"Trouble in paradise?"

I looked up to see the Weasley twins. Wiping my eyes, I sighed. "Boys are such prats."

"Whoa, now that's an insult," one said.

"We're highly offended," said the other. It was very hard to tell which twin was which.

"Sorry, I meant one in particular." They both crouched down.

"Care to spill the beans poppet?" they both asked in unison. I shrugged, who else did I have? Barnabus was back inside the Great Hall and I was too much of a coward to chance running into Cedric.

One twin draped their dress robe over my shoulders and they both sat on either side of me. "Thanks…"

"George." So George was the one to my left and Fred to my right. They urged me on and I sighed heavily.

"A friend asked me to be his date, I said yes. But then Cedric cut into a dance and was asking why I was with Barnabus and got angry, saying my date was interested in me more than a friend even though he has a fiancé. I left and then came out here."

"Wow he is a prat," Fred replied.

George wound his arm around me. I snuggled closer for warmth and he stroked my fallen curls. "Diggory is a git. Head always stuck up his arse. Forget it. He's just jealous he didn't ask you first."

I looked at him with a furrowed brow. "But he went with Cho Chang."

"Fred?!" a girl called from the entrance.

"Sorry chaps, got to go entertain the lady," Fred said with a wink and left to his date.

"So what? And how do you know he didn't want to ask you? Your friend beat him to the finish line."

"What makes you think that?" I asked, sniffling more to hold back the embarrassing sobs that wanted to rip through my chest.

"Did you look in the mirror before you came down? Was this Barnabus the only guy to ask you?"

I didn't answer. He pulled me in tighter. "Why don't you let us cheer you up, eh? Hang with us Hainsworth and you'll be laughing in no time."

This made me laugh pathetically and he pinched my cheek. My chest swelled a little, turning warm despite the freezing air. After just sitting on the frozen ground George walked me to Ravenclaw tower and flicked my nose, telling me to smile more and goodnight.

The twins made it easy to forget the whole Yule Ball, at least until I was left alone in the common room. I could now tell them apart. George's hair curved inward at the bottom, where as Fred's tended to flip out. And the fact that his girlfriend, Angelina Johnson, was glued to his hip.

George spent more time alone with me than he did with Fred after a while. Walking, playing in the snow or me helping him with his studies (which never turned out productive).

When spring was first showing, George and I walked down to supper together. And right at the doors to the Great Hall, he gently grabbed my face and bent down to plant his lips firmly against mine. My heart sputtered and then raced. My cheeks blazed red hot and I heard howls and cheers from the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables. When he pulled back he winked and hung his arm around my neck and walked me to my table.

I was torn between feeling mortified and giddy. My first kiss. I looked around to see everyone, even the whole staff staring. Most were giggling and joking with George. My eyes wondered the crowd and I saw the robes of a Hufflepuff swiftly leaving the Great Hall.

I sat in the library with George, his fingers playing with loose strands that fell from my long braid. I was barely registering what I read from my text book. "You're distracting me."

He shrugged and leaned in closer, lips hovering just above the corner of my mouth. I held my breath, frozen and anticipating another kiss. He ghosted up my jaw then down my neck. I was blinking to keep from melting.

"Be my girlfriend," he whispered easily.

I gulped. Girlfriend… I'd never held that title before and it was interesting that I wanted to have such a thing.

"Okay…" I breathed and his lips found mine. This kiss lasted much longer and had movement. Both of us opening and closing our mouths over each others. His hands settled into my hair and mine went for his neck. George leaned closer, brushing his chest against mine. My head was spinning, lightheaded. We didn't make any sign of stopping soon, only adjusting our bodies to face one another.

This was new and exhilarating. He tasted of butter beer, cinnamon and boy.

We both pulled away laughing quietly when our chairs clunked together. Soon, after trying to cram more Arithmancy equations into memory, and failing since George would still little kisses and send me flying origami birds, he walked me to my common room and kissed me for a full two minutes goodnight.

Everything seemed strange now. I looked forward to more of George's more forward kisses. Wanted for him to push for more than just open-mouth. Yearned for his hands to wander. To really taste him. Sometimes even daydreaming in class, curious as to what he looked like under his uniform shirt. This sent heat from my hair line down to my chest for straying to such thoughts.

A week before the second task he pulled me to a deserted corridor that no one really went to during lunch. He backed me into a darkened alcove and against the stone wall. Intertwining our fingers he raised them to my head and crashed down on my mouth. I wanted badly to roam his chest with my hands, but being short and small made it easy for him to trap me there. His lips parted and I felt hot wet and soft massage my tongue. We were French kissing. This sent everything in my body whirling and thrumming. His hand slipped down my wrists, over my arms and to my rib cage.

I took advantage of my free hands and pushed on his robes. He followed, both black garments falling around us. George stepped in closer, his hips touching my midriff. I gasped at the new feeling. He went back to exploring my mouth, hands under my oxford shirt and feeling my stomach and back. Grabbing my hips, he lifted me up to be level at his throat. I ran my lips over the new skin while he massaged my thighs. I wrapped my legs around his waist and took in a sharp breath as I felt something prodding into my spread legs.

Fire blazed over my entire body. Was that really his…? Instead of repulsion, I felt amusement. I made him feel this way. He slowed down and looked at my face. "You alright?" he asked looking for any sign of distress or panic. I only smiled.

"More than alright. It felt…"

"Good?"

"No. Strange, but farther than good. Incredible?" I suggested.

He smirked and then looked over my body, thinking. "It's been, what? Two months? I don't know what the lines are between comfortable and pushing it. Can you tell me what your limits are?" he asked, a nervous hitch to his voice.

"Well… This," I said, waving at the air between us, "is fine. Groping can be included and some clothing removed is acceptable. But for now that's what I am ready for. I've never done any of this."

He nodded and we continued our assault on one another, this time his hands discovering new skin, me pushing up his sweater and shirt to feel his chest. It was a little unexpected to feel twitching muscle. But not a total surprise considering he was on the Quidditch team for Gryffindor.

We were a mess of panting and fumbling as the snogging intensified. When his lips trailed over my throat I looked over his shoulder and tensed.

Grey eyes burned into mine with angry fire. He stood, watching as George continued, moving farther down my skin, not noticing. Cedric didn't move. He was frozen, staring at my face in rage. I didn't know whether to feel disgusted or guilty of him watching. Finally George realized I was no longer wrapped up in our heated moment and pulled back, huffing. His eyes rested on my face and then turned to see Cedric.

I slide to my feet and watched the two just stare. The tension suffocated me and it was immobilizing me. Still, seeing Cedric made my heart pound loudly in my ears. He made me feel so much more just by being near me, than when George was kissing me.

"Diggory, you kinda killed our mood," George sounded so calm and a bit teasing. I wanted to swat him.

"Sorry, not used to seeing a hussy at work." I gaped at the insult. He called me a hussy? This gave me quick control over my body.

"How dare you? I have never done a thing to you! Why do you always stick your nose into my personal business? You have no hold over me, Cedric. I am in no form your responsibility!" I growled out, moving in between the testosterone face-off.

George pulled me back and wrapped his long arms around my middle. "You skipped your chance, Diggory. Taste the sour grapes and move along. You've always been a sore loser."

Cedric gritted his teeth, fists clenched. "Advice taken. Hope you survive the next two tasks with out my help." With that he stomped off, leaving us two to watch him disappear down the hallway.

"Jealous git," George muttered and kissed my hair. "We should get to class."

I sighed. "Now I'm going to die in this tournament. He was my crutch."

"I doubt he'll let that happen. He was just throwing words. Trust me, he's not over you that easily."

Another sigh. "George?"

"Hmm?" We were now making our way out to the green houses, our only class together.

"I don't think it's fair that I'm with you, when my heart is somewhere else. I've really enjoyed everything we've done, but…" I trailed off, guilt-ridden of what I felt.

"But you don't feel for me what you fill for Pretty Boy Diggory. I know."

"You know?" I asked incredulously. He laughed.

"Nora, it's written all over your face. And that's okay. I played dirty, I'm not a gentleman, never tried to be. Sorry if that makes me sound like a prick, but I liked you, knowing you liked him."

I gaped in shock. So he took advantage of me. And how is it I couldn't be angry? Why didn't I feel the urge to slap him hard across his freckled face.

"Why don't we just call ourselves friends, and I'll help you two."

I eyed him as he stuck out his hand, smiling. "What do you mean help?"

"Lets just say I can find out where Strong and Silent is sulking and you can run into him…"

"You want spy on him and then have me run into him as you put it and then what?"

He groaned. "For a Ravenclaw you can be pretty blind." I was about to defend myself when he continued.

"Look. Me and Fred will help you into Diggory's arms. Alright?" He asked, gesturing for me to shake his hand in agreement.

"Basically trick him into liking me again."

George let out a noise of frustration. "What he said back there didn't mean anything. He's still going to fancy you. We're just going to give him a push back in your direction. Agreed?"

I sighed. "Fine, but nothing too drastic, yeah?"

"You have my word." We shook hands.

"Operation Diggory commenced. Now I have the perfect idea to get his attention. At breakfast tomorrow…" He continued his plan as we headed down to Herbology, explaining detailed instructions. I grimaced at most of it, but nodded. Tomorrow would put me in a spotlight in the Great Hall. I just prayed this didn't backfire.

The rest of the day was slow, Fred and George sending me winks and thumbs up. It made me queasy. All those eyes on me at breakfast confounded me. I was never one to seek attention. It came hand in hand with gossip and rumors.

Nonetheless, I went over the plan several times before curfew and tried to sleep.

I rose from bed a little later than I normally did. I made sure my hair was disheveled and I wrinkled my clothes, just as I was told to do, and left for the Great Hall to meet up with George. He made it sound easy enough and I didn't think it would make Cedric look twice, but he assured me that it would make a big impact. All he asked is if I minded being pitied for a while. I told him it didn't matter, it'd be fake anyhow.

I saw him at the bottom step and he grinned devilishly. "Ready for your knight in shinning armor?"

I closed my eyes and nodded…