Party Games

Chapter 9: Button, button, who's got the button?

"Let's play that old game from first year."

"What game?" Lily asked, pushing James's arm off her shoulder. He scooted away, pretending to look put off, but really enjoying himself.

"You know – Button, button, who's got the button?" Sirius butted in. He settled himself on a fat little armchair, looking quite eager. "Gryffindor hasn't had a party in ages."

Lily eyed the pair suspiciously. "You mean the version where everyone passes a button around, or the version where someone spikes the punch and half of us go to bed plastered?"

"The version where everyone has a glass of pumpkin juice and one of them has frog spawn in it," Peter said, appearing from behind the sofa. Remus followed soon after, crawling in through the portrait hole. Lily didn't bat a lid.

"I see you have me surrounded," she said dryly. "Well, fine – but we're not using frog spawn. That's gross – and a waste of good ingredients."

"Veritaserum," Sirius suggested.

"We have none," James told him. "Brandy?"

"I don't think so," Lily said sharply. "You boys may think it's all fun and games, but I'd rather not get expelled for drinking."

"We're not underage," Remus said, though his expression was similar to that of Lily's.

"Your face is underage."

"Your mom is underage." Remus stuck out his tongue.

"Your…cat is underage…" James said weakly.

"James is underage," Lily said.

"Oh, and you're seventeen?" he huffed.

"Yes…my birthday was in January."

"You mean…you're an adult and I'm not?"

"I suppose so, yes."

"Doesn't that make it illegal to…"

Lily glared.

"Alright," said Remus hastily. "No alcohol. We'll just play the original version. With the button."

"That's boring," Peter declared.

"Here's what we'll do," Lily said, casting looks at the boys. "We'll pass the button around. The person in the middle says stop and the person with the button…owes them one service," she finished, feeling particularly daring. Remus looked at her with a question on his lips, but she quelled it with a Look.

"I'll be in the center first," Sirius volunteered.

And so the other four gathered in a circle around Sirius, who had his eyes closed. A button couldn't be found so they balled up a piece of paper instead.

"Stop!" Sirius said, and the circle chanted,

"Button

"button

"Who's got the button?"

"Peter's got the button," Remus pointed out, and Peter looked up.

"Peter," said Sirius, "go fetch me a pumpkin pasty. I'm starving."

Peter nodded and trailed off.

"Well, let's wait for him to come back." Sirius settled in the newly vacated seat and glanced around the circle.

Pretty soon Peter returned, pasty in hand. He passed it to Sirius and assumed his place in the circle.

Once again the button was passed around the circle.

"Stop," Peter said.

"Button

"button

"Who's got the button?"

"James!" Sirius cried, no-so-subtly shoving the "button" into James's hand. Lily glared.

"Okay," Peter said, looking slightly bewildered. "Er – I can't think of anything – give me an idea, will you?"

"Striptease," James offered immediately.

"Okay, then -"

"No, that was a service in itself," Lily put in. "James goes in the center now."

"Fine, Peter grumbled, surrendering his position.

"Actually, I don't really feel like playing," James said quietly. He was staring at the floor now. "I was just here for alcohol. Or a striptease."

"You're kidding." Lily stared. "Aren't you going to do you turn, at least? I thought you of all people would jump at the chance to order us around."

"Yes, well, I suddenly don't want to."

"Suit yourself," Lily said, half-expecting him to shout, "PUN!" But he only shrugged and exited the circle as the game continued.