A/N :Wow thanks to all the reviewers: karenkate-kitty, Phoebe, Nausica-mione, kiskool, SuperStar4eva88, xOandraiaOx. It's you guys that inspire me to keep writing (ok that and the threat of study ;-) ) If anyone wants me to include anything or has any ideas please let me know. Here's chap 5, it's a bit longer than usual but the night of drunkedness is finally over - yay! What do you think? I don't know if I like this chapter or not…..
Hey…I just realised before I never wrote a disclaimer…..those lawyers will be after me…..
Disclaimer: Ok Ok these characters don't belong to me, they belong to J.K. Rowling and some rich multinational publishing company. I only own the *ahh hmmm* plot.
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Chapter 5
Harry delt out the cards to everyone. Hermione looked at hers and started giggling.
"Hey Hermes, do the words "poker face" mean anything to you?" asked Ron.
"It's tactics Ronnie" giggled Hermione taking another sip of her drink.
The game progressed quickly with Harry losing the first hand. Grinning he pulled off one of his shoes.
"Right next hand" Ron said dealing out the next round. Harry lost again and removed his other shoe. Three rounds later Harry wasn't laughing so much having lost all three. He unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a white t-shirt underneath. "Damn!" thought Hermione and then started laughing again.
"Oh ho yes it's all very funny" said Harry looking at Ron and Hermione collapsing with laughter onto the cushions. "Just wait 'til you guys start losing".
"With your great card skills we won't have to" snorted Ron between laughs.
"Have another drink Harry. I'm sure it won't seem so bad after that" commented Hermione. "Nothing does even not being able to have you" she thought taking another sip of her vodka and coke.
The three kept playing. Hermione could hardly concentrate on the game, she was feeling very light headed and the presence of Harry minus some clothes sitting next to her wasn't helping things.
~*~
"Hey guys I can't feel my nose!" said Hermione pushing her finger against her nose and trying to look at it resulting in a cross eyed stare.
"C'mon Hermes off with it! Stop stalling" said Harry. For some reason his heart had started to beat quite fast. Hermione was left wearing her jeans and a fitting black top. She had just lost the last round and it had to be either item of clothing to go. Hermione was going to be the first to actually reveal any underwear. Hermione took her finger away from her nose.
"Awwww it's not fair. I'm the only girl I should be treated leniently".
"No way!" said Harry "You agreed when we started".
"Excuse me I think we need a change of music here and some different lighting" said Ron evilly. He leant over and grabbed his wand from next to Hermione. Waving it he caused two candelabras to appear next to them giving the room a warm candle lit glow. "Let's Get It On" started to play in the background.
"Ron you are so immature" said Hermione deftly pulling her top off with one swift movement.
Harry tried not to look but he couldn't avert his gaze. Hermione sat there in her jeans and a plain white bra. Her underwear was totally unassuming, designed for comfort, not to be sexy. But somehow the lack of lace, the plain white of the bra contrasting with her smooth tanned skin was more erotic than the most revealing lingerie. Harry quickly skulled the rest of his drink.
"Hermione, I bet Snape would love to see you now" he said trying to cover up the warmth that he could feel spreading in his cheeks.
"Oh I know he would" replied Hermione "I am utterly irresistible to the male species".
"Harry you're sick" said Ron "Talking about Snape like that".
Harry just grinned.
They played another hand which Harry lost.
"Ok ok fine" he said pulling his t-shirt over his head. This time it was Hermione's turn at being unable to look away. Harry's chest was smooth and toned, and he had great shoulders she noticed. To distract herself she looked over at Ron who, she noticed, was staring at Harry's chest as well.
"Uh huh" thought Hermione but the close presence of a topless Harry was all her mind could cope with just then. They all took the moment to have another sip of their drinks.
"How'ya feeling Hermes?" asked Harry.
"Yeah good, I'm dot nrunk at all".
This sent Harry into a fit off laughter which started Ron and Hermione as well. Hermione took another sip of her drink and started swaying to the side where Harry was sitting.
"Careful Hermes!" said Harry, and then his arms were around her as she fell into him. For a moment Hermione didn't believe it was real. All she could feel was the warmth radiating from his arms on her bare skin and the strength of his grasp.
Harry had instinctively reached out for Hermione when she fell, but the shock of feeling her warm bare skin against his sent a jolt through his body. Somehow just holding Hermione felt like the most erotic sensation he had ever experienced. She pressed her body back into his and he couldn't control the sound of his indrawn breath as he gasped. Harry realised totally at that moment that he wanted to never let Hermione go. He wanted to kiss her lips, to feel the warmth of her breath and skin against him, to run his hands through her hair. But all that could wait. He knew that the moment he let her go those things would become mere fantasies that could never have a chance of fulfilment. For how does someone tell one of their closest friends that they think they've just fallen in love with them? As long as he held her body against his time would stand still and there would be no need for the disappointments of reality.
Hermione felt a blush sneaking over her cheeks. All of a sudden she felt totally sober again. Hating to do it she pulled herself away from Harry's grasp. "What must he think of me? Oh Hermione this is so not you." Hermione had envisaged a mature serious conversation in which she told Harry in an adult way how she felt about him and that she didn't expect anything in return but just wanted to let him know what she was feeling. "Oh right after drinking six cocktails?" that annoying little voice asked sarcastically in her mind. "Admit it, you just wanted to get him drunk so that something might happen". It was as though tonight she was seeing a different side to herself, one that in all honesty she hadn't known existed. The Hermione she knew had always been based in reality, serious, above all the school girl nonsense that Lavender and Parvati were engrossed in. When SHE fell in love, things would be done properly, orderly, rationally. "And look where being like that's landed you" she thought miserably. Loving Harry was irrational but it was something she was powerless to control. And for once in her structured life Hermione felt unsure and adrift.
"Harry I'm sorry" said Hermione not looking in his direction.
"That's OK Hermione" said Harry quietly.
"Oh no, he thinks I'm just a stupid bimbo who is after him like everyone else at this school" Hermione thought. "HOW could I have let myself drink so much?".
"She couldn't even stand being close to me" thought Harry "I'm so embarrassed, she must have felt it when I pulled her close. How could I think Hermione would like me? She's so intelligent, and such a great friend…and beautiful, who am I?" Despite having many girls wanting to go out with the famous Harry Potter, and having dated Cho, Harry really didn't think anybody truly liked him. Deep down he was always wondering if girls wanted to be with him just because he was "the-boy-who-lived" and it would seem cool to be going out with someone famous. That was why he treasured Ron and Hermione's friendship so much, he knew they liked him for him, not for some idealistic notion of him as a super-hero. "I mustn't ever let Hermione know how I feel about her" Harry decided "I can't bear the thought of losing her as a friend and if she ever found out. I'm sure she would think I was just some typical guy who is only after one thing".
"Um excuse me guys but I just need to go out for a minute" said Hermione pulling on her top and standing up with a wobble. Slightly unsteadily she made her way across the room and pushed past the drapes. Harry also put his t-shirt back on. He realised that Ron hadn't said a word since Hermione had fallen into his arms. Ron had a strange expression on his face when Harry looked over at him. He looked almost….disappointed…but somehow angry at the same time.
~*~
"Hey Ron, Hermione's pretty funny drunk dont 'cha think?". Asked Harry trying to reak the silence.
"Wh- what?" said Ron looking over at Harry. His expression was once again back to the normal Ron look.
"I was just saying how Hermione's really funny drunk, she's cool" said Harry.
"Oh …, I guess. Well looks like our strip poker is over".
"Yeah you bastard and you didn't even have to reveal anything!"
"Not like you muscle man" said Ron moving over to sit next to Harry and pushing against his shoulder. "You been working out again?".
"Quidditich my lad, it tones your whole body" said Harry with a superior air.
Harry decided then that he would have to act as though nothing had happened when Hermione returned and that his feelings for her were the same as they had always been. "If only I could just kiss her once…" he thought regretfully. "Harry you're drunk! You have to stop these thoughts" he told himself a second later. "Just act normal. Well drunk normal anyway."
~*~
Hermione stood in the bathroom and splashed some water on her face. She looked up at herself in the mirror and noticed she was trembling. "Get a grip" she told her reflection. Hermione often spoke to herself in the mirror although it was usually along the lines of "You are going to make the top mark in the charms exam" rather than "Get a grip" which was a totally foreign state of mind. She decided then that the best course of action would be to put it down to being drunk and to act exactly like she always had around Harry. "I don't think I can ever tell him how I feel" she decided "I was crazy to think I ever could. This whole thing is crazy actually". Summoning up the Hermione that she was familiar with, the one that was totally in control of all situations, she headed back to the common room.
"Feeling better Hermes?" asked Harry with a mischievous smile when she returned.
"I feel great, now where's my drink?"
"Whoo hoo, go Hemes" said Ron enthusiastically. "The party's not over yet boys and girls".
Harry was surprised Hermione still wanted to stay. "She must really not have noticed anything when I had my arms around her" he thought in relief.
They all poured themselves another drink and settled down again on the cushions. This time Hermione positioned herself next to Ron, not wanting to give Harry any ideas that she really wanted to be close to him. Harry noticed this and thought "Maybe she did notice something, she doesn't even want to risk sitting next to me". It made him feel terrible. "But what can you expect" he asked himself "She was drunk and then you wouldn't let her out of your arms, she must think it's a bit strange".
"Hey Hermione…." Ron's voice broke into Harry's thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"Remember you mentioning about those..um…college orgies before?"
"Ron you are truly disgusting!"
"Hang on…I was just wondering what other sorts of Muggle games people play at parties" said Ron defensively.
Hermione started to laugh. "Well I haven't exactly been to a muggle party for awhile you know, not since I was about ten. But….there is this one game called Truth or Dare".
"Oh ohh" thought Harry with a sinking feeling.
"Let's play!" said Ron ever the party boy. Well he appeared to be tonight anyway.
"Ok well basically you can be first Ron, and I get to ask you a question and you can either chose to answer it truthfully or do a dare instead". Explained Hermione.
"Yeah cool alright" said Ron. "But first I think we all need at least another drink".
"Ahhhh" moaned Harry "I don't know if that's such a great idea". Since his last drink which he had downed rather quickly hoping it would put him in a better mood, he had started to feel rather out of control of things. "The last thing I want is to be blurting out everything" he thought.
"Come on Harry" prompted Hermione "If I can you can".
All three picked up their drinks and drank them quickly.
"Oh…..my…God" said Hermione flopping back on the cushions. "I think the ceilings moving".
"C'mon Hermes, what's my question?" asked Ron.
With difficulty Hermione uprighted herself and stared at Ron with an evil expression. The whole thing with Harry, getting drunk for the first time, losing control, had given her an "I -don't-care" mentality. It felt some how refreshing.
"Ron why don't you ever like going out with girls?" she asked directly. Hermione had long suspected Ron was gay. She didn't think Harry knew, and out of respect for Ron she had never mentioned her suspicions before, but now, tonight, all bets were off. "Who cares?" Hermione thought flippantly. "I'm having a bad night, why shouldn't someone else?. Besides it's to get back at him for all the know-it-all comments over the years". Hermione's thoughts continued to surprise her. But in some dark corner of her mind it was also enjoyable to find she could be like this.
"Jeez Hermione!" said Ron in a pissed off voice.
"Well you wanted to play, answer the question!" retorted Hermione.
"Yeah Ron I'm intrigued" said Harry.
"That's just a dumb question, ask something else" Ron said at Hermione.
"No answer my question or I get to dare you to do something".
"Fine. Dare me then".
"Ok I dare you to kiss Harry. Open mouth kiss on the lips".
There was a silence…then:
"Hermione you're crazy!" said Harry loudly "I don't want to kiss Ron!".
"Ron?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah ok whatever" muttered Ron.
"Hang on don't I get a say in this?" asked Harry.
"No!" said Ron and Hermione together.
Harry couldn't believe this night. One minute he realised he was in love with Hermione one of his closest friends for five years and the next he was about to be kissed by his other best friend who happened to be a guy.
"C'mon Harry it's no big deal, just relax" said Hermione in a tone of voice that suggested he would be a spoilt sport if he didn't go along with things.
Hermione picked up her wand and dimmed the lights so that only one candelabra remained. The room was quiet. Ron clumsily got up and went and sat down beside Harry. Harry found that his heart was beating fast, but not in a pleasant way, like when he had had Hermione in his arms. Ron leaned over and put his hand around to the back of Harry's head. He leaned forward. Suddenly Harry realised what this was all about. Deep down he had known Ron was gay for ages but hadn't wanted to admit it to his conscious thoughts. Not that he had anything against it, it was just somehow…easier to let things be the way they always had been. Before he could pull away in protest Ron pressed his lips against Harry's, at the same time pulling his head closer with his hand. Ron began to kiss him firmly, pushing his tongue into Harry's mouth and nibbling his lower lip. Harry was numb, he wasn't kissing Ron back, he was just thinking "I can't believe this is happening". Ron started to kiss him more passionately and put his other hand around Harry's waist. At that moment Harry could no longer stand it. He untangled his arm and pushed Ron away roughly. Ron looked up at Harry with an expression in his eyes that said everything. "I love you" he said quietly.
A couple of feet away Hermione didn't hear what Ron had said to Harry, but the expression on Harry's face was enough. She suddenly felt awful about daring Ron to kiss him. Ron jumped up and mumbled "I've gotta go to bed" then walked quickly out of the room. There was an awkward silence.
"Ah I'd better go to bed too I guess" said Harry getting up without looking at Hermione.
Hermione sat by herself surveying the remains of their drinks, the cushions scattered every where, the bar in the corner. She realised she had never felt more depressed than she did at that moment.
~*~
Harry didn't go to bed. How could he go back to his room he shared with Ron? He muttered the password to the sixth year bathroom and went in there instead. Sitting down on the edge of the bath he put his head in his hands and realised that things had changed forever.
~*~