** June 29th 1996 **
It was well before six am on a chilly Saturday morning when the Granger's car backed out of their garage. A yawning, grumpy Richard Granger was behind the wheel as they started the four hour journey to Alton Towers. The weather was unseasonably cold. Though Harry and Hermione knew why, they'd decided it was not something they were ready to share with her parents. Remus, who'd come back from his mission to the werewolves had mentioned the constant presence of the Dementors was causing the reduction in temperature, even if they weren't close enough to cause the draining of happy feelings. It was one of the biggest concerns of the Order currently; getting to Dementor attacks and driving them away.
As the car started north toward Staffordshire, Hermione pulled out several books from her bag, opened one and started reading. Harry stared out the window at the passing scenery. He'd never been on a long car ride except when his uncle had been fleeing the Hogwart's letters. Then he'd been too scared to really enjoy what was to be seen. After an hour though, he finally started to lose interest at the various towns, fields and automobiles filled with other families going wherever they were going. He turned to Hermione who was deeply engrossed in her book. He reached over and picked up one of her other books and flipped it open.
Two hours into the drive, they stopped to stretch and to relieve themselves. Harry threw on his invisibility cloak and apparated back to the Granger's garage where he climbed into the Cabinet and shortly afterwards made his morning appearance at Grimmauld Place. That was their plan for the day; every couple of hours Harry would apparate back and make the Weasleys and the rest of Dumbledore's order think he was locked away in his room, when actually he was hours away having fun. Soon he was back in his room, two minutes later a small crack let Hermione know her husband had returned. He whipped off the invisibility cloak and they climbed back into the car for the rest of the journey up the motorway.
It was an excellent day to visit the amusement park. Not only was the chill in the air keeping many people away, but there was also a major benefits concert underway in Hyde Park for the Prince's Trust. With Eric Clapton and The Who leading the acts at the first open-air rock concert at Hyde Park in twenty years, many of the people who would have spent the day riding roller coasters were instead, headed to London to brave the cold to enjoy the concert. Of course, along with the hundred and fifty thousand people expected, almost the entire Auror department would be there as well, as would the Order. With that many people celebrating and having a great time, it would be like a flame to the Dementors.
After all that he'd experienced in his life, walking through the entrance of the park and down Tower Street was like a dream to Harry. It was more magical than magic itself was. Everything in this park was meant for one thing, fun. The music, the characters in costume, everything contributed to that feeling. Hand in hand with his wife, along with her parents he started exploring.
From that moment on, it quickly became one of the best days of Harry's life. A day he could forget about Voldemort, Death Eaters and all the memories of his friends' deaths that he shared with Hermione. It was a day that Harry Potter (wearing a hat to hide his scar) was just another young man enjoying time with his girlfriend and her family. By the end of the day, he couldn't believe Hermione had ridden the Nemesis with him, not once, but twice. In fact she'd ridden all of the roller coasters and other thrill rides, including Thunder Looper, Runaway Mine train, and a ride called Energizer that swung riders in a very nauseating fashion. He knew she was doing it for him and he paid her back by riding all of the rides she'd wanted to ride as well. Galloper's Carousel, the Swan Boat ride and the children's Squirrel Nutty's ride. They'd even took the time to wander The Gardens hand in hand. Jean Granger had had her camera out many times during the day, capturing rare pictures of her daughter smiling without a book in her hand.
Hermione had been relieved to see her father mellow toward her husband as the day went by. Within a couple of hours of entering the park, the two of them had been conversing, stiltedly at first, but over the course of the day it had developed into friendly banter. By the late afternoon when they'd ridden the teacups, they actually worked together in trying to make her and her mother sick by spinning the teacup as fast as they could; congratulating each other when Jean and Hermione swayed dizzily getting off the ride.
By the end of the day, they were all exhausted and they slowly walked toward the car. Hermione had her arm in Harry's and was clutching the teddy bear he'd won her in her other arm. She had plans to change the color of the eyes of the bear to a vivid green when she could.
"Sir, Ma'am," Harry said to the Grangers. "Thank you. I know this was for me and...and I appreciate it greatly. It...well it's been one of the best days of my life."
"You're welcome Harry," Jean replied with a smile. "It's been a while since we've had a family outing ourselves and I think we all enjoyed it. Maybe we'll have to go other places this summer as well."
"I'd like that."
They stopped at a small family restaurant for dinner before the long drive home. Four hours later, as they pulled into the garage, Jean looked in the backseat to see her daughter leaning up against her boyfriend clutching her teddy bear sound asleep. It had to be the most endearing thing Jean had ever seen. She then noticed Harry was still awake and just holding her. When he saw Mrs. Granger looking back at him, he smiled.
Harry gently shook Hermione awake. "We're back," He said to her when her eyes fluttered open.
When Mr. Granger disappeared into the house and Harry went as well to use the bathroom, Hermione stopped her mother. "Mum, I want go with Harry tonight."
Jean studied her daughter for a long second before nodding. "Your father will be asleep within a few minutes anyway. Go tell him goodnight and make your escape."
Hermione reached for her mother and gave her a hug. "Thanks mum. You're the best."
"Just try to be back for breakfast," Jean replied. "It's Sunday so we won't be up too early."
Harry and Hermione were exhausted too. It only took them a couple of minutes to slip into their pajamas and collapse into the bed once they exited the cabinet. Hermione was still clutching the teddy bear as the two of them fell into a very deep sleep. Neither of them checked to see if the door was locked.
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