hermoine explained happily. "They can be quite fun if its not too cool out."
"You mean like a boat?" Draco asked, remembering First Year and the trip across the lake. "Boats aren't exactly exciting, Granger."
"These boats are slightly different." Hermoine assured him as she once again took his wrist and started leading the way. Lucius and Narcissa followed right on their son's heels so they wouldn't get separated. The last thing they wanted to do was get lost in the crowd of Muggles.
Harry, however, wasn't that concerned with separation. Hanging back slightly, he turned his attention to Lupin. "So, did the Order send you here? Are they planning a rescue?"
"A rescue?" Lupin asked, unsure how to reply. What should he say to Harry?
"Remus, you must know this is not normal! You know he's a Death Eater and belongs in Azkaban! Yesterday he showed up on my Uncle's doorstep and Uncle Vernon was all to glad to hand me over. So now I'm stuck. I suppose I could run away in this crowd but I can't leave Hermoine. She has some crazy idea of reforming them, I think. I mean, that's crazy, don't you think?"
"I'm not too sure what to say, Harry. I wish I did, but I'm not an expert at anything really. I'm just proud you learned the Patronis so well…" Lupin said softly. "I admit the Order sent me to keep an eye on you for the time being…"
"So there's not going to be a rescue." Harry stated, his voice low and grating. A part of the anger he had felt at the Headmaster at the end of the school year came back full force. Here he was, kidnapped by the Malfoys, and Dumbledore didn't even care! His heels struck the ground with more force and he increased his pace. And even though he had hung back slightly to speak to Lupin, not once had he taken his green eyes off Hermoine. He wasn't that stupid. He couldn't chance losing one of the only friend's he had.
"It's obvious you can't stay with the Dursleys any longer." Remus remarked in his gentle voice. The werewolf was one of the gentlest people that Harry had ever met. Of course, that didn't count when he was transformed and had no control over his actions. "I know you think the Headmaster blind to your plight during the summer months and what goes on in that house, but I assure you he isn't. He has considered the matter for longer than you think and it does weigh heavy on him. But there's no easy solution, I'm afraid."
"Why can't I just stay with the Weasleys?" Harry asked. He thought of his red-haired friend and the good time the three of them could have had here at the amusement park. The Weasleys were the exact opposite of the Malfoys. They were warm and caring, generous to an alarming point, kind and had a home filled with warm fuzzies. The Malfoys were cold and distant and owned a house of antiques you couldn't touch. If he had a choice, he'd choose the Weasleys in a heartbeat.
"I'm sure Dumbledore told you why before." Lupin sighed. "You have to stay with a relative. And unfortunately the Weasleys are not related to you."
Harry smiled sadly. "I'm sure Mr. Weasley would love to see this place…"
"I'm sure he would." Lupin agreed and returned the sad smile. The werewolf knew of Arthur's fascination with Muggle things. Once closing time would come, they would have to drag him out kicking and screaming…
The Boy That Lived frowned. He didn't want to go back to his Aunt and Uncle. Turning to glance at the werewolf, he grasped at straws. "Look, don't I have any other relatives? Besides the Dursleys, I mean. I was planning on going to live with Sirius but…"
Lupin glanced down at his worn shoes. "Look, Harry. I'm not sure I'm the right one to tell you this…"
Harry's head snapped around to look at Remus. "Tell me what?"
"Well, who your other relatives are…"
Emerald green eyes growing wide in astonishment, Harry focused all his attention on his ex-professor. When he spoke, his voice was oddly flat. "So I do have another relative? A Muggle or a Wizard?"
"Wizards." Remus admitted with a loud sigh. "But I don't want you to get your hopes up. This isn't a perfect world, as you already know all too well. People aren't perfect and neither are these distant relatives of yours. They're even more distant to you than Sirius was…"
The teenager considered what the werewolf had said. "So they're not a blood relative then?"
"No." Remus admitted. "They're related to you through Sirius, in fact."
That stopped Harry cold.
Through Sirius…Once again Harry saw himself standing in Grimwald Place and looking at the Black family tapestry. He remembered the other familiar name he had seen on it. His gaze lifted to the Purebloods just in front of him. Narcissa held onto her husband's arm with one hand as they followed Hermoine and Draco.
"You have got to be kidding!"
"Now Harry, I told you this isn't a perfect world." Lupin reminded the teenager softly. "There's no easy solution to your problem."
"But the Malfoys? That's just crazy! He's an escapee from Azkaban!"
"So was Sirius…"
"But that was different! He was innocent!" Harry pointed out in a shrill voice.
"So you want to go back to the Dursleys?" Lupin asked. "Dumbledore thought this could be a trial weekend to see how it goes."
"Oh, that's just great!" Harry mumbled and hurried to catch up with the others. Hermoine and Draco had just reached the water ride, something called The Flume Shoot. The art near the ride showed a colorful illustration of a hollow log riding on a plume of white water, so it was obviously a log ride. The Boy That Lived managed to get into the line just behind Lucius and Narcissa before other people could cut him off. He could sense the werewolf's presence behind him but he wasn't too sure what he should say. Besides, what could he say? He didn't want to stay with the Dursleys anymore, that much was certain. But were the Malfoys any better? The thing is; could he really trust them? He didn't think so but Hermoine seemed to think he could. And he trusted Hermoine. So should he listen to her?
But how do I know she's not under the Imperious Curse?
Her behavior just wasn't normal! Being chummy with the Malfoys wasn't normal! Was she just being optimistic? Was she being a perfect Gryffindor and trying to see the good in everyone, even Draco and Lucius? Narcissa, well, he supposed he could give her the benefit of the doubt, as he didn't really know her at all. And she clearly was trying. The whole situation of being at the amusement park surrounded by Muggles and their machines must be frightening to her, he supposed. He tried to imagine himself in her place and had to admit he'd probably be scared right out of his socks. In fact, the roller coaster had scared him!
"I think I see now why the Muggles got these rope things everywhere…" Draco muttered to Hermoine as he stood in line right behind her.
"Shhhh! They don't know they're Muggles!" She hissed at him, afraid someone might here. But if anyone did, they didn't care. Both the people in front and behind their small party were blabbing their own stuff and paid not the slightest bit of attention. Even Lucius' silver snake-headed cane didn't merit a second glance.
"Well, what am I supposed to call them then?" Draco asked, a confused crease in the center of his forehead.
"How am I supposed to know?" Hermoine replied, slightly annoyed.
"Because you're the Know It All. Snape says so." Draco replied.
Hermoine's lips tightened and she glared at him. "You're really asking for it, do you know that?"
"Of course I am! I just asked you!" Draco rolled his gray eyes. "Merlin! How could you not hear me?"
A smiled played across Hermoine's lips. "You want to know what you can call them? Well, you can call them Homo sapiens. How's that?"
"Homo what?" Draco asked, puzzled once again.
"And Snape is a Neanthradel!" Hermoine declared, quite pleased with herself and her cleverness. "You make sure you tell him that next time you see him."
"Tell him? I can't even say it!" Draco exclaimed loudly.
Lucius and Narcissa exchanged glances and both shrugged their shoulders in defeat. It was clearly more Muggle stuff.
The line moved forward and upward. After some time had passed, they could finally see the long hollowed out logs they were to ride in. Draco eyed one of the logs skeptically from a distance. "We're not going to ride in one of those, are we? What if it sinks? I mean it's a log!"
Hermoine was the one to roll her eyes this time. "It's not a real log!"
Draco gaped dumbly at her. "You mean they got fake logs?"
"Of course they do!" Hermoine huffed. "They can't afford real logs! They're too expensive! They chop all the trees down to make telephone posts and such so people can watch their television sets! So they make a boat look like a log on the outside! I'm sure it's plastic, the outside I mean. You know, vinyl? Acrylic? Hmmm… there's particle board that's made from sawdust…."
All three Malfoys gaped at her open-mouthed, totally clueless.
"Well, the only thing I suppose you really need to know is the thing floats." Hermoine added on second thought.
Draco could now see the fake logs better, as they had moved closer. The logs floated in a narrow water channel that ran through the middle of a long building. The blonde teen shook his head. Only Muggles would build a building with a river going right through the middle! What he didn't realize though was that the so-called river was man-made. The logs themselves were sharpened to a point on the front, similar to a pencil. The back was cut straight across. People quickly piled in and out of the moving logs. And unlike the roller coaster where two people could sit side-by-side, here one sat in front of the other.
"Now, I think we all can fit into one log…" Hermoine remarked as her sharp brown eyes studied the logs. "But you need to move quickly. See, the log keeps moving…"
"Isn't it going to stop?" Draco asked. The roller coaster had stopped.
"No, it's not." Hermoine replied matter-of-factly. "Now the taller people should sit in the back…"
"I'll sit in the very back." Lupin offered. He'd been on the log ride before, with Sirius and knew how to get in and out of the boat quickly.
"You need to hang onto the person in front of you, sit as close as possible." Hermoine instructed. "It's like a toboggan, although I don't suppose you know what that is…"
And then it was their turn.
Lupin dashed out to the next empty log and quickly jumped into the very back. "I got us a log! Hurry and get in!"
The Malfoys, Hermoine and Harry hurried over to the log. A single long seat ran through the center of the boat from the bow to the stern, an empty space on either side for your feet to go. Lucius frowned at the wet seat but carefully climbed in and sat down in front of Lupin. Holding a hand out, he helped his wife in. He wrapped his arms around her waist securely, her back against his chest. He wasn't too sure what to do with his cane. These Muggle rides just weren't designed to accommodate people's hidden wands! But he slid the long end into the gap meant for legroom and awkwardly clung to it with one hand. It would have to do…
"Get in, Harry!" Hermoine shooed her friend with her hands.
Harry wasn't too crazy about sitting next to either of the adult Malfoys but he decided it was best to do as Hermoine said. Reaching down, he gripped the rim of the log and hopped in. Once both of his feet were in the proper gaps, he lowered himself to the flat seat. Hermoine was already climbing in just in front of him and she motioned for him to move farther backward. So Harry slid back until he was just in front of Narcissa. She awkwardly clung to his waist and Harry suspected that once the log really started to move her hold would turn into a death grip.
"Get in!" Hermoine told Draco.
"The seat is wet." Draco complained as he eyed it with distaste, a frown on his pointed face. "I'll get my pants wet…"
"All the seats are wet, you stupid ferret! It's a water ride!" Reaching out, Hermoine caught Draco's T-shirt and yanked him into the log by force. "Now sit!"
"The water belongs on the outside of the boat, Granger. Don't you know that?" Draco remarked. He was sitting in a puddle of water and it had already soaked through his pants. "Great! Just great! My pants are wet and it's all thanks to you!"
Hermoine wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and clung like devil's snare. Then she started laughing. If Draco thought he was wet now….! Boy, did he have a surprise coming!
The log moved slowly forward until it bumped the back of the log just in front of it. Draco's scowl deepened. Why did Hermoine have to sit so close for? Her legs were practically wrapped around his hips! Of course, they were all sitting that way inside the log. It was what Hermoine had meant when she had said 'toboggan-style'. He had thought the arm around his shoulders had been bad, but this was far worst. He was trapped inside a moving log with her and she had planned it! Everyone always said how cunning Slytherins were but Gryffindors were far worst! He felt dampness creep into his shoes and he glanced down into one of the gaps where his foot rested, only to see sloshing water. "You planned this, didn't you, Granger?"
"You wanted an exciting ride! Now stop whining!" Hermoine ordered. "And you'll be glad I'm hanging onto you when we go down the hill!"
"Wait! What hill? Boats don't go down hills!" He exclaimed loudly. Just then the log moved out of the long building and outside light stabbed him in the eyes. He squinted for a moment until his eyes grew accustomed to the brightness. He looked where the log was heading and saw it was riding inside some metal channel. And up ahead there was some steep hill, other logs traveling upward. His mouth gaped open in astonishment. "What kind of river is this?"
"It's not a river!" Hermoine replied.
The log bumped into the steep hill, which was really a type of conveyor belt. The log tilted upward and started its journey to the top. Almost immediately Draco spotted a little pipe that was spraying water just like the fountains at school. The problem was if the log continued up the hill the water would spray right on him! "There's a fountain!"
"EEEEEEEEEE! A fountain!" Hermoine squealed with excitement and quickly leaned to one side of the log to avoid it, pulling Draco with her. The water only sprayed them a bit on their right arms, which wasn't too bad. Hermoine giggled and pointed out the next upcoming fountain with excitement.
Harry, who was deep in thought about his living arrangement predicament, hadn't been paying attention and the first fountain sprayed him right in the face. Sputtering and shocked, he searched for the culprit who had tossed water on him. Of course, he didn't see anyone. On both sides of the log was open air with what appeared to be a long drop. Removing his glasses, he started to clean the lenses on a dry patch of T-shirt. And thus the second one sprayed him as well, which soaked the top of his head.
Behind Harry, Lucius and Narcissa hadn't expected that the Muggles would design the ride so that the riders got wet from tiny fountains. They both got caught by the first one but after that kept a sharp eye out for more of them. In the very back, Lupin didn't care if he got wet. It was part of the ride after all and the werewolf laughed with glee.
The log reached the top and slowly floated along a long curve of metal. The metal looked similar to a long pipe that had gotten cut in half and partly filled with water. And at the other end….
Draco's gray eyes widened as he spotted the upcoming drop. Like the first hill on the Eagle, it was pretty steep but nowhere near as high. Still, they were a good distance up in the air. Thick currents of water ran down the slide-like surface and the flat-bottomed log would slide down this fast and smooth. The edge was coming closer and closer. Terrified, Draco jammed both feet near the front of the boat and leaned back against Hermoine. He was very aware that this time there was nothing to hold him in the log except the girl's arms. The log's front went over the edge and it tilted forward…
Just at this moment Harry had finally dried his glasses for the third time and put them on his face. His green eyes bulged at the sight before him and quickly clung to Hermoine for dear life.
"AAAHHhhhhhhhh!" Draco shrieked as the log plummeted down the water-filled incline. Waves of water crashed over both sides of the metal slide, drenching the distant ground. His pale bangs were forced back by the wind and he desperately clung to the outer edges of the log with white knuckles. The bottom was rapidly approaching and then the boat splashed down. Just as it did so, Hermoine ducked down behind the blonde Slytherin, giggling. A wall of cold water sprayed upward and instantly drenched everyone in the log! Thanks to Hermoine smartly ducking, Harry received a double face full of icy water.
Soaked to the skin, Draco sat in the front of the log dumbfounded. He glanced down at his wet clothes. "I'm wet…"
To be continued…
Hope this chapter was good! I made it extra long to make up for the delay in story chapters.