~The Dare, the Hand Shake and the Challenge~
Summary: Before the start of the Seventh year term, Hermione and Ginny trick Draco into playing a muggle game of Dare throughout the school year. Voldemort is gone.
The Express
Head Boy and Girl Compartment
Hearing a compartment door opening up somewhere down the train, Hermione pulls Ginny into the Head's compartment. Draco opens his mouth to start to complain but stops when he notices the look on Hermione's face. Shutting the door. "Draco, I have explained to Ginny the slight change in the game."
"Ok," dismisses Draco then grimaces. "Does she know about the other stuff?"
"No," states Hermione. "That's for you to tell her," pausing at his stiff look. "If you feel like it." Giving him an appraising look, "But considering how much we both have to do this year it'd help."
The Sorting
"Welcome students old and new," greets Dumbledore as he stands up at the Head Table. "This year, I have the distinct pleasure of informing you of many changes. First Professor Lupin has decided to re-join us again as teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore pauses to let the students cheer.
"Now many of you know that Professor Flitwick has decided to retire at the end of last year," pausing to glancing his twinkling eyes at Harry. "I am proud to announce that Sirius Black has graciously decided to be his replacement."
Both Harry and Ron laughed, as they pounded the table. "Where's Mione? She's missing this," states Harry as he looks around the room. Ron shrugs his shoulders as he too looks around.
"Now this years Head Boy is Slytherin, Draco Malfoy," pointing the doors behind the Slytherin table. When the doors open. Draco strolls into the room. His hair was left loose; his robes were forest green with a silver logo badge of Slytherin. Smirking Draco nodded once to Professor Snape before sitting down. Professor Snape smirked at Professor Lupin before glaring at Professor Black.
"And Head Girl is Gryffindor Hermione Granger." The doors at the end of Gryffindor opened to reveal Hermione. Walking down to her table in open blood red robes, her black halter-top and snug blue jeans. At first she shocks then delights most of the males in the hall, which lead to catcalls and whistling at her. Smiling sweetly, Hermione ignored all of them as she sat down next to Ginny.
As the feast was in full swing, Hermione raised her cup in Draco's direction then winked at him. Smiling she went back to talking to Ginny. All this was observed at the Head Table. "Remus, I don't like this," states Sirius as he gets up from his chair. Shaking his head Professor Lupin follows Sirius. Approaching the Gryffindor table, Remus sits down next to Ron as Sirius straddles the bench next to Ginny.
Looking at her professor's grim faces, "What? Come on sitting next to Professor Snape can't be that bad, so what's with the grim faces?" Glancing over Remus's shoulder to see what Draco was doing.
"Says who," demands Ron. "He tried to convince Professor Lupin to fail you, Mione. But that didn't work cause you're a good girl."
Snickering, "Yeah, she's very good," says Ginny right before she whelps when Hermione nudges her none to lightly. Then under her breath adds, "At being very bad."
Hearing the clanging sounding the end of the fest Hermione waved good-bye to the group as she gathered the first-years and headed to their dorm.
"Ginny," snaps Ron "What is going on?"
Jumping up for her chair, Ginny glares at her brother. "Hermione is dealing with Malfoy. What do you think is going on?"
The Meeting of the Minds
Pausing outside the library doors, Hermione looks at Ginny. "He better be there." Walking in she pasts Madam Pince, the librarian. Going up the stairs she went into the secret room, she found two years ago. Smiling smugly this isn't even on The Maurders Map before sitting down facing the entranceway.
Ginny sat down just outside the room, blocking it from view. Opening up one of her books, Ginny smirks as she pops up when she spots Draco. Ginny gestures him in the room. After Draco enters, Hermione seals the room in a concealing spell.
"Draco," purrs Hermione as she rubes her hands together. "So glad you could join me."
Looking around the room Draco was surprised to see a high backed chair, much like the chairs in the Slytherin common room. Sitting down he smiled at her. "What now," drawls Draco.
"We plot, plan and then reek havoc," laughs Hermione pulling out two pieces of parchment. "Here this is a list of everything we need to do for you. And this is what I have planed for graduation. Look it over then tell me what you think."
Picking it up Draco smirks, "Smashing. Only a few problems with it."
"Good now I have a dare for you," pausing to ponder how to say it, "I dare you to let me…."
Outside the Library
"What are you out of your bloody mind!" Was heard throughout the library.
Inside the Secret Room
Glaring at Draco, "oh please it positively reeks old man."
"Fine," smirking at her. "I dare you to go one whole day without…"
Outside the Library
"What! Are you nuts?" Shrieked down the hallways.
Inside the Secret Room
Glaring back at her Draco snaps, "I would like to live to see dinner time."
"Fine deal," snaps Hermione. "But you're getting a bargain this time Malfoy."
Dinning Hall
Two Weeks Later
Entering the dinning room Malfoy causes a quite a stir. He didn't even have to smirk, sneer or jeer at anybody. The stir was caused by his new and improved looks. Malfoy's hair was shorter slightly spiked up and had green highlights to the end of it. Many of the females like it so much that they tried to copy it.
Dinning Hall
One Week Later
Hermione saunters into the dinning room. Sitting down at the breakfast table she startes a conversion with Ginny and Lavender about new hairstyles. Giggling a little, which was unusual for her. Ron and Harry noticed something different about Hermione but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.
As each class went by, they did notice that Hermione's enthusiasm for learning had hit the skids. She didn't once raise her hand; jump up and down with the answers, like normal. In some classes it didn't look like she even taking any notes.
Most of the teachers with the exception of Professor Black were use to her jumping up with the answer for each question. When she didn't even look like she was taking notes Professor McGonall had an emergency teachers conference. The only teacher who didn't notice any change of her behavior in his class was Professor Snape. He didn't understand what the fuss was about.
The Library
Sitting at her usual table Hermione impatiently taps her foot to any imaginary beat as she waits for Draco to show up. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she knows that he is due to show up soon. Again, Ginny was sitting in a fluffy chair that blocked the entrance; she was to being used as a look out. Ginny straights up for Malfoy to pass, then sits back down.
"Good evening Draco," says Hermione as he sits down. "Lets get to business. Halloween fest." Staring at him, a small smirk started to form. "Let's spice things up this year," pushing a piece of paper towards him, she hears him sigh as he reads it.
"No way," growls Draco as he jumps out of his seat. "This is a muggle tradition."
Slamming her hand down on the table to stop his coming tirade. "Read it over again, it's half muggle, I'll grant you," smirking at him. "But the rest is pure wizard," pushing a book at him. "It says so in Hogwarts a History."
Looking over the paper again and pulling the book towards him, Draco quickly looks it up. "Ok, I see your bloody point, but I don't like it. I'm not asking Dumbledore for this one. I said I would for the graduation thing, but not this."
"Smashing! I'll do this one," looking it over. "But you'll have to get the Slytherins to join in."
"Fine," laughs Draco putting his hands up in the air. "Now about that dare you gave me…"
"Yes Draco," snickers Hermione.
"When you said everyone," pausing to swallow hard. "What exactly did you mean?"
Laughing at him "Everyone, the living and the dead. Draco, that does include Harry, Ron, Hagrid but I'll let you go with the Slytherins."
"But Hermione," wines Draco.
"Damn it," hiss Hermione. "It's for one day. Plus just think," pausing for effect. "Just how freaked out everyone will be." As he left Ginny walked into the room, picking up the piece of paper she raises an eyebrow at Hermione.
"What," dismiss Hermione. "I just want some people to stop thinking of me as a little girl."
"If you're planning on wearing what I think you're planning on wearing. That's not going to be a problem," laughing. "However, I think tomorrow is going to be a problem. How did you ever get Malfoy to agree to that dare is beyond me."
"Never under estimate a good woman."
"Oh, good? Now," laughs Ginny as she pulls out her wand. "It's time for you to undergo your part of the dare."
Until Later
List of Dares so far:
Chapter 1:
Hermione and Ginny trick Draco into playing Dare.
Chapter 2:
Hermione dares Draco to push her into Sirius.
Chapter 3:
Draco dares Hermione to wear red robes all year, her house
color.
