No, I do not own Harry Potter. Melissa and Jake belong to me though, as well as the plot.
"Concentrate Hermione, you have to concentrate!" exclaimed Mel as Hermione tried to keep a book hovering in the air using wind.
Yeah, thought Hermione with irritation, that's easy for you to say when you're not the one doing anything. And it would be much easier to concentrate if I didn't have the constant demands of a certain someone being shouted at me.
The snide mental comment caused Jake to laugh aloud. Hermione tuned out his jovial laugh and Mel's demands and merely concentrated on her task. She would lift that book.
"Wow!" exclaimed Mel. Hermione wondered how long it had been and what exactly she had done to receive praise. "Hermione, that was great!"
"What was? What did I do?"
"You seriously didn't notice?" asked Jake in disbelief. "You just lifted every book in the room." He pointed to a rather large bookcase. "Including that."
"For like five minutes," added Mel.
"Really?" asked Hermione. "Awesome!" So she could do this!"
"Okay, now you'll just have to practice that."
"Mel," commented Jake with a sigh, "always spoiling all the fun. We could've had a party to celebrate." This received a piercing glare from Melissa.
After her second grueling lesson was complete, Hermione went to her common room and checked that Draco was not present. She was going to practice. She used the wind to keep a light table afloat. It was all about balance, she reminded herself. She got it to remain in the air on her third try.
Hearing Draco on the other side of the door, she replaced the table and sat on the couch. Draco entered and looked strangely at her.
"That looks like fun," he said, most definitely with sarcasm.
"Oh shush, I just got here." He nodded and sat beside her. "We should start planning the next big event. I was thinking a Valentine's Ball. It'll be cute, and it wouldn't make it so there were too many dances," said Hermione, dreading the next few months. A Ball took a lot of work to plan, and they had to get started early. "I was also thinking to just do feasts for Christmas. What do you think?"
"I like it," replied Draco. "And now that that's settled, are you going to the game night?"
"What game night?"
"The Weasley twins are hosting one on Friday. Are you going?"
"I'm kind of scared to, but I guess I will," replied Hermione, snuggling closer to Draco.
"Yeah, me too," he said, though Hermione hadn't caught his words. She had already fallen asleep.
"Well aren't you tired tonight," he whispered, careful not to wake the beautiful woman sleeping beside him."
"Mione?" said Ginny timidly as they opened the doors to the Great Hall for Fred and George's game night, "I'm scared."
"Me too Gin," replied Hermione, imagining all the pranks that the twins had put her through in all the years that she had known them. "I think everyone here is."
Fred and George, thought Hermione wryly, the last two people you would want to be trapped in a small, enclosed area with. That is, unless that small area had a large amount of ventilation. It would be just like the to wait until everyone that was expected showed up in the great hall, drop several foul smelling stink pellets, lock them in there and run away, laughing.
Oddly enough though, the Great Hall looked no different than usual. The Weasley twins weren't anywhere to be seen. There were many other people in attendance though, all 6th and 7th years, because the other grades weren't allowed to attend. This caused Hermione to rethink her decision to participate in the night's events for what seemed to be the thousandth time, because with no little children present, they would receive no mercy from the twins. The idea of this scared Hermione to no end.
"Hello everyone, and thank you for coming," Hermione heard. She turned to the doors of the Great Hall where Fred's voice came from. At least, she thought it was Fred's voice.
"So glad you all could join us today, though we will not actually be staying here. If you would be so kind as to follow us, we will lead you to our destination." The doors to the Great Hall opened to reveal Fred and George, arms outstretched as though they were part of some Broadway show.
"Always so flashy, those two," mumbled Ginny, who nudged Hermione into movement. They walked along the corridors that led to the Head's dorm, and Hermione realized that they must be going to the room of requirement. Harry and Ron dropped back to crowd with Ginny and Hermione. Ron still wasn't speaking with Hermione, though it was obvious that his resolve was weakening.
They paused as Fred and George paced back and fourth three times until the door appeared. Fred, as Hermione was informed by Ginny, held the door open while George ushered them in. Hermione's mind flashed briefly to the death chambers of the Holocaust until she saw the room and realized its contents.
This, thought Hermione coldly, could be much worse.
On the floor sat a single glass bottle. Some people's faces blanched while many others brightened. Tonight would certainly be something to remember.
"As many of you have probably guessed-" said George, who was wearing the blue top.
"-we have some fun planned for tonight," finished Fred, who was wearing the slightly darker blue top.
"But when the professors ask-"
"-we were just playing cards." People nodded their assent and Fred clapped his hands, rubbing them together anxiously. "Everyone, choose your seat."
Chaos erupted as students frantically chose their places on the floor. Friends and couples separated to enhance their chances of kissing, or rather, decreasing their chances of kissing someone else. Hermione, on the other hand, sat directly next to Draco.
"Alright," said George, "this is spin the bottle."
"No," continued Fred, "this is not elementary spin the bottle."
"You will kiss whomever the bottle lands on,"
"And we do mean whomever the bottle lands on."
"Fred and I will judge who the bottle has landed on."
"We expect you will argue."
"If you're chicken,"
"We suggest you leave the 'card game' now."
Nobody did.
"Good, now one last thing."
"You kiss in front of everyone."
"No, we do not trust you to go into some little room and snog someone you hate."
Groans echoed around the room.
"Our little Ronnikens can start," decided Fred. Ron, glaring at his brothers, spun the bottle with significant force. Unfortunately for him, it most definitely landed on none other than Harry Potter. The twins grinned wickedly.
"No you can't mean-"
"Pucker up," came the reply.
Ron and Harry walked slowly to the center of the circle, very slowly. They leaned close, shared a very brief kiss and then sprang apart quickly, like two magnets pushing together, both of them shuddering in revoltion. Fred and George weren't even making the slightest bit of an attempt to hide their laughter.
Harry now spun the bottle, which to his delight, landed in Ginny. They kissed each other contentedly and broke apart, smiling.
Ginny spun and is landed on Seamus. Seamus, who had the worst luck yet, had his spin land on Goyle. Goyle's bottle landed on Lavender, Lavander's on dean, his on Parkinson, her's on Goyle-again-his on Seamus, whose landed back on Goyle, whose landed on Luna, whose bottle landed on Lavander.
The game went on like this for quite some time, nobody really caring who it was that they kissed-after all, Seamus had kissed Crabbe and Goyle. Fred and George complained that the same sex and Gryffindor/Slytherin kissed were boring-too short, they claimed.
When at last Ginny, who had been kissed third most often in count, beaten only by Seamus and Goyle, spun the bottle on Hermione, who the bottle had yet to land on, they walked to the center, determined to make it interesting.
And interesting it was, for not only did they kiss, but they had an all out snog fest. Jaws dropped and Lavander smiled in satisfaction. She had just won a bet with Parvati that if it came to Hermione, she would make it interesting, let alone if it came to Hermione with Ginny.
Cheers broke out as the two of them broke apart. That was definitely the best kiss that they had seen all night, as opposed to Seamus and Goyle's many kisses.
Hermione rolled her eyes and spun the bottle, then turned and walked back to her seat. Just as she sat, a hush fell over the room, everyone's gaze on her. She looked to where the bottle's tip was pointed and inwardly smiled. The bottle was pointed indisputably at Draco Malfoy.
Draco, who had only kissed Goyle, much to his disgust, and Seamus-who was decidedly second on the most kissed list-looked over to Hermione with a smirk. If they were going to snog in public, in front of a bunch of people who thought that they absolutely despised each other, they were most definitely going to have some fun with it.
"Go for it Mione!" exclaimed Lavander from across the circle.
"Yeah," shouted Padma, "make it a good one!"
"No," exclaimed Ron with just as much furvor, if not more, "Mione, you don't have to do this!"
"Yes," interrupted George.
"She does," concluded Fred.
"Ron, if Mione can snog Gin like that, I doubt she'll have much of a problem giving Malfoy a little peck on the lips I mean, just look at poor Seamus over there! He's had to snog Goyle more than 5 times now!"
"Just for the record," shouted Seamus, who had only kissed one female out of a total of 16 kisses, "I would rather snog Malfoy than Goyle!" Seamus, without a doubt, no longer cared who he kissed or who he proclaimed it to.
"Ugh," said Ron, "at least make it a good one." And with those words, it was settled.
Draco leaned over Hermione, placing both hands on the floor, on either side of her, and brushed his lips softly against hers. Hermione quickly responded to his kiss, her hand traveling along his torso to his shoulder, until they came to rest at the back of his neck, and she pulled herself deeper into the kiss. His tongue brushed languidly along her bottom lip, seeking entrance which she eagerly granted. They were oblivious to the other students, who watched in awe.
Here was Hermione Granger, the perfect model student, Head Girl and teachers pet, snogging Draco Malfoy. Even more shocking was the fact that Hermione didn't seem the least bit displeased about her situation.
"Damn," muttered Parvati, "Malfoy must be one damn fine kisser.
"Hermione too," replied dean.
"Oh, believe me," assured Ginny, "Hermione is a great kisser." Harry ran his fingers through his raven hair, causing Ginny to shout across the room.
"Don't worry luv, I think you kiss better. And I am one hundred percent straight!"
"Good to know Gin," replied Harry with a laugh.
"So," said Hermione, who had finally separated from Draco, "was that good enough for you guys?" Everyone nodded, still dumbstruck.
"I do believe we shall end our little 'card game'-"
"-with that fantastic snog session."
"And now-" Fred, thought Hermione.
"You're all going to-"
"-vote!" George?
"Best kiss,"
"Worst kiss,"
"Kiss you never thought you would have to give,"
"Best girls kiss,"
"Best gay kiss,"
"Most unlucky male,"
"Most unlucky female,"
"And the kiss you think nobody should ever have to witness!"
"We even have prizes!"
They indicated to a small area with blue curtains drawn around it.
"You will tell us your favourites, or least favourites as it turns out, are,"
"And we will announce the winners when everyone has voted!"
"Starting with the lucky Goyle, going clockwise. Let's begin."
People voted for their favourites for some time. About fifteen minutes after they had started voting, Fred and George emerged from the curtained area with envelopes which Hermione guessed were the eight winners. Hermione pondered when they had the time to do all of this.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen," announced Fred.
"Your champions!"
"For best kiss, we have Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy!"
"Worst kiss; we have Harry Potter and Crabbe! Put some effort into the next one, and you might not get such a terrible title."
"Kiss you never thought you'd have to give, Goyle!"
"Best girls kiss, with a unanimous decision, Hermione Granger and our very own Ginny! We're proud of you both."
"Best gay kiss…Harry Potter and Seamus Finnigan!"
"Most unlucky male, Seamus again-poor bloke had to kiss Goyle a total of eight times, and his only female kiss was shared with Pansy Parkinson. We feel for you mate."
"Most unlucky female, our lovely Ginny Weasley. Poor girl had to kiss Goyle 5 times. That's at least three times more than any other female in the room. I swear Gin, we're sorry. We won't put anything strange in your room for at least two months, starting when you actually get home."
"I shudder to think of what you two believe are 'strange,'" came her reply.
"Kiss you think nobody should ever have to witness…Crabbe and Goyle! Believe us, we agree completely."
"Here," said Fred-at least, Hermione thought it was Fred, "are your prizes." They were small trophies, and when Hermione got closer to claim hers, she realized that they were actually engraved. It was at this point that Hermione decided. Fred and George desperately needed a new hobby.
Making her way back to her common room, Ron pulled her aside, asking if they could talk.
"Listen Mione, I'm sorry. I had no right to act the way that I did. I'm really sorry. I was an arse."
"Yes, you were," replied Hermione. "But I forgive you anyway. I'm just that kind."
"Oh, why thank you! Her majesty is exceedingly gracious this evening!" he proclaimed, drawing a laugh from her. He apologized again, and left. Harry was waiting up for him.
Hermione walked back to her common room with Hinny, Lavander, Padma and Parvati, who had also waited for her. Hermione was informed by Parvati that there was a slumber party in her room and that her presence was mandatory. Not requested, but mandatory.
Lavander, Padma and Parvati dropped Hermione and Ginny, who promised they would catch up, off at the head's dorms. Draco was waiting for Hermione and nearly the second that the portrait was securely closed, Ginny spoke.
"So," she said, hands on her hips, "when are you going to tell them?"
"Do we have to?"
"Well, after the elaborate display of affection-which, might I say, most definitely deserved the first place that it got-I don't doubt that people are beginning to suspect that the two of you are dating. They're going to find out sooner or later, so why not tell them yourselves?"
"She does have a point," said Draco in agreement. "I think we should just tell them. Then we can go places, and I can kiss you where ever I please!" His attempt to lighten Hermione's mood worked, drawing a blush from her.
"Like you don't already," mumbled Hermione. "All right, I'll tell them on Tuesday. Gin-"
"I'll be here for you," she said, knowing what her friend was going to ask. Ron was going to be furious, that much was a given, and Ginny would have to choose sides.
She had full faith in Harry that he would be understanding and defend Hermione's choice, even if he did hate Malfoy. But there was a definite difference in defending one friend against another to defending a friend against one's own brother.
"Tuesday it is," said Hermione with a note if finality in her voice. She wanted to know how she performed as an elemental when she was stressed and angry, both of which she was certain that Ron would provide.
"Mione!" exclaimed Lavander when Ginny and Hermione and Ginny entered the dorm belonging to her and the Patil twins.
Padma, in an attempt to reach Hermione and Ginny first, fell off the top bunk with a painful sounding thud.
"Mione, Ginny," she said, rubbing her elbow where it came into contact with the floor. "It took you long enough!"
"We're going to have so much fun tonight!" exclaimed Parvati.
"But first," interrupted Lavander, "how was that spectacular kiss with Malfoy? You didn't seem like you were hating it all that much."
"Can you guys keep a secret?" They all nodded. "I mean you can't tell a soul." They nodded again.
"Spill it," demanded Parvati.
"Well, that kiss was even better then usual," replied Hermione with a grin, allowing a few moments for them to grasp the meaning of her words.
"No!"
"Malfoy?!"
"You're dating?!?!"
"Malfoy?!?!"
"I don't believe it!"
"Way to go Mione!" exclaimed Lavander. "You scored the hottest guy in this school. No offense Gin. Harry is hot, but Malfoy is…wow!"
"Oh Ginny," said Padma in a sing-song voice, "You don't seem very surprised by this bit of juicy information. Why is that?"
"Because I knew of course," came her simple reply.
"You told Ginny and not us?" exclaimed Parvati, feigning hurt. They all knew that Ginny and Hermione were very close. "That's it! You're up first for truth or dare!"
"Dare."
"I dare you to…" she summoned her deodorant, "lick this." Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust and begrudgingly grabbed the deodorant. She never turned down a dare, and everyone knew it. She took the top off and licked along the powdered stick. It was, without a doubt, the worst thing she had ever tasted.
"Mione, that's gross."
"And you're telling me! You're not the one who had to lick it! Now my mouth tastes gross and it's all dry. It tastes like I just ate soap…a lot of soap. Really disgusting soap."
"You're brave Mione," said Padma, "really brave."
"No, just plain stupid," she replied with a laugh. "Lavander."
"Yes?"
"Truth or dare?"
"Why, dare, of course." Hermione smiled wickedly and conjured two rather large ice cubes. "Mione, what are those for?"
"I dare you to put these in your bra," replied Hermione, still grinning, revenge on her mind, "until they melt. Have at it." Lavender, who was now glaring rather menacingly at Hermione, snatched the ice cubes and placed them in her bra, gasping at the coldness of them.
"Mione," she said, "right now, I'm really hating you." Hermione merely laughed.
As the game progressed, they began to run out of ideas, as nobody was chosing truths. In a game of truth or dare with the school's biggest gossips, truths could be much worse than dares. It finally came down to Hermione's dare, which they decided would be the last one for the night.
Lavender, who now had a ring of wetness around her shirt from the melted ice, had the perfect dare for revenge.
"Hermione," she said a bit too sweetly, "I dare you to run around the common room three times-"
"That's not bad at all-"
"-naked." It was at this point that Hermione's jaw dropped.
"Only if you do it with me…all of you." Everyone reluctantly agreed and they headed down the stairs for their late night romp around the usually crowded Gryffindor common room. They checked for people and saw that the room was empty.
"Okay guys, time to strip," whispered Padma as she took her shirt off. When they were ready, they stepped off the bottom step and paraded around the common room three times, as quickly as possible. They went back to the stairs and clothed themselves as quickly as possible.
"Have I missed something?" Hermione heard the familiar voice of Harry from behind them just as she finished getting her night shirt on. She turned around and saw Harry, laughing as usual.
"No," said Padma quickly, glancing around. Good, they were all dressed. "You didn't miss anything."
"Unless of course," said Ginny, "you would consider us marching around the common room naked something. Then you did miss something."
"No way! And I came down too late to witness it?"
"Three times," added Parvati.
"Bye Harry, sweet dreams!" Hermione called out as they ran back up the stairs giggling.
"I can't believe we just did that!"
"I know! Did you see the look on Harry's face?" asked Lavander.
"Priceless," answered Hermione.
"And now," said Parvati, "I believe it's time for a game of truths…"
Okay, so this is one of the longest chapters in this fic, and it took forever to type(and on a school computer too =O), so I hope you enjoyed it. Again, thank you very much for the reviews, they were amazing!