**This whole story is being submitted for the Long Haul II competition so will be updated weekly. This first chapter is also written for Fanfiction: School of Imagination and Creativity, Maths Assessment 3.**

A.N - So this is my new venture: a dare game fic hopefully including every single named student at Hogwarts in the 95-96 school year. So if you have any dares you'd like to see the characters do, send in your requests. I'll do as many as possible.

The Great Dare Game of 1996

The sun was slowly setting over the mountains that surrounded Hogwarts. It's rays interspersed with the light drops of rain, causing an array of spectrums to be cast upon the magnificent castle. A light breeze could be felt around the castle. Summer was clearly on its way, yet you could still feel the chill of the snow that had recently dissipated.

All the students were readying themselves for both the Easter break and the upcoming exam period, though most were eagerly preparing for the Easter holiday. A few studious people remained in the library but it was clear amongst the students that procrastinating was the preferred way of passing time. From taking long walks around the Great Lake, to becoming the new test betas for Fred and George, it seemed as though everyone would do anything apart from study.

One of those who chose to remain in the library was Hermione Granger. Not even the watery sun peeking out from behind the clouds could deter her from her revision in her O.W.L year.

She sighed heavily, closed her copy of The Standard Book Of Spells: Grade 5 and tucked it in her bag. She then looked over her essay on the correct way of vanishing a chair with bleary eyes. Her tiny handwriting all seemed to merge into one massive scrawl, and any progression she'd made in the last half an hour made no sense to her at all. She sighed again and rolled up her essay, she put it in her bag as she ambled out of the library.

A light whistle could be heard through the quiet corridors of the castle as Hermione walked towards the seventh floor. Her eyes drooped as she came face to face with a blank stretch of wall. 'I need the DA's practice space. I need the DA's practice space. I need the DA's practice space,' she thought as she paced forwards and backwards. Suddenly a door appeared, she grabbed the handle and, checking over her shoulder in case anyone saw her, walked inside.

'There you are, Hermione,' said Harry. 'We were just waiting for you.'

'Some people do actually do homework you know, Harry,' she scolded him, but she smiled and set her bag down at the side of the room.

Harry turned his attention back to the rest of the room. 'As I was saying, we're going to start Patronuses today. Now... now...' he tried to say over the smattering of excited chatter that had broken out. 'Listen guys! Thank you. Now these are the most advanced magic we would have attempted so far. You're really going to have to focus. Right, the incantation is Expecto Patronum. Repeat after me, Expecto Patronum.'

'Expecto Patronum.' The group muttered back in sync.

'Good,' replied Harry. 'But the incantation alone isn't good enough, you need a memory. A really strong, happy memory. Let it overtake you, fill you up so that's the only thing that you can think about. Can you feel it?'

'Very emotional there, Harry,' said Fred.

'Yeah, fill yourself up with the memory. Let it become you...' teased George in a sing-song voice.

'When you're finished,' said Harry, as his patience wavered slightly. 'Now, stand up, find yourself some space. Let the memory consume you, and then when you can't think of anything else, say the spell. I'm not expecting any of you to do this first time, so no pressure.' Harry stood back and watched as his classmates faces screwed up in concentration. Everyone muttered the incantation at the same time, though almost all had no success. A few silvery wisps emerged from wand tips, but they soon disappeared.

By the end of the meeting, more than half of the group could produce a thick silver mist. It wouldn't repel a Dementor, but it would halt them for a period of time at least.

Harry looked down at his watch. It was getting late and he didn't want to be responsible for any masochistic detentions given out by Umbridge.

'Guys. Guys!' he shouted, trying to garner the attention of the group. 'We'll finish up here for tonight. You've done very well, I wasn't expecting for you to all do so well this early on.'

'Thanks, mate,' said Ernie with heavy sarcasm.

'No problem,' replied Harry, completely oblivious. 'Remember to check your coins for the next meeting,'

'Can you show us?' interrupted Susan.

'Show you what?' said Harry.

'A Patronus. A fully-fledged corporeal Patronus.' Susan's request was met with a general murmur and nods in agreement by the rest of the DA.

'Oh... I don't know...'

'Please, Harry,' begged Cho. He looked at the hopeful look in her eyes and decided that it couldn't hurt.

'Fine,' he said as he gathered his strongest memory of his parents. 'Expecto Patronum!' A loud gasp came from the group and they watched as a magnificent stag burst from the end of his wand. It cantered around the room before nuzzling against Cho's arm. She went to pat it but Harry extinguished the spell before her hand could reach it.

'Awesome!'

'Wicked!'

'Bloody brilliant!'

Harry blushed slightly as he put his wand back in his robe. He faced Cho and felt his blush rise even more; she was beaming at him. He stared directly back at her, a smile also visible on his face. They were locked in this embrace of vision for an indeterminate amount of time until Ron gave an awkward cough, bringing Harry back to reality.

'Er, right. So, I'll see you all again next week. Keep practising and keep your eye on your coins.' The group started to dissipate slowly, leaving in groups of no more than three. Harry watched Cho leave with a tight feeling in his chest, she turned back and smiled at him just before exiting the room and he felt his heart constrict a little.

Harry left the Room of Requirement in a state of happiness, with Cho's parting look in his mind he blindly walked towards the Common Room. It wasn't until Ron and Hermione paused that he realised something was wrong.

'Can you feel that?' asked Ron.

'Feel what?' replied Harry, still smirking slightly to himself.

'It's cold.'

'Well done, Ronald,' scolded Hermione. 'It does get a little draughty in the castle.'

'Shut up, Hermione. It's unnaturally cold...' Then Harry felt it, the unnerving familiarity of an unnatural coldness. He paused, unable to believe what was happening. The Dementors shouldn't be in Hogwarts, they shouldn't be anywhere near Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore had made sure of that when he banished them from the grounds two years previously. So why were they here? For the chill was unmistakable, it was definitely caused by the presence of the creatures.

'Harry,' breathed Hermione as she grabbed his arm. 'Dementors. Here in the castle, what do we do?'

His mind ran at a thousand miles an hour, but eventually he came to a rational decision.

'Get to the Common Room, make sure everyone's aware. This is no time for sugar-coating anything. Hermione, you sort the defence. Get Fred, George, Lee and anyone who could produce the Patronus charm earlier nearest the entrance and the windows. Ron, get everyone out the boys dormitories, and get Ginny to empty the females. We don't want anyone on their own. I'll keep watch at the portrait. Go!' he shouted to his companions as they stared at him dumbfounded. They ran for the portrait of the Fat Lady with Harry hot on their heels. Both Ron and Hermione disappeared through and Harry heard them shouting instructions and directions. Harry, himself, positioned himself just behind the entrance to the Common Room with the portrait slightly ajar. He completely ignored the Fat Lady's protests and kept his ear to the gap. He didn't know long he was there for, only that a minor frost began creeping up on him. He braced himself for the whirlwind of his Mother's screams to enter his mind, but they didn't...

A light appeared to him, becoming brighter and brighter as time wore on. It wasn't a natural light, no, it was the light of a Patronus. Harry opened the portrait a little more, with his wand raised at the oncoming Patronus. Years of ill-timed attacks on him had caused him to be more than a little cautious.

He needn't have worried though; the Patronus was a cat. A cat with very distinctive markings around the eyes: Professor McGonagall. He breathed out a sigh of relief and lowered his wand.

'Potter! What are you doing?' shouted the Transfiguration Professor.

'Keeping watch, Professor. There are Dementors around the castle-'

'I know there are Dementors, Potter. Why do you think I'm here?'

'Sorry, Professor,' replied Harry, as he hung his head.

'Now let me past, Potter. I need to inform my House of what's going on.' Before Harry could reply saying that everyone was already aware, Professor McGonagall pushed past him.

If the situation hadn't been so serious, Harry would've laughed at the sight that greeted him when he entered the Common Room: the entire House had their wands pointing at the Professor and she had a look on her face that Harry knew meant he was in trouble. Everyone lowered their wands but not before Professor McGonagall had spoken.

'What is the meaning of this, Potter?' she questioned, as she turned back towards Harry, who was more than a little stunned.

'I told them to prepare, Professor.'

'But... none of you will be able to fend off a Dementor. What on Earth were you thinking, Potter?'

'You see, Professor,' Harry started. 'That's where you're wrong. Show them, guys.'

As one, Fred, George, Lee, Angelina, Alicia and Harry waved and their wands and shouted the incantation. Professor McGonagall watched in shock and awe as a large silver mist appeared in front of her, headed by a majestic stag.

'However impressive that is, Potter, Weasley, Weasley, Jordan, Johnson and Spinnet, it wouldn't repel a Dementor.'

'But it would help though, Professor,' said Alicia. 'Give us more time, wouldn't it?'

'Yes, that is correct. However, I am not here to dispute the effectiveness of semi-corporeal Patronuses. The Headmaster has requested that everyone spend the night in the Great Hall. The Professors' Patronuses will be present at every entrance and exit, so there will be no need to worry and you won't be able to feel the effects of the Dementors. Now, if you'd all like to follow me. Potter.' Harry looked towards his Professor. 'If you can walk at the back and cast your Patronus. Both yours and mine will be guarding the House. Anyone else who can cast it, can you spread yourselves around the outside of the group and form a shield?' The group complied, they arranged themselves so that the First-Years were in the centre of the group and the spell-casters on the outside and like this they proceeded to make their way towards the Great Hall.

The procession didn't encounter any problems until they reached the Second Floor corridor.

'Brace yourselves!' shouted Professor McGonagall from the front of the group. 'There are Dementors ahead!' Harry tensed up, fully prepared to hear his mother's screams. Soon the onslaught began, though it seemed to be from further away than ever before. He strengthened his resolute and thought about his Mother and Father with all his might, and soon his Patronus brightened and the screams began to fade. Harry looked around at his Housemates, some of the younger ones had tears in their eyes, but most seemed unaffected by the presence of the creatures. Neville had a look of utmost concentration of his face. Harry was just about to ask after his wellbeing when a vulture burst out of his wand. It let out a harrowing squawk and flew down the corridor, it bore down on the Dementors and they scattered leaving the pathway to the Great Hall free.

The Gryffindor House was the last to arrive in the Great Hall: disadvantage of being on the Seventh Floor. The floor was covered in squashy looking, purple sleeping bags and the majority were filled by the time Harry entered the Hall. He, Ron and Hermione grabbed three, and feeling a sense of deja vu, took them to one of the corners.

'Well, I wasn't expecting tonight to go like this,' commented Ron, as he snuggled down into his sleeping bag.

'The question is: how did they get in?' replied Hermione.

'I don't know...' said Harry, as he watched Neville wander towards them. 'Hey, Neville.'

'Mind if I join you guys?' he asked, with a solemn voice.

'Sure,' replied Hermione, as she moved to make space.

'What the hell was back there, Neville?' asked Ron. 'It was bloody brilliant! You just got a fire in you or something?'

'I couldn't stand it.'

'Couldn't stand what, Neville?' asked Hermione in a voice laced with concern.

'What the Dementors made me hear. I hated it.'

'What did you hear?' asked Harry, already afraid of what the answer would be.

'I... I hear almost nothing. Just a silence filled with the crinkle of sweet wrappers, I know it's sweet wrappers even though it's hard to tell.'

'Oh, Neville!' Hermione gasped, as she clapped a hand to her mouth.

'Yeah...' he replied simply.

The quartet fell into an amicable silence after that. Harry tried to sleep but couldn't help but be distracted by the whispers of the Weasley twins nearby. Whatever they were planning, he hoped it wouldn't involve him...

After nearly two hours of being kept in the Great Hall the Weasley twins made their move.

'Sonorus,' Fred whispered. 'Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the great dare game of nineteen ninety-six. Let's get to the rules!' An outburst from nearly everyone in the Great Hall happened.

'What?'

'Hang on a minute!'

'Don't be ridiculous!'

'Piss off! I'm trying to sleep!'

'What did I say Gred? I knew people wouldn't want to play so I've entered you all into the Oath.'

'What is this Oath?' asked a voice from the back of the Hall.

'Good question, Pucey. The Oath is that you must play the game or you'll die!' A gasp ran around the room. 'Only pulling your wand! You don't die. Well not physically anyway, maybe from embarrassment when you have to do the forfeit.'

'You have got to be kidding me,' groaned Harry.

'Nope, no kidding about this. Want to see the paperwork?' George pulled out a long piece of parchment and upon it seemed to be the name of every student in the school. At the top read "The Great Dare of '96. Those who have signed below have agreed to play the game and are aware of the consequences should they fail"

'Nobody has signed anything,' declared Hermione. 'Therefore, you'll find that that is completely obsolete.'

'That's why we decided to sign it for you,' sighed Fred, with the voice usually reserved when explaining something to a child. Another outburst from the students ensued, and both the twins drew their wands in defence.

'Get over it guys!' shouted George. 'What else were we going to do this evening? We're just trying to alleviate the boredom here. Come on, you won't regret it!'

'Well it doesn't look like we have much of a choice,' muttered Hermione.

'That's the spirit, Hermione! Now, would you care to be honorary organiser for this. You keep the pot with everyone's names and you keep the list of who has, or hasn't, completed their dares.'

'I suppose so.' Harry and Ron stared at her in shock. 'At least that way it'll be done fairly and correctly,' she added.

'There we go. Now, as I was saying before all you lot butted in: the rules! A name gets picked out of this pot and they complete a dare that George and I set-'

'Why you?' a voice shouted.

'Because we thought of the idea, you cretin, Corner. Then they complete the dare and pick another name. That person then has to complete the dare set by the previous person and so on and so forth. You get the idea. Anyone who doesn't complete their dare will have to do a forfeit at the very end. We, well Hermione, will be keeping track of everyone. Not many dares will be able to be completed tonight so the slip of paper with your name on will be inked with your dare and tied around your wrist until it is completed. Just in case any of you think of lying to us, then that should prevent it. The slip will only come off when the dare is completed, you cannot remove it! And it would be unwise for you to try. So, we ready?' A grumble echoed around the room. 'Brilliant!'

Fred pulled out a pot from beneath his sleeping bag, it was full of little slips of paper. Everyone waited with bated breath; no one wanted to be the first to be pulled out. George hovered his hand over the top of the pot for an unnecessarily long time before plunging it in. He pulled a slip out and grinned. 'The first name pulled is...'

A.N - So what do you think? Like it so far? Please leave a review and don't forget to leave any suggestions you may have. Either in a review or my inbox is always open.