Title: College Rummy
Author: Jmaria
Rating: PG-13ish
Crossover: HP
Disclaimer: Not mine - cuz I'm broke 'n such.
Challenge 15 Learning something new
Summary: A friendly game of cards gets ugly.
Notes: Yeah, haven't actually played the game in a while (since I was twelve, and that's why no one's actually playing it)
Word Count: 517

College Rummy

Blaise Zabini had just smacked him. Blaise, pervert extraordinaire was actually looking at him with scorn in his eyes. Ron looked to both sides of himself. Luna was smiling that odd little smile of hers at their hosts, Ginny and Hermione were sharing a look, and the others were laughing at him. Ron glared.

"It wasn't a suggestion, Weasel," Blaise sneered. "Just because the whole school thought I was a great big man-whore who'll shag anything doesn't mean I'd shag you."

"Oy!" Secretly, Ron was relieved, but still rejection stung at his pride

"'Sides, I prefer blondes anyway," Blaise's glance slid over to the blonde sitting next to Ron.

"That mean ya prefer Drakie-poo instead of Ronniekins?" The dark haired woman taunted, her eyes locked on her cards.

"That princess? Please, there'd be arguments left and right over who's the prettiest," Willow said laughing.

"I am prettier than Zabini," Malfoy said casually.

"You wish."

The entire table stopped in their ribbing to stare at Luna. The former Ravenclaw blushed, something that was entirely unusual for them to see. She bent her head, unruly strands of dirty blonde hair covering her eyes. Faith's grin grew wider.

"I gotta agree with you, girl. He's like sex on a stick."

"Oh, no. That's not why he's prettier. He's got that whole exotic look. Like you can't tame him. Draco looks pale and lifeless compared to that."

"Oy, shut your mouth, Lovegood," Draco yelled.

"Oh, don't get your knickers in a twist, Draco. The girl can't help but be honest."

"Can I ask how we got sidetracked into talking about Spike Jr.'s underroos? Cuz, not loving the topic of choice here," Xander said, rolling his eye.

"Well, Ron made a faux pas -" Willow started to explain, until Ron shouted that he'd done no such thing.

"It means a mistake, you great big idiot. Honestly, don't you ever read?" Hermione snapped.

"Why bother, you'll just tell me that I interpreted it idiotically because everyone knows you know everything," Ron said scathingly.

The small room which had been filled with snickering only moments before went deadly silent. Hermione's face turned beet red. She pushed back her chair, dropped her cards to the table and rushed out of the room. Ginny waited two beats before reaching across Luna to smack him.

"Bloody hell, woman!"

"Oh, you deserve it, you ass," Ginny snapped. "Even Zabini thinks you deserved it."

"Don't get me in the middle of this mess, Weasley."

Ron cursed under his breath and slapped his cards onto the table. He shoved his chair back and followed her. Xander gave a small forced laugh.

"Well, anybody want to get back to the game?" Xander asked.

"You know you started all this mess, Xander," Willow sighed.

"How?"

"Well, you are the one who told everyone that College Rummy's also called Screw Your Neighbor," Luna pointed out.

"Yeah, like I could have predicted it'd lead straight to Ron choking on his drink, a fight over which of the former bad boys is prettier, to Ron insulting Hermione. Can we get back to the game now?"