I'd given up on this fic, due to lack of love. But recently I've been receiving quite a few requests to continue. This chapter is not beta'ed, only pulled by Grammarly, so forgive me for the few mistakes you might find. I don't want to burden my two lovely beta's from the other fics with this one, also.
Depending on its reception, I'll go on or not... Enjoy.
Chapter 6: Scratching an itch
The ten lied on the deck, drying under the late afternoon sun. Arms sprawled, bellies shaking of fun that just wouldn't stop. Soaking wet, shoes included.
"Hey, Potter!" Theo shouted as last of the row, "What's the clue actually?"
"Oh, shit… we almost forgot!" Harry's answer started a new round of giggles, looking at their neighbour.
At the opposite end from Theo, Draco rose and supported his head on the bent arm, "Well, Potter, open the damn tube and read it."
"Malfoy, patience is a virtue."
"One he doesn't have!" Hermione concluded. She crossed looks with the wizard, having Pansy and Blaise between them.
Pansy defended, "Have you?"
Ron coughed, "Hermione and patience? Tons!" It got him a nasty look, and he was happy to have Harry between them.
Harry defused the mood, "The hint reads: The killer who killed himself."
"So far we have 990AD, Scotland, a murdered thief, the killer who killed himself and Mr. whatever his name was."
Draco corrected, "De Mimsy-Porpington."
"I'm sure I can find the answers in the Hogwarts library." Hermione thought out loud, itching for her notebook and pen. The connections started to form something known, like that word lying right under the tongue but refuse to come out.
"Not available at the moment, Granger," Blaise observed, irritating the witch a little more.
"No shit Sherlock!"
Harry burst in laughter, as did Tracey recognising the name. The others side-eyed the brunette, clueless.
-oOo-
After dinner and freshly showered, Hermione sought her way to the upper level, finding a right spot to admire the sky while allowing her hair to dry under the sunset.
The view was astonishingly beautiful, the calm Atlantic ocean the only sound around her.
Her mind was spinning in overdrive. All the clues until now sounded familiar, and Hermione truly regretted not bringing her History of Hogwarts book for some guidance.
But it wasn't the only subject on her mind.
Her thoughts came revolving around a certain wizard, their little cat and mouse chase and the way it ended before they joined the group.
He kissed me. Out of nothing, he kissed me. It felt good. One kiss does not wipe out the years of bullying just like that. Even if he seems to have changed. Cordial to Ron, slightly more open to Harry, and to me? Not one wrong word, in fact, always supportive and considerate.
As if she spoke of the devil. Footsteps behind her exposed a nearing person, and the object invading her thoughts sat next to her, pulling up his knees. Mimicking her posture.
They remained silent for a while until it became too much for her. She exhaled loudly and shuffled.
"Granger." He spoke calmly, but shifted to her and turned her chin to him with his fingers, "We need to talk."
Her hum in agreement came more sounding like a whimper.
"There are things I need to apologise for, like a lifetime of inappropriate behaviour. And what happened at my Manor."
She faced him completely, chin resting on her forearms, "Malfoy... Draco. Did you point the wand at me to crucio me?"
He jerked, "No."
"Did you use the cursed blade on my skin?"
"No."
"Than, there is nothing for you to apologise for. The one to blame is dead. My scar can't be healed because that is the aftermath from a cursed knife. Yet, none of it is your fault."
"I should have stopped her!"
"At what cost?"
"I could have done something!" Familiar guilt consumed him from within, once more.
"Again, Draco. What exactly?" Her fingers tingled to shake at his shoulders, "She was so far gone, I don't think she would have spared your life." A fresh intake of air brought her calmness. "You're not a saint. I discovered the meaning of a foul word thanks to you. You spared no effort to make my friends lives miserable, with your constant denigrating words."
"I've apologised for those already. We are trying to be civil and start a new leaf." Frustrated, he stood back on his feet, raking through his hair. "I can't go back in time and redo all that the shit I did with the knowledge of today. I can't, Granger." She watched him, head in the neck. "No one hates me more than I do. I was an imbecile, for believing other man's truths without questioning."
Draco walked to the edge of the fortress, "There's nothing filthy about your blood. It's not muddy, fuck… it's the same tone of red like mine. It haunts me, watching you suffer on my bloody floor." He spun angered, "I can't forget what I did. I can only ask for a new opportunity, for a new start."
"Do you mean it?"
"Fuck, Granger. Do you think I'm giving you my best act? Of course, I fucking mean it. Potter seems to be a nice bloke, Ron and I will never be mates, I'm sorry. But you… I want to know you better. To have a chance at whatever this is between us." He walked a few steps away and returned, "I'm not asking you to marry me, Granger. Don't go and buy a wedding dress already…" Between exhales, he tried to laugh.
"I was already thinking on the venue." Hermione rolled her eyes but approached him nonetheless. "I accept your apology under one condition…"
"Name it, Granger."
"I want you to call me by my given name from now on. If we are to become friends, I don't want no more of the Granger-shit."
"What do I get in return?"
"Hello, Draco. I'm Hermione, nice to meet you." She extended her hand.
He took it between his bigger one, pressing a kiss on the knuckles as it befits a gentleman, "Enchanted, Hermione." She giggled.
-oOo-
Gnarluk woke everyone up earlier than usual. Pansy threw her pillow angered against the closing door.
Hermione hid her face on her own, grunting, "I'm not ready!"
"Who is, Hermione?" Tracey complained unusual of her doing.
Lavender snored loudly, Pansy stole Hermione's cushion and hit the blond with it, "Wake up, idiot. Your beauty sleep is over!"
"Five more minutes."
"Out of your bed!" A new smack did the job.
"Why are you so violent this morning?" The chin was trembling.
"If we have to get our arses out of bed at this ungodly hour, so does your royal behind."
Joining the boys in the hall, it was apparent the short night also affected the wizards. Blaise and Draco looked as if they could commit murder, Harry and Ron seemed to be sleepwalking. Theo had a more human look, and Neville was the only happy face.
Draco seethed, "They better have a good reason."
"Grumpy cat, shut up!" Pansy lashed out before Tracey and Hermione could react.
Their mood did not improve, as their breakfast was again, more of the same dry food.
"I would kill for some eggs…" Hermione whined, after setting up the kettle.
"Or some porridge with honey…" Tracey continued…
"Bagels…"
Harry effort to keep the courage, "Two more days and we'll be back to the normal world."
Gnarluk grunted, waving his arm widely, "Come!"
"We are not finished!" Ron hated to be taken away from his meal, especial if he wasn't even halfway.
"Come!"
The ginger looked murderous and snatched a last slice of bread with cheese to go. Needless to say that nobody was in a happy spirit.
It became sourer, being forced to run three floors up and almost the entire half on that level. The goblin pointed out at a sheet of paper.
Early hour, not enough food and heavy exercise? A bit more, and blood would be shed.
Harry read aloud, "Find the hint after walking through a maze, guided by the team."
Blaise jumped on this opportunity, "I can do this!"
Gnarluk barked, "Two people job."
"Perfect, you guys guide me, I and the barbie here will follow your instructions. I'll find the hint."
"Be our guest." Ron understood Blaise's despair. You couldn't rely on Lavender at all…
-oOo-
It was a dark inside.
Lavender was again hanging on Blaise's neck, "I hate this shit… Will we find ghosts again?"
"Woman, keep your mouth zipped." He felt around him and found cold, damp walls, smelling the mould in the air. His eyes adjusted to the darkness but even then he was as blind as a mole.
"Blaise walk forward until you feel a wall before you." The man stepped cautiously, arms stretched in front of him. His pants were being pulled down by the girl, who held on to him for dear.
"Will you fucking stop undressing me!" He gritted.
"Deal with it. Your bum is nothing I haven't seen before." Instead of one hand, she used both pushing his pants more down the hips.
Would someone notice if she disappeared?
"Blaise, go to your right...now your left…" Outside, none of them could make out of the images how much Lavender was annoying the man. Neither really calculate how many steps he had to walk before he would encounter for the umpteenth time a barrier.
"Fuck. CAN'T YOU WARN ME?" He expected already the fifth lump on the head, he was fending off the hands pulling his pants down, non-stop.
"Oh, arsehole don't shout like that!" Lavender covered her ears, cringing.
"Sorry, Blaise. Mate, you're almost there!" Theo's voice sounded through. "Go to your right...put out your arm you'll feel an opening to the left and take it."
The tanned wizard was catapulted by a witch who didn't pay attention. "If you're not dead by the end of this test, it's pure luck." He seethed.
Finally, after countless close encounters with unexpected walls, and his pants nearly at his knees - they had already surpassed his arse - he arrived at a room only lit by a torch held by an almost naked woman.
Her body was full of small pictures painted on her skin.
"Look at that. Can't she cover her tits?" Lavender looked indignant at the display.
"Help me look for a hint, don't compare the goodies. They are much better than yours."
"How rude, Blaise." She put the fists at her waist, "That's not true. My tits are prettier."
The wizard rose to his full height, grabbed the witch by her head and turned her rudely towards the naked woman, "Help me find the bloody hint, or I'll lose my fucking control."
"We will never get along, Blaise."
"Thank you, Merlin!" He grabbed the torch for a better view. The spine was full of demons, wings and angels in various poses, on the belly more of the same.
"Why don't you taste the tits? You might savour the hint."
Taking a deep breath, Blaise was happy for the lack of sound outside and hoped for the lack of colour too, so his blush wasn't visible. He might be or not paying close attention to the woman's bosom. Moving on to another part, he took an arm turned it both ways, then the other, sank through his knees admiring the lovely pair of legs, while searching for only Merlin knew what.
"I fucking found it!" Under a globe, he read the word, 'optionated hat'. Blaise used his fingers to stretch the skin for a better view - or so did he explained it later, not that the boys missed the real intention.
Once the hint was found, lights went up, and he saw the way easily out not even bothering to look if Lavender followed him.
"You forgot to raise the breast, Blaise love. For all we knew, the hint could have been underneath." Theo rubbed it, the colour on the screen wasn't needed to know where the thoughts were of his friend.
"I forgot…"
"His nose was otherwise on the top of the nipple." Lavender accused him, unabashedly.
Hermione shrugged, "The hint could have been written in a tiny font. And it was pretty dark… the torchlight wasn't enough."
Blaise was quick to agree, thumb pointing at the curly witch, "What she said."
Neville asked, smirking, "What was the hint again?"
"Optionated Hat."
"Are we looking for a hat stitched 990AD?" Hermione went immediately through the known hints.
Draco picked up on her reasoning, "What's so important about Scotland's milliners?"
"Professor McGonagall's favourite hatter?"
Harry added his two knuckles, but before they could discuss further, Gnarluk barked his next command, "Follow!"
As a salute, Blaise and Theo flipped him the finger behind the goblin's back.
-oOo-
They ran from the fourth floor back to the unfenced half of the atrium on the ground level. A large seat was attached to two bouncing ropes, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Shit, who's into a catapult ride?" Ron arrived at the first, raking a hand through his sweaty forehead, "Tracey?"
"The other has to cut the rope with the axe." Theo concluded, "In theory, Ron can slice this shit with one swing."
"In reality also, Theo." That last one rubbed against Ron's feathers.
"I'm not so fond of heights," Tracey spoke in a mousy tone. Being catapulted into the air as a bridge too far for her comfort zone.
Neville interjected, "I'll do it. Theo are you into flying or cutting?"
"Man, I don't say no to a bungee jump on a chair, mate. Unless you want the thrill ride?"
"I'm not so fond of brooms, I'll make you fly." Uruk pushed Theo further and strapped him tightly in the seat.
Theo grasped, "Man, mind the jewels, please? I would like some mini Theo's in the future…"
"Lavender will kiss them better," Blaise suggested with an evil grin.
"Rather not."
The witch huffed, but it wasn't clear why. Pansy and Hermione exchanged a look and a half grin. Both bet on being blocked by Theo rather than offered as a gift by Blaise.
Uruk grunted, "One chance for code. Code for locker. Hint in locker."
"Hey, mate. I'll shout the code, it seems it will open the locker to unravel the hint."
Neville saluted, "Aye Aye Captain. Is your arse ready?"
"No, but do it." Theo's hands were strained from the death grip on the straps.
Without further ado, Neville swung twice with the axe.
Theo screamed his lungs out, "OH SHITTTTT! FUCK!" He kept his eyes closed from the impact, but luckily enough he opened them just in time to see a blackboard with four digits.
"NEVILLE! 5..4..9..3!"
"Repeat again, Theo!" The Slytherin was still bouncing roughly on the cords, his voice taken away by the wind.
"5…" Once again in the air. "4...9…" he reached now less high, "3!"
Pansy was already setting up the keylock, and after the releasing click, a general sigh was heard. The witch grabbed the piece of paper and read, "Quill of Acceptance."
"I've never heard of such quill..." Several frowned clueless, except for Hermione.
"According to the book History of Magic, the Quill of Acceptance writes down the name of a child when it exhibits the first signs of magic." She was quoting the passage of how a child was detected for later acceptance into Hogwarts. There was a funny story attached to that specific quill, but for now, she kept it to herself.
"Probably how Hogwarts selects their new pupils…" Draco conferred with her, thinking two steps ahead.
"Yes, I guess so."
Theo joined them, shaking from the ride, "This was fucking awesome, but the launching almost gave me a heart attack."
"Lifting off with a broom is smoother."
"Million times smoother, bro." Theo sought a hold, leaning against a nearby pillar. He was blowing out his cheeks.
"Respect, mate." Draco clapped him in the shoulder, "It takes balls."
"I'm not signing for a repeat, in case you wonder."
Much recovery time wasn't offered, the gang again in motion to the dungeons.
The piece of paper was as usual pinned on the door.
Harry read aloud, "Find the two-part clue inside the hissing pit, written on surfaces not suitable for the faintest hearts."
"It can be everything, but it doesn't involve flying." Ron shrugged.
"But it's in a pit…"
Ron conferred with Tracey, "Do you prefer to sit this one out?"
"We'll take it!" Hermione offered, If I flew a dragon I could face whatever on the other side of the door. "Draco?"
"Count me in…"
Wasting not a second longer, the goblin pushed the pair into entering the room, opened a hatch in the ground and told them to take the staircase.
Draco lowered first, "Bloody hell!"
"What?"
"It's too late anyway, come down, Hermione." He felt his heart in his throat and his mind filled with nasty memories of other dark times.
"What?" Dropping from the stairs, she turned around and muffled the scream rising in her throat. The fear clawed through her and twisted her gut.
The room was lined with wooden facades, barrels and nets all over the place, and resting on those objects all varieties of snakes. Thick bodied or thin as a rake, they crawled over each other or just took a nap wherever they decided.
"Where's the bloody hint?" Draco's voice was not as confident as usual. Exhaling hard, he kept an arm around the witch who held on to his neck for dear.
"They are supposed to be written somewhere, not for the faintest hearts."
"Granger, you're not thinking what I'm thinking."
"I wish I wasn't…" Hermione squeaked.
He couldn't blame her, the vision of a thick and menacing Nagini was fresh in his mind. None of these snakes looked as threatening, luckily enough, but he wasn't keen on touching them either. Yet, he guessed there was no other option left.
"Granger." She whimpered. "Hermione, look. I'll lift the bloody reptiles, you look underneath for the clues." A new whimper accompanied by a nod. He heard her whisper but couldn't make out the words, "What did you say?" A new mumble against his shoulder. She was trembling like a leaf. "Granger, I don't hear you."
"Try the thicker ones, I don't see them writing on the belly's of the thinnest."
"I need you to release me, Hermione."
She did, reluctantly. Whining at his every step, she kept close to his body.
Breathing himself some courage, Draco lifted a python carefully.
"Nothing." Her squeaky voice was barely hearable.
He set the snake gently on its place and reached out to another one. Draco attempted to restrain the trembling to a minimum so he wouldn't upset the dormant animals. Unsuccessfully.
After the fourth - feeling Hermione's hot breath in his neck the entire time - he heard her finally mumble part of their hint, "Higher churchmen."
"It's a two-part hint, one down, another to go…"
Draco moved his right foot, and Hermoine copied his pace, following precisely the same path. The warm hand on his low back was heavily distracting, and when it accidentally descended to his bum, he nearly slipped against a rope with a nasty looking cobra.
It rose half, hissed at him puffing its neck. Draco's self-preservation kicked in. The wizard remained calm, and he didn't move an inch until the snake eased back.
The sweat pearled on Draco's forehead. Skipping the offended reptile, he fiercely hoped that the required of information wasn't written on the belly.
He tried another one.
"I see it!" Hermione forgot she was at ear height and Draco cringed from her high pitch against his eardrum, "Draco, it says 'Executed by'. The whole hint is 'Executed by higher churchmen."
Hermione wanted to flee, but he restrained her by the wrist. "No running around snakes, witch." She froze, eyes wide, and this time, he had to push her forward.
Climbing the chairs never went so fast. Uruk closed the hatchet, and at the dry blow Hermione flew into Draco's arms, "I'm sorry."
"Nothing to apologise for."
"I was so scared." She didn't realise she was almost strangling him.
Fear was, however, not Draco's first thought. Her warm body was pressed against his frame, and the sensation was invading his every pore, intoxicating him as much as her scent. He had wrapped his arms instinctively around her waist which didn't ease his case.
Moreover, it hardened a particular part.
One that ultimately didn't escape her notice.
She released a bit of her hold on him to look straight in the eye, "Oh." Hermione wiggled her free, "I'm sorry."
"You didn't…" He cleared his throat to sound less husky, "I'm sorry. You did nothing wrong."
"Do you need a moment?"
"Later. Let's return to the group." She went before him and missed the clenched fists.
-oOo-
It was lunchtime, and the animated conversation at the table was foremostly about how adventurous all these challenges were. While some admitted to hoping for a chance themselves at some of the trials, others declined vehemently any type of opportunity for such.
Draco used the lively event to excuse himself and search for the usual men's loo. He had been shifting his pants the entire time and was happy that a certain rise of fabric went unnoticed. Certain previous moments were playing non-stop in his head.
Releasing a sigh of relief, he leaned against the wall and rubbed the front of his shorts relaxed. However, he forgot to lock the door, and he startled when it was shoved open.
"Draco?"
Hermione caught him retrieving the hand from the front of his trunks, as a teenager caught red-handed, and he blushed, "Yes?" He gulped, eyeing her cautious approach with pink cheeks.
"Do you want me to help you with that?"
"Granger…"
"I'm the cause of your discomfort."
"It's no discomfort." Draco puffed, embarrassed. "I can take care of the issue myself."
Hermione was standing now right in front of him, looking at his face from under her lashes, "I know…"
During lunch, she had been silent. Not even wasting time denying her feelings. His erection against her belly woke an arousal she hadn't felt in a while. A sensation, that if she was honest, not even Ron had been able to stir. Pondering on the whole issue, she decided that if something happened, she would enjoy it without afterthoughts. Not every decision has to have a logical explanation. Not every shagging has to lead to the altar. Sometimes, it was merely what it was, seeking physical relief. No questions asked, no strings attached.
Not after a war that left them wondering if it was all worth it.
He might have thought that the tented pants were invisible to others, but she noticed it the moment he rose from his chair and left the room. So Hermione followed him, deciding on her way that whatever happened between them would remain a one-off. Scratch the itch both sensed scraping their spirit.
Keeping his gaze fixed, she replaced his hand with her smaller one and pumped gently, "Let me help you."
"Granger…"
"Shh, let me take care of the issue for you." Her hand became less gentle, increasing the speed of movements. Bolder too, shifting from rubbing over the fabric into inside his trunks, caressing the velvety skin and feeling the girth fill her palm. Her thumb grazed the top of her finger around his shaft.
He hissed.
Draco plundered her mouth, while his hand showed her what he needed. The rhythm intensified, the grip included. Between devouring mouths and coming up for a moment, they breathed each others air, one as much affected by the feels she administered like the one who was on the receiving point of these ministrations.
"Granger, will you… can I… I want…" The jolts went straight into his spine, making it hard for him to express his need in decent words.
"Tell me, Draco..."
"Not...only...your...hand." He whispered into her mouth, grunting between his pleas.
Hermione sank through her knees, lowered his bottoms till the ankles and took a second to admire the view. Standing straight as a pole, it jerked lightly as if it had a mind of its own and knew it was being appreciated.
The hand caressed the soft skin, its ridges, and the swollen arrow-shaped head. The other occupied itself by cupping the sack, stroking the sensitive skin behind. She straightened and opened the mouth. A light nib first. Followed by a lick from bottom to top, savouring the drop of the essence at the slit.
His hands were aimless. Torn between rubbing his face, clenching into fists, or cupping the back of her head. To ask for more. Deeper. He growled and grunted, pumping his hips instinctively to feel more of her hot mouth around his hard member. Hermione followed suit and set up a harder pace, rotating her hand in synch with her lips.
When he opened his eyes, they were fixed on the sight before him. Her aroused look, her bobbing head and how much of his dick disappeared between her cheeks. Yet, it wasn't enough.
He pulled her roughly up, shifted places against the wall and kissed her heatedly. "Tell me to stop." He illustrated his need by ghosting his fingers above her mound, close to where her core was begging for more. "Tell me I can't go any further, Granger…"
"I can't…"
He shoved her own shorts down until the fabric fell by her feet. "Tell me I'm going too far…"
"If you don't fuck me in the next min-" He plunged two fingers into her core, cutting down her words. She moaned.
Pushing her knickers down her hips with anxious, aided by his eager hands, she kicked the clothes out of harm's way. He hoisted her, positioned and entered her in a swift move, taking both their breaths away. Draco paused for a minute to give her time to adjust to the intrusion. Soon, he started to rock gently against her, but Hermione was having none of it.
The heels of her feet dug in his globes, to push him deeper and faster inside her core. Mewling and trashing at every thrust. Draco used the wall to pin her before his freed hand travelled under her top and found a tight nub. Thumb and finger pinched and pulled.
Hungry for more, she wriggled until her shirt flew off, while Draco pulled the cup of her bra down and freed the bud to suck it deep into his mouth. His lips exchanged her breast for her mouth, tongue seeking hers and enticing it into the old dance.
Her fingers dug in his back. Yanked at his hair, while she begged for more and faster, deeper. His calloused thumb sought and found her clit, rubbing it frantic. Until he lost control and rutted erratically into her core. Succumbing to the madness.
"Fuck…"
She responded with a scream, exploding around him while pressing his chest harder against her breasts for friction. Writhed and jerked, blinded by a fiery light.
He consumed her moans, teeth clenching while his hips kept pumping the last spurts.
It took a while before the heartrates subdued, breaths calmed down, heads leaning against a shoulder. But the hands kept roaming over the other's body, caressing. Stroking.
"Granger…"
"Not my...last name."
"Habit, I'm sorry." He was still panting, "Hermione…"
"Don't fret about it. This is a simple scratch we needed to take care of."
"We don't have a wand…"
"No worry, I'm on a potion. I won't be giving birth to your heir. Draco, I mean it. No strings attached. This is me satisfying a need. Nothing more."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am." By then, she had untangled herself from his grip and grabbed her belongings, dressing on the go. "I hated you four days ago, I'm starting to appreciate you ever since. But, hell, don't expect a love declaration." She shoved a few wet strings away from her face, before crossing her arms on her chest, "This was nice, I don't rule out another go. But, the chance that you and I become a couple is as low as Filch marrying Professor McGonagall."
He watched her speechless. From all the women he shagged, she was the bloody first who didn't make already plans for a wedding.
"Alright, if that's how you want this to go…"
"What are you aiming at?"
"Nothing, never mind." Draco copied her unaffected stance. He could play that game too…
-oOo-
They joined the group on their way to the stairs, but the late arrival wasn't so overlooked as coveted. Foremostly, Pansy shot a worried look at Draco's demeanour. He caught it but gave her a quick shake of the head to prevent any comment.
The second level where they were headed had a second level atrium, with wooden floor and two widen gaps giving a sight onto the atrium below. Through one of them, the group watched the three tigers pacing lazy around.
"Better never fall in that pit, I guess. They'll devour you in a heartbeat." Ron remarked needlessly.
"Let's check out your statements' accuracy. I know a perfect candidate." Blaise rolled his shoulders with a nasty grin. Not one soul doubted who he had in mind.
"Mate, do whatever you want, as long as I'm not a witness." Theo turned around to the other circle to see a metallic construction hanging above the tiger-free zone of the centre. "Holy Salazar's saggy tits."
Uruk handed over a sheet to the nearest person, Neville, "Someone has to be strapped into this Fort Bell. We'll pull on the rope to make it swing. The clue hangs on a wire and can only be retrieved once the bell is horizontal enough to grab it."
"I suggest one of the women flies while we men pull on that rope. Tracey or Pansy, who's up?"
Pansy took a few deep breaths, "I'm in. Tracey isn't keen on heights…"
"We had already snakes, what are the odds of a second challenge like Hermione's?" The other Slytherin witch reasoned, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. Knowing that sitting this one out would mean having to take the next one was compulsory. There was no room to wiggle away from a nasty challenge anymore.
Walking over a temporary plank, Pansy was strapped into the centre of the bell, "If I die, I leave all my belongings to my owl!"
"I thought you loved me!" Theo feigned hurt. "What about the ginger?"
"That's a work in progress. Drakey, be a good boy…"
"I can't promise anything."
Gnarluk gave them a sign to start pulling.
Harry pulled alone first, but comprehended that alone he wasn't even getting her a foot of the ground, "Hey chaps, I need your help."
The six wizards joined him and held tight to the cord. The swinging began. Together with Pansy's yells, "Fuck me!" The sound carried away by the wind, just like Theo's.
"This shit is too high. Get me out of here!"
"Grab the hint first!" Harry shouted using all his might to give a good pull and make her fly higher.
None of the other witches fell jealous of Pansy's challenge, mostly Hermione wasn't. Every time she saw the girl swing back, she held a hand against her lips, petrified. By the looks, so did Tracey. Lavender had more eyes to the flexing biceps at the display, the men gritting their teeth at every pull.
Hermione snarled, "Can't you for once stop ogling the boys?"
"It's quite a view, who knew pale blonds looked so hot?" The blond Gryffindor never noticed how murderous the brunette looked, who contemplated feeding the witch to the growling tigers.
"I'm almost there!" A new piercing female scream. "Yeeeessss! Woohoooo!"
The men let go of the rope, exhaling heavily from exertion. It seemed at first an easy task, after all, they were six of them and all quite fit to handle such a job. Yet, the bell mechanism turned out to be quite cumbersome to bring into movement.
Anyway, it took a while before the witch came to a halt. She hugged the first wizard she found, Ron, and held on for dear until the trembling ceased. The ginger cleared his throat a few times, blushing.
Harry stretched out his hand, "Pansy, can you give me the hint?" The tube was shoved into his hand, "Whimsical Willow."
"Harry, we know one! So does dad's car, remember?"
"Like we could forget how its branches attacked us, Ron." Hermione rolled her eyes, "Whimsical Willow, a capricious tree. Fits them all…"
"A tree attacked you?"
"Yes." Hermione gritted at the memory.
Harry and Ron answered simultaneously, "Multiple times."
The Slytherins smirked, and Ron bit off, "Hey, don't laugh. That thing shows no mercy."
Much time to ask for details wasn't awarded, as Uruk barked new orders, "Last test. Follow."
-oOo-
Back to the dungeons, two doors down from the snake pit. Hermione thought with a shiver that she would never enter that door again.
Uruk looked for two volunteers but found Ron and Tracey ready for duty. The instructions read, "Find the clue by crossing off the found words."
Ron asked to be sure, "Are there spiders or snakes inside?"
His answer was a barked, "No."
"Okay Tracey, lets deal with this shit."
Gnarluk strapped Ron to a moving chair, "You go in chambers and shout words." He pointed at Tracey, "You scratch words off here. Four minutes or word is burned."
The door was locked, and Ron rolled through the chambers, "Tracey, BANANA… BREAD… WOOD…"
"What was that last one?"
"WOOD! ...TREE...MONEY… FOTO… what the hell is a foto?"
"Never mind about meanings, what's next?"
"CAR...wait there's a word inside this glass...I have to drain this drink out first...fuck that tastes nasty...bah tastes like pee… CHICKEN...bloody hell." He spat a few times, but it wasn't enough...PEAS..."
Shortly after, he was back with her and Tracey loosened him. Pumping some blood back into his wrists he headed to the board, "Which word is left?"
"I have two left, feathers and book of admittance."
"Let us join the group, I bet Hermione and Malfoy will understand them."
-oOo-
Outside Hermione chose the book clue immediately, "It works together with the Quill of Acceptance."
"The magical quill inscribes in that book who's allowed to come to Hogwarts."
"Is it how it goes for the other Wizarding Schools?"
"Hey, Draco, how do you know all that?" Pansy interrupted the small discussion moment between the two.
"It's written in the Hogwarts book."
"You read that one?" Hermione looked at him with an incredulous look.
"I'm not illiterate, Hermione." He huffed offended. "I don't devour every tome in that library, but I've read the most important one." The Malfoy sneer reappeared.
Harry inquired curiously, "So this quill writes the name of a magical child in this book of admittance."
Hermione faced him, "Only when it shows signs of magic. I read that a few times the book shut down before the quill could write because it wasn't convinced of the child's ability. It needed more swaying before he accepted the quill's efforts."
"The ratio at Hogwarts is hundred per cent magical folk admittance, it has successfully denied entry to any squib." Draco complemented her explanation.
"All these hints are pointing out to something about wizardry, but it's yet too vague to narrow it down to one word."
"I agree."
"We too…" If the brain team didn't figure it out, leave it be if any of the others did.