All's Fair in Truth or Dare

Hermione sat in the common room, pouring over an essay she had been assigned for Charms. With every few minutes came the scratching of her quill on paper, marking something out here and fixing something there. A half an hour passed and people started looking her way and giggling. Hermione couldn't imagine what for. She was just doing her homework, and yet people continued shooting glances her way.

Just as Hermione was about to investigate further, Ginny plopped down in the seat next to her. "Doing homework?" she asked. "Good. Are you alright?"

Hermione was puzzled by this. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be fine?"

Ginny reached up with her right hand to clasp the back of her neck, an annoying habit she did when uncomfortable. "Well, it's just with all the gossip going around I thought you might be a bit, well, embarrassed." She attempted a weak smile.

"What do you mean 'embarrassed?' I have nothing embarrassing to hide. Well, that is except for who I love, but I told all of you guys that last night." Hermione's face filled with dread and turned slightly pink. "Who told?"

"Who do you think? Lavender of course! Somehow, it leaked all the way to Slytherin before reaching Gryffindor. I don't know how, but the point is everyone knows, and it's all Lavender's fault. I'm sorry, 'Mione." Ginny set her hand briefly on Hermione's knee and walked across the room to a group of Gryffindors in her year.

Lavender! I knew I couldn't trust any of them, she thought. I hate them! I hate them all! Hot tears began to swell up in her eyes as she clenched her hands into fists.

Just then, the portrait hole swung open and two boys walked in.

"Oy! Hermione!" Ron moved through the crowd to her, pulled out a chair and sat on it backwards, facing Hermione. "So, you doing that essay for Flitwick? Man, he's really laying it on heavy this year. Hell, we've got massive loads of work from everyone."

"What do you want, Ron?" Hermione asked, not looking up from the paper she had been writing so that her hair hid her features from him. Harry, who had moved to join them and was sitting to her right was studying what he could see of her face. "Out with it."

"Oh, er, I was just wondering if you'd, er," Ron stuttered.

Hermione surged with anger. "I'm not doing your essay for you and that's final!" She grabbed up her parchment, quill, and inkbottle and stormed up into the dormitories. Closing the door behind her, she threw her stuff onto her nightstand and flopped down on the bed, face down.

Hate spread through her, from her frizzy hair all the way to her feet. It was hate for Lavender. Hate for Parvati, Lavender's best friend. Hate for everyone that had pointed and laughed at her. The tears that had been waiting to fall finally did, and Hermione stuck her head in her pillow to muffle her sobs.

"Oh, are you alright, Hermione? Did you have a fight with Ron?"

Hermione sprung up to see the source of the cold voice that had intruded upon her. Standing next to the door was Lavender, a twisted smile on her face. Instantly, Hermione sprung from the mattress, grabbing her wand as she went. "I'll kill you for this, Lavender."

"Oh, calm down. You didn't honestly think that wasn't going to spread, did you? You should be happy it moved so fast. This way, people might forget it by say, next year," at this, Lavender laughed a sharp, vicious laugh.

That was enough. Hermione yelled the first non-lethal spell that came to mind, and hit the unsuspecting Lavender square in the chest. She flew back into the wall, her arms and legs immobile. Hermione watched as her revenge slowly turned Lavender's hair green and proceeded to make a grass like material grow from her arms, legs, and face. Lavender let out a shriek, but could do nothing as each blade of the grass substance grew a mouth and screamed in unison, "Traitor!" and "Liar!" as well as a few other meaner words.

Suddenly, Hermione realized what she had done and dropped her wand out of surprise. What was the counter jinx? There had to be a counter jinx! She wracked her brain for it, but instead of thinking up one, she merely decided to take Lavender to Madame Pomfrey.

But what of a story? There has to be a story. All of this rushed through her mind as she ran down the halls to retrieve Madame Pomfrey. She thought up a plan just as she reached the hall of the infirmary. Ok, not perfect, but it'll work.

"Madame Pomfrey!" Hermione burst into the infirmary. She put a hysterical expression on her face.

"What is it, dear?" Madame Pomfrey asked, turning away from a shelf of potions she had been organizing. "Oh, my! Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's Lavender Brown! I-I was walking to the dormitory and heard a s-scream, so I-I went to s-see what it was, and it's Lavender!" She threw her head in her hands.

"Where is she, dear? Where is she?" Madame Pomfrey inquired, putting an arm around her.

"I-in the d-dormitories, Madame! G-go help her!" Hermione cried. Madame Pomfrey was off a moment later in the direction of the Gryffindor dormitories.

As soon as she was out of sight, Hermione dropped her act. That was a horrible thing to do, one part of her scolded the other.

Yes, but you know what? The other asked.

What?

She bloody well deserved it.