Chapter 3-Extreme Circumstances

It was tradition. Every year on the first Friday of the term since their second year, Lily, Sarah, and Becky would have an all-night talkathon. Topics of discussion included anything to hot guys to summer vacation to even hotter guys. Mostly guys. This year wasn't going to be an exception.

"Sooo…" started Sarah, her face serious.

"Sooo…" echoed Becky and Lily, equally solemn. They stared at each other, then all burst out laughing, earning them several "SHUT UP!"s from surrounding beds.

"Muffliato," murmured Sarah. "Grouches. Anyway, now that we've gone over the obligatory sooo… what do you want to talk about? And no jokes yet," she warned Becky. "You have to wait until at least 3 a.m. so you can pretend our complete lack of response is due to our sleepiness."

"Tired and shagged out…" muttered Lily to Becky.

"Pfft. I blow a raspberry in your general direction, Sarah," said Becky, pulling back her thick dark hair into a ponytail. The three were sprawled across their dormitory floor in lounge pants and tee shirts.

"Monty Python! Well, sorta," amended Lily, giving her Muggle-born friend a high-five.

"And, as we all know, if you listen closely you are able to hear the slight whoosh as this all goes over my head," said Sarah.

"Ha. Right. But that doesn't really matter, and do you know why? Huh? Huh?" Becky was bouncing with excitement. "Because we are going to play Truth or Dare!"

Lily and Sarah groaned. "Again? We always play this game."

"It's so for ten-year-olds," Sarah explained. "We, as mature-somewhat, anyway-sixteen-year-olds, must move on to bigger, better games."

"Pin the Tail on the Donkey?" suggested Becky wistfully.

"How about Ten Fingers?" Lily wiggled her eyebrows.

"Good. Yeah, I'm liking this," said Sarah. "You, ah, do know how to play, right, Beck?" she added, seeing Becky fidget with her ponytail. "Yeah, didn't think so. Ok, hold up ten fingers. I'll start out by saying 'I've never…' something. If you have, clap once and put down a finger."

"It's easy enough," Lily assured her. "Just pay attention. Okay, I've never…eaten a whole bag of marshmallows by myself."

Sarah clapped, sighing. "Head hunter. Why do you think I have my lovely layer of pudge? Your turn, Becky. Try to make someone lose all their fingers."

"Okay," said Becky slowly. "I've never played this game before."

"Cheap!" yelped Sarah as both she and Lily clapped.

"Heehee. I like this game," Becky said. "I'm win-ning! I'm win-ning! Woohoo! Yeah!" she sang. "Ow!" Becky's victory dance was cut short by Sarah's hand across her knee.

"Quiet, you! I'd've elbowed you, but that would have required me to sit up and move closer to you. It almost would have been worth it," said Sarah regretfully. "My turn, anyway. I've never had a crush on any Marauder other than Sirius." Becky clapped sheepishly and looked at Lily expectantly. Lily glared back at Becky. "Oh, come on," complained Sarah. "The game's no fun if you lie."

Lily spluttered. "W-what? Lie? I mean, sure, Remus is sweet and all, but-"

"James, you cheater. Clap and be done with it," said Becky.

"I've told you both a million times-James Potter is a scummy, obnoxious prat whose head you would be able to see through if his ego wasn't in the way. It would take extreme-EXTREME- circumstances to bring me to enjoy his company."

"Oh, stuff it," Becky told Lily, chucking a teddy bear at her. "Ha! Unintentional pun! Unintentional!"

"That's it! Pillow fight!" declared Lily. Her friends let the game be forgotten and set to smacking one another with pillows. But through the giggle-filled night, Becky and Sarah were slowly coming up with a scheme to bring about one extreme circumstance.

A/N: Okay, I have absolutely no excuse for my lack of updating. None whatsoever. No moldy notebook or anything this time. Only real life getting in the way of my brain. Stage crew, funness. Funness, new word, yeah. Anyway, for those of you who are forgetful like me and need a reminder, please please PLEASE! review. Merci beaucoup to those of you who put me on alert or favorites-that is sooo cool.

Muahaha...scheming is fun. Good ideas in store. Never fear, RainChild, this will have an actual plot soon. And, um, if anybody wants to see real, actual good ship writing, see ProfessorSpork, Procrastinator-starting2moro, katdance666, and Queriusole.