The Kiss

Hermione glanced around the table; it was filled with an odd assortment of friends and long time acquaintances. She reached out, grasping her wine glass – listening to her soon to be mother-in-law divulge her closely guarded banana loaf recipe. It had been a strange confluence of events that had led to where they all now sat; and the game they were playing.

She had stopped to speak with Ginny, only planning on being at the Burrow for about a half hour; but had been invited to stay and have dinner. She had consented, Ron having to work till morning. Ginny and Harry had been over visiting with Molly and Arthur, George had come over to speak with his mum regarding whether a mint flavor would cover the foul taste of his latest 'idea', and Minerva…

Her eyes drew to the witch who had stopped by the burrow just as they were serving to dinner hoping to speak with Molly for a brief minute. The entire house, including herself, had cajoled her into having dinner and even staying for a drink after. Hermione had known there was another, friendlier side, to Minerva; had engaged in conversations with her on many occasions before leaving Hogwarts and since, but this was the most relaxed she had ever seen the woman. One drink had led to two, and like everyone else present, to a third. It was at some point during their third drink, George suggested a game of truth or dare and it had floored not only her, but from Harry and Ginny's expressions, them as well when Minerva of all people agreed. After that, it was a mere formality of asking Molly and Arthur to join in…and her.

Intrigue filled Hermione as the arrow finally landed upon Minerva, thirty seconds ago, she would have sworn Minerva had charmed the needle not to land upon her. It had been close to forty-five minutes and this was her first turn. And, she couldn't help but wonder, which Minerva would choose.

Truth? And what would Molly ask? Something from her childhood? Her time as an Auror? At Hogwarts? There were so many things that remained unknown regarding her life. Even the most simplest of personal items, whether she was married, single or even widowed?

Or perhaps a dare? And if so, what in Merlin's beard would Molly dare her to?

What would she dare her too if she could?

"Well?" Molly asked, a look of mischievousness in her eyes.

"Please, say truth." George quipped, practically drooling at the notion.

"I'm afraid George, that if you've lived as long as I, that it is far easier and less painful to chose dare."

The entire room collectively moaned, Harry voicing everyone's thoughts. "You aren't old, Minerva."

Minerva didn't rebuke his statement, merely quirked her brow at him before turning her full attention to Molly.

"I dare you to chose truth next time."

Hermione watched as a series of questions passed unasked between the two women, wondering what if any was the cause for such a dare; and was surprised when her crisp lilt cut across the air. "I accept."

Minerva wasted no time, and spun the makeshift spinner – all eyes turning to George who suddenly wished to be somewhere else. "Well, Mr. Weasley?"

'It does leave one to wonder if you are somehow charming the spinner." He casually remarked between a sip of firewhisky, delaying the inevitable.

"Perhaps, and which poison will you chose?"

"Truth."

"Are you sure, George?" she asked, features remaining madingly placid.

George instantly thought through what McGonagall could or potentially would have the knowledge to ask him, and felt safe in saying yes. "Quite."

"Did you lose your virginity to Katie – " Minerva watched his cheeks instantly match the color of his hair, and everyone else star at her as she continued on. "Or Oliver first?"

A pin drop could have been heard at the seeming uncouth question spilling from Minerva McGonagall's lips; and at how much she obviously knew about them that even they didn't. And also, how high the stakes had just gone up.

George's face was bright red as he tried to assimilate the question and found himself unceremoniously clearing his throat, "Didn't see that one coming, McG." He murmured and forced his eyes to meet hers and ignore the other gawking occupants of the room, including his parents. "Oliver." He tersely answered, pushing the two syllables from his throat before upending the remaining of his firewhisky – suddenly needing an intravenous supply. He set his now empty cup down, all eyes upon him; obviously waiting for more information. "Fine," he poured himself another generous measure, "it happened after our win against Slytherin, fourth year."

"Wow…" Harry breathed, completely shocked. "Never knew."

"Me either." Ginny chimed in.

"Didn't think anyone knew." George remarked, eyes sliding over to Minerva.

"Are you and he…?" Molly cleared her throat as she tried to find a delicate way of asking, without asking. "You know…"

And any of the awkwardness that George had felt disintegrated, "No, mum."

She nodded, but Arthur piped up concern evident in his eyes. "If that's why you haven't brought anyone home, you know we'll still love you." Molly's head shaking in time with his.

"No, but good to know. I haven't brought anyone home, because unlike our love birds here; I haven't found the right person." He reached forward flicked the spinner, "Definitely safer to go with dare." His comment directed to Minerva as the spinner landed upon Hermione. "Well, it'll be hard to follow, but you're up."

"After that, I'm not sure which will be least painful with you; George."

"Luv, how can you say that?"

Hermione met his deadpan stare with her own, "I know you, George." The room chuckled in response. "However, in this instance, and after your turn; I'm thinking dare."

"Going once, twice…" he tried to keep his smile from growing any broader, "and the dare is – a page I'm stealing from mum's book. I dare you to play in the next game of Weasley quidditch that we have here at the Burrow."

Both Harry and Ginny's eyes grew instantly to the size of saucers, Arthur and Molly looked befuddled while green eyes remained distantly curious as Hermione's jaw dropped. "You want me to, what?" She cast a glance to Harry and then back to George, "I barely fly a broom when my life depends on it and you want me to play an entire game of quidditch on one?"

"You can always say no and go with truth."

"Like that will be any better…" Hermione murmured more to herself, but noticed that while no one else seemed to have caught her own internal musings – Minerva had. Probably due to her animagus traits. Her rambling thoughts continued on for another moment on that vein, as she wondered what else if there was any thing else, or if it was mere coincidence regarding Minerva and her animagus self. Which led her back to her previous thoughts, Minerva was an enigma.

"Well?" George prompted, immediately bringing her scattered thoughts back to her more immediate problem.

"Fine, I'll take the dare and pity the poor group whose team I'm on."

Harry leaned over giving George a high five, "Good one."

As did Ginny, "Hey," Hermione countered of her two best friends, "neither of you are helping."

A bright smile lit up Ginny's face, "Why would I? I've always wanted you to play a game."

Hermione spun the spinner, "Just don't be surprised when I wind up with a broken back in St. Mungos." She retorted loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I've seen you fly, you're going to do fine." Ginny rubbed Hermione's shoulder.

"Speaking of," Hermione glanced at Ginny, "going to be fine – truth or dare?"

Ginny's face fell as her eyes darted to the board, "ahhh damn."

Hermione took a sip of her firewhisky, "Yup. Now, which one?"

She met Hermione's gaze, and searched her face – looking for an ounce of emotion that would lead her to know which one to chose. "Truth."

Brown eyes slid to Harry and back, "Have you ever…"

"Dare." Ginny interjected knowing in her heart she did not want to answer whatever question Hermione was about to ask. "Dare."

"You sure this time?" Hermione countered.

"Yeah," she took another hefty swallow of her firewhisky, "dare."

"A trip through Diagon Alley," she lifted her wand and touched Ginny's shirt making the fabric shimmer and spin into a fish net material. "In that, now, without your bra."

"You must be joking." Ginny said as she gazed down out what was left of her shirt.

"Five minutes…"

Blue eyes hardened, "Fine." She stood, clutching her wand and stormed to the door, "And I was going to take it easy on you during the quidditch game."

"Your bra." Hermione nodded to the matching red bra.

Ginny opened the door, and banished her bra to Harry's lap. "Hold that for me, will you love?" And was gone before the door had an opportunity to close.

The evening continued on in much of the same vein, dares to be paid now and in the immediate future; truths making not only the relayer blush but the rest of the room as well; until Minerva indicated that she'd need to leave shortly and the game drew to a close as they unanimously decided to call it at 10pm.

George reached forward towards the spinner, "One more?" He questioned glancing to the clock and back as it was still five till.

A round of nods followed, and he spun it…trying not to show how thrilled he was that it had landed upon McG. He had hoped all evening that he'd have an opportunity to repay her, and it had looked that it would go unreciprocated until now. Granted, she was the one person who it seemed the spinner landed upon the least; while his sister seemed to be answering a question or conducting a dare every third or fourth turn.

"It seems, you've got your wish George." Minerva set her glass down, meeting his blue ones with knowing green ones. "I'll chose dare."

"You're sure?" He questioned, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Quite." Minerva answered, curious as to what the young wizard would ask her to do for her earlier question.

"As this is the last one for the evening, I'll give you a choice. You can either kiss Molly, Ginny and Hermione as a lover would or tell us if you are still married to Alec have, any children, and what is the status of your personal life now."

Minerva weighed the options and it was an easy choice for her to make, she'd take the dare. While momentarily uncomfortable, it was nothing compared to the alternative. "Molly, I believe you are first."

Molly blustered a moment, "Surely it can't be that bad, Minerva." She said as Arthur's ears turned pink.

Minerva stood, extending her hand out to Molly. "Neither will this be." She countered with stoicism and a hint of reassurance.

"Oh, heavens George." Molly took Minerva's hand and stood, "I haven't any notion as to why you chose this, but you'd better not come here looking to do your wash for the next year or who knows what color or size it may be returned to you."

Minerva steered them to the next room, George moving to follow. "You, all of you, get to remain here. The dare didn't include spectators."

"Ohhh…good one, Minerva." Molly murmured as they moved into the kitchen.

"How will we know you kissed?" George called out, "Without witnesses?"

"As we've known every other dare has been carried out." Minerva remarked aloud as she turned to Molly, and tried to picture the face of her lover… "Just relax." She whispered, brogue becoming thick as her voice dropped two octaves.

"Minerva, I don't know if I can…do this." Molly swallowed hard, trying to think of the taller woman as if she had somehow become Arthur.

With great care, Minerva reached upwards and brushed her thumb across Molly's cheek, fingers trailing down her neck and then ghostly across her lips…and then back along her jaw as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against Molly's…


a/n: I know...I know...I'm taking a break, right? Leaving that awful horrible cliffhanger sitting there on Bonding, and there is 'another' story being posted. Well, yeah...I am & I did.

Sorry about that, but...perhaps I may be able to interest you in a little more?