"ORDER"

ORDER: a particular social, political, or economic system; Lorelei wasn't going to lie, being in the Order was intense, it was like having a weight on your shoulder that you have to keep pulling, when Harry had gone to bed and only the people of age stayed in the kitchen, including George and Fred who almost had to leave after their mum insisted that they were way too young to know all that could get them in danger, but Lorelei and Birdie handled it.

It was around two a.m. when the meeting had finally ended, Lorelei got up and stretched her arms releasing a yawn, Birdie did the same, but ended up clutching her lower abdomen instead, Sirene frowned, "Birdie, can I talk to you?"

Lorelei frowned, what did her aunt need with Birdie? And why was Birdie looking a bit alarmed? Much to think about. Apparently Lorelei wasn't the only person who found this situation sketchy because Fred too was narrowing his eyes at the two.

If you asked Lorelei, she would say the thing with Birdie and Fred is kinda stupid, she's usually on Birdie's side at all costs, but come on — it's obvious those two are mad for each other, and if they're going to give it all up for a misunderstanding, or some stupid mistake, that's just unfortunate then, isn't it?

She might just have to take that ginger rat's deal more seriously now.

"We need to talk" both Lorelei and George said to each other at the same time, and then passed each other a discreet look, "Great, meet me in my room at three"

"In the morning?" George asked and Lorelei rolled her eyes.

"When else, idiot?" Lorelei smacked him with the arm she'd forgotten George Weasley had ended up mangling.

"You dumbarse" George whispered harshly, grabbing it with his hand and then tightening the bandage around, "Maybe try using the hand that isn't destroyed"

"Maybe try not destroying my hand then?" Lorelei snapped back and George frowned, he really did guilty, she then sighed, "Sorry, just all riled up because of everything, you know"

"It's ok, I did end up mutilating your hand there"

"No shit" Lorelei chuckled, "This actually hurts — especially after smacking your hand"

"What'd you expect would happen?" George questioned lightheartedly, "It would suddenly heal because of the satisfaction you'd get after hitting me?"

"Boy, hope sure does suck" Lorelei tutted, "Anyway, how much for those Spiderman shoes?"

"It's a work in progress right now" George said, he turned around to face her as he walked backwards, which Lorelei noticed both the Weasley brothers do, but for Fred it seemed like it was to gain the other person's attention, and for George to pay the other person more attention, "I don't want you falling on your head and losing the only other brain cell you have left"

"Funny, that's funny" Lorelei said dryly.

That was the longest Lorelei and George had been civil to each other, well if you don't count that encounter at the hospital wing which left Lorelei thinking whether George had been the one to injure his head instead of her.

Lorelei sighed in her bed, she'd had a long day for sure, look, she didn't ask to be choked by the vines until she passed out and being carried by the same vines to the front of the maze after everyone had already left, but at the same time she didn't ask for her best friend to be murdered either.

Lorelei hadn't really had the time to process all that, and she wasn't sure she wanted to either, but when she closed her eyes it was almost like she could see him, that stupid smile on his face that was so contagious even a fucking dog would smile back.

She imagined he would win the first place, as much as she acted like she was the best candidate in front of Cedric, she knew, he would win it in a heartbeat because that's just the kind of wizard he is— was, he wasn't just powerful, he was rational, and he also went with his guts — something Lorelei found a bit hard to do because in her mind she had to think over every decision before she makes it.

She was so sure, and so was everyone else, Amos Diggory was so proud, not just of Cedric but also of Lorelei, of course not at the same level, it's still Amos Diggory we're talking about, and when Lorelei saw him...looking so broken and fragile as he had to take his own son's body back home, Lorelei didn't know what to do.

"Only five minutes, Ms Black needs her rest!" Madam Pomfrey's voice rang, Lorelei almost flinched because of the sudden noise.

Who's coming to visit her now?

Her curtains drew back as a pair of long arms wrapped themselves around her body, Lorelei knew that hug alright, she was just surprised as to why she did, "Uh..."

"Shut up" George said, burying his face in her neck, and Lorelei frowned, she decided that letting her arms fall limp was getting a bit too awkward and painful for her so she wrapped them around George's neck.

"What? No jokes about me being a mummy?" Lorelei asked, almost daring George to make that joke, "You know you want to, Georgie"

"Merlin, El do you know what it was like?" George broke apart from the hug, pulling up a stool, "You looked..."

"Dead?"

"Well..."

Both of them had made an agreement never to speak of that again, it wasn't even a verbal one — both of them just nodded to each other and knew. She wasn't going to lie, she did miss the bastard sometimes, they used to be best mates when they were younger and George Weasley could make her laugh more than anything in the world, but then they weren't and Lorelei regrets it sometimes. Very much.

🫐

"HEY, SIS!" Regan said, setting her stuff down in the other corner of the room where a bed much like Lorelei's now was present, "I'm moving to this room, is that ok?"

"No" Lorelei said in an obvious voice.

"Great, thanks!" Regan plopped down face first on her bed, "You know, for being infected with bed bugs — these are pretty comfortable"

"Reggie, get up" Lorelei threw a pillow at the brunette who flipped her off, "What's wrong?"

"I had a fight with my friends" Regan said in a small voice and Lorelei sighed, "It's fine, though, I just needed a bit more space"

"Reg" Lorelei said in a stern tone, the one she'd used ever since they were children to get Regan to spit something out.

"I swear, I'm fine!" Regan exclaimed chuckling afterwards, "Hey, did you bring the record pla—"

"Regan" Lorelei turned her around and she noticed her eyes were red, "What happened?"

"Told you, it was a fight" Regan mumbled, "I don't wanna talk about it"

"Yeah, you do" Lorelei bumped her shoulder, "You love talking, sometimes you can't even shut up"

"Shut up" Regan bumped her shoulder back, "I just always feel left out with them, I guess, I mean I knew being a Slytherin with a bunch of Gryffindors might become a pain in the arse at some moments, but this time with the war — it's getting a bit more tense with us"

"Well, that's stupid" Lorelei frowned, "Slytherin or not you're still Regan Rosier, being in Slytherin doesn't change who you are, or define you, it just accentuates who you already were as a person"

"I know," Regan folded her legs up to her chest, "not many people think like you, though, many kids are already being pressured to join their parents in my house, and they hate me because I come from a family of blood traitors—"

"Which we take pride in—"

"—obviously" Regan said, again as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "but sometimes I just feel like I belong in neither of those, I'll always feel left out in Gryffindor and I'll always feel small and weak in Slytherin"

"Listen, kid" Lorelei said mirroring Regan's position, "The sorting hat didn't put you in Slytherin just because of your ambition, you're strong, and you know what the right thing is, now I might not know what it feels like to be in Slytherin but I do know more than anything you're smart, and you'll pull through like you always do, it might sound cliché but keep your head up and if someone pushes you, push them back harder, now's not the time to stay silent, ya know"

"I know" Regan said quietly, "I just wish it wasn't all so sucky all the time"

"I know" Lorelei rubbed Regan's shoulders.

"Now, who's this Regulus guy you're reading the journals of...?"