Not Your Ordinary Love Story

by LondonWitch

A/N: I've been waiting to write this chapter for some time, but I haven't had the time. But now I do, finally, so please enjoy it. Enjoy the fact that I don't own these characters, so you can you use them yourself...but I do own the plot, so please don't use that. You know, these Author Notes are intended to be short, but as I feel like drawing this one out, I'm rambling on like this about how I'm making this A/N longer. Odd, huh?

Chapter Three: In Which A Dare Is Set

Sunday, September 22nd

"Got any sixes, Hermione?"

"Go fish."

And so the card game continued. Though it was a Sunday, the whole of Gryffindor house was very bored indeed. There was nothing to do inside, and there was definitely nothing to do outside; as it was pouring rain. Even Hermione had given up on reading for once, and was now involved in a 'rousing' game of Go Fish with Harry, Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Neville. No one knew where Dean had gone, although everyone except Ron and Hermione expected it had something to do with the plan.

But the game wasn't remotely fun, even though they were playing with a pack of Exploding Snap cards. As Ron's cards blew up in his face, singing his eyebrows as they did every time, Ginny threw her hand of cards down and sighed. "I'm bored of this. We need something entertaining to do."

"Like...what? Because I'd suggest lighting Malfoy's head on fire, but I think Snape would catch us at it. Or Filch," Harry added, abandoning his cards as well. Hermione took everyone's cards gingerly, as not to set them off, and put them back into the box. "It's not worth the effort...he's not worth the effort," she said briskly.

"How about Duck Duck Goose? Man, that is a good game. I haven't played that since..." Neville trailed off, as everyone was staring at him with This-Guy-Is-Nuts looks on their faces. "Okay, obviously not," he mumbled, retreating from the conversation for the time being.

"I know! Oh, pick me, pick me! Truth or Dare! Who wants to go first?" Seamus said, he was specifically looking for a way to find out if Ron had been the one to take his maroon orangutan-and-octopus-printed boxers the other day. Well, what could you say? Seamus just wanted them back.

Anyway, back to the story. So, Ginny said, "Alright, I'll do it. Hmmmm...how about...Hermione? Truth or dare?" She grinned at her bushy-haired friend, who was now turning a light shade of red after being put in the spotlight.

"Oh, I dunno. Emmm, truth – no, dare – no..." Hermione argued with herself, not wanting to say anything too embarrassing, but knowing that Ginny could have very bad dares up her sleeve sometimes.

"D'ya want me to pick for you? 'Cause it may not be pretty," Ginny laughed at Hermione, smiling at the rest of the group as they offered suggestions as to what Hermione should choose.

"Fine. Truth," Hermione covered her face with her hands, not wanting to look as Ginny decided her question. A very interesting question, Ginny thought, will be just right. Something to do with Ron, maybe? It would be so fun to make Ron embarrassed on Hermione's part...

"Ready, Hermione? Here is your question: If you had to kiss somebody sitting here right now, who would it be?" Ginny said as maliciously as she had intended. Seamus raised his eyebrows and stared at Ron, wanting to see his expression. Ron's eyes were very wide, and he was staring at his fingernails as though there was nothing more interesting in the world.

Hermione's eyes were wider than Ron's as she stared helplessly around the group, knowing that she would have to do a dare if she refused to answer. She took a deep breath and said bravely, "Er – R...rrrrro....Crookshanks!"

"What? Who?" everyone questioned as they turned to stare at what Hermione was seeing. Crookshanks, awaken from a long nap by a group of rowdy fourth years, had wandered over and sat down between Hermione and Neville.

"Wait! That doesn't count! I said..." Ginny began, sputtering with the indignation of it all. She glared at Harry for help, kicking him in the shin when he didn't come to her rescue.

As Harry yelped and massaged his shin, Hermione had her turn to smile at Ginny. "You said that it had to be 'somebody sitting here right now'. I believe that Crookshanks is a somebody and if I had to kiss somebody sitting here right now, it'd be Crookshanks, since he's my pet and I kiss him all the time."

"She's got you there, Gin," Seamus pointed out as the six of them laughed. Hermione could be very bright sometimes, and she had answered the question fairly. It was a shame that she hadn't finished saying 'Ron', though.

Now it was Hermione's turn to dare someone, and she now smiled at Ginny, who was still frowning over the loss of Hermione's embarrassment. "Okay, me. I choose – Harry. Truth or dare?"

"Ummm...dare." Harry really didn't want to have Hermione ask him a Truth question; after all, she was smart. She wouldn't give him a question he could trick his way out of. Even Crookshanks couldn't help him there. So he chose Dare, knowing that Hermione wouldn't have him break the rules.

"I dare you...hold on," Hermione interrupted herself, and leaned over to Ginny and whispered in her ear: "I'm going to dare him something drastic, but just go with it. It'll get you out of the whole Draco thing, alright?" Ginny nodded, eyeing her curiously, and Hermione went back to the dare.

"I dare you, Harry...to pretend to date Ginny. For two whole weeks. Starting tomorrow. And you have to make everyone who isn't in our group right now think that you two are going steady."

Harry's jaw dropped open as he stared at Hermione. Ginny was very red as well, and although she'd known it was coming, she too was staring at her friend with a look of surprise and astonishment.

Well, at least it isn't breaking the school rules, Harry thought glumly, looking at Ginny and giving her a weak smile. But what have I gotten myself into? And at least it's Ginny and not Millicent Bulstrode...

Ginny was thinking something along the same lines as she turned to look at Harry. I know Hermione, she thought, and this is just something she'd do. She and Ron are going to pay big-time. At least it'll get rid of Malfoy – I hope.