A Room With a View

Party On, Profs

There was a drunken cheer from the assembled party as Rolanda set the Charm Blocks on the floor, then pointed her wand and very deliberately enunciated novum ludum. The small wooden rectangles glowed a virulent purple for a moment before hovering in the air and rapidly restacking themselves into a perfectly balanced tower. Mohinder looked at Rolanda, then Severus with trepidation before lifting his wand and pointing it at a chosen block. It delicately slid out from the stack and flew to his hand, where he frowned at the blank piece of wood.

At Rolanda's slurred instruction, Mohinder held the block at both of its ends, his brows knitted as he read the words that appeared there aloud.

Welcome Mohinder, if we're not imposing / Finish your drink and strip one piece of clothing.

Severus barked out a laugh at the confused look on Mohinder's face. "Bloody hell, Rolanda. It rhymes now?"

"Hasn't it always done?" asked Luna.

"Not the last time she trotted the damned thing out," he replied.

"I may have made shome improvementsh shince the lasht time you played." The flying instructor gave a small hiccough before turning her gaze back on Mohinder. "Right then, off with it, Moh! And shoesh count as one piece together."

Mohinder gave a brisk nod and bent to remove the lace-up Oxfords from his feet, then levitated his block into place at the top of the tower. "Who is next?" he asked.

"We go clockwise. Thurston, yer up!"

The ancient runes professor gave a quick grin, then swished and flicked his wand at the pile of blocks, and quickly grasped it to allow the writing to appear.

Thurston, you're an incorrigible lump / Turn 'round and flash your covered rump.

"Really? Rather tame, Rolanda..." But Thurston turned and dropped his trousers, showing off the green and pink polka-dotted pants beneath, much to the hooting delight of the gathered professors. He colored slightly and slid his block back into place.

Aurora giggled and slid her arm around her partner's waist. "I helped Rolanda with the charm work on the blocks this year, Thurston. They'll... shall we say, increase in intensity as we progress through the game."

"I can hardly wait, dear lady!" He murmured as he refastened the buttons of his slacks. "Hermione, I believe you're next."

"So I am!" She raised her wand and carefully slid one of the lower edge pieces out of the tower, pausing briefly as she waited for her assignment to appear.

You, dear lady, have been assigned this test: / For one half-minute, kiss the one on your left.

Hermione laughed at her block's orders. "I guess my name is too hard to work into rhymed couplets. Well, Severus?" She dimpled at the dark-haired man sitting to her left. 

He heaved an overly-dramatic sigh. "Hardly fair, it's not even my turn and I'm already being challenged!"

"The professor doth protest too much, methinks!" shouted a twinkling Minerva from across the room. "Go on, Severus. I'll keep time."

Severus shot the woman a grin before turning back to Hermione as she raised her lips to his in a light kiss. He allowed his eyes to close and his hand to rest on her shoulder, then did his best to ignore the catcalls and cheers from the gathered sots as he refrained from deepening the kiss. He inhaled, breathing in the subtle apricot and spice scent of her and allowed her actions to guide his. Her lips were soft, but remained steadfastly shut against his. They separated as Minerva called the time, each avoiding the other's eyes as they leaned back and regarded the room at large. Hermione quickly levitated her block and placed it in the center of the last two at the top of the tower.