Small Game: Would You Rather?

Prompt: Would you rather: have a third eye or have a third limb?

Word count: 516


Would You Rather?


i.

"Let's play a game," Ernie said one rainy afternoon.

Hannah looked up from the frayed threads she was picking. "What kind of game?"

"It's not going to be like the last game we played, is it?" Susan asked, sliding down the sofa she was sitting on and landing on the floor in a heap.

"Hopefully not." Last time, someone had to sneak into the Slytherin Common Room and remove the clothes of everyone in there. They couldn't forfeit, because magic would not allow it. It was a truly terrifying experience.

"What do you want to play?" Eloise asked, lying across her own sofa whilst staring up at the ceiling.

"Would you rather."

Eloise's eyes widened as she rolled on her side to look at Ernie. "Well, you can count me out, then. That game…" She shuddered. "Never again."

"Justin?" Ernie looked up at his friend hopefully.

"I'm out as well. This sounds dangerous."

"Susan?" He sounded desperate now.

"Sure, I'm in. Why not?"

"And you, Hannah?"

Hannah shrugged. "It can't hurt, can it?"

Eloise muttered something under her breath, but what she said was ignored by the three players. Only Justin heard her.

"Who wants to start?" Ernie asked, shuffling around on the floor to get comfortable.

Susan crossed her legs in front of her, leaning back on the sofa Eloise was on. "I will. Hannah, would you rather have a third limb or a third eye?"

Hannah squeaked. "I didn't think I would be going first. Um, what do you mean by a third limb?"

"I mean, either a third arm or a third leg. You can choose which, I think."

"I already have a third leg," Ernie said, winking at Susan.

Justin rolled his eyes. Susan just scoffed. "Hardly. Besides, this isn't your question."

Hannah hid a laugh at the jibe Susan made. Ernie held his hand to his heart in mock hurt—or maybe it was real? "Honestly, Susan, you wound me."

"Good."

The area they were sitting in was quiet for almost two whole seconds until three of them burst out laughing. Justin sent an apologetic look to the other people in the Common Room, whilst Eloise grabbed a pillow and threw it at the closest person to her—Hannah. The blonde whipped her head round to face Eloise so fast that one of her pigtails hit Ernie. "What was that for, Ellie?"

"You were being stupid. No one could concentrate."

Susan rolled her eyes at Eloise. "I think we should get back to the game now. Hannah, third limb or third eye?"

"Um, third eye, I guess, but in the back of my head."

Justin choked on the Butterbeer he was sipping. Ernie leant around Susan to see why, and he dropped his own bottle to the floor with a clatter. Hannah's eyes—all three of them—started to brim with tears. "No, no, no." She blinked all three eyes. "This can't be happening."

She blinked again before shuddering. "This feels so weird," she said, sounding hysterical.

In between her two pigtails lay an eye, blue like the normal two, eyelids complete with blonde eyelashes.


Why was Eloise so adamant against playing? )

~Buttercat