Party Games

Chapter 8: Three Truths and a Lie

"What were you and Sirius talking about?" Remus pressed - for the third time that afternoon. It was starting to get on Lily's nerves, but she didn't want to point that out.

"I told you - nothing important. He randomly wanted to play a game."

"Sirius doesn't do things randomly - they're for a reason, even if he didn't tell you."

"I really don't see what the ulterior motive would be behind a game of True or False."

"Ttrue or False?"

"Yes," Lily said warily.

"That's interesting." And Remus returned to his work, seeing as Professor Binns had stopped talking to shoot the pair a dirty look.

"Interesting?" Lily hissed, after a substantial pause. "Oh, I like that. 'Sirius doesn't do things without a reason' and then you won't even tell me what the reason was."

"I don't know his reason," Remus said calmly, staring straight ahead in mock-interest. Binns was rattling something about the Vampire Liberation Act of 1892, and the two students in the back were doing a poor job of taking notes.

"I'll tell you this," he said, "it was probably something to do with James."

She turned pink. "No, I really don't..."

"You know we'd always back him up, Lily," Remus said, "but Sirius most of all. He's the most loyal fellow I've ever met and he's always trying to help Jjames out when it comes to you. Got a better head on his shoulders."

"Potter doesn't need help," Lily said.

Remus gawked.

"What?" Lily blushed. "You think I could snog him for seven minutes straight and never consider a less-than-platonic relationship?"

"Well - you said he was - just a friend, you know..." Rremus looked very surprised. "But this is brilliant! Nnow we can tell him and - "

"No, we can't," Lily interrupted. "Remus, I don't think you understand."

"What's there to understand? You like him!"

"I do not like him!" Lily exclaimed, turning a few heads. She lowered her voice. "Just because a few times I've wondered what it would be like to kisss him for a reason...or even to hug him...or to look into his eyes after we've -"

"This conversation is getting incredibly awkward."

"Sorry." Lily cleared her throat, suddenly red. "Look, there's a difference between admiring someone's masculinity and having a crush on them."

Remus snorted.

"Of course. I should've known you wouln't understand."

"Lily..."

"I suppose I can just go back to dating Corbin McLaggen..."

"Lily..."

"But I really doubt we'll last much longer than a few weeks. I'll have to compose a waiting list -"

"Lily!" Remus cried, exasperated. "Look. James is my friend, okay? I'd like you to at least try a relationship with him - he would be unbelievably happy..."

"Maybe when he proves he has an actual personality. I don't date boys who can recite all the answers to their Transfiguration homework yet aren't even capable of intelligent conversation."

"He does have a personality. A big one. You and I both know that."

"Only when he's being a smart-mouthed berk."

"Here, I'll prove it...err..." Remus sighed loudly before perking back up. "Alright. I'll tell you four things about James - and you have to...pick out which one's not true."

"So...three truths and a lie?" Lily raised an eyebrow. "I really don't see -"

"Mr. Lupin! Miss Evans!"

"I really don't see how that will prove he has a personality," she whispered after casting a wary look at Binns.

"Just try," Remus insited. "Here's four - er - his favorite muffin is poppyseed...his Patronus is a bird...his favorite color is red, and he's afraid of heights."

"Afraid of heights."

"Actually, no," Remus admitted. "He even hates looking out the dormitory window because he's afraid one day he'll find the urge to throw himself off it."

"But he plays Quidditch," Lily said flatly."

"And?"

"And in case you haven't noticed, Quidditch is played a hundred feet int he air on moving objects!"

"Yes, well," Remus said with a sniff. "I suppose that's his way of trying to overcome it."

"Well, it's not very intelligent," she told him.

"So? Just go on..."

"Erm." Lily knew the trick to this game - the most normal statement was usually a lie. "He likes poppyseed muffins?"

"Remus smiled. "Nope. It's actually his patronus - it's a stag, last time I checked."

"A stag - like a buck?"

"Well - yes. Stags are red deer, though, aren't they?"

"If it's a Patronus, how can you tell?"

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Well - er - I suppose I just guessed."

"Yes, well. I don't think I learned much."

"Try again, then, Lily! You can't possibly expect to glean much information from one little game...can you?" Remus picked up a quill, trying to look studious. "I don't even pick up much from these horrid lectures, which are far more substantial."

"Mr. Lupin! Miss Evans!" Binns barked. "Enough talking in my class! I understand if you don't find the Wizard-Vampire Union very interesting, but I will not have students carrying an ongoing and irrelevant conversation while I teach!"

"Sorry!"

"Sorry, Professor." Lily put on her most innocent face. "We were actually discussing the post-war effects on the vampire society."

"Interesting...I'd think it was true, except the war is not yet over." Binns fixed both of them with a steely glare. "Detention. My office, eight-o-clock on Saturday."

Lily groaned and Remus shrugged.

"Tell me more about him later," she whispered.