After the day at the baths, Draco and Lauren became closer than either would have thought was possible. They spent even more time together and even tried touching each other on the shoulder or arm to try and comfort their grieving partner, but it was a tricky business and they usually failed miserably. Draco dropped more hints about his horrific task, yet never told her the full story. Lauren constantly comforted him after he admitted he had failed an attempt, and she always encouraged him when he said he had a new idea. She even taught him a powerful hex to put on a necklace that would automatically kill whoever touched the piece of jewelry. Lauren's conscious gave her a brief pang, but it was nothing compared to her love for Draco and her hatred for everyone at the school who had ever bullied or ignored her. She had no idea who the hex would be aimed at, but there was no one she would feel sorry for.

Draco became infatuated with Lauren as time went on. He wanted to know every detail about her. The thought of her as a living person began to fascinate him, so one day, he went to the library and looked at all the yearbooks that included her, finally coming to the memorial page from 1943. She was smiling awkwardly in many of the pictures, and her eyes revealed the same sadness and anger she had in death. There were a few candid shots that featured the genuine smirk he had grown to love. There was also one of her with her family, and he could instantly see why her sister was favored by everyone, including their parents. Gloria Myrtle was everything Lauren wasn't. She was tall and slender with perfect skin. She obviously took great care with her looks, judging by the dyed blonde hair, perfect make-up, and stylishly form-fitting dress. She gave out a naturally friendly aura that took up nearly the entire picture, leaving Lauren staring gloomily from the background with her bad skin, huge glasses, and boxy figure. Draco tried to feel sorry for her, but was too pleased with the fact that he had her all to himself. Nobody else would want to spend their time with her, so he knew that he was safe in her affections.

She saw him in the lavatory a few days later, hunched and sobbing over the sink. It wasn't their usual meeting time, so she knew that something had gone wrong. She immediately floated over to him and tried to stroke his hair.

"Don't, don't" she soothed as he turned away and his sobs became louder than ever. "Tell me what's wrong; I can help you" she pleaded for what seemed like the hundredth time, frustrated by his secrecy and by the knowledge that a flying, immortal girl who knew every inch of Hogwarts would most likely be invaluable to any task he may want to perform.

"No one can help me", he replied simply, attempting a wry smile that made him look all the more tragic. He babbled a bit more about having to do "it" soon and if he didn't someone would kill him. Lauren furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, unable to think of a response. She didn't have to, however, because a moment later, Harry Potter of all people burst into the lavatory.

Myrtle watched the ensuing scene with a mixture of horror and fascination. At the time, it was the most important thing she had ever witnessed and no detail escaped her. Later, however, all she could remember was her beloved Draco bleeding on the floor, some greasy teacher telling her to leave the room, and someone wailing, "Murder in the bathroom" all around the school. As she floated down the halls, terrifying the students, she realized that she hated Potter as she had never hated anyone. She would have planned a horrible revenge had she not been so worried about Draco. If she could haunt Olive Hornby for separating her from some smarmy little pretty-boy with a slow smile, she could certainly do something worse to the boy who separated her from Draco. When she returned to the lavatory, Draco was gone. She was sure that he was dead. She began to weep even harder at the thought that she had listened to that sleazy teacher and hadn't stayed with him. She could have told him that she loved him. Even if he didn't feel the same way, it would have been worth it. She heard that only people who were afraid of death became ghosts and Draco was so brave that he wouldn't become a ghost; he would go straight to heaven, or wherever normal people went, while she was stuck alone on Earth. She wept continuously for days, unable to keep track of time. As a ghost, she didn't need any sleep, so all she did was cry and sometimes stare out the window, immobile for hours on end. During the sixth day of her weeping, she heard someone come in, but didn't bother to turn around. No one deserved life if her Draco was dead.

"Girl, why are you crying?"

Lauren turned at the sound of voice; it was Draco. He looked more gaunt, tired and pale than ever, but he was her Draco and he was alive. She flew towards him and made an awkward attempt at a hug, causing him to gasp in shock at the iciness of her touch. She attempted an apology, but it was indecipherable among her sobs of relief. He smiled and even tried to hug her back.

"Look, Lauren" he said solemnly when she started to calm down, "After what happened, I think it's only fair that you know exactly what I'm doing. I don't want you to be caught up in something that you don't fully understand. I thought that you would be safe, but when that thing happened with Potter, I knew that I was obviously wrong and if you ever get involved in anything to do with me again; you have the right to know why."

She nodded, trying to contain the grin that still plastered her face. They sat down on the floor together and Draco tried to think of where to begin.

"Have you ever heard of The Dark Lord, or Voldemort, or You-Know-Who?"

"I've heard of him, I mean people talk about his being back sometimes. I don't know what that means though. He sounds bad, though, from what I gather."

Draco almost smiled at her understatement and told her the whole story, not daring to look at her face, though he shouldn't have worried on that score. Lauren's eyes were filled with as much concern and love as ever. It all made so much sense to her now and she respected him more than ever for having to do such a difficult task as having to both kill Dumbledore and let these Death Eater things into Hogwarts. She had no loved for the school that imprisoned her, nor for the students who always bullied and teased her.

"So, you see" he concluded, "If I only kill Dumbledore and not let the Death Eaters in, they'll just put me in Azkaban and get a new headmaster. If I only let the Death Eaters in and not kill Dumbledore, he'll just kill them off, so I need them to happen simultaneously." He let out another sob and stared at the floor dejectedly.

"Draco, just be safe" she murmured. "I can't lose you. You're all I have."

"Lauren, I don't know what will happen to me, but I swear I'll try to come back to you."

"Will these Death Eaters destroy Hogwarts?" Lauren asked after Draco had regained some of his composure.

"I really don't know what they want to do"

"Because if they do, well, I can't be confined in a place that doesn't exist, can I, so I can go wherever I choose and I can be with you."

Draco smiled at her and allowed himself to believe her plan.

"That will be wonderful, darling."

Draco and Lauren spent the next few weeks going over every detail of his plan. She would come up with possible snags and he would come up with ways of avoiding them or surmounting them. She taught him a few spells from her day that had gone out of style, to add an extra element of surprise just in case. She offered every scrap of knowledge she thought would be useful, just as she had done with Tom. Draco broke down a few more times, saying that he simply couldn't do it and he should end himself. Lauren was always a comfort, however, and when the final day came, he was almost confident.