Harry Potter and the Brethren of Ares

By: Merusa

Keywords: Harry, Voldemort, Arch of Hades, Prophecy, Padma, Weasleys

Thoughts are indicated by italics- like this. If you don't agree with the way the game is played- sorry, it's the way I know.

Chapter 3: Ante Up

"Strip Poker!"

Ginny's exclamation was met with disbelieving stares and a loud gasp from Hermione.

"But- but- but- Ginny, we can't do that!" Hermione's eyes were opened wide. Her lower lip was quivering. She looked horrified.

Harry's stomach was churning. He really had no wish for anyone to see him naked. Well, perhaps Padma, in the right situation. Now that he was thinking about it, he wouldn't mind Ginny, either. Hermione or Luna wouldn't be too bad, actually-

Okay, stopping now....

He'd only heard vague reports of games of this sort from other, more daring members of his year. It had been introduced into the house back in fifth year by a seventh year that had spent the summer in America. Everyone had learned the rules- Fred and George had posted them on the House announcement board.

Neville was shaking slightly in his seat. He kept on sneaking glances at Luna. Fred and George were both grinning insanely, but avoided looking at Ron and Ginny. Ron was alternating looking at Hermione and his hands. Hermione was rocking back and forth in her seat slightly, muttering to herself. Ginny was shuffling the cards with some difficulty. Padma was helping her with the cards, avoiding looking at Harry. Luna looked dazed and confused. Harry was looking thoughtfully at the girls.

"Alright!" Ginny had finished with the cards. "Everybody ready?"

She dealt the cards quickly. "Okay, jokers wild, ante up!"

The group stared at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Betting. How about a sock?"

Ron grinned. Harry held back a snicker- Ron had a foot fetish.

They all tossed a sock into the center of the table.

Ginny nodded. "Okay, er, everyone say what they'll take off if they lose the hand. I'll take off my other sock."

Padma peered at her cards. "Sock."

Fred shook his head. "Trousers!"

George nodded. "Same."

Luna grinned. "Sock."

Ron was pale. "Sock."

Harry peered at his cards. With a grin, he proclaimed, "Shirt!"

Hermione was shaking slightly. "S-sock."

Neville was smiling softly. "Sock."

A round of discarding commenced. Once it was over, Ginny spoke once again.

"Okay, reveal. I've got a pair of threes." Ginny shook her head. "Damn."

Padma flipped over her cards. "Pair of Kings."

Fred tossed his out. "Ace high."

George. "Straight."

Luna. "Queen high."

Ron. "Flush."

Harry grinned cockily. "Four of a kind, aces."

Hermione sighed. "I hate card games- straight."

Neville was smiling softly. "Five of a kind."

His proclamation was met with disbelieving stares. He grinned. "Alright, take it off!"

The majority of the people around the table pulled off their socks without hesitation. Ron was beaming. Without hesitation, Fred stood up and pulled his trousers down, kicking them off. Rolling his eyes, George managed to pull his own off without even standing. Everyone turned to look at Harry.

They were going to watch? Fine with him. He grabbed his shirt by the hem and tugged it over his head, ignoring the catcalls and whistles. He rumpled his hair back into place and sat back down. He glanced up to see Ginny looking at him. A blush was flooding her cheeks. He felt his own face redden and he looked down at the table, ignoring Padma's odd glance.

Ginny shook herself slightly. "Okay, next hand."

Ron frowned at her. "Ginny, how do you know so much about this game?"

She smiled innocently. "No reason."

Harry held back a snicker. He had once attended a card game in which Ginny was a willing participant- it had just been regular poker, of course.

Until he left, that is.

The friends dove into another round, and another, and another- until they were all scantily clad.

Well, everyone except Neville.

Neville was still fully clothed. He had won every hand, and was currently looking modestly down at the table.

Fred and George, grumbling, grabbed their clothing and headed upstairs, leaving the teenagers alone.

Harry took a deep swig of butterbeer. Across the table, his girlfriend and his best friend's attractive sister were in nothing but their bras and knickers, unabashedly talking to each other. He took another swig.

Laughing and chatting, with the exception of Hermione, the friends quickly dressed. Harry looked up at just the wrong moment to see Padma still shirtless. He quickly looked down again.

Snape in a dress, Snape in a dress, Snape in a dress!

It did the trick. Sighing, Harry swigged more Butterbeer and glanced at the watch. He started. It was much later than he thought.

"Well, we'd better go to bed." Hermione grabbed Ginny's and Luna's arms and dragged them upstairs.

"I'll stay and clean up," Harry volunteered. "Me too," said Padma quickly.

Ron and Neville nodded and headed upstairs.

The couple stared at each other for a moment. After a few beats, Padma cleared her throat.

"You didn't write much."

Harry looked at the ground. "There wasn't much to say."

Padma swallowed. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too."

The silence took over again. It wasn't awkward, Harry decided, but it wasn't comfortable, either. He glanced up and studied his girlfriend, trying to discern what was going through her mind. He couldn't figure it out. She was different, somehow, that he knew. She seemed to steel herself for something, and looked up at him.

"Do you think that Ginny is pretty?"

Harry gulped. He was suddenly frightened.

"I- er- well, she is- uhm- she has red hair."

"Yeah, I noticed that."

Harry ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Honestly?"

"Honestly."

"Yes, she's pretty. But I'm with you."

For some reason, his answer seemed to annoy Padma. She huffed. "Never mind. Good-night, Harry."

She pecked him on the cheek, and he caught her arm.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Nothing, Harry, I just needed to check something-"

"What? What did you need to check?"

She was flustered. "Nothing, okay!"

"It is something!"

"It's nothing, Harry, let me go!"

He loosened his grip, but still held it. "Why can't you tell me?"

"I just needed to see something, Harry! Can't we leave it at that?"

"Do you trust me?"

Padma seemed stunned. "What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you!"

"Then why do you want to know if I think another girl is pretty?"

Padma pulled her arm away. "To see if you'll be alright."

She ran up the stairs, and Harry didn't bother to go after her. He didn't understand, but he had a feeling that he would soon.

A/N: Sorry for the slow update- and expect another one. I will be on vacation and computer-less for the next ten days. I promise that I'll update as soon as I get back.

Ron's foot fetish is in honor of a friend of mine with a foot fetish of his own.

Just a note: I realized that I never stated this, and that I need to. At one point in this story, there will by a slight crossover to the logic of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel universe. However, no knowledge of either show will be necessary.

Cheers, Merusa.