The format will be something like this- each chapter uses a different word game. I'll probably reuse games like Hot Topic (as it's the title). Hot Topic is an original game I made up, but I do not own Scrabble, or other such games. I also don't own rights to the Harry Potter universe in any way, shape, or form, except for the plots I make up for fanfiction stories such as this one.

Ch. 1

"Let's play Hot Topic!"

Lily looked up from her book. "Why?"

"Because I say so." Before Lily could repeat herself, Alice continued, "And I say so because I'm bored." Alice was an exuberant girl of fourteen and rather curvy. She had straight brown hair with blonde highlights, freckles, and eyes that switched between brown and dark blue without notice.

Frank looked up from his own book with a raised eyebrow. "Gee Alice, it's nice to know my company is appreciated," he teased.

"You've been reading that book for an hour already! There's only so long a girl can wait in silence!"

"Yeah, Frank- at least I can admit I'm boring," Lily joked. "Wait- Are you reading that upside down?"

A faint blush appeared on his cheeks, but he managed to retort, "Yeah- who's boring now? It's from Xenophilius Lovegood from fifth year."

Lily smirked, "I know- He gave a special edition. It's hard- cover and charmed so it reads right side up."

Alice broke in. "Only with Philius would you have to charm his stuff right side up," she said disapprovingly. A sly smile came across her face. "I must say, Lily, special edition? He must really like you."

"What?!"

Frank smiled, amused, but came to Lily's rescue. "Alice- what is Hot Topic again?"

"Frank! I've explained it to you every year for four years! How do you not remember?" All she got in reply was a sweet smile and a shrug. She sighed. "We made it up in first year too… You were there…" She lamented, but explained it to him. "First, we come up with a subject. One of us will walk out of the compartment. The first thing he/ she sees would be the topic. Then we take turns to describe the topic with a couple words and you have to have alliteration."

Frank, who had been watching Alice's face as she talked, blinked. "Oh, um... right. Yeah- so let's start!"

Lily stood up, "I'll find the topic." She slid open the door, and lifted her foot to step out before she was slammed to the floor.

"Merlin, Lily are you okay?! Lily!" a high pitched voice yelled urgently.

Lily cracked an eye open and said, "For the record Alice, the first thing I saw was the hallway carpet." She steadfastly ignored the concerned caramel eyes focused on her.

James looked confused. "Um.. I'm not Alice."

Lily snapped, "I know that! I'm not blind, Pothead!" Pothead was Lily's affectionate nickname for James (or so he liked to say).

Alice gently pushed James out of the carriage with a warning look. She knew how James felt- and quite honestly, she felt a little bad for him. Especially considering he was a fifth year- a popular, smart, and friendly one at that- he reached out to everyone in the school (except for select Slytherins). But she trusted that Lily to make the right decisions for herself. Of course, she could meddle a bit.

As she slid the door closed, she turned around. "Hot Topic #1: James Potter."

Frank frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. He trusted Alice to know what she was doing.

Lily's jaw tensed, but otherwise showed no reaction. She spoke calmly, "I thought I said that the first thing I saw was the floor?" as if she were just curious.

Alice knew she should back off when Lily was like this- Lily had a calm before the storm policy. But maybe if she acted oblivious?

"Oh, come on Lily! Floors are boring! And in contrast, James Potter is interesting and yummy!"

Frank's frown deepened now. He could empathize with James and all, but he didn't like this way of helping him.

Lily sent Alice a hard look. A muscle in her cheek flexed. "Fine," was all she said before putting a book in front of her face, ready to ignore her carriage companions for the rest of the ride.

"Lily…

Lily… C'mon."

Frank tentatively put his hand on her shoulder. "Alice, just let it go…"

"No! Lily…"

Lily didn't move.

Silence reigned for an hour before Frank said, "Lily… You know none of us are happy right now. Talk."

Lily finally relented. "About what?" She smiled tightly.

Alice and Frank both smiled back- Alice shyly, Frank encouragingly.

In the dorm after the Welcome Feast that night…

Lily, Alice, Melinda, and Dorcas were all sharing a dorm. Lily was the last to shower, and was just coming out of the bathroom in her robe and drying her hair to find the three other girls sitting on their beds waiting for her.

"What?"

"We were waiting to play Hot Topic!"

"You could have played without me." Lily said somewhat warily.

"Yeah, but you come up with the best allitera- thingies!"

"Okay, so what's the topic?"

"Oh! Oh! James…." Dorcas said with a dreamy sigh. Melinda swooned with her.

Lily looked suspiciously at Alice, but Alice was just staring at them with wide eyes before catching Lily's eye and twirling her hair around her finger in the universal 'loony' symbol. Lily decided to go along with it.

"Okay… Let's start…"

"Hmm… I'll start. Exquisite and extremely entertaining." Dorcas came out of her trance.

"Oh- that's good!"

"Sensibly smart."

Lily raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing.

Alice went next. "Lamentably loyal."

The girls paused for a moment working out how that made sense.

Lily finally muttered, "Insanely insensitive."

The other girls rolled their eyes.

"G'night."

"What? Just one round?"

"Yeah- sitting in a train for ages is really exhausting.."

"True.. very true…"

"Good night."

"G'night."

"Don't let the bugs bite!"

"Yes Alice" they chorused.