Chapter Three: Getting To Know You – Take Two

"James? Would you mind just, sort of, running that by me one more time, please?" asked Remus patiently, in the voice on of who knows he heard correctly the first time but just really, really wants to convince himself he didn't. Sirius rolled his eyes as James proceeded to explain, once again, that they were going to convince Evans – James's long time crush – into a drinking game so as to lower her judgement enough to give James a fair chance. They were, in fact, planning to include the whole Tower, so as to be less suspicious. This, however, included Remus who seemed, understandably, just a tad reluctant to play any games that involved alcohol – even something as tame as butterbeer. Merlin, he's such a wanker... Sirius scowled when he realized the irony of his thoughts.

"Oh for the love of Merlin, Remus! Relax a bit, will you? It's Friday night and I know there isn't any homework due soon or you would be harping on about it, wouldn't you?" he snapped, rolling his eyes. Yes, he was being mean, but still. It was true, anyway.

Remus narrowed his eyes at the other boy, but he'd known from the start that he didn't really stand a chance against even just James on this.

Twenty minutes later and a group of around eleven people had been gathered into the common room. There would have been more, except Lily and Remus had strictly forbidden anyone younger than fourth year from joining in.

Sirius sat next to James, who sat next to Peter, then Remus, then Arthur, then Alice, then Lily, then Frank, then Fabian and Gideon, then finally a boy no-one really knew called Stan Shunpike who didn't really seem to belong in Gryffindor in Sirius's opinion – though he could hardly talk. It wasn't as big a game as Sirius and James had hoped, but – contrary to popular belief – they did in fact know when to call it quits when they were ahead. As long as Lily was in, it was a success anyway.

"Right, so, I was thinking we'd play 'Spin the Bottle'!" announced James, grinning unashamedly at Lily who wrinkled her nose.

"How about 'Truth or Dare'?" suggested Alice, looking uneasy as she cast a nervous glance over at Frank where he was watching James. Do not blush – do not blush, damnit! She told herself firmly when Frank caught her looking and smiled, looking a bit nervous himself, puffing out his chest as he turned away in careful indifference. Lily caught all of this, of course, and smiled to herself.

"Has anyone ever played 'I Never'?" she asked, casually, looking around at the circle of people.

"Never have I played I Never" smirked Sirius, looking pleased with himself at his own wit.

"Okay, well – everyone okay with that?" asked James, though they all knew he wasn't really asking. He'd do anything Lily told him to even if she wasn't actually asking him to. After a general string of 'okay's, 'yeah's, and 'sure's, James uncorked the bottle and served out the shots. After everyone was settled and filled in the rules, James spoke again. "Right, well, I'll sta-"

"Never have I!" interrupted Lily, absently swirling a finger around the edge of her glass, "Never have I... had a crush on someone and done nothing about it" she announced, choosing her words carefully and making meaningful eye-contact with Frank, who flushed, looking sheepish, before hurriedly downing the butterbeer in one. Alice also drank, as well as Peter. Remus frowned for a moment, hand half-outstretched towards his own glass before shaking his head and withdrawing it, looking confused.

"What constitutes as a crush?" he asked Lily, looking thoughtful. Lily 'humm'ed for a moment.

"If you've had fantasies involving them – not just sexual ones, I mean" she added sharply, when Sirius smirked and opened his mouth. Remus nodded to himself and didn't drink.

"Okay, so – Arthur, you're next" stated Lily, turning her attention towards the ginger-haired boy who looked up at being addressed.

"Hm? Oh, right, well... Never have I visited Muggle London – or any Muggle city, for that matter" he declared, looking around eagerly and making a mental note to talk to Lily, Frank, and Peter who all drank.

And so the questions continued, Lily pressing for more and more from Frank and Alice ('Never have I had a naughty dream about any of the people in this circle' being one of the worst as every boy who did drink received a suspicious glare each from James and Frank, as well as a second double-take betrayed one if you happened to be Remus Lupin), James trying to get Lily to admit she liked him, Stan trying to impress everyone with fabricated 'I Never's, and Remus just trying to stay under the radar.

Then it was Sirius's second go.

"Never have I..." Sirius paused, looking around the room as though it would provide him with a good idea – then his gaze landed on Peter and he decided to get the boy even drunker just because it was funny to see him trying to get back up to bed when wasted. "Never have I," he repeated, an evil smirk coming to his face that put every single person around the room on edge, "...remained a virgin after my sixteenth birthday!" he declared finally, grinning from ear-to-ear as many faces simultaneously blushed and acquired rather impressive death glares.

Sirius mentally cackled in gleeful satisfaction as, one by one, the shots were downed. Arthur, Alice, Lily, half-glass from Fabian, not Gideon, Stan, James, Peter... Sirius stared expectantly at the still full glass at Remus's feet as the boy peered around the room with fascination, a flush creeping up the back of his next – a combination of pale embarrassment and pleased pink. Sirius wasn't the only one staring now. Gideon wasn't all that surprising, nor was Fabians sort-of expression when he had swallowed. Remus on the other hand...

The boy coughed, looking uncomfortable under all the scrutiny. "Whose go is it?" he asked, clearing his throat once or twice and avoiding looking at the other three Marauders.

"I'll go! Never have I... walked away from a fight" piped up Stan, looking around to see how many people were impressed while inwardly praying they didn't question the wording of his question.