A/N: If you read chapter two before I updated it earlier this week, you may want to go back and reread the rules section at the end of the chapter. When I went to write chapter 3, I realized that Sirius's rules didn't make any sense (why would you agree to the bet unless you knew you would do it?)… Sorry for any confusion! PM me if I'm being stupid and it still doesn't make sense or if you just want to take out any anger for me being such a ditz.
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS! PLEASE REVIEW!
Also, thanks to user KGHWI for the sweet review! I love the Marauders and writing this story, so it means a lot to know other people like it too.
Last thing: I am going to try (key word being try) to update this story every Saturday.
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Chapter 3
"Alright, Moony." Sirius had a devilish look on his face. "If I win, you can only eat dog food for a week." James snickered when he heard Sirius say this. "You win, I'll bring you whatever food you want, whenever you want it for a week."
Remus sat there for a minuted thinking. He seemed to be weighing over the pros and cons of the consequences. "Okay, I'll take the bet." Remus spoke anxiously, but in a way that made him seem adventurous, like he does this all the time… Which now that Lily thought about it, he probably did.
Sirius and Remus shook hands and took the oath. Sirius then announced then dare. "You have to dress up in a Halloween costume for the next 48 hours, never taking it off."
"But we have class tomorrow!" Remus protested.
"Fine by me if you want to lose the bet!"
Remus sighed, knowing that he would have to complete this dare. It wasn't that bad after all. "Do I get to pick the costume?"
"Did I not mention that?" Sirius replied mischievously. "You will be wearing a werewolf costume." Sirius and James howled in laughter. Remus rolled his eyes. Even Peter smiled a little.
Lily sat there confused and clueless. "Why is that so funny?"
The laughter slowly faded away and the expression that was on Sirius's face made Lily realizing that she was definitely missing something. This wasn't just any Marauder joke, there was as genuine secret behind it. For a second, Lily didn't want to know what it was because that would be like she was joining the Marauders, and she definitely didn't want to get that close to James. But then she realized that this secret seemed to affect Remus and he was one of her closest friends. Of course she wanted to know.
"C'mon guys, just tell me." Silence. "I'm good at keeping secrets… You don't have anything to worry about."
James chuckled once. "It's not gonna happen, Evans. Moony, you taking the bet or what?" James's smile returned to his face and Lily slumped back. She obviously wasn't going to get to know what all the laughter was about. Even though she knew it didn't really affect her, for some reason she felt a need to know what it was about. It was decided. Lily would play the game. Really play it. If she got close enough with the group, then maybe they would tell her what was going on, after all.
"Yeah I'm in." Remus turned to Sirius. "Get ready, Padfoot. You're going to have a lot of work this week!"
"Wanna bet?" Sirius smirked and pulled out a ginormous, extremely fuzzy, obnoxious looking costume.
With a sigh, Remus took the costume and walked to the other room. He returned wearing the ugly clothes. "Let the games begin." Remus muttered.
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"Alright, Moony. Your turn to ask."
The four Marauders had each pulled up a chair around Lily's bed so now the five seventh-years were in a sort-of circle. Lily was anxiously anticipating her turn. She had a feeling, though, that Remus wouldn't make a bet with her.
"Lily…" Remus started. She thought wrong. Hopefully he would go easy on her, though.
"If you win, I'll give you my study notes that I made for McGonagall's test—"
"Ok, I'll take the bet." Lily quickly said.
"Evans, you're supposed to wait until he's completely explained the consequences." James was smiling.
"I'm way behind my study schedule. Especially since I'm spending the day stuck in here with you four." James was laughing now at Lily's response.
"Let me just finish." Remus smiled. Lily may be his best friend outside of the Marauders clan, but he had a ruthless, competitive side. Now that he knew that there was no way she was going to turn down the bet, he was going to make this good.
"If I win, you have to stay in boy's dorm for two nights." Lily stared at Remus in disbelief. "in the same bed as Sirius." Lily's jaw dropped. Sirius whooped and hollered with delight.
"Still wanna take the bet, Evans?" James was smirking now.
"Remus, how could you? What's gotten in to you?"
Remus was smiling. "Lily, the first thing you should learn about playing games with the Marauders is that you play to win. No mercy. It's one of Sirius's many rules."
"Don't worry, dear Lilian." Sirius was now leaning towards Lily and putting one arm around her shoulder.
Attempting to shove Sirius away without any success, Lily spoke. "My name is not Lily. And I'm most certainly not your dear." Sirius finally leaned away, laughing.
"So, are you going to take the bet?" James wore a challenging smirk on his face. That alone was enough reason for Lily to justify taking the bet, despite the consequences if she were to lose.
With the look he gave her, Lily knew that James in no way expected her to say yes. He didn't even consider it an option. In his eyes, she was careful, quiet Lily who just sat around in the library all day. Well, maybe he didn't think of her as quiet, she did seem to yell at James a lot.
The fact that James didn't think she would take the bet gave Lily what she needed to muster up the strength and announce: "I'll take the bet."
Sirius had a satisfied smirk.
Peter giggled in the background.
Remus laughed, very amused.
Lily was pleased with their reactions.
James's jaw fell open.
"No way, Evans!" Once James caught his breath, he joined in on the laughter. He was just as pleased and surprised as the rest. Lily was starting to second guess the decision, but it was too late now! The boys would never let her live it down if she chickened out. Lily and Remus took the oath.
"So what is the challenge?" Peter asked timidly.
"Lily Evans, your dare will take place tomorrow during third class." Oh no. Remus had only said a few words, but already Lily knew that she was regretting accepting the dare. Third class was transfiguration with McGonagall, arguably one of the strictest, most intimidating professors at Hogwarts.
Remus continued explaining the dare, "Get to Transfiguration early, before McGonagall gets there. Once the students arrive, call for attention and proceed to teach the class, I'm sure you'll know the curriculum well enough. In order to win the bet, you must stay standing in the front of the room for the entirety of the class period. When McGonagall tries to take over teaching the class, cut her off and continue to teach. If you don't stay up there for the whole class, then you lose the bet."
Lily groaned. The idea of standing in front of the Transfiguration class sounded horrible. The idea of being rude to Professor McGonagall sounded terrible. The idea of sleeping in the same bed as Sirius sounded horrible.
"Why do you guys like playing this game?" Lily moaned and covered her face with her hands.
"For one, we get bored a lot. There's also the fact that this school is way to dull and needs some excitement every now and then. Lastly, it's pretty damn fun."
"Thank you for the much needed explanation, Black." Lily said sarcastically.
"Black? Evans, don't call me Black, that name isn't something I'm proud of. Call me Sirius or Padfoot. Heck, call me Jack Ass for all I care, but you've got to stop calling me Black if this whole friendship thing is going to work out."
Lily was speechless. It was a well-known fact that the Black family was affiliated with dark magic, but he never seemed to acknowledge the fact or be bothered by it. Despite being annoying at times, Sirius seemed so different from prejudice that came with his family name, that Lily sometimes forgot the connotation of the name. She never would've expected that it would bother him. He had such a light-hearted spirit. It completely altered how she saw Sirius. Yes, he was still annoying and teased her way too often, but that was just him being a Marauder. Just him asking her to call him by his name made Lily realize just how hard it is for him to escape the darkness that comes with his family.
He also said they were friends. If you asked her yesterday if she wanted to be friends with Sirius Black, Lily would probably laugh in your face and walk away. But after seeing this other side to him, Lily realized that he might just be a good friend to have.
"Alright Sirius, want to take a bet?"
