~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
What happened in the next few weeks after her attack was like a dream to Hermione. She finally started to enjoy the fact that she was safe (relatively) and finally she let most of her guard down.
One of the biggest differences was how people treated her once she relaxed a bit. Slytherin's as it would seem could be very warm human beings, if you weren't a Gryffindor. Another thing was that Hermione was beginning to forget that she was a hart a Gryffindor. In her opinion she was the best of both worlds, the roaring lion and the sly snake.
However the one thing that was making the largest changes in Hermione's life was the fact that she now had friends. Severus and Lucius were very seldomly apart from her, and when they were she was with Narccissa and much to her surprise Remus Lupin, he apparently didn't care that she was a Slytherin.
Today was a Monday the 28th of October, less then three days away from Halloween, a time she had almost always enjoyed at Hogwarts. If you excluded her first year, and the encounter with the troll.
Hermione was sitting at her desk finishing up some of her work in Defense against the dark arts class that Professor Megrim had given the class on the magical properties of Harvis bain, a wolfsbane hybrid, when something dropped on her desk.
It was a small folded piece of parchment, with a green Slytherin Snake engraved on it. She quickly picked it up and opened it without her professor noticing it.
Hermione Granger.
On Halloween night at 11 o'clock the noble house of Slytherin will be holding its annual truth or dare festival. Slytherin's only, and only those attendances's requested from the house.
Sincerely.
The Snakes.
Hermione smiled, this was too much fun. She intended to go, and was not put off by the signature, "The Snakes" was what a group of Slytherin boys called them selves. Snape and Malfoy were in it, and had explained to her what it was all about. Just a bunch of boys playing ticks and hosting parties. That was at least what they had told her.
"Are you going to go" came Snapes voice from beside her.
"Of course it sounds like fun"
She heard Snape chuckle. " It is fun but be warned, Slytherin's don't go easy on the questions or the dares, and if your caught lying you had better hope that they allow house transfers"
"Only in Slytherin" she mumbled while shaking her head, and smiling all the while.
It was five minutes before class ended when they spoke again.
" Where are you going after classes" Snape piped in.
"Where else the Library!" she chimed.
" Want some company?"
"Sure but Im not doing your homework for you Severus Snape" she played.
He put on a face of mock shock. " ME? Get another student to do my homework?"
They laughed.
"Ugh only you two would joke about homework!" came the annoyed voice of Lucius Malfoy.
"Oh sush Malfoy! Your just envious of our superior intellect (she looked at Snape and laughed) or I should say "My" superior intellect!"
Thankfully the bell rang just as Snape jumped at her for the insult. She Sprinted, laughingly out of the door, with Snape chasing her yelling mock death threats after her.
Hermione was loosing ground fast to Snape. She silently cursed his long legs as he came up behind her and gently tackled her to the ground, tickling her all the way.
"What did you just say? Apologize now!" he snapped playfully at her.
It amazed Hermione how much her, Lucius and Snape now got along. They were even at the point that some one might call them the best of friends. Well almost. It still shocked her sometimes that this boy who was so full of life would turn into the hated Potions master of Hogwarts. She could think any more, she burst into fits of laughing as Snape tickled her mercilessly.
What scared her even more was that she was starting to see Severus Snape as a real persob, never before had she seen him laugh or smile. Now he was rough housing with her and laughing at her mock insults.
" I will never apologize! You, You, Snape!"
He started to laugh at her inability to make insults when she was laughing.
"Ah Snape! Oh what a horrible thing to say!" He laughed at her and continued to tickle her.
Hermione couldn't take it any longer. " All right all right I give, IM SORRY!"
The tickling stopped and Snape was still over her, she could feel his warm, basil scented breath. He had a smile on his face. He then got up off of her and helped to her feat, both were panting and laughing, both needing each other to keep from fall over.
Lucius finally caught up with them having left the class a few minutes after it had ended. He looked from Snape to Granger and muttered under his breath.
"Your both nuts!"
Hermione and Snape both turned and glared at him, smiles playing on their lips.
"And were have you been Mr. Malfoy" Hermione Snapped playfully.
Lucius for once in his life looked a little nervous but quickly masked it. " Ive been no ware of any importance to you, you nosy little Slytherin!"
Hermione laughed, he was up to something.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Three days later Halloween arrived and Hogwarts came alive with celebration. There were large (magically altered) Jack-O-Lanterns littering the halls, and the traditional live bats fluttered through the school. Dumbledore had even gone as far as to animate some of the skeletons, and other dead remains that resided in the school. There were candles and black lighting through out the halls, and loud moaning gouhls tromped through them causing menace to any student unfortunate enough to fall across one of them.
It was truly a magical time, and to Hermione's observations the Halloween festivals in her time were nothing compared to this. Class for the day was canceled and every one was dressed in a costume. Her self included.
She wore a long mid-evil green dress, complete with corset tied up with cream-colored leather strings giving a weaving affect. The dress was made with a strange green velvet that didn't crumple when she walked (or ran for that matter), she let her hair run wild for the day, the final affect to her look was glittering gold and green eye shadow and long strips of thin vines intended in her hair.
She was a wood nymph.
When she first came down to breakfast that morning she was greeted by Snape and Lucius with open arms, both were truly impressed with her choice in costume. Lucius had dressed him self as a vampire, he had even gone as far as to transfigure his teeth into long viscous looking fangs. Severus Snape how ever had truly surprised her.
Her breath caught in her throat as he came up to her. He was warring (she could not believe it) a long black tunic with long sleeves, it hugged his form like a glove, showing every inch of his stomach, a brown leather belt with what appeared to be a black scabbard complete with sword at his hips, long high set boots with leather string lace up the front, and much to her amazement long tight dark brown riding pants. He had his hair done up loosely in a ponytail tied back with pieces of leather.
He had come as the one thing she would have never expected him too be. This was so different then what she would have expected, she now realized that Severus Snape was more then what he seemed to be.
He had come as Galadrial, a Knight of the round table.
However the whole look was ruined by his traditional scowl that graced his dark face. Hermione laughed and he scowled at her. Not a morning person apparently.
"Happy Halloween!" she chimed merrily.
The each nodded there greeting and took a seat on either side of Hermione, and watched as the hall filed with people. One person however caught Hermione's eye as he walked by with his friends.
Peter Pettigrue?
He turned his blond haired head towards her and their eyes met. He offered her a very dangerous looking smile, she quivered.
"You all right?" inquired Lucius.
"Yah Im fine just got the chills that's all"
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Hermione didn't see Peter or any other of the Marauders for the rest of the day or night for that matter. The day had been on of the best she had ever had since coming to this time. She had spent the morning with Snape, Lucius and Narccissa, playing tricks on some of the other members of the Seventh year, one of her favorites was enchanting the toilets in the boys bathroom on the fifth floor to snap and scream at the boys when they came to do there business.
She had laughed so hard she fell backwards when she had heard one of the comments the enchanted toilet seats had screamed at one of the boys.
" Move Closer you dolt, its not as long as you think!" Screeched the toilet.
She was sure she was going to die of laughter when she saw that the boy who had the comment shouted at him was non other then Sirius Black. He came rushing out of the bathroom pale as chalk and rather shaken.
The best part of her day happened when 11 O'clock at night came around.
She was lead into the common room by Snape and Malfoy and found that the lights were magically enchanted to give of a faint black, purple glow, it was the only light that was to be had. There were a few Jack-O-lanterns scattered about all decorated in snakes and other Slytherin related things, most of the carvings on the pumpkins were moving and the snakes were giving off a faint hissing sound.
The middle of the common room had been cleared of all furniture, all that remained were the carpets and the roaring fire, which was no longer filled with red raging flames but with an eerie green fire that gave off no heat to its surroundings. The one thing that caught her eye was a small glass orb in the middle of the common room surrounded by a pasty white mist. The whole cinario made shivers go up and down her spinal cord.
"Welcome." Came a cold voice behind her devoid of any warmth.
Hermione turned to see a very tall brown haired boy staring down at her, his face was pale white, and his eyes were magically red.
"I'm Blair Zabini, Please follow me every one else is here" He motioned to the orb in front of the fire, as if by "magic" fifteen or so other witches or wizards materialized from the shadows of the room. Blair then walked towards them as the other people in the room moved to make a circle around the orb and the mist; he sat at the head of the circle.
Snape, Malfoy and Hermione all took there seats on the out skirts of the circle, waiting for what ever interesting thing these people had created to show its self.
" For those of you new to this years game, may I bring your attention to the orb that is situated in front of you, It is called an orb of Seraphim which means orb of truth. It plays no part in the dare part of our ritual but it is most important in the truth. The mist that surrounds it is a type of truth Serum, which is only activated when the chosen person selects truth as their choice. You are forewarned"
He then snapped his fingers and the purple light disappeared, leaving the flames as the only source of sight.
" I shall go first (he looked around the circle and his eyes settled on his victim) Lucius Malfoy!"
Lucius tensed beside Hermione and then put on his cocky grin, he got up of the floor and walk towards the best-lighted area of the room so that every one could see him. Hermione cast a look to Blair, his eyes were flaring menacingly.
"Choose your poison!" he barked, a faint glimmer of a smile on his face.
Lucius raised his head proudly and glared down at Blair. " My poison is DARE!" he roared to all. The first dare of the game.
"Very well" Blair said quietly. "Since you have chosen dare I dare you to.enter the Gryffindor common room and travel up to the girls dormitory, once there you are to acquire an item from one of the Girls there. I suggest you don't get caught Lucius as the Gryffindor party does not think kindly of " Panty" raids."
Hermione tried not to laugh as Lucius smiled at this thought, it truly was an easy dare, the Slytherin's put on a good show but there dares were the same as those in the Muggle world.
It was five minutes after that Lucius returned from the Gryffindor Common room holding in his hand a pair of cotton whites underwear with a name imprinted on it. He handed it to Blair who read the name and fell over laughing.
" Our dear boy Lucius has a death wish, he has stolen the undergarments of non other then the Gryffindor Marauders favorite play thing. Lily Evan's!"
Hermione didn't find this as funny as she thought but the goofy grin of Lucius's face was enough to make her laugh, Blair chuckled the garment back to Lucius and told him to keep it.
"Your turn Lucius, choose your victim!"
Lucius walked around the circle and stopped infront of Snape and Hermione, he had a smile playing on his face. " Snape I believe it's your poison."
Snape didn't bat an eye. " Dare"
Lucius had been secretly hopping that he would have picked that, and gave him a very indecent smile.
" I believe Severus that your dare is of the romantic kind."
Severus if possible went paler then usual, romance obviously wasn't what he hoped he was going to get. Hermione was secretly hoping that Snape would get a dare like this, his romantic capabilities were somewhat unknown about when she was his student, and it was often said that he was inpitint
" Severus I believe that a simple French kiss would suffice."
"As long as I don't have to kiss you Lucius I don't think that it would be a problem" A roar of laughter came from the Slytherin's in the circle.
Lucius glared down at him and then turned his eyes to a girl in the circle. " I believe that you will have to kiss Miss Granger!"
Hermione blanched and tried not to gag, her mind screamed no! Over and over again, she did not want to kiss her potions teacher, the slimy git who had made her life hell for seven years, who had made fun of her infront of the class for knowing all the answers, who had .saved her life.
Suddenly Hermione felt something incredibly soft pressed against her lips, she closed her eyes and savored the feeling. Whatever it was felt like heaven. A sudden smell of basil crept into her senses and her eyes flew open. She was starring into the dark night like eyes of Severus Snape she could see the green flames of the fire reflected in his eyes. He looked so confident so noble, his black hair fanned out draping down, tickling her nose. His lips were pressed to hers.
Suddenly there was a longs fingered hand at the small of her back, pulling her close to him. In a throw of magic she opened her mouth and invited him in. He needed no further invitation and seeked her soft mouth. Hermione brought her hands to his strong shoulders and pulled him closer.
Severus was devouring her, soul and body; his kiss was like a warm blanket over a sheet of ice. He tasted of Basil and a deep honey. His mouth was soft and his teeth perfect in every way not like the yellowing version that they would transform into. Hermione closed her eyes and aloud herself to be free in wild abandon. Never had she been kissed in such a way, it was like a slow but ferocious worship of her.
There was a cough from beside them. " Umm Sev I think that's enough."
Hermione's eyes flew open and so did Snapes, the both immediately released each other, they both laughed sheepishly, and inside Hermione's stomach was between fluttering butterflies and loosing her lunch.
She had just kissed Severus Snape and she had enjoyed it! She felt like such a betrayer. To all that she had ever loved.
She could see that Snape was painting, and was clearly embarrassed, a sudden surge of anger flared through her, was she that bad of a kisser. Mercifully Snape did not pick her he picks another. It took about twenty more minutes for it to be Hermione's turn, she was simply dared by one of the boys to remove the top of her corset from her costume and prance around like a pixie in her undergarments.
Now she could dare or truth some one. With out thinking she shouted. "Snape! Choose your poison."
Once again he picked dare, but not without a comment. " No Miss Granger I will not kiss you again!"
She felt her cheeks go red and then she picked his downfall. He blanched more then he had when he was told to kiss her.
" You have go to be kidding me!" He Snapped.
"Just do it and it has to stay on for the rest of the night!"
With that Snape left and went up the stairs to his room, a moment later he came down his hair was out of its pony tail and his costume was gone replaced by a.
" Looking good Snape!" Screamed Lucius through his laughter. There was a comply of hooting from the rest of the girls and boys in attendance.
Snape had come down warring a dark green velvet low cut, tight around the hip dress, complete with black high heels.
" I must say Snape you have great hips" commented Hermione.
" I will make you pay for this Granger! I promise" He snarled at her.
There was a snort of Laughter behind Snape and he turned to see Lucius on the floor trying not to die of laughter.
"Lucius choose your poison!"
Lucius who was under the influence of high-powered laughter did not realize that he had chosen dare until it was too late.
Snape grinned evilly.
Five minutes Lucius was downed in a long scoop necked Gryffindor red dress with stilettos was seated on the floor flaunting his stuff. The whole Slytherin house was in an up roar. Hermione had never seen such as sight as both Snape and Malfoy got up and posed for every one. She had to finish this off right, she ran quickly out of the common room and returned with a camera. She quickly gave it to Blair and ran off to be with the boys.
The was a picture taken that night that most people would never ever understand, but to the two boys in the dresses and the bushy haired girl in her bra and a long green skirt it was the beginning of a true friendship.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
At the stroke of mid-night the game came to an end.
Hermione granger watched the clear black sky twinkle with the marryment of Halloween. There was a deep sense of a hidden magic in the air tonight. It seeped into her very soul. A slight wind picked up on the balcony where she stood in her black bra and green silk dress out side of the Slytherin Common room.
All alone.
A shiver went up her spin as a slight wind picked up making her bushy curls of dark honey dance around in the night,
Hermione felt a pain of disapointment relizing that this was the most fun she had ever had in her entire short life. More fun then she had ever had when she was with Harry or Ron.
A tear begain to fall from her face, Gods she felt like a trator to there memory. She felt the blasted tear start to fall down her soft white cheek.
She gasped at what she felt next. A warm hand brushed the tear away from her.
She looked up into from her moping gaze and into the gaze of some one she never thought she would be glad to see.
"You ok Granger?" Severus Snape's velvet voice asked.
She dumbly nodded and looked over the balcony again.
"Yes, Just remebering old times." She wanted to break down but held herself together, having him see her like that was the last thing she ever wanted in life.
He gave her a quizical almost carring look. " Do you want to talk about it?"
She nodded a yes but spoke aloud no. He gave her a confused look and she stayed silent afterwards.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~ Snape watched her as he stood beside her outside on the balcony.
Why did she seem in so much pain?
The girl was so confusing, one minute she's warm like butter and just as soft the next she tougher then stone.
Why do I care? He whispered to himself.
He saw another tear traveling down her face and rest on her lips. The very soft and supple lips that he had kissed less then an hour ago. What in gods name had possed him to do that. He wasn't supposed to get attached, Hell he wasn't even sure if he was attachted. Things just weren't clear in life as they used to be.
He wasn't even her real friend, so why did he care?
Instead of brushing the tear away like had had the last time he wrapped his arm around the small girl, not knowing what had possed him to do that. He felt her stiffen much like he always did when someone touched him.
Another thing we seem to share, a lack of love for human contact.
Much to his amazement she relaxed against him, buring her bushy haired head into his chest.
They stayed like that for hours watching the sun rise over the grounds of Hogwarts, both not knowing that a new level in there lives had just been achieved.
What happened in the next few weeks after her attack was like a dream to Hermione. She finally started to enjoy the fact that she was safe (relatively) and finally she let most of her guard down.
One of the biggest differences was how people treated her once she relaxed a bit. Slytherin's as it would seem could be very warm human beings, if you weren't a Gryffindor. Another thing was that Hermione was beginning to forget that she was a hart a Gryffindor. In her opinion she was the best of both worlds, the roaring lion and the sly snake.
However the one thing that was making the largest changes in Hermione's life was the fact that she now had friends. Severus and Lucius were very seldomly apart from her, and when they were she was with Narccissa and much to her surprise Remus Lupin, he apparently didn't care that she was a Slytherin.
Today was a Monday the 28th of October, less then three days away from Halloween, a time she had almost always enjoyed at Hogwarts. If you excluded her first year, and the encounter with the troll.
Hermione was sitting at her desk finishing up some of her work in Defense against the dark arts class that Professor Megrim had given the class on the magical properties of Harvis bain, a wolfsbane hybrid, when something dropped on her desk.
It was a small folded piece of parchment, with a green Slytherin Snake engraved on it. She quickly picked it up and opened it without her professor noticing it.
Hermione Granger.
On Halloween night at 11 o'clock the noble house of Slytherin will be holding its annual truth or dare festival. Slytherin's only, and only those attendances's requested from the house.
Sincerely.
The Snakes.
Hermione smiled, this was too much fun. She intended to go, and was not put off by the signature, "The Snakes" was what a group of Slytherin boys called them selves. Snape and Malfoy were in it, and had explained to her what it was all about. Just a bunch of boys playing ticks and hosting parties. That was at least what they had told her.
"Are you going to go" came Snapes voice from beside her.
"Of course it sounds like fun"
She heard Snape chuckle. " It is fun but be warned, Slytherin's don't go easy on the questions or the dares, and if your caught lying you had better hope that they allow house transfers"
"Only in Slytherin" she mumbled while shaking her head, and smiling all the while.
It was five minutes before class ended when they spoke again.
" Where are you going after classes" Snape piped in.
"Where else the Library!" she chimed.
" Want some company?"
"Sure but Im not doing your homework for you Severus Snape" she played.
He put on a face of mock shock. " ME? Get another student to do my homework?"
They laughed.
"Ugh only you two would joke about homework!" came the annoyed voice of Lucius Malfoy.
"Oh sush Malfoy! Your just envious of our superior intellect (she looked at Snape and laughed) or I should say "My" superior intellect!"
Thankfully the bell rang just as Snape jumped at her for the insult. She Sprinted, laughingly out of the door, with Snape chasing her yelling mock death threats after her.
Hermione was loosing ground fast to Snape. She silently cursed his long legs as he came up behind her and gently tackled her to the ground, tickling her all the way.
"What did you just say? Apologize now!" he snapped playfully at her.
It amazed Hermione how much her, Lucius and Snape now got along. They were even at the point that some one might call them the best of friends. Well almost. It still shocked her sometimes that this boy who was so full of life would turn into the hated Potions master of Hogwarts. She could think any more, she burst into fits of laughing as Snape tickled her mercilessly.
What scared her even more was that she was starting to see Severus Snape as a real persob, never before had she seen him laugh or smile. Now he was rough housing with her and laughing at her mock insults.
" I will never apologize! You, You, Snape!"
He started to laugh at her inability to make insults when she was laughing.
"Ah Snape! Oh what a horrible thing to say!" He laughed at her and continued to tickle her.
Hermione couldn't take it any longer. " All right all right I give, IM SORRY!"
The tickling stopped and Snape was still over her, she could feel his warm, basil scented breath. He had a smile on his face. He then got up off of her and helped to her feat, both were panting and laughing, both needing each other to keep from fall over.
Lucius finally caught up with them having left the class a few minutes after it had ended. He looked from Snape to Granger and muttered under his breath.
"Your both nuts!"
Hermione and Snape both turned and glared at him, smiles playing on their lips.
"And were have you been Mr. Malfoy" Hermione Snapped playfully.
Lucius for once in his life looked a little nervous but quickly masked it. " Ive been no ware of any importance to you, you nosy little Slytherin!"
Hermione laughed, he was up to something.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Three days later Halloween arrived and Hogwarts came alive with celebration. There were large (magically altered) Jack-O-Lanterns littering the halls, and the traditional live bats fluttered through the school. Dumbledore had even gone as far as to animate some of the skeletons, and other dead remains that resided in the school. There were candles and black lighting through out the halls, and loud moaning gouhls tromped through them causing menace to any student unfortunate enough to fall across one of them.
It was truly a magical time, and to Hermione's observations the Halloween festivals in her time were nothing compared to this. Class for the day was canceled and every one was dressed in a costume. Her self included.
She wore a long mid-evil green dress, complete with corset tied up with cream-colored leather strings giving a weaving affect. The dress was made with a strange green velvet that didn't crumple when she walked (or ran for that matter), she let her hair run wild for the day, the final affect to her look was glittering gold and green eye shadow and long strips of thin vines intended in her hair.
She was a wood nymph.
When she first came down to breakfast that morning she was greeted by Snape and Lucius with open arms, both were truly impressed with her choice in costume. Lucius had dressed him self as a vampire, he had even gone as far as to transfigure his teeth into long viscous looking fangs. Severus Snape how ever had truly surprised her.
Her breath caught in her throat as he came up to her. He was warring (she could not believe it) a long black tunic with long sleeves, it hugged his form like a glove, showing every inch of his stomach, a brown leather belt with what appeared to be a black scabbard complete with sword at his hips, long high set boots with leather string lace up the front, and much to her amazement long tight dark brown riding pants. He had his hair done up loosely in a ponytail tied back with pieces of leather.
He had come as the one thing she would have never expected him too be. This was so different then what she would have expected, she now realized that Severus Snape was more then what he seemed to be.
He had come as Galadrial, a Knight of the round table.
However the whole look was ruined by his traditional scowl that graced his dark face. Hermione laughed and he scowled at her. Not a morning person apparently.
"Happy Halloween!" she chimed merrily.
The each nodded there greeting and took a seat on either side of Hermione, and watched as the hall filed with people. One person however caught Hermione's eye as he walked by with his friends.
Peter Pettigrue?
He turned his blond haired head towards her and their eyes met. He offered her a very dangerous looking smile, she quivered.
"You all right?" inquired Lucius.
"Yah Im fine just got the chills that's all"
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
Hermione didn't see Peter or any other of the Marauders for the rest of the day or night for that matter. The day had been on of the best she had ever had since coming to this time. She had spent the morning with Snape, Lucius and Narccissa, playing tricks on some of the other members of the Seventh year, one of her favorites was enchanting the toilets in the boys bathroom on the fifth floor to snap and scream at the boys when they came to do there business.
She had laughed so hard she fell backwards when she had heard one of the comments the enchanted toilet seats had screamed at one of the boys.
" Move Closer you dolt, its not as long as you think!" Screeched the toilet.
She was sure she was going to die of laughter when she saw that the boy who had the comment shouted at him was non other then Sirius Black. He came rushing out of the bathroom pale as chalk and rather shaken.
The best part of her day happened when 11 O'clock at night came around.
She was lead into the common room by Snape and Malfoy and found that the lights were magically enchanted to give of a faint black, purple glow, it was the only light that was to be had. There were a few Jack-O-lanterns scattered about all decorated in snakes and other Slytherin related things, most of the carvings on the pumpkins were moving and the snakes were giving off a faint hissing sound.
The middle of the common room had been cleared of all furniture, all that remained were the carpets and the roaring fire, which was no longer filled with red raging flames but with an eerie green fire that gave off no heat to its surroundings. The one thing that caught her eye was a small glass orb in the middle of the common room surrounded by a pasty white mist. The whole cinario made shivers go up and down her spinal cord.
"Welcome." Came a cold voice behind her devoid of any warmth.
Hermione turned to see a very tall brown haired boy staring down at her, his face was pale white, and his eyes were magically red.
"I'm Blair Zabini, Please follow me every one else is here" He motioned to the orb in front of the fire, as if by "magic" fifteen or so other witches or wizards materialized from the shadows of the room. Blair then walked towards them as the other people in the room moved to make a circle around the orb and the mist; he sat at the head of the circle.
Snape, Malfoy and Hermione all took there seats on the out skirts of the circle, waiting for what ever interesting thing these people had created to show its self.
" For those of you new to this years game, may I bring your attention to the orb that is situated in front of you, It is called an orb of Seraphim which means orb of truth. It plays no part in the dare part of our ritual but it is most important in the truth. The mist that surrounds it is a type of truth Serum, which is only activated when the chosen person selects truth as their choice. You are forewarned"
He then snapped his fingers and the purple light disappeared, leaving the flames as the only source of sight.
" I shall go first (he looked around the circle and his eyes settled on his victim) Lucius Malfoy!"
Lucius tensed beside Hermione and then put on his cocky grin, he got up of the floor and walk towards the best-lighted area of the room so that every one could see him. Hermione cast a look to Blair, his eyes were flaring menacingly.
"Choose your poison!" he barked, a faint glimmer of a smile on his face.
Lucius raised his head proudly and glared down at Blair. " My poison is DARE!" he roared to all. The first dare of the game.
"Very well" Blair said quietly. "Since you have chosen dare I dare you to.enter the Gryffindor common room and travel up to the girls dormitory, once there you are to acquire an item from one of the Girls there. I suggest you don't get caught Lucius as the Gryffindor party does not think kindly of " Panty" raids."
Hermione tried not to laugh as Lucius smiled at this thought, it truly was an easy dare, the Slytherin's put on a good show but there dares were the same as those in the Muggle world.
It was five minutes after that Lucius returned from the Gryffindor Common room holding in his hand a pair of cotton whites underwear with a name imprinted on it. He handed it to Blair who read the name and fell over laughing.
" Our dear boy Lucius has a death wish, he has stolen the undergarments of non other then the Gryffindor Marauders favorite play thing. Lily Evan's!"
Hermione didn't find this as funny as she thought but the goofy grin of Lucius's face was enough to make her laugh, Blair chuckled the garment back to Lucius and told him to keep it.
"Your turn Lucius, choose your victim!"
Lucius walked around the circle and stopped infront of Snape and Hermione, he had a smile playing on his face. " Snape I believe it's your poison."
Snape didn't bat an eye. " Dare"
Lucius had been secretly hopping that he would have picked that, and gave him a very indecent smile.
" I believe Severus that your dare is of the romantic kind."
Severus if possible went paler then usual, romance obviously wasn't what he hoped he was going to get. Hermione was secretly hoping that Snape would get a dare like this, his romantic capabilities were somewhat unknown about when she was his student, and it was often said that he was inpitint
" Severus I believe that a simple French kiss would suffice."
"As long as I don't have to kiss you Lucius I don't think that it would be a problem" A roar of laughter came from the Slytherin's in the circle.
Lucius glared down at him and then turned his eyes to a girl in the circle. " I believe that you will have to kiss Miss Granger!"
Hermione blanched and tried not to gag, her mind screamed no! Over and over again, she did not want to kiss her potions teacher, the slimy git who had made her life hell for seven years, who had made fun of her infront of the class for knowing all the answers, who had .saved her life.
Suddenly Hermione felt something incredibly soft pressed against her lips, she closed her eyes and savored the feeling. Whatever it was felt like heaven. A sudden smell of basil crept into her senses and her eyes flew open. She was starring into the dark night like eyes of Severus Snape she could see the green flames of the fire reflected in his eyes. He looked so confident so noble, his black hair fanned out draping down, tickling her nose. His lips were pressed to hers.
Suddenly there was a longs fingered hand at the small of her back, pulling her close to him. In a throw of magic she opened her mouth and invited him in. He needed no further invitation and seeked her soft mouth. Hermione brought her hands to his strong shoulders and pulled him closer.
Severus was devouring her, soul and body; his kiss was like a warm blanket over a sheet of ice. He tasted of Basil and a deep honey. His mouth was soft and his teeth perfect in every way not like the yellowing version that they would transform into. Hermione closed her eyes and aloud herself to be free in wild abandon. Never had she been kissed in such a way, it was like a slow but ferocious worship of her.
There was a cough from beside them. " Umm Sev I think that's enough."
Hermione's eyes flew open and so did Snapes, the both immediately released each other, they both laughed sheepishly, and inside Hermione's stomach was between fluttering butterflies and loosing her lunch.
She had just kissed Severus Snape and she had enjoyed it! She felt like such a betrayer. To all that she had ever loved.
She could see that Snape was painting, and was clearly embarrassed, a sudden surge of anger flared through her, was she that bad of a kisser. Mercifully Snape did not pick her he picks another. It took about twenty more minutes for it to be Hermione's turn, she was simply dared by one of the boys to remove the top of her corset from her costume and prance around like a pixie in her undergarments.
Now she could dare or truth some one. With out thinking she shouted. "Snape! Choose your poison."
Once again he picked dare, but not without a comment. " No Miss Granger I will not kiss you again!"
She felt her cheeks go red and then she picked his downfall. He blanched more then he had when he was told to kiss her.
" You have go to be kidding me!" He Snapped.
"Just do it and it has to stay on for the rest of the night!"
With that Snape left and went up the stairs to his room, a moment later he came down his hair was out of its pony tail and his costume was gone replaced by a.
" Looking good Snape!" Screamed Lucius through his laughter. There was a comply of hooting from the rest of the girls and boys in attendance.
Snape had come down warring a dark green velvet low cut, tight around the hip dress, complete with black high heels.
" I must say Snape you have great hips" commented Hermione.
" I will make you pay for this Granger! I promise" He snarled at her.
There was a snort of Laughter behind Snape and he turned to see Lucius on the floor trying not to die of laughter.
"Lucius choose your poison!"
Lucius who was under the influence of high-powered laughter did not realize that he had chosen dare until it was too late.
Snape grinned evilly.
Five minutes Lucius was downed in a long scoop necked Gryffindor red dress with stilettos was seated on the floor flaunting his stuff. The whole Slytherin house was in an up roar. Hermione had never seen such as sight as both Snape and Malfoy got up and posed for every one. She had to finish this off right, she ran quickly out of the common room and returned with a camera. She quickly gave it to Blair and ran off to be with the boys.
The was a picture taken that night that most people would never ever understand, but to the two boys in the dresses and the bushy haired girl in her bra and a long green skirt it was the beginning of a true friendship.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
At the stroke of mid-night the game came to an end.
Hermione granger watched the clear black sky twinkle with the marryment of Halloween. There was a deep sense of a hidden magic in the air tonight. It seeped into her very soul. A slight wind picked up on the balcony where she stood in her black bra and green silk dress out side of the Slytherin Common room.
All alone.
A shiver went up her spin as a slight wind picked up making her bushy curls of dark honey dance around in the night,
Hermione felt a pain of disapointment relizing that this was the most fun she had ever had in her entire short life. More fun then she had ever had when she was with Harry or Ron.
A tear begain to fall from her face, Gods she felt like a trator to there memory. She felt the blasted tear start to fall down her soft white cheek.
She gasped at what she felt next. A warm hand brushed the tear away from her.
She looked up into from her moping gaze and into the gaze of some one she never thought she would be glad to see.
"You ok Granger?" Severus Snape's velvet voice asked.
She dumbly nodded and looked over the balcony again.
"Yes, Just remebering old times." She wanted to break down but held herself together, having him see her like that was the last thing she ever wanted in life.
He gave her a quizical almost carring look. " Do you want to talk about it?"
She nodded a yes but spoke aloud no. He gave her a confused look and she stayed silent afterwards.
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~ Snape watched her as he stood beside her outside on the balcony.
Why did she seem in so much pain?
The girl was so confusing, one minute she's warm like butter and just as soft the next she tougher then stone.
Why do I care? He whispered to himself.
He saw another tear traveling down her face and rest on her lips. The very soft and supple lips that he had kissed less then an hour ago. What in gods name had possed him to do that. He wasn't supposed to get attached, Hell he wasn't even sure if he was attachted. Things just weren't clear in life as they used to be.
He wasn't even her real friend, so why did he care?
Instead of brushing the tear away like had had the last time he wrapped his arm around the small girl, not knowing what had possed him to do that. He felt her stiffen much like he always did when someone touched him.
Another thing we seem to share, a lack of love for human contact.
Much to his amazement she relaxed against him, buring her bushy haired head into his chest.
They stayed like that for hours watching the sun rise over the grounds of Hogwarts, both not knowing that a new level in there lives had just been achieved.