So, chapter two is here! A big thank you to Sunshine72 and Luvdamarauders13 who were the first two to review! Without further ado, chapter two!
Chapter Two
Lily was doing some serious thinking. These games would be the perfect opportunity to get Sirius back for his little wake up call this morning. But what if he picked her first? She sighed, thinking. Even though this was truth or dare she didn't really know Tonks or Fred well enough to know what would embarrass them, and really unless they attacked her first she didn't want to cause them any suffering. Well, not yet, anyway.
Over in the corner, Regulus was having similar problems. The only person he knew how to irritate was Sirius. But he couldn't constantly pick Sirius. Perhaps if people chose truth whenever he asked them he would be able to come up with some pretty good dares. Yes, it was a good plan. He could see it now, get to know people then pick on their weakness! Well, he wasn't a Slytherin for no reason, even though everyone seemed to have forgotten that scrap of information.
Twenty minutes after thinking time everyone regrouped in their spot.
"Had a think?" Sirius asked. Before anyone could reply he started to use the device and writing appeared moments later. The writing said:
Now we begin, first I'm going to choose … James. So, Potter, truth, or dare? - Sirius Black
James rolled his eyes.
"Why me?" He complained (not that he minded, but Sirius had just come out of thinking of lots of horrible ideas).
"Reply on the device, James! What if Snivellus was to overhear?" Sirius asked, in a very over dramatic version of shock.
"Fine." Grumbled James.
As it's you, Sirius, truth. - James Potter
Sirius glared at James, who was avoiding eye contact with his best friend.
Alrighty then, if you want to play like that then that's how it'll work. James, I ask you this, out of McGonagall, Sprout and Dumbledore who would you rather kiss (on the lips). - Sirius Black
Everyone except James and Sirius burst out laughing, causing them to receive odd looks from other people who they shared this part of the afterlife with, who were just coming downstairs into the shared common room. James was looking at the device in a mixture of shock, horror and revulsion.
Can none be an option? - James Potter
Of course not, Jamesie? Come on, it's not like I'm actually telling you to go and kiss them, is it? - Sirius Black
Okay, so definitely NOT Dumbledore. The beard and the fact I'm not gay are just some factors. So, McGonagall was my head of house, and would probably curse me into oblivion so I've got to go for Sprout, then ask that it was never mentioned again. - James Potter
Crikey James, it would have been a kiss, not burying a murder victim! - Remus Lupin
Yeah, well, I hardly ever saw Sprout. She wasn't in the Order and she was head of Hufflepuff. The only time I ever saw her was Herbology and meals at Hogwarts. At least that's a good thing about Hufflepuff's, they're all really- - James Potter
Really what, James? - Dora Lupin/Tonks
Really … nice people. - James Potter
If you believe that's what you were going to say originally, you'll believe anything! - Lily Potter/Evans
Right, on that note, hmm, Marlene, truth or dare? - James Potter
Oh great, thanks, James. - Marlene McKinnon
You're welcome - James Potter
Fine, I'll go for dare. - Marlene McKinnon
Ooh, the excitement! - Sirius Black
Shut up, Sirius, no one asked you! Right-O Marlene, I dare you to sneak up on Moody and say boo! - James Potter
Erm, James, did you hear what happened to the last person who did that? - Dora Lupin/Tonks
Nope, I've been dead, remember? Anyway, what's the worst that can happen? I mean, it's the afterlife, he can't re-kill her! - James Potter
Thanks for the words of confidence, James! Where is Mad-Eye, anyway? - Marlene McKinnon
Talking to Dumbledore, in the usual spot. - Regulus Black
Oh yeah. Well, I would say see you in the afterlife, but… - Marlene McKinnon
Just get on with it! - Sirius Black
Marlene sighed a very exaggerated sigh before standing up and heading over to where she could see Dumbledore talking to Mad-Eye Moody. Very reluctantly she kept moving until she was right behind him, having signalled to Dumbledore not to say anything. The only trouble was the eye. Marlene had no idea whether he could see her coming up behind him or not. Oh well, there was only one way to find out. With one last look towards the gang, who were all watching with anticipation, Marlene moved forwards, reached out and grasped Moody's shoulders whilst yelling: "Boo!". The reaction was as expected. Mad-Eye turned and Marlene found herself backing away slowly, terrified. Why had it been Mad-Eye? She'd rather have faced Bellatrix Lestrange before him and that was saying something.
"What're you playing at, McKinnon?" Mad-Eye growled. Marlene tried catching Tonks' eye (she being the only one who seemed to calm the former Auror down) but she was now very interested in the fabric of her armchair.
"W-well, I heard that it was your… birthday, yeah, that was it, and it's tradition to give someone a surprise on their birthday, isn't it?" Mad-Eye studied her, not knowing if he should believe her or not. Marlene found herself praying that Dumbledore would intervene before any serious harm came to her, not that anyone felt physical pain, here, but still … After what felt like someone's lifetime, Mad-Eye answered.
"Well, I don't know who told you that, McKinnon, but it was false information. I suggest you go back to your little friends before you cause any more damage." Marlene nodded, shakily, and hurried back to her friends, who all looked stunned.
"Well, Marlene, I must say you're the first person who has tried surprising Mad-Eye and not been maimed!" Sirius said, with a smirk.
Keen to move on, Marlene picked up her device and wrote.
So, Fred, truth or dare? - Marlene McKinnon
Fred looked thoughtful, but replied.
I think I'll go with dare. - Fred Weasley
Okay, so Fred, I dare you to go and ask Bellatrix Lestrange to go out with you. Keep pestering her until she either says yes, or if things start to look ugly in which case I'd advise going in the opposite direction as fast as you can! - Marlene McKinnon
Geez, McKinnon, are you trying to find out if it's possible to die when you're already in the afterlife? - Fred Weasley
No comment. - Marlene McKinnon
Come on, Fred, not gonna miss the opportunity to say you want to be related to me, Sirius and Tonks, are you? - Regulus Black
Personally I think that suggestion is enough to put anyone off! - Lily Potter/Evans
No feelings wounded at all with that statement… - Dora Lupin/Tonks
Come on, Freddie, we don't have all day! - James Potter
Fred thrust a glare at Marlene before standing up from the armchair, which was now the only place that he felt safe. Glancing around the room he soon spotted Bellatrix over in the corner. She tended to be accompanied by fellow Death Eaters, such as Rosier and Gibbon. Pettigrew had also been spotted with them often, as his former friends acted as though he didn't exist. In fact, none of the group had spoken to him when he passed into the afterlife. However, to Fred's luck, none of Bellatrix's accomplishes were up yet, meaning she was sat, hunched over something which turned out to be a book. When he was near enough to see it was a book written about the Sacred Twenty-Eight Pure Blood families, Fred cleared his throat. Bellatrix's head shot up extremely fast and she looked tempted to kill Fred until she remembered that it wasn't possible to kill anyone here (who'd thought of that rule, anyway?)
"What do you want, Weasley?" She snapped. Fred raised his eyebrows.
"Now, now, madam Lestrange. All I wanted to say is that until you are reunited with Rodolphus, you must be feeling quite lonely. So, do you want to join my friends and I? We can even be a couple if you like, better me than some of the others, at least I'm pure-blood, not that it matters here as everyone's magical! So, what do you say?"
"No." Bellatrix said, extremely put out. Fred thought he heard Sirius snort, which quickly turned into a coughing fit.
"Oh, but please! Pretty please, I can even add a cherry on top if that's what you want! I'll cater for your every need; I'll beat up anyone who criticises your ideas! I can even -" Whatever Fred could even do was never discovered for as soon as he saw Bellatrix pick her wand up from the side of the chair he ran back to the sanctuary of the gang's spot, diving next to Regulus who was the one Bellatrix would probably go easiest on. Having said that, he had defected from the Death Eaters so maybe not.
"You know, I reckon if you'd stayed there a few minutes later we'd have found out whether Bellatrix was capable of breaking the principle of no deaths in the afterlife." Remus said, his voice suppressing laughter at the expense of his former student.
Okay, so I'm going to suggest not using Bellatrix in any of the dares for the rest of the day, she looks ready to kill! - Regulus Black
You don't say?! - Sirius Black
Come on, Fred, you need to ask someone! - Marlene McKinnon
Okie doke, James, truth or dare? - Fred Weasley
What? Why me again? I'd like to point out that Regulus, Sirius, Lily, Remus and Tonks still haven't done anything yet! - James Potter
Funny, I remember you saying that you never complain just last week! - Lily Potter/Evans
Yeah, I remember that too! - Sirius Black
Sirius, it was just before we fell asleep, how do you remember it? You weren't there! - Lily Potter/Evans
Oh, well he said it to me last week as well! - Sirius Black
What is this, pick on Potter day? - James Potter
Nah, otherwise we'd be picking on Lily too! Anyway, I have a brilliant truth for you, James! - Fred Weasley
In that case, I'm saying dare. - James Potter
Fantastic! By the way, I lied, if you knew I had a good dare planned you wouldn't have said it! - Fred Weasley
I feel used! - James Potter
Get over it! So, James, I dare you to go up to Snape and hug him. Give no reason and just come and sit back down. Oh, and in human form, please. Even though a stag trying to hug Snape is definitely something I'm willing to see later! - Fred Weasley
Um…why? - James Potter
Because I said so! - Fred Weasley
That's not the answer I wanted. - James Potter
Tuff! Come on, then you can get revenge on those who haven't gone yet!- Fred Weasley
Oh goodie! - James Potter
Great, thanks Fred! - Lily Potter/Evans
Right, I'm off to find Snape, see ya in a sec! - James Potter
James stood up and scanned the common room. Where was Snivellus? Not with the Death Eaters, not with Dumbledore and Moody, not with that scary woman who was, according to Lily, his mother. James was stumped.
"Fred, what do I do when Snape isn't around?"
"I dunno, wait for him?" Fred said sarcastically. James huffed and stood in wait by the door which people came through when entering the common room. He didn't have to wait long, as soon Snape emerged. James had been in a slight daydream and so only noticed when Snape passed him. That could be fixed easily, though. Following him in a very obvious way James quickly gained Snape's attention. The former Potions Master turned, ready to shout obscenities towards his Hogwarts nemesis, but before he could even string any words together something very peculiar happened. James hugged the man in the same way that he had greeted Sirius and later Remus when they had joined him in the afterlife. Snape stood there, stunned. James gave him a clap on the shoulder for good measure then turned and walked back to his friends, who, Snape noticed, were smirked. It hurt to see Lily giggling at his expense like that, along with all her friends. Snape realised that they were obviously playing some game, similar to the one which had tormented him in fifth year. Well, he'd leave be them, for now. Just for Lily's sake.
Meanwhile, in the gang's area, James grabbed his device and wrote some simple words.
So, Lily, truth or dare? - James Potter