Chapter 24
Paige nervously made her way up to the attic with the other 15 kids. She didn't trust Fred. Does this have something to with the look that passed between him and Rose? What is he going to make us do? I just won't do any dares!
She started climbing up the stairs, "Um Paige do you mind holding the back of your dress?" Paige looked back to see a very red James, she forgot that he might be able to see up her dress, Paige blushed, and grabbed the back of her dress, making her forget all about her suspicions.
Once they were all gathered in a huge circle, Fred stated the rules, "Ok, You can only do truth or dare 3 times in a row. If you do back down from a dare or a truth you will not be able to talk for a month, so does everyone comply?" He had an evil glint in his eye as he said this. Everyone placed their hand on top of his, and then Rose of all people cast the spell. How did she know the exact spell, wasn't this whole thing just a spur of the moment?
"Ok who to ask first?" Fred's gaze swept across the entire circle, but Paige noticed it rested on her a little longer than the rest. "Scorpius, since you're new you get to go first. Truth or dare?"
"Dare." Scorpius had a hungry look in his eye; He would've been a great Gryffindor. Paige thought.
"Well then, we'll start easy. Go down stairs and spike the adults' drinks. I want to make sure that we stay here awhile." While everyone else was laughing and watching Scorpius, sneak downstairs. Paige was pondering what Fred meant when he said, "make sure that we stay awhile." It hadn't settled well with her.
Once Scorpius was done, they went around the circle, each dare or question getting more elaborate. Paige had seen things she never wanted to see and found out some scarring details about the people in that room. So far, all she had had to do was answer some embarrassing questions about her childhood and pull off some interesting stunts. Slowly her feelings of unease began to fade away.
After a couple hours though, things started escalating, especially towards James and Paige. One dare included that Paige and James had to serenade to one another.
"You two have to sing to one another. AND you have to sing a love or sexual muggle song, got it!" This coming from Albus. Paige had never wanted to kill someone more in that moment.
"Oh well I'm going to win this!" James said getting up.
Scoffing Paige called him out, "They never said this was a competition! And if anyone was to win then I would!" With that James went over to Teddy and whispered something in his ear. Teddy broke into a wide smile, chuckled and nodded. James' clothes then transfigured into a muggle suit, the color matching his hair perfectly, with a black tie and a crisp white shirt, making his blue eyes pop.
Paige shook her head slowly, giving him an indignant look, "I can't believe you! I told you that in confidence." She loved a man in muggle suits.
James flashed her a smile, "All's fair in Truth or Dare." With that a muggle song came on and James sang his heart out, and he wasn't all that bad. But he made some of the most vulgar and suggestive movements, which made Paige, turned a deep red, and not all of it was out of embarrassment, a lot of it was out of anger. When he was finally done he walked over to her, out of breath, and whispered, "Beat that." In a burst of rage Paige walked over to Victoire, and whispered her plan into her ear. She started laughing, "You truly are cruel! I love it!" Everyone gave them a confused look.
Victiore pointed her wand at Paige and before everyone's eyes; her sundress transformed into tight revealing silver dress with stiletto's to match. Everyone's mouth dropped open. Paige ignored all her feelings of discomfort and humiliation, she wanted to look confident, pulling out her bun she and shaking out her hair.
Scorpius mouth hung open, "She wins. James, you lose, She wins, and there's no doubt." No one even laughed they just stared at her intently. With another wave of her wand, Victiore started the music. Paige sang the muggle song "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey. Paige completely blacked out during the entire performance. But from the expressions on everyone's face she had done a pretty good job. Willing her blush away she looked at James with fake confidence.
"You win." Was all James could choke out. With that her clothes were transfigured back, and the game continued.
By the time it was her turn again she was exhausted, not wanting to risk another horrific dare she chose truth. That was one hell of a mistake.
"All right then Paige, here's your question. What the bloody hell happened between you and James over winter holidays, and don't give that rubbish of "the astronomy homework" You have to tell us the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Or you'll be mute for a whole month." And that evil grin appeared on his Fred's face once again. Then all the pieces fell together. Why Fred had been acting so weird, why the rules were so forceful. And then she realized that he and Rose had been in on it together, for some reason that realization hurt more than the slap across the face.
Everyone looked at Paige, her face was unreadable, nobody could tell what she was thinking, and all they knew was how tense it had gotten. Paige's eyes narrowed, and she pursed her lips. Fred started to fidget under her stern gaze. James looked absolutely furious, but he wasn't about to say anything until Paige answered.
"You planned this whole thing. And Rose was in on it." Paige's voice was cold, filled with icy hatred.
Fred fidgeted some more, his confidence gone. "Answer the question Paige." Was all he could summon, but Paige wasn't the one who replied.
"Good god Fred, I can't believe you did this!" Yelled Roxy. Fred glared t his twin sister. Then everyone sat in silence, waiting for Paige to respond.
After what seemed like eternity, Paige answered, "FINE, YOU KNOW HOW WE BECAME FRIENDS, HE SAVED MY LIFE. MY FAT ARSE FELL THROUGH THE ICE WHEN I WENT SKATING ON THE LAKE. I WOULD'VE DROWNED OR BLED TO DEATH WHICHEVER CAME FIRST!"Paige took a deep breath trying to regain her composure, "Not the juicy little secret you had anticipated, was it?" With that she stormed out, leaving everyone stunned. Fred's face fell, and he just looked at James, stammering, not sure how to apologize, "James, I-I didn't know. I –I'm s-sorry!" James just stared at him in disgust. He stormed passed, but as he did, he shoved Fred into the wall. Making everyone jump and some of the girls scream, and then he shot a glare at Rose who just sat there, pale. With that, James ran after Paige.