Rumor has it, there's an interesting game about to get underway at The Three Broomsticks in the back room, and it's invitation only. I wonder whose names were left off the guest list. Any ideas?
~xoxo, Gossip Witch
Hermione lifted the glass to her lips, sipping the amber liquid. A grimace on her face as it burned its way down her throat. "I don't understand what appeal this stuff has for you all," she hissed, shaking her head. "It's disgusting."
"You get used to it," Daphne replied, shrugging her shoulders as she took a swig of her glass. "It may not be the tastiest, but it does the job."
"Should you be drinking?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow as he sat on the couch across from Daphne and Hermione. He glanced up at Theo from the corner of his eye, only to be met with a shrug and shake of his head. Harry redirected his attention back to Daphne with an apologetic look on his face. "I just mean, with everything that's gone on lately."
"I can do whatever the hell I want," Daphne hissed, downing the rest of her drink and pushing herself up from the couch. "Don't worry about me, Potter. I can worry about myself. Anyone else needs another drink?"
A chorus of "me" rang through the room. Daphne nodded her head slowly and made her way toward the door. 0 The door clicked shut behind her as her ears were flooded with the sounds of the packed bar in front of her. She shook her head as she made her way up to the bar. All she wanted to do was forget about the terrible things that had happened to her this year and focus on the good things. That was the goal for tonight.
"I need another round of drinks for the group in the back room," Daphne said, leaning against the bar. She flashed a smile at the bartender as he started pouring another round for her friends. Her heart ached as she thought about Harry's words; he was right because the rest of the group knew she shouldn't be drinking. Unfortunately, things happen, and no matter how badly Daphne wished she could go back in time and change the future, her body had a different plan.
"I thought you could use some help." Hermione's voice pulled Daphne away from the dark thoughts that were starting to flood her brain. She turned and offered a smile to the curly-haired witch standing beside her.
"Thanks," Daphne replied, leaning over to rest her head on Hermione's shoulder. "I hadn't really thought about how I was going to get the drinks back there. Is everyone here yet?"
"I think so," Hermione said, reaching for the tray of drinks the bartender had placed in front of them and pushing the other tray towards Daphne. "Blaise and Astoria showed up a few minutes after Ginny and Neville walked in. Are you sure you're up for this?"
Daphne rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Absolutely not, but we've got to get to the bottom of Gossip Witch somehow."
"What if she's not even here?" Hermione asked, raising a brow as the two witches made their way back to their reserved room.
"Then at least we'll know who's feeding her information based on what she reports," Daphne said, pushing the door open with her foot and catching it with her elbow as she made her way inside. "Everyone grab a drink and move the furniture into a circle near the fireplace."
"Once you've got your drink, find a seat in the circle," Hermione chimed in. "We're going to play a muggle game."
"What kind of muggle game?" Astoria asked, grabbing a drink off Hermione's tray and glancing at her sister.
"You'll find out shortly," Daphne replied, setting the tray down on the table and picking her own up before moving to the couch and taking a seat beside Theo. She smiled when she felt his arm wrap around her shoulder.
Astoria rolled her eyes and approached an empty seat across the circle from where Daphne sat down. Seeing Theo's arm wrapped around Daphne's shoulders made her sick to her stomach. She took a sip of her drink and hissed as the amber liquid burned its way down her throat.
About ten minutes later, everyone was finally settled into a seat with a drink in hand. Daphne and Hermione stood up and moved to the middle of the circle.
"Tonight, we are going to play a game of truth or dare," Hermione said, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "If you are in this room, you are playing."
"If you don't want to play the game, then you can't stay in here," Daphne chimed in, making eye contact with everyone seated around the circle. She paused for a moment on Astoria. "Anyone want to bail?"
Everyone shook their heads but lifted their drinks to their lips and took a long sip.
"Good," Daphne said, nodding her head once. "If you are caught in a lie or try to refuse a dare, you will be asked to leave the room."
"The game only works if everyone is willing to be honest," Hermione added, glancing at Harry out of the corner of her eye.
"I'll go first."
His voice caught everyone off guard as their heads turned quickly to look at Blaise standing up from his seat. A smirk was plastered on his face as he took another sip of his drink. "Truth or dare, Daphne."
Daphne looked him up and down, crossing her arms over her chest as she lowered back into her empty seat on the couch. She felt Theo's hand on her back and let out a sigh. "Truth."
"Who is the father of your baby?" Blaise asked, narrowing his gaze at her.
Astoria reached over and smacked him upside the head.
"What the fuck, Tori?" Blaise hissed, snapping his gaze to Astoria and rubbing the back of his head with his hand.
"She lost the fucking baby, you jackass," Theo growled, jumping up from his spot on the couch and moving to stand above Blaise. He reached out and grabbed the fellow Slytherin by the collar and hauled him out of the chair, and he pulled his arm back and punched Blaise in the nose.
~xoxo, Gossip Witch ~
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