CO-WRITTEN WITH WOOVIS—Here's the first chapter of: Hexes & Kisses
Screaming Pictures
The Hogwarts Students filed into the main hall unenthusiastically, knowing what awaited them. It was Flitwick's birthday. That meant another boring speech about how he loved his job, blah blah blah. And, even worse, it meant he got to pick the foods. Everyone knew he had an odd fetish for elfish mushrooms. They might as well have been poison: they tasted just as bad.
While eating a hideous meal composed of elfish drinks and goblin delicacies in celebration of Professor Flitwick's birthday, Dumbledore stood up, instead of Flitwick and there was a relieved sigh emitting from the students and staff alike, hoping that they would not have to endure a speech every one of them had heard before. Even the first years seemed to realize that not having to listen to Flitwick's monologue was a good thing.
"My dear students," Dumbledore began, "It seems that a misfortune is the current guest for the portraits protecting the Hufflepuff and Slytherin dormitories. One would observe that the portraits may be screaming, kicking, and therefore preventing anyone from getting past them." There was a series of well-placed gasps. "If it were not an inconvenience for you students, I would say that it is a very good safety measure. I am sorry to cut your celebration—and your speech— short, Professor Flitwick, but we must. Hufflepuff, please report to the Ravenclaw dormitories. Slytherin, you will be spending the remainder of the night, or however long it takes to sort this out, with Gryffindor." Again, gasps echoed throughout the hall, accompanied by terrified moans from the Gryffindor first years, who had heard nothing but horror stories about Slytherin.
"Prefects for Slytherin, HufflePuff and Head Boy and Girl, please report up to the staff table immediately. We will need to make sleeping provisions for these students. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Prefects, please escort your Houses to your common rooms—and I assure you, those ones are safe—and get everyone organized. But I'm sure you know what to do..." Dumbledore was about to turn away, when he added, "And do not worry, none of you will be going to bed hungry." He turned away with a wink, and the staff formed a huddle group.
One of the Gryffindor Prefects, Joanne Slybur, looked to where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were just standing up. She mouthed, "Fred and George" with a questioning look on her face.
Both of the boys nodded in unison. Soon the number of students in the main hall dwindled, and the number of students in the Gryffindor dormitory increased dramatically. Ron, Harry, and Hermionie had taken three of the cots that magically appeared in the corner; people had already occupied their beds before they even reached them. They were hoping that no one else would take up residence in the six cots around them, but they were not acquiesced. Soon, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown lay down next to them, quickly followed by Neville and his toad, and finally, Draco Malfoy and his cronies; Crabbe and Goyle.
If this were not bad enough for them, it was made worse by the fact that they were unable to help the Prefects as they consoled the panicky first years, who were in a frenzy after Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle's grand entrance. The troublesome three had mastered the smoke-screen charm, and had entered through the portrait and then set off the spell. One of them made silent fireworks go off, "accidentally" lighting a prefect's hair on fire. Her singed hair made her unrecognizable. The older prefects reprimanded them, but this had no effect. They had gone to the back of the room, after hearing that there were no real beds to sleep on, to torture their favorite friends, The Golden Trio.
They were greeted with deadly glares, which made it seem as though Snape himself had taught them how to give an evil look. "So, Potter, why the glum look? The Dark Lord giving you a hard time?" Draco asked, with fake sincerity in his voice.
"No, Voldemort's been quite pleasant lately. We're arranging to have tea on Saturday." Harry said, enjoying the grimace Draco made at the mention of Voldemort's name, and ignoring Ron's frown.
"Don't say his name!" Draco hissed, as Parvati Patil scooted down next to him. He put his arm around her.
He turned his attention to Hermione, who had been pointedly staring at the fireplace, which had no flame, due to the extreme body heat from the many people in the room. "Mudblood, how's life treating you?"
It only took a few seconds. First stage: Ron's face turned a violent shade of crimson, which would have looked actually pretty, if Ron had not attempted to punch Draco in the next second.
Draco backed up his body right as Harry and Hermione grabbed onto Ron's arms, holding his arm in front of Draco's face a few inches away.
"Thanks anyway, Ron." Hermione said, with a shy smile on her face. Ron returned the tentative smile.
Draco looked between the two of them, then raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I see how it is." And is if he was being challenged, he grabbed Parvati and snogged her.
He pulled away and wiped his mouth, which looked slick with spit. Parvati giggled and jumped up, going off to gossip with her friends.
Draco laughed in a mocking way, then leaned back onto his cot and sighed. "You gryffindor's are so boring." he commented, examining his suddenly amusing cuticles.
"Are we, Malfoy? And what would you oh-so-thrilling Slytherins be doing, in the middle of the night?" Hermionie asked sarcastically. Then, suddenly realizing her unintentional implication, turned bright red. Draco just laughed.
"Maybe." he relpied shortly, still laughing. "Normally, we play some muggle game. Forget the name. Parvati?" He asked her, refereing to what the title of the game was.
"Truth or Dare." She answered matter-of-factly, looking rather pleased with herself, although it was quite clear Draco's forgetfulness was just a dramatic effect.
Harry rolled his eyes. He knew the game. At the one party he had ever attended, he had gotten caught in a game of it, and was busted, equaling a firm lecture from his aunt and uncle. He suddenly felt the need to wretch. Another lecture about how "duddikins" would never do that.
"Oh?" Said Hermionie, feeling suddenly adventurous. The idea of this game excited her. She had been asked to play at a friends sleepover once, but, declined, as she was caught up in a very good book. A good reason, she assured herself.
"Yes, mudblood, Truth or Dare." Draco sneered. Ron tensed, and Hermionie scowled. "Someone has to start, and ask someone: Truth or Dare? Then the person picks, and is given a question for which the truth is required, or, given a dare." He explained.
"Of course, you Gryffindor's wouldn't want to play..." Malfoy baited, knowing full well Harry's ego couldn't stand the knock.
"Of course we would. Malfoy, you start." Harry answered, looking triumphant.
"No, no, couldn't possibly taint your reputations." Malfoy sneered. Hermionie groaned.
"Just start, Malfoy, before Harry changes our minds." Hermionie said, looking at Harry in disgust.
"Just do it Draco." Parvati crooned. Neville and Lavendar looked sick.
"Alright, let's have at it then. Everyone know how to play?"