Not Alone After All

Chapter LIII

"Hello, Cedric. No, it's fine," she assured him with a soft smile.

"Sorry, I know it's late, but I was going around doing my Prefect duties and I passed your brother, who told me you were spending the night in the infirmary," he explained. "So I decided to come by and see if you were alright."

"How thoughtful," Fred mumbled, arms crossed, still looking towards the window. Laura took a deep breath, for she did not want to punch a ginger this day.

"I'm, alright, Ced," she said, completely ignoring Fred and how he was acting like an idiot. "Thanks for stopping by, though. Nice to see I have some friends who care," she said very passive aggressively. Cedric seemed to catch on and let out a laugh.

"Yeah, well, no worries," he told her. "What happened to your detention this evening?"

"Well, I've been excused. Unless Snape wants me to wash his floors with blood, I'm not sure I can be of much help." Cedric laughed again, which only seemed to anger Fred even more. Not that Laura noticed, of course.

"I'm sure Snape is furious," he guessed. Laura shrugged.

"Well, it's been postponed. I'll have it tomorrow evening after the feast." Cedric's eyes went wide in surprise.

"Well, isn't that a beautiful birthday present?" Cedric joked. Laura's jaw fell open.

"That's exactly what I said!" she exclaimed, pointing at him. She did not, however, miss Fred's groan at her excitement. Cedric and Laurie laughed, before he told her he had to go and make sure there weren't still students roaming the corridors.

"So, Ginge, did you get a dress for the ball?" George immediately started a conversation. Laura frowned. Why was he so keen on her having a dress? She still didn't have an invitation, she couldn't go to this damned ball.

"No, not yet," Laura responded. "But I've spoken to Remus, because apparently Si -- erm, Padfoot, has got some of my mother's old dresses tucked away somewhere." George's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"You're planning on wearing one of your mother's dresses?" he asked, his voice much softer than before, knowing how sensitive Laura became when her parents were brought up.

"Yeah," she shrugged. "I mean, I have a picture of her in this dark green dress. She isn't doing anything much, just sort of standing there. But it's beautiful. I mean, a beautiful dress like that, you don't just throw it away. And since I now Padfoot has kept some of their belongings, such as my dad's wand, for example... I don't know," she shook her head. "I just thought it might be like a... a sentimental thing."

"I'm sure it'll be great," George smiled gently at her.

The two of them spoke for another half hour at most, before Madam Pomfrey told them they needed some rest.  Fred was the first to fall asleep, seeing as he hadn't been talking, but George and Laura kept their conversation going for hours.

"Have you asked Angelina Jordan out yet?" Laura asked George. George froze, looking at her with wide eyes. "Are you kidding me? Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" She laughed.

"Well, no. I just thought my twin brother would before you did," George said. "But it seems he's a tad oblivious, isn't he?"

"No kidding," Laura shook her head. "But seriously, you should ask her soon. I know the ball is only in two months, but still. She's hot, you gotta act quick."

"She really is, isn't she?" George laughed.

"Well, I mean. She's certainly not my type. And, well, she's no Fleur Delacour." George laughed at her dreamy expression. "Have you seen Fleur Delacour? She's... I don't even have words. She's probably the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

"She's probably a Veela," a George agreed.

"Oh, definetely. And if she isn't, then I'd really love to meet the two parents at that created such beautiful being," Laura let her head fall back on the pillows.

"Oh, no, Ginge," George laughed. "I think you've got a crush on Fleur Delacour," he teased her. Laura's cheeks went red, and it definetely did not go unnoticed by George. "Oh, god, you really do, don't you? You're blushing!"

"Shut up," Laura mumbled, covering her cheeks with her hands.

"Why didn't you tell me you liked girls?" George wondered. "Surely you didn't think I'd think any differently of you."

"Well, I only found out that I like both girls and boys quite recently, and well, I didn't really get the opportunity to tell any of you, did I?" She told him, looking down at her hands.

"Sorry again about that," George apologized. "Fred's a git."

"Yes," Laura agreed. "But you can still come see me during free periods. I know you usually use that time to work on your projects, so if you ever need help, I can help."

George smiled up at her. Not a sweet, soft smile she had been seeing all might. It was a mischievous smile, as if he had thought of something he could use Laura's help for.

Needless to say, they spent quite some time speaking of the pranks and blueprints they had planned, and did not go to sleep until much, much later in the night.