Party Games

Chapter 12: Questions Only

"Questions only," Jmaes hissed during one particularly boring announcement at breakfast. "Go!"

"What?" Remus stupidly.

"What's 'questions only'?" Sirius asked.

Peter's eyebrows went way up on his forehead. "Isn't that the game where you can only talk in questions?"

"How did you know that?"

"Why are you we playing it?"

"Would everyone be quiet?" There was silence from the boys before James smiled widely. "Haven't you noticed we're already playing?"

"Seriously, why are we playing this?"

"Because it's fun and we're bored," Sirius said matter-of-factly. A moment later, he clapped his hands to his mouth. "Aw, drat."

"Is Sirius out?" Peter asked.

James thought this over. "What do you think?"

"Does it matter what I think?"

"Remus, why aren't you saying anything?"

Remus looked between James and Peter, both looking a little silly with goofy grins pasted on their faces. "Well," said he carefully, "don't you think I increase my chances of winning if I stay quiet?"

"Is winning that important?"

Remus almost made a mistake right then by answering "Yes" but was saved by one Lily Evans cutting in.

"What are you fellows doing?"

"Oh, nothing...you would want to know about, right?" The question was tacked on by James in an attempt not to mess up. "But how are you?"

"Why don't you tell me?" Lily replied. "Maybe I would want to know."

"Oh, why would you?" James looked slightly panicked as the rudeness of this statement made itself clear. "I mean, why wouldn't you? Won't you sit down?"

Lily ast a wary eye at him and did, indeed, sit down. "Is he alright?" she muttered discreetly to Peter.

He smiled nervously. "Why would you ask that?"

"Becase he's only..." Lily trailed off, gazing suspiciously around at the group. Sirius, who had been watching the whole situation with extreme amusement, grinned as he saw that she realized. "You're all just asking question!"

"Is there something wrong with that?" Remus asked innocnetly. The boys all laughed and high-fived each other.

"Well," Lily began, a devilish twinkle now in her eye, "what would you say if I said no?"

"Uh-oh," Peter said, effectively eliminating himself from the game.

James wriggled in his seat and asked eagerly, "Are you playing?" He reminded Lily so much of a puppy that she just had to laugh.

"Ready for some competition?"

"Do you two blockheads really think you can beat me?" Remus stuck out his tongue childishly. "Don't you know I'm the master of question?"

"Where'd you get the experience?" James shot back. "All those interrogations by the Ministry?"

"How do you know I haven't been?"

"Why must we argue?" Lily wondering. "Honestly, do you really believe it will give you a better chacne of beating the soon-to-be Head Girl?"

"You're only a prefect because someone needed to keep James and me in check," Remus said, before frowning. "Oh, so much for winning."

"Join the club, mate." This was Sirius and Peter in unison. They looked each other weirdly, then said exactly at the same time, "Get out of my head! Ah! Stop it!" This continued for some time.

"Evans, go to Hogsmeade with me?" James winked.

"What should I say besides no?"

"Please?"

"Will you take no as an answer?"

"How about a walk to the lake?"

"What part of no do you not understand?"

"Hagrid's?"

"You use his place for dates?"

"He doesn't mind..." James swore. "...do you, Hagrid?" he shouted, effectively saving himself. The Keeper of the Keys looked up, bemused, but waves anyway. James grinned.

"How do you get away with that?" Lily wondered out loud.

James didn't answer this. Instead, he asked, "What do you think of me?"

"Oh, but what do you think of me?"

"Would believe I've had a crush on you since around fifth year?" he joked.

"Would you believe I know that?"

"Did you ever forgive me for that thing by the lake?"

Lily knew instantly what he was talking about. He had told her...go out with me, evans...that if she did he would never bother Sev again...and look where that had gotten her... "Would you mind if I didn't?" she asked.

James stared at her, then cleared his throat and glanced around. No one was watching anymore. "Can...er, can I kiss you?"

There was a long pause, in which Lily also stared, cleared her throat, and looked around. Then, just under her breath: "Yes."

He didn't wait for further encouragement. His lips pressed warmly against hers for a brief moment.

It was time to go to class. Lily stared into James's eyes for a second. Both were frozen. Then, slowly, they gathered their things and retreated from the table.

As they parted ways, Lily heard Sirius ask, "Who won?"

And James answered, "She did."