A Hogwarts Tale: Twin Prophecies Chapter 268 3: Thorpe Park pt. 1

Thorpe Park announced itself long before it was seen.

The distant roar of steel on steel carried over the morning air, punctuated by screams that—by all rights—should have been screams of terror, yet sohow sounded delighted.

Even aboard the knight bus travelling like a bullet through the lanes and highways of the muggle world, the shrieks of joy could be heard.

Once the ride finally ca to a stop, Cassius stepped off the Knight Bus last, smoothing his jacket and surveying the scene with the wary expression of a general arriving on foreign soil.

Color everywhere.

Bright banners flapped overhead.

Music blared from unseen speakers.

Balloons bobbed like cheerful sentinels.

Muggles stread past in shorts and sumr dresses, laughing, shouting, eating food that slled aggressively of sugar and grease.

Ginny spun in a slow circle, arms outstretched. "This is brilliant."

Astoria stared, awed. "Why is everything so… loud?"

"Stimulation," Hermione said automatically, adjusting her bag. "Visual, auditory, emotional. It's designed to overwhelm the senses in a pleasant way."

Cho smiled. "So—it's kind of like magic, just non-magical?"

Luna nodded thoughtfully. "The screams are friendly. That's nice."

Seeing the six alight from the bus, each taking in the new atmosphere and experience, but to Cassius he was getting to see the girls, dressed up in muggle wear, having gone out days before with Hermione to do so shopping a trip which surprisingly Cassius was not invited.

But the payoff was right on the money, having gotten his first real look at the girls in the light, his heart couldnt help but seize in his chest.

Cassius cleared his throat. "Right. Tickets."

Near-inexhaustible muggle funds turned out to be very useful.

Within minutes they were through the gates, wristbands secured, maps acquired, and Hermione already tracing an efficient route with a finger.

"We start here," she said, pointing decisively.

Seeing where she was pointing Cassius couldnt help but approve, unlike the muggles who would avoid the gas area until towards the end of the day, they with access to magically expanded purses, pockets and bags, didnt need to hold back on prize acquisition.

Nodding his head in approval. "Sound strategy."

Thus began their conquest of Thorpe Park—slowly.

Carnival Row ca first.

Gas lined the path in a riot of color: ring tosses, shooting galleries, hamr-and-bell strength tests, and stalls promising prizes far larger than statistically reasonable.

Ginny imdiately dragged Cassius to a throwing booth.

"Hit the targets," she said. "Win the dragon."

Cassius studied the setup for three seconds, adjusted his stance, and proceeded to knock down every target in rapid succession.

His physical training had never been missed for a single day, and while his fourteenth birthday was fast approaching he still hadnt broken out into lifting weights due to the strain they can put on a growing body.

So while he looked skinny underneath his clothes he was surprisingly toned and strong as well with compact muscle groups.

Couple that with his knowledge that the gas themselves were rigged in favor of the carnies, Cassius could use that knowledge against them.

The attendant stared in awe. "Whoa... Good arm young man!"

Cassius handed Ginny the oversized stuffed dragon.

"Thanks! I play baseball." He responded using this popular muggle sport as an excuse for his ability.

Ginny hugged it to her chest. "I'm naming him Reginald."

Astoria tried the hamr ga, missed the bell by a foot, but her attempt was still better than Luna who missed the target entirely smashing the hamr into the poor carnies foot.

Netting herself a prize in return for her not trying again, a prize she happily accepted.

Cho surprised everyone by winning a shooting gallery prize on her first try, earning a plush owl she imdiately handed to Luna.

Her eyesight and control the peak amonst the girls, due perhaps to her excessive quidditch training, and additional year of magical practice?

Luna happily accepted the plushie having the owl join her salamander as friends.

The gas themselves were entertaining considering how simple they were requiring physical exertion or concentration beyond the norm.

The simplicity of it appealed to the girls, though the more creative and perhaps mischievious of them had even taken to the idea of enhancing the gas by including magic into them.

Though the idea of a magical amusent park was outside this groups range, but Ginny was impressed enough to bring the idea to her brothers Fred and George.

~

The rides ca next.

Gentle ones, Hermione insisted.

A spinning teacup ride that left Astoria laughing hysterically and Ginny threatening to hex the cup itself for making her almost... almost make a scene in front of cassius.

A slow river ride where Luna trailed her fingers through the water and announced it was "thinking happy thoughts."

A small coaster—small by Thorpe Park standards—where Cho laughed freely and Daphne's hair barely moved.

Cassius endured them all with stoic patience.

Then ca the Tunnel of Love.

He noticed too late.

The sign was pink.

There were hearts.

Soft music drifted from within.

Hermione froze mid-step.

"…Oh."

Ginny turned slowly. "Cassius."

"No," he said imdiately.

Astoria grinned. "Rules are rules."

Cho folded her arms. "You agreed to go on rides with us."

Hermione flushed. "I didn't realize—"

Hermione hadnt planned this, the tunnel was a fairly common ride but not one she knew existed at Thorpe Park, as she last ti coming here the ride didnt exist, or perhaps due to her youth she hadnt noticed the ride before having no intrest in it.

Luna clapped. "Oh good! Boats!"

Cassius sighed the long, resigned sigh of a man outnumbered and outmaneuvered.

"Fine," he said.

Knowing full well he wasnt going to wiggle his way out of this one, but his only condition was that this would be the only ti on this trip.

He didnt feel like spending the entire day endlessly riding a single not so exciting ride afterall.

The first ride was with Hermione.

They sat opposite one another in the small boat as it drifted into the dim tunnel.

Painted stars shimred overhead. Soft music played.

Hermione stared very intently at the glowing water.

Her face crimson, but even still she enjoyed the simple intimate ti alone with Cassius leaning into his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her in response.

The second ride was Daphne's.

She sat with perfect posture, hands folded in her lap.

If it werent for the fear of passing out, she very well might have dont just that, her imagination running wild at the thoughts of what this ride symbolized.

Then ca Cho's turn, followed by Ginny, Astoria, and lastly Luna.

Each had their own reactions to the intimate quiet ti knowing full well the rest of the party was waiting just beyond those steel walls, waiting to hear the juicy details.

All except for Luna who, didnt seem bothered by the situation at all, just enjoying all the things only she as a natural legilins could experience, the air of the ride itself a collection of various loves, enough so that to Luna's eyes the inside contained a pink mist, one which seed almost magical as if this mist itself was capable of influencing the patrons to develop deeper feelings, thus perpetuating its own existance.

But with his days sacrifice finally over with, Cassius alongside the girls stopped for a bite to eat, enjoying the simple rustic foods.

But, Cho tilted her head, studying the skyline beyond Carnival Row.

Where steel tracks twisted high into the sky.

Where massive structures lood.

Where screams were louder.

Sharper.

More… real.

She exchanged a look with Ginny.

Ginny cracked her knuckles.

"Alright," Ginny said decisively. "Enough with the kid stuff."

Cho nodded. "We want the real thing."

Cassius followed their gaze upward—to the towering roller coasters, the drop towers that kissed the clouds, the rides that promised terror in bold letters.

The girls moved with anticipation, though Cassius subtly was regretting the decision to save these rides till after lunch.