TITLE: Not Your Typical Rainy Day

AUTHOR: emerald-hopes

RATING: PG, but that may change in later chapters

SUMMARY: One dreary afternoon, a group of Gryffindor sixth-years find themselves playing a rather interesting game of truth or dare. . .

"Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day."

"Bloody hell Hermione! What are you singing?" Ron Weasley looked up from his Herbology book, a pained look on his face. "I'm TRYING to study over here!"

"That's a laugh!" said Harry Potter, pointing to Ron's parchment. What should have been his essay was the name 'Padma Patil' scribbled about 50 times.

Hermione looked indignant. "For your information Ron," she said, standing up and moving away from the large window in the common room, "I was singing a Muggle children's song. Is that okay with you?"

"Apparently not – otherwise his ears wouldn't be bleeding!" muttered Seamus Finnegan from a nearby table. Neville Longbottom stifled a laugh. Hermione turned to them and glowered.

"What is everyone's problem today?" she asked. "Earlier Parvati practically bit my head off when I knocked her brush off the vanity, Lavender had a fit when she couldn't find her toothpaste-"

"I would too, if I were her," whispered Dean Thomas, who had joined the group. Harry laughed.

"And now we're all sitting around bored and biting each other's heads off!" finished Hermione dramatically, pacing around in a circle. "This constant rain has made us all loony!"

"So do something about it if you're so smart!" said Ron, closing his textbook.

All of a sudden Hermione got a gleam in her brown eyes. "Thanks Ron," she said slowly, "I think I've got the perfect idea that will keep us occupied AND entertained at the same time!"

"Oh no," moaned Seamus. "We don't have to look anything up, do we? Because the last time you-"

"Shut up," hissed Hermione, "Do you want to have fun or not?"

No one said a word.

"That's what I thought. Now, have you ever heard of the Muggle game Truth or Dare?" asked Hermione, taking a seat next to Harry on the couch.

He nodded. "Dudley talked about it sometimes, but I've never actually played," he said.

Ron looked suspicious. "Can someone tell the rest of us what Truth or Dare is?" he complained.

As Hermione began to explain, some more Gryffindors gathered to hear about the game. Parvati, Lavender, and Dean Thomas all looked interested.

"So what do you think?" asked Hermione when she had finished her explanation.

Ron shrugged. "Sounds like a load of rubbish to me," he said in a rather snotty voice.

"Oh, come on!" said Hermione. "What would you rather do: play a game, or do your HOMEWORK?"

"Well. . ."

"Come on, it'll be fun!" exclaimed Hermione, her bushy brown hair bouncing as she got up and looked around at everyone.

"I'll give it a try," said Lavender. Parvati nodded her agreement.

Slowly the others, except Ron, decided to join the game. Finally, when they were all looking at him expectantly, he gave an exasperated sigh.

"Fine," he said, "just don't expect me to do anything that will make me look like a complete idiot!"

"That wouldn't be too hard," whispered Lavender. Parvati giggled.

The group cleared a small area on the common room floor and sat down in a circle. Hermione smiled when they were all settled.

"Okay, I'll start," she began. "Dean, truth or dare?"

"Uh. . ." he stammered, not wanting to look like a sissy for picking 'truth' but at the same time afraid of what might happen if he said 'dare.' "Let's see. . . Dare!"

"All right," Hermione had a wicked grin on her face. "Go to Snape's bedchambers and knock on the door. When he answers, act all seductive and ask him if you can be his mistress."

Sean's mouth dropped open, Neville let out a gasp, and Parvati gave a small shriek of horror.

"Are you CRAZY?!" cried Dean. "Snape will MURDER me!"

His protest was met with no sympathy from Hermione.

"You chose dare," she told him simply, a sickeningly sweet smile on her face. "And just to be sure that you actually do it, we're all coming with you."

Dean groaned but knew he had lost the battle. He grudgingly led the group out into the hall and down the stairs to the dungeons.

Twenty minutes later they all returned, roaring with laughter. Dean, although quite embarrassed, was laughing as well.

"Who would have thought that Snape, of all people, already HAS a lover!" cried Harry, wiping his eyes as he sat back down on the rug.

"I know!" said Seamus, also taking his seat. "I can't believe we just saw that!"

Ron was mortified. "I just saw SNAPE practically. . . Eww!"

That just made everyone laugh harder. When they finally calmed down, Hermione turned to Dean.

"Okay Dean," she said, "it's your turn to ask someone."

"Hmmm. . ." said Dean, tapping his index finger against his chin. He looked slowly around the circle before his eyes came to rest on Harry.

"Harry, truth or dare?" asked Dean, a plan already forming in his head.

A/N: So, what do you think? This is my first attempt at a humorous Harry Potter fic, so if you have any CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, I'm all ears. Thanks!

ANNA