A Dangerous Game of Truth or Dare
Well, I'm glad I'm still getting some reviews and that people haven't lost complete faith in me. I hope to do you all justice by updating at a much more reasonable rate than once a year as it seemed that's where I was headed. I won't be able to update quite as much as I first did at the start because my ideas are fleeting and I'm also working on a novel that I will hopefully one day get published. Now, as I said last time, I will make a short comment to each reviewer to show my support for how awesome you guys are.
Karla Manatee – Well, the reviews seem to be working so far! I'm glad you enjoy the story enough to push me to continue.
Macbeth2 – I don't want to give away the ending but hopefully you'll be at least content with it. I do have a plan for the ending though and I'm trying to not to deter from it at all since I started this story.
Basketball8974 – At least you still thought it was funny, even if it wasn't my best work. It should slowly get better once I get more enticed in the story again.
Cinnamon Selkie – I'm unsure out of those two who has gotten it worse from the other over the years so I guess anything is revenge at this point. I doubt the two will ever be even. I've always felt that Hermione was a unlooked character in that she does have her moments where she is a fun character so I decided she'd have a few moments in my story as well. I'm glad you liked them.
AmazonWariorPrincess – Thank you so much for the compliment. I would have guessed a good story at best but fantastic? I truly feel honoured by that.
Summary: It's the final year at Hogwarts and the Golden Trio want to have some fun. While researching in the library, Hermione stumbles across a book that contains old games with magical tricks. When she decides on a school-wide game of truth or dare, she doesn't realize how quickly things begin to become out of hand. How far will things go before secrets begin to spill?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these character or places; they are owned and copyrighted to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 16: A Shocking Reopener
Harry woke up the next morning feeling a lot better. He was finally able to take his arm out from under his pants and he enjoyed the use of it again. He had written a dare the previous night for Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff student in his year. He knew her from Dumbledore's Army but wasn't very close to her so he hoped that the dares would finally steer clear of him and his friends. He noticed that all the others in his dormitory were still asleep so he quietly slipped out and down the stairs into the common room. He came down to notice Hermione and Ginny sitting alone, reading together. Harry walked over and sat on one of the chairs across from the couch the two were on.
"Hey Harry," Ginny spoke up first, "Feeling better today?"
"Much," Harry answered, "It's somewhat hard to feel comfortable when you're in the position I was in yesterday. What are you doing up so early anyway Ginny? Hermione is usually up this early but there's almost never anyone else up."
"Just couldn't sleep was all," Ginny answered, "There was something troubling me all night but Hermione helped me sort it all out." Hermione smiled up at Ginny as she closed the book she had on her lap. Although the lightning wasn't the best this early in the morning, Harry could still notice a small red tint in the cheeks of the two girls but decided to not ask questions.
"So I heard that McGonagall has some important announcement to make at breakfast this morning," Hermione said, "What do you think it might be about?"
"No idea," Harry answered, "I mean, nothing big has happened in the past few weeks so there is nothing to hint at what she wants to say."
"Why don't you go wake up the boys then so we can head down already?" Ginny suggested to Harry, "I would think you're rather hungry anyway." Harry stood up from the chair and walked up a few of the stairs towards the boy's dormitory but stopped just as he was out of view of the two girls and listened.
"That was really close," He heard Hermione whispering, "I would what he would have said if he saw us."
"I could think of worse people to catch us," Ginny responded in a whisper.
"So what did you think?" Hermione whispered hesitantly.
"I guess it wasn't too bad," Ginny answered just as reluctantly, "What about you?"
"I'm not quite sure," Hermione replied, "Mind if we try it again?" Harry heard the sound of clothes shuffling as if the girls had moved closed to each other. Harry quickly ran up the rest of the stairs to not invade their privacy any longer. He woke up Neville first as he knew Neville would get up the easiest. Next were Dean and the twins before trying to get Ron up. After much pushing, punching and inappropriate use of the levicorpus spell, Ron finally was awake enough to get dressed and go downstairs. Lastly, Harry attempted to wake Seamus up.
"Seamus, get up," Harry said loudly near Seamus' ear but made the Irish boy roll over and mumble incoherently. Harry walked around Seamus' bed to the other side but just as he got around, Seamus rolled over again facing the other side of the room. "Well now you're just being immature," Harry said and walked back over to the other side of the bed. Again, Seamus rolled over just as Harry got around. "That's it," Harry said as he climbed onto Seamus' bed, "Let's see where you run now." Harry climbed over Seamus and straddle Seamus' waist. He leant down as he grabbed Seamus' arms from covering his eyes and pinned them on the bed above Seamus' head. "Ready to get up yet?"
"With you like this I do believe I already am," Seamus replied with a smirk.
"You're a pervert Seamus," Harry said as he let go of Seamus' arms and sat back up, "Are you going to come down to breakfast with us?"
"Do I really have a choice?" Seamus retorted.
"Not really," Harry shrugged, "I just felt like being polite and asking."
"Fine, but first," Seamus answered. Seamus reached up and wrapped his arms around Harry's neck before pulling his face down and kissing him. Harry found himself kissing back but it was a much gentler kiss then the day before. Maybe it was the gratuitous amount of blankets between Harry and Seamus but the kiss felt different this time and Harry was really enjoying it. He put his forearms on the bed beside Seamus' head on each side for support as he lay down on Seamus. As Harry pulled back from the kiss and opened his eyes, he found himself staring into Seamus'. Harry noticed that Seamus was actually smiling. He didn't have his usual cocky smirk or his fake I'm-just-being-nice smile, he was actually smiling and Harry couldn't help but smile back. The two laid there staring into each others' eyes for what felt like forever before someone barged into the dormitory.
"What are you two do-oh, um, I'll come back later," Ron mumbled out and Harry quickly sat up.
"Uh, what do you want Ron?" Harry stuttered out, his face burning bright red.
"Hermione wants you two to come down right now," Ron said before shutting the door and could be heard running down the stairs.
"Damn it Hermione!" Seamus yelled, throwing his fists downward into the bed, "That's twice now. She owes us at this point." Harry laughed as he climbed off of Seamus and off the bed.
"Get up and get dressed," Harry said as he adjusted his clothes, "McGonagall has an announcement to make in the Great Hall at breakfast so we're heading down right now." Seamus rolled out of bed and quickly started getting dressed. Harry found himself examining every inch of Seamus' body as slipped out of his pyjamas.
"Like what you see Harry?" Seamus jokingly commented.
"A little," Harry replied, "I'll let you finish up alone though; I'll be waiting down in the common room." Harry quickly slipped out of the dormitory and down to meet everyone else.
"It's about time," Hermione complained, closing her book, "We were just about to leave without you."
"Sorry," Harry apologized, "Seamus is a heavy sleeper."
"Sure he is mate," Ron taunted, "I bet Hermione here is the best flyer Hogwarts has ever seen as well, huh Harry?" Both Harry and Hermione glared at the red head.
"Insulted two with one," Fred started.
"Good on you," George finished.
"Can we please just go now?" Ginny whined, "I'm starving." Everyone left the common room and made their way down towards the Great Hall. Seamus quickly caught up the group as they made their way down after he finished getting dressed. The all took a seat at the Gryffindor table and began eating while anxiously awaiting the announcement from McGonagall.
It was shortly after the group had each finished one plate and Ron had consumed two and was working on his third when the sound of four light taps of metal on glass echoed through the hall and everyone became silent. McGonagall was standing in front of the small podium looking over the filled hall.
"Attention students," McGonagall projected, "I have a small announcement to make to you all. At the request of your Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin, alongside your Potions master, Professor Snape, I am pleased to inform you that the Duelling Club will be reopened here at Hogwarts." A blend of cheer, shocked gasped and anxious squealing erupted in the hall. McGonagall again tapped on her glass with a fork until the hall had settled. "Furthermore, there will be a special division of the Duelling Club that will be made available to sixth and seventh year students only, details of which will be made available to all students during the first meeting of the club. The dates for the meetings will be posted here in the Great Hall. Thank you." McGonagall stepped down from her podium and the hall filled with whispers again.
"I wonder why they decided to reopen it," Harry pondered as he began finishing his breakfast again.
"Yeah," Ron added, "I mean, the last time they opened it was to prepare everyone to defend themselves back when the Chamber of Secrets was opened."
"Well, it was an old tradition," Hermione pointed out, "Maybe they just felt it was safe enough to bring it back."
"Well one thing is for sure about this time around," George began.
"The rest of the school doesn't stand a chance against Dumbledore's Army," Fred finished.
"Isn't that right, Harry?" The twins chimed in together causing Harry to laugh a little.
"Maybe you should consider holding another D.A. meeting then," Neville spoke up, "I mean, if there is a special division for us in sixth and seventh year, we should be prepared for it and what better way to learn then to do so with friends like before?"
"Do you think everyone still has their galleon?" Hermione asked and everyone in their group pulled it out of one of their pockets.
"It was always nice to have as a reminder," Ginny said.
"Well then, why don't we start today?" Harry proposed, "There are no classes today so it's our best chance at getting people to show up again." Hermione tapped her wand on her galleon and the date on it changed to the current date. The time was set for two that afternoon and the galleon started to warm up along with everyone else's galleon. "We should probably head up to the Room of Requirement then and get ready for our first lesson back then, shall we?"
Well, it's a little longer than the last one. I was going to continue on but I had a flash of inspiration in my head and decided that it would be best to end it here and start the *hopefully* awesome writing next chapter. I wanted to bring back the duelling club because I've always felt a little competition brings out extreme amounts of emotion in people and that is something I am looking forward to writing. I realize this one is more bland than most but sometimes there needs to be downtimes to setup the story and this was one of those chapters.