Title: Wonderland
Team: Caerphilly Catapults
Position: Chaser 1
Round: QL Daily Finish the Lyrics Competition
Prompt: Wonderland
Additional Prompts used: Must finish on or include a cliffhanger
Scamander's Case: Grindylow, male
Prompt: (character) Narcissa Malfoy
Gather Your Party: Artificer number 1
Prompt: (character) Severus Snape
Time to Rhyme (Dogs and Frogs): frogs number 1 Pond Frog
Prompt: (colour) green / (dialogue) "I'm sorry." / "For what?" / "Whatever you're mad about."
Bejewelled: Iolite number 3
Prompt: (dialogue) "I know it's a little expensive"
Mass Effect March: number 5 Urdnot Wrex
Prompt: (emotion) rage
Word count: 1450
Betas: Rose, Ikuni, Bea
A/N Set in an AU where pairings and even family trees may be massively different. There is no evil Voldemort in this universe and therefore none of the prejudice present in canon. Allow your imagination to run wild with this series of tales
Warnings: implied accidental death
"You've bought what?!" Narcissa exclaimed angrily at dinner that evening.
"I've bought an old Muggle theme park and I plan to revamp it," Severus replied, taking a bite of his steak.
"Have you completely lost your senses?" Narcissa raged, her dinner abandoned.
"I don't think so. It'll be a real moneymaker once it's done up a bit. I've researched it and Muggles enjoy theme parks."
"Severus! I absolutely don't believe you," Narcissa fumed.
"I thought we could have a magical section, too."
"You can't show Muggles real magic, Severus!"
"I have no intention to. I meant an area of the park accessible only to our kind. I don't see why we shouldn't get to enjoy the same thrills as the Muggles." Severus shrugged, oblivious to Narcissa's continued rage.
"And how much did this theme park cost you, Severus?"
"It was five million pounds. I know it's a little expensive-"
"A LITTLE EXPENSIVE!" Narcissa shouted. "A LITTLE EXPENSIVE! OF ALL THE RIDICULOUS SCHEMES YOU'VE COME UP WITH OVER THE YEARS, SEVERUS, THIS ONE TAKES THE BISCUIT!"
"It'll make us way more in the long run. It'll be worth it," Severus said calmly, while Narcissa continued to glower at him. "Of course, I'll have to spend a bit on bringing it up to code but…"
"You mean it will cost more money before you can open it?"
"Well, the park has been closed for years, so I'll need to spend a bit on it, but honestly, Cis, it'll be a real moneymaker." Narcissa continued to glower at him. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Whatever you're mad about," Severus smirked at her.
"Whatever I'm mad about?" Narcissa spluttered with rage. "You spend five million on a theme park without discussing it with me! I think I've earned the right to be mad!"
Severus was sitting in his office in the wizarding section of his theme park Wonderland, with his feet up on his desk and a smug grin on his face. Narcissa sat on the sofa and she didn't look amused.
"I told you this place would be a success, didn't I?" Severus gloated.
Wonderland had been open for a year and a half now and Severus had already recouped most of the money he had spent buying the park and making it compliant with Muggle Health and Safety Codes. He had just authorised the park manager of the Muggle section to make an advert for the park for the Muggle television and the manager of the Wizarding section had taken out a full page ad in the Daily Prophet as well as Witch Weekly last week. He had also organised an advertisement on the Wizarding Wireless Network.
The park had been hugely popular amongst Muggles and the Wizarding community alike. The Muggle section contained rides and 'optical illusions', but he was most proud of the Wizarding section which contained magical versions of some of the more popular Muggle rides and a massive stage for hosting Wizarding concerts. The Weird Sisters had played when the park had opened. There was a nightlife zone to the wizarding section which contained a bar, nightclub, and restaurants.
"No one likes a know-it-all," Narcissa grumbled. Grinning from ear-to-ear, Severus came and sat down on the sofa beside her, flinging his arm around her shoulders and drawing her in for a hug. There was a knock at the door and the Wizarding park manager–and Narcissa's cousin–Sirius strode into the room.
"Well, am I a genius or am I a genius?" Sirius asked, as he heaved several large bags full of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts onto the desk. "Today's takings," he smiled at his cousin. Narcissa sighed. She would never hear the end of this, "And we broke a new record for the number of tickets sold for the park today. It seems the Wizarding community can't get enough of those Muggles rides. We're going to have to think about introducing more magical versions of them for when the Muggle section is closed for the winter. I know it's a little expensive, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run."
"I think that sounds like a good idea," Severus agreed with a sideways glance at Narcissa who looked vexed.
"I'm sorry," Sirius said to Narcissa.
"For what?" she asked.
"Whatever you're mad about."
"She's mad because I was right and I'm trying very hard not to say 'I told you so' and succeeding, so far, if I do say so myself."
"You just said it," Sirius said, grinning slyly at Severus.
"Shut up!" He glowered at Sirius who just laughed.
"Anyway, I'd better get these takings off to Gringotts and I'll see you in a couple of days."
"Why not tomorrow?" Severus asked.
"It's my day off, remember? I'm taking Lily Evans on our first date tomorrow," Sirius said grinning broadly.
"You've finally managed to convince her to date you?" Narcissa said, a tone of surprise in her voice.
"Yup!"
"What'd you do? Confund her to make her forget she finds you annoying?" Narcissa teased Sirius.
"What? Oh, hardy har har," Sirius said haughtily. "For your information, cuz, she finds me very funny and attractive."
"I'm not sure which one of you is the most delusional," Severus smirked.
"Hey, I'm better looking than you greaseball," Sirius retorted.
"That's enough, children," Narcissa quipped. "Put the claws away."
Sirius stuck out his tongue at Severus before levitating the bags of money into the enchanted satchel to head to Gringotts.
"I can't believe you're actually responsible for managing all this," Lily said, her bright green eyes wide with wonder, as she and Sirius wandered through the magical section of the park.
"Of course I am," Sirius said, proudly puffing out his chest. "And I do a very good job of it too."
"Oh, I don't doubt that you could be good at anything you set your mind to," Lily remarked. "I just meant that I really didn't think you'd be mature enough to handle such a responsibility. You were always such a prankster in school; it's hard to imagine you changing much."
"There was a very veiled compliment in there somewhere, but I'll take it," Sirius said, flashing Lily a big grin. "Besides, you must have thought I'd changed. I've been asking you out throughout school and you always said no and now you've finally said yes!" Sirius said, pumping his fist in the air.
"To a date," Lily said rolling her eyes, "not to marriage. I don't think you need to get so excited."
"I can get as excited as you want," Sirius said suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Sirius Arcturus Black, I hope you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting," Lily said, looking stern.
"I only meant I'll be as excited as you are about any rides we go on."
"Sirius!"
"Park rides, obviously. Honestly Lily, get your mind out of the gutter." Sirius grinned broadly while Lily gave him a disapproving look. "So where do you want to go first?"
"Let's do the Muggle section first. I always loved going on the rides when my mum and dad would take me and my sister to Blackpool."
"Your wish is my command," Sirius said, standing to attention and saluting. "Follow me, Lils."
Sirius led the way towards the magical gateway that separated the magical section from the Muggle section.
"What ride do you want to go on first? We can use the fast-track line so we don't have to wait in any queues."
"That one," Lily said, pointing to the biggest roller coaster, pulling Sirius towards it. Sirius led the way to the fast-track lane and showed his pass. Within minutes they were seated on the train and pulling the harnesses down into place. Feeling very apprehensive, Sirius sucked his stomach in and pulled the harness down until it was uncomfortably tight. "Are you scared?"
"What? No! Of course not!" Sirius said, his voice a little higher than normal.
"You are. It'll be fine. Look at me, Sirius," Lily said, and Sirius looked into her beautiful green eyes.
"I can't underestimate how terrified I am right now."
"You'll be fine. You're a Gryffindor and Gryffindors are brave!"
"Yeah! Yeah, we ARRRRGH!" Sirius yelled as the ride started to move and climb to the first drop. Sirius screwed his eyes shut as the car jerkily climbed higher and higher. The car gave a violent shudder and there was the metallic sound of metal grinding on metal and the car slid backwards before catching on the mechanism again. The car continued its jerky climb; suddenly the car gave another violent shudder, there was a clunk as Lily's harness sprang loose for the connector and a heart-stopping scream as Lily was thrown from the car and plummeted towards the ground…