A/N: I'm so, so, sooo sorry about the terribly long wait for this next instalment of Who Wants To Play Spin-The-Bottle? but I hope that all of you, my faithful readers/reviewers, will enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, or the setting – J.K. Rowling does, the lucky, lucky woman! The only thing I own is the plot!
And now, without any further preamble, I present to you…
Who Wants To Play Spin-The-Bottle?
Chapter Four: Do You Dare?
Malfoy sighed as he slammed the portrait door shut, entering the Head Students' Common Room. Running a hand trough his messy blonde hair, he trudged up the stairs to his room. Pulling a black shirt on after discarding his school shirt and robes, Malfoy turned to thoughtfully survey the door leading into the joint bathroom. He knew very well that Hermione was still in there, having a lovely bath, and he was sorely tempted to "accidentally" open the door and look down to see Hermione floating in the bath, her hair forming a silky brown halo around her head, rose petals drifting across her shoulders in the warm water – Malfoy shook his head, breathing heavily as he stared at the door.
He really, really, needed to speak to Blaise – not that he was complaining, but he knew very well that the dreams weren't supposed to be coming to him this frequently and so vividly during the first stage. Something wasn't right – it was all happening far too quickly, and if this continued, he wouldn't have enough time to convince her before the ancient blood running in his veins grew tired of lying dormant and his other half took over. Malfoy sucked in his breath, closing his eyes in an attempt to calm down. He would be able to seduce her in time, he promised himself firmly.
As he quietly exited the common room and strode briskly towards the Slytherin dungeons, he came to a conclusion. No one, and nothing, would get in the way to his Hermione.
……o.:.O.:.o……
Blaise glanced sharply at his friend. "You said the dreams have been occurring already?"
Malfoy sighed, absently trailing his hand through his hair as he leant back on the couch in the Head Common Room. "Yes," he replied quietly.
His friend looked worried, yet hid it well. He, like Malfoy, had been trained well. "How often so far?"
"Twice this evening."
Blaise cursed softly in Italian.
"Well, this is encouraging me to look on the bright side, Zabini."
Blaise cast his friend a slight glare. "We have a problem, then."
"Gee, do you think?"
"Shut up, Malfoy. This is serious. As far as I know, the dreams shouldn't start coming that quickly until much later into the second stage."
"I realised that. So what does this mean?"
"It means that you're going to have to work quickly, and tie her down before your other half kicks in and sends you over the edge."
"Great. You know as well as I do that she's never going to agree."
Blaise sighed. "True." His eyes swept casually around the room as the Italian boy thought. A smug smile displayed his even, white teeth as he turned back to survey his friend. "The traditional Spin-The-Bottle evenings for all seventh years are starting on Friday night."
"How will that help me? You know very well that Hermione won't go – she'd much prefer to spend her time studying. Besides, I can't do much convincing there. I'm not about to make my…predicament…public."
Blaise grinned. "Getting her there will be easy. I'll have a word with Miss Brown, one of the organisers for this year. She'll be desperate to get Hermione there."
"And?" A delicately arched eyebrow.
Blaise's grin grew positively cat-like. "Lavender will be only too pleased to dare Ginny Weasley to convince Hermione to go."
Malfoy whistled. "Hard to trace back to us, too – no one else but that Flinch-Fletchley guy knows that the Browns are old friends with the Zabinis, and he can be easily silenced." His eyes narrowed. "But I still don't understand how you think any of this will help."
Blaise winked at his friend. "A simple dare, Malfoy, and she'll be in the palm of your hand in no time at all."
Grey eyes narrowed still further. "What sort of dare, Zabini?"
Blaise smirked. "You never read those books I gave you, did you?"
"I flipped through them. Most of the information I already knew."
Blaise's smirk grew wider. "Well, seeing as you missed an important section of the book, let's just say that physical contact of any kind will leave our respective girls completely deprived of their wits. Mates are susceptible to touch of any kind, and if you so much as brush against her hand, you'll have her wrapped around your finger. They can't resist, not once they've experienced it, and the more often it happens until the marking, the more control you have."
Malfoy leant forwards, his eyes widening a fraction. "So I can tempt her and seduce her just by even touching her hand?"
Blaise smiled slowly, his eyes glittering. "Yes. And being in close proximity to her will have similar results, though not as strong. Being the dominants of the pairing and the ones with the blood running through us, we get a certain level of power over our respective mates. It was, I suppose, to make sure that the mates would be willing, if not begging, by the end, to be claimed. Or marked, if you prefer that term."
Malfoy laughed softly. "Excellent," He breathed quietly, his eyes stormy.
Blaise flicked his eyes towards the bathroom door. "We can discuss the rest of our advantages due to our…problem…later. I don't want Granger to suspect anything yet, nor do I want Ginny to know what's coming." He smirked at his friend. "It makes the hunt so much more fun when your prey has no idea why you're after them."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "You make them sound like our next meals, Zabini."
Blaise's eyes gleamed. "In a sense, they are, my friend."
Malfoy snorted. "Somehow, I don't think they'd really appreciate that view. Being someone's mate is probably bad enough news as it is."
"Perhaps."
The boys quieted as they heard the soft sound of the bathroom door opening.
"Malfoy, have you hidden my favourite tee-shirt again? I swear, if I find out that you've stolen it again, you nasty little thief, I'll – " Hermione broke off suddenly as she appeared in the doorway, blushing a deep shade of red when she realised that Blaise was there. And that both boys were currently staring at her towel-clad form. A very, very, short towel, might she add.
Malfoy jerked slightly, his eyes darkening rapidly as his gaze swept over her form. Suppressing the urge to groan when he realised that the towel covered all the necessary parts – though only barely – he smirked slowly as his eyes came to rest upon her face. She was nervously biting her lip, a trait that he adored, as she looked between the two Slytherins.
Hermione coughed lightly. "Well, um – " She took one look at the predatory gleam in Malfoy's eyes and promptly fled from the room, her heart beating madly even as she felt her cheeks burning hotly. What was it about Malfoy that sent those tingles up her spine? And why was he looking at her like that? Damnit, but he was supposed to hate her, not stare at her like she was his dessert!
Blaise turned to survey his friend once more. "Damn, but you are one lucky guy."
Malfoy grinned. "Oh, believe me, I know." His smile grew wider as he pulled a girl's red top out from underneath the couch pillow. "The fun to be had never ends around here, my friend."
Blaise threw his head back, his rich laughter reverberating throughout the common room.
……o.:.O.:.o……
Dumbledore gazed at the two young men sitting before him, his blue eyes grave as he clasped his fingers together lightly. He sighed quietly as he met the belligerent stares of the Slytherin students.
"Is there anything, Mister Malfoy, Mister Zabini, that you may wish to tell me?" The Headmaster said softly, gazing thoughtfully at them.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed marginally as he turned to stare directly at Dumbledore, his eyes unreadable. "No, sir."
Dumbledore's sharp eyes didn't miss the slight tightening around the eyes of the two boys, nor the tension that seemed to be mounting in the room. "Are you quite sure, Mister Malfoy?" He prodded gently.
"Extremely sure, headmaster."
Dumbledore sighed once more as he carefully surveyed them from behind his half-moon glasses. "Perhaps I should inform you that I am, indeed, aware of your current situations…or would you prefer the term 'predicament'?"
Blaise's hands clenched slightly even as Malfoy's eyes simmered angrily.
"Spying, then, Dumbledore?" Malfoy asked quietly, feeling hot fire licking at his insides.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No, my boy, I have no need to spy. I have been aware of the state of both of your families' bloodlines for quite some time, and it is not hard for a sufficient Legilimens such as myself to see the changes in both you because of it."
Blaise sighed, casting a glance at his friend. "Can you help us? Or better yet, will you?"
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Of course, Mister Zabini."
Malfoy stood up, looking only slightly more relaxed. "Thank you, Headmaster, but for now, we don't need any help." His gaze landed on his best friend, and he tilted his head towards the door. Blaise glared as he stood up and made to follow his friend out of the office, after inclining his head respectfully towards Dumbledore.
"Boys," Dumbledore called out, looking slightly amused, "When the time comes to inform the girls of the truth, I'm quite sure they will not be so quick to believe you. I'm willing to vouch for both of you, if you think it may help you to convince them."
Dumbledore's eyes flashed a bright, sparkling blue, as he saw both boys' mouths tilt upwards slightly before they left silently.
……o.:.O.:.o……
Ginny sighed softly, absently running a hand through her silky auburn curls. Leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes, suddenly tired. Her eyes flew open almost instantly when she felt someone's hand gently run through her hair. Gasping, she turned and came to face to face with a smug-looking Blaise Zabini. She glared at him and tried to slide past him, but he casually leant against the wall, his arms on either side of her.
Panting heavily, her eyes wide with fear, she vainly attempted to shove his arm aside.
His eyes glittered. "Uh, uh, Kitten. You're not getting away from me so easily this time."
"Let me go, Zabini." She hissed angrily, her eyes spitting fire.
"How does 'no' sound, Kitten?"
"Don't call me that."
"You're not in a position to be telling me what to do, Kitten." He nudged his leg in between hers, his eyes darkening. "I'm the one in control here."
He watched, a smug smile curving his lips upwards, as she gasped and unconsciously moved against him.
Ginny felt her vision spinning around her as she felt him nudge her legs apart, gasping as she felt electricity jolt up her spine. She leaned her head back, feeling his lips descend upon her exposed neck. She closed her eyes in bliss, her mind hazy with pleasure.
Ginny failed to stifle her groan as he pulled away suddenly and let her go. Shaking, she felt her knees buckle, but he deftly caught her.
Blaise kissed her lips gently, then let her go once more as he heard footsteps approaching. His eyes darkened as he saw Ginny's dishevelled and panting form, feeling a surge of raw possessiveness and desire flow through him. It pleased him to no end to see her like this, knowing that he was the cause.
He slipped a hand underneath her chin, lifting her eyes up to his. "You're mine now, Ginny Weasley." With a last smug smile at her, he left, black school robes swirling around his lithe form.
Ginny cursed softly. What on earth was that all about? And better yet, why had she liked it so much?
Ginny's head jerked upright as her ears finally registered the loud, echoing footsteps coming down the hallway. Muttering obscenities underneath her breath, the red-headed witch was presented with the sight of Lavender Brown, who was currently sporting a wicked smirk.
"Ginny, dah-ling, there you are," Lavender gushed prettily, her eyelashes fluttering.
Ginny was struck with the sudden urge to scream and tear her hair out in massive clumps. With some difficulty, she shook off the insane urges rising up within her, and inwardly suppressed a loud groan. "Not now, Lavender. I'm really not in the mood to deal with any more psychotic people with insane offers."
Lavender's smirk widened. "Surely you have time for me, and my little proposition."
Ginny glared. "Go. Away."
Lavender tactfully ignored Ginny's low growl. "Ginny, dear, I'm simply horrified at the very thought of our own Head Girl not attending the Spin-The-Bottle nights, and I'm getting rather desperate. I've asked Hermione, bribed her, pleaded with her, dabbled unsuccessfully in blackmailing methods…and she still refuses to participate."
"I fail to see how this is my problem."
Lavender smiled, flashing her pearly whites at the younger girl. "I know you won't do anything purely out of the goodness of your heart for me – "
Ginny snorted. "Whatever."
Lavender shot her an irritated look. "So," she continued, sending the shorter girl a slight glare, "I've decided to propose a bet to you. I want you to convince Hermione to join the Spin-The-Bottle game nights."
"And if I don't succeed? Or if I refuse the bet?"
"Darling, you simply must understand that I absolutely abhor doing these things to people, but I'm really desperate, you see. If I don't see Hermione there, I might accidentally let Gryffindor House know about that precious little moment you had with that delicious Slytherin just before."
Ginny paled. "Lavender! Don't – you wouldn't dare – " she sputtered, her eyes wide. "You – you traitor!"
"I'm not the one passionately kissing Slytherin seventh years." Lavender pointed out calmly.
Ginny glared deeply at her fellow Gryffindor. "You evil, evil girl." She muttered. "Alright. I'll do the stupid bet." She cast the other girl another spiteful look. "Do I even get anything good if I complete the bet and get Hermione there?"
"The joy of knowing that your secret is safe with me?"
"Apart from that oh-so-wonderful joy."
"You can have my old Dragon's Fire nail polish."
"That burnt Parvati's fingernails off!"
"Exactly why I'm prepared to give it you. No great loss, you see."
Ginny stared for a minute, then swore loudly and stomped off, swinging her schoolbag up onto her shoulder once more, knocking a terrified Hufflepuff first year with it into the stone wall.
Lavender looked mildly surprised. "Was it something I said?" She vaguely questioned the first year cowering by the wall. She looked even more startled when the boy bolted for the nearest door, slamming it loudly behind him.
……o.:.O.:.o……
Hermione smiled absently as she saw her friend, Ginny Weasley, enter the Great Hall for lunch. The smile turned into a frown, however, when she noticed that her friend was looking a tad bit frazzled.
"Something wrong, Ginny?" She asked casually, handing the girl a bowl of chicken salad.
Ginny turned to her, breathing hard. "No, no, everything's fine, Hermione, just fine. I mean, it's not like I don't get publicly molested then blackmailed every single damn day of my life at this crazy, delusional school full of insane, demonic students."
"Molested? By who?"
"Blaise Zabini. And it was more like he cornered me and snogged the living daylights out of me."
"Zabini?" Hermione hissed. "That's it! Those two…they act like they own us!" She stood up, clenching her fists and sending death glares towards two very smug-looking Slytherins, but was abruptly jerked back down again by Ginny.
"Hermione, no!"
"Why not? Someone has to tell them that this has got to stop!"
"Hermione…" Ginny sighed heavily, dropping her head into her hands. "You can't kill him, because it wasn't like I put up much of a fight. If anything," Here she gave Hermione a desperately confused look, "I actually enjoyed it." She buried her head in her arms. "What's wrong with me, Hermione?"
"You enjoyed it?"
"Yes, damnit!"
Rich, smug laughter came from behind the two girls. "Glad to see my little Kitten enjoyed herself thoroughly." Blaise murmured, his eyes amused. Malfoy, standing beside him, ventured a slight smile, obviously humoured by the situation.
"You," Hermione snapped, pointing a finger at the Italian boy, "Shut up or piss off. I'm not in the mood to deal with you two conniving, insufferable prats and thieves of my favourite clothes."
Ginny looked startled. "They steal your clothes?"
"Malfoy does."
"And you haven't even maimed him yet?"
"I'm working on it." Hermione said grimly, casting her fellow Head student a particularly nasty look. She turned back to Ginny. "Okay, I understand the whole molesting thing now, but what was that other thing you were ranting and raving about?"
Ginny looked at Hermione. "Lavender was blackmailing me…wait, Hermione, I've decided, you're coming to the Spin-The-Bottle game night on Friday."
"What?" Hermione exclaimed, even as Blaise exchanged a wink with Malfoy after hearing about Lavender's blackmailing. "I most certainly am not! And what on earth is this about Lavender blackmailing you? I can smother her with my pillow tonight, if you like, Ginny. It's a suitable revenge."
"Feisty," Malfoy muttered, smirking at Hermione.
"Shut up, Malfoy."
"Blackmailing…" Ginny murmured vaguely. Her eyes brightened, and she turned to survey Hermione feverishly. "That's it!" She gave Hermione a slightly apologetic look. "I'm sorry to do this, Hermione, but I can't let Lavender tell anyone! Blackmail is my only option."
"Ginny," Hermione said, frowning slightly, "Have you been experimenting with Muggle powders?" she asked suspiciously.
Ginny sent her friend a savage glare. "I'm not sorry about blackmailing you anymore, Hermione."
"Blackmailing? Me? What?"
"Hermione," Ginny said firmly, "if you don't come with me to that game night on Friday, I'll tell everyone in Gryffindor House that you've been staring at Draco Malfoy and enjoying the view."
"That's not true!"
"Oh, yes it is, and you know it! I saw you staring at him like he was dessert last night, and how you kept muttering his name in your sleep when you took that nap on the couch!"
"Damn you, Ginny Weasley!"
Malfoy and Blaise exchanged amused smiles.
"Dreaming about me, Hermione?" Malfoy drawled, his eyes darkening as he looked at her.
"No!" Hermione blushed hotly, and Malfoy smirked as his gaze easily detected her red cheeks.
He sauntered forwards, resting a hand on the table as he leaned forwards to breathe into her ear. "Perhaps this will prompt more dreams of me, tonight, then, Hermione." He swept his lips over hers, pausing briefly to nip at her bottom lip before sliding his tongue inside her mouth, devouring her.
Hermione's sense reeled, and she felt warm tingles shoot along her spine as he kissed her. Unable to form any coherent thoughts, she slid her hands up to rest against his chest, lost in the blissfulness his kiss gave her. He was, she noted vaguely, an extremely good kisser. And when he finally let her go and left the hall with Blaise in tow, she was hard-pressed to force down the disappointed groan she felt at the loss of his warm presence.
Ginny was staring at her. Hermione shakily raised a hand to her lips, for once thankful that Harry and Ron had missed lunch and hadn't witnessed the scene Malfoy and Blaise had created.
"I think I understand exactly what you meant before about Blaise kissing you, Ginny," Hermione said quietly.
"Uh huh." Ginny suddenly grinned mischievously at her friend. "Was it good?"
"Not good…absolutely perfect. Damn the evil man, but he's a talented kisser."
Ginny laughed. "Good to know I'm not the only one with that problem."
……o.:.O.:.o……
