An Interesting Dare

~ PROLOGUE ~

"What??" screeched Ron, jumping up from his seat on the red and gold rug that covered the Gryffindor common room floor. "There is no way in Hell that I'm doing that." he glared around at his friends, most of whom were sprawled out on the rug in front of the roaring fireplace.

The only other person in the room who did not appear to be having the time of his life was Neville.

"Dean, I don't think this is such a good idea..." the boy muttered, looking around the room for some support from his fellow classmates.

"Oh, fine" Dean grumbled, taking pity on the boy, "Seamus then."

"WHAT!?!" Ron exploded.

"Oh, come on Ronny Boy, what's the matter?" Seamus batted his eyelashes in Ron's direction. "Afraid you might actually like it?"

Ron, his face rapidly becoming an interesting shade of scarlet, lunged at Seamus only to be grabbed and dragged backward by Dean and Harry before he could attack the object of his displeasure.

"Oh come on, Ron, it's not that bad. Besides, it's only Seamus..." Harry's attempt at calming his best friend down only served to do the opposite.

"ONLY Seamus!?!"

Harry tried again. "Now, Ron, look here–"

"NO! I am NOT going to lick honey off of Seamus' chest, and FURTHERMORE, I–"

"BLOODY HELL, RON, WILL YOU SHUT UP? I'M TRYING TO STUDY!!!"

The entire common room became deathly silent and Ron simply stood there, completely forgetting to shut his mouth.

"Uh, Hermione?" Harry said, glancing incredulously over at the quiet corner of the room where the girl sat, glaring at them over a pile of books and scrolls.

"Uhm... sorry," Ron said lamely, having regained his power of speech.

"Apology accepted," Hermione replied curtly, burying her nose back in the book she had previously been reading and (seemingly) tuning out everyone else in the room.

A few stifled giggles could be heard coming from various corners of the room where two groups of second and third years were still gathering their studying material to bring up to their dorms.

"What are you looking at?" Ron growled, glaring around at anyone who dared to laugh.

"Wow, you've got yourself a pretty commanding girlfriend haven't you, Ronny Boy?"

The only clue that Hermione had heard Seamus' comment was a slightly raised eyebrow as she continued to read.

"She is NOT my—"

Dean cut Ron off before the redhead had a chance to get any farther than that. "Seamus, shut up, will you? Ron, I said truth or dare and you picked dare. Are you to scared to do it?"

"Me, scared?" Ron asked, looking offended. "Of course not!" He chose to ignore the amused glance Harry sent him.

"Well then?" dean watched him expectantly.

"Ugh," and a disgusted look, was the only response he got.

The small group of fourth-years continued to watch Ron expectantly.

"Ugh, OK, OK, I'll do it, go get the honey so I can get it over with!"

Dean grinned triumphantly.

TBC...