The Ministry atrium
"You still thinking about that double date idea?" Draco asked a few days later, Wednesday, in the atrium of the Ministry when they were about to leave for the evening.
"It might be a good opportunity for us to be close in public without them suspecting anything," she replied. "So yes, I am thinking about it."
"I prefer single dates with you, I don't like sharing your attention in such situations, you know."
"You're such a spoiled prat."
"I'm your spoiled prat. Yours forever."
"Yes, I know. And I wouldn't want it any other way, you know that."
He smiled. "I know. By the way, has Potter told you that Zabini is planning another game night?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure they will set us up again."
"If it means I can snog you halfway senseless in front of our friends without them suspecting too much, I'm all up for it."
She chuckled, then made herself ready to enter the fireplace to Floo home. "You're always up for it, as long as it involves me and some decent amount of nakedness."
"I'm a man, what can I say?"
"I didn't complain, merely stated a fact. See you in a bit." She took a handful of Floo powder, stepped into the fireplace, and called out her address before throwing the powder. Seconds later, she disappeared in green flames; Draco followed her shortly after.
Zabini's place
Game night was set up for the following Friday evening, to give the participants enough time to recover over the weekend from any impending hangover. Zabini planned a private party at his home where there was enough space for everyone should they want to stay over. He had made sure that the room was comfortable, with lots of booze available, mostly in form of Firewhisky.
This time, Draco arrived first after making a small detour to his flat to Floo in from there. "Surprise, you're one of the first people to arrive. Only Luna is already here, mate," Zabini greeted him.
"I didn't want to miss the beginning of the game night. What do you have planned this time?"
"Just a simple party game I discovered in an old book. Roughly translates to 'Russian Post' or something like that."
Definitely a set up, then. "I think, I'll join Luna on the balcony for a moment."
"Interesting girl, that one. Perceives more than you might give her credit for."
Draco stepped out on the balcony. "Hey, there. Nice view." He sat down next to her on the bench.
"Hey. It is. You're early this time. Hermione's not here yet?"
Draco looked at her, feeling somewhere between confused and apprehensive at her remark. "No," he replied. "Why do you ask?"
"You should come together, you know." She smiled.
"I see, Blaise was right, you notice quite a lot."
"I do. But I usually don't tell either."
"Thanks."
She nodded. "It's going to be an interesting evening I think."
"You in for a beer before the others arrive?" Zabini asked, sticking his head through the door.
The others arrived at about the same time as Hermione, all anticipating a fun night. Zabini let them all into the game room, where they sat down in a circle, with three bowls in the middle, each containing small balls in a different colour.
Since their snogging session was known at least amongst the Gryffindor participants, Draco and Hermione didn't bother anymore and sat down next to each other, though keeping a reasonable distance.
"Getting comfortable with the lioness?" Zabini commented the seating.
"He already got really comfortable during the last two Sunday lunches," George replied, barely hiding the smirk.
"And you didn't care to keep me, your best friend, in the loop about your actions? I'm severely disappointed, mate."
"Twice even? I think, we could call you a couple then." Nott raised his beer for a mock toast.
"It's not like we have confessed anything," Hermione replied, she could almost hear the sighs of desperate disappointment, which made her smile for a moment.
"Let's start the game, we're not here to discuss something that only concerns me and Granger, if there was anything to be concerned about," Draco intervened, letting himself sound slightly annoyed.
"Come on, you snogged twice, there is something to be concerned about," Nott retorted.
"Let it go, Theo." Astoria grabbed Theo's hand. "They will talk about it when they're ready for it. You know how he is."
"Sadly, yes."
"Okay, everyone. I'll quickly explain the rules so that we can get started. Two of the bowls contain the names of tonight's participants, separated into boys and girls, the third one contains the activity those two will have to do. I added a few inspirations from our last game night at the pub. If you think the action too daring, then you can always opt for a shot of Firewhisky that you will have to share in a kiss. The game recognises, by the way, if the drawn participants are siblings; it won't let me draw an activity in that case, until I change the constellation..."
"This is definitely a set up," Hermione whispered, leaning slightly towards Draco.
"It is. And since it's Blaise who organised it, I'm pretty sure they'll leave the most juicy thing for us."
"So, you might just be able to snog me halfway senseless in front of our friends." She could barely contain the smirk.
"I guess you might have to endure that..."
"Oh, I won't stop you. I'm actually inclined to test how far we can go before they would stop us."
He raised his eyebrow. "You're one little kinky lioness."
"I'm your little kinky lioness. Yours forever."
He smiled. "I know."
"You finished sweet talking, love birds?" Zabini asked, slightly amused. "You want to start the game already..."
"I'm not stopping you from drawing the names," Draco retorted, shrugging.
"Okay, then." Zabini drew the first ball from the girls' pool, then a second from the boys' pool. "Okay, our first participants are: Daphne and George." The others giggled at that combination, anticipating what they would have to do. "Now, the activity is: Give the lady in question a nice little sensual neck massage. I hope you know how to treat my lady, George. She has some standards."
"Shut it, Blaise. I'm sure he's better at neck massages than you are." Daphne went over to George, and put her hair up, so that he had better access to her neck. "His foot massages are genius, but definitely lacks in the neck department."
"Neck is my speciality. Shall I?"
Daphne nodded, and then was pleasantly surprised. "Hmm... Ooohh... Ahh... Angelina, you weren't exaggerating."
"Told you. Maybe he could teach Zabini some tricks?"
"Teaching me new tricks for the ladies?"
"This one at least."
"I might be just as happy with one of your head massages," Hermione whispered, leaning towards Draco again.
"Ask me nicely when we're back home, and you might get one for free..."
"Zabini looks a bit jealous, though..."
"He's not really good with sharing either. I'm sure Daphne will make him learn that neck massage..."
"I wouldn't mind if George showed you a few things too; I'll even provide the neck."
"We'll see."
"Thanks, George, that was wonderful." Daphne was basically purring now on the way back to her spot.
"Okay, next pairing is..." Zabini drew the next two names from the respecting bowls. "Theo and Luna."
"I think I'll have a shot of Firewhisky first." Nott filled the glass from one of the bottles within his reach; the bottles were strategically placed between the spots, so that everyone had at least one of them within reach.
"You want one too?" Draco asked Hermione, opening the bottle next to them, while watching Nott's discomfort.
"Of course." She gave him her glass. "To some snogging later," she toasted when her glass was filled.
"The activity is: Share a fruit between your lips. Lip contact welcome."
Nott changed a look with Astoria, she just nodded. "What kind of fruit? Just a grape, or something bigger?"
"I thought about grapes, and thought they were too easy. I prefer strawberries." Zabini put a small bowl of strawberries next to Nott.
"These are nice strawberries," Luna said, taking the biggest of the fruits.
"My own garden was so nice as to provide them."
Luna looked at Nott with a genuine smile, then put the fruit between her lips and leaned towards him.
Nott hesitated for a moment, then started to take bites of the fruit, accompanied by some cheering.
Even Astoria looked rather amused, and she was whistling as well when the fruit sharing turned into some light kissing.
"Nice, mate. I see you get the hang of the game." Zabini fished for the next two name balls. "Next ones are. Ron and Astoria."
Both Hermione and Draco had to laugh about that combination; Astoria was definitely a league above Weasley.
"Oooh, good one for you, Weasley. 'Take each other's top layer of clothing off. The lady in question can decide to have the last top removed as well or not. Bra stays on.'"
"You're wearing one tonight?" Draco asked, leaning towards Hermione, while the others were occupied with watching and cheering the two participants.
Hermione shook her head.
"You know I'm going to test that when it's our turn."
"I'm hoping for that."
Draco filled their shot glasses again. "To some snogging later," he toasted excited, then gulped the Firewhisky down.
The game round was finished with a loud round of cheering, and two semi-naked participants.
"Didn't know you were sporting a nice set of abs, Weasley," Draco hooted. "Do I have to be afraid that Her- Granger might want to get back to you?"
"Stop it!" she hissed when she saw the flush on her friend's face.
"Next round..." Zabini pulled the next two name balls from the respective bowls. "Ginny and oh... me."
Hermione nudged Draco, and pointed in Harry's direction. "He's not really good with sharing either, I think."
"Never thought of him as the possessive type-"
"He has nothing on you, though. I just trained you well..."
"Activity: The lady in question shall take a drop to colour her tongue temporarily blue, then she shall draw a pattern on the gentlemen's upper body in question."
"Ginny, it might be a good idea to take the shot," Hermione tried to caution her while appeasing Harry as well.
However, Ginny turned around with one big smile, and whispered something into Harry's ear, whose face immediately lit up. "Give me the drop," she demanded.
"She might be up to something," Hermione commented Ginny's action, slightly surprised. Then watched, with growing eyes, Ginny paint on Zabini's upper body. She couldn't hold her laughter when she realised what exactly Ginny was painting. And soon, the others joined in.
"I think, you've just been served with the best revenge ever, mate," Draco commented, raising his glass to the redhead with the blue tongue.
"A dick?! You got some nerve, woman..."
"No hiding of the masterpiece, mate," Nott replied, raising his glass to Ginny as well.
Zabini growled at Nott for a moment, then seemed to find his countenance again. "Four people left in this round," he said, fishing for the next two names. "Harry... and Angelina."
"I'll take the shot," Harry replied.
"You don't even know what the activity is, might just be a massage, you know," Angelina said.
"And dear Miss Angelina is right," Zabini continued. "It's a massage. 'Give the lady in question a nice sensual foot massage."
Ginny grinned. "Something you're good at... Enjoy it, Angelina!"
"Leaves the snogging to us. He most definitely has mixed in something like that," Draco whispered.
"You ready for some action then?"
"I've been ready since I arrived here..."
"You need to teach George that!" Angelina was purring.
"I think that is enough now," Zabini finally said, who was still trying to get the drawing off his body. "We have one couple remaining, as it seems..."
"Give us the snogging card already, we know you want to see some action," Draco said, amused about the seemingly innocent looking faces.
"Are you so desperate to get it going again?" Zabini retorted, just as amused. He took a ball out of the activity bowl. "Looks like your wish was granted, mate. 'Give the lady in question the best kiss she will ever have. French kissing preferred.'"
"You really want to see how far they would let us go with this?" Draco asked, while coming closer.
"Just kiss me already." She leaned back and pulled him over her. "I was promised the best kiss ever, and you have produced some very good ones..."
Draco shifted his position so that his upper body was directly above hers, and he could now feel that she indeed wasn't wearing a bra, as her nipples brushed his chest, hardening in the process. When his lips finally met hers, it was with passion and some hunger. They completely blended out their surroundings, and just lost themselves in the feeling. He couldn't hold back a small moan when her hands found their way beneath his shirt, and started to leave a trail of light scratches on his back. Balancing on one hand, he let his other hand slowly wander down to find their entry underneath her shirt, he needed to touch those breasts that kept brushing his chest, driving him slightly mad. He heard her moan into the kiss when his hand finally found its way, and was now caressing one breast.
"Mate, I suggest you take one of the guest rooms, if you want to continue that... Mate!"
Hermione was shifting her position slightly, giving Draco better access, and even wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Please stop now, mate!"
"Hermione!" Ginny shouted, already fumbling in her bag for her wand.
"Aaah! Ginny!" Hermione rubbed her side, where she just had been hit with a small Stinging Hex.
"Sorry, but that was definitely more than just a French kiss. That was bordering on snogging and petting between the two of you..."
"Bordering?" Ron said. "There wasn't much left to imagination..."
"You want some lessons in how to snog a woman properly?" Draco retorted, licking his lips, but still in his kissing position. He shared a short look with Hermione who nodded, then shifted his position again.
"Listen", she started, "we know we were probably set up, fully expecting something similar to what happened at the last game night... But if you hex us, not able to bear the consequences, I think we leave now." She started to get up.
"Maybe continue somewhere we're not so rudely interrupted," Draco added, then got up as well to follow Hermione out. The last two weeks until their reveal were going to be interesting...