** Okay everyone, this is mostly an introduction chapter to this fic. It is going to be multichapter and is going to be an ongoing project. So as long as I and the readers are still interested, it will be updated. I hope you enjoy! As I said before, though, the first chapter is mostly introduction and the following chapters will be more humorous. There is little bits of Luna/Neville, Harry/Ginny, Hermione/Draco in this. Not enough to be too obvious or annoying if you don't ship them though.
"Merlin, I'm so bored," Ron complained loudly.
The golden trio was lounging in the shade of their favorite oak tree. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and the trees were not yet changing color. All of the seventh years were back at Hogwarts to repeat the previous year, given that Death Eaters don't make proper teachers.
"It's only September and already we're getting bored," Harry halfheartedly commented. And it was true. Perhaps it was the fatigue left over from the previous year, or perhaps they were all just getting older, but the three friends could think of nothing that motivated them to move from under the shade of the tree.
"We could study," Hermione suggested, "I mean, it never hurts to get ahead…" she trailed off, knowing already what the answer would be.
"Study what exactly? We've only been in school about two weeks, and Snape's not here to-" Ron abruptly stopped his train of thought there. He knew how much Snape's death had affected Harry and despite still not being much of a fan of the former teacher, he didn't want to upset his friend. The three just sat, watching the clouds slowly glide past, as if they too lacked motivation.
"You lot as bored as we are?" The three looked up to see Neville loping across the lawn towards them, holding Luna's hand gently as she looked from her new love interest to her friends with a soft smile.
"As big as giant squids are, they can only eat so much toast," Luna remarked in her dreamy voice.
"So it's not just us then," Ron pointed out, ignoring Luna's comment, "We need something to do. It's our last year at Hogwarts."
"Really? I had no idea," Harry sarcastically responded. Ron kicked his friend in the shoe.
"Does anyone have any ideas?" Neville asked as he sat down with them.
They all sat for a moment, listening only to the sound of Luna collecting berries that may or may not have been poisonous from a nearby shrub.
"Wizard chess?" Harry suggested.
"Harry, how many times do I have to explain to you how barbaric the concept of that game is? Besides, we'd have to go inside if we wanted to avoid all the pieces escaping, and it's so nice out here" Hermione pointed out.
No one felt like arguing with Hermione and losing, as they all surely would, and so they sat in silence again, staring at the ground, trees, or far away students.
"No quidditch…" Harry pointed out as he looked up from the grass to Hermione. Upon seeing her frown he added, "I'm too tired anyway, though."
"Yea, saving the world will do that to you," Ron remarked as Harry looked down again. He was happy Voldemort was gone, but if he was honest with himself, he couldn't wait for people to start to forget it had ever happened. After living in the spotlight all his life, he was beginning to get sick of people swooning over him every time he blinked.
"So…" Neville began, seeing Harry's slight discomfort, "No chess, no quidditch, no packages from the Weasley's shop yet, and the giant squid is already stuffed with bread," he sighed.
Suddenly, an idea occurred to Ron, "Hermione, you're Muggle born! You must know some weird Muggle games that we haven't grown tired of yet!"
"Well I…" Hermione paused as she racked her brains for a game that wouldn't require too much explaining. It can't involve moving; I'm sure none of us feel like getting up… Not childish, either… and it can't be too complicated. Suddenly, she smirked as a memory pushed itself to the front of her mind. She looked down in an attempt to hide it, but it was too late.
"What?" Harry asked her, feeling like their boredom would soon be lifted.
"Nothing," Hermione answered, only half wanting to avoid the question. She had all of their attention now.
"Hermione, you'd better tell us or I swear on Merlin's pants I will curse you!" Ron threatened, taking out his wand.
Neville interjected, "Is that really a good idea, mate? This is Hermione Granger you're threatening," Harry laughed.
"Okay, fine. Hermione, come on, though. Tell us what you're smirking about over there," Ron asserted.
Hermione blushed furiously as laughter began to shake her small form, "There is one game…" She paused to try to control her laughter.
Harry wondered what kind of game Hermione had played that would make her act like this. He was suddenly apprehensive. Ron must have thought the same thing because he proceeded to ask her, "Erm, Hermione? What sort of a game-"
"No no no! It's not like what it seems, I promise!" Hermione interrupted, laughter ceasing, "I just remembered something funny. And I know a game we could play. It's called truth or dare. I used to play it with my friends all the time during the summer."
Upon hearing the name of the game, everyone began to ponder exactly what Hermione did when she was away from Hogwarts, save Neville.
"How do you play, then?" he prompted.
"It's simple, really, one person asks another if they would like to answer a truth, or complete a dare. Whichever you choose, you either have to answer truthfully to what they ask you, or do whatever they dare you to do. And then that person chooses the next person, and so on," she explained.
Ron shrugged, "Sounds like a right good time to me. Hermione should start." Ron said, leaning back on his elbows.
Just as they were about to begin however, Ginny appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, startling Neville. Luna, who was still harvesting row of shrubs Ginny had been hiding in, seemed unphased.
"Sorry, Neville. Damn, Peeves has been a pain in the arse today. He's been stalking me all day," Ginny said as she wrestled her way free of the plants.
"Is that why you've been lurking in the bushes like a common ape?" a familiar drawling voice asked.
"Leave us alone Draco," Ginny turned around to face the blonde.
"Yea, lay off my sister," Ron chimed in as Luna, seemingly oblivious to the scene, continued to gather berries.
It suddenly struck Harry that this was the first time he'd seen Draco since the day he killed Voldemort. While he looked better than he had during the war, he certainly didn't look well. Draco was still far too thin to be eating enough, his skin and hair had grown dull, and he was alone. For once, he didn't have a crowd of loyal Slytherin followers surrounding him.
"Hatred will get you nowhere," Luna scolded gently, eyes still on her shrub.
"Tell that to the Death Eater," Neville solemnly added.
"Look you little-" Draco began.
"She means all of us! Now everyone just be quiet!" Hermione raised her voice, taking control of the situation.
"At least someone here knows how to act civilized," Draco quietly sneered, "Even if she is Muggle- born." He turned on his heel and began to stalk away.
He didn't call me a Mudblood, Hermione thought, intrigued.
"Draco, wait!" she called after the Slytherin, acting completely on impulse.
Draco stopped in his tracks.
"Play truth or dare with us!"
"WHAT?" The entire group was in uproar at once. Harry understood, though. Draco was alone at Hogwarts, and he did hesitate to turn them during the incident on his manor. When Harry pointed this out, the response he got from Ron was thunderstruck.
"Harry, have you gone mad? This is the bloke who made us miserable for six years! The prat who tried to get Buckbeak killed!"
As Harry was considering this, Draco interrupted the uproar, "And why, pray tell, would I want to do that?" This caused everyone to stop arguing as it reminded them that Hermione had just invited Draco to sit with them.
"Because you have no friends here currently, and Harry saved your life during the Battle of Hogwarts so you already know that we're nicer than most of the people currently in your house," Luna explained as if she were talking about the migration patterns of wild salmon.
Draco seemed to be weighing his options.As nice as the concept of not being alone for the year sounded, he knew it couldn't be true. This was probably some ploy to get him to humiliate himself by crawling back to the people who he'd mocked for his entire Hogwarts career. But then, on the other hand, he was so tired. Tired of being alone, tired of the self-loathing, just tired. So, to everyone's surprise, he took a step forward.
"Why should I believe you?" he asked apprehensively.
Harry sighed, "Because we're much less of prats than you. Now just sit down so we can all make each other miserable."
After Hermione explained the rules for the second time (Draco was appalled that they were playing a Muggle game), they finally were able to get started playing. A tradition was in the making.
Author's Note: Soooo what truths/dares would you guys like to see in this? This is mostly going to be a humor fic so I will be taking all suggestions that are in character and will fit! So feel free to suggest away!