Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
~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 Dinning Room

Looking around the room, Hermione raises her glass up into the air, as a huge smile breaks across her face. Spotting Draco's confused expression her smile becomes smug. Bet he didn't think I could pull it off. Turning Hermione whispers her plans to Ginny for the first Hogsmead trip.

At the Head Table Remus notices Hermione smug expression, so that's what she was up to. Looking over to the Slytherin table, Remus gets a smug expression on his face; I wonder what the Slytherins will go as?

Hogsmead Day

Tapping her foot Hermione glanced once again at her watch. "We're going to be late if we don't get moving," she whispers to Ginny.

"Are you guys ready yet," snaps Ginny as she shouts up the stairs.

Laughter floats down to them. "No."

Feeling anger swell in her, Hermione clicks her teeth. "Fine!" Hermione shouts, "We're leaving without you." Grabbing Ginny's hand she heads towards the portrait, both girls storm out as Harry's voice shouts back, "meet us at the three broomsticks!"

Running both Hermione and Ginny spot Draco pacing in front of Portkey Express. Waving to him, Draco shakes his head, "your almost late."

"You try dealing with Ron," snaps Hermione, as Ginny shakes her head.

Confused, "I thought you guys were best friends."

Groaning, "we are and we aren't," seeing Draco's expression get more confused. "Draco, there are times when I personally can't stand him and then there are times when he is really sweet to be around."

Pulling up the door, Draco lets the girls enter first. Struggling to keep the surprise off their faces Hermione and Ginny ask the keeper for a portkey to Riverside. Taking the portkey the three of them turned up just outside the Malfoy residence.

Riverside Malfoy Residence

Gasping both Hermione and Ginny were awestruck at how beautiful the Malfoy residence was. Smugly Draco expresses his welcome to the estate. Upon entering the house, if you could call a manor home a house, the group went directly to the first house elf they could find.

Finding the items that they need, Draco suggests that since they finished early they could possibly hit another residence. Putting the items in a specially made bag, Hermione glances at her watch, "since it was 9 in the morning when we left and its now around noon. If we really wanted we could hit two more places."

Laughing, "Granger, not all of us are overachievers."

Smacking him in the arm Ginny glares at him, "I say the soon we finish this the better for you, Malfoy. So I suggest that we become overachievers."

Looking around, "how are we going to get to the next place?"

Sighing, Draco opens a panel. "All of the houses are connected." Smiling the girls rope Draco into showing them how it works.

The Three Broomsticks

Sirius watches a laughing Ron and Harry walked in. Nudging Remus, Sirius waves to them. Sirius smiles as they approached his table. "How are you fine lads doing this day?"

Harry snorts at Sirius good humor, "we're fine," looking around. "Have you seen Hermione or Ginny."

"No," answers Remus as he looks around just incase they missed them. "Are they suppose to meet you here?"

"Yes," laughs Ron. "But knowing about the ball or Fest or what-ever Herm wants to call it. They are probably shopping." The boys sit down and start a conversation on Quidditch. When the barkeeper came over to inform the group that it was almost dinnertime. Reminding both Remus and Sirius that Harry and Ron needed to get back to school. It dawn on the group as they made the track back that they hadn't seen nor heard from Hermione or Ginny all day.

Dinning Hall

Walking into the great hall, Sirius looked around for Hermione. Spotting her talking to Ginny, Lavender and several other Gryffindors. Why didn't she come to the Three Broomsticks?

"Hey Mione," shouts Harry from across the hall. "You missed a good time."

Looking at him, Hermione rolls her eyes. "Really did you guys talk about anything other than Quidditch, past pranks?"

Harry and Ron take their normal seats next to her. Sirius continues to watch Hermione talk to the girls. Walking up to the table, Sirius leans over. Looking directly into her eyes, "Where were you?"

Hermione narrows her eyes at Sirius. Who does he think he is? "Elsewhere." Don't you narrow your eyes at me, Hermione smirks at him. "Ginny, didn't we have lots of fun today with Malfoy?" Wow, I didn't know your eyes could widen that far?

Purring Ginny answers, "Yeah lots of fun. We even got to see his bedroom at the Malfoy Manor. And let me tell you it was a site to see." Sirius exchanges looks between Ginny and me, trying too decided what to do now, before he bust out laughing.

"Oh please, Ginny," laughs Sirius. "You could have come up with something better then that."

Gryffindor
Hermione's room

Muttering a silencing spell, Hermione jumps on her bed, "well that didn't go to bad."

"Too bad," snaps Ginny. "No-one even noticed that we were missing all day!"

Laughing at her reaction, "get use to it."

"Why," demands Ginny.

"Ginny," groans Hermione. "Come on I have been friends with your brother and Harry for years. The only time both of them really took any notice that I was a girl was when Krum was around. Then it was back to good old Mione."

Groaning herself, "I see your point. I guess it is a really good thing about the dare this year."

"Yep," laughs Hermione. "Now about your costume," wiggling her eyebrows at her until Ginny laughs out a quick, "no."

"Don't rush to say no," suggests Hermione. "I have this feeling that we're going to need all the help we can get."

The Library
The Secret Room
Two weeks before the Halloween Feast

"Damn it," growls Draco slamming his fist on the table. "Professor Snape and his stupid bloody homework assignments."

Laughing at his frustration, "well on that we at lest agree."

Looking at her, Draco smirks. "I think he is getting complacent."

Laughing "Really," wonders Hermione. "So what do you have in mind?"

Draco leans forward "Now Granger, I dare you to…."

Outside the Library

"What!"

Inside the Secret Room

Holding her sides while laughing, "let me get this straight behave but don't behave."

Shrugging his shoulders, "yep, that pretty much covers it."

"Done!"

Potions

Professor Snape had just given the instructions to one of the most detailed potions the class had yet to make.

"Now remember," snaps Professor Snape as he stalks his way around the room. "Only 5 drops of Ivy and 3 leaves of Dewt." As the class progressed, Draco looks back at Hermione giving her this strange look, which Harry and Ron caught.

"Harry," whispers Ron. "Did you see that?"

"Yeah," dismiss Harry glaring at Malfoy. "Malfoy won't start anything until after class."

"Now class," snaps Professor Snape as he looms in front of Neville. "I want to hear you counting off the drops of Ivy."

Smirking Hermione picked up the bottle holding it over the cauldron. "One drop, ah, ah, ah. Two drops, ah, ah, ah. Three drops, three drops, ah, ah, ah. Four drops, ah, ah, ah. Five, five drops!" Her voice mimicked Count Dracula from Sesame Street. "Ah, ah, ah." The class laughs quietly.

"Miss Granger," shouts Professor Snape as he glares at her. "What are you doing?"

Putting on her best innocent act. "I'm doing what you told us to do Professor. I'm counting off the drops." Fake tears start to water in her eyes.

Huffing, "count them in your head then."

Squeaking, "Yes Sir."

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.

Chapter 4:
Hermione dares Draco to change his hairstyle, with some muggle highlights.
Draco dares Hermione not to participate in class (no answering question,) all but Potions for one day.

Chapter 5:
Hermione dares Draco to taunt her about the Flying NEWT.
Draco dares Hermione to help him with his costume for the Feast.

Chapter 6:
No Dares were exchanged.