Bad Kids
"They're all so helpful, aren't they?"
Hermione nodded in the Slytherin's direction and Ginny turned and glared at them sitting on the decking chairs and then shrugged.
"Well it's simple, we don't feed them."
"We can't do that," Hermione said while setting out more plates on the table. "Dra - Malfoy helped get the food."
Ginny sighed and then walked over to them all.
"It'd be must appreciated if you all got off your backsides and put the chairs back at the table. The birgers are almost ready."
The boys moved quicker than the girls who continued to glare and moved slowly. Theodore used his wand to expand the table outside so both groups could fit and Luna was bringing out the chairs from the dining room. Hermione brought the salad bowl out from the kitchen and sat it in the middle of the largely rounded table.
"Can you girls maybe get the drinks?" Hermione asked.
"What?" Daphne answered.
"Can you pour everyone drinks?" Hermione repeated. "Everyone else is doing there part, therefore, so should you."
It was true. Draco, Goyle, Blaise and Theodore were arranging the table while Harry and Ron managed the barbecue and Neville was setting charms up to keep the smoke from damaging plants or flying in the groups way at the table. Luna, Ginny and Hermione were getting plates and cutlery out of cupboards and setting them on the table as well as putting dips into bowls and making side dishes. The least the other three could do was help.
"Let's just get it over with," Astoria said and walked into the kitchen, the rest following, "Where's the drinks and cups?"
"Why don't you have a look," Ginny said as she walked out.
Everyone ate in silence. Awkward silence. The table was split in half, almost. All the Slytherins were on one side and Gryffindors on the other. Hermione was directly across from Draco who had Astoria hanging on his arm and she was beside Ron who was being a moody git.
"This is good, Potter," Blaise broke the silence. "Well done I suppose."
"Thanks," replied Harry and continued to eat his burger.
"I helped," Ron grumbled but only Hermione heard.
"So why did you guys come to a Muggle holiday spot?" Ginny asked. She was always nosey.
"Well the Wizarding World is a bit of a mess," Theodore replied. "I think we just agreed for a change and seeing as we need to accept muggles, I suppose, we thought we'd try it out."
"It's also nice to get away from seeing your name in the Prophet every day," Draco chimed in.
"That, I agree with," Harry told him and everyone laughed.
Soon enough everyone was finished and just to make things quick, the Gryffindor used magic to clean all of the dishes and they all continued to sit at the table and make small talk. The Slytherin girls weren't making an effort with the others but the rest seemed to be getting on well.
"Is there a place we can maybe make a fire?" Blaise asked. "It'd be nice to sit with a fire by the lake and watch the sunset, don't you think?"
"Oh, I like the sound of that!" Hermione said. "There's a bit of rough ground down there for a fire to be lit and there's logs too."
"Shall we?"
Everyone nodded in agreement and then made their way for a seat.
X
"It wasn't that funny," Draco mumbled.
The rest of the group, even Slytherins, continued to laugh hysterically at Draco and the memory of him being turned into a ferret.
"I'm going to bed," Draco said, standing up.
"Oh, Draco, don't be such a baby!" Astoria pulled him back down. "How about we play truth or dare?"
The Gryffindors seemed more apprehensive than the Slytherins but agreed anyway. Hermione was particularly more nervous about it, she knew no good could come from this game.
"I have veritaserum in case we think someone's lying," Pansy told them and pulled some out her pocket.
"You came prepared," Ginny said.
Pansy shrugged.
The game got underway, the 'truth' questions being very simple and truthful all the same. Astoria gave the bottle a spin, making it land on Hermione. She smiled mischievously before asking the question.
"So Granger, truth or dare?"
"Dare," Hermione said, feeling her Gryffindor side start up.
"I dare you to strip naked and swim the full length of the lake and then walk back round."
Pansy and Daphne grinned whilst no one else made any argument. Hermione simply stood up and moved behind the chairs that blocked the lake and stood in front of it. She looked back at everyone and then turned back and pulled her t-shirt off, then slid off her shorts with her bra and pants following. She then walked to the edge of the lake, silently thanking God for it being so dark, and then dived in.
"I can't believe she just done that," Ginny said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Should we play on or wait until she's back?" Blaise asked.
"Should someone not maybe go to the other end to make sure she fulfills it?" Draco suggested. "For all we know she could swim to the place round the corner."
"Hermione doesn't cheat her way out of things," Harry stated. Draco just shrugged.
"Let's just continue," Pansy said. "We have the potion to check if she's lying anyway."
The game continued on, none of the dares quite as severe as Hermione's - that is if you think Goyle's dare to make Daphne and Pansy kiss is a big shocker.
Draco was starting to get impatient and restless.
"What is it?" Astoria snapped at him.
"Nothing," he replied. "I'm going to go to the bathroom."
He got up before anyone could question him. He walked through the backdoor and out the front and walked at a quick pace in the wood range of the lake, the way he anticipated Hermione to be moving. It had been almost half an hour since she left and he would be lying if he said he wasn't worried. He was halfway round when he stepped on a twig.
"Who's there?""Malfoy," he replied.
He managed to work her body shape out just near the edge of the lake. She was covering herself.
"What are you doing here? Did you pick dare?"
"No," he laughed. "I was coming to check on you. You were taking longer than I thought."
"It's a big lake and I took my time."
"Alright then," he shrugged. "I'm meant to be in the bathroom right now so if I'm any longer, they may think I have problems. Would you like to walk quickly with me back or are you fine?"
"I'll walk with you as long as you promise not to look at me when I get back in the house."
He smiled to himself, sure she couldn't see. "Of course. However, you do have a nice arse."
"Shut up, ferret," she mumbled and walked off in front of him, still keeping a large space beside him.
