Her Tulip Heart | R.J. Lupin

Chapter 16

Anticipation mixed in with the buzz of excitement the party brought, as the seventh years waited for the drinking game to begin. Alethea was the image of calm at a party; sitting with her arms behind her, all her weight put into leaning back on her arms, and crossing her legs straight out in front of her. She was silently scanning the circle full of faces she's seen practically everyday for the past six years.

She was sad that their time together would be over in under a year, meaning she'll probably never see some of their moderately memorable faces again. If she was being honest, she didn't have an emotional connection too many of her peers. Although she had many friends, she could go without seeing them everyday and be content with exchanging a letter every now and again.

After a few minutes of people scanning, a Slytherin girl named Talia stepped into the middle of the circle to announce the rules of the game.

'If you're sitting in this circle, I'm going to assume you're here to play Truth or Drink. Am I right?' Talia asked the crowd of seventh years, to which some whooped and cheered in response. 'The rules are simple: either answer the question you're asked truthfully; or take a shot of Firewhiskey if you don't want everyone to know your answer.' She listed off loud enough for everybody around her to hear.

Alethea rose her eyebrows when Talia pulled her wand out of her boot and muttered a spell under her breath. The spell made a small, brown square coffee table with shot glasses filled with Firewhiskey appear right next to where she was standing. 'Alright, who wants to ask the first question?' Talia asked the group once she found a spare space in the circle.

No one seemed to want to be the first person asking a question. Because no hands were raised, nor did a voice speak up. The trio just looked at each other, speaking with their eyes about not wanting to be the icebreakers.

'Alright. I'll ask the first question if none of you pansies are going to.' A voice came from the right of Alethea. It appeared that Zoe Loughty, a Gryffindor, was the one who spoke up. Looking around the circle, she was obviously scanning for the victim of her question. Not even making it around the circle fully before her eyes landed on Oliver Wood.

Oliver, who was sitting next to Estella, suddenly looked a bit pale and sweaty when Zoe opened her mouth to ask him her question. 'Ollie, is there someone in this room you'd shag?' She asked him wiggling her eyebrows.

Huffing out a laugh at the not too personal question, 'Yes.' He answered confidently, sneaking a side glance towards Estella who blushed when she met his eyes.

The game continued on like this, where no good juicy secrets were being spilled. Alethea hadn't even been asked a question yet. But somehow, she managed to remain buzzed throughout the game, even though she hadn't had the opportunity to take a shot. Although, that may have been because she was snapping her fingers behind her back to make one or three of the shots come to her.

It wasn't until Penelope Clearwater asked Katherine the bitch a question that Alethea become interested in the game.

'Who's someone you plan to have hooked up with by the end of the year Katherine?' Penelope asked her in a nasally voice. Katherine looked smug as she thought about her answer, it appeared that she wasn't going to be taking a shot.

Looking smugger than she did whilst she was thinking, she finally allowed her answer to tumble out from her chapped, brown painted lips.

'Professor Lupin.' She stated boldly, causing people to gasp and giggle. At this Alethea scoffed, which made everyone's attention to snap to her, including Katherine's. She sent Alethea a menacing glare before she smirked at her.

'I think I'm going to ask Alethea a question.' Katherine said in a sickly sweet tone. Sighing, Alethea held her arm out in front of her and Accio'd the whole bottle of Firewhiskey from the coffee table into her hand. A few people let out a gasp at her sudden use of magic.