There are some games that should never be taken for granted. Like playing chicken on a state highway with your father's new car. Like seeing who could drink the most shampoo without hurling. Like trying to sneak into Filch's office when he's on his lunch break, (which Fred and George always found extremely entertaining). These are the kind of games that are dangerous and most people already know the consequences. So why is it that the clever Hermione, who usually knew when there was trouble brewing, suddenly found herself playing a game with new rules and penalties that boggle the mind?

Chapter 1:

Hermione Granger was stressed. Very stressed. This wasn't exactly a new thing but that didn't make it any less irritating. Nor did it help that ever since she had become the Head Girl; her duties throughout the weeks had tripled. Her sixth year was hard enough, what with homework from almost every class and Harry and Ron helpless without her when it came to their potion assignments, faithfully doled out by Professor Snape. But what really stretched her to her limits, was that five hours ago, Professor Dumbledore had pulled her from taking notes in Arithmacy, and proceeded to inform her that she would have the privilege of helping the Head boy, (Blaise Zabini) with organizing this years' Halloween Ball. Oh joy...

It was times like these that sometimes drove Hermione to drinking too much Fire Whiskey. Luckily, Ginny was always there to hold her hair back when it was necessary.

She was meeting that very person in the Gryfindor common room in about five minutes. Right after she stopped by the kitchens to grab some goodies. She had long since given up on trying to get the house elves to accept pay because she had learned that the house elves were even more stubborn than herself. Hermione still brought Dobby a new pair of socks when she could manage it but she knew the other elves would never take them if she offered.

She wondered what she would get today. Last week they'd gifted her with brownies that switched between dark and white chocolate, depending on how long it took you to eat them. (They were half a foot in length and very rich.) She tickled the pear on the painting that hung over the entrance to the kitchens, producing giggles which caused the door to swing open. Hermione salivated when the smell of baking Creme cakes wafted towards her. 'Well, that's one problem solved.'

"Hermione! You came to visit Dobby!" Hermione braced herself as the big-eyed house elf jumped into her arms. "You brought Dobby some lovely socks?"

"Hello, Dobby. I've actually come for some creme cakes if that isn't a problem. But I'll try to bring you some red and yellow socks next time. What do you think of that? You'll be wearing Gryfindor colors!"

"Hermione is too kind to Dobby. We have lots of Creme cakes for you, my lady!" Dobby lowered his excited voice so the other house elves wouldn't hear. "And I bought you a secret stash of Fire Whiskey when I visited Hogsmead. It's just for you. My way of thanking you for all of these beautiful socks." Dobby pointed a foot at her which was three times it's normal size due to the fact that Dobby was obviously wearing every pair of socks Hermione had ever given him. No doubt he was still wearing the grimy old sock Harry had given him during third year.

"Thank you, Dobby! That was very thoughtful of you. I really must be going now, so could I have the food now? Is that all ri..." Hermione didn't have to continue, for Dobby had already jumped from her arms and returned with a covered package containing the Fire Whiskey. Two other elves presented her with a basket full of Crème cakes and also two more of Choco's Changing Brownies as a treat. The other house elves were aware of Hermione and Ginny's weekly get together's so they were always prepared.

"Farewell, Hermione. Come and visit soon." Dobby said as he and the other house elves bowed her out.

"Ginny's going to hex me for being late." If there was one thing Hermione knew about Ginny, it was not to keep her waiting on sweets. Hermione ran up the stairs and barely jumped off the end into the next hallway when it decided that it was time to change. She really hated the stairs when they got restless. Grumbling to herself that nothing ever went smoothly, she wasn't looking where she was going and ran headlong into a solid object.

The drinks and the food went flying and using reflexes she had honed since she started attending D.A. meetings, whipped out her wand even as she landed on her butt with a 'thump'. "Impendimenta!"

Hermione picked herself up and plucked the food basket and drinks from the air where they had frozen in place and set them safely on the floor. Than she turned to see what it was that she had smashed into. "Oh Merlin, tell me this isn't happening." Hermione let out her breath in frustration when she stared at the now frozen Slytherin Prefect. "Damnit! Why did it have to be you of all people!"

Malfoy of course didn't answer but remained in the peculiar position he had frozen in. Hermione snickered when she noticed the way he was stuck, bending backwards in a near fall, his mouth opened in surprise. Hermione stopped smiling when she noticed the horribly bright purple lipstick stain on the collar of his robes that Pansy Parkinson was know for wearing. 'How could he stand that pug-nosed female?'

Hermione finally realized where she was and what she was supposed to be doing and quickly grabbed up her snacks before Malfoy reanimated himself. Ginny was going to give her hairy feet if she didn't get to the Head common room real quick.

As she ran off, Malfoy suddenly started to move again and landed on his back. "OWW! What the hell!" He looked all around for what he had collided into. He remembered bushy brown hair flying into his face before he was knocked off his feet. That could really only mean one thing. 'So where's Granger?' " Damn Mudblood should watch where she's going." He grumbled as he picked himself up and continued towards the Prefects common room. 'It was too bad those looks had to have landed on such an annoying half-breed.'

After wheezing out the password, "willow tree" Hermione entered the Head common room to find Ginny sitting in a squishy chair beside the fire twisting her hair into braids. Oh boy. It was always a sure sign that Ginny was ticked when she started to mess with her hair. "Ginny, I'm so sorry I was late, but you would not believe the things that have been happening to me. I brought Creme cakes. And Fire Whiskey, so don't be too dire in your punishment ok?"

Ginny threw an agitated look her way but couldn't hold it for long. She burst out laughing. "Oh Hermione, you should see your face! You look like I'm going to eat you or something! Just give me the cakes and I'll forgive you... this time." Still grinning she took the basket from Hermione and hugged her friend. "So. What's been happening to make you so stressed?"

"I never said I was stressed. Who said I was stressed?" Hermione flopped into a body-sized pillow in the middle of the floor and sighed from getting off her aching feet. "Do I look stressed?"

Ginny talked around a mouthful of pastry. Something she had inherited from Ron. "You look like you just found out you have to trade places with Atlas in holding the world when you still have Arithmacy homework."

"Ginny, sometimes your analogies weird me out. But yeah, I am a little tired. I have just been given the grand duty of providing this school with a Halloween Ball. And I almost humiliated myself when I bumped into Malfoy on the way up here. Luckily I froze him before he could see who it was but still, I don't like close calls. Hey leave some of those cakes for me!" Hermione snatched a pastry out of Ginny's hand before she could take a bite out of that one too.

"Wow. You have to plan the Ball all by yourself? That's an awful lot for just one person, isn't it? " Ginny chose to ignore the remark about Malfoy. She would never like the Git.

"I'm not doing it by myself. Blaise Zabini is going to help me plan. At least that's what Professor Dumbledore told me. I'm not entirely sure how this is all going to work out but at least I know Blaise will be there and he always has interesting ideas for social functions." Feeling herself beginning to relax Hermione broke out the Fire Whiskey. She took a swig before she asked, "So are you ready to play?"

"I have been waiting for you to ask!" Ginny jumped up and ran to the far wall where she and Hermione stashed things in the hidden chamber behind the portrait of a wrinkly old wizard, who snoozed in his frame more often than not. She tapped him on the forehead twice to wake him up than smacked a kiss on his cheek. The wizard blushed red than swung open to reveal a small red vile containing some form of liquid. Ginny grabbed the vile and pushed the portrait closed again with a snap that made the wizard grumble but she didn't notice. She ran back to Hermione and sat on the floor in front of her.

"What is that?" Hermione peered at the vile with curiosity. "I haven't seen a potion like that before."

"You wouldn't have. Fred gave it to me when they came to visit two weeks ago. They found it when they were looking through the boxes the previous owners of their joke shop had left behind. They said they weren't exactly sure what it did but that it was found in a box full of old wizard games. And look! Read the writing on the outside of the vile."

Hermione took the vile from Ginny and was surprised at how hot it felt. The words that were written in small loopy lettering twisted around and down the vile. They read:

Playing the game is all great fun.

But where are you left when the game is a pun

Drink from this vile

Play a while

Play the games of Draidon

"Play the games of Draidon? What's Draidon? What are we supposed to do?" Hermione pulled out the stopper and sniffed the liquid inside. There was no smell.

"Well isn't it obvious? You drink the potion and... and.. Well we'll just have to see what happens. You aren't scared are you, Hermione?" Ginny pinned her with a gleaming stare.

"It's not a matter of fear. We don't know what's in this potion. It could be dangerous."

"Oh please. Don't give me that. It was found in a joke shop for Merlin's sake! What harm could it really do? Come on. Just take a sip and I'll drink after you and we'll see what happens ok?"

Hermione knew there had to be some better excuses for why they shouldn't do this but her brain was already a little befuddled from the Fire Whiskey she had consumed. 'What the hell. If worst comes to worst they could always go see Madam Pomfrey and get their stomachs cleaned out with some purging soup she had made herself that was guaranteed to have you heaving whatever was in your stomach into the toilet real quick.' "Well... I guess we have to since it's the unwritten rule that we should try to have as much fun as possible on our nights together. Bottoms up."

Hermione tipped the vile toward her mouth and almost spit the potion out when the freezing cold liquid ran down her throat. It didn't have a taste, but it left her lips feeling tingly. Ginny took the vile after she saw that Hermione hadn't keeled over on the spot and took her turn sipping the potion. She didn't shiver like Hermione did.

"It tastes like... nectar. It's pretty good."

"I didn't taste anything. Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. So what do you think will happen now?" She stood up and put the vile back in its cubbyhole and sat beside Hermione again.

"I don't know. Maybe we should just wait a minute. Give it time to effect our systems or something." So they waited. And waited...

Five minutes passed before Ginny jumped to her feet. "This is so boring. That potion was probably just nectar in a bottle that Fred was playing a practical joke with. Let's just play Truth or Dare like we usually do and not waste the rest of our night."

"Ok with me." Hermione didn't say anything about the effect the potion had had on her. 'It was probably just my imagination.' But she could still feel the slight tingle in her lips. "Ok. Truth or Dare, Gin?"

"You know I always like a good dare." She grabbed a bottle of Fire Whiskey and almost choked when she took too enthusiastic of a drink.

"Alright... I got it! If you don't do this dare you have to... tell Snape you have a crush on him."

"What? Never! What's the dare?"

"I dare you to go up to Blaise Zabini and... run your hands through his hair!"

Ginny moaned. "Aw man! Why did you have to dare me to do that? I don't even know where he is right now."

Hermione grinned devilishly. "He's walking down our hall right now on his nightly watch duty. He's very prompt and is always down this hallway at this hour. So let's see it, Gin. Or will Snape be hearing your vow of affection tomorrow?"

"Oh, go eat beetle eyes! I'll do it just don't rush me." Ginny stomped to the common room portal and flung it open to peer outside. Sure enough, Blaise was just rounding the corner stepping softly so he wouldn't wake anyone up if they were light sleepers. "Oh Merlin, why me?" Ginny whispered than almost snarled when Hermione gave her a little shove out the door. "I'm going, just hold on." Ginny ran her hands through her hair and tried to act cool, like she wasn't about to make a fool of herself, and calmly walked towards Blaise.

Blaise noticed her coming towards him and nodded in acknowledgment, but when she stepped into his path he simply raised an eyebrow at her in curiosity. Ginny tried for a smile and nervously ran a hand through her hair again. "Hi. How's the patrol going?"

"Well, nothing has happened that's out of the ordinary except you, Gin."

Ginny blushed but was determined to see the dare through. "You look kinda tired. Have you been up late for too many nights? Even your hair looks exhausted." Saying so she started to step forward and reached up to run her hands through his luxurious hair but it didn't go quite as smoothly as she had first planned.

Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle the laugh when she saw Ginny stumble on a slick'em patch that someone had left there to trip up unsuspecting passer-byers. Blaise was already a good foot taller than Ginny so she never had a chance of reaching his hair when she fell forward and directly into him. Though Blaise usually had good reflexes, he hadn't expected her to fall on him so they both went tumbling backward onto the floor.

"Oh, Merlin! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to squish you." Ginny couldn't remember ever being so embarrassed in her life. This dare was so not worth this kind of torture.

"You're not that heavy, Gin. It wasn't your fault anyway." Blaise didn't move,

just laid there with Ginny half on top of him and stared at her. It unnerved her a little but now that she was there she might as well get it over with.

"This definitely didn't help your hair." Ginny finally managed to slip her fingers through his hair and then, realizing that she was still lying on top of him in the hallway, jumped up. "I... I have to go. I'm sorry again for, uh, squishing you.. But I have to.." Ginny walked away quickly and pushed a nearly hysterically laughing Hermione back into the Head common room.

Blaise watched her escape and didn't bother to move from the floor just yet. 'I told her she didn't weigh that much.' Blaise sighed than picked himself up, brushing himself off. 'Gin was certainly interesting.' His scalp still tingled from her fingers. Blaise continued on his patrol.

10 minutes later:

"Oh my Gosh! I cannot believe that happened!" Ginny threw a pillow at Hermione who was still laughing/crying on the couch. "It's not funny!"

"Yes.. Yes it was!" Hermione finally gained enough control of herself to keep it down to only a small giggle. "Oh, Ginny, that was priceless! You totally mauled Blaise Zabini! I only dared you to mess his hair a little but hey, whatever floats your boat."

"Ha ha ha... I am so not playing this game anymore tonight. That was too much for one night." Ginny gathered up her things and snatched a few creme cakes before turning to leave the room. Only before she could open the common room door, it swung open to emit none other than the Head boy.

Blaise merely raised an eyebrow at the sight of Ginny and moved into the room to sit in one of the chairs by the fire. He nodded at Hermione than continued to watch Ginny.

Ginny blushed and hurriedly said goodnight to Hermione before she escaped through the door and away from his gaze.

"I don't suppose you had anything to do with what happened out there?"

Hermione jumped and looked guiltily at Blaise. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm going to bed, I'll talk to you tomorrow and we can start discussing the Halloween Ball. Goodnight." Hermione scurried away to her room almost as quickly as Ginny had left, and left Blaise sitting alone. It was then that he allowed for a small grin to grace his face. 'Maybe he would talk to the red head tomorrow as well.'

Hermione was dreaming. She was standing in a black room. Hermione pulled out her wand and mouthed the word "Lumos". She didn't hear the word come from her mouth but it worked regardless, as a bright light ignited from the tip of her wand. There were words zooming around. Hundreds of words in bright silver lettering that looked just like the words that were written on the vile Ginny and her had sipped from. Hermione squinted at the flashing letters and made out a few of them. There were words that said 'Hold', and she saw one that said 'Kiss', and 'Dare.' Hermione thought she saw one that said 'Draidon.'

'What's happening?' She mouthed, but still no sound came out of her mouth. But yet again, that didn't seem to matter because she heard an answer.

"I've waited a long time for you. Are you ready to play?" The voice filled her mind from all directions. It was such a dark voice. A voice that should belonged to a Centaur or some other powerful creature. It made her shiver like when she had first sipped the potion from the vile. She even began to feel that same tingle in her lips.

'Who are you?' She thought, since words didn't seem necessary in this place.

"It doesn't matter at this point... Are you ready to play? Are you?"

'Play?' Hermione tried to think of what the voice could mean. 'I don't know what I'm playing.'

"Oh but you do. The moment you sipped from that vile, you knew what you were doing. Are you ready to play Hermione?"

The way her name was spoken. It was like her name had a magic of it's own.

"Play with me. The fun starts tomorrow, dearest one. We will have so much fun, you and I."

'But who are you? What starts tomorrow?' Hermione spun around trying to see through the darkness. Past the shimmering words that flew around her.

"Don't be scared. My rules are always fair... Hermione."

Her wand suddenly flew from her hand and everything went dark. Her body shivered of it's own accord and her lips tingled.

You'll be so much fun... Hermione felt a blazing hot mouth close over hers and before she could react it was gone. A light suddenly pierced the darkness and Hermione flung her arm in front of her in protection from the glare.

Hermione sat up in bed and blinked against the sunlight streaming through her window. "What a dream." But her lips were still burning. She touched her fingers to them before she remembered herself and jumped out of bed. "Hmph. I don't need to be wasting my time in bed when there is so much to do today."

That's when she spotted the vile. It was sitting on her bedside table, gleaming in the sunlight. One of the words on the vile was glowing silver.

Draidon

Hermione shuddered. 'That vile was put away. What is it doing here?' She picked it up and tried to ignore the heat that emanated from it. It was the same heat that had come from the kiss... No! She wouldn't think about that right now! She had things to do. She went downstairs and kissed the old wizard's cheek putting the vile back where it belonged. 'Now. It was time to start the day.'

As it turned out, the obligation she had towards the Halloween Ball took precedence over her homework obligations. At least that's what most of her professors said. As long as she did the work she had during class, the professors avoided giving her homework so that she had an easier time of planning the Ball. All the professors accept, of course, Professor Snape. She really hadn't expected otherwise but it did grate on her nerves that Snape could be so... well, Snape.

Harry and Ron didn't seem to need her help anymore, which actually worried her more than anything but she wasn't going to argue with them about whether they were actually doing their own work or not. It was just less stress. Blaise and her got together early that morning with Professor Flitwick to discuss some options for decorating the Halloween Ball. Naturally Blaise had a few interesting ideas.

"I was thinking that maybe the floating pumpkins would be too traditional. We need to do something... more. I had an idea that might suit our purposes." Blaise leaned back and closed his eyes to get a clearer picture. "I checked the charts, and the moon is going to be full the night of the Ball. There aren't any weather changes due for months so the sky will be clear."

"Are you suggesting we have the Ball outside the castle?" Professor Flitwick squeaked. "I also checked the charts, and though it will be a clear night it will also be a cold one. The children would freeze!"

"I don't think that's what he was going for." Hermione looked at Blaise and tried to imagine his vision. "I think he intended that we harness the moonlight indoors. The ceiling in the ballroom would reflect the moons' glow and if we could capture that light somehow, and make it a little brighter, it would give the whole room a more mysterious feel. It could be perfect for the mood we want to set." She nodded at Blaise. "Am I right?"

"Quite." Blaise looked pleased with her insight.

"Well, that's a wonderful idea! Much better than freezing off our nether places when... oh dear! Do forgive me children, I shouldn't have spoken so." The professor's squeaky voice was almost unintelligible.

"It's all right, Professor. No harm done. I think I'll go do some research to see if there's an easy way to harness moonlight. Good day Professor." Hermione stood up to leave.

"I'll go along." Blaise stood up as well. "Good bye, Professor."

"Good bye, Ms. Granger. Mr. Zabini. Hope you have success on your research."

Hermione and Blaise left together and followed the quickest path to the Library. "That was really a very good idea you had Blaise. I love the picture I get when I think of the ballroom flooded with moonlight."

"You were quick with the uptake. I hadn't yet thought of harnessing the moonlight for better effect. That was all your doing." Blaise looked sideways at Hermione as they walked. "Have you spoken with your friend recently?"

Hermione glanced up. "Hmm? Did you say something?" She had been preoccupied with thoughts of her dream. Her lips were beginning to tingle again and she couldn't figure out why.

"I asked if you had spoken with your friend. Ginny Weasley?" He stopped and looked fully at her. His face was serious but there was something else behind his eyes. Was it humor? Or, just curiosity?

"Actually, no. I haven't seen her since last night." A flash of Ginny tumbling on top of Blaise brought a quick grin to Hermione's face before she could control herself. "We, uh. Planned on seeing each other later."

Blaise's eyes narrowed on her face. "I knew you were a part of what happened." When Hermione blushed he nodded at the conferment. "What exactly did you two say to each other that brought on that scene?"

"I, well... we were just sort of playing a game... uh."

"A game?" He held up a hand when she opened her mouth. "No, no. Don't bother explaining. Let me take a guess. Was it by any chance, a dare?"

When Hermione looked down sheepishly, Blaise smiled. But his face was serious again when she looked back up. "It didn't work out like you had planned did it?"

"Not exactly... but it was pretty funny if you had seen it."

Blaise accepted that as a challenge. He was usually an extremely tolerant, easygoing guy but he did not like to be made sport of. This meant a little payback was in order. "You really shouldn't have used me for a game. But in truth I admired the way Ginny played it through. She didn't back out like most people would. Do you play the game so honestly as well?"

Hermione didn't like the way his words were making her body feel. The more and more he spoke about games and playing, the more her body shivered. Her lips felt ice cold. "I play Truth or Dare the same as anyone else. If the Dare or truth are too much for me to handle, than I follow the consequence."

"Than just to make this even... I dare you to topple Draco Malfoy onto the ground

and put your hands through his hair." Blaise found extreme amusement in the way she paled and stuttered.

"But... but wait! The dare for Ginny wasn't to topple you. It was just to muss your hair a little. The falling was an accident!"

"Never the less. It happened and Ginny had to go through it. So you do too. Or are you scared?"

Hermione figured she could just take the easiest path, or she could just... wait him out. "I'm not scared. I... I just want to know what the consequence would be."

"I can answer that."

Hermione 's whole body felt charged with energy. 'It can't be.'

"Oh, but it can, my dearest. I was wondering when you would be ready to play."

Hermione looked at Blaise to see if he was hearing the voice, too. But he wasn't moving! Hermione looked around wildly. Everything was at a standstill. Blaise didn't even blink and down the hall she spotted another student passing through who was stopped mid-step, his foot still hovering above the ground. She turned around to look the other way but her eyes landed on something very close. She was staring at someone's chest!

She stumbled backward and almost collided with the still motionless Blaise. Her first impression was that of a boy maybe two, three years older than her, wearing black boots and deep purple pants that skimmed his hips. He was wearing a light, flowy white shirt that was pinned at his wrists but hung loose everywhere else, leaving the top of his chest exposed. He had a black open vest on and she vaguely registered the jawbone length auburn hair that blew wild with it's own wind source. He was wearing a black headband with silver, loopy letters on it but she didn't get a chance to read them because she was suddenly caught.

His eyes were so intense it made her a little frightened. No normal person or even a not so normal wizard could have eyes that color. They seemed to swirl, changing from violet to pitch-black, than violet again. Those eyes were focused entirely on her... and he was grinning. He walked, or did he float? Towards her even as she backed away. "Are you ready for the rules, Hermione?"

"Wha... what rules? Why won't you tell me who you are? What do you want from me?" Hermione turned around ready to run but he was there. Standing in her path before she could take a step.

"Think hard, dearest one. You already know my name. Can't you remember the many times I've told it to you?"

'What is he... does he mean in those words I saw?' She closed her eyes trying to remember. 'Play', 'Rules'...'Draidon.'... Draidon!'

"That's it. I knew you could do it. You very clever. I want you to play with me, Hermione. Let me tell you the rules and we can play."

He stepped toward her again and this time she didn't back away. He seemed to be everywhere at once so what was the point?

"You already know what the first rule is. The second rule is that you cannot back out. No matter how much you want to. The third rule is really just your consequence. So let's see what we can do about that, shall we?" Draidon suddenly floated into the air and started to circle her. He crossed his arms and put his hand on his chin. He continued to circle her around and around until she became quite dizzy.

"Would you please stop moving?" She muttered. "I don't like feeling sick. And I don't have time to play this game. I have things I have to do! I have a Ball to plan!"

Draidon came to a complete stop, still hovering over her. Suddenly he whipped in front of her until they were almost nose to nose. He whispered to her. "You have no other choice, dearest one. You're playing my game now. And I've been waiting a long time for you to come along." He suddenly grinned like a fool. It threw her a little because the grin looked so out of place. Like he didn't do it often. "I have the perfect consequence, Hermione, mine. If you don't tumble and ruffle Draco Malfoy, you will have to give up something precious to you." He leaned in closer until their noses really were touching.

"Wh... What do you mean? What would I have to give up?" Hermione hardly breathed. He was so close his eyes each looked like a looking glass.

" Oh, only your innocence. Don't look at me with those big brown eyes like that. I don't mean to rape you, so don't misunderstand." He suddenly flipped over backwards and hovered a few feet from her. "But your innocence on the other hand, I have a great desire for. If you don't follow the rules of the game, you loose. Now doesn't that sound like fun?"

"I never said I wanted to play this game. What if I refuse?" She didn't know why she was fighting him. She didn't know what he was capable of. It was just a stupid dare after all... what was the big deal?

"The moment you sipped from that vile, you were a part of my game. You willingly swallowed that potion and willingly became my playmate."

"But Ginny, she drank some of the potion too. Why am I the only one who is a part of this game?"

"You drank first. You are the one I have been waiting for and there is no going back now. So now that you know all the rules, precious one, we can begin the game."

Suddenly his hands were on either side of her face. He touched his mouth to her chilled lips and she felt them heat with surprising speed. Her eyes closed and her body trembled with the power of it. When she opened her eyes again, Draidon was gone and Blaise was looking at her expectantly.

"Alright," She heard herself say. "I accept the dare."