Chapter 8

Lily and Nichloe walked nervously up the boys' staircase late Sunday evening.

Lily had had so much fun that morning riding with James on his broomstick around the bright green Quidditch pitch.

But she wasn't sure she should be doing this. A game of truth or dare? What had she been thinking?

Nichloe knocked on the door.

"Who goes there?" came Sirius' voice.

"Nichloe Maces and Lily Evans," replied Nichloe to the door.

"Enter," said Sirius.

Nichloe pushed the wooden door open and the two girls found themselves in a boys' dormitory.

It was a mess, thought Lily.

"This place is a mess," said Nichloe, putting Lily's thoughts into words.

"We know," said James proudly. "But it's clean enough to play Truth or Dare."

The four boys and two girls sat in a circle on a clear spot of floor.

"I'll go first," said Sirius. "Nichloe."

Nichloe jumped and went pale."

"Truth or Dare?"

Nichloe was silent then said, "Truth," quietly.

"Hmmm…who do you hate most in all of Hogwarts?"

Nichloe looked relieved. "A girl in Hufflepuff called Sylvia Buena."

"Ok then," said Sirius; it was obvious he had no idea who this girl was.

"My go?" asked Nichloe. "Alright. Remus, Truth or Dare?"

"Dare," said Remus bravely.

"A dare…tie your underpants to a stick and hang them out the window like a flag."

"Are you joking?" Nichloe looked serious so Remus picked out a pair of his underpants, tied them to a stick that Sirius had for some reason, and hung it out the window. "Done," he said sitting back down. "James…Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," he replied.

Lily was shocked. She had hardly heard of a boy who didn't pick Dare.

"Truth…if you were caught murdering a teacher, which teacher would you like to be murdering?"

James looked confused. "Well, I would love to murder stupid Professor Barnicoat. She is such a weirdo," he said, referring to the Divination teacher. He was silent for a moment then said, "Lily, Truth or Dare?"

Lily felt her stomach leave her. "Truth," she answered without thinking. It was a sort of automatic answer for her.

"Truth, eh? Well, who do you like in Hogwarts?"

"What do you mean?" asked Lily, playing the fool.

"Well, who in the whole of Hogwarts would you like to go out with?"

Lily knew he would say this. But she had to answer. "I like…" she said slowly, keeping them in suspense.

"Go on, Evans," said James, trying to get her to talk faster.

"I like…" Lily swallowed. "I like nobody," she finished quickly.

"You're sure, Evans?" asked James.

"Quite," she replied.

Nichloe gave Lily a questioning look.

She knew, Lily thought desperately. She had noticed the way she had been looking at him…she knew.

"It's your go, Lily," said Sirius.

"Oh," said Lily. "Peter, Truth or Dare?"

"Dare," said Peter.

"Ok, you can…" Lily thought for a moment then said cunningly, "Kiss James on the cheek and say, 'Hello sweetheart, do you still love me?'"

Peter looked shocked at her dare. But he did it. With such a straight face too.

They all rolled around on the floor, laughing whilst James had the most scarlet face.

The six of them continued playing Truth or Dare, especially after Sirius brought out a few bottles of Never-Ending Butterbeer.

James dared Sirius to, "Lock yourself with Nichloe in that cupboard for seven minutes."

"Seven Minutes of Heaven," giggled Lily.

The two of them did so and came out looking quite dishevelled and Nichloe's hair had come out of its two braids.

They played Truth or Dare until 4 a. m. on Monday morning.

That was when James looked at his watch and told the two girls that they, "had better go before us boys do something stupid."

So Lily and Nichloe, both unable to stop loudly giggling, almost fell down the stairs and then up them as they found their way back to their dormitory.

They collapsed onto their beds, surrounded by baby photos of themselves, and after managing to stop giggling, fell asleep.

Thanks to S. K., one of my BEST friends, who told me what Seven Minutes of Heaven was, which I used in this chapter.