Disclaimer: Hiya. What, oh yeah…I don't own Harry Potter and his mates!
The Grangers planned to go to Disney's Magic Kingdom on that Thursday night for dinner, a spectacular parade and the illuminating fireworks. Hermione and Cassie spent most of the day apart, as Cassie now believed Hermione was the uncoolest person on the planet and Hermione didn't want to be in the scene of anymore tantrums. She had followed her own advise and shut herself in her room reading a few books while the others had a refreshing dip in the pool.
She was glad she had that chat with Harry and Ron, but somehow, the twisting agony in her stomach kept her thinking about her newly found friends. She was glad they all had her best interests at heart but somehow she could only think of the American wizards as friendly and helpful (in the annoying Cassie department). She hadn't heard a peep from them, however, she realised when they pulled up in the Disney car park that night. She had rather got used to the straightening charm they showed her, but now the heat and humidity were making it stand on end again and she looked like something out of a horror movie.
Cassie would have laughed herself to tears if she hadn't planned to pretend she didn't know Hermione existed.
Robert and Jane strolled into the park, hand in hand, gazing at the skylights ahead, an exciting youthful feel in their veins. Hermione looked around the packed sidewalks and inner shops and boutiques. The atmosphere was just like that of a great wizarding event (like the Quidditch World Cup for example). They reached a lovely little café with brightly coloured furniture and glittering decorations. As they sat, Hermione wondered how someone like Ron would take to the taste of muggle's interpretation of a magical world. She laughed.
She ate in a pleasant mood, it must have been the over friendly waitress that did it. With the stripey apron to the bobbed hair, and a pleasant smile, she came across all warm. Hermione ate spaghetti hungrily, a day of reading and walking certainly takes the energy out of you.
Finally, the family were ready to depart to the fun of the festivities. Cassie was actually behaving civilised and marched ahead of the group, holding out her purse in case she found anything worth purchasing. Then all of a sudden, it all went serioudly dark. An announcer on the speakers revealed that the fireworks were ready to begin in a matter of moments. The crowds dispersed further towards the platform and babbled excitedly among themselves.
'Psshh!'
Hermione jumped and turend round. Louise and Chad were grinning at her straight behind her in the crowd. 'Hey, we just thought these fireworks are pretty lame to what we can call fun!'
Hermione smiled. 'Yeah, you should see the stuff some of my friends get up to in school…'
'We're going to rig the platform and put some of our own fireworks in there!' Chad sniggered. 'That'll show them all a night to remember!'
Hermione frowned, 'you won't do anything dangerous, will you? Listen, my friends told me that one of my teachers has-'
'Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it!' Louise grinned. She and Chad began to move away. 'Watch that your cousin doesn't know what we're up to!'
They turned away and disappeared. Hermione glanced nervously around the increasingly loud crowd. Somehow, she knew this was all going to go pear shaped.
WHOOSH!
A massive firework hailed the sky and threw bright pink colour against the inky black night. People ooohed and ahhhed at the spectacle. A few more were thrown up with some entertaining music. Beside her, Hermione saw her Aunt and Uncle enjoy the event. Cassie stood with her mouth open, completely unaware of any magical giveaways. Hermione sighed and started to enjoy herself. If these were the fireworks the group had planned to use, then yes, they were wonderful!
However, something happened just then that made her blood go cold. One of the fizzing fireworks didn't stop mounting – it grew higher and higher in the sky, increasing in size and then burst into flames like combustion. A few people laughed heartily at it but then something was wrong. The flames were coming down speedily, like massive fireballs – for the crowd! Hermione screamed and the red hot fire came together to create one huge ball of firing rage. Most of the crowd noticed its descent and ran backwards, arms over their heads. At the last possible second, the fireball whoosed away and climbed back into the sky. It twirled on the spot and exploded in a massive boom that hurt Hermione's ears. The fire soon burnt out in midair replaced by acid green fizzing whizbee type cartwheels that shot into individual groups as the crowds dispersed towards the exits.
Amid all the chaos, more and more horrific fireworks began to take place. Hermione's aunt and uncle grabbed Cassie and Hemione, one in each hand, and pulled them away. It was an epidemic; the streets inside the park were filtering with people heading for the gates to the car park. Hermione looked over her shoulder to see a rainbow of light and colour on and above the platform.
Cassie, too, was looking over her shoulder in amazement and tripped over an abandoned pushchair. She screamed and fell to the ground, people knocking into her. Aunt Jane gasped and tried to get back. But Cassie's legs seemed to have other ideas; they thrashed out at her and twisted around to face the platform, Cassie shouting out of pain. It looked like someone invisible was dragging her by her feet back to the platform. She screamed and waved her arms madly. Hermione gasped and dashed back to retrieve her. Aunt Jane and Uncle Robert tried to follow but the powerful stream of people kept them back.
'What are they playing at?' Hermione asked herself, jogging after Cassie's sliding body. 'Cassie! Hold out your hand!' She yelled, trying to reach her in time before one of the fireballs took her.
'I'm trying!' She yelled back. The force was too much and soon they were both back at the empty, dangerous scene. 'I can't do magic!' Hermione thought desperately. One of the burning ruby red fireworks was twisting towards them at speed like a flying phoenix.
Cassie screamed murder and Hermione felt her eyes bulging; the light of the dancing flames reflected in her glassy eyes…what could she do??