A/N: Hi!!! Finally!!! I haven't had time to type, everything's been mad. Hope it's been worth the wait.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters you recognize, Abba, and a lot of other things. So sue me. Actually, please don't! I'm only borrowing them!!

Chapter 9: The Drinking Game

"That is sooo sexy," Sirius repeated, still looking at the ring.

"When you're finished gaping at my stomach and getting all worked up," she said, pretending to be annoyed.

"Oh, I'm worked up alright," he said. "It's sooo—"

"Yes, Sirius, my ring and tattoo are sexy," she said. "I get the message. I wasn't sexy before, but I am now that I'm full of holes and covered in ink."

"I didn't mean that. And you're not 'full of holes' and al that, you have a very discreet tattoo and a harmless piercing," he said. "I always thought you were pretty sexy, by the way."

"Really?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah," he answered. They were doing it again. Looking at each other really intensely. The room and all the other people in it wee dissolving. Neither of them moved, they barely even blinked. In the background, Sirius could hear one of the song's he'd requested playing.

Your smile and the sound of your voice

And the way you see through me

Got a feeling, you give me no choice

But it means a lot to me

So I wanna know …

What's the name of the game?

He couldn't have picked a better song. Despite their earlier vows to do something about it, they were scared. Neither of them knew where the line that they weren't meant to cross was. Sometimes it was near; sometimes they couldn't be further away from it. Lena suspected that the other day in the owlery, they were very close to it. That morning their toes had barely crossed it. Now …

Does it mean anything to you?

What's the name of the game?

Can you feel it the way I do?

… She reckoned it was about twenty miles behind them. She didn't mind, but there was a tiny part of her that was worried. Sirius had a reputation for treating girls badly that was second only to James. They didn't mean to hurt them, Lena could tell, it was just that they weren't interested in meaningful relationships. Was Lena? She didn't know, but this felt so right, how could it possibly be wrong?

If I trust in you, would you let me down?

Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?

Could you feel the same way too?

I wanna know …

The name of the game

Sirius was thinking along the same lines. He'd liked a lot of girls, but he had never wanted to kiss them as much as he wanted to kiss Lena right then. It scared him a bit, the intensity of it all. He felt as if he couldn't live without her ... there was only one thing he could do; he took hr hand and they danced.

*****

James, Remus, Peter and Frank returned to the table and set down a bottle of orangey liquid and lots of shot glasses.

"We're going to play a game," James announced to the girls.

"What kind of game?" Kim asked.
"A 'Sirius and Lena' drinking game," he explained. "Every time Sirius whispers or Lena giggles, you take a shot," he went on. "When they look over to make sure no-one's looking, take two. If he touches her arse, take three—"

"If she touches his arse, take four," Remus put in. James grinned.

"If they kiss anywhere apart from the lips, take five," he said. "On the lips, take ten."

"Anyone interested?" Remus asked. Kim and Ally shrugged.

"Ok," they said. "Just for a little." Lily looked doubtful.

"How about you, Lily?" James asked.

"No thanks," she replied coldly.

"Why not?" James said, filling glasses. "It's fun."

"I don't think so," she said.

"I'll give you a kiss if you do," he said.

"Drop dead," she replied.

"How shall I drop dead?" he asked, grinning. "Like this?" He acted out a very dramatic, moving death scene, complete with fake choking noises and ending up with him slumping down so that his head rested in her lap. Lily grabbed a glass and threw back a shot in exasperation.

"Fast," James said with obvious admiration. "But we haven't started yet." Lily didn't reply.

"Oh! Lena giggled!" Remus said, so they all took a shot, then winced.

"That is vile!" Frank said. "What is it?" James shrugged.

"Ask Rosie. Sirius whispers—"

… Everyone took a shot …

"—And she giggles again."

Everyone took another. Rosmerta came over from the bar.

"Everything ok?" she asked. They all nodded. "What are you doing?" she went on.

"Playing a drinking game," James asked, refilling the glasses. "A giggle!" They downed another shot. Lily giggled. Rosmerta rolled her eyes.

"Go easy, please," she said, and walked away. Lily was still giggling.

"What's so funny?" Remus asked.

"Isn't Peter a funny name?" she said, and then collapsed in giggles again.

"Oh-oh," Ally said. "They've gone to her head."

"Go on, go on, Padfoot, you know you want to … touch her arse, go on …," James was saying. "Oooh, so close! But he did whisper something. Ooh, and looked over! Three!" only Lily and James took the shots this time.

"Maybe we should stop the game," Ally suggested.

"No!" Lily exclaimed. "I'm having fun!" She was drunk. She had never been drunk before, she had never had more than a glass of wine at Christmas dinner. But she had just taken nine shots of whatever that was in less than ten minutes. Ten, when Lena giggled. James was pretty drunk too; he never could hold his drink.

"Yeah, don't take them from us!" he protested. Lily giggled, then took a shot.

"What was that for?" James asked.

"I giggled," she said.

"It only works for Lena," James said. Lily shrugged.

"I was thirsty," she said.

"Fair enough. Oh, yes! He touched her arse! Go Padfoot!" James exclaimed, and took three. "Which made her giggle," he went on, taking another. Lily had done the same.

"And move her hand to his arse," she continued, and they took four.

"Ok, stop it! You just took eight shots and they didn't do anything like that!" Kim exclaimed.

"I know, and that's sooo unlike me," Lily slurred.

"Yeah, you know ok when you're drunk, but you can be a real bitch when you're sober," James said.

"I know!" Lily agreed. "I don't know what comes over me, but you just really piss me off." She looked back over to the dance floor. "Oh, just kiss him, Lena, so I can take loads more!" she exclaimed impatiently. Then something appeared to register in her head. "How much do we take if they shag?" she asked.

"A million!" James said excitedly.

"I think the chances of that happening are pretty miniscule," Remus said, grinning.

"Remus!" Kim exclaimed. "Lily's drunk, it's not funny."

"It is a little bit," he said, still grinning. "And James is, too."

"Remus …" Kim hesitated. "What's your middle name?" she asked. He laughed.

"Jeremiah," he told her.

"Ok. Remus Jeremiah Lupin!" she exclaimed.

*****

"Do you want a drink?" Sirius asked Lena. They had been dancing for what seem like eternity.

"Yeah," she said, and they headed over to the bar.

"The usual," Sirius said to Rosmerta.

"And what's that?" Rosmerta asked.

"What we normally have," Lena replied.

"You normally have a Butterbeer," Rosmerta teased.

"Fine, I'd like to change my usual to a vodka and pumpkin juice," Lena said.

"And mine to a pint of lager," Sirius added.

"I'll give you a cider," Rosmerta said. They sat at the bar and talked about … well anything except them going out. After a couple of drinks, they were a little bit more confident, enough to go out and dance again this time to a slow song. They put their arms around each other and swayed softly to the music. After a few minutes Lena figured she had to say something or they'd be skirting around the issue forever.

"Sirius," she said.

"Yeah?"

"What are we doing?" she asked.

"I don't know. Do you?"

"I just asked you," she pointed out.

"Sorry. I'm just … confused," he said. "I really like you."

"I like you, too," she said.

"Lena, can I – I mean – would you mind if –" Sirius stammered. Lena looked straight into his eyes and moved her hand up to his neck. She needed to stand on her tiptoes to reach up, but she managed, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Yes, you can," she whispered. He kissed her on the cheek, and she turned her head so that their lips met.

It wasn't either of their first kisses, but it was explosive. The chemistry between them was intense; they had never experienced something so perfect. Their lips were only touching. They broke apart, looked at each other for a second, then kissed again, deeper yet still as tenderly. They were interrupted by a squeal that sounded like …

"Lily?" Lena said, puzzled. They looked over at table. Remus, Peter, Frank, Ally and Kim were trying to keep a bottle of something away from Lily, and James was almost falling off his chair laughing …

THUD

… He had fallen off his chair laughing.

"What the—" Lena asked. Sirius shrugged.

"Let's go over and see what's happening," he said.

"Gimme! We were meant to take ten!" Lily was saying. Ally looked up to see Lena and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank god, Lena," Kim said. "Lily's a bit drunk."

"I am not!" Lily protested. "I'm as jober as a sudge."

"Yes, of course you are," Lena said soothingly. James popped his head up from under the table.

"I am, too!" he said. Remus dragged him up and sat him beside Lily.

"Pete, you stay and watch them for a second," Sirius said. Remus and Peter obliged. Lena got the impression that in James' absence (or incapacitation) Sirius took control. They gathered a few feet away. "We can't let Rosie see, she'll never serve us again. We've got to get them back to the castle, and somehow get them from the second floor to the tower without them making any noise. Any suggestions as to how?" Lena grinned. He was sooo sexy when he was being all authoritarian.

"Well a silencing charm around the cloak will make sure we aren't heard," Kim suggested.

"Excellent," Sirius said. "Then where will we take them?"

"We can't bring Lily to our dorm. If she wakes up Sophie and Adele the whole school will know by tomorrow," Lena said.

"We can take her to our dorm, but the other girls will have to come, too," Frank said.

"Why?" Kim asked.

"If Adele and Sophie wake up and find every girl except Lily in the room they'll spread other rumors," he said.

"Yes, you're right," Sirius said. "They can just sleep it off."

"Actually, I've got a better idea," Lena said, and Sirius grinned.

"Let's hear it then, smarty-pants," he said.

"I could brew the potion," Lena suggested.

"What potion?" he asked.

"The one to cure hangovers," she said.

"There's a potion to cure hangovers?!?" the boys exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's simple to brew. I could make it in about six hours," she said. Sirius looked at her in admiration.

"I could kiss you," he said. Lena grinned.

"You already have," she said.

"Erm … Sirius!" Peter's panicked voice came from the table. Lena's jaw dropped.

Lily and James were kissing.

"Shit!" Remus exclaimed.

"They're stealing our thunder," Sirius muttered to Lena. Lena tried to concentrate on the problem with Lily and James, but Sirius' breath on her neck was distracting her. She pulled herself together, and tapped her best friend on the shoulder. Lily came up for air, looking annoyed.

"Lena!" she protested. "I was in the middle of something!"

"You were kissing James," Lena told her.

"Well, you were kissing Sirius!" Lily retorted.

"Yeah, well we were both sober," Lena said. "And have you forgotten you hate James?"

"Well, he's a good kisser," Lily said.

"Lily, darling, you're drunk," Lena pointed out. "Mrs. Norris would be a good kisser after the amount of alcohol you've consumed."

"Mrs. Norris is all hairy," Lily said, scrunching up her nose.

"I have hairy legs!" James announced. "Want to see?" he continued, and put his foot on the table and starting to pull his trouser leg up.

"No thanks," Sirius said, pushing James' shoe off the table and helping him up.

"Lily's going to be harder to control," Sirius said. "James has been drunk before, we know exactly how to deal with him. But Lily …"

"She's a danger to us all," Lena said, looking at her friend, who was advancing on Remus.

"Kiss me, Remus!" she exclaimed. "I don't hate you!"

"Ah, the way to any man's heart," Remus said, backing away.

"No, Lily, kiss me!" James pleaded. "I want to kiss you!"

"Really?" Lily said, turning around with her nose scrunched.

"Yeah, you have lovely lips!" he said.

"Awwwwwww," Lily cooed. "In'e sweet? When did you want to kiss me?"

"All the time!" he exclaimed. "You're sooo sexy when you're talking. Your accent is a huge turn on."

Her accent?" Sirius said skeptically.

"What's wrong with my accent?" she asked.

"Cockney accents aren't normally considered to be that sensual," all said.

"It turns me on," James shrugged.

"And yours does it for me," Lily told James.

"Great," Frank said sarcastically. "We can add Welsh to the list of sexy accents."

"How come James has a Welsh accent and you don't?" Kim asked Sirius. "Don't you live next door to him?"

"He moved from Wales when he was nine," Sirius explained. "And never lost the accent." Lily and James were still interested in talking about kissing.

"Have you ever wanted to kiss me?" James asked Lily.

"Not really," she said. James' face fell. "But I've wanted to jump you a couple of times when you were playing Quidditch," she went on.

"Ok, way too much sharing," Sirius said. "Let's get back to the castle and get these two knocked out. Can you brew a sleeping potion?" he asked Lena. She nodded.

"Do you think they're speaking the truth, or is it just the alcohol talking?" Lena wondered.

"I don't know about Lily, but James normally speaks the truth when he's drunk," Sirius said, trying to fasten James' cloak.

"Really?" Ally asked, wrestling with Lily's cloak. Frank nodded.

"Lillian Rose Evans, stand still!" Lena said, going over to help Ally. As she struggled with Lily's cloak, her own came undone. She reached to grab it, but Sirius got it first, and put his arms around her to fasten it. She could feel his breath on her neck again … she had it bad. Again she reminded herself to concentrate on Lily.

"Leaving, are you?" Rosmerta called from the bar. Sirius and Kim pushed Lily and James out the door.

"Yeah," Lena said. "Getting tired." Rosmerta raised an eyebrow. Lena elbowed Remus and he yawned.

"You don't fool me," Rosmerta said. "I know what's going on." The seven teenagers began to panic. "You're planning to play a prank, aren't you?" Rosmerta went on. They breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"You know us to well," Remus said.

"Where'd James go? And Lily?" Rosmerta wondered.

"Oh, they're gone ahead," Sirius said. "We'd better catch up with them. Thanks for everything." They walked out and stopped dead in their tracks.

"Oh, bugger," Lena said.

Lily and James were nowhere to be seen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry.

It's been sooo long. I've been studying a lot. And I filled in my CAO!! For those of you that are confused, the CAO is the form you have to fill in to apply to college. If I get the right results, I'll be doing law or political science. In trinity, kinda the Harvard of Ireland. I probably won't get in, but you've got to try, haven't you