There was a fire in her belly and pep in her step when Lauren walked to breakfast the next morning, though the rest of the school was dragging themselves, bored with waiting for the next Tri-Wizard task. After George's confession, she had to control herself from jumping him right there in the commons. She had to remind herself this relationship, or whatever it was, new and not just like the one she had with Malfoy. Lauren had given George a chaste kiss, excusing herself to bed before commencing the jumping and giggling. He had disappeared up the opposite stairway, taking the stairs three at a time.

All eyes from the Gryffindor table were on her. She supposed they found out about the loss of one hundred points. No one would dare say anything; they knew she'd get the points back in class the next week. For now it was Saturday, one week until the next task, nine hours since she'd nearly broken it off with Draco, and eight hours since she'd been the happiest in a long while.

George eyed her, sheepishly smiling over a plate of eggs and sausage; Draco, however, scowled at her as if he wasn't a willing participant in the point loss. His father no doubt had learned of her little affair by now. That wasn't Lauren's problem anymore, though. No, she only had to worry about getting to know George even better.

She took her seat across from a sad looking Lindsey. Before she could ask, Fred tickled Angelina causing her to laugh louder than necessary. Ellie looked ready to fling her fork at his head. He had stringing Lindsey along for about as long as he'd been dating Angelina, and Lindsey just couldn't let him go. George nudged Lauren, pulling her from her thoughts and offering her a blueberry muffin, her favorite.

Lauren would be lying if she said she wasn't enjoying Draco's misery a bit. He lost to a Weasley, and everyone knew that would kill him. She ate slowly as the twins chatted to her about the day's plans. They had another Quidditch scrimmage planned, refereed by Madame Hooch of course. Quidditch hadn't been happening due to the Tournament, and the boys, and a few girls, were growing restless. Slytherin versus Gryffindor, naturally, the whole school would be in attendance.

"So, uh, are you going to come cheer me on?" George asked in a low voice.

He knew Quidditch was not her favorite sport, but he had his fingers crossed under the table.

"I do have a three feet essay due on Tuesday," Lauren grinned and nudged his side with her elbow, "But I think maybe I'd like watching more if I was watching someone I, well, like."

George slung an arm around her shoulder as the stood and left.

"Well, if it isn't the new golden couple. I'm sure McGonagall will be happy with the new Gryffindor mascot, a couple of losers." Pansy stood only a few feet outside the door to the Great Hall. "Draco's going to wipe the pitch with you."

Lindsey pulled Ellie from the confrontation while Lauren tugged on George's arm. Fred and Angelina were nowhere to be found, but Draco Malfoy chose that moment to swoop in next to Pansy. He pulled her into his side by the waist.

"The blood traitor's found himself a new girlfriend, although, I'm not sure girl is a proper description. Maybe it would be better."

Lauren knew that shouldn't have hurt as much as it did, but she stopped pulling on George all the same. She tried not to look shocked. A thousand insults and retorts ran through her head, and they all ended in George being upset.

"George," Lauren whispered once she'd gotten a hold of her wits, "They're just a couple of stupid gits. Let's go."

"Don't talk about her like that. Talk about me all you want, but leave her out of it."

The smirk she once—and if we're being honest still did—found attractive appeared. Lauren could practically feel the rage it caused in George.

"I think I have more of a right to talk about her like that, if you know what I mean, Weasley."

Lauren was the first to fling herself at Draco, not George. He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her from the blonde.

"Knew you couldn't keep your hands off of me, sweetheart," he called as they walked towards the door to the Quidditch pitch.

There were many silent footsteps before either spoke. Lauren had been hoping to delay this conversation for as long as possible, but that was a bit too much to hope for. He hadn't put his arm around her again, probably feeling a bit of left over anger, but she wasn't sure.

"Look, George, I don't know what to tell you. We both know he and I were, um, together, but I don't want this to get between us. Whatever this is or will be," she stopped and gestured between the two of them.

A few kids ran past, Luna twirling in a circle around the couple before continuing on.

"I can't do this right now; I've got a game to play," his red hair flopped in his eyes before George took a step towards the pitch.

"Stop, we need to do this right now. You make me happy, and it's not even been a day, but I've liked you for a while. I want this to work."

"What do you want me to tell you?" He crossed his arms. "Last night, when you came in upset, and we had that moment… I just, I was impulsive, and Malfoy wasn't around. Now, I don't know if I can look at you without thinking about you with him. Maybe we should just give this some time."

In less than twelve hours Lauren had managed to get the boy she wanted and have her sort of ex-boy ruin her relationship—could she even call it a relationship?—with the boy she wanted. Only in high school could life happen and be ruined so fast. And only then could it seem like the end of the world.