Chapter 5: Curiosity

(Author's Note: This is already chapter five and don't worry, we will see some action soon! I noticed that some people added my story to some Harem (wtf?) community. This is NOT going to happen. There will be romance, but only between two people and no explicit descriptions. Don't forget to review, thank you! :) )

During lunch the four friends decided to spend the rest of the day at the beach. Instead of taking the route around the rocks standing between the camp site and their destination, they wanted to take the shortcut through the cave that they discovered earlier.

When they made their first steps in the shadows inside the cave, an obvious flaw in the plan was showing.

"Evidently, nobody of us intellectually gifted people thought that there would be any need to bring a torch", Emilia remarked. The trio couldn't see her face in the dark and wasn't sure whether to take this as a joke.

Nevertheless they continued to walk in the shadows, looking for a path towards the water, their steps and voices echoing off the grotty walls.

"I think I found the way", Emilia shouted from the other side of the cave where Harry, Ron and Hermione were standing.

They followed her voice in silence until Harry almost knocked over Emilia. Even with his glasses, he didn't see her standing right in front of him. They stumbled a few steps awkwardly towards the nearest wall.

"Ahhh Harry, bloody hell", Emilia screeched and quickly grasped the sleeve of Harry's shirt to avoid falling down on the cold ground.

He quickly lifted her up again, before she could pull him down with her.

"Sorry Emilia, haven't seen you in the dark. Apparently I need new glasses", the boy apologised.

"No worries", she giggled. "Let's just stay close so that we will not run into each other again. There is a small passage right before us, we have to go through one by one, it's pretty narrow."

Emilia went first and took Harry's hand while squeezing through the passage. He then knew when he could follow and did the same with Hermione behind him.

She turned around and grasped Ron's hand to show him the way. The touch of the hands pacified Hermione's nervousness. She was bit a claustrophobic after all and when she reached the passage, she was happy about the guidance. It felt nice too.

After a few steps they stood before the water cave and couldn't believe their eyes. Stalactites dangled from the rocky ceiling while the floor was perfectly smooth, flattened by thousands of years of erosion. The cave's opening was overshadowed by a rock arch and allowed a beautiful view over the sea.

They were standing on a medium sized ledge, the waves hitting against it below them.

"Wow - this is - wow", was everything Harry managed to get out.

"This is bloody brilliant", Ron called out happily. "Come on, let's get in!"

Suddenly everyone was in a hurry to get rid of their clothes. Ron smirked at Harry, when he watched Hermione and Emilia undressing.

"Seriously, Ronald? Never seen a woman in her bikini?", Hermione said rather teasingly.

"Seen one? Sure. Thrown one in the water? Not yet."

And with that announcement he took a few steps towards Hermione, an evil smile forming on his face.

"AHHH stop Ron - STOP! I swear I will - "

SPLASH!

Ron threw Hermione headfirst into the water and dived after her. Emilia and Harry couldn't suppress their laughter and followed them.

A few seconds later Hermione's head emerged from the surface. She seemed to be a bit confused at first, but then turned her head slowly towards the Weasley. A glow of determination was visible in her eyes.

"Oh, oh" - Ron muttered, anticipating the incoming revenge.

With a quick jump forward, Hermione threw herself on Ron and pressed his head underwater.

She let go of him after a brief moment and he burst through the surface of the water coughing.

"houhhg - uh - uh, oh well, I expected something like that", he uttered, breaving heavily.

"Well, you didn't give me a choice, did you?", Hermione teased and swam over to hug him from behind.

After a while they started to swim through the opening. A beach was visible on the left.

"Let's go over there", Emilia shouted eagerly.

It was a deserted and small beach, which was apparently only accessible via the cave. The four teenagers waded through the water, until finally their feet were touching the fine sand. Dried up bushes and small rocks emerged where the sand faded into the usual ground. Harry, Ron, Emilia and Hermione put their towels near the water and laid down on them.

Hermione thought it had been a good choice to come here, even though she became bored after a few hours. Why didn't she bring a book? Alternating between swimming and sun bathing was not the most exciting thing to do.

At least she could rest a bit, her muscles still ached from the climbing in the morning. Then a very typical thing happened. A short passage from a book she had recently read gradually filled her mind, until she finally realised the full consequences. Her lips formed a huge grin that her friends didn't notice.

Harry has never been more relaxed in his whole life. Of course he had never done such a trip before, let alone traveled with the Dursleys somewhere. He would always stay at Mrs Figg's house, envious of his fat cousin Dudley who was most likely eating away at the chips and sausages of the hotel buffet.

He also had two extremely rough years. First seeing Cedric getting murdered, Voldemort's comeback and experiencing the cruciatus curse in his forth year. Then the death of Sirius. Hermione, who had survived the curse from Dolohov. His heart clenched in fear. The weeks after getting tortured had been horrible. He hadn't admitted to Ron and Hermione that his bones and muscles still ached painfully during this time. But the fifth year had been far worse for him. He had almost lost a close friend, his best friend. The one friend who had always unconditionally supported him, always believed him when others doubted his words.

Something in his heart had shifted after the incident at the Department of Mysteries. Harry had finally realised the sacrifices Ron and Hermione and a lot of other people around him had made in order to help the Boy Who Lived. He was extremely grateful to spend time with these wonderful people and sweared to do everything to protect them.

He gradually opened his eyes to push his thoughts away, when he saw Hermione in the corner of his eyes. She was walking swiftly towards her towel, a muggle book in her arms.

"Where did you get that?", Harry asked her suspiciously.

"What you exactly mean, Harry?"

"The book. You didn't bring it with you, it would be wet. We had to swim through the cave"

"Don't be silly", she replied nonchalantly. "I couldn't summon it, could I?"

"How did you get the book then?"

"Harry, you really see a conspiracy everywhere you look. Why don't we just lay down and get a bit of a tan? That's what normal people usually do when they are at the beach"

She winked at Harry and approached her towel.

"Since when do you enjoy sun bathing?", Harry asked her incredulously.

"Well I don't consider myself normal, so no I am not enjoying it without a good read"

Harry sighed with a smile on his lips. Apparently he was not able to draw the secret from his adamant friend, but he also knew that she was teasing him.

"And since when do you tease your friends?"

"Oh, we are friends?" Hermione asked with a playful expression on her face.

Harry growled.

In late late afternoon the four friends reluctantly went back to the campsite. They were starting to get hungry and Ron was bugging everyone around him.

"Could we please start to cook dinner, I am starving"

They were all sitting comfortably in their camping chairs and enjoyed the last sun beams of the beautiful day. Hermione slammed her book shut and glanced furiously at Ron.

"Fine. I will just prepare something. Apparently Molly not only spoiled you but also didn't teach you how to cook."

"I am not spoiled. I just can't sit here with an empty stomach"

Hermione shook her head at that comment and started to walk towards the camper.

"Oh, I will help you, Hermione", Emilia offered with a bright smile.

"That would be really nice of you, thanks." She shot Ron a glare, transmitting the message 'that's how you treat a friend, you git'.

Harry and Ron remained seated in their camping chairs. After a while Harry had an idea.

"Ron, let's collect some firewood. It would be pretty amazing to have a fire. We can also make up to the girls, we are just relaxing here anyway"

"You are right, mate", Ron honestly replied, even though a tiny bit of reluctance was hearable in his voice.

They got up and walked a few steps towards the nearest trees. In the distance, the tent of the their neighbours was visible. It was standing in the big shadows of the rocks surrounding the camp site.

"Have you seen anyone of our neighbours yet?", Ron asked curiously, his eyes fixed on the place.

"Not really, I think I have heard some sound this morning, but I am not sure"

"Hmm - maybe they are not even here and went somewhere else today"

"Yeah, makes sense. Ron, let's take some branches from the trees over there, they look old and rotten. Should work better for a camping fire."

They walked over to a few isolated trees, that clearly suffered under the hot and dry weather this summer. They picked up some branches enough for a small fire and went back to their chairs. Harry got up again and quickly collected a few stones, that he spread out in a circle on the ground.

"We have to be careful though, we can't use magic to keep the fire inside the stones and everything around us is really dry.", Harry told Ron in a serious voice.

"You should probably take care of the fire Harry, do you remember my dad at the Quidditch World Cup?" Harrys lips tilted upwards instantly. Hermione had to show Mr. Weasley how to properly use matches to ignite the fire.

"Alright, but please keep an eye on it though."

They spent the remaining time talking about magic related things, especially Quidditch, because usually Emilia was around. Then the door of the camper opened slowly and the girls came out with two silvery bowls in their hands.

"Ahh I see you haven't been completely useless", Emilia commented teasingly when she saw the fireplace. "Cliche approved, women preparing food and guys start the fire"

Hermione chuckled. "I am not sure whether Ron could light the fire though"

Now Ron shot Hermione an angry glare, transmitting the message Stop it, Hermione, that is not fair!

Emilia looked bewildered first then the turned her head to Ron and asked him in a sceptical voice,

"You are not able to light a fire?"

"Ehmm - sure I am, it's really easy, isn't it?"

Harry and Hermione had both hands clutched on their mouths to suppress their laughter. Hermione definitely has a talent to embarrass people, Harry had to admit to himself.

"Prove it!", Emilia challenged Ron.

Ron's cheeks blushed visibly, a helpless expression on his reddened face.

"Ehm okay, no problem. Harry - eeehm - could you hand me the fire machine?"

Hermione couldn't hold it any longer. Her whole body tremored, when bursts of laughter escaped her mouth. She had trouble keeping herself on the camping chair and nearly landed on the ground. Harry had more success in holding back his laughter. He at least managed to suppress the loudest part of it.

Emilia looked puzzled. "Is this some sort of inside joke I don't understand?"

"Something like that", Harry explained with an apologising expression.

He then went towards the fireplace, snatched the match box and quickly lit the newspaper they put under the branches. It was a pity that they couldn't use the Daily Prophet.

After dinner, Harry and Ron went inside to do the dishes, while it was Hermione's and Emilia's turn to relax in the camping chairs. When the boys were finished, it was already dark outside. Harry could only hear the sound of the sea, mixed with the cracking noises from the fire.

The girls were whispering, and as Ron and Harry approached they abruptly stopped their conversation.

"What were you talking about?", Ron asked nonchalantly. He walked over to his chair and let himself fall in.

"Nothing interesting really", Hermione replied.

"Yeah I can imagine that. Just some gossip about Harry and me I suppose?"

"Don't be silly Ron, I am not Lavender"

Ron didn't seem to be persuaded and muttered something about 'hearing enough of that from Ginny' when Emilia acted.

"Guys, don't fight please. We are supposed to have fun here, remember?"

Everyone grunted approvingly. Harry was relieved that Emilia took care of the two. Sometimes it became really tiring to listen to their arguments.

"Let me get something to ease your minds"

She got off her chair and went towards the camper. After a few seconds she was out again, holding a bottle and empty glasses in her hand.

"This, Ladies and Gentleman, was luckily forgotten by one of my school friends" She pointed at the bottle of liquor.

"I don't claim that to be the most expensive and delicious vodka in France, but I can assure you that it will fulfil its duty nevertheless."

"And its duty is to make us drunk, I suppose?", Hermione asked contemptuously.

"No, no, don't worry. I thought a small drink would help you to relax"

She poured a bit of vodka in two glasses and filled the rest with orange juice.

"Have you ever tried vodka with orange juice? It's actually quite tasty."

"No, but I would like to", Ron said to her in a eager voice. "Mom would never let us have a bit of fire whiskey"

"What is fire whiskey? Another joke about fire I don't understand?"

"Ohh, no - it's whiskey with some other ingredients I can't remember. Mom makes it usually", Ron blushed but his eyes looked relieved. The trio became good at making up excuses.

"Anyway, here take it"

Emilia handed Ron the glass, and hold the other one out to Hermione. She hesitated for moment, but then her hands gripped around the beverage.

"Where is our Hermione and what have you done to her", Harry boldly remarked.

"Oh shut up, Harry! Cheers Ron!"

"Cheers!"

They both took a small sip and looked utterly surprised.

"Well it's not delicious, but way better than I have imagined it", Hermione said.

Another two drinks were made and a few moments later Emila and Harry clinked glasses.

"And now - " an evil grin gradually spread over Emilia's face, "the fun part is about to begin. Let's play 'never have I ever' "

Hermione looked horrified.

"Sorry, I know it would be a lot of fun, but I seriously can't."

Emilia seemed to be disappointed but didn't bother Hermione further.

"Okay, than it's just the three of us". She smirked. "In case you don't know the rules, here they are. A person starts to say something she or he has never done. If you are not so innocent and have done the deed, you must drink. Perfectly simple that game. You got it?"

"Yep", Ron and Harry answered in unison.

They both became a bit nervous when Emilia started with a rather embarrassing question.

"Okay, I start with the most basic one. Never have I ever kissed a girl"

Hermione and Ron smirked and expectantly looked in Harry's direction.

"Don't look so smug! I know I kissed Cho, it is rather hard to forget"

And with that he lifted his glass and took a big gulp.

"Don't drink too much Harry, or we are done after a few questions", Emilia joked.

The game progressed slowly, everyone carefully deliberating on their questions trying to maximise the discomfort of the other players. The boys gradually managed to coax more private things out of Emilia. For instance they found out that she was once almost expelled when she tried to cheat during a major exam in her school.

If she knew what we had to go through all these -

"Hermione?"

Her thoughts were jerkily interrupted.

"Hm? Sorry, I was thinking about something."

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that the next question will be highly interesting for you", Emilia had again the evil grin on her face. Harry and Ron growled.

What is she up to now?

"Never have I ever imagined how Hermione would look like naked"

She can't be serious… did she seriously just say that?

"Ehh - ehh - too much teenage hormones now, don't you think?", Hermione chipped in, her cheeks blushed in embarrassment.

Ron and Harry stole a glance at each other, apparently not knowing how to respond. They didn't want to make Hermione uncomfortable but knew that Emilia had already revealed some of her secrets. Also the consumed alcohol seemed to contribute a decisive factor to their final decision. They raised their glasses slowly awaiting each others reaction then both took a swallow from it.

Hermione wasn't sure whether she liked the response to the question. Of course she wanted to be considered attractive and more than a library bookworm. On the other hand she feared it would introduce a slight discomfort in their friendship.

She tried to shift the thoughts aside and instead think of a witty response.

"I suppose I could name any female and the answer would be the same?"

"Never have I ever imagined how McGonagall, a bloody old teacher at our school, would look like naked", Ron threw in after a few seconds of silence.

The air was filled with laughter and even Hermione was dragged out of her moody state by Ron's joke. She felt the knot in her stomach ease considerably.

Everyone was taken aback when Harry started to lift his arm. The glass was already touching his lips, as he turned towards the others who looked at him in shock.

"Guys, I am joking. Great friends you are, thinking I was even capable of that."

Night had set in hours ago, but the camp fire resisted the darkness as though the flames were fed by deep conversations and honest laughter.