Let the Games Begin

Special thanks to my mom, my sister, Lady_Peeves, and my beta snapesbbwlover for helping me with this chapter. You ladies are the best! :)

Also, this is my FIRST story, so please, be nice and helpful. Enjoy! :)

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Chapter 7: Let the Games Begin

The Great Hall was buzzing with chatter when Hermione took her seat next to Ron and across from Neville.

"Good morning, Harry!" Hermione chirped, "Good morning, Ron!"

"Morning 'Mione," Harry smiled taking a drink of his pumpkin juice.

"Hello, Hermione, and isn't it just a lovely morning?" Ron said in a low voice before flashing a smile in an attempt to look sexy. Unfortunately, he looked like he had gas instead of charm.

"Um... yeah," Hermione said confused, "Could you please pass me the eggs, Ron?"

"But of course," Ron smiled again.

He grabbed the eggs but he didn't give them to her. She sat there with a confused look and her hands stretched out ready to receive the eggs. Harry looked over at the scene taking place and merely rolled his eyes and sighed before shaking his head and returning to his breakfast.

"Uh, Ron?" Hermione asked, "The eggs, please?"

"I know," he continued grinning, "Move your hands so I can serve you."

"That's very kind of you, Ron, but, really, I'm quite capable of serving myself my own eggs."

"Nonsense!" Ron said with a dismissive wave and began serving piles upon piles of eggs onto her plate.

"Ron PLEASE!" Hermione blurted out, "The first time was enough! I don't need THAT much!"

"But you NEED all that protein," Ron said with that same stupid grin while putting down the eggs, "It's brain food you know, and you're always using that big brain of yours, Hermione, so you need more protein than the average person."

"Um, while appreciate your concern, I can assure you that my stomach can't handle that much protein."

"Oh, right. Well, try your best then."

Crap! That didn't go as well as he planned. Ron couldn't understand why she wouldn't enjoy having him serve her eggs. After all, his mother appreciated it when his father served her breakfast. Of course, he'd usually cook it for her too, but Ron was at a disadvantage considering the house elves prepared everything. He looked over at Hermione who was pouring herself some pumpkin juice. She looked so happy when she came practically skipping into the Great Hall. How could he have mucked things up already?

Ron's thoughts were interrupted when a pair of brown screech owls came flying in with a long white box tied with a green velvet ribbon. The owls swooped over the Slytherin table and dropped the package onto Draco Malfoy's lap. Everyone in the Great Hall stared at the mysterious gift, including the professors. This was much to Draco's content as he always enjoyed being the center of attention. There was a little note on the box that read, "To Draco Malfoy from your Secret Admirer." Draco smiled at this. Ah, he's caught the eye of another swooning witch. With his dashing good looks and his charming ways, he really wasn't surprised. Why he'd go out with himself if he could!

Making sure everyone was watching, Draco slowly untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. In the box lay a single large green flower. What was unusual about the flower, besides it's size, was that all the green petals were closed. There was another note under the flower that was written in wizard's ink. Carefully withdrawing the flower and holding it in his hand, Draco took out the note and read it.

Roses are red

AND SO WILL YOU!

"What kind of love letter is this?" Draco thought to himself, "And what in the hell is a booglack?"

Suddenly, the flower began to bloom. Draco watched the flower open with unbelievable beauty as it unfolded to reveal the long glimmering silver petals inside with four large pearl-like structures in the middle of it that sparkled like precious gems. The Great Hall gasped with wonder, hypnotized by the flower's unnatural splendor. Overcome with joy, Draco smiled and brought the flower to his face to smell its scent. Whoever sent THIS to him would be greatly rewarded.

All of the sudden, Professor Sprout jumped out of her seat and screeched, "NO, MR. MALFOY! DON'T..."

But it was too late.

As Draco inhaled the scent, the four large "pearls" in the middle of the flower burst, covering Draco with vast amounts of silver glitter-like spores.

That's when it began to smell.

"Oh Merlin!" Pansy Parkinson coughed as she got up and ran from the Slytherin table, "It smells like rotten eggs stuffed into a dead fish!"

"No it doesn't!" Millicent Bulstrode gagged also leaving the table, "It smells like dragon dung topped with decaying flesh!"

"Not precisely!" a fifth year Ravenclaw protested as the whole Slytherin table began to evacuate the premises, "It resembles a combined scent of body odor with a hint of industrial waste!"

"NO!" said a first year Hufflepuff, "It's like a wet dog rolled around in a cat box!"

"IT... SMELL... BAD!" Goyle said as he lumbered away from the table while pinching his nose.

"CRABBE NO LIKE!" Crabbe stated as he too waddled away from a stunned and stinky Malfoy.

"It smells like the sweet scent of victory to me," Neville smiled to Hermione, Ron and Harry, "Revenge is so rewarding."

The whole Gryffindor table burst into laughter as Malfoy was the only one left sitting there with the now wilted, black, and dried up flower in his hand while he smelled of only God knows what, but whatever it was, it smelled disgusting!

Finally, Draco flung his arms in the air and shouted, "WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

"I tried to warn you, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Sprout said holding her nose, "but that's a booglack flower. They release spores that will make whomever they land on smell terribly for a week!"

"WHAT?! I'LL BE LIKE THIS FOR A WEEK?!"

"I'm afraid so."

"Oh my," Dumbledore said while he and the rest of the staff held their noses, "Mr. Malfoy, I'm afraid that due to your unusual situation, you'll have to spend the next week OUTSIDE of the school."

"WHAT?!" Draco asked flabbergasted, "BUT HOW WILL I GO TO CLASS?! HOW CAN I PERFORM MY HEAD BOY DUTIES?! HOW AM I..."

"You can receive private instruction for the next week until you're no longer... offensive. As for the Head Boy duties, I'll find someone else that can perform them until you have recovered from the affections of your secret admirer. Now let's see who... Ah, Neville Longbottom! Would you like to be our temporary Head Boy?"

"M-me?" Neville stuttered, "Oh, I, uh... Why yes, of course!"

"WHAT?!" Draco spat, "YOU'RE GIVING IT TO... TO HIM?!"

"For the time being, Draco," Dumbledore smiled turning to Snape, "Well, Severus, since he is a part of YOUR house, I think you should deal with his... situation."

"Oh thank you, Headmaster," Snape scowled pinching his nose and rolling his eyes, "Mr. Malfoy, please remove yourself from the table and meet me outside in front of Hagrid's hut."

"My hut?!" Hagrid exclaimed with a worried looked, "No, I don't want THAT skunk in front of me house! He'll stink up the place worse than Fang!"

"Fine! Mr. Malfoy, meet me in front of the lake. We'll see if we can't pitch up a tent for you there!"

"But what about the giant Squid?" Draco asked apprehensively.

"If you continue smelling THIS offensive, I doubt that even a mountain troll will want your company. I believe that you won't have any trouble defending yourself if danger rears its ugly head."

Angrily, Draco stood from his place at the table while still holding his head up high and left the Great Hall with what little dignity he had left. He knew that flower was from Longbottom! Draco planned on using every second spent in that tent to plot revenge for humiliating him like that in the Great Hall. Longbottom was going to curse the day he ever crossed the line with Draco Malfoy!

"Neville, that was bloody brilliant!" Ron cheered shaking his hand.

"NO, Ron," Harry grinned shaking Neville's other hand, "It's not Neville anymore. It's HEAD BOY!"

"Uh, th-thanks!" Neville grinned bashfully.

"That was very clever," Hermione grinned pushing her plate away, "but now that smell ruined my appetite."

"Where did you find that flower?" Harry asked.

"In the Forbidden Forrest," Neville answered, "Professor Sprout has me go and collect herbs sometimes and I just happened to find it while it was closed. I checked the color of the petals and knew it would be ready in time to make a nice gift for Malfoy."

"Well, I'm sure he'll enjoy it for the next week!" Hermione grinned.

"Do you find it humorous to laugh at other people's misfortune, Miss Granger?" a dangerously silky voice asked from behind.

Slowly Hermione turned around in her seat and looked up at a rather perturbed Potions Master staring down at her. A sudden chill went through her as she met his black eyes, but it wasn't an uncomfortable feeling. Despite that he was speaking down to her, Hermione felt warm and safe as his gaze trapped her.

"No, she wasn't, Professor Snape," Ron spoke up acting brave (or foolish depending how you looked at it), "She was..."

"I'm sure Miss Granger can speak for herself, Mr. Weasley," Snape hissed without diverting his gaze from those deep chocolate eyes, "Five points from Gryffindor for speaking when not spoken to."

Ron opened his mouth to protest, but one swift kick to the shin by Harry under the table shut him up rather quickly. He watched as Hermione and Snape stared each other down, both unrelenting in their battle to dominate the other through their steely gaze.

"I was NOT laughing at Draco Malfoy, sir," Hermione said airily, "I merely found it humorous that our new Head Boy happens to a Gryffindor, just like the Head Girl."

"Yes, so it would seem," Snape glared, "Are you finished eating, Miss Granger?"

"Um, yes sir," Hermione answered rather confused at the strange question.

"Really? Well you still have a plate full of scrambled eggs, quite a copious amount of eggs might I add."

"Oh, well that wasn't my..."

"Your gluttony will cost you five more points, Miss Granger, for being so wasteful! Also may I remind you of your detention tonight?"

"No sir, I remember."

"Good, I expect you there at seven o'clock PRECISELY!"

"Yes, sir."

They held each other's gaze for a moment longer before Snape turned and walked out of the Great Hall in search of the former Head Boy. However, Hermione did not break her stare as her eyes followed the Potions Master out, wondering if and when she'd ever feel those shivers again. She had no idea Ron too was watching her face and her gaze hoping that Operation Fancy Pants would be a success, so he could have the witch of his dreams.

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Harry looked at his frog in disgust. Why wasn't it transfiguring into a hamster? He glanced over at Ron who had a hamster with frog legs. It was quite interesting to see a hamster hop so high! Harry turned his attention to Hermione, who, of course, was turning her frog into a hamster and back again. He watched her wave her wand again and again, trying to figure out where he was going wrong. Suddenly, he noticed her lips were moving as she transfigured the frog again. Was there supposed to be an incantation along with the wand motions? Harry grabbed his frog and walked over towards Hermione.

"Hey, 'Mione," Harry smiled as he took a seat next to her.

"Hi, Harry," she responded thoughtfully, "All right?"

"I'm having no luck transfiguring my frog. What's the incantation?"

"What incantation? There isn't one, Harry."

"But I just saw you mumbling..."

"Oh, it's a riddle I, uh, read in a magazine. I was just repeating it out loud hoping my brain would start working."

"Oh you and your riddles," Harry sighed rolling his eyes, "Well could you please help me anyway? I want to get my frog transfigured BEFORE class ends. I've already wasted too much time standing here like a dunder..."

"HARRY! THAT'S IT!" Hermione exclaimed as she wrapped Harry in a huge embrace, "YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

Harry jumped at Hermione's reaction before he got his wits about him and hugged her back. Neither one of them noticed Ron eyeing them suspiciously while his hamster-frog jumped into Lavender Brown's hair.

"Uh, er... Thanks," Harry cracked as he and Hermione ended their embrace.

"Harry, do you still have that cheap digital watch your uncle gave you for your birthday?" Hermione inquired.

"You mean the one Dudley broke and he gave to me?" Harry asked with a hint of bitterness in his voice, "Yeah, why?"

"Do you mind if I have it?"

"Not at all, but why would you want a broken watch?"

Hermione grinned wide before answering, "I'm going to transfigure it into the answer to my riddle."

Harry gave Hermione a puzzled look while Lavender ran out of the transfiguration classroom screaming with Ron hot on her heels apologizing profusely and begging for his hamster-frog to be returned to him.

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Snape glared at his seventh year class as they brewed their rejuvenation potions. He seemed to glide along the floor as he walked up and down the isles, inspecting cauldron after cauldron. He only stopped a few times to praise Slytherins on their excellent work and hurl insults at Gryffindors. Finally, he came to Hermione Granger's desk, where she was stirring her potion. He peered into her brew, admiring the thick white substance. Despite the fact she was doing everything correctly, Snape felt the need to chastise her.

"That brew is too thick, Miss Granger," Snape condemned.

"I know, sir," Hermione retorted calmly in a whisper only Snape could hear, "but it still has to simmer for half an hour. However, if Ron keeps adding anymore Flobberworm mucous, he'll have to wait an hour before his potion is done. In that case, I'd give him THIS, although I think you'd be more interested in it."

Snape raised an eyebrow as Hermione pulled out a small package from her robes, placed it on her desk, and rolled it over to the Potions Master. He caught the rolling object wrapped in parchment paper and looked down at Hermione suspiciously, who had since returned to her potion. He hid the object up the sleeve of his robe and walked to his desk. He sat in his chair and turned his back to the class so that none may see this strange gift from Hermione Granger. He inspected the object even further noting it was cylindrical and no bigger than the palm of his hand. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Snape unwrapped the object, which immediately began to grow larger in his hand.

'What the devil?' Snape began to think to himself until he realized it was merely charmed by the engorgio spell to grow larger.

When the object had completely enlarged, Snape looked down at it and smirked. It was an hourglass, the answer to the riddle!

"You did well, little girl. I knew you'd come around," Snape said softly to himself with a slightly sly smile.

He wanted to look back at Hermione, but he restrained himself. Instead, he turned his attention back on the hourglass. It was a rather handsome piece. The top and bottom bases as well as the rims made out of silver. He turned it over and the white sand began to fall. Ah, very nice indeed.

Suddenly, Snape noticed that there was something written on the inside of the parchment. He placed the hourglass in a drawer of his desk before he took the parchment and read the script.

I can sizzle like bacon

I can be long, like a flagpole, yet fit in a hole

Ah, another riddle. This one was even more intriguing than the last! Clever girl.

Snape folded up the parchment and tucked it into his robes before chuckling to himself. So, she wanted to make a game out of this, did she? Well she'd soon discover that she could not outwit Professor Severus Snape! She'll regret she even started this contest once she sees how sly and cunning he could be when it came to a competition. He leaned back in his seat and though about the riddle, anticipating seven o'clock that evening with his favorite insufferable Know-It-All student, Miss Hermione Granger.

As Snape contemplated the riddle, little did he know that Hermione had been watching him the entire time. She smiled to herself upon seeing him read the next riddle.

"Oh yes," she thought, "Let the games begin!"

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Yea, there's chapter 7! I hope you all liked it!

- DADA Mistress