A/N: I am having fun with this story, so much so, my other one has been temporarily neglected. It's in the works but this is just entertaining. Chapter 10 is deserving of reviews so please do! Thanks to all who have marked this story on their alerts. :p
Hermione reclined on a bean bag staring up at the fan vaulted ceiling in a state of flux. She did not know what to believe anymore. Any notion of improbability or absurdity carried little significance. Despite the outlandish explanation from Zabini, a Slytherin, she held no doubt that it was fact. The only problem was, she found herself right in the middle of it. And, to think she would never have found out Dean's true intentions if a Slytherin had not pointed it out left her feeling rather sour.
Hermione lazily lifted her arm up to her line of sight to check her watch. It was time for dinner, she wasn't sure if she wanted to turn up. The portrait door suddenly flung open presenting a rather irate Head boy who steadfastly advanced towards his bedroom door. His jaw clenched, face flushed, he glanced at her dismissively before retreating to his room. Hermione wondered what that was all about. It seemed everyone had underlying issues these days. Decidedly, she figured she should clear out.
Standing up and straightening her uniform, her tie needed re-doing but she was in no mood to commit to the perfect windsor, and reluctantly managed a quick four-in-hand knot that would be easy to untie. She pulled her hair back with the elastic that was reserved around her wrist to rid herself of the fly away state of her hair that seemed to materialise at the end of a school day and leisurely made her way towards the portrait hole.
"Hold it, Granger." Hermione, shocked to hear Malfoy speak to her spun around with a new found alertness.
"What?"
"I need to ask you something."
"Me?" she mocked. He just glared right back at her. "Well?"
He seemed to consider whether to speak or not. "Did Zabini mention anything to you?" She wondered whether this was his roundabout way of drawing something out of her that he was already aware of.
"Anything is a little vague, Malfoy. Could you be more specific?"
"Forget it." He flung past her and out the passageway before she could blink. Shrugging, Hermione made her way to dinner. Nothing was making sense anymore. Slytherins asking for her help and entrusting her with their secrets, Gryffindor's being involved in devious challenges, not to mention Malfoys saving her from nasty potion side effects.
"Hey guys", Hermione plunked herself next to Ron and reached for the pitcher of pumpkin juice, filling her glass to the rim. "Anything interesting happen today?"
"If you'd consider Professor Binns taking a moment from his unforgiving scribing to answer Finnigan's question on the wizard crusade of 1066 then, yes, it was rather eventful. I am still trying to get over the fact the Finnigan even asked a question." Ron replied with no enthusiasm. He seemed really disinterested in discussing the day and his sarcastic tone made Hermione laugh. It felt good.
"Do you know anything about the exploding snap night going on in Gryffindor tower tonight?"
"Yeah, there's some big game going on apparently. You coming?" Hermione was intrigued.
"Who's hosting?" Ron simply shrugged. A wealth of information he was! She looked across the table at Harry, hoping he might bring more to the conversation. Ginny was whispering something in his ear. She almost blanched at the sight.
"Break it up you two!" Ron interjected, "I'm trying to eat!" For once, Hermione agreed with him wholeheartedly.
Ginny turned to face them, exasperated by the interruption, "Dean mentioned it to me this morning." At least she had been listening. Harry was off with the fairies. So Dean was up to something once again? She had a sneaking suspicion it was all interrelated. She needed to exact revenge on the newly dubbed prat.
Hermione looked up over at the Slytherin table. Zabini was seated away from the usual rat pack, absorbed in some book. As convenience would have it, he looked up and caught her gaze, raising an eyebrow questioningly and smirking slightly, as if to signal that he had something she would want to look at. Hermione turned away without further reflection. She looked over at Malfoy who was busy with some Slytherin girl. He really had no class. It pleased her on some level, however, to think that it was all for an ulterior motive and that she was not the only victim of it. Those Slytherins knew how to capture her curiosity, even if it the result was to make her feel ill.
Eating rather hastily, Hermione rose to her feet. "I'll see you in the Gryffindor tower shortly. Just need to check up on something in the library." The grunt emanating from Ron as acknowledgment sufficed as she turned away to seek some answers from her safe haven.
The fourth floor corridor held new meaning for Hermione as she walked passed the classroom, housing the Slytherin potions lab, to the selective doorway of her hideaway. She really needed to find a way to combat that magical footprint charm Nott had set up along here to avoid any further conflict with Malfoy. She would ask Zabini if he knew about it. Ironic how she had developed a new found reliance on him but, it could easily be justified by the fact that he was now an easy target for blackmail. And, as a Slytherin, he would never back down from any bargaining arrangement.
The door to her library clicked open and Hermione entered, instantly feeling at ease. First things first, she needed to know more about the potion's origins and what it did. The only thing was, Malfoy had apparently found it in one of his dad's books. The Malfoy library was sure to house some of the rarest of manuscripts and old texts. It would be something really obscure, of that she was certain.
Working on the premise that the potion had plagued her mind when she had stupidly taken it, Hermione reached for the volume she was yet to look at titled Magical Enlightenment: Heightening your sensory perception. It was a start. Hermione sat down at the desk, resting the large book on the table. She flipped it open to the index and scanned for placebo.
Nothing.
Hermione mentally berated herself. Of course placebo wouldn't be in a magic text. It was a muggle term. She searched onward, running her finger over the reference terms hoping to find an association. She figured she'd start at 'A'.
Accentuating aplomb. Maybe.
Auditory supremacy. No.
Barricading unwanted sensory reception. No.
Breaking the barriers of sensory range. No. But, dog tagged.
Capitalising on charms. No.
Combating wandless magic. Very interesting.
Discharging desires. Huh?
Dutch courage. Her finger came to a halt. Zabini had mentioned something about this. "Page 244," she read and hurriedly found the page. The image in the introduction made her laugh. It was of a young man about her age on his broom trying to fly through a doorway guarded by a monstrous dragon which looked very much like a Hungarian horntail. It reminded her of Harry, who had certainly managed to outsmart such a dragon in fourth year on pure adrenaline alone. But, strangely enough, it also brought to mind Malfoy and his password. What a coincidence it was.
She began to read: "Often the psychological outcome of over consumption of fire whiskey, the term 'dutch courage' is used to describe the sudden wave of over confidence that combats any sense of rationale of the reasonable person. It has been the inspiration of many potions developed to mimic the phenomenon of invincibility, or self-serving mind set, but is often an identifiable side effect to numerous potions that now make up the catalogue of illegal substances. Most notably, the etat d'esprit, created in the 19th century by a secret society, which was leaked into the public by banished member Albatros Mabruxy in an attempt to vilify the elitist stratagems of the society's intentions to infiltrate public bodies. He disappeared suddenly before a scheduled inquiry to identify the name of this society and its members."
Hermione paused. Leave it to those steely slytherins to choose an illegal and unstable potion to help their juvenile cause. She could not help recall her exhibitionist displays that had led her to strip in front of Malfoy without thinking twice. She shuddered at the lack of inhibition it incited.
Reading on, "The only record of the potion used on a mass level was the 1898 Quidditch World Cup where mass pandemonium broke loose after the English team lost to France when the French seeker, Gerard Puiss, ended the game after only twenty minutes of play. Fifty people were arrested and a later inquiry found that they had all been under the influence of d'etat esprit."
Closing the book, Hermione had read enough to prompt further research in the library. Looking at her watch, dinner was now well over and she would be expected in the Gryffindor tower. Leaving the book at her desk, she stood up and walked to the doorway, opening it just enough to check that the hallway was clear, before stepping out and shutting it quietly behind her.
Hermione's paranoia was at an all time high, and she could not help her accelerated heart beat as she passed the formerly unused classroom. She stopped in front of the door, momentarily forgetting her social obligation, to evaluate whether or not she should check if anyone was in there. Hesitantly, she brought her hand up to the door, fist forming and knocked. She waited for a response. She knocked again, with more fervour.
Nothing.
Relieved that her stupidity did not yield any unfortunate confrontation she exhaled and walked away. She would wait for Zabini to mention something to her before she involved herself anymore.
The Gryffindor common room was abuzz with the after dinner zeal that had revived the students after a long day of tenuous classes. Hermione entered and made her way over to the regular spot that the seventh years occupied. It had a mixed vibe to it. A few of the girls were whispering animatedly and stealing glances at some of the guys, others were lazing about chatting absently, and couples were joined at the mouth, much to her distaste. She nudged Ron who was lying on the floor in front of the fire half asleep in his after dinner stupor.
"Oi!" he mumbled. Hermione laughed before sitting down on the floor next to him. He turned over to face her, his irritation passing upon realising it was her.
"Way to kill my zen state, Hermione!"
"Yeah, right." She scoffed. "Where's Harry?"
"Don't know; don't want to know. Ginny's vanished too." Hermione scrunched her face up at the thought.
"Forget I asked."
"Where'd you disappear to? Harry made me walk past the library so he can return a book and we didn't see you in there." Hermione's breath caught.
"We probably just missed each other, went back to my room to drip off some books. Sorry to hear you were forced into going to the library," she joked, trying to change the subject.
"My views are justified. I am sick of school work at the moment. Stupid NEWTS!" Hermione would normally be aghast at such a proclamation but said nothing; she was feeling the strain of it all as well.
"So when is this exploding snap kicking off?"
"Dunno," Ron replied as he sat up and scanned the room, spotting Dean at the other side. "Oi, Dean! We getting this show on the road, or what? I'm about to fall asleep here!" Hermione could not help but smile at his unabashed approach. Dean looked over at them spotting Hermione, instantly jumping off his seat to come over. Hermione desperately wanted to hex him.
"Hey Hermione," he greeted enthusiastically, completely ignoring Ron.
"Typical," she heard Ron mutter.
"Hi, Dean," she feigned enthusiasm right back. Inside, she wanted to trip him.
"So, are we playing cards, or should I call it a night?" Ron interjected.
"Yeah, not everyone is here yet though." Ron scowled, obviously in reference to Harry and Ginny's absence.
"Whatever," he dismissed before standing up and walking away. Hermione was rather annoyed at being left alone with Dean. Stupid Ron just couldn't clue on that she wasn't into him.
"So, how is quidditch going?" Hermione asked as she stood up too and walked over to a nearby couch.
Dean looked at her curiously. She was never one to discuss quidditch. "Yeah, pretty good. Harry has given us some killer play sequences for the next match against Slytherin."
"Should be a tough match," Hermione offered, "Malfoy's been training his team pretty hard. Seems like he and a few of his team mates are really dedicated to quidditch this year." She was leading a pathway to destruction. Only thing was, she couldn't tell whether it was hers or Dean's.
"Seems like you know a lot about the Slytherin team," he stated.
"You'd be surprised at what I know. Nothing gets past this Head girl." Dean flinched at her remark but he covered it with a flashy smile before sitting down next to her.
"So do you know which chasers Malfoy's included in the team line up?"
"I might," she smiled deceptively, knowing no such thing. She could probably find out though, if she engaged in Slytherin like behaviour.
Dean leaned in toward her. "Care to share a bit of this information to help your fellow Gryffindors or are you secretly rooting for the Slytherins?" he whispered for her ears only.
"I think the answer is pretty obvious, Dean," she responded inscrutably. Better to keep an air of mystery about it, she decided. He reached over and patted her knee, almost patronisingly.
"Hermione, rest assured the Gryffindors are the better players, don't worry too much about how the Slytherins are progressing." It would be easy to show animosity right now but, being the better person, Hermione smiled reassuringly.
"Don't mind me Dean. You should be focusing all your attention on the delivery. You don't want to be outdone by a bunch of Slytherins." She stood up and walked away to chat to the girls.
Harry and Ginny had finally made their presence known in the common room and a table was instantly conjured with a set up for cards. Dean called a few six and all the seventh years to attention, and Ron, finally relieved that they were getting somewhere, kicked all the younger students out of the common room with his abuse of prefect powers. Hermione was not impressed but it was after 11pm so it was a fair call. They begrudgingly cleared out.
"Ok, these are the rules," Dean spoke as everyone took a seat around the felt table. "This is not just any old game of exploding snap. It's got a bit more edge to it," he winked, shooting a passing glance at Hermione. She maintained her cool. If there was anyway she was going to succeed in her investigative and vengeful endeavours, she would have to participate. She sat next to Ron who was keeping his distance from the dishevelled Harry and Ginny. "Everyone has to pull in two galleons for the prize money. And, might I also add that whoever has the least amount of cards at the end of a round must also remove an item of clothing," he grinned. Hermione was stunned as murmurs of excitement surrounded her. Just Great.
"What the hell is this? Strip exploding snap?" Neville stated the obvious, feeling rather nervous.
"Exactly, but to loosen up –, " he bent under the table and retrieved a bottle of firewhiskey setting it in the centre of the table, "the loser also has to take a shot of this." Seamus was rubbing his hands with excitement and Lavender and Pavarti were giggling. Hermione rolled her eyes. But, as a responsible head girl, she would have to stay and make sure things didn't get out of control.
"One more thing," Dean started, "the winner of each hand gets to spin the bottle. It's ok Ron, you don't have to kiss your sister." Everyone laughed as Ron scowled at Dean. Hermione could not help but think this was a ploy for Dean to increase his hook up list.
"No one is kissing Ginny," Harry added.
"If I don't play then you don't." Ginny replied. Harry turned to her looking surprised. Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, hands up if you want Harry and Ginny out of the game then." Dean directed. Everyone's hands went up. Harry and Ginny looked dejected.
"Fine, we'll both participate." Harry added reluctantly leaning back into his chair. Dean looked rather smug.
Dean shuffled the cards and dealt each of them a hand and they began to play. General chit chat overcame them as they moved around the table, the occasional small explosion of mini-fireworks going off as someone managed to match a card and take the pile. Hermione was fairing rather well, and at the end of the first round, Lavender was left with the most cards and Ron had the least.
"Just my luck," he muttered as he lifted his school jumper over his head and tossed it aside. Dean poured him a shot handed it to him. "Bottoms up," he shrugged and he gulped it down, his face scrunching up as it burned through his insides and settled in his stomach.
Lavender spun the bottle and once again Ron was the target. Any distaste on Ron's face from that first drink disappeared instantly. Hermione chuckled as Lavender stood up and walked over to him, firmly planting her lips on his. They had plenty of practice behind them, so it was no surprise that they were getting a little carried away.
"Ok, that's enough," Ginny spoke out. Everyone else sighed in relief as they pulled away from each other, Ron looking rather smug and Lavender smiling dreamily.
"Can we set some rules on this?" Harry said, looking rather disturbed at what kind of kissing Ginny might be doing.
"The two who have to kiss can decide on the rules." Dean said. Hermione figured that was a fair call.
They continued on, it was becoming increasingly entertaining after a few shots. Hermione had already lost twice, and had kissed Neville once. It was a shy kiss, so it had only lasted a few seconds and he was blushing afterward. Her senses were all warm from the fire whiskey and she still had most of her uniform on, less her tie, and for once glad that she had been wearing her school robes. Her eyes filled with mirth every time Harry spun and it conveniently landed on Ginny, leaving Ron in a state of disgust as they made out in front of him.
"C'mon guys," Ron whined. Hermione knew Harry was consciously letting that happen. Several rounds later and everyone was feeling the effects of the alcohol. Finally, Hermione won a round and spun the now almost empty bottle.
"Ooh, Dean!" Lavender squealed. Hermione felt her stomach drop in realisation that she would be kissing Dean again. It had crossed her mind, of course, but one can play such a game without kissing everyone, or anyone for that matter. Hermione stood up, stumbling slightly, as the others laughed. She knew this was her perfect chance to get back at Dean. Confidently, she walked over to Dean, grabbed his hand and lifted him off the chair.
"My rules are, I get to kiss you in the stairwell leading up to the dorm rooms."
Dean responded to her suggestive proposal and immediately stood up and followed her to the stairwell while the others sent out catcalls. 'Focus', Hermione reminded herself as they entered the darkness of the stairwell. Hermione turned around to face Dean, sending him her best flirtatious smile as she pushed the shirtless Gryffindor against the wall. A nearby torch lit up at their movements. Dean was grinning wolfishly at her. Hermione had never before touch the naked torso of a guy, it was rather fascinating as she ran her hands over his chest. He was stunned silent, looking dazed.
"I thought you wanted to be friends only," he whispered huskily.
"Well…in the spirit of the game…" she cut off suggestively. He gulped. She leaned forward and lightly let her lips brush over his, holding them there as she reached for her wand tucked into the back of her skirt. His hot breath against her did affect her senses and she leaned forward a little more, letting her lips press against his. She did not pull away when he finally responded, bringing his hand to her waist just as she grabbed her wand and brought it down by her side. She let herself kiss him back, it was good practice anyway, she figured, but that was the firewhiskey talking as she submitted to its effects. Her confidence levels were certainly up.
It dawned on her that the others would be counting the minutes that they would be missing and she forced her mind to clear of any superfluous desire as she raised her wand to point it at him and silently cast her intended spell. She let her lips linger over his for a moment before pulling away.
"I think we should go back before were have them wondering what else we're doing." she whispered, as she tucked her wand back into her skirt inconspicuously. He nodded, looking rather pleased with himself. Hermione let him lead her back into the common room, where the sound of wolf whistles greeted them. She smiled shyly, before sitting down.
Scheming aside, Hermione was able to enjoy the rest of the evening as she was reduced to wearing only a shirt and her school skirt, having removed, shoes and socks as items of clothing which caused a bit of rage amongst the boys. The girls had followed suit, managing to keep most of their clothing on. Ron was the unlucky one who had been reduced to his boxers, but being a typical boy, he was unaffected by his minimal clothing.
"If only I can walk around the common room like this all the time," he voiced. Dean had managed to kiss every girl except Ginny, but often sent shooting glances to Hermione, trying to catch her attention. She feigned ignorance, and even slipped Seamus some tongue when his spin landed on her. All in all, Hermione had succeeded with her plan and was very much inebriated. It was relieving to know that she could sleep in tomorrow.
Losing interest in the actual card playing, they finally decided to call it a night. She had no idea who had actually won the prize pool.
"You sure you can make it back to your room Hermione?" Ron slurred, his impressive keeper's chest overshadowing her.
"I'll be fine. It's not far. Night."
"Night." He leaned over and gave her a bear hug for amusement. He knew it would make her squirm.
"Ron!" she pushed him off laughing. He grinned before he turned away, sending her an idle wave. Lavender seemed to have caught his attentions. Before she could exit the portrait hole, Dean approached her.
"Hey," he prompted, "I'm glad things are okay between us."
"No sweat."
"Want me to walk you to your common room?"
"No, I'll be okay, thanks."
"Alright, night then." He hesitated momentarily before turning away. Finally, Hermione was free to leave, gathering her clothing in one hand, shoes in the other, she exited the portrait hole and made her way to the head digs, stopping every few hundred metres to regain her balance. She could not feel the cold of the hallways, the alcohol in her system seemed to numb her nerves, so much so, she was unable to register the ice chill sweeping through her bare feet and across her back.
Relieved when she reached the portrait hole, Hermione leant against the wall momentarily before standing in front of the knight who had lifted his visor to eye her curiously. She narrowed her eyes at his judgmental gaze and opened her mouth to mutter the password. Before she could speak the portrait had swung open to reveal a dishevelled Malfoy and his Slytherin companion. Shocked by the timing, Hermione's heart almost jumped out of her chest as she froze with fright, the cold air filling her lungs.
"Hello, Granger," Malfoy drawled, his eyes rather amused as they scanned over her hand held attire. Hermione glared at him before shooting an unimpressed look at the girl he had been making out with during dinner. She was the least bit troubled by being caught walking out of the head dorms at such a late hour.
"Out of my way," she managed to let out, brushing past him, and ignoring the girl as she stepped through the portrait hole, dumping her stuff on the couch. She did not hear Malfoy re-enter the room.
"Didn't think the head girl would ever drink firewhiskey," he commented. "Granger, you reek of the stuff." She swung around, a little to fast for her liking. The stars moving across the magenta and bottle blue carpet were not helping her cause.
"This isn't a halfway house for your trysts, Malfoy. Take them elsewhere," she grimaced.
"Looks like you've been doing just that," he retorted. Hermione huffed and went and sat herself on a bean bag. She was way too tired and chilled to the bone from walking half dressed in the uninviting corridors to engage in late night arguments with the prat in the room. She pulled her wand from behind her skirt, pointing it over her head as she muttered the spell to cure her of her dizziness. It wasn't as foul proof as a potion, but it would suffice. She looked up at Malfoy who was smirking at her furtively.
"Can I help you, Malfoy?"
"No, Granger,"
"Then, do you mind leaving the room?"
"I have just as much right to be here." He walked over, grabbing the bean bag near her, and placing it directly opposite her line of sight before plummeting into it, leaning back smirking.
Hermione was piqued. "I'm really not in the mood to talk to you, Malfoy."
"Don't be silly, Granger, we never talk." She glared at him.
"Aren't you tired, Malfoy, looks like you've had a busy night?"
"I could also say the same for you." His blasé demeanour was really grinding on her nerves.
"I'd really like to relax in front of the fire for a bit, so can you take your energy levels and divert them elsewhere?" Why was he hanging around when he had directed barely an insult to her over the last week? She narrowed her eyes in recognition. "You've taken your beloved potion, haven't you?"
He leaned forward, his eyes squaring with hers. "How can you tell?"
A/N: It is a bit of cliffy, I know, but too much had already taken place this chapter. Till next time! :p