Chapter 2: Predictions

"Alright, so who wants to go first?" Carine asked.

"I will," Sirius said immediately. "Meyer, truth or dare?"

"Umm, truth," Allyson replied.

"Ok, out of us four handsome gents, whose pants would you most like to get into?"

"You certainly have a way of phrasing things," Allyson said. "But I think I need clarification, do you mean who I think is the best looking or who I would actually want to hook up with?"

"You heard the question, there's no need for me to clarify."

"Ok, ok. And I suppose the threat of Veritaserum still applies if anyone thinks you're lying," Allyson said.

"As it always does," James said. "Come on Ally, answer the question."

"Ugh, it's just so difficult with you two being so disgustingly arrogant and smug about everything."

"Well you could always choose me or Remus," Peter Pettigrew chimed in. Everyone grew quiet and looked at him; it wasn't often that he spoke up.

"Alright, I made my decision," Allyson said, bringing everyone back on track. "I guess I would have to go with you, Sirius."

"Ha ha, I knew it. All these years of you pretending to be disgusted by me, you secretly wanted me didn't you?"

"Oh how well you know me," Allyson said sarcastically. "Ok, it's my turn. Penny, truth or dare?"

"Dare of course," Penny responded automatically.

"Ok, I dare you to take the boy of your choice up to their bedroom and fool around for five minutes."

"Oh, sounds like fun!" Penny exclaimed. "James, let's go." James looked surprised when he was picked, but recovered quickly.

"Alright, come on." The two disappeared up the stairs.

"This game is so stupid, why do we always have to play it?" Lily asked scowling.

"Oh and what would you rather have us be doing?" Sirius asked. "Just because you're a prude doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't have a little fun."

"Hey, just because I don't want to randomly make out with one of you or answer awkward questions does NOT make me a prude. I think it's horrible how this tradition of ours has become simply random hook ups that lead to nothing. What if someone here actually has genuine feelings for someone? How do we know that no one likes James or Penny and now they're off doing who knows what. This is game has become so insensitive that I can't stand to be here anymore, I'll see you all in the morning." Lily got up and ran up the girl's staircase. She had been sitting on her bed for less than a minute when Carine appeared.

"Lil, what's wrong?" Carine asked as she sat next to her.

"Like I said, I just think that this has become such an obnoxious game. It just shows how shallow we all are. James and Sirius always get the make out and girl questions while Remus and Peter sit there almost in silence. And Penny and Allyson get way more attention than you, Kerri, and me."

"Hey, no one knows that better than me, but it's no secret that Penny and Allyson are way flirtier and um loose than we are. I don't think the guys think they're any more attractive than us. Come on, what is this really about? You don't still have a thing for Remus, do you?"

"No, no it's nothing like that. I guess I'm just a bit PMSy, I hope no one reads anything into this. Go back downstairs and have a good time, I'm just gonna go to bed, I'm really tired."

"Alright, get some rest, I expect you to be back to the Lily we all love by tomorrow."

"Ok, I will be. Tell everyone I'm sorry I flipped out."

Shortly after she had fallen asleep Lily was woken up by a voice. "Lily, what happened?!" Penny exclaimed.

"Mmm, go away, I'm sleeping," Lily mumbled.

"Nope, it's explanation time. Why'd you bail on us?" Lily caved, and sat up while rubbing her eyes.

"I already explained to Carine, I just wasn't in the mood to watch everyone have to make out with each other and answer embarrassing hypothetical questions, that's all."

"I don't know Lily, for some reason I don't believe that," Penny said suspiciously.

"Well, that's the only explanation you're getting for now. So tell me about the rest of the game and your make out session with James."

"If by make out you mean talking than absolutely."

"You're expecting me to believe that you and James spent five minutes alone in his room and only talked?" Lily asked.

"Oh, well no, we kissed a little bit of course, but then we ended up talking about him and Janie."

"Oh, so what did you find out?" Lily asked, now growing with curiosity.

"Well, he claims that he's totally over her and what we saw today was just them catching up on their summers. I mean, I'm not totally sure I believe it all, but that's what he said."

"Ok, so are you still planning on getting with him?"

"Ehh, I don't know, I mean now that I've made out with him it just seems less appealing for some reason," Penny chuckled. "And who knows if he's seriously over Janie or not?"

"Yeah, true. Well at least you have the option; I mean I'm sure you could get any guy you wanted. I, on the other hand, am pretty much destined for another year of loneliness."

"Lily, don't say that about yourself," Penny said suddenly feeling terrible for her best friend. "Hey, we'll find you a guy. And maybe you're right that I can get with a lot of guys, but that only means like random hook ups, no one would actually consider having a real relationship with me. You don't know how envious I am of what you and Lupin had, the closest thing I've ever had to a real relationship was a three month long consistent hook up with Sirius, or the two months I was with Kevin, half of which I was at home cheating on him. What's wrong with me Lily? I mean seriously, I need to learn how to commit."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with you Penny, you're just confident and like to have fun. I'm probably just a prude like Sirius said."

"He called you a prude? What a dick!"

"Well it's true," Lily said softly.

"Ok, Lily, we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves. You need to work on being more confident, you're a gorgeous girl! And I gotta learn how to stop slutting around the place and get serious with a guy."

"Alright," Lily said starting to cheer up. "Let's make a new plan, you said you didn't want James, but was he a good kisser?"

"Yeah, he's certainly above average," Penny commented.

"Ok, so maybe I'll go for James?" Lily said trying to stay casual.

"Whoa, I thought you hated the guy."

"Well, there aren't exactly a lot of options here."

"Good point. Ok so you and James, and me aaaaand um, how about someone in Ravenclaw? I think I have a thing for those nerds."

"Ok sounds like a plan," Lily said smiling. The two girls decided to go to bed and were soon joined by Allyson, Carine, and Kerri who were returning from the common room.

The first week of classes passed by quickly and uneventfully. All the 7th years were pretty caught up in their N.E.W.T. level classes. When the weekend finally arrived they were all relieved. James, Sirius, and Penny all had a busy day Friday with Quidditch tryouts. The Gyffindor team was in need of a Chaser and a Beater. Lily decided to watch the tryouts with Allyson; they were each big Quidditch fans where Carine and Kerri thought it was overrated and only attended when they were dragged by their friends to the Gryffindor matches. The tryouts were scheduled to begin at 4, but at 4:15 Penny still hadn't shown up. James and Sirius, looking furious, left the rest of the team to walk up into the stands where Lily and Allyson were sitting.

"Do either of you have any idea where Penny is?" Sirius asked angrily.

"Hey, we're as clueless as you are." Allyson snapped back.

"Well, we're gonna go ahead and start the tryouts before people start leaving," James said. About five minutes later Penny ran down to the field. She went up to talk to Lily and Allyson first.

"Where have you been? James and Sirius are pissed." Allyson said.

"Yeah I knew they would be, but it was totally worth it. I just hooked up with Josh Kelly!"

"Oh, he's yummy," Allyson said impressed.

"Yeah, I know, I've been into him since like 4th year, but I never thought I had a chance, but he's in my Muggle Studies class and he asked to do homework together. I thought it was a weird thing to ask on a Friday, but now I know what he really wanted," Penny said with a smile.

"Well, you better get down there," Lily said.

"Good call, I'll fill you in on the details later," Penny said and ran down to join the rest of the team who didn't look happy.

"I don't know how she does it," Lily said.

"Yeah, I know, she can get anyone she wants." Allyson said, clearly jealous.

"Yeah, but the thing that confuses me is how she's so casual about it, Josh may never talk to her again and I doubt she'd even care."

"True, and James and Sirius are both so obviously into her. It's so hard to compete with her, neither of them will ever glance at any of us other Gryffindors with her always right in front of them," Allyson said solemnly.

"You think James and Sirius both like her?" Lily said surprised.

"Well, her and Sirius have such a history, I think there will always be something there and I don't know, ever since we've gotten back it seems like James has been kind of interested in her too. That of course could end up being messy with two best friends both liking the same girl."

"I don't think that's necessarily true," Lily said. "I kind of thought Sirius might be interested in you."

"Yeah right Lily," Allyson said sadly. "He may flirt with me once in a while, but he does that with every girl. I'm sure he still has his eyes on Penny."

"And James too?"

"I'm surer of him than I am of Sirius. Trust me Lily, I'm usually right about these things. My prediction is our 7th year is gonna be filled with drama and as usual Penny will be right in the middle."

"Oh goody," Lily frowned.

A/N: Yay me, I found time to write today! I have a pretty busy next few days though, but I'll try and post another chapter by early next week. Reviews will speed up the process!!