Title: The Missing Clue (1/6)

Author: granger2malfoy

Pairing: B/Hr

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own characters, the concept of the game Clue, or the movie Clue.

A/N: This goes with the Masquerade Challenge on IATQO group. Yes, this is idea was conceived while playing the game Clue. Special thanks to the lovely and very talented Jade, who helped and betad this for me.

Summary: Dumbledore arranges the students sixth year and higher that stayed during the Christmas holidays to partake in a character masquerade party. At the party they will come in outfits appropriate with their character and will solve a mystery. Hermione finds more the missing clues.

Hermione looked around the single table in the great hall. It was the Christmas holiday of her seventh year and all were celebrating the defeat of Voldemort during the past Halloween. Yes, many lives were lost during the final battle but she counted herself among the lucky that didn't have any of her close friends dead. The trio did spend a week in the hospital wing recovering, but thing returned too normal soon after.

Most students had opted to go home for Christmas but she and Ron stood by Harry's side that Christmas. A couple of seventh years stayed for different reason. Hermione looked to her left and saw Luna, whose hand was resting on Ron's. They had been a couple for the past eight months and Hermione was glad to see her friend so happy.

Further down the table, three seventh year Slytherins sat in silence as they ate dinner. Draco Malfoy, Millicent Bulstrode, and Blaise Zabini were the only Slytherins to stay this year. The Slytherin house had taken a hard knock during the war for many family members were dead, either by the Aurors' hands or Voldemort's bidding. Malfoy's father died during the final battle by his son's hand, who had been working for the Order since last Christmas after becoming a Death Eater and his mother killing herself after she found out his father turned him over to his master. Millicent Bulstrode lost both her parents in the attack on Hogsmeade that Halloween. It was still not clear which side of the war her parents were on, but either way she was going to clear their names.

Next to Millicent sat Blaise Zabini, the Head Boy and the only Slytherin that stood next to Harry at the beginning of sixth year. Of all people within the walls of Hogwarts, he was the one she couldn't figure out, well besides Professor Snape of course. Blaise was about six feet three inches with broad shoulders and a lean-toned build. The guy was known as the Quiet Slytherin but when he spoke you knew he meant every word he said. Zabini had dark raven-colored hair with soft curls that draped down to the top of his neck. She had seen him come out of the shower once , into their shared common room and his body was one that resembled a Greek god. Since the beginning of their seventh year, he had a thin, trimmed mustache with a little line of hair that traced from the middle of his bottom lip to his chin.

Hermione tore her eyes off of him, before he could discover she was watching him again. Yes, he was the object of her dreams for two years now but there was no way she was going to let him know. Sharing a common room almost killed her nerves because being in the same room with him made her temperature increase ten degrees. The Head Boy was extremely intelligent and had sharp tongue worthy of his house. The fact he was caring on top of everything else almost pushed her into begging him to date her. He'd had been there every day whilst she was in the infirmary, to check on the other students and to sit and talk to her. He had befriended Ron and Harry last year and both seemed to think he liked her but she always told them that they were crazy.

Hermione started to push around the remaining food on her plate as the Headmaster stood from the end of the table. Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and all turned their attention to him. "Before we all leave to rest our full stomach, I have an announcement to make concerning the sixth years and up. All others please refrain from talking for just a few moments. Thank you."

"I have decided to start a new tradition here at Hogwarts. All students sixth year and up will be participating in a costume party, of sorts. When you return to your rooms, there will be an envelope containing on the information you will need to know and memorize for this party. The party will be in three days. On the morning to that day, each of you will have an outfit delivered to your room. Now, please note that not coming to this party is not an option. If you do not attend, you will have detention with Professor Snape for three months."

Hermione looked to the Potions Master he had a purely evil smile that just dared anyone not to go to the party. With a shudder, she turned her attentions back to the Headmaster and noticed how the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was beaming at this news. Professor Lupin had been asked back with the full support of the student's families after her prevented several attacks on families over the previous summer. "Professor Lupin will be facilitating the party but I will be the judge at the end of the party. If you have any questions, please speak to Professor Lupin or myself."

Hermione raised her hand and the headmaster nodded for her to go ahead. "Professor, what do you mean judge? What is there to judge if the school is providing the costumes?"

"Good question, Miss Granger. As I said, this will be a costume party of sorts. You each will come dressed as a character that you have already been assigned. While at the party, you will involved in a mystery and it will be all of your jobs to solve the mystery within the designated time period," Professor Dumbledore replied with that dangerous twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

The voice of the Head Boy spoke from further down the table. "If you please, headmaster. Since there is a judge, will there also be a prize for solving the mystery?"

Professor Snape gave a smile at this question. Professor Dumbledore moved from the head of the table towards the middle of the table and stopped as he stood across the table in front of Hermione but looked at Zabini. "Yes, Mr. Zabini. Inside your packets, you each have a personalized prize listed, if you are to obtain your task. Once you open the envelope, you will not be able to talk about the details within it till you come to the party. Now, the rest of your questions should be answered within your packets. But if any more should raise afterward, please do not hesitate to speak to either of us.

"Thank you again, younger students. There will be a small party for you here in the hall that night with music, special food treats, and variety of games. Have a good night, everyone."

As soon as he turned to walk out of the hall, the room was filled with whispers and excitement. Hermione had the urge to run as fast as she could to get to her packet. After bidding good night to her friends, she almost skipped out of the room as she was about to leave she turned for one last look at the table. Blaise was watching her and raised his goblet to her, then he mouthed, "I'll win."

"Not a chance," Hermione mouthed back and gave a sexy smirk as she left for her rooms and the challenge she faced in three days. She was going to beat him so bad; he'll never know what hit him.