Never Have I Ever

Prologue: Drinking Games

Inspired by a Tumblr post I saw ages ago by 'squirrel-and-me' (bless you for this beautiful idea)- not sure about all the copyrights and stuff, but this is my first time posting stuff I've written so please be forgiving :) I decided to try and write more than a one shot, so as I write more, I'll probably re-edit things. It also continues the concept of magical tattoos such as the Dark Mark, where they develop Soul Marks; the Patronus of their soul mate...
I hope you enjoy!

***

It was Hallowe'en and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini and a few other eight years were sitting in the Great Hall. It was an unusual group to say in the least. The presence of the Slytherins was testimony to the general lack of animosity following the Battle of Hogwarts, and that this had also extended more specifically to Harry's prior arch enemy.

The feast had finished hours ago. The tables had been swept to the sides to clear the centre and the group sat in an unruly circle, surrounded by Chocolate Frog boxes, Pumpkin Pastie wrappers and the worst tasting Bertie Bott Beans.

Neville, by far the buzzed of them all, raised his almost empty mug of Butterbeer and shouted "Let's play 'Never Have I Ever'!!" Ginny shushed him loudly, but the after dark rules didn't really matter much anymore. Since the Battle of Hogwarts, McGonagall had taken a much more relaxed approach to rule regulation – all things considered, students not in bed after dark was hardly a pressing issue anymore. Besides, the doors of the Great Hall were thick enough to muffle the exclamations of a singular student. Filch still roamed the corridors out of habit, but the only thing worth keeping an eye on was Peeves, who still retained his habit of throwing pencils at first years and planting stink bombs. Only a week ago, McGonagall had had to go to the Bloody Baron; his constant harassment of Moaning Myrtle had caused such a significant portion of the second floor to flood that students were unable to reach their classes.

Everyone looked confused except Harry and Hermione, who laughed knowingly. Draco looked unimpressed.

"And what exactly is the game, Longbottom? Please do enlighten us" he drawled, though the icy tone such remarks were usually delivered with in previous years was almost imperceptible.

Neville looked positively bewildered, turning to Harry, who sat closest.

"He doesn't know? How does he not know?"

Harry wasn't sure that explaining the simple fact that Malfoy had grown up only in the wizarding world, and that they comparatively hadn't would make much sense to Neville in his inebriated state, and remained silent. When neither seemed about to offer up an explanation, Hermione stuck up her hand and hastily swallowed her Chocolate Frog.

"It's not class Hermione" said Harry, playfully nudging her in the ribs. She rolled her eyes and shushed him.

"Essentially, it's a muggle drinking game. Someone says something they've never done, but if someone else has done it then they have to drink."

Ron looked perplexed. Draco smirked. "That sounds simple enough. I could easily win the game" he said, running a hand through his hair confidently.

Harry smirked at him. "That's hardly the point Malfoy, and you'll be so drunk you won't even know you'd won."

Draco was about to retort – Potter didn't usually directly address him, but he seemed unable to resist when he wanted to say something half-way witty – but Ginny jumped in.

"Okay well we're taking it in turns, so who wants to go first?"

"Can I?" Luna smiled. There was a shared look of resignation by the group – anything Luna could think of, everyone else most certainly wouldn't have done.