Authors notes

Everything belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling (Thank you Ma'am).

This is a post-Battle of Hogwarts, eighth year story. Dumbledore and Snape are still alive, but everyone else we all love, who died at the battle will remain dead for the purpose of this story.

Let the Games Begin

For the third time this month Dumbledore stood at the head of a destroyed great hall. Craters in the walls, tables broken, food everywhere, students in the infirmary, teachers demanding vacations, elves sacred to leave the kitchens. It was absolute chaos!

And to think, it all started with a few games.

It was only supposed to be a few games.

~~Three weeks earlier~~

Hermione POV

Oh, I hate being late. I hate I hate I hate it! Rushing into class a few minutes late I look up at McGonagall's stern grimace.

"I'm sorry Min- Professor." I say stumbling into my seat, but not before I see her repress a slight grin.

"Well, now that everyone is here" she says with a quick glare in my direction. "I'm sure your all wondering why you were asked to come here a few days early this year."

After the war, no one was really sure if Hogwarts could even be rebuilt, but surprisingly it didn't take more than a month and a half, at which point all students were told they would be repeating the past year. The seventh years, now eighth, were told to come in the Friday before school started to "settle in".

"The staff and I understand that you are all of age, and so you will be given certain freedoms," at this everyone started whispering excitedly to each other. "However, there will also be expectations for you to meet." McGonagall said. "Firstly, you will be permitted to go to Hogsmeade to your liking, and will be able to apparate to and from there as needed. However, missing class will result in a detention." She gave a small glare to all the students to make sure everyone was paying attention.

"Secondly, because we have an extra year full of student at Hogwarts this year, you will not be living in your usual dormitories. In the left wing of the school you will notice there are four floors, will smaller dormitories on each side of the hall. We decided to give these rooms to you, as they are more luxurious." At this everyone started to get fired up again.

"Settle down, settle down. These dormitories are not going to be separated by house year, and we have already decided who will be rooming with who to promote house unity." At this people started looking around the room nervously.

With just a quick look around it was clear that none of us we really up for "house unity". We had all grouped together with maybe a few outliers here and there. Mainly the Patil twins were sitting as bridges between the Lions and the Eagles, and Luna was sitting in Neville's lap, while Cho basically hid from her house in Hufelpuff.

And then there were the slytherines. All had been cleared from trial, because the law protected them as students. Many people had been angry, but considering the number of death eaters who were still running about, no one was overly concerned with a bunch of kids who didn't even fight.

Well that's not true. Some did fight to protect the school, namely Blaize, Pansy, the Greengrass sisters, and Malfoy.

Most had stayed out of sight, and helped with the healing when the war was over. Some people think they were just waiting to see who'd win before they choose a side, but I don't think that's it. If it had been that they would have gone over to His side when Harry appeared dead. I think they just didn't want to risk going out there and fighting their own parents.

But after the war was over and the school fixed, everyone just sort of left. We all needed time to heal.

Ron would be up then down, and up then down. After the last funeral he started to turn it around, and move on. Harry and me kind of started to 'lag behind' in the healing process, which eventually lead to Ron and I's break.

June

"Ron, I'm sorry." I said for the fifteenth time that day.

"Don't be sorry Hermione, I just want to know what's wrong."

It was our third date, and I just couldn't seem to get into the mood. We had decided to go to a muggle movie, and half way through I just started crying. Crying! For no reason, but I couldn't stop myself. I was so embarrassed that I apparated home.

"Look, Ron. I'm not in a place to date, or really do much. I just need some time to myself. I think I'm going to do some travelling. But I want you to keep dating."

"That's ridiculous 'Mione. I love you. I'd wait an eternity for you."

"That just it. It will be an eternity, cause I don't think I'm the girl I've always been. When we kissed before the battle it was nice. But that was it. Nice. I may not see you as a brother, but I don't see you as a lover. And you deserve better."

When I got back from my extended vacation, Ron had gotten over it. He was dating around, and I don't tend to bother learning their names unless they've lasted a week.

Harry, like me, had taken a bit longer to get back on the horse. He spent a lot of time wishing it had been him to die. He missed his family. He couldn't look at anyone without feeling guilty. He spent a lot of time in bars, and I spent a lot of time worried about him, until Andromeda stepped in. She said she had found harry drunk in a ditch, and had beat him silly when he woke up. About how if he couldn't do anything for himself, then he'd have to do it for Teddy.

I could see the difference. He got up every day, showered and shaved. And then one morning when he came down for breakfast it wasn't a routine anymore. And he slowly started to seem human again.

And that left me. I was a wreck at night. I had to sleep with the curtains shut tight around me, charmed not to let any sound out. Every time there was a sound I'd grab my wand with a curse on my lips. I couldn't eat a decent meal, I'd get full after a few bits, and then I'd be hungry again in a few hours.

And people kept telling me to move on, that everything was okay. And so I left. No communication, or at least I tried not to get any communication. But some people couldn't help sending owls…

Shaking my head to clear it of thoughts from summer I notice McGonagall is talking again. "So each of the dorms will have approximately ten student, some may have more from one house then the other, that's okay. When I read off your name from the list, please make you way to your new dorm. There will be instructions left on the table to get settled. Okay the first room is on the top floor to the left, behind the Grace O'Malley portrait. Harry Potter," standing up he looks to Ron and I and gives us a smile.

"Draco Malfoy," Harry freezes and we all look to our right to see Malfoy standing up at which point he turns back and shrugs. "Hermione Granger," McGonagall says and Harry and Ron each squeeze one of my shoulders.

"Daphne Greengrass," me and Harry head for the back of the class.

"Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom" Malfoy opens the door and steps out.

"Pansy Parkinson, Terry Boot" me and Harry step outside, followed by the others.

"And last but not least, Ronald Weasley, and Blaise Zabini."

Quietly we all make our way towards our new room, no one really willing to speak. I mean, we all ended up fighting on the same side of the war, but it was a bumpy road getting here. And we didn't have many reasons to trust each other.

Climbing the stairs Pansy asks, "How will we know which portrait is Grace O'Malley?"

"She was a sixteenth century pirate. She's has red hair, and owns a fleet of ships, so if anything seems fitting to that theme, I'd say we have a winner."

"A pirate, eh?" Blaise says with a suggestive grin.

"Yeah a warrior-queen pirate, who had a bit of a temper." I say with a wink at the end, before turning around and laughing at the look he gave me.

Before anyone else could comment Luna bowed to a portrait up ahead and said, "Well how do you do Ma'am?"

Not really sure how she got so far ahead the rest of us catch up quickly to see her standing in front of a marvelous painting of a red headed pirate with crashing waves in the background. "Hello, is this everyone?" The lady said with a melodic voice worthy of a mermaid.

"Yep, this is everyone." Neville says from behind Luna, who was currently pressed against him, as he rested his chin on her head.

As happy as I am for them, all I can think is their one of those sickeningly sweet couples you just want to stab with a fork sometimes.

"So, what would you like your password to be?" she asked us, turning away from the now kissing couple.

Harry and Blaise both said, "Freedom" at the same time, before looking at each other and smiling.

"Excellent choice" she replied and swung open to reveal our new quarters. The room was made of soft beiges, and stunning cherry wood, with stone pillars on each half of the room. Directly in-between the two pillars is a large cherry wood table, and beyond that, there is a tunnel that I suppose leads to our new rooms. To the right there's a complete working kitchen, and to the left; a seating area with a large couch along the back wall, and a loveseat & two chairs across from it. A second couch is placed between the two with its back to us, and across from it is a bar with three stools.

"Wow," Daphne said before dropping her bag on the table and heading over to the bar. "Anyone wanna drink? Wait, what! Where are the drink, what is this tease the eighth years night?!"

Walking over to the table, I pick up the note on the table just as a large bolder crashes down over the portrait hole.

"What the fuck?!" Malfoy shouts

"What did you do!" Pansy and Neville say in unison.

"No, no guys it's alright." Daphne weighed in from across the room. "She made the drinks appear!"

"Oh well as long as we got that" I say sarcastically

"Exactly." She said completely seriously.

Draco laughed from his spot by the entrance, while Harry gave her an unimpressed look.

"The fuck?" I say while starring wide eyed at the letter in my hands

"Oh! Language Granger." Malfoy jokes.

"You won't be laughing in minute." I say without looking up.

"Oh no, I'm not laughing Granger. You swearing? Something must be wrong with the universe. Are you a clone?" he asked stepping closer.

"Hardy, har har" I say slapping his hand away as he started poking me.

"'Mione, what does the letter say?" Ron asks from behind Malfoy.

"That we're stuck here, until we play some games that Dumbledore set up."

Grabbing the letter out of my hand Malfoy grabs the letter, followed by Ron, then Harry, then Pansy who shouts out "enough! I will read it out loud."

"Dear students of the pirate queen portrait. As I'm sure you've noticed touching this parchment activated a charm that locked you all inside you common room. Fear not! The barrier will remove itself a soon as you complete the five games I've set out. Any materials needed for any of the activities will appear of their own accord. The fridge is stocked as well as the bar, and will replenish as needed. Meals will appear at suppertime should you not be done yet. For the rules of the first game simply say 'we are ready'."

Looking up from the parchment pansy asked "are we ready?"

Laughing Luna said, "No honey it's we are ready!"

Hope you all enjoyed. R&R