Raven: The Professional Troublemaker
by: Serena-chan
It was Wednesday night in the Weasley home. Harry was sitting by the fire, staring into it, not thinking of anything in perticular. Ginny was sprawled out on the floor, sketchbook in front of her, try to hide the fact that it was Harry she was drawing. Raven was stretched out calmly on the sofa reading, while Ron paced like a caged lion.
Percy had left earlier that morning on a "strictly confidential business matter." Fred and George had gone over to Lee Jordan's house that afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had just left to visit some of their friends who lived in London. They had explained, just before they left, that they didn't expect to be home until very late that night. The look Raven had given him when she'd heard this, was making him horribly nervous. He continued to pace, every now and again looking back at Raven who was making the situation worse by winking at him every so often.
"I-It's getting pretty late, isn't it?" He asked hopefully, "Perhaps we should all just go to bed."
"It's only eight o'clock Ron," Ginny said, giving him a strange look.
"But nice try," Raven mouthed over her book. Glancing at the clock, she placed her book on the table and stood up. "I think I'll go into the kitchen and make us all some nice cocoa. Why don't you come and help me, Ron?"
Sighing as though resigning to his fate, Ron followed her into the kitchen. The moment he had entered, she shut the door quickly behind him.
"Ready for our little game tonight?" She asked mischievously.
"As ready as I'm ever going to be, I suppose." Ron sat down gloomily in a chair, and watched Raven prepare the cocoa. "I hate truth or dare. It's just some stupid game that embarrasses you in front of everyone."
"Oh, don't be silly," Raven said, ladling the cocoa out into teacups. "You'll have lots of fun once we get started. Anyway, the point isn't to embarrass you. The point is to get Harry and Ginny to confess how they feel about each other."
"I guess," Ron said. He watched as Raven took a small bottle out of her pocket. She poured a silvery blue powder out of it into her hands and added a bit to each glass. "What's that you putting in the cocoa?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"It's a bit of that truth powder we bought," Raven explained. "To make sure that everyone tells the truth."
"Well don't expect me to drink any!" Ron said angrily.
"Don't be silly! Of course you're going to drink some. The whole point of the truth part is to tell the truth! Besides, I'm going to drink some. See?" She took a dainty sip out of one of the cups, "We're in this together."
"I still say I'm not drinking any."
"Fine, be that way. Just come on!" Raven put the cups on a tray and went out into the sitting room. Ron followed grumbling. Raven distributed the cups and sat down once more on the sofa. Ron just set his cup aside. There was no way she was going to get him to drink a single drop!
"I have an idea," Raven announced. "Let's play a game."
"That sounds like a good idea," said Harry looking up. "There's really nothing to do right now." Ginny nodded in agreement and put away her sketchbook.
"How about chess?" Ron put in hopefully.
"No," groaned Ginny. "You always want to play chess. Let's play something different for a change."
"My thoughts exactly," said Rave, grinning at Ron. "Let's play truth or dare!"
"I don't know," Harry said looking uneasy.
"Harry's right. I don't think that's such a good id-Ouch!" Ron was cut off by Raven elbowing him sharply in the ribs.
"Come on, everybody. Sit in a circle over here." Raven plopped down next to Ginny, dragging Ron with her. Harry joined them rather reluctantly.
"I'll ask first," Raven said happily, "Ron, truth or dare?"
"Why do you have to pick on me first?!" Ron said, outraged.
"Come on, Ron," Harry said, "be a good sport."
"Fine. . .dare!" Ron shouted, not wanting to seem like a sissy.
"Alright," Raven had the look of a lion that had just cornered its prey. "I dare you to taste that cocoa, and tell me what you think of it."
Ron sat there, opening and closing his mouth like a fish for a moment. "I won't do it!"
"Come on Ron," Ginny coaxed, "It's just a little cocoa."
Glaring daggers at Raven, Ron raised the glass to his lips and took a small sip. "It's pretty good actually," he said, then frowned. The truth powder must be kicking in already. He'd meant to make some mean remark about it.
"Ron," Raven nudged him, "it's your turn."
"Oh, right," he said. "Ginny, truth or dare?"
"Truth," Ginny answered quickly, ignoring Raven who was giving her an exasperated look.
"Uh..." Ron stopped to think, "Oh, I dunno. I'm no good at this game." Raven elbowed Ron painfully in the ribs.
"Remember the point of our playing this game?" She hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
"Okay, um....Ginny, who do you have a crush on?" He shot a look at Raven who nodded approvingly.
"No one," Ginny said quickly. Ron and Raven shot each other a surprised glance. Ginny had already finished her cocoa. Surely the truth powder was working by now.
"Are you sure there's no one you have a crush on?" Raven asked, leaning in and giving her an analyzing look.
"N-no one," Ginny mumbled, blushing.
"Alright, if you're sure," Ron said, shooting Raven another look.
"Raven, truth or dare?" Ginny asked.
"Dare!" Raven shouted.
"Hmmm...I dare you to tell Neville that you love him when we get back to school."
"Nooo!" Groaned Raven, "Ginny, you're mean!" Ginny giggled, and Ron shot his sister a proud look. Finally Raven was getting a little of her own medicine.
"Fine, but now it's my turn." Raven looked around the circle and got an incredibly evil look in her eyes. "Harry, truth or dare?"
"Dare," he said, after considering it a moment.
"I dare you to kiss Ginny!"
"What?!" Harry and Ginny both shouted together.
"I-I can't kiss Ginny, " Harry stammered.
"Why not? It's just a game," asked Raven.
"B-but," Ginny started.
"No buts!" Raven said firmly, "you have to take the dare. That's the rule."
Harry stood up shakily and pulled Ginny to her feet. Ron buried his head in his hands knowing how embarrassed his best friend and his sister must be feeling. Harry leaned closer to Ginny looking absolutely petrified. Ginny was trembling.
About an inch from kissing her, Harry suddenly pulled away. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I just can't do this!" He ran through the kitchen and out into the garden.
"Harry!" Ginny screamed, racing after him.
Ron turned to Raven, "Well now you've done it!" He screamed, "You're impossible! We'll never get them together now."
"Calm down," said Raven, gathering up the empty cups. "This is just a minor set-back." Ron sighed and took a few deep breaths to calm himself before following her into the kitchen. "Still," Raven was saying, "I wonder why the truth powder didn't work?"
"That was strange," Ron admitted, "Are you sure you put truth powder in all the cups?"
"Of course I did! I even put a little extra in Harry's and Ginny's."
Ron sighed, "I'm going to bed."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Harry raced out into the garden. His heart was pounding a million miles per second, and he felt like his face was on fire. He had never felt so embarrassed in his whole life! Ginny must think that he despised her. How could he be so stupid?!
He sank onto a bench and took in the beautiful, moonlit garden. What was he going to do? He felt tears of anger burn his eyes, but he refused to let himself cry.
"Harry?" Harry turned around, startled. Ginny stood beside him, looking unsure. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he whispered, looking down at his feet. He felt Ginny sit next to him on the bench.
"No, your not," Ginny said, placing her fingers under his chin and lifting his head a bit. He still wouldn't look at her. "What's wrong?"
"You must hate me now," he said softly.
"Why on earth would I hate you?" Ginny asked, surprised.
Harry looked up at her, "Because I didn't...well, you know."
"Oh, that," Ginny said, laughing nervously. "That was just one of Raven's jokes. It's alright if you didn't want to kiss me."
"But I did want to."
"What?" Ginny asked, thinking she heard wrong.
Harry looked down at his lap, blushing bright red. "I-I mean...Someday I want to kiss you, but not just yet. If you don't mind."
Ginny felt her heart skip a beat. "I'd like that," she said softly. "I don't mind waiting at all."
Harry looked at her and gave her a shy smile. "Would you like to take a walk?"
Ginny nodded, and they set off through the garden, with only the moon and stars to light their way. They didn't hold hands, but they walked close enough that their fingertips brushed.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
About an hour later, Ginny skipped happily into her room, humming to herself. She found Raven sitting on her bed with her arms crossed.
"You lied," Raven said, glaring at her.
"What?" Ginny asked confused.
"You lied during truth or dare," Raven said getting up off the bed, "when you said that you didn't have a crush on Harry."
"But I didn't lie," Ginny said, smiling. "I don't have a crush on him. I love him." Raven heaved an exasperated sigh and flopped down on the bed.
It was Wednesday night in the Weasley home. Harry was sitting by the fire, staring into it, not thinking of anything in perticular. Ginny was sprawled out on the floor, sketchbook in front of her, try to hide the fact that it was Harry she was drawing. Raven was stretched out calmly on the sofa reading, while Ron paced like a caged lion.
Percy had left earlier that morning on a "strictly confidential business matter." Fred and George had gone over to Lee Jordan's house that afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had just left to visit some of their friends who lived in London. They had explained, just before they left, that they didn't expect to be home until very late that night. The look Raven had given him when she'd heard this, was making him horribly nervous. He continued to pace, every now and again looking back at Raven who was making the situation worse by winking at him every so often.
"I-It's getting pretty late, isn't it?" He asked hopefully, "Perhaps we should all just go to bed."
"It's only eight o'clock Ron," Ginny said, giving him a strange look.
"But nice try," Raven mouthed over her book. Glancing at the clock, she placed her book on the table and stood up. "I think I'll go into the kitchen and make us all some nice cocoa. Why don't you come and help me, Ron?"
Sighing as though resigning to his fate, Ron followed her into the kitchen. The moment he had entered, she shut the door quickly behind him.
"Ready for our little game tonight?" She asked mischievously.
"As ready as I'm ever going to be, I suppose." Ron sat down gloomily in a chair, and watched Raven prepare the cocoa. "I hate truth or dare. It's just some stupid game that embarrasses you in front of everyone."
"Oh, don't be silly," Raven said, ladling the cocoa out into teacups. "You'll have lots of fun once we get started. Anyway, the point isn't to embarrass you. The point is to get Harry and Ginny to confess how they feel about each other."
"I guess," Ron said. He watched as Raven took a small bottle out of her pocket. She poured a silvery blue powder out of it into her hands and added a bit to each glass. "What's that you putting in the cocoa?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"It's a bit of that truth powder we bought," Raven explained. "To make sure that everyone tells the truth."
"Well don't expect me to drink any!" Ron said angrily.
"Don't be silly! Of course you're going to drink some. The whole point of the truth part is to tell the truth! Besides, I'm going to drink some. See?" She took a dainty sip out of one of the cups, "We're in this together."
"I still say I'm not drinking any."
"Fine, be that way. Just come on!" Raven put the cups on a tray and went out into the sitting room. Ron followed grumbling. Raven distributed the cups and sat down once more on the sofa. Ron just set his cup aside. There was no way she was going to get him to drink a single drop!
"I have an idea," Raven announced. "Let's play a game."
"That sounds like a good idea," said Harry looking up. "There's really nothing to do right now." Ginny nodded in agreement and put away her sketchbook.
"How about chess?" Ron put in hopefully.
"No," groaned Ginny. "You always want to play chess. Let's play something different for a change."
"My thoughts exactly," said Rave, grinning at Ron. "Let's play truth or dare!"
"I don't know," Harry said looking uneasy.
"Harry's right. I don't think that's such a good id-Ouch!" Ron was cut off by Raven elbowing him sharply in the ribs.
"Come on, everybody. Sit in a circle over here." Raven plopped down next to Ginny, dragging Ron with her. Harry joined them rather reluctantly.
"I'll ask first," Raven said happily, "Ron, truth or dare?"
"Why do you have to pick on me first?!" Ron said, outraged.
"Come on, Ron," Harry said, "be a good sport."
"Fine. . .dare!" Ron shouted, not wanting to seem like a sissy.
"Alright," Raven had the look of a lion that had just cornered its prey. "I dare you to taste that cocoa, and tell me what you think of it."
Ron sat there, opening and closing his mouth like a fish for a moment. "I won't do it!"
"Come on Ron," Ginny coaxed, "It's just a little cocoa."
Glaring daggers at Raven, Ron raised the glass to his lips and took a small sip. "It's pretty good actually," he said, then frowned. The truth powder must be kicking in already. He'd meant to make some mean remark about it.
"Ron," Raven nudged him, "it's your turn."
"Oh, right," he said. "Ginny, truth or dare?"
"Truth," Ginny answered quickly, ignoring Raven who was giving her an exasperated look.
"Uh..." Ron stopped to think, "Oh, I dunno. I'm no good at this game." Raven elbowed Ron painfully in the ribs.
"Remember the point of our playing this game?" She hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
"Okay, um....Ginny, who do you have a crush on?" He shot a look at Raven who nodded approvingly.
"No one," Ginny said quickly. Ron and Raven shot each other a surprised glance. Ginny had already finished her cocoa. Surely the truth powder was working by now.
"Are you sure there's no one you have a crush on?" Raven asked, leaning in and giving her an analyzing look.
"N-no one," Ginny mumbled, blushing.
"Alright, if you're sure," Ron said, shooting Raven another look.
"Raven, truth or dare?" Ginny asked.
"Dare!" Raven shouted.
"Hmmm...I dare you to tell Neville that you love him when we get back to school."
"Nooo!" Groaned Raven, "Ginny, you're mean!" Ginny giggled, and Ron shot his sister a proud look. Finally Raven was getting a little of her own medicine.
"Fine, but now it's my turn." Raven looked around the circle and got an incredibly evil look in her eyes. "Harry, truth or dare?"
"Dare," he said, after considering it a moment.
"I dare you to kiss Ginny!"
"What?!" Harry and Ginny both shouted together.
"I-I can't kiss Ginny, " Harry stammered.
"Why not? It's just a game," asked Raven.
"B-but," Ginny started.
"No buts!" Raven said firmly, "you have to take the dare. That's the rule."
Harry stood up shakily and pulled Ginny to her feet. Ron buried his head in his hands knowing how embarrassed his best friend and his sister must be feeling. Harry leaned closer to Ginny looking absolutely petrified. Ginny was trembling.
About an inch from kissing her, Harry suddenly pulled away. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I just can't do this!" He ran through the kitchen and out into the garden.
"Harry!" Ginny screamed, racing after him.
Ron turned to Raven, "Well now you've done it!" He screamed, "You're impossible! We'll never get them together now."
"Calm down," said Raven, gathering up the empty cups. "This is just a minor set-back." Ron sighed and took a few deep breaths to calm himself before following her into the kitchen. "Still," Raven was saying, "I wonder why the truth powder didn't work?"
"That was strange," Ron admitted, "Are you sure you put truth powder in all the cups?"
"Of course I did! I even put a little extra in Harry's and Ginny's."
Ron sighed, "I'm going to bed."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Harry raced out into the garden. His heart was pounding a million miles per second, and he felt like his face was on fire. He had never felt so embarrassed in his whole life! Ginny must think that he despised her. How could he be so stupid?!
He sank onto a bench and took in the beautiful, moonlit garden. What was he going to do? He felt tears of anger burn his eyes, but he refused to let himself cry.
"Harry?" Harry turned around, startled. Ginny stood beside him, looking unsure. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he whispered, looking down at his feet. He felt Ginny sit next to him on the bench.
"No, your not," Ginny said, placing her fingers under his chin and lifting his head a bit. He still wouldn't look at her. "What's wrong?"
"You must hate me now," he said softly.
"Why on earth would I hate you?" Ginny asked, surprised.
Harry looked up at her, "Because I didn't...well, you know."
"Oh, that," Ginny said, laughing nervously. "That was just one of Raven's jokes. It's alright if you didn't want to kiss me."
"But I did want to."
"What?" Ginny asked, thinking she heard wrong.
Harry looked down at his lap, blushing bright red. "I-I mean...Someday I want to kiss you, but not just yet. If you don't mind."
Ginny felt her heart skip a beat. "I'd like that," she said softly. "I don't mind waiting at all."
Harry looked at her and gave her a shy smile. "Would you like to take a walk?"
Ginny nodded, and they set off through the garden, with only the moon and stars to light their way. They didn't hold hands, but they walked close enough that their fingertips brushed.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
About an hour later, Ginny skipped happily into her room, humming to herself. She found Raven sitting on her bed with her arms crossed.
"You lied," Raven said, glaring at her.
"What?" Ginny asked confused.
"You lied during truth or dare," Raven said getting up off the bed, "when you said that you didn't have a crush on Harry."
"But I didn't lie," Ginny said, smiling. "I don't have a crush on him. I love him." Raven heaved an exasperated sigh and flopped down on the bed.