Authors notes

Like I said I would update quicker, because the last was so short. And I'll probably upload the next chapter very soon as well. I just wanted to mention that I intend for this story to be somewhat long. Not ninety chapters long, but probably closer to fifteen or twenty. If I start making chapters shorter I'll upload two or three at a time, but the next chapters are longer, so if I continue to write long ones it'll take more time. But as I said before, I'm going to try and upload at least once every couple of days.

Despite my awesomeness I do not own Harry Potter. Darn the Luck. Enjoy!

Game three

Third person POV

Ah, that round was very hard for you all, so it is time we lighten things up a little. I believe this game is called 'Beer Pon'. But with a small twist.

At this declaration a large Pin Pon table with ten red cups placed in the shape of a triangle on each end appeared. Getting up, the students walked over to the table and placed themselves around it.

I will split you all into two teams. Each team will chose a side of the table, and one by one you will all face off against someone on the other team. The object of the game is to get the Pin Pon ball into one of the cups on the other side, if someone from the opposing side gets the ball in one of your cups; you remove the cup and take a shot. If you miss your toss, then you have to tell the room something about yourself. Anything at all, as long as it's true. Speaking of! It has been four hours, so its time for your next does of veritaserum.

Just like last time, ten bottles appeared and we all took a drink without hesitation.

"I thought, umm," Pansy said after taking a drink, "Someone here was an alcoholic. It's none of my business or anything, but…" she paused waving her hands. "Well, it probably wouldn't be the best idea for them to be taking shot. Right?"

I mentioned at the beginning of the game that anything you need will appear on it's own. For the purposes of the games, we have placed a spell on the room that will make it similar to the Room of Requirements. The room will provide the shots for each player to drink, and will only provide what each person is willing and able to handle.

"Oh, well. Cool then. It's not me. By the way." Pansy said fidgeting with the empty bottle in her hands. "Not that there's anything wrong…" she said throwing up her hands, when the bottle disappeared again.

"Hey no comments right." Harry reassured, before looking up at the ceiling again. "So what are the teams?"

Glade you asked Mr. Potter. On one team we have yourself, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Greengrass, and Ms. Lovegood. And the other team will be Mr. Boot, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Zabini, Ms. Granger, and Ms. Parkinson.

Enjoy the game.

Hermione POV

Everyone lined up at the table, and we quickly fell into a pattern where two players stepped up to the table and took a shot. After both players took the shot they would go to the back of the line and so on and so forth.

I was first at the table, facing off against Malfoy. Who to be honest, just seemed too god-damn smug for his own good. Keeping up a poker face, I gave an unsure look at the table.

"Want me to show you how it's done?" He asked with the same smirk he wore in third year.

Remembering the year fondly I said, "I didn't need you to show me how to throw a right hook, I don't need you to show me how to," I paused while tossing the ball in the air. "Play muggle drinking games." I said just as the ball popped into the first cup in the pyramid.

"Touche." He said and took a shot.

He went for a bounce shot, and I plucked the ball out of the air before it landed in the top cup in front of me.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"What? It's a rule in the game." He looked at me as if I was crazy, and I just laughed. "If the ball hits the table then the opponent can catch the ball to stop it." I explained in my no-nonsense way.

"I want a ruling!"

Dumbledore's voice tolled out across the room. I'll allow it.

"Fine. My favorite sport is quidditch."

Trying to downplay my happiness I sent a smirk of my own his way.

"It's a nice try, but you don't do 'The Smirk' justice." Malfoy said and flashed his own before stepping away from the table.

Pansy took my place giggling. "Oh yeah Granger, your just missing a touch of malice."

Ron took Malfoy's place and said, "and a whole train load of prat-y-ness." Laughing I made my way to the end of the table.

Both Pansy and Ron missed their shots. Ron took a page from Malfoy's book and said his favorite sport is also quidditch. Pansy said her favorite color was pink. And then Terry and Daphne both stepped up to the table. Terry got his in flashing a big grin. Daphne took her shot and a lime appeard for her to suck. Taking her shot, she missed and said she hated when people called her Daph.

Next, Harry and Blaise who both missed confirmed that their favorite sports were also quidditch. Last were Luna and Neville who both missed (though I have a sneaking suspicion that Neville missed for Luna's benefit). Neville like the rest of the boys said his favorite sport was quidditch. And Luna said her favorite sport was hunting Wrackspurts.

I was still trying not to laugh when I stepped up to the table. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea to drink that ice tea so quickly.

Back to the front of the line I faced off Malfoy, who had a determined look on his face.

"Are there any other rules I should no about?"

"Oh yeah just one." I said putting the ball in the top left cup. "Take a shot."

He raised a blonde brow and tossed the Pin Pon ball into the cup directly across the table from the one I had gotten it in. "After you."

Just then two shots appeared in front of us and we both took a shot never breaking eye contact.

Pansy and Ron both missed again, and said their favorite band was the Weird Sisters. Coming to the back of the line Pansy harrumphed and leaned against wall. "How do you keep getting them in?"

"Remember when Terry said he'd never gotten so drunk he couldn't remember the night before, and I took a drink?" She nodded her head giving me an odd look. "Well. Lets just say I don't take well to doing poorly at things."

"Okaaaaay. But that doesn't help me with my problem."

Just then the table erupted in cheer. Looking over my shoulder I noticed Daphne making a big show of taking another shot. "I don't know what to say Pansy. It's just aim. There's no magic trick or words. The ball either goes in. Or it doesn't."

"Oh thanks, that's real helpful." She said with a chuckle.

"I don't know what you want me to do. I used to practice for hours in the backyard. Practice practice practice." I tried to explain. "I even use to practice drunk."

"Wow." She looked me up and down. "You really don't like to lose."

"No." I said completely seriously. "I guess you could say it's my sickness." I said laughing remembering an old episode of Friends, when Monika had said that to Chandler.

"What are you-" but before she could ask everyone started cheering again. I turned and saw Neville taking a shot. Looking down at the cups I notice that both sides are even, and take my place behind the table.

"Hey, wanna make this more interesting?" Malfoy asked.

Pansy leaned against the table and widened her eyes comically. "ouuuuuuuuu"

"Ill bit." I said

"Ahhhhhhhh." She continued, quietly clapping her hands in glee.

"Clearly these bone heads aren't very good at the game. Not like you and I, that is."

"I resent that." Daphne said swaying slightly from side to side. She looked up from her glass and noticed us all staring at her, "I'm sorry what?" She said before laughing and falling against the wall.

"Well, I think this game would just move a lot faster, if we played each other." He said lifting a brow.

"I'd hardly call that more interesting." I said looking at him quizzically.

"Yes indeed, your right." He turned away with his finger on his bottom lip as though contemplating a great conundrum. "I guess we'll just have to bet on it."

Pretending I need to consult Pansy I lean over to her a whisper nonsense nothings in her ear. Laughing she leans into me and does the same.

Standing up tall again I give him a once over. "What do want?"

"Winner gets to ask the loser a question." He said without pause. Instantly a feeling of unease settles in my stomach, but I push it away.

"Your on."

Pansy takes in an over-the-top gasp again.

I laugh at her before bowing greatly in Malfoy's direction. "After you."

Following that, we each threw the ball into the others cups, and taking subsequent shots. By the time we only one cup in front of ourselves I was starting to feel a little tipsy. Remembering the summer nights I spent drunk aiming at cup across the table I didn't worry. Picking up a ball I made a show of moving around trying to get the best angle.

"Are you going to shoot before or after I turn a hundred years old and die in this room?"

Laughing I walk to the middle of the table and toss the ball in the air. Just as I do Malfoy throws a Pin Pon which manages to hit mine just enough to send it off track, before his continues forward and lands in my cup.

"What the fuck was that?!" I shouted.

"Take your shot. Oh wait! Did I just win?" He said with a smug grin. "Why I think I did."

"You son of a bitch." I said not believe that just happened. "You just… And it."

"I just. I just" He mimics me before turning smug again. "I just beet you." He said mocking my bewildered expression. "And on a bet no less. What a shame. So, " he said rubbing his hands together. "What to ask?"

"No. That was so cheating." Shaking my head I backed away from the table as my stomach starts to fill with dread. What if he asks? . . . No no, he has no reason to ask about that.

"Would you like a ruling?"

"Yes. DUMBLEDORE?" i shouted.

I'll allow it.

"Son of a bitch." I hiss. "Fine, Malfoy. Ask your stupid question."

"Why thank you." He said flashing another small grin, before it fell. "I can't help but notice that all of you have been accepting us Slytherins fairly well."

"That's not a question." I said starting to feel a bit better.

"No." He gave a humorless laugh before continuing, "but I was wondering if this is just a show. You know, play nice until these games are over then go back to the way things have always been."

"Ask a question, Malfoy."

"How do you really feel about all of us?" Malfoy asked quickly, like ripping off a Band-Aid.

Before I could think of an answer my mouth just opened as noise came out. "I can't speak for anyone else here, so you have to understand this is only my opinion." I paused and took a shaky breath in. "I think we got lucky with who was put in our group. All of you fought in the war, on our side. Yet even as I say it, I realize that it still comes out as our side versus your side."

Biting my lip I look towards Blaise and Daphne. "I mean it's easy to be civil with you two. You were always kind of quite. I never heard either of you say a derogatory comment. Then again, you never stood against it, or did anything to try and stop it." At that they both looked down, looking guilty. "And I'd tell any kid that doing nothing is just as bad as throwing the punch yourself. And I always thought I meant it. But it's not true is it? It's different. It's so easy to explain. I mean there were other people there, they could have done something. It's a diffusion of responsibility." I said shaking my head. "And if you really think about it, there was nothing keeping you from joining in the bullying. I mean perfectly average and peaceful people get caught up in the moment and are easily driven into violent acts. Seriously, turn on the TV there are riots everywhere." At the last comment a few people gave me a questioning look and I raised my hand, "Never mind. The point is, you seem like just any other Ravenclaw or Huffelpuff to me."

Looking to my right I see Pansy ringing her hands. "I know you were more…vocal with you dislikes. And who knows that may have been 'momentum'... Who knows?" I repeated awkwardly. "But there weren't many time when you and I had problems, so it's almost the same thing as them."

I tried to stop there, but before I could move on my mouth started spilling secrets again. "Almost, but not completely." I let out a large huff, diving into the explanation. "During the war, I'm fairly certain you saved my life." I noticed her open her mouth to ask, so I just continued. "I was fighting off a few death eaters, when I looked over and caught Fenrir Greyback's eye." At this I looked up to see Malfoy's face pale considerably and his hands clench on the table. "I knew he was going to kill me, and he was making his way over. I was fighting off about four death eaters, I couldn't shake them in time. I saw him raise his wand, killing curse on his mouth. And the next thing a know you come around a bend and kill him first." I say shaking my head of the past. "I don't even know if you knew he was going to kill me, and to be frank. I don't give a rats' ass. And I don't know if my magic recognizes that I owe you a life debt, or if it's just that I'm seeing a different side of you. I mean before today I'd only ever seen you angry. And your entire face literally transform when you switch from a scowl to a smile." At this, a few tears glimmered in Pansy's eyes. Reaching forward I grab her in a hug. "I'm sorry, Pansy I didn't mean to make you cry." At that comment she started sobbing into my shoulder and I rubbed her back.

Unable to stop talking until I had finished answering the question, I turned to Malfoy with Pansy crying in my arms. "I've tried to just let the past go. But for years I've known you as 'the enemy'. When I think of you I think of all the words that cut like glass. The pains I'd hold onto all year, and not release until the first night of summer. When I think of you and our past. I remember spending my first night at home soaking the pillow with tears." I feel my jaw tightening as I try not to say anymore. "And I know that in the end you tried. I do. I really fucking do. And so I hate myself for not being able to let go of the past. And then I get mad at you, for making me feel guilty. And I know that holding on to hate is like drinking a poison and waiting for the other person to die." Feeling exhausted I look down at Pansy (still crying on m shoulder), and take another breath.

"So, that's how I feel when I'm around you Malfoy. Like I'm drinking poison. And I don't even blame you."

Sorry! I know I promised that the secrets would be revealed in the upcoming chapters, and none actually were. But in the next chapter, I'll highlight two! I swear! And in the chapter after that...All will be revealed!

Hope you enjoyed. R&R