A/N: Thanks to Hannah for an inspirational push! Enjoy the round of poker! : D
Chapter 2: THE GAME
"A game?" Dorrea asked warily, knowing that Zack's games tended to land them in trouble.
Sam clapped her hands together. "Good idea, Zack!"
"I'm in." Hannah chimed in, her mouth full of Jelly Slugs.
Kyle nodded, indicating he wanted to join.
Zack turned to Dorrea with an eyebrow raised. "Jude?"
"As long as we play with my usual stipulations, then, very well, I will play." The smallest snake reluctantly agreed.
Her "stipulations" were, in her mind, an impenetrable contract that protected her reputation. It prevented her companions from recording and sharing, in any way or form, the contents of the game. There were many other specific clauses and subsections of the contract as well, it seemed to cover every "what if?" imaginable. According to Ceru, she would have made a scary lawyer in the Muggle world.
"So, twin, what's the game?" Hannah asked eagerly, leaning across the aisle from her seat in the train compartment.
Currently the seating arrangements were: Hannah and Kyle and their giant pile of food on one side, and Zack, closest to the window, Sam, closest to the door, and Dorrea, in the middle, on the other side.
The Black heir hummed in thought, pulling out a pack of what appeared to be muggle playing cards. "How about poker?"
Hannah and Dorrea got a confused look on their faces while Sam and Kyle nodded in agreement to the game, Hannah was Norwegian and Dorrea didn't know anything about games.
Zack quickly explain the rules of the game.
"So it is a gambling game then?" Dorrea looked intrigued, Zack nodded.
"Ah, I know this game, it is similar to a game we play back home." Hannah grinned and rubbed her hands together in excitement.
"What shall we use at betting material, money?" Sam pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail as she wondered out loud.
"That seems boring doesn't it?" Zack gave a wide grin.
"How ominous." Dorrea muttered.
"How about this," Zack held up a finger and paused for dramatic effect. "We will bet favors. Like, doing someone's homework or carrying their books to class or whatever."
The group mumbled amongst each other before agreeing.
"That seems like a lot of favors being offered every turn, how about whoever wins the round gets to pick which person's favor they want." Sam suggested.
"That works too." Zack shrugged. "Is this cool with you, Jude?"
The little heiress's eyes were glittering in anticipation.
"I'll take that as a yes then." The Gryffindor gave her an amused look, then cleared his throat. "We'll play a practice round first then get to playing for real, alright?"
Everyone nodded and Zack dealt the first game.
The two snakes need a bit of help throughout the practice round, as they were unfamiliar with the game, but they eventually had it down.
"Alright, for real this time." Zack gave a mockingly serious look.
They all nodded and grasped the cards they were dealt.
"First round of dealing is open." Zack explained and gestured for Kyle across from him the start.
"Hm... I'll bet one favor." Kyle shrugged and looked around the circle at everyone else, they all were in.
"I'll bet one as well." Hannah had a blank face as she shuffled her cards into different spaces.
"Same."
"Me too."
"Alright then, we are all in for the first round," Zack confirmed. "Who need new cards?"
Kyle held up two fingers, and discarded two cards in favor of the two Zack gave him.
Hannah replaced one.
Sam replaced two.
Dorrea replaced three.
And finally, Zack replaced two of his own cards. "Second round of bets?"
Kyle scrunched up his nose in thought. "Just one again."
"I fold." Hannah sighed and leaned back into the back of her seat."
"I'll bet one." Sam drawled.
"Me as well." Dorrea intently looked at the cards in her hands.
"I'm in, one for me too." Zack nodded. "Any new cards?"
Kyle replaced one and Zack replaced one.
"Okay, everyone, show your hands." The oldest Gryffindor gestured for the group to show their cards.
"I have a pair of sevens." Kyle said.
"Pair of Jacks." Sam grinned.
"Two sixes and two fours." Dorrea grinned evilly.
"Three Queens." Zack tossed his cards aside.
Dorrea smirked at Kyle, a glint in her eye. "Well, well, McShade. It appears as though I've won the first round. That is," she tilted her head to the side in thought. "Two favors, then." She chuckled. "I'll be sure to use them well."
Kyle cringed is despair.
Samantha rolled her eyes at the action.
"Well," Dorrea looked at Zack impatiently, "deal out the next round!"
The older Gryffindor chuckled. "Alright, alright."
The five Hogwarts students played till the sun went down, their compartment was full of victorious and frustrated cries as round after round ended and started. Hair ruffled and sweat on their brows, the group entered their final round.
"I fold." Samantha sighed dejectedly, throwing the cards on the seat next to her. She crossed her arms and observed her friends. She herself held one favor over Dorrea, one over Kyle, and two over Zack.
"I up the betting pool," Zack gave a shark-like grin. "Instead of a normal favor, I bet one favor that is unconditional. No matter what, I'll carry it out." He gave the remaining three a challenging stare.
Kyle broke first. "No way, Zack. You're way too scary." The Chinese Ravenclaw gave a nervous chuckle as he tossed his cards to the side. He had one favor over Samantha and one over Hannah, he wasn't very good at the game.
Hannah gave a shrug and folded as well. She had done a fair job throughout the game, she had two favors over Dorrea, one over Samantha and one over Kyle.
The remaining lion and the snake stared each other down, electricity crackled through the air as the tension rose.
The little heiress glanced down at her cards, then back up at Zack. "I'll take that bet. One unconditional favor." She narrowed her eyes and gave the older boy a steely look.
The shark-like grin widened. "Alright then, let's see what you got."
The three companions sitting on the sidelines watched on the edge of their seats.
"Two Jacks and two fours." She gave a smug look, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat.
Zack's face fell.
The snake and the lion's audience gave a gasp.
The lion gave a smirk.
The snake narrowed her eyes.
"Three Queens and two tens."
Dorrea's eyes widened. "Liar."
The Black heir raised an eyebrow and showed the little heiress his hand, the cards evident of his statement.
Her face drained of color as Zack chuckled. "On unconditional promise then." He gave the silent snake a little pat on the head as they felt the train slow down.
"We are now arriving at Kings cross station, please stay seated until we come to a complete stop. Please watch your step and have a pleasant day."
A/N: Next chapter the five of them will arrive at Jude's Manor!
