Truth or Dare

Date: November 5th 1975
Location: By the black lake
Summary: A few students enjoy a fun game of truth or dare together
Status: Incomplete

Open


The soft wind of October had left place to the strong wind of November, leaving a thin layer of ice to rest over the black lake. Marlene pulled her cloak tighter around her body as she adjusted her scarf, her cheeks reddening from the cold, but she didn't mind really. She much preferred the cold to the rain and winter was her favourite season. Cuddling in front of the fireplace with a blanket and a book while looking outside at the raging storm gave her a feeling of safety and protection which she didn’t often feel and loved very much. As though nothing bad could get to her since she was warm and well inside. Smiling lightly, lost in her thoughts, she kept on walking, absent mindedly listening to the sound her footsteps made on the crisp grass. It seemed to her that she often got lost in her thoughts lately – more than usually anyway. But unlike the other years, her thoughts weren’t all bad now. Of course, there were still some that could make her feel a bit depressed, sad and scared, but also some that made her heartbeat quicken and her cheeks flush. And right now she was so lost in her thoughts that she even forgot about Dora who was walking beside her.

When she did remember her friend was there, she turned to offer her a smile and linked arms with her. “So, less than two months left before Christmas,” she said with a light grin, looking up at the sky that seemed as though snow would soon be coming. “We’ll have to think of a new theme this year… and easier than the one we picked last year if possible,” she added, wrinkling her nose lightly. She and Dora, ever since their first year, had had a tradition for their Christmas present. They chose a theme – could be anything, a color, an animal, etc – and all their presents had to follow that theme. The preceding year, oddly, they had chosen warm as a theme, probably because the winter had been so cold. It had seemed like a good idea at first but Marlene had ended up giving scarfs and hot chocolate to everybody, unable to think of anything else. “Hey, what about polka dots?” she asked with a small giggle.

As they reached the black lake, Marlene took out a small blanket and put it on the ground, taking out her wand and pointing it at the blanket, putting a warming spell on it. Even with a blanket, she knew the ground would be cold otherwise and she didn’t want to be freezing. She sat down on one part of it, smiling when she felt the warmth spread through her body, sighing lightly as she looked around. The grounds seemed rather empty, probably because of the cold.

Bee Jorkins pulled her hood over her head, protecting her ears from the cold... Chill bumps apeared on her arms and her legs felt numb from the walk to the Black lake. She glanced towards Madeline Abbott, who walked beside her, to see if she was as bothered by the cold.

"I really wish I hadn't worn these shoes," she complained... it was her first complaint all evening.... which was quite an accomplishment. She starred down at her black high heeled boots which were getting covered in mud, but she didn't care. She was more worried about not getting frost bitten and returning to the warm castle with all limbs.

She gazed at the lake, watching the ripples in the water. She remembered legends of a Giant Squid, and laughed at the memory of being a first year and having nightmares about the squid attacking her and eatting all her friends for lunch.... It was true, Bee had many crazy dreams.

In the distance she saw two girls sitting on a blanket by the lake. It was Dory and Marlene. Her pace fastened until she came upon the two.... "Hey," she greeted. "Out enjoying this wonderful chilly weather also I see." Sarcasm....her favorite friend.

Marlene noticed that Dora seemed to be doing some thinking of her own. She figured her thoughts probably revolved around the situation in which she was finding herself, which they hadn't talked about yet. Dora had always confided everything to her but this seemed to be too much for her, and maybe she would talk about it later but she didn't seem ready yet. Shrugging lightly, Marlene decided not to push her. She would come to her when she would be ready, and obviously it was not yet. She found it strange that her friend was able to move on so quickly though - of course, Sirius' behavior definitely hadn't helped the situation. Marlene couldn't quite make out if he had reacted that way out of pride because he had lost one of his dates to the Slytherin he always tormented, or if it was out of jealousy because he, after all, had genuine feelings for her friend. Where other people would have chosen the pride option in a second, dismissing the jealousy, Marlene found herself hesitating though she didn't know why. Oh well, no matter who Dora choose, Marly would be happy as long as she was happy, and as long as the person whom she chose was good to her.

She smiled at her friend lightly, shrugging her shoulders. "Well I don't really have any ideas yet but you can find anything with polka dots really, don't you think? It's like any color, no matter what you'd looking for you'll always be able to find the color you're looking for. But if you have another idea I don't mind, I only said the first thing that came to my mind," she said. Though she had actually seen a gorgeous dress last time she had gone to Hogsmeade and she was sure it would fit Dora perfectly. But of course, she wouldn't tell her that, it would pretty much spoil the surprise.

She giggled lightly as Dora laid down on the blanket, looking very comfortable on it. "Well I'm glad you're enjoying it," she said in a teasing manner, nudging her friend's shoulder. She then sighed and shrugged, looking around. "I don't know really to be honest, I don't have any idea at the moment. Maybe we can hope someone else will get here and then we can think of something," she said.

Just as she said that she noticed Bertha Jorkins and Madeline Abbot coming their way. Looking up at the two girls, she smiled. "Hey girls. Oh yeah, we sure are enjoying this chilly weather," she said with a light grin. As Madeline layed out a blanket on the ground, she took out her wand once more. "Hold on," she said, pointing it at the blanket and saying the same spell again so that the blanket was warm. "Here you go," she said, putting her wand away with a small smile.

Bee jumped onto the warm blanket and sighed. "AHHHH! now this is better. Thank you Marly." She layed down on Maddies blanket taking up most of the room, smiling up at her until she would tell her to move.

She starred up at the grey sky... I wonder when it's going to snow, I love it when it snows for the first time of the year." she stated dreamingly. She scooted over for Maddie and sat up... "Well well ladies, what shall we do now...." There was a silence as she pondered. "Have you noticed that nearly all the seventh years are leading dramatic lifes.... all because of they are love stricken...." She looked at Dory smiling to herself as she remembered the rumors about her dumping Sirius for Snape. Then she looked toward Marly who had been linked with Remus Lupin.

"I just wish there was a way to get everyone to spill thier secrets... secrets are no good..." she clicked her tongue and shook her head. Laying back down again... she starred at the sky, enjoying the warm blancket.

Marlene grinned lightly at Dora when she agreed on polka dots - she'd have to hurry and buy that dress before there were no left. As her friend sighed deeply however, Marly's expression became more serious and she tilted her friend lightly, looking down at her friends as she brought her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees. As Dora told her she needed to talk to her about something, Marlene smiled lightly knowing what was coming indeed. She knew that Dora would talk to her when she'd be ready. So she looked at her and listened carefully, almost jumping of surprise when Dora quickly sat up upon the arrival of Bertha and Madeline. She sighed, knowing now their talk would have to wait, but she smiled at the two girls nonetheless, nodding at Dora as she said she needed to know everything.

She laughed softly when the two girls thanked her for the warming spell, smiling lightly. "You're welcome. It's so unusually cold out here, we can't very well sit on the frozen ground or we'll catch our death." She smiled lightly as Bertha mentionned snow, wrinkling her nose a little. "I don't mind snow all that much but I have to admit winter is not my favorite season," she sighed. "Snow is pretty, but it's just so cold... I prefer to look at it from inside the castle with a warm blanket around me and a book in my hands," she said with a small laugh. "But I do love Christmas... who doesn't really," she added with a grin. "Except people who have nobody to spend it with I guess," she said, frowning lightly. Spending Christmas alone... the thought was rather depressing. And yet that's what her mother would do since Kathryn always spent Christmas away with their aunt and uncle. Marlene always wanted to go back home for Christmas, to spend it with her mother so that it'd be a little less horrible for her, but her mother had always forbidden it. If her Christmas was miserable, she didn't want her daughter's to be.

She listened as Bertha then mentionned that most of the seventh years seemed to be leading dramatic lifes before they were love striken, looking at Dora as she did so, before turning her glance to look at her. Marlene blushed, looking down at her feet and shrugging lightly. Dramatic life? She definitely couldn't consider her life to be dramatic... well, not on the love department anyway. Remus was hardly something she could qualify as bad, he was the complete opposite of bad. Always so nice and careful, shy just as her but she could see how caring he was. When Bertha said something about people spilling their secrets, Marly bit her bottom lip lightly, absent mindedly letting her hair fall over her face to cover the light bruise that was lingering on her temple. "I am sorry if this will disappoint you but I have no secrets," she said with a small smile. "My life is not exactly filled with excitement." She turned to smile at Maddie as she said she'd like to know secrets, but that they were none of her business. "Well most people are curious and nobody likes to have things kept away from them I suppose," she said thoughtfully.

Ted still couldn't quite believe what was happening at this moment - it seemed so simple, so normal that he'd be walking along the school grounds with Andromeda, and yet it was not something he had ever thought possible. Merely talking to her was still something he was getting used to, and her presence always made him feel as though he was one step closer to Heaven. Could she really have agreed to be with him? It seemed that she had, since they were now walking side by side, like a normal teenage couple, enjoying the autumn afternoon. He couldn't remember enjoying a walk that much before - she made everything so much better for him. He didn't know if she realized just how much happiness she made him feel by simply being here with him, talking to him, loving him... at the simple thought, his heart seemed to beat a little faster. She loved him... how long had he waited for that to happen. Too long it seemed, but it had ended up being something good so when he thought back on it, he didn't mind having waited so long for her. She was more than worth it, and she needed to know that.

As he felt her hand slip into his own, he smiled softly, bringing it to his lips and kissing her palm lightly. He loved the feeling of her skin against his lips - maybe not as much as her lips against his lips, but it was still rather close. Her skin was by far the smoothest and softest he'd ever touched and he couldn't get enough of it, as though he had to be touching her in some way - any way - at all times, or else a strange feeling of emptiness over came him. As though he now needed her more than anything else, she was everything for him. Yet he still had so much to learn about her, but he couldn't wait to get to know better than he already did. He wanted to know everything about her, from her favorite color to her most prized childhood memory or her greatest fear.

As she looked around and then spoke up, he looked down at her with a smile, listening carefully to what she was saying. He loved the sound of her voice, she could have talked about anything she wanted, he'd have gladly listened just to be able to hear the words coming out of her lips that were like music to him. As she pointed at the four girls gathered near the black Lake, asking if they should go join them, Ted nodded and smiled. "Why not? They're all nice girls, I'm sure they won't mind the two of us joining them. Besides, they look strangely comfortable on the ground, meaning there's probably something to keep them warm, and I can't say I'd be against warming up right now," he said. He knew the four of them a bit, not all that well, but being friendly with everybody had its good sides. Marlene was a Prefect just like him, so he'd talked to her more often than to the others, but they were all rather nice, none of them ever mentionning his blood status or making him feel like he was not worthy of the school because of it. Of course, they were Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, which were not particularly known for having prejudiced opinions. Though they were all purebloods - even though he had heard some people saying Marlene wasn't really one since her mother was a muggle-born - they were still nice with pretty much everybody.

Bertha listen to Marly discuss the weather. She loved winter and everything about it...Well not everything... she disliked christmas....She loved the idea, it was the family gaterings part that earked her. Suprised that Marlene mentioned that she was going to spend Christmas all alone. "Awww...you too. It is very comforting knowing that I'm not the only one," she smiled warmly. The smile drifted when she remembered her mothers millionth letter demanding that she come home for the holidays and see her stuck-up aunt and her lazy husband and their awful children.

She literally shook the thoughts out of her head, and doing so she noticed a couple walking towards them. She smiled warmly reconizing them as Meda and Ted. Her heart dropped and she felt the earning of something more in the pit of her stomach when she saw Ted kiss Andromeda's hand. "That's so sweet," she accidently said out loud.

“Is it all right if we join you four?" Bee heard Meda say.

"Of course darling," her eyes met Ted's. 'They are so cute together' she thought. 'He was perfect for MEda'. She pushed Maddie about three feet to the left, distracting her dreamly state. then she scooted over herself making plenty of room for them. "Here you go." she stated patting the blanket beside her. "And they are warm too!" She was surrounded by friends and inside there was a warm feeling that did not come from the blanket. "I hope you all aren't going crazy from all the stressfullness (if that's even a word) with NEWTS and Exams..... Maddie over here," she clicked her tongue, "She stays up studying till 2 in he morning!" she laughed, teasing Maddie was fun.