Author's Note: Sorry for the slow update. I've been busy lately, and plus, I was never really home, except for sleeping. If you noticed, I changed my penname from 'Eclipsez' to 'Aznyx'. I felt it was time for a change because I was getting awfully bored. (Don't ask me where that name came from, I was high on soda.) I haven't been working much, I been to work and everything but there's not much to do and I get so bored, that I get tired. (Lazy, huh?) Well, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

P.S I'll try to get another chapter out before school starts. (September 9th)


Title: Dare From Hell

Chapter Seven


After much persuasion with Ginny since she was the easiest to manipulate of the devil's trio, I found much valuable information about dares and their consequences. Although she evaded most of the questions about consequences that might torment me next, there were some stuff I knew, but others were just left in blanks.

In the Muggle world, my Muggle friends would constantly push me to the outer edge or out of the little box I placed myself into. The dares for instance, if I did not complete a dare, by the way they play; I would be slapped numerously by all of them. However, for the truth selection (which I mostly choose), if one of my friends knew I did not answer truthfully, I was forced to do something utterly humiliating.

However, in the Wizard world, it is a shame that the consequences are dire. From Ginny's information, if one did not complete a dare, he/she would be faced with a plague of consequences, the number depending on the ranking of the dare. Probably in my case, the consequences would be endless. I pray to Merlin, there's only one consequence for me. For the truth option, if one did not answer candidly, then one of the consequences may be that one's face would grow warts and their skin would emit an olive-like color, like a glowing toad. Some idiot of a wizard created an abundant variety of consequences for dares and truths, so I might never expect what'll happen next.

How cruel this world is.

I was walking down the corridor that afternoon after classes had ended and dinner was only a few short minutes away when I had bumped into Prof. McGonagall.

"Miss Granger, I hope you did not forget about your detention with me and Mr. Malfoy tonight." She pursed her thin lips in a scowl.

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Of course not, Professor." I lied, smiling pleasantly. Detention! Such a horrifying word tarnishing my good name, all because of Malfoy! Argh. Hearing his name makes my blood boil.

"You'll be in my other classroom, cleaning up the mess you and Mr. Malfoy has made. I suppose you know where it is. I expect you there by eight o'clock precisely." With that, she walked away, making quick strides to the Great Hall.

What has been biting her arse? Usually she's not so quite hot-tempered, but she's irritable as they come now. I slumped away, my feet unknowing walking in the direction of the Astronomy Tower. In the past few days, I've been mortified and humiliated more than the past few years added together. Even the beaver teeth Malfoy had cast on me fourth year did not have as much effect of humiliation as kissing the ferret in front of the entire student body and professors! I climbed the circular stairway, feeling poignant and just somewhere down in the dumps. Maybe I'll skip dinner. With the upcoming detention, it has just obliterated any appetite I had.

I still didn't know why Malfoy had kissed me earlier. It was nothing passionate, that's for sure. With Malfoy remarking that it was like kissing a brick wall and walking away so suddenly, leaving me flabbergasted. (Although a part of me was deeply affronted by the brick wall comment.) I can never understand him. I leaned out the window, arms resting on the stone ledge. I closed my eyes, fully enjoying the cool breeze hitting my face. Such a time of tranquility, with the wind blowing in my face and just for that moment, that temporarily blissful moment, my troubles are carried away by the wind, leaving me free... so free...

I didn't have my school robe on, just a white blouse and Gryffindor skirt. The wind went through the thin fabric, chilling me to the bone, but I didn't care. I slowly opened my eyes, tucking my curly hair behind my ears and gazed at the sight before me. The sky was not yet dark, for it was only approximately six o' clock, dinnertime. The sun was just at the horizon, slowly setting down and making way for Luna to inhabit the sky. Beautiful streaks of orange and yellow, with hues of pink splattered across the spacious sky. I often wished I could jump off the ledge and be able to fly, to soar to my heart's content. But it's only my dream, for in reality, I would only fall, plundering down to my death. This is my last year at Hogwarts, seven years that I've been here, my second home. I won't let Malfoy or anyone ruin my last year, my last memories of this place as a student. Hell would freeze over before I let the likes of him do such a thing.


"I can't believe this," Zabini gasped, shaking his head disapprovingly as he skimmed through a black leather book. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Malfoy looked bored, carefully examining his manicured nails. "Oh put a fork in it."

"You call these compliments?!" Zabini stood up from his chair and shook the book angrily at the Head-Boy. "I wouldn't be surprised if she became terrified after reading this!"

His nostrils flared as he turned to a page he had marked. He began to read. "'I wonder if the Bludger had caused damage to my brain while practicing Quidditch because throughout my own two eyes, Granger is sprouting like a weed that blossomed into a dandelion.' Malfoy, if this is really how you compliment girls, I'm wondering how you got them in bed."

Malfoy swung his legs over the armrest and looked at Zabini through half-closed eyes. "What am I suppose to say? Have you looked at her? Trying to compliment her decently is like viewing Snape as nice and likes pretty pansies." He shuddered at the thought.

"At least put some thought in it! My cousin can compliment girls better than this and he's only five!"

"Fine shitbrick, I'll try harder if that suits your arse."

Zabini tossed the book aside and sat down on Malfoy's bed, half mumbling. Malfoy could've sworn he heard words along the line of "stupid idiot... ungrateful..."

"So, what's the deal with Granger kissing you so passionately during breakfast?" Zabini then grinned mischievously. "If I didn't know any better, I say she fancies you."

Malfoy shrugged. "Hell if I know."

Zabini yawned, lying down on the bed. "Don't you detention with her tonight? You can speed up the process a bit."

The Head-Boy looked at Zabini with only eye closed. "Yeah, I have to see that bossy wench again. I did try to speed up the process. Kissing her is like kissing paper or a wall or something. There's no returning action."

Zabini laughed. "You're so lucky this isn't a dare or your arse would've faced so many consequences."

Malfoy appeared insulted by the comment. "Are you saying that I'm too incompetent to complete a dare?"

"What? I didn't say that!"

"Yes you did." Malfoy argued, sitting up. "You're so lucky this isn't a dare or your arse would've faced so many consequences." He mimicked in Zabini's voice. "Basically, you are saying that I don't have what it takes to complete a dare."

"You shitbrick! Stop putting words into my mouth!"

"You're scared, aren't you?" Malfoy's lips stretched into a maniac grin. "Admit it, you're scared."

Zabini snorted. "Scared of what?"

"I know you very well Zabini. You're afraid to dare me because if I won, you would've to give up something."

"Pshhh...." Zabini crossed his arms defiantly. "Yeah right."

Malfoy edged closer. "Come on, dare me. It'll be fun."

"Malfoy, are you sure? This is Granger we're talking about."

"And I'm Malfoy. I get whatever I want."

"Maybe you should put your inflated ego aside and hear the facts. If you haven't remembered, you tortured her and her friends for the past six years. She'll never let that go. Not only that, you're Slytherin."

"All the while, only makes it more fun. Thrilling actually, to have a Muggle Gryffindor fall for the Slytherin Prince."

"Right." Zabini said, his voice coating with sarcasm. "Slytherin Prince my arse."

Malfoy choose to ignore the comment, probing on further. "Zabini, I know you're tempted."

"What if she still doesn't fall for your charms? What then? Face the con—" Zabini stopped mid-sentenced, the wheels of his devious mind quickly turning. He smiled. "Fine, Malfoy. If that's what you want, then I'll dare you. You know if you lose, you're turning in something of yours and face the consequences."

The Head-Boy waved it aside. "Consequences, smoncequences, who gives a shit. It's not like it's going to kill me and for your information, I'm not going to lose. By the time the Graduation dance comes, she'll be clinging to me more than Pansy."

Yeah, Malfoy... What you don't know won't hurt you... much. Zabini thought deviously, smiling satisfactorily to himself. "Ok, Draco Malfoy. I dare you to get Hermione Granger as your date for the Graduation Dance. Do you accept?"

"I accept."

"So what are you going to do with her after the dance?"

"After the dance? Who said anything about being with her after the dance? I'm going to dump her ass right in the middle of the dance floor, loud and clear. It'll be perfect."


I stayed in the Astronomy Tower for most of the hour, watching the sunset and gazed at the twinkling stars. I walked away from the window, sighing softly, knowing that my detention was about to start in a couple of minutes. I descended down the stairs, dreading the worst to come. What am I to do?

For some odd reason, the trip down is always faster than the trip up. I guess when you're anticipating something; it always comes slower. The corridor was partially empty, with a few students walking to the library to study or do homework or to—No, no, no. I shook my head. Who would do that in a library! I turned around the corner, still scolding myself for even thinking such a thing in place where it is all heaven for me, a place where knowledge is gathered and passed throughout and books are everywhere.

All of a sudden, I bumped into something—no someone, knocking myself down in the process. I laid there, half sprawled across the person's body, my mind still trying to register what happened.

"Granger, you should stop snacking on so many pumpkin cakes. They're starting to show."

I immediately recognized that voice. Malfoy! In less than a millisecond, I jumped up, backing away.

He stood up, dusting himself off. "What did I tell you, women just throw themselves at me."

"Go suck a broom Malfoy."

He looked at me, eyebrows quirking up. "I have to tell you Granger, it wouldn't look right."

"Why not?" I retorted. "Since I know you had so much practice." I walked towards him, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Don't worry Malfoy, your secret is safe with me."

Smiling, I trounced away, leaving a rather bedazzled Malfoy behind. However, it wasn't until a couple of seconds later that his sluggish mind finally concluded what I meant and he raced to catch up to me. Pulling my arm and a rather insulted expression on his face, he said, "That wasn't funny Granger."

"What wasn't funny?" I asked, a look of pure innocence displayed upon my face.

"Don't play with me witch."

"Oh Malfoy, you're imagining things again. Did Madame Pomfrey give you your nightly medications yet? You're getting awfully pale."

"Granger." He growled.

"What?"

"Your blouse is undone."

I looked down and realized that it is undone! I was mortified! Instantly, I reached up and begun buttoning my shirt up. Malfoy had a fully good view of my chest! The buttons must've come undone when I got tangled with Malfoy when I tripped. Can this day get any worse?!

My cheeks became crimson, face flaring red.

"My, my Granger." Malfoy remarked. "Even without the spell, your chest is quite large. I had always thought you were flat."

I felt my eyebrows twitched. Okay, Hermione. I told myself. Breathe. One. Two. Three. "Malfoy!!!!!!" Before the bloody pervert could respond, my hand swiftly smacked him across the cheek. With the same quick speed, I whipped out my wand and begun to chase the idiot down the corridor.

"Granger, this is school violation!" He shouted, heading for McGonagall's classroom.

"I honestly do not give a shit!" Suddenly I halted, stopped dead in my tracks like a deer caught in the headlights. My hand quickly cupped over my mouth.

"Miss Granger! We do not use such vulgarity. I'm appalled." Malfoy was standing right next to McGonagall.

Oh shit. Shit. Shit! "I'm sorry Professor. Malfoy—"

"Malfoy did nothing." He said defensively.

Argh! He is so lucky there is a professor here or he'll be the next headless ghost floating through the Hogwarts walls! "I'm truly sorry Professor. You won't see me doing it again."

"I better not." She scowled, probably half-crying inside that her perfect student was displaying such violation. "You're Head-Girl. Don't make me take that title away from you. Come along now. Your detention starts."

She walked away, her heads clicking on the stone floor.

"Yes, Granger." Malfoy whispered, mimicking McGonagall's voice. "Don't let her that title away from you."

"Sod off Malfoy." I snarled.

We walked into her old classroom; the one tattered and utterly messed up due to –ahem- the chase. She left it as so, for our first task for the glories of detention. The sight shocked me. Did we make that mess? Oh dear. Desks were overturned, papers everywhere, chairs flipped, and basically, the room was horrible.

"We have to clean this up?" Malfoy asked, surveying the trashed room. "No problem." He pulled out his wand, but McGonagall quickly snatched it out of his hands.

"No wands." She said sternly, hands out, demanding mine. Reluctantly, I gave in. "I want this room tidy in two hours." Then, looking at us once more, she paraded out the door and slammed it shut.

Wonderful! Stuck in a room with Malfoy for two damn hours! Can this day just get any better?! "Okay Malfoy, I said acrimoniously, still angry. "Clean this side and I'll clean that side."

"Merlin!" Malfoy threw his hands up in the air. "Cleaning like a Muggle! What kind of detention is this?!"

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." I snapped.

"Granger, if you remember, it was clearly your fault. If you haven't changed me into the horribly ridiculous pink outfit, then—" Malfoy shook his head.

"No! If you haven't made my chest so humungous that I couldn't even walk without tipping over and the school was practically staring at it!" I shouted back.

"No, no." He shook a disapproving finger at me. "You brought that upon yourself. It's your fault."

"Well, I don't care whose fault it is now. We still have detention and this room isn't getting any cleaner by itself."

"But we wouldn't be here if you—"

"Malfoy!" I screamed, reaching for a nearby chair. "If you don't shut your bloody hole up, I'll throw this chair at you!" Honestly, how aggravating can that boy be?!

For once, he complied, attending to his half of the room with lips twitching something about "have wand... hex... beaver teeth... now..."

For a while, the tension between us was heavy and thick. Neither of us said anything and that was just perfectly fine to me. I turned the overturned chairs to their original position, placing books back on the desks, shuffled the papers neatly and dusted whatever that has dusts. Perhaps Malfoy's brain needs some dusting. The room was silent, except the occasional scraping of the chairs and desks or the papers.

"I can't believe this." Malfoy muttered, stacking books upon a shelf. "Where's a fucking house elf when you need one?"

On instinct, I quickly opened my mouth, about to proclaim one of my protests about house elves working and of course, S.P.E.W. But I closed it abruptly, knowing my plan hasn't worked fourth year, so it wasn't going to succeed now and this was Malfoy I'm talking to. He probably never even folded a shirt. Lazy bastard.

We finished before the two hours was fully up, with thirty minutes to spare. I sat on one of the desk, my legs dangling over the edge and barely touching the ground. Malfoy was on the other side of the room, looking bored and everywhere, but me. I heard the slow ticking of the clock overhead, the time passing by not fast enough. It seems like each second took a mile long. Malfoy sighed loudly, tapping his knuckles against the wooden table. Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Malfoy!" I exasperated. "Would you cut that out?"

Tap. Tap. Tap. "Malfoy!"

Tap-tap-tap-tap. I let out a scream of frustration as I swung my legs over the table, marching to Malfoy. "It's annoying."

He looked at me. "Do you think I honestly give a shit?"

"We're stuck in this room for half an hour more and if you want to remained unbothered, stop that tapping!" I placed my hands on my hips in my Hermione-like way. He obeyed, an irritated look marked on his face.

I heard the hand of the clock clicked, meaning that it was starting a whole new cycle. I looked up, feeling quite disappointed. Only a minute! That was only a minute! I slumped down on the nearest chair, eyes glaring at Malfoy. Maybe if I can stare long enough, laser visions would develop and I can smolder Malfoy to ashes.

"Granger," He drawled. "Would you stop looking at me? I know I'm irresistible, but enough is enough."

Ohhh... that pureblooded, conceited prat! "Irresistible like a hippogriff."

"Oh?" He looked at me, that stupid smirk on his face. "You didn't seem to think so when you fervently kissed me at breakfast."

I blushed, imagining my face to be ten shades redder. "That was nothing. Someone probably had the Imperius Curse on me." I lied.

"Sure Granger." He smiled. "I know you want me."

I snorted, coughing. "I think I just swallowed my own vomit."

"Why not?"

"Why not what?"

"Why don't you want me?"

I certainly wasn't expecting that question. I paused. "I can think of a million and one things as to why. First off, you're a conceited brat and Slytherin. Second, you tormented my friends and me for years. Third, you're a bloody wanker and care for no one but yourself. Fourth, you toy with girls and break their hearts. Fifth, you're arrogant and my worst enemy. Sixth... um... you're a bloody wanker."

"You said I was a 'bloody wanker' twice."

"I know, that's because you are."

"That's not a million and one reasons."

"Oh shut up."

"Leave it behind Granger." He hopped off the desk and sauntered suavely towards me. "Leave the past behind."

"What?" I felt my heart racing. I looked around, searching for an escape route, but Malfoy had me cornered.

"Come on, it'll be fun. You and me."

"Malfoy, are you alright? You look paler than usual; maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey." I backed up further in my chair, my back completely flat against the wood.

"I'm serious."

"You're not serious, you're daft."

"Hermione..." He whispered my name sensuously. Oh dear, why has it gotten so hot in here?

He leaned in closer, his mouth just a few centimeters from mine. "Let it go..."

"I-I can't. Malfoy what are you—" Before I could finish my question, I felt his soft lips on mine. Bloody hell. I didn't know what to do; I could practically hear the thumping of my heart. Slowly, but cautiously, I responded to his kiss, opening my mouth just a bit as his tongue probed in. He deepened the kiss, pulling me closer. I felt my knees go weak and I was going to collapse if not for Malfoy holding me so tightly. Merlin, Malfoy is one hell of a kisser! My knees buckled and I wondered if I was going to melt in his arms. I explored every inch of his mouth, savoring its exotic taste.

Suddenly, Harry and Ron's face popped into my mind, their faces shrewd with anger, betrayal. I couldn't do this. No! They would never speak to me again! I can see their faces, shocked and hurt. My brain finally found its senses and I managed to get my strength as I pushed Malfoy away.

"Malfoy stop!"

He backed away, surprised.

"I can't do this. No. No. No. Not us." I said, biting my lips nervously. "This never happened. Any contact between us never happened."

"You liked that, didn't you?"

"No!"

"Yes you did. You moaned, I heard you!"

Oh blasted female reactions! "I was moaning from pain."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Right, Granger." There goes the first name.

Footsteps were rapidly approaching the door. I looked the clock, two minutes before the two hours were up. Were we kissing for that long? The door clicked open and McGonagall entered, her cheeks a bit rosier than before. I wondered what happen...

She looked at me, then at Malfoy and at me again. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and was horrified. My lips were red and swollen from Malfoy's aggressive kissing. My hair was disheveled and my clothes were wrinkled up. Damn! McGonagall would definitely know for sure what went on in here!

Strangely, she didn't say anything, but examined the room. "Good job done." She commented. "Tomorrow, you'll be cleaning up Professor Binns' room. Same time."

She let us go without another word. I walked out, trying not to look at Malfoy. I was exhausted, dragging my feet to my room. All I want is to fall down on my bed and sleep until morning. Malfoy ambled further ahead of me.

"Malfoy!" I called out. He ignored, rude bastard. "Malfoy!"

He turned around, an annoyed look on his face. "What?"

I ran to catch up to him. "What happened this morning was a mistake, don't get any wrong ideas."

"Whatever Granger. Stop lying to yourself."

"How am I lying to myself?"

"By denying that you don't want me."

"But I don't want you."

"Sure...."

"Git."

"Come on, I'll tuck you in bed."


TBC

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