CONTEST WINNER THIS CHAPTER: Ladysashi recommended the song, "Dangerous - In The Closet" by Michael Jackson & Princess Stéphanie of Monaco for this go around. So, this chapter is dedicated to Ladysashi - congratulations! Lyrics for that song appear at the bottom of this chapter. Hope you'll find this song somehow and give it a listen.

Remember, I'll accept song suggestions for each couple, as well as digitally manipulated images of live people and your original hand-drawn or digitally drawn fanart for this story up until the end of this fic is published. SEND ME YOUR LISTS OR ARTWORK to: rzzmg at yahoo dot com.

P.S. Unseenlibrarian – Your support, beta work, and brainstorming have helped to make this chapter shine. THANK YOU!

PLEASE REVIEW, FOLKS! What did you think of this chapter? It's a long one this time; necessary set-up for future chapters, and to apologize for taking so long to update this story. Hope you like it!

CHAPTER NINE: THE 8th QUESTION

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, Scotland

Room of Requirement

Sunday, June 14, 1998 (4:50 am)

Draco's momentarily distracted from his lovely partner when Theo attempted to scoot by, carrying Greengrass in his arms like a new bride. He smirked up at his roommate as he uncrossed his legs and moved his knees for Nott to get past.

His friend threw him a roguish wink as he shuffled by, grinning like a bloody fool. Once he and his partner reached their designated spots, he sat with her in his lap, slightly jarring the couch under their combined weights, and proceeded to attack her neck with his mouth with playful intensity. Daphne actually giggled.

No question about it: the classy blonde with the smart vocabulary and the sexy glasses had unequivocally collared his friend - the man who had vowed since he was thirteen that he would die a bachelor. Seeing Theo as pussy-whipped as Zabini was quite amusing to say the least. He'd never let the guy live it down.

It was odd, though. Yeah, his dorm-mate had always been the emotional type - smiling one moment, brooding the next - and he'd always had a somewhat twisted sexual nature that even Draco thought leaned too far towards the dark, but he'd never seen Theo's moods swing as radically back and forth as they had tonight. The guy had been on the verge of violence more than once during this game, and now he was acting all... fluffy.

He glanced back over at his friend and Greengrass. The two were engaged in playful snogging. Bah, Nott was probably just really hard-up. Lust and love did strange things to men's heads, turning them into bloody idiots. That he knew all-too-well.

Across the way, Granger caught his eye and gave him a sly, knowing grin. "Cauldron. Kettle. Black," she teased, reading his expression.

He countered by switching gears and giving her a leering grin. "Rather than snipe at me, beautiful, how about we find a much better use for that smart mouth of yours?"

With a haughty smirk, she waved her hand in dismissal. "Sorry, but I've got better things to do with my time - like inventory my pet rock collection."

Hell, but he loved her defiant wit!

"That's too bad, because our room's right over there" -he tipped his chin in the direction of the private suites- "just waiting to be properly christened. But, if you don't have the guts..."

She snorted in a very unlady-like manner. "Please. I have enough game for the both of us, and you know it. I'd just rather sit here and age quietly, if you don't mind. I'm a bit tired after last round."

Tired, his arse. She was intentionally provoking him.

It was time to up the ante.

"Bok. Bok. Bok."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "You little snake. What did I tell you earlier about giving me the chicken?"

She stood up, came around the tables and pulling her dress up to her knees, straddled him. Her core rested right over his aching hard-on as she sat heavily upon his thighs.

"Your clever Slytherin manipulations to get me into your lap aside, never dare a Gryffindor," she growled. Fisting the back of his hair, she pulled his face up and firmly settled her lips upon his. The kiss was passionate and punishing all at once - a claim. Granger was staking her title to him for anyone to see.

Draco's brain short-circuited, and he completely forgot himself and where they were. His hands took on a life of their own, and they were everywhere on her, pulling her closer, holding her tight to him, shoving through her curls and keeping her still while he ravaged her mouth back. They were like hungry animals, insatiable in their lust for each other as they feasted upon one another's kiss.

It was his partner who finally brought them up for air as she scooted off his legs and got to her feet, giving him an impish grin as she straightened her dress.

"Mmmm... so how was that for a good use of my mouth?"

His bollocks throbbing for release, Draco hunched over, slapping his palms on his knees in sexual frustration. His heart was racing a million miles a second, and his breathing was ragged. "You are so getting fucked," he groaned, adjusting his seat as the pressure of his full-blown erection pushing against his trousers was painful. "Fucked and spanked."

Granger had the audacity to giggle as she all but skipped back to her seat, infinitely pleased with her performance. "All bark and no bite makes Malfoy a dull boy," she provoked.

He grit his teeth to stave off the desire to hop up, throw her over his shoulder, and drag her off to their suite. He so badly wanted to pound her into the mattress and make her scream for more that the visual almost had him coming in his pants.

Potter and Davis came out of their room just then, interrupting the moment - which was probably a very good thing, given Draco's tenuous hold on his own restraint.

As the love-bird couple headed towards the sofa, he couldn't help but notice the two were nicely rumpled and starry-eyed. Davis was wearing an orchid corsage on her small, feminine wrist in an old-fashioned display of courtship. Potter was all about the wooing, it seemed.

"Quick, someone get me a toothbrush. They're giving me cavities," he snarked, rolling his eyes. Falling back on sarcasm - especially when it was aimed at Scarhead - helped him to take his mind off his blue balls.

"I think they're lovely," his partner stated, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Bet you think Pygmy Puffs in the mating season are cute, too," he countered with a chuckle.

His Gryffindor Princess laughed. "Yes, they are. And you're an unbelievable hypocrite," she gently accused. "You're as romantic as they come."

He merely shrugged, knowing it was true. After all, he'd copped to a serious unrequited fancy for the Muggle-born across the way before she'd ever considered him in return - that, despite the fact that he was a pure-blood from a family that prided itself on its "unblemished" magical heredity.

Speaking of which, once his father found out that he intended on making Granger into a Malfoy someday in the not-too-far-off future, the man was going to expire on the spot. His mother would most likely fall into a dramatic swoon from the scandal and not speak to him for a month, at the very least.

Those thoughts made him grin.

Hermione narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What's got you looking like the cat that got the cream?"

He let his eyes roam down her elegant form. Remembering what she looked like naked made him acutely aware of his erection again. Bloody thing wouldn't lay flat. He shifted and leaned back against the sofa cushions, re-crossing his legs, trying to make it look natural rather than fidgeting. "Because, if you'll recall, beautiful, I did just that last round. I enjoyed the finest, most delicious cream on the planet," he reminded her in a naughty tone, licking his lips. "I'm simply reliving the memory, and anticipating next round's meal."

Her eyes locked onto his, and there was some serious heat in those glinting, dark depths staring back at him. When her lips parted and her tongue darted out to wet them, he felt the rigid length between his thighs give a painful tug.

Don't tempt me any further, he silently warned her with a narrowing of his lids.

She gave him a cheeky grin in response, recognizing that they had an audience, and sat back into the couch with a seductive, little stretch that had him seriously considering crossing the space between them and laying her over his knees again for being so fresh.

The second chime rang out, pulling Draco's attention away. He was the Lead this question round, so it was his job to take in how the game fared. Along with the couples that had already forfeited, it appeared the Irish and his partner were quitting the game, too, as neither were in attendance.

He looked over at Gryffindor's Captain and raised an eyebrow in question. The man sighed and said, "Right, I'll go check on them."

"See to Ron as well," Hermione suggested. "We already know Gin's fine from last round, but Ron hasn't stuck his head out in a while."

"Yes, Potter, go make sure Pansy hasn't killed your best mate yet... because that would be such a shame," Draco snarked.

Hermione frowned at him. "Stop," she chided.

"Stop, what? Lamenting the fact that your ex still lives and breathes?"

Her disappointment etched lines around her pinched mouth. "I won't be jealous of yours, if you're not jealous of mine."

Her words brought him up short. Shite, he was being a hypocrite, wasn't he? It was all fine and dandy for him to have shagged his share of witches in his life, but the visual of his Princess in bed with the freckled-faced, redheaded gimp nearly infuriated him. Why?

Because he'd had her first.

Yes, that was it. The Weasel King had taken Granger's virginity – the one thing Draco had really wanted. He'd been lusting after her for years, anticipating a chance to prove he'd changed so he could win her... and he'd taken too long to approach her, afraid she'd laugh in his face.

One blasted year too late.

He'd told himself that he'd made his peace with that fact, and that having a more experienced woman would be preferable, but he'd been lying. The fact was he'd wished he could have owned all of his lover's firsts - that it could have been he who initiated Granger into her sexual awakening.

It was ironic, but he'd been teasing Hermione about being a cowardly chicken nearly all night, and yet he'd been the real coward. If only he hadn't waited so long to tell her how he felt about her...

Restless because of his thoughts, he abruptly stood up. "Break," he indicated, and summoned Potter's house-elf, requiring the creature provide them with food and drink. The elf returned to the kitchens to prepare them platters of the standard breakfast fare, and Draco headed into the loo without once looking in his partner's direction.

In the quiet of the men's, he leaned over the sink and worked on his control. His arms shook as badly as his heart.

What the bloody hell was wrong with him? He was so...angry. He was practically seething with jealousy, his fury only whipped into a frenzy the more he thought about his witch with other men. He shook his head, trying to clear it, but bitter thoughts came unbidden to his mind. Thoughts like: she'd let that fucking git, Weasley, have her cherry, and she'd shagged the bastard's older brother, too, in a hot one-off. She'd let Theo touch her naked breasts, and she'd frigged herself to fantasies about her poufter childhood friend, Adam. She'd wanted those men, and one way or another she'd had them, giving them a piece of her soul. That knowledge swirled around in his brain, taunting him, stabbing at him.

"We got a little intense with the snogging."

His goddamned best friend had kissed his witch's mouth. The guy had touched her tits, most likely suckled on them, too.

"It was...fast and sweaty, hanging off the edge of Ginny's bed and with only half our clothes off."

Shite, but she'd let an older man ride her with a stallion's rhythm, fucking her good and hard.

"Who knew the Head Girl wasn't as virtuous as everyone thought?"

She'd admitted to masturbating to thoughts of other men all over the bloody castle.

Visions of her moaning while others took her -as they defiled her beautiful body and filled it with their disgusting seed- flashed through his imagination, tormenting him.

"Stop. STOP!" he shouted, and in a fit of rage, slammed his hand into the mirror above the sink, smashing it. It broke into shards, some of which rained down into the ceramic basin below.

The intense, sharp pain that immediately followed that act indicated he'd cracked bone.

Shocked by the level of violence he'd just unleashed, he stared back and forth between his shaking hand and the mirror in mute horror.

Theo came rushing in seconds later, noted the blood welling from the cuts on the backs of Draco's fingers and recoiled. "Drake, what the fuck, man?" He swore under his breath again, and then leaned his head out the door. "Daph, Granger, do either of you know first-aid? Bring your wands, quick."

Both women barrelled into the loo a moment later, Hermione in the lead. She took one look at her partner and blanched. "Draco... Oh, my God. What happened?" she asked, coming to him with her wand in hand. "Did you do this?"

For some unfathomable reason, his voice had locked up in his throat, so he could only nod.

"Why?" she asked, as she waved her wand over his hands, sealing up the wounds with a simple Healing Charm. Another spell cleaned up the blood.

He couldn't speak, couldn't explain. If she knew the truth, she'd probably think him mentally diseased, calling him out on being a little too obsessed where she was concerned. It would scare her off. She'd walk away from him and never look back. The thought was a shard of glass through his heart. It made him tremble from head to toe.

No, he couldn't lose her now! They were finally getting close. It had taken years of patient observation and waiting for the right moment to get them to this point. He couldn't let her slip away now, not over something like this.

Reaching out with his uninjured hand, he pulled her into him, burying his face into the crook of her neck. In the background, there was some discussion going on between Nott and Greengrass, but Draco didn't give the words any mind; he was concentrating on calming his breathing, matching his heart rate to Granger's.

His partner held him to her in a comforting embrace, but her voice was clipped; she was all business. "Dobby," she called for the house-elf, and he reappeared in a snap. "Go to the Hospital Wing and grab some Skele-Gro. Don't let anyone see you. Hurry!"

The elf was gone as quickly as he'd appeared with a thunderous "crack" that echoed off the high ceiling above.

"Draco, tell me what happened," she coaxed, rubbing soothing circles at the small of his back.

He tightened his hold on her and shook his head. "Nothing. I was just angry."

"At what?" she asked. "Was it because of what I said?"

Draco sighed. "No, it's me. I'm... tired. No sleep, little food. It's starting to get to me, I think." It wasn't a complete lie, as he suspected those things might be the real culprits behind his irrational outburst. He was always cranky first thing in the morning or when he went too long during the day without a break for his eyes or replenishing his energy. Maybe that had contributed to his snap.

Hermione took a deep breath and let it out nice and slow. "I'll forfeit, if you want me to. We can rest in our room for the remainder of the game."

Her selfless offer did more to cool the raging emotions within him than any meal or rest could, as it proved that she definitely cared for him - enough to swallow her pride and throw her team to the wolves.

"I'd pick you."

She'd told everyone in game tonight that she'd have no problem kissing him on Monday in front of the entire school. She'd practically declared her feelings for him were deeper than surface several rounds ago, hadn't she?

"I've wanted you to touch me like this for a long time."

It occurred to him then, like lightning out of the blue: he wasn't just another man in her life. He wasn't someone she would let go of after tonight and hardly remember come the end of her days. He was special to Hermione!

"I really think this could work, Draco. I think I'd love this chance."

"Making you into a sugar and cream-coated lolly sounds like delicious fun to me."

"Thank you for teaching me how to dance."

Thanks to this game, he'd been given the opportunity to provide her sexual pleasure with a partner for the first time, and he'd also opened her eyes to possibilities she hadn't considered before, like a future career path, different types of bedroom activities, as well as setting aside old prejudices. Best of all, she'd admitted that she was falling in love with him - something he'd wished for since he'd first realized he was irrevocably hers. All of that was certainly more important than who she'd fucked, right?

"Yes, take me there. Love me there."

With a groan of longing, he turned his head and captured her mouth in a blazing kiss meant to show her how much he felt for her.

The damned elf interrupted before things could go beyond that, though, as he returned with the healing potion Draco's hand required. They reluctantly broke the kiss, and Granger was back to her bossy self a second later as she led him out of the loo and back to the sofas. "This is going to taste awful," she warned him as she pushed him back into his abandoned seat on the couch, measured a capful of the purple liquid, and then shoved it into his uninjured hand. "Down your gob, as Madam Pomfrey says."

He tossed it back, and nearly gagged. Gads, he'd forgotten how horrid this stuff was!

"Thanks," he said as he handed her back the cap.

"You're quite welcome," she offered, handing the Skele-Gro back to the elf with some instructions about returning it without being caught. When the creature disappeared again, she came and sat at Draco's side, caressing his injured knuckles.

Already, he could feel the bones beginning to knit back together. It hurt like a son-of-a-bitch.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she whispered, low enough for only the two of them to hear.

He glanced around, noting Theo and Daphne talking in low voices over towards the table that was now covered with platters of morning pastries and fruits. Greengrass was sipping what looked like water from a clear glass tumbler, while Theo was drinking something that steamed with heat from a mug, probably tea or coffee. Potter and Davis were standing in Weasley's doorway, chatting with the redhead in soft murmurs. They were all too far away to hear.

Between them, five sets of eyes kept looking over at him with concern, though, so it was obvious what the topic of each discussion was.

"No," he finally answered. "Maybe later."

Maybe never. His cautious Slytherin side warned him not to divulge too much information this time.

"Thank you, though," he offered to cushion the sting of his denial, reaching up to cup her cheek and caress through her hair. "For fixing me, and offering to quit on my account. I... Granger, I..."

The words he desperately wanted to tell her stuck in his throat. Why was he such a bloody coward?

Leaning in, he kissed her again instead, telling her what he wanted to say with his body rather than with sound. This was something he was much more comfortable with, anyway. I love you, he thought with every pull of lips. Don't you know that yet? Don't you feel it?

A throat cleared somewhere behind them, forcing them apart. "Sorry to interrupt, but... Right, so are we still on break or can we start the next round?" Potter asked, interrupting. "We're kind of on a time schedule, remember."

Fuck off, Draco wanted to snarl, but Hermione sighed and pulled away.

"You sure you don't want us to forfeit?" she asked him, ignoring her friend for the moment, her concerns firmly fixed on him.

Yes, he wanted to, but he knew she was looking forward to playing more of the cards, as she'd stated several times over the last few rounds. For her sake, he shook his head. "We're good. Just let me get something in my stomach." He glanced around, and then pointedly stared at Gryffindor's Captain. "Besides, Potter still needs to check on the Irish and his blonde."

Harry rolled his eyes, grumbled something under his breath, and stomped off towards Finnigan's door.

Granger giggled. "You know, I think the two of you could be very good friends if you'd let yourselves. You're more alike than you know."

Draco sniffed. "That would defeat the purpose of using him as my personal stooge when I need to work off my frustrations."

His partner lifted his healing hand. "Does this still hurt?"

Not much, honestly. It had probably only been a small hairline fracture. Still, this was a prime opportunity to milk his girl's sympathy. "Terribly so. I'm awash with pain."

Hermione sighed. "That's too bad to hear. I suppose this round we'll just have to take it easy. No hot and heavy fun for you. Oh well."

Her glimmering dark gaze was heated with amusement.

Stones, she'd just outmanoeuvred him, and he'd just guaranteed he wouldn't be getting much action this next round.

"Clever minx," he accused.

"Serves you right," she teased. "Playing up my sympathy like that." Entwining his uninjured hand through hers, she guided him over to the food table. "Now, eat so you'll stop being so grumpy."

He sighed. "Yes, m'am."

They shared a plate of pastries and he fed her strawberries and grapes from his hand, teasing the ripe fruit across her lips. They shared a cup of spiced, morning tea, and the strong caffeine was the shot to his flagging energy levels that he needed.

"Seamus and Lav are out," Scarhead announced with a brilliant grin.

No need to ask why, Draco thought.

"Feeling better?"

He glanced up at the wizard he'd considered his rival for so many years and realized that Granger was right: he and Potter could be friends... if the guy wasn't so irritatingly chirpy all the time.

"Much," he answered, knowing his girlfriend was watching and listening. For her sake, he made the effort to be polite. "Thank you for asking."

Harry's eyebrows shot up with surprise. He actually blinked a few times, as if trying to decide if this was all a joke or not, and then turned to Hermione with a smirk. "Either the Skele-Gro's gone to his head, or you've rubbed off."

Draco frowned. So much for being civil.

"I've already said Harry," his witch answered, throwing Draco a naughty wink, "I'm good at the rubbing thing. Very, very good."

"Ugh," Potter grimaced and rolled his eyes, "Too much information, 'Mione." He headed back towards his customary seat on the couch across the way. "So, I take it we can start again. Say, in five minutes?" He checked his magical timepiece on his wrist. "Because right now, it's going on half-past five."

Draco shrugged. "Fine. Five minutes." He shouted that last part out for Theo and Daphne, who were hovering around the food trough.

"You're sure?" his lovely partner asked one final time. "Last chance."

Reaching out, Draco stroked her cheek. "Better go take your seat before I decide hot and heavy fun's back on the schedule."

She pressed a quick kiss to his lips and hopped up to scramble across to her spot. Daphne and she passed each other, and Theo threw his body over the sofa on the far end. Davis scooted past him to sit down, but accidentally tripped against his foot and nearly fell across his lap.

"Oh!" she gasped, and hastened to right herself.

Unfortunately, her efforts only ended up landing her on his injured hand... and showing him a straight shot right down the front of her dress. Her purple lacy bra was quite fetching.

He swore in pain as the witch finally extricated herself from him with Potter's help, but he couldn't help but notice the dark frown and menacing narrowing of the lids in his greatest rival. Those emerald eyes seemed to warn him, Don't you dare look at her.

Granger made to get up and grab her wand, to see if she could lend some help, but Draco waved her off with his good hand. "It's fine. No lasting damage. It's just doesn't like to be jostled."

"I'm so sorry!" Davis apologized to all. "When I'm tired, I get a little clumsy."

Potter went to get her a cup of coffee upon her request, and the woman sat down on the couch, cupping her hot mug and blowing upon it.

Everyone resumed his or her seat, and Draco took a deep breath. "All right, so let's get on with it. Beautiful, you're up." He nudged his chin towards the Interrogations deck, and Hermione threw him a sweet smile as she reached out and turned the top card over.

"If you had to eat dessert off of a member of the opposite team (someone of the opposite gender from your own), who would you pick? You must answer this question."

Immediately, she frowned. "Another one that doesn't allow an opt-out. I don't recognize it as coming from anyone on our team." She turned to her only remaining teammate. "Do you, Harry?"

Gryffindor's Captain shook his head. "Malfoy?"

"One of Zabini's cards was similar to that, but..." He paused, trying to recall the exact phrasing of his roommate's question. "No, I distinctly remember that his card said 'feed dessert to' not 'eat dessert off of', and it didn't require you to answer the question."

"You're sure?" Hermione asked, staring at the card in her hand with suspicion. "Anyone else on your team, maybe?"

"I didn't write it," Theo reassured them.

"Nor did I," Greengrass chimed in.

Davis shook her head. "Not one of mine."

"Let me see the card," Draco requested, holding out his good hand.

Hermione passed it to him. He re-read it. No, it definitely wasn't Zabini's card. It was very close, but not exact. Pansy's weren't anything like this, and Blaise's other question had already been asked during the game. "Has to be from your side," he commented, handing it back.

His partner stared at the card, as if trying to unlock all its secrets. "I'm almost positive no one on our side wrote this."

"I don't doubt your recall for facts, Granger," he complimented, and she glanced up at him, giving him a small smile. "So if no one here wrote it originally, then..." He left the thought open.

"Are you saying the cards are being rewritten?" Potter asked. He seemed suddenly alert and wary. "Who would do that? Not someone in game?"

Reaching for her wand, Hermione tapped it on the card in her hand. "Magica Aparecium."

A 'magic reveal' spell. She was trying to determine the charm used on the cards.

Nothing happened.

"Magica Revelio," she tried instead.

It had the same effect.

"Interesting," Greengrass commented, adjusting her glasses over the bridge of her nose so she could look over the rims. "As they are unmistakably bespelled cards, logically one of those charms should have been successful."

Hermione slowly put her wand down. "Perhaps not - at least not with any magic known to us today."

She glanced up at Draco. "Several rounds ago, you asked me how I'd heard of Madam Aset, the witch who had loaned you this set. Everyone knows about her Sex Shoppe in Knockturn Alley by word of mouth, but I've only just remembered where I'd read about the last name Aset, as well. Godelot mentioned them in Magick Moste Evile as well-known purveyors of rare and dark magical items. And in Bathilda Bagshot's A History of Magic, it's stated that the Asets inexplicably sold their centuries-old curio store in Knockturn Alley in the mid 1800's, and afterwards, the store's name changed to reflect its new owners: Borgin and Burkes." She waved her hand towards the room's exit. "I have two copies of Bagshot's book on my home shelves - one an original publication, and Godelot's tome is in the Restricted Section of the library. I checked it out a few years ago for a bit of light reading."

Potter snorted at that. Hermione threw him a, 'shut it!' glance.

"What if," she postulated, returning to the point at hand, "this deck was one of the Aset family's keepsakes - something they didn't give up when they sold off their store way back then? Draco, you'd told me that Madam Aset admitted that this deck was a family heirloom, and that the set originally belonged to a courtesan in a brothel who committed suicide more than two centuries ago."

Next to him, Davis gasped and put a hand up over her mouth.

Draco shrugged. "Yes, but I don't see how-"

His partner turned over the card in her hand, staring at the image of Eros and Psyche embracing on the back. "If this was an item that the Asets kept, then it's a good bet that it's dark magic-oriented."

"How do you figure? Just because the family owned a shop selling dark artefacts doesn't mean that this deck is one of them," Draco stated, feeling the need to defend his friend, Sabrina. The woman had been more than generous in her advice and in her handling of him throughout their years together.

Granger shrugged. "Because it's quite possibly one of the most powerful items I've ever encountered - aside from Hogwarts itself, that is. We've already seen that the deck can accomplish amazing things, like compelling us to answer questions much the same as Veritaserum, and completely ignoring Gamp's Law in regards to creating food from nothing when a card requires it."

She carefully traced over the card's edge, as if testing the sharpness of it.

"Honestly, it's not like any piece of modern or white magic I've ever heard of or read about. Perhaps that's why my spells didn't work on it. Perhaps it was created with... well, old magic." She made a small moue with her mouth as she contemplated that for a moment. "Who's to know what magical lore has been lost or Ministry-repressed in the two-hundred years since its creation."

"My father was into studying those kinds of spells," Nott added his piece to the discussion. "Reading up on the really old stuff was his obsession after my mother's accidental death. He said that most of the ancient rituals had been forgotten in this new age, and that magic isn't half as potent as it used to be even a century ago. So, maybe Granger's right. Maybe the deck was made with a forgotten dark magic. Who's to say?"

"I know for a fact that old magic can be more powerful than anything being taught now: it's what defeated Voldemort," Potter stated, stroking a finger across the scar on his forehead. Everyone cringed at the sound of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's name, even Draco. "Dumbledore told me my mum had cast an archaic spell to protect me against him when I was a baby, which is how I survived his Killing Curse. She sealed the spell with her own life – her blood for mine."

"Oh, Harry..." Davis breathed, sorrow in her tone.

He gave her a sad smile. "It was a long time ago, honey. I... don't even remember that night, or my parents."

"Fun though the speculation has been, it's still just that," Draco interrupted, not convinced that the deck was anything more than what Madam Aset had claimed. After all, why would the woman purposefully give him a dark artefact? They were friends - more than that, as she'd been his sexual instructor, and there had been a intimacy shared between them that platonic friends could never know. "There's no proof the deck is messing with the wording on the cards. Perhaps Blaise changed his card before he handed it in. I only saw it once, and that was yesterday morning. He'd had plenty of time to adjust the wording as he'd wanted to."

"Why doesn't someone just knock on everyone's door and ask them?" Davis made the obvious request.

Potter stood up and held his hand out to Hermione. "I'll start with Zabini."

The card passed between them, and then the guy was off, crossing the room, and knocking on Blaise and the She-Weasel's door. "Hey, Zabini, I need you to take a look at something."

He opened the door without waiting to be invited...

...and stopped on a knut. His face turned a brilliant shade of scarlet, and he quickly shut the door again.

"Shite," he swore.

It was the first time Draco could remember the Boy Wonder profaning, and he barked a laugh. "Get an education, Potter?"

"Up yours, ferret," the other guy groused as he returned to the sofas, passing the Interrogations card back to Hermione. "Let's just... keep playing for now. We'll ask Blaise later." He wiped a hand over his brow. "Much later."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think it's a good idea until we find out whether the spells on the deck are changing the text on the cards. I mean, look at this question: it requires a player to pick someone of the opposite gender from the opposite team as their answer, and there's no way to avoid it. That may not create trouble for you and me, Harry, but it's bound to anger Teddy and Daphne, since they're partnered up."

The two in question looked at each other.

"You know I'd answer you if I could," Theo offered, hesitantly clearing his throat.

Greengrass nodded. "And I, you. It is for that reason that I will harbour no jealousy, whatever your response. I already suspect your answer, in any case."

Yes, well, so did Draco, and he couldn't promise to be as understanding, best friend or not.

Granger sighed. "As long as you're not going to blow up at each other, then... I suppose we can wait a round to ask Blaise about the card's real text. Is everyone in agreement?"

Draco nodded, and saw the others do similarly.

"Fine, then let's get this show on the road," she grudgingly offered. "You're up first, Harry."

The guy looked right at Davis and gave her a wink as he leaned forward to take a red card from the centre of the table. "You, honey."

The two shared a secret smile, and Draco tried hard not to roll his eyes again.

Play moved to Theo. "My turn, eh? Well, I guess my answer would be... shite," his friend growled, glancing over at him. "Sorry, mate, but of the three girls, I'd pick Granger."

It took a lot of restraint for Draco not to leap over Greengrass and rip his friend's eyes and tongue from his face.

"Draco, look at me," his partner bid. When he did, she gave him a sweet smile. "Would you like to go to the ball with me next week?"

His jaw dropped open.

"I know it's last minute and all, but... I'd really like to go on your arm."

Suddenly, the pounding of Draco's pulse was too loud in his ears, and his head was full of jelly.

"That's your cue to say 'yes'," she coaxed in a whisper, leaning slightly forward.

Dumbly, he nodded. "Yes."

Her smile was like Heaven's gates opening up. It warmed him, chasing away the dark shadows that crept along the edges of his heart. Thoughts of feeding Theo his own dick for breakfast were instantly forgotten.

Greengrass was up next, after Theo pulled a Deeds card. "I suppose that since I must choose, I would answer Mister Finnigan, if for only the novelty of saying so."

Nott let out a heavy breath. "Motherfucker! Every girl in school wants at that prick. What the bloody feck?"

Daphne adjusted her glasses over her nose again, and reached for a red card, saying nothing. Smart girl.

"No, not every girl," Davis chimed in, smiling over at her partner as if every rainbow in the sky were dancing just for her. "I'd pick you, Harry. Always just you."

The witch's partner gave her a blinding smile. "Treacle tarts will always be my favourite."

A lovely blush tinted the blonde's cheeks. "I haven't forgotten."

"Yes, yes," Draco impatiently waved towards the deck of red cards. "Just pull a Deeds already. My sweet tooth is aching enough as it is."

Davis giggled, and grabbed the proper card.

Draco was next. "Do I really need to say it?" he glanced across at his witch through a half-lidded, playful gaze.

Her delicate shoulders came up in a nonchalant shrug, and she gave him an impish smile. "If you expect me to ever again kiss that mouth of yours, then you'd be well advised to do so."

His chuckle rumbled through his chest. "I believe that was the most cheerful-sounding threat I've ever received. You know, I'd say you're well on your way to becoming a worthy Slytherin, princess, but I suspect you already know that fact." He reached forward and picked a card from the top of the red-coloured deck. "The answer is: you."

She scooted forward to the edge of her sofa and reached a hand to draw a red card after him. "Smart answer. I'd choose you."

"And the question is, 'What is Malfoy and 'Mione's predictable reply?'" Potter muttered.

Davis threw a couch pillow across the space at her partner. "Hit yourself with it."

"And while Potter's busy being emasculated for our entertainment, everyone turn over your cards and let us know if there's something you have to do in front of everyone," Draco instructed.

He turned over his card and read it. Twice.

"Merlin's hairy balls," he thundered. "There is no God."

It figured that the one thing he was absolutely loathe to do in front of Granger he would now be forced to undertake during this action round.

Hermione was suddenly before him, and plopping her bum down across his lap. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the cheek. "Come on, it can't be that bad."

"Swap with me," he pleaded. "I'll give you anything you want."

With a glimmer of amusement in her eye, she asked, "Even your pet rock collection?"

"Fine, all the diamonds in my vault at Gringotts are yours," he easily agreed. "Just trade me!"

Granger dashed all his hopes a moment later, shaking her head. "Nope, sorry. I like my card this round."

Theo laughed at him on the way past, patting him on the head. "Luck, mate!"

"Be back out here at fifty-five past six," Potter called out as he reached down to take his and Davis' wands up from the table, handing his partner's to her. "Cast the C&DC charm, honey," he said in a gentle, low tone.

"Oh," Davis breathed, and ducked her head, her long, blonde hair shielding her expression.

Scarhead took his witch into his arms, and whispered something in her ear.

Granger looked up at her best friend across the way and opened her mouth, but Draco knew that Potter wouldn't want her to interject her opinion in that moment. It was clear that things between the love-love couple were about to cross a line, and to stay or forfeit before then was the kind of decision that they should make together and didn't need outside input. So, with a quick thought, he turned Hermione's head by cupping her chin and slammed his mouth down on hers in a hungry kiss meant to distract.

It worked; Granger melted against him. All too soon, their kissing became something else - hungry, a little desperate. By the time they pulled apart, they found themselves alone in the main room.

"Come on, beautiful," he reluctantly urged her, "I'm not going to want anyone to accidentally stumble from their room and witness my complete mortification as I perform my card. Let's go to our room."

"What is it?" she asked, reaching for his card.

He was quicker than she, however, and in a flash, he had it under his leg. "Patience is a virtue," he admonished.

She narrowed her eyes at him and disentangled them to rise to her feet. "Fine, but you're doing yours first."

"Sure, sure," he easily caved, wanting to get it out of the way sooner rather than later, anyway. He stood and extended his good hand to her. "Well, I wanted a rest period this round. Looks like we'll be getting that." They headed towards their room together.

"Oh, I don't know about that," his witch teased, pressing her card to her breast. That sinful smile was painted across her luscious lips once more. "This round is going to be absolutely active for me."

Draco looked down at her as he opened the door for her, allowing her to go first, as was polite. "Is that so?" he asked.

The look she threw him on the way past was enough to get his erection as hard as granite once more.

Gods, he hoped she still felt that same way once he performed his card for her because, as the Yule Ball had proved, the one thing to be a guaranteed romantic mood-killer was a bad musical selection.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Magica = Latin for "Magic".

Aparecium = A Transfiguration spell that can make invisible things reveal themselves in the HP universe. Magica Aparecium is a spell I made up for this fanfic.

Revelio = A reveling charm in the HP universe (i.e. Homenum Revelio = Reveal Hidden Human). Magica Revelio is a spell I made up for this fanfic.

Magick Moste Evile by Godelot = A book mentioned in the canon "Harry Potter" novels that Hermione checks out of the Restricted Section in Hogwarts' library to look up information about horcruxes.

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot = A book mentioned in the canon "Harry Potter" novels.

According to canon, Borgin and Burkes shoppe is located at 13B Knockturn Alley, and has an established date of 1863 on its sign.

Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration = A canon law governing the magical world. There are Five Principle Exceptions to this law, but the only one mentioned in the novels is that food cannot be outright created from nothing.

.

Musical Selection for this chapter: "Dangerous - In The Closet" by Michael Jackson & Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. Lyrics are as follows...

.

(woman to man)

There's something I have to say to you, if you promise you'll understand...
I cannot contain myself when in your presence.
I'm so humble.
Touch me! Don't hide our love... woman to man.

(man to woman)

She's just a lover who's doin' me by.
It's worth the giving. It's worth the try.
You cannot cleave it, or put it in the furnace.
You cannot wet it. You cannot burn it.

She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
Dare Me.
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!

It's just a feeling; you have to soothe it.
You can't neglect it. You can't abuse it.
It's just desire. You cannot waste it.
Then, if you want it... then, won't you taste it?

She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
Dare me!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!

She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!

(woman to man)

One thing in life you must understand: the truth of lust... woman to man.
So, open the door and you will see there are no secrets.
Make your move.
Set me free!

(man to woman)

Because there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.
I swear there's something about you, baby…

Just promise me: whatever we say, or whatever we do to each other...
For now we'll make a vow to just keep it in the closet.

If you can get it, it's worth a try.
I really want it, I can't deny.
It's just desire.
I really love it.

(woman to man)

'Cause if it's aching, you have to rub it.

(man to woman)

She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!
She wants to give it.
Aahh, she wants to give it!

(woman to man)

Just open the door and you will see this passion burns inside of me.
Don't say to me you'll never tell.
Touch me there.
Make the move.
Cast the spell.

(man to woman)

Because there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.
I swear there's something about you, baby, that makes me want.

Just promise me: whatever we say, or whatever we do to each other...
For now we'll make a vow to just keep it in the closet.

Because there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.
Because there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.
I swear there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.
I swear there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.
I swear there's something about you, baby, that makes me want to give it to you.

Something about you, baby, that makes me want.

Just promise me: whatever we say, or whatever we do to each other...
For now we'll make a vow to just keep it in the closet.

(She wants to give it)
Dare me!
(Aahh!)
Keep it in the closet ...