Dare of a Lifetime

"Truth or Dare, Gin?" asked Hermione Granger. She was sitting in the Gryffindor common room with one of her best friends, Ginny Weasley. 'Hmm...Ron and Harry should be back from Quidditch practice soon, and boy, do I have a dare for Ginny,' thought Hermione, grinning to herself.

'Why does Hermione have that evil grin on her face?' thought Ginny. Feeling a sudden rush of courage Ginny said, "Dare."

'This is going to be fun,' thought Hermione. She knew that Ginny had a crush on one of her best friends, Harry Potter. All they needed was a little "push" in the right direction.

"All right, Ginny. You have to ask out the next guy that walks through the portrait hole," said Hermione.

"Okay," replied Ginny, 'How hard could that be?,' she thought.

And as if by magic, the portrait hole swung open and in walked two boys dressed in Quidditch robes and splattered in mud. One was Ron Weasley, Ginny's brother, and the other was Harry Potter himself.

"Hermione! You planned this didn't you?" whispered Ginny, giving her friend a shocked look.

"No, of course not, Ginny, whatever gave you that idea?" said Hermione, matching Ginny's shocked face with her own angelic one.

"A dare's a dare, Ginny," Hermione said sweetly.

Ginny glared at her. 'How could Hermione do this to me? She knows how nervous I get around Harry already! And now I have to ask him out?!,' thought Ginny, while shooting daggers at Hermione with her eyes. Gathering up all the courage she could muster (she was in Gryffindor, wasn't she?), she walked up to Harry and asked for a "private word."

"Uh, sure, Gin, what's up?" said Harry in a concerned tone.

'Aww, he looks so cute when he's worried. Wait, what am I thinking?! I thought I was over him.'

"Ginny? Ginny?"

Harry's voice shook her out of her reverie. "Er, Harry, I was just wondering if maybe-uh, maybe you'd like to, er, uhh," 'Oh, just spit it out Gin,' came a voice from her head. "If you'd like to go out with me?" said Ginny a bit too loudly.

"Gosh, Ginny, I don't know, I just broke up with Cho, I'll have to think about it, Gin, but I'm not sure it'd work, I'm sorry." said Harry's voice, sounding earnestly sorry.

'Oh, God, I sounded like such an idiot! I hate Hermione for this!' She tried to hold her tears back, but she couldn't stop them from welling up in her eyes. "It's all right Harry, really, no big deal," said Ginny. She turned on the spot and ran up the stairs to her dorm.

Harry, thoroughly confused, shrugged it off, and went up to his room with Ron.

'What have I just done?' thought an alarmed Hermione. She knew what she had to do. Harry had just walked up the steps to his dormitory and Hermione followed. She found him as he was just about to walk into his room.

"Harry!"

"Look, Hermione, I don't really feel like talking right now..."

"Harry, it's about Ginny."

Harry sighed. "Allright, come in. You're lucky they let the girls into the boys' dormitories."

"Listen, Ginny really likes you; she always has and I know you really like her too --."

"Yeah, Hermione, but what can I do? After everything with Cho and Sirius and all I don't think I'm up to having a relationship."

"Harry, you're so dense, this is just what you need! Ginny understands you, it'd be nice to have someone to talk to about everything --."

"I have you... and Ron ..."

"But Harry, Ron and I have each other; you need someone else too."

"Hermione, I really don't think --."

"Well, stop thinking then! You like her, she likes you, just ask her out."

"If I do, will you stop pestering me?"

"Yep," replied Hermione ruefully.

"Allright, is Ginny still in the common room?"

"No, but I'll go get her from the dormitory," said Hermione.

"Okay, Hermione, I'm trusting you." At these words, Hermione beamed and said, "I knew you would."

Harry took a deep breath and they walked down the stairs to the common room together.

When they descended the stairs, however, it was clear to see that Hermione would not need to fetch Ginny from her dormitory; she was already in the common room.

Suddenly, Harry couldn't move anymore. It was like he had lost control over his legs. In an armchair by the fire, Ginny was making out with . . . Neville Longbottom? How this had come about Harry had absolutely no idea. He knew what he had to do. Ron was already up in their room, probably with his pajamas on. Therefore, Harry decided to take up the role of big brother.

Pushing past Hermione (who was standing with her mouth open, apparently as shocked as Harry), Harry walked down the rest of the stairs.

"Ginny!"

Neville and Ginny broke apart. Apparently, they had been unaware of everyone watching them. Neville seemed shocked while Ginny looked pleased.

"Oh, Harry. I thought you had gone to bed," Ginny said sweetly.

"Ginny, you can't just go around kissing anyone and everyone; people will think you're a --."

"People will think I'm a 'what'? I'm not an idiot, Harry, I know what you're talking about. Is that why you won't go out with me then? Are you too good for me? Is that it?" Ginny said accusingly.

"No, Ginny, of course not, you know I don't think that. The truth is . . . that . . . er . . . well, Ginny, I like you! Okay, are you happy now? I like you, I always have. If anything I thought you were too good for me!"

Surprised by his own forwardness, Harry turned on the spot and walked calmly back to his dormitory as whispers erupted around him.

Once Harry was back in his room, he laid down on his bed (still fully clothed). He could not believe what he had just done. He tried to persuade himself that it was all some strange dream. Before he could convince himself, he fell asleep.

Harry woke up the next morning and grimaced at the thought of seeing Ginny. Just the night before, Harry had confessed his feelings for her in front of a packed common room. The last thing he wanted to do was encounter her or anyone else in the common room or the Great Hall. Harry considered just laying in bed all day but he knew that Hermione would scold him for skipping classes.

Reluctantly, Harry got out of bed and dressed. He was glad to see that he was the last one in his dormitory. Ron hadn't talked to him since last night; Harry wasn't sure how Ron would react in response to Harry's newfound feelings for Ginny. Harry sighed and figured he would need to leave his dormitory eventually and now was as good a time as any.

Harry took his time walking down the stairs and braced himself to endure jeers and snide comments. To his surprise, the common room looked empty. Unfortunately, this wasn't true. As soon as Harry reached the bottom of the staircase, he saw Ginny sitting in the armchair closest to the fireplace. He felt his stomach do a backflip but he was also slightly relieved to see that she was alone. Harry decided that he could try to slip out the door unnoticed. He walked slowly towards the portrait hole . . .

"Harry! Wait! Stay here; I need to talk to you."

Grudgingly, Harry turned around and sat down opposite Ginny. He found that he couldn't look at her; he was too embarrassed.

"Harry, I didn't know that you felt the way you did. You should've just talked to me. I like you too, Harry, I really do. It's just that when I asked you out, you turned me down. You could have just explained your feelings better and neither of us would've had to go through what happened last night."

Harry looked up at her. Her eyes were shining with tears.

"Harry, I broke it off with Neville. I didn't like him; I was just using him to get you jealous. I was really hoping that you would consider going out with me again."

Tentatively, Ginny smiled. Harry looked her in the eyes and smiled back. Then, without thought, without worrying, he leaned in and kissed her. She would just have to accept that as his answer.