Truth or Dare

(Original plot bunny by silvercrackle.)

Truth or Dare

Fred Weasley popped open a Butterbeer. "The door's locked. Everybody ready?" There was a chorus of "yes" from the gathered students. "Well, then. Let's play." He grinned mischievously. "Due to the fact that I went to all the trouble to put this little shindig together for you pathetic lot of seventh years, I will go first."

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Let's see... Miss Hermione Granger."

Hermione scrunched up her face. "Why me?"

Fred grinned. "Because I'm going to have fun embarrassing the shit out of you. C'mon, you know the game - truth or dare?"

After a long pause in which Hermione weighed the results very carefully, she answered. "Truth."

"I want to know when the last time you snogged anyone was and how far it went. And no skimping on the details."

If looks could kill, Fred would've been incinerated on the spot. "Viktor Krum, last year, during a visit. He tried to grope me and I slapped him. My turn now." She grinned. "Harry Potter. Truth or dare?"

Harry swallowed. "Dare."

"I want you to strip down to your boxers, go out in the hall, and ask the first girl that comes along if she'd mind showing you how to polish your broomstick." The room erupted in laughter.

Harry gaped. He thought he'd get off easy by taking a dare from Hermione. Guess he was wrong. "Fine, fine..." He stood up and took his clothes off to wolf whistles and catcalling. Quite embarrassed to be in his blue and white striped boxers and nothing else, he shot Hermione a look that he hoped said "I am going to get you back, and it won't be pretty." Not knowing quite what to do, he clasped his hands in front of his underwear, and headed for the door.

Hermione wasn't about to let anyone know, but she was very glad Harry hadn't chickened out. For a seventeen-year-old, his body was sure coming along nicely.

Everyone followed Harry, whose face was glowing red by now. They waited as Harry stood in front of the Fat Lady's painting, who was fanning herself and giggling along with everyone else. After a few minutes, a woman rounded the corner.

It was Professor McGonagall, walking with Remus Lupin.

Harry turned to Hermione. "Oh no, no, you wouldn't make me do this... C'mon, Hermione, please?"

"Sorry, Harry. She may be eighty, but she's still female."

Lupin saw him first, and started chortling. McGonagall simply stared in shock. "Mister Potter! What do you think you're doing? Young man, you are indecent!"

Harry turned purple. "Professor, I was, um, wondering... if, um, uh -"

"Spit it out, Potter."

"...ifyoucouldshowmehowtopolishmybroomstick," he finished in a very small voice.

Remus was doubled over.

"What did you say?"

Harry shot Hermione the nastiest look he could. "Can you show me how to polish my broomstick?"

Minerva McGonagall gaped once again. "Mister Harry James Potter, I cannot believe you! You will have detention, and twenty points will be taken from Gryffindor!"

Remus Lupin grinned broadly and patted her on the back. "It's okay, Minerva. They're playing 'Truth or Dare'. I think I'd place more blame on the elder Weasleys than I would Harry."

Professor McGonagall just huffed. "Well. Never mind the points and the detention, then - and you two -" she motioned towards Fred and George - "your mother will be hearing from me. Now get inside and get some clothes on, Potter."

McGonagall and Lupin walked away. As they rounded the corner, the kids could hear Lupin say, "You think that's bad? You ought to have seen what we made James do."

Everyone headed back in, and Harry hastily grabbed his robes and put them back on. "My turn," he said, with an evil smile that was very obviously focused on Hermione.

"Remember the rules, Harry," Fred said. "Revenge has to wait. You have to pick someone else."

Harry sighed. "Fine. Ginny, truth or dare?"

Ginny leaned forward and gave Harry a 'try me' grin. "Dare, Potter."

"You need to spend 5 minutes kissing Hermione. And no pecks." The boys in attendance ooohed. Harry got several claps on the back and quite a few mentions of 'good one, Harry!'

Ginny turned to Hermione and smiled. She knew that Hermione wasn't about to show how embarrassed that made her. She and Hermione reached for each other and began a long, slow kiss.

Five minutes and a lot a silence later, they disengaged, and the boys were left wearing shocked, but pleased, expressions.

"Seamus! Truth or dare?"

Seamus sat up and swallowed hard. "Truth. I'm not going to touch a dare coming from you after that."

"Who was the subject of the last dirty dream you had?"

He groaned.

"You can either tell us the truth by yourself, or I can cast a spell on you and force it out."

"Draco Malfoy." The room erupted into laughter again. "But it didn't MEAN anything!" Seamus turned several shades of crimson. "My turn now. Ron Weasley."

"Dare, dare, dare."

"I dare you to spend the rest of the game completely stark naked."

Ron glowered at Seamus. "Guess that dare comes easy for a guy who spends his off time dreaming about Draco Malfoy." He stood up, turned around, and shed his clothes, proving conclusively that Ron could blush from his hairline all the way down to his feet. He turned back around, hands in strategic places, and sat down as quickly as possible. "Now. My dear friend Harry, truth or dare?"

"Truth. I never take dares from naked men." Ron gave Harry a grin that made Harry certain that he was about to be in a world of trouble.

"Who are you in love with?"

Harry gave Ron a sharp look. That subject was supposed to be forbidden, and Ron knew it.

Ron returned the look. "Guess you shouldn't have woken me up with ice cubes the other day, hmm, mate?" He grinned evilly. "Remember, it's either you tell it or I make you."

Harry looked down into his lap and sighed. This was going to be awkward. "There's no getting out of it, is there?"

"Your fault, Harry - you picked truth!"

"Come on, Harry, it can't possibly be as bad as Seamus' s little confession, now, can it?" Hermione smiled, trying unsuccessfully to make Harry feel better.

"You."

Hermione shook her head. "What?"

Harry was still looking down. "I'm in love with you."

There was silence as everyone watched Hermione awkwardly stared at Harry, and Harry continued staring into his lap. To break the silence, George clapped. "Okay, on with the game. Harry, your turn."

"You haven't gone yet, George, so... you."

"Okay. Hermione."

Hermione was still staring. "Dare. Be nice."

George smiled. "Since you and Harry just ruined the whole damned thing, I think you two oughta go spend some quality time in the closet over there."

Harry and Hermione trudged off to the rather large closet. Once inside, Harry conjured up two pillows for them to sit on. His face was still red.

"Were you telling the truth?" Hermione asked quietly.

Harry swallowed. "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me before now?" Hermione reached over and tenderly enveloped Harry's hand with her own.

"I - I thought you'd be freaked out. I couldn't stand it if you stopped talking to me."

Hermione gathered her courage. "Harry, did it ever cross your mind that maybe I wouldn't get freaked out?"

Harry looked up, a glint of hope in his eyes. "It doesn't make you feel weird?"

"No, Harry, it doesn't. I love you too."

That was all Harry needed to hear. Seven years of wants and needs went into his movements as he leaned forward, took the girl of his dreams in his arms, and kissed her with all the intensity he could muster. The silly game going on in the dorm room - and the rest of the world - quickly became forgotten by both of them.