Protégée (George Weasley)

Chapter Twenty One

The Gryffindor common room looked as lively as ever the night of their win. There were food settled on every available surface, bottles of butterbeer being passed around. Lisa talked, all smiles at every person who came by to congratulate her with winning her first ever game. Even Florence, who was captain of the opposing team, had shook her hand after the game, showing amazing sportsmanship.

Angelina was grinning from ear to ear, taking partial credit of Lisa's achievements, going on and on about how if it had not been for her, Lisa wouldn't have even thought of joining the team.

Noel's uneasiness stuck out like a sore thumb around the festive aura that was swirling in the common room. He was staring at George the whole time, his frown growing deeper every time he so much as patted Lisa on the shoulder. It was petty jealousy, he knew, but still could not help himself. He knew, somehow, that George had budding feelings for her.

Noel wished they would go away.

Lisa had strode over to where he sat slumped on a sofa near the fireplace, where he had been watching her talk to the Weasley twins animatedly a minute ago.

"Hey you," she said, handing him a butterbeer, "Why so glum? Your most favorite person in the world just pulled through with this whole beater thing!"

"Yes," he said, giving her a small smile as he lolled the bottle of sweet beverage side to side, "And I'm extremely proud of you for it, Lisa. I really am."

"Then why the long face?"

He shrugged, "I'm just tired, is all. My voice is kinda hoarse from all the shouting I did awhile ago." he managed to chuckle lightly, returning the unopened butterbeer to Lisa, "As much as I would love to have that now, I can't, not if I want to lose my voice completely tomorrow."

"I understand," she reassured, "So I take it that you'll be hitting the sack in awhile?"

"Heading up now, actually. I'm beat. You, however, have a celebration you need to get to. It's your party, well, the team's party. Enjoy it, Branson."

Lisa grinned, giving Noel a brief hug, "You're the bestest friend ever, you know that, Elly, right?"

Noel fought to keep a smile on his face, despite the dull ache in his heart, "I know, Lisa. You can't live without me."

"That I can't," she grinned, swiveling around as she heard someone call her name, "Oh, I have to go. Fred's calling me. Get some sleep, yeah? See you tomorrow." with one last squeeze on his shoulder, she got up from the couch, strolling over to where the Weasley twins stood.

Several minutes after Noel trudged up the stairs, other people began following suit, most of them were fifth years to first years, who had to rest early for tomorrow. As soon as the common room was just sixth and seventh years, Lee Jordan had hauled out a box of what looked like bottles of firewhiskey from behind one of the couches.

"Now we're talking!" Angelina grinned, practically stumbling over furniture to grab a cup, "Pour me some, will you?" he called to Fred, who gladly did so.

Lisa stood there, shocked that even those who she knew who weren't of age started gulping down firewhiskey. Angelina had offered her a cup several times, Lisa turning it down gingerly every time she did so. By the time clock struck eleven, most of the Gryffindors left in the commons were drunk and slurring.

Fred and George were leaned against each other when she had came by to check on them. And Fred, who was clearly too drunk for his own good, was full on sobbing, going on and on about how his girlfriend was extremely lovely and kind and amazing and how she was also equally scary.