Title: Truth or Dare

Chapter 2

"Ron, please! That's disgusting," protested Hermione as Ron wolfed down another chicken sandwich. He grabbed his goblet of pumpkin juice and swallowed it with one gulp. Harry had stopped eating, watching his friend, clearly impressed.

"That's pretty impressive," admitted Harry, unable to help himself. Hermione shot him a warning glare.

"Don't you start complimenting him like that! Doing something like stuffing seven sandwiches isn't impressive at all. Don't you know any better, Harry?" preached Hermione sternly.

"Relax, Hermione. It's nothing," laughed Harry as he started to eat his lunch."Besides, that's his eight sandwich. I have no idea how he can eat too much."

Ron tried to say something but accidentally sprayed chicken all over Hermione's plate. Hermione immediately lost her appetite as she pushed her plate away from her, sipping her pumpkin juice with a scowl on her face. Ron immediately quiet down, sensing that he was now stepping on dangerous and fragile territory. Hermione ignored Ron completely and only replying in monosyllables whenever asked a question by Harry. Her eyes wandered over students heads, searching for one in particular…

And then she found him. Obviously sitting at the Slytherin table, talking to his bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione blushed scarlet, remembering the "incident" that happened Saturday in the library. It was fresh on her mind but she wondered if he was thinking about it at all.

Well I know that Ron hasn't forgotten, she thought eyeing the redhead in front of her.

It seemed that the glum but yet frustrated expression on his face was going to be permanent. That was the only expression Hermione saw on Ron's face for the last couple of days. She was actually starting to miss the old Ron. Now all he'd do was grumble, snap and glare at every passing thing. Even Harry had noticed the change of behavior from his red head friend.

Hermione shook her head, remembering quite vividly when Harry said that he'd become best friends with Colin Creevey if the two didn't tell him what was going on. The tension between Hermione and Ron didn't go unnoticed, but what really caught Harry's eye (and many others) that Ron never seemed to leave Hermione out of his sight.

So the truth was revealed to Harry and it dawned on him that maybe some of Ron's feelings were finally surfacing. Although he didn't participate in Ron's brilliant idea of stalking his best friend, it was clear that he silently approved of what Ron was doing. Which made Hermione furious at the both of them.

"I think Ron's becoming obsessed with Hermione. There's really no other explanation," Ginny said to Harry as she took a bite from her turkey sandwich.

She had taken a new habit of observing Ron and Hermione, which the later didn't really appreciate. Ron growled at his sister, a silent threat in his eyes while Hermione pretended not to hear the conversation. But her face reddened nonetheless. Ginny, as well, had been updated on what happened Saturday afternoon.

Hermione couldn't stand it anymore. The only place that Ron wouldn't follow her was the girls' bathroom and the girls' dormitory. Besides that, he was right beside her every single day. It was getting too obvious with him either right behind her, breathing down her neck or standing right beside her, looking as though he was glued to her hip. Other people were starting to notice the odd change as well, giving an embarrassed Hermione and a furious Ron, weird stares. Hermione was now forced to watch all of Harry and Ron's Quidditch practices. If not, Ron actually refused to go, which made the Gryffindor team furious.

It was clear that Ron would very much like to murder Draco Malfoy but for some odd reason, Hermione wasn't feeling the same. She was mad, but not to the level that Ron was at.

No matter how many times she told herself not to do it, she always looked at the Slytherin table out of the corner of her eye.

I wonder if he regrets it, she thought suddenly, wondering why she cared so much. Do I regret it?

"Hermione, your juice just spilled," laughed Ginny, snapping Hermione out of her inner debate. Hermione stared at the laughing girl in surprise, not hearing a word she had said.

"What?" she asked, receiving raised eyebrow for her lack of attention.

"Your juice. You spilled it," explained Ginny while Harry studied her closely. Sure enough, the orange liquid spread on the white tablecloth, staining it.

"Hermione, are you all right?" asked Harry, a frown appearing on his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine Harry. Why wouldn't I be?" asked Hermione. Ron stopped eating and stared at Harry then at Hermione several times. Then he stared intently at Hermione, his sandwich in his hand forgotten.

"Are you sick? Do you have a fever? Do you feel like you're going to throw up?" asked Ron suddenly. For once, he didn't have any food in his mouth and Harry, Ginny and Hermione were more than grateful.

"Ron, I'm perfectly fine," said Hermione impatiently, getting annoyed with Ron with every passing minute.

One of these days I'm going to snap at him! she thought. Ron was about to continue with his questioning until Seamus nudged him.

"What's up with you? Are you her bodyguard or something?" grinned Seamus.

Ron blushed a dark red while muttering something incoherent under his breath. That got the attention of Dean, Neville and most unfortunately for Ron, his twin brothers.

"Ron's in love," said Fred and George in unison, batting their eyelashes.

Lee, who was talking to Alicia, stopped their conversation to listen, leaning in eagerly, not wanting to miss anything. Soon enough half of the Gryffindor table was listening to Fred and George's "honest" story of how Ron and Hermione were making out in a broom closet, much to Hermione's horror.

I have to leave, she thought, trying to find a way out.

She needed to pass unnoticed, which seemed impossible at the moment. She looked around the table, trying to find an ally. Harry was out, Ron was definitely out but the way Ginny was staring at her gave hope to Hermione. Ginny nodded, silently saying that she'll keep the boys busy. Hermione nodded, entirely thankful that Ginny wasn't like her brother. Without warning, Ginny grabbed Harry's full goblet of pumpkin juice and threw it at Ron. Ron stared at his sister in shock, opening and closing his mouth.

Quietly as she could, Hermione got up from the Gryffindor table and with top speed, left the Great Hall.

"I'm free," she said to herself happily as she slowed her pace in the empty corridor. Little did she know, a certain blonde Slytherin had raised from his table as well and was going the same direction as her.

Hermione looked through her bag, trying to find her History of Magic essay that was due today. She wanted to be the first person to hand it to the professor but she couldn't find it anywhere.

That's odd, I'm sure I put it on my bag, she thought. Did I forget it somewhere?

Hermione cried in frustration, searching her bag over and over again. She was telling herself that her eyes were playing tricks on her. Her essay just had to be with her.

"Something wrong, Granger?" drawled a voice behind her. Hermione stiffened and slowly turned around to face Draco, who was smirking down at her.

When did he ever get so tall? she thought, wondering how she never noticed before.

"No, everything's fine, thank you very much," she said. The scene at the library when he kissed her before running for his life played in Hermione's mind.

Draco took another step and Hermione noticed that he was too close for comfort. She took a step back. Draco's smirk widened as he took another step forward.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" she asked angrily as she took another step back.

"Me? What am I doing?" he asked with feign innocence as he casually took a step forward, his hands in his pockets.

"You're annoying me," replied Hermione. She would have taken another step except her back was facing the stonewall. Draco had her trapped.

"I have an idea, Granger," said Draco, staring intently at Hermione. She raised her head, interested.

"Let's play truth or dare," he suggested. Hermione snorted.

"Why am I not surprised?" she asked sarcastically. "What is with you and that stupid game?"

"Meet me in the library during History of Magic," continued Draco as though he hadn't heard Hermione talk.

With that said, he simply turned around and started to walk the other way. Hermione stared at his back in disbelief.

After what happened, he still wants to play truth or dare? she thought. Well, there's no way that I'm going. I still have to hand in my report.

Hermione's eyes widened and she groaned. The essay that was due today was the one she was unfortunately forced to do with Draco.

"I didn't finish it," she moaned, mentally hitting herself.

Hermione had now two options. Either to go to History of Magic empty handed while everyone handed in their report or go to the library.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she mumbled as she picked up her fallen bag and headed towards the direction of the library.

I'm only going there to get some work done. I'm going to finish my homework for Transfiguration and Potions then I'm going to finish my essay for History of Magic, Hermione told herself. I am not going to play truth or dare.

(A/N: Here's chapter two! You guys convinced me to make it a short story. Reviews would be very much appreciated! Until next time.)