A/N For those of you really interested in what exactly Sev and Harry are up to, check
"What can we do here, Uncle Harry?" Severus nearly danced in excitement, "is it all Muggle?"
Harry grinned, just as excited as Severus but better able to contain himself. "All Muggle, and we'll see. We have today and tomorrow."
"Do they have rollercoasters?" Severus asked, hopping from foot to foot.
"Yes, but not all are open in winter," Harry said patiently, "We can do the inside ones."
Severus studied his map and his eyes opened wide. "This place is huge!" he complained, "we'll never be able to do everything!"
"We will do as much as we can," Harry promised, and took the boys hand, "Come along! We are close to this rollercoaster."
Severus looked up at the entrance, a bit daunted. "It's in the dark?" he asked, eager and a little intimidated at the same time.
"Apparently," they quickly made their way inside. There were hardly any lines at all – they had to wait only a few minutes before they were settled in there cart.
"WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!" Severus screamed as they went up and down the dark tunnels, unable to see what awaited them. Harry was just happy he had spelled his glasses to remain on his face at all times. He flinched a little when suddenly a huge predator bird seemed intent to gobble them up, but he moved his hand away from his wand when he realized it was a statue.
Severus came out utterly delighted. "That was so cool, Uncle Harry! Can we do that one again later?"
"Of course. Now see that one?" Harry pointed at a pagoda of sorts that rose majestically into the air, supported by a single iron beam. Severus's mouth fell open as it slowly rotated.
"Are you sure it's not magic?" he whispered.
"Absolutely," Harry grinned, "come, we'll catch the next ride and see what else we can do here."
Severus enjoyed every moment of their flight. Having flown on brooms since he was a small child, the height didn't intimidate him, and he eagerly pointed out buildings, checking what they were on his map.
After a quick trip to Monsieur Cannibale, where they were shaking AND stirred in a giant cooking pot while a huge native…someone eagerly watched to see if they were cooked yet, they visited the carnival festival, with its many internationally themed dolls. The tune played in that one was catchy, and Severus was humming it continually as they made their way from the Travel World to the Mare World.
"We can also catch the steamtrain later on to move about the park, if you wish," Harry said.
"I'm not tired!" Severus protested, "we just got here! Where is here, anyway?"
"This is the fairy tale realm," Harry checked the map, "there's one thing…not really a rollercoaster but it's supposed to really turn your stomach. Are you up for it?"
"You bet!" Severus raced ahead. Harry laughed and followed him at a jog.
"Villa Volta," Severus read.
Inside, there were pew like benches on either side, with a bar to go over their lap. Severus shrugged and didn't see how this could be a stomach-turning experience.
Until the pews started to move, that was.
Granted, they moved no more than a yard and all they did was swing back and forth. But the rest of the room seemed to turn around, giving the idea that they were flung around the room randomly. Paintings turned and spun. The room itself seemed to spin as the motion from the pews they were sitting on suggested they were moving across the ceiling.
When it was done, Harry and Severus emerged a pale sickly green and staggered to the nearest bench to sit, rest, and convince their heads and stomachs that the moving had stopped.
"Oh…my…" Harry moaned.
"Yeah…." Severus confirmed, leaning close to the wastepaperbasket next to the bench just in case, "that was bloody brilliant!"
"I'd admonish you for language but it's too much trouble…and threatening to wash your mouth out with soap only makes me more sick," Harry complained, but he was already laughing again and the colour slowly returned.
"I agree, though…it WAS brilliant. But I think once was enough for me!"
"Definitely," said a recovered Severus. "Oh, Uncle Harry. Can we do this now?"
He pointed to a place called Dreamflight.
Dreamflight was absolutely gorgeous, they both agreed. A bit 'girly' at some points according to Severus, but Harry had seen him watch their surroundings with large black eyes. Until, of course, just as they were about to leave a wonderfully green room with a gorgeous waterfall and fairies, a troll had jumped from behind a tree and scared the daylights out of them. Harry had laughed at the shocked expression on Severus's face then.
"Those Muggles are evil," he had grumbled, "stop laughing, Uncle Harry!"
By now it was well into the afternoon and Severus's stomach began to grumble.
"Time for lunch, I think," Harry checked the map. "Ah, food nearby," he said contently.
They ate a long lunch, a bit tired by the walking and all they had seen.
"This park is great. Can we come back sometime in summer, when everything is open?" Severus asked eagerly.
"We are definitely coming back here," Harry nodded brightly, "shall we take your Grandpa too next time?"
Severus giggled for a moment. "He would love it," he said, knowing his grandfathers odd tastes. Then he fell silent for a bit.
"Uncle Harry?" he finally asked.
"Hmmm?"
"Do you know…I mean…I got into that fight a while ago," Severus began.
"Yes, I know. That was a brave thing you did," Harry praised gently.
"Granddad was very angry with me then," Severus poked at his fries, "and when I asked him why he got so angry he just said it had more to do with him than with me. Do you know why he was angry, Uncle Harry?"
Harry sighed. "I do, Severus, but I'm afraid my answer isn't much different than Granddad's. It was not your fault at all. It had something to do with things that happened many years ago."
"That's what Granddad said, and Aunt Luna, but I don't understand why no one will explain to me what those things are."
Harry put down his utensils and looked at the boy seriously. "I understand, Severus. Really, I do. When I was young, people kept things from me as well, things that I perhaps needed to know. They kept it from me because I was too young, they thought, to burden me with it. In hindsight, I can understand why they did. The thing is…" he hesitated. "The thing is that it is not up to me to decide when you are old enough to tell you those things. I know you are a very intelligent boy, but you are also still a child."
Severus glared, and Harry couldn't help a smile. "I know, you are growing up fast," he conceded, "but the fact remains that it is up to your grandfather to decide when he tells you about them, because even if they are not your fault, you have now seen that they can affect you. Just remember that your granddad loves you, and that he will do anything to protect you. So do Aunt Phoebe and myself as your godparents, and Aunt Luna and everyone else."
Severus nodded, not quite satisfied but reassured that at least Harry had been willing to talk to him honestly instead of avoiding the issue.
After lunch, they spent a long time visiting all the different fairy tales. Though Harry was the recipient of a truly awful glare when he suggested Severus try to kiss Sleeping Beauty awake, they had a great time. The long monorail through the village of Laaf was enchanting and they laughed at the funny Laaf creatures they encountered.
"A cross between house elves and garden gnomes," was Severus's less than flattering assessment.
They retreated to the hotel in the early evening to bathe, change clothes and eat in the hotel restaurant. Harry had rented one of the theme suites, and Severus had great fun exploring every nook and cranny.
"Night, Uncle Harry," he muttered as Harry finally sent him to his bed, "thanks for bringing me," he snuggled into his pillows.
Harry couldn't resist tucking him in and smoothing a hand over the dark hair. "You're very welcome, Junior," he said softly before turning off the lights and going to sleep himself.
sssssssssss
At Hogwarts, Albus was packing for the annual holiday. The Hogwarts Express would leave by the end of the day and all children were busy packing. Most of them would leave their trunks at Hogwarts – they had clothes and such at home and only needed to bring their homework. Dumbledore sighed when he remembered seeing Cedric Diggory that morning. Rick had not seemed happy to return to his parents at all, and the Headmaster could not really blame him.
Then again, who was he to judge Amos for comparing one child to another? Had he not done the same with Severus? Granted, his situation was unique, but due to the completely different upbringing, his grandson was not the same person his son had been. They did of course share many of the same characteristics and interests, but the boy had grown up in a happy, secure home. The Potions Master – well. Dumbledore cast a glance at the portrait that still hung in his office.
"Don't beat yourself up over the past, Headmaster," Luna's voice came from the door, "simply make the most of your second chance."
Albus smiled. "I am trying. Believe me, I am trying. But while Severus is different, I am not."
"You have changed more than you think," Luna stole a lemon drop from the desk, "when Severus was young – when Harry and I were young, you would never have taken advice or council from a former student. Not even Minerva."
"I still do not always take your advice," Albus reminded her.
"Of course not. We are wrong from time to time as well. You are still stubborn on some issues – Harry, Phoebe and I still believe Severus should be slowly told of his true origins over time instead of waiting until he is older and then spring it on him – but you are no longer incorrigible."
"Thank you, Miss Lovegood," Dumbledore took a small bow, "as for Severus – when is the right time to tell him that he is really fifty years old? What is the right moment to tell him that the man he believes is his father, is really himself?"
"Hermione loaned me some Muggle psychology books," Luna said, "do you want to read them? They might have some useful information. Meanwhile, take your holiday and enjoy the boy you have instead of constantly thinking back to the boy you lost."
Dumbledore nodded curtly, then smiled. "My boy is probably having the time of his life with Harry," he guessed.
"Undoubtedly. We should all visit that park this summer. It sounds like a wonderful experience," Luna agreed, and stole another lemon drop.
ssssssssss
Harry and Severus returned late on the second day, tired but excited.
"…and there was this ship, Granddad, and it rocked back and forth, real hard! We were sitting all the way up and we almost hung upside down when our side was up! And then when it went down again, it felt like my body was going along with the ship but my tummy was left behind for a moment!"
Phoebe and Albus listened with a smile on their faces. Harry's sons listened with envy, and begged their Dad to take them as well when they were old enough, which Harry readily promised. Lily sat on his lap, listening to Severus.
"Lily go too?" she looked up at her father. "Yes, you can come too," Harry kissed the top of her head.
"I take it you had a grand old time, then," Albus knew his grandson did not really want to be cuddled, but the boy had sat next to him on the couch and over the course of his tales, scooted closer to his grandfather until he was leaning into him.
"It was fun, granddad," he yawned.
"And exhausting," Harry agreed with a yawn of his own.
"Well, time for bed then," Dumbledore laughed when he noticed Severus had fallen asleep against his shoulder. He lifted the boy in his arms and gently carried him off to his own bedroom in his grandfather's tower.