Surviving the first night

Again, thank you so much for the reviews! I'm having a blast writing this. I hope this chapter gives you a good laugh. Enjoy! Luv ya!

It was nearly 5pm when Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally pulled up into a nice clearing in the middle of the forest. For that night, it would be their camping spot. The sun was threatening to set and as they unloaded the car, Hermione began to bark out orders.

"Alright, you two set up the tent while I go gather firewood," She stated and didn't wait for an questions to be asked as she briskly made her way into the depths of the forest.

Ron watched her leave until he couldn't see her any more. He turned to Harry as if waiting for instruction, but the boy who lived only stared blankly back at him.

"Sorry mate," Harry stated knowing exactly what the inquiring look was for. "I've never set up a tent before either."

Ron sighed and hung his head. "Well, how hard can it be?"

Harry shrugged and both of the boys moved towards the flat area of earth where several poles and a large tarp like material were strewn.

They stared down at it in thought.

Ten minutes later…

Hermione walked peacefully back up to their camping spot carrying a large bundle of dry, oddly shaped logs of wood. As she neared closer she spotted both Harry and Ron with their backs to her, standing side by side and starring at the ground.

She looked them over curiously before setting the firewood down and stepping up between them to see what they where looking at.

It was a pile of poles and the tent, scattered across the grassy earth. Hermione frowned and folded her arms across her chest.

"I hought I told you guys to set up the tent?" She said bitterly.

After a few seconds of silence Harry spoke up shyly. "We don't know how."

Hermione sighed with frustration. "Well, did you even try?" She asked.

Ron shifted uncomfortably beside her. "We didn't know where to start, but Harry suggested we prop the poles up like a tepee and drape the tent over it but-but…" Ron explained, but trialed off near the end. His expression was suddenly fearful.

"But what Ron?" Hermione asked impatiently.

Harry grinned. "But then he saw a spider crawl into one of the poles and he went mad," He finished.

Hermione frowned. "The pair of you drive ME mad!"

"Sorry Hermione," Harry apologized, trying to sound sincere. "Will you show us?" He said knowing nothing would make Hermione feel any better than being asked to teach someone of lesser knowledge how to do something.

She tried to appear like she wasn't flattered as she picked up a few poles and the tent to begin setting it up.

"Ok," She began. "First of all, you take the shaft and put it in this hole," Hermione explained professionally, while she thrust the first pole through a slit in the tent canvas. She missed the first time, the second time and on the third time she got it in, but by then both Harry and Ron were desperately trying not to burst out into laughter. Hermione finally noticed the boys suppressed amusement and offered them an exasperated look.

"Now what!" She asked.

At Hermione's obliviousness, Ron and Harry let their laughter free; both of their faces turning red.

"Hermione!" Ron spat out between fits of laughter. "I have never heard such an erotic explanation of anything so un-sexual!"

"What are you-" Hermione started to say before she realized the innuendo in her words. As her face went red Harry laughed harder. Nothing was funnier than seeing the prim and proper Hermione embarrassed.

"Honestly, the pair of you are SO immature!" She hissed and returned back to setting up the tent, this time without the commentary.

"Can I trust you two to make some sort of dinner while I finish this off?" She asked with a testy tone.

"Cooking I can do," Harry said confidently and he pulled Ron away from the peeved off Hermione to help him cook.

The sun had set, dinner was consumed and the trio gathered in the tiny, but perfectly erect tent.

"Alright, let's set up our sleeping bags. You didn't forget your pillows did you?" Hermione asked.

Ron looked over at her and grinned. "What do we need those for; you've got two perfectly good ones."

Harry let out a snort of laughter. This time Hermione caught on and glared down at him, but couldn't fight the small smirk playing at her lips. Ron was infuriating, but awfully adorable.

"If you two keep up talking like that, you'll be sleeping out in the car!" Hermione threatened.

Harry smiled down at her and placed a sturdy hand on her tiny shoulder. "Well Love, if the cars a rock'n don't come a knock'n"

Hermione smiled back, but crinkled her nose up in mock disgust.

Ron's smile on the other hand faded and he stared at Harry with confusion.

"Harry, why would you say something like that? It wasn't funny," He whined.

Harry had no shame in it and he laughed along with Hermione as she laid out her sleeping bag in the center of the small three-man tent.

"If it will ease your homophobia any Ron, I'll sleep between you two," She offered. Ron shrugged in reply.

They where settled within a few minutes, the dark tent light only by several bright flashlights that hung from the ceiling. Hermione snuggled into her cozy sleeping bag, propped her head up on her pillow and began to read a very thick book. Harry sat on his sleeping bag beside her and shook his head. Hermione was rarely seen with out her nose in a book. Her classmates said she would grow out of it, but Harry knew she'd be the same until she was old in her rocker. Harry then glanced over at his other best mate as he rummaged through his duffle bag. Harry had a sneaking suspicion of what he was digging for.

Finally, Ron turned from his search, but kept his hands behind his back.

"Hermione? What time is it?" He asked politely.

She didn't find anything peculiar with his action, in fact she had only looked away from her book quickly in order to check the time. "9:23," She replied.

Ron smiled and hung his head. "Hermione?"

She looked up once more, not quite yet irritated. "Yes?"

"I have an idea for a more enjoyable activity, watching you read isn't the most fascinating thing," Ron explained.

Hermione pursed her lips; she hadn't been trying to create an enjoyable activity.

"No ones stopping you Ron, go ahead and play chess or exploding snaps for all I care," She replied dully.

"That's not what I had in mind," Ron retorted.

"What then?"

Ron smiled widely and revealed the mystery that was concealed behind him. He held up a large glass bottle in front of him as if it were the Holy Grail.

Hermione's eye's widened in shock and she actually set her book down.

"Firewhiskey! Ronald Weasley, what are you doing with that!" She hissed.

He did not falter, but rather pulled three large shot glasses from his bag.

"Now THIS we've deserve!" Harry said excitedly and moved closer to Ron, taking a glass from him.

"NO! I will not let you guys drink!" Hermione said.

Ron frowned at her. "Well you can't have it all to yourself Hermione!" He joked and she glared at him.

Harry sighed deeply. This trip was meant for them to all take a nice break and let lose. They had no school to worry about, no death eaters, no dementors, and no parents.

"Hermione," Harry said gently. "We are in the middle of nowhere. There's no one here to see us, no consequences, no interruptions, no danger. Can we just have fun? Come on, loosen up."

Hermione considered his words. Maybe he was right. The last seven years of her life had been consumed with studies and rules. She didn't need to prove herself right now; she didn't need to be perfect and proper in front of her best friends.

"Fine, I'll have a little," She said with defeat.

"That's my girl," Ron cried with joy as he handed her one of the glasses.

The three friends then sat in a circle with the firewhiskey bottle in the center.

"Alright," Ron started. "Just simply drinking is boring, so we're going to spice it up with a drinking game Fred and George taught me."

"Great," Hermione groaned.

Ron smiled and poured a large amount of the firewhiskey into each of their glasses.

"The game is called, 'I have Never'," Ron said. "What you do is go around the circle and say something you haven't done before. And if you have done it, you drink."

"It sounds awfully silly," Hermione said haughtily.

Ron raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Yep, and it's going to be hilarious when your pissed!" He stated with a wink.

"Don't get your hopes up," She replied.

"Alright, let's get this game started!" Harry said. He had only been drunk once before, in his seventh year in the dorm room with the boys after a quidditch victory. He had taken a liking to it and was definitely in the mood tonight. Unlike Harry, Ron had been drunk on several occasions thanks to Fred and George's introduction of the joys of firewhiskey to Ron in the sixth year. Hermione…had never.

Ron shifted excitedly and raised his glass. "I'll start," He said and then thought for a few moments.

"I have never…gone skinny dipping," He stated. It was a good ice breaker, but he didn't really expect either of his friends to drink. He waited a few moments, silently starring at Harry and Hermione, searching for a guilty face.

He was about to signal Harry to go next when out of the corner of his eye he spotted Hermione's glass rising to her trembling lips.

He turned back in her direction; both he and Harry stared at her in amazement as she took a small sip and cringed at the bitter taste. She wiped her mouth and looked back at the boys with red cheeks.

"Hermione! You?" Ron said, shock evident in his tone.

Hermione glanced down in embarrassment. "It-it was the summer before fourth year…I went down to the lake with a girlfriend of mine, and well it was really hot and we wanted to go swimming. We didn't have swimsuits and there was no one around so we…" She explained.

Wide grins suddenly broke out over Harry and Ron's faces.

"That's bloody brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.

"You're not even drunk yet and you're spilling your guts!" Ron added.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She was very doubtful that this experience would be a good one, and she certainly didn't plan on getting wasted.

"Can we move on?" She asked impatiently. The boys laughed at her before Harry cleared his throat and raised his glass.

"I have never…fancied a teacher!" Harry stated.

Hermione rolled her eyes and took a swig; there was no lying about that one.

"Honestly, I think you two are targeting me!" She accused.

It was her turn now. If anything, this game was a great way to get to know each other, not that they didn't know each other like the backs of their hands already, but there were a few…personal things she was itching to know.

"I have never…had sex," She said shyly and her look directly centered on Harry. She knew that he and Ginny had gotten really cozy on many occasions and she had asked Ginny several times if she and Harry had done the deed, but Ginny refused to tell.

Hermione stared at Harry, hoping for an answer, she was just curious. Though, she may not get an accurate response what with Ron sitting right beside Harry with his fists clenched.

Harry was trying not to look at Ron. He appeared a little nervous and guilty but did not raise his glass.

"Not that it's any of your business," Harry started knowing it was more of a question referring to him and Ginny. "But…no, we haven't," He replied simply. Hermione smiled with relief and Ron unclenched his fists. Hermione was glad to hear that they hadn't consummated their relationship. They were both far too young and it was too early into their relationship.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Harry decided to add an after thought. "I've come close though!"

Ron snapped his head in Harry's direction. "What?"

"It's the truth! I've come closer than either of you prudes, so I'll drink to that!" He stated before taking down a large swig of firewhiskey.

It was Ron's turn again. Hermione had already had two sips and she wasn't feeling anything. Firewhiskey had no effect on her what-so-ever….

Ten minutes later….

Hermione rolled back onto the ground in laughter, the firewhiskey in her cup splashed over the edge of the glass and onto her hand. Her head was reeling and her body was numb in bliss.

"So Ginny says to Malfoy, 'Just go back to wanking off in the prefect's bathroom!" She once again let out a loud stream of laughter, this time the boys followed her lead and rolled with drunken laughter as well. Hermione was by far the worse though, she wasn't used to it.

"I love that girl!" Harry admitted about Ginny.

"Tell her! I'm sure she'll shag you then!" Hermione shrieked with laughter, even Ron laughed.

"Does that work?" Ron asked loudly.

Hermione and Harry laughed even louder.

All three of them took another large sip of the bitter liquid.

Harry sighed. "It's bloody hot in here!"

Hermione frowned. "Your right!" She suddenly stood up, stumbling, attempting to keep her balance in a drunken state. Hermione then grasped the hem of her t-shirt and started to pull it off. Ron's eyes widened and he reached up for her and pulled her back down to the ground before she could strip herself of the shirt.

"As much as I'd love to see you take that off Hermione, I know you'd regret it in the morning," Ron giggled to her. Hermione didn't argue only clumsily shifted back into her seat between the rumpled sleeping bags.

"Back to the game!" Ron said. "I have never…kissed a member of the same sex," He laughed. No one drank.

"I have never…kissed one of you two prats!" Harry stated hysterically.

Ron laughed and didn't move his glass, but Hermione laughed and took a very large swig of her intoxicating drink.

Both boys looked at her. Ron's laughter began to die as Harry's heightened.

"Hermione I know that you're pissed and you just want to drink more, but you still have to follow the rules!" Harry scolded in a ridiculously slurred voice.

"I am following the rules!" Hermione drawled back.

"Well I sure don't remember snogging you! Ron?" Harry asked, turning to his best drunken mate.

Ron quickly seemed to sober up; his lips pursed in thought. Harry watched on as his friend slowly raised his glass to his lips and drank.

Harry's mouth went wide as he stared between his two friends.

"When did this happen!" He asked, stunned.

Hermione began to laugh again and she swayed from side to side as she told her story.

"It was the start of seventh year. Ron was comforting me when I was crying over all the shit that was going on. I went to give him a hug, but he thought I was going in for a kiss!" Hermione explained and stopped for a laugh. "He kissed me smack dap on the lips! Granted, I didn't exactly pull away, it actually turned more into a snog! When it was over though, the pair of us were so embarrassed and I ran out of that room as fast as possible! It was hilarious!" She said with hilarity evident in her voice.

Harry wasn't laughing, rather smiling mischievously. That is until he looked over at Ron who looked miserable. Before Harry could say anything to him, Ron was up and out of the tent.

"Where ya going Ron? It's your turn!" Hermione said with a distinct slur. Harry sighed and ran his fingers through his severely ruffled hair.

"Hermione," He said firmly, focusing himself back to soberness. Harry took her by the shoulders and held her still before him. "Stay here, and don't drink anymore," He ordered before standing up and exiting the tent.

Harry didn't have to look far for his best mate. Ron was standing right out side of the tent, arms folded and staring off up into the night sky.

"You alright?" Harry asked stepping up beside Ron. He knew how Ron felt about Hermione. Even if he had never really verbalized it, his feelings were clear in his actions. Ron loved the girl.

"I just needed some fresh air," Ron replied. Harry placed a comforting hand on Ron's shoulder.

"She's drunk mate, doesn't know what she's saying. Probably won't even remember," Harry said trying to offer some explanation.

Ron turned to him and nodded. He knew Harry understood. He had actually confessed to Harry some time during seventh year that he was confused by his feelings for Hermione. He had never told anyone about the kiss though. Probably because he was so embarrassed. The way Hermione reacted was as if he had taken advantage of her! She seemed to have liked it though at the time, but he was too afraid to find out for sure so neither of them ever mentioned it. Until tonight that is when Hermione turned it into a complete joke.

"I'm fine, let's go back in," Ron said. Both of the boys turned back and opened the flap to the tent. They entered and were greeted by silence. They saw Hermione sprawled out across the sleeping bags. She was out!

Ron smiled to himself. Hermione infuriated him sometimes, but was also very adorable.

The boys shifted her tiny body around carefully until she was situated into her own sleeping bag and they all fell quickly asleep.

I'd love to hear what you think! Anyone ever play that game before? See ya next chapter. Luv ya!