- - all i wanna do is *gunshot* *gunshot* *gunshot* *gunshot* *cash register noise* have an actual storyline for this god damn story. apparently my version of slow burn is having them never talk to each other lmao sorry.

Warning: This chapter contains alcohol consumption.

Chapter 4 - Everybody's Feelin' Warm and Right

"Never have I ever swam in the Black Lake."

Ugh. Hermione wondered if Luna had avoided doing anything in her life just so she could win this atrocious game. Why did she agree to play this?

Groans were heard around the circle as everyone (besides Luna) took a shot of the watered down version of Firewhiskey. Bill said Fleur would kill him if she found out he was giving them alcohol. Hermione wholeheartedly believed him.

They had been playing for a little over half an hour now. Bill had said something about seizing the day and they ended up on the floor of the living room. Music was playing on the gramophone (which sounded suspiciously muggle) and the Firewhiskey left a small burning sensation in Hermione's throat; she had to admit it wasn't the absolute worst.

Bill clapped his hands in excitement and rubbed them together. "Deanie boy! You're next!" he exclaimed. Buzzed Bill was very… flamboyant.

Dean roamed his eyes around the circle until they landed on Ron. "Never have I ever been a Keeper for Gryffindor's team." he said with a shit-eating grin. Great. Now they're getting specific.

Ron guffawed loudly and downed the shot before him. "You'll get what's comin' to you, Thomas!" he howled. Ron was as red as a tomato; could he die from being too red?

Laughter was coming from each point in the circle and Hermione suddenly had the urge to cry. She hasn't laughed this hard in ages. She looked to her left were Harry sat, clutching his stomach. Hell, Harry hasn't laughed at all since forever. The alcohol must be getting to her.

"Ok, ok," Bill said through chuckles. He squinted his eyes and tapped his mouth in mock consideration. "Hmm..," his eyes landed on Hermione and they widened with excitement. "Never have I ever kissed Viktor Krum."

Hermione threw her head back to face the ceiling while her face heated in embarrassment. How did he even know that? "Oh my god," she groaned, "It's like everyone is incapable of letting that go!"

From her right, Ron was the first to yell out "Shot!" and quickly the rest of the circle joined in with shouts of encouragement.

Hermione's hands raised in mock surrender as she leaned forward to retrieve her shot. She let out a quick breath and tilted the shot back into her mouth, shaking her head at the sensation of the liquor, and swallowed. 'Diluted, my ass, Bill.'

Cheers erupted the area as Ron clapped her on her back with a huge grin on his face and Hermione physically could not keep herself from smiling.

Ron seemed all too ready to go next. "Never have I ever snogged Ginny!" he shouted.

Hermione snorted as Harry leaned across her to shove Ron. "Mate, I've kissed Ginny!" he complained with a red face.

"Sorry Harry, collateral damage and whatnot, ya know?" Ron said with an over exaggerated shrug. Hermione threw her head back with a laugh as Harry returned to his spot beside her, mumbling something about payback being a bitch.

As Harry and Dean took their shots, Hermione looked over to Luna, who looked quite pleased with her blood alcohol content being significantly less than the others'. Hermione knew there was a million things she could get Luna with. It's just, her brain was completely fucked right now.

Hermione's eyes widened as she slapped her hands on her knees. "Never have I ever completed a divination class!" Gotcha.

Luna smiled knowingly at Hermione as she reached for her glass. Smugly, Hermione watched as everyone around the circle do the same.

Groans were heard from the two boys at her side as they reached their shots. "Ugh, don't remind me," Harry said. Ron was shaking his head and she heard him whisper "The worst" under his breath.

Hermione looked towards Harry as he ran his hands through his hair. He looked ready to pass out; hell, she felt ready to pass out. His face broke out into a grin as he eyed Ron. "Never have I ever snogged Lavender Brown."

This game of Never Have I Ever was definitely turning into a game of If You Kissed Anyone Ever Prepare To Be Punished.

"Yeah, yeah," Ron grumbled as he reached for his glass.

Hermione's insides were screaming. She could tell them right? She was quite aware of the magical society's belief in sexual fluidity. It had apparently never been a problem, much to Hermione's dismay. Ron had explained this to Harry and herself when they were younger, and he asked if Muggles had something against love.

Probably.

Fuck it. Hermione swallowed thickly as she reached for her own glass of Firewhiskey.

After the two downed their drinks, Ron turned to look at her in complete and utter surprise. This wasn't helping her anxiety whatsoever. Hermione felt the room's eyes on her and she was sure so was going to catch on fire.

The (imagined) tension snapped as Ron's face morphed into excitement. "Good on you 'Mione!" he hollered, lightly punching her shoulder. She honestly didn't know what she expected.

The room fell into fits of laughter and Hermione shook her head, the corners of her mouth lifting. She glanced at Harry, and relief washed over her once more. He was laughing too.

Ron seemed to calm down and he gave her a look of amused curiosity. "Say, did she ever do that thing with her tong-"

"It was only once, Ronald!" she insisted, shoving him. Her face grew red at the memory. Lavender had called her a goody-two-shoed prude one night, and well, things escalated. Then she cried for an hour, thanks to her slight case of internalized homophobia.

"And yes, she did," Hermione admitted sheepishly.

Screw Veritaserum, Firewhiskey seemed to do just fine with cracking her open. It also succeeded in making her absolutely trashed. Hermione wondered how long it would take her to get to the kitchen sink. She caught Bill's eyes, and wondered why he was looking at her with such amusement.

Before anyone else could contemplate throwing up, the front door slammed shut and Bill dove for the Firewhiskey. "Shit!" he muttered, scrambling to hide the bottle under a couch. No one else seemed to have any motor skills at the moment and could only watch the train wreck that was about to happen.

So much for Fleur not finding out.

"William?" Fleur called out, her voice nearing the living room. "Wh-" She stilled as her eyes roamed over the shot glasses and their owners faces. Hermione felt her stomach do somersaults. Was Fleur always this beautiful? Shit, was she gonna throw up? Oh god, Fleur looked really mad.

Bill stood up quickly, staggering slightly, with his mouth hanging open in shock. "Fleur, you said you wouldn't be back until-"

"Can we talk privately, William?"

The room grew eerily quiet as Fleur stormed out, everyone's eyes watching her leave.

Bill pinched the bridge of her nose and scrunched up his face. "Fuck," he whispered. He turned to the occupants of the room.

"You guys should probably... head up," he nodded in the direction of their rooms.

Hermione watched wordlessly as everyone stumbled to get up.

"Scary, ain't she?" Ron whispered to her, as he reached down to help her.

Taking his hand, Hermione found herself unable to respond. She wasn't sure if it was due to the shock from how fast everything went to shit, or signs of alcohol poisoning.

As Ron walked with her, he chuckled and whispered, "Imagine if they were married."

Wow, Ron was more drunk than she was. Hermione chose not to comment on his momentary lapse and instead informed him, "I'm gonna get some water." Ron nodded and ruffled her hair with a grin.

"Night, 'Mione."

Hermione slapped his hand away and tried to pat down her hair. "Goodnight, Ron." she said with a tender smile.

Nearing the kitchen, Hermione heard the slightly raised voices. In her mind somewhere, she slowly registered that Fleur and Bill were fighting.

She bit her lip as her heart thundered in her chest. She needed to leave, this was absolutely none of her business

"They needed to let loose, Fleur. You know that's the first time Harry's laughed since he got here?"

Hermione rested her head thoughtfully against the wall. He was right.

"What if something happened, Bill? You're the only one with a proper wand! And you were-"

Bill cut her off, "There's a Fidelius Charm! We were completely safe!"

A silence landed over them and Hermione wondered if she had been caught. Before a heart attack could take over her, she heard Fleur give a low sigh.

"You're right, je suis désolé."

Oh?

"It's my mother, she's being extremely persistent." Fleur's voice seemed small.

God. This was now definitely none of her business. Hermione lifted her head and tried to stop the dizziness from taking over. She placed her hands on the wall to help herself from falling.

"Maybe she's right," she heard Bill say. Time to go, Granger. Use your feet.

"There's a war going on, William," Fleur snapped. Come on. Hermione moved along the wall as silently as she could.

"All the more reason to!" Bill exclaimed. They were almost out of earshot by now.

"You have no idea what it feels like." Hermione stilled as she heard the pain in Fleur's voice. "To want something, with every fibre of your being. To have it within your reach, only for it to be snatched away from you every time it comes close."

Hermione felt her eyes water and she leaned more of her weight onto the wall.

"It's different now." Bill said.

She wasn't sure if it was her alcohol addled brain or if this was the vaguest conversation she has ever heard.

"Is it?"

Hermione had heard enough. Well really, she heard way too much. Guilt seemed to seep through her skin.

She crossed the distance between her and her room and shut the door quietly behind her. Hermione peaked at Luna to check if she was still asleep and rested her head against the door. She was sure she wouldn't be able to fix what Fleur was feeling (whatever that was), but she could damn well try to be there for her.

Give what you take.

Hermione pushed herself off the door, and realized something.

She forgot the fucking water.

Chapter title inspired by the music of: King Harvest - Dancing in the Moonlight

- -tbh, although i can appreciate stories in media that have characters overcome a conservative/hostile environment when coming out, im kinda... tired of that trope lmao so i threw it away.