Party Games
Chapter 2: Truth or Dare
After the rather embarrassing closet episode, Lily thought she would never again listen to a suggestion by Mary MacDonald. But at the mention of "Truth or Dare", she was right back in the hands of the devil.
"Now, here's the rules," Mary said carefully, as thirty or so Gryffindors looked on. "You can ask whoever you want for a truth or dare. If they choose truth, they must answer one question truthfully. If they choose dare, they must complete the given dare. Fail to do that, and they are out of the game. Succeed, and it is their turn."
"How do we know if they're lying?" someone asked.
Lily sighed. "Honor system."
Everyone agreed loudly, though some seemed less-than-enthusiastic about it.
"I'll go first. Remus, truth or dare?" Mary crossed her arms over her chest.
"Dare," Remus said immediately. There were many things he was not willing to tell people about, now or ever.
"I dare you to kiss Sirius."
"What?" Both cried. "That's disgusting!" Remus added.
"No way am I letting him get near me!"
"That's...ugh!"
"Alright," said Mary calmly. "You can sit out."
"I will," Remus said sourly, retreating to the corner of the common room.
"Who goes now?" someone wondered.
"I do," Mary said assertively. "Marlene, truth or dare?"
"Dare." Marlene, a tall girl with plain features, lifted up her chin bravely. "Like a Gryffindor."
"I dare you to kiss Lily."
Lily didn't even recoil as Marlene grinned sweetly around the circle and pecked Lily on the cheek.
"Now for something that doesn't involve kissing," Marlene said, shooting an apologetic glance at Remus. "Peter, truth or dare?"
"Dare," he answered, and everyone groaned. It looked like there would be no truths tonight. "What? It's more fun!"
"I dare you to write a letter to Dumbledore requesting an absence in dessert - because you're going on a diet."
Peter, quite used to jibes at his weight, heartily complied. It was actually rather funny, watching the mousy boy scratch out a hasty and somewhat apologetic letter to the Headmaster.
"Truth or dare?" he demanded of Sirius. Sirius grinned and chose "dare."
"I dare you to...show the whole room your tattoo."
The grin slipped away. "Wormy - that's on my arse!"
Peter shrugged.
Sirius was, needless to say, eliminated.
"Truth or dare?" someone said wearily. Fifteen minutes had passed, and the numbers were narrowed down to five: Peter, Mary, Marlene, Lily, and James.
"Truth," said James, and they all perked back up. It was the first time someone had picked "truth" and they were all dying for some variation.
"What is your middle name?"
"Tristan." Needless to say, they all laughed. Not because "Tristan" is a funny name, mind you; it was because James simply did not look like a Tristan.
"Truth or dare, Lily?"
Lily half-considered tunneling James's idea and picking "Truth" - but she didn't want to follow everything he did; and she didn't want to answer an embarrassing question regarding the other evening. "Dare, please."
"I dare you to run your hand through my hair."
Everyone found this odd, seeing as how it was completely easy to run a hand through someone's hair; Lily , however, simply obliged.
"Alright, Peter," she said casually. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth," Peter squeaked, awed at her coolness.
"What is your Animagus?"
Peter made a sound and looked at James, who shook his head. "I don't have one!" the blond boy blurted, and he moved away from the circle.
"Truth or dare, Mary?"
"Dare."
"I dare you commit every dare you've given out tonight."
Mary groaned, knowing she'd been beat. There was no way she could remember every dare she'd given out, let alone reenact them.
"Truth or dare, Potter?" Lily said mercilessly.
"Truth."
"What do you really think of me?"
"I think you're funny, and beautiful, and you see the good in people when they can't see it in themselves."
There was an awkward silence in the room.
"Truth or dare, Evans?" James said softly.
"Truth."
"Tell me, what do you think of me?" There was a kind of hope in his tone that Lily could not ignore.
"I think you're...okay," Lily said quietly. "Yeah. You're okay."
There was another silence.
"Truth or dare, Marlene?"
"Dare."
"I dare you to leave this circle," Lily said boldly. Marlene looked puzzled for a moment - then she laughed.
"Good one, Lily! I'll tak your dare." And Marlene was eliminated.
"Truth or dare, Potter?"
"Truth, Evans," James said.
"Why are you so nice to me?"
"Because I like you." And everyone knew it was the truth, too. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare," Lily said rebelliously. Now everyone who had been eliminated leaned in to see what would happen, who would win.
"I dare you" - James paused in thought - "to tell me you love me."
Lily hesitated. It would be lying, of course. But she wasn't about to lose. "I love you," she said seriously, drawing a laugh from the others.
James looked slightly put off.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Why did you just dare me to do that?"
For a moment, James hesitated. Then, carefully, he said, "I just wanted to hear it."
"Not much of an answer."
"I agree," said Mary from the back. "Sorry, James, but you're out."
"Okay," he said. "Good job, Lily."
And Lily didn't feel as triumphant as she thought she would.