Chapter Thirteen

The next day at breakfast, Lauren sat down next to Oliver and Sebastian. "Nervous, much?" Sebastian asked.

"What if people don't like me, Sebastian?" she asked.

"That would be impossible. And if anyone gives you trouble…you know who to come to", he said.

"I'm glad I have my brother", she said.

"I was kind of referring to myself", Sebastian stated.

"Oh…" she said, eyeing his tall, yet slender frame, laughing.

He smiled, "Very funny! I can take on anyone, with my guns!" he said, flexing his arms.

Lauren laughed and shook her head, "Whatever you say, Sebastian".

Marcus eyed her from across the hall and shook his head. "I guess she never was interested", he thought. "Heather!" he called, beckoning to a beautiful tall brunette with big blue eyes.

Heather shook her head and turned in the opposite direction. Marcus got up and sat next to her, "What's wrong?" he asked.

"What's wrong? Well for starters, you were going out with Amber behind my back in the holidays! And you hardly ever called while we were going out!" she retorted.

"Yeah, yeah…about that…I was hoping…you could give me another chance? A fresh start?" he asked, still unable to keep his eyes off Lauren and Sebastian.

"Well, I did hear you ended it with Amber, so…alright…one more chance. You're lucky you're good-looking and rich", the shallow Heather replied bluntly. Marcus wasn't bothered by her comment. He only needed a distraction to completely get his mind off Lauren.

Lauren saw Marcus from across the hall with his hand around a very gorgeous Slytherin girl. They were talking and laughing and he had his arm around her. He was looking deep into her eyes. Lauren suddenly felt angry…and a little bit jealous. Sebastian looked at the object of Lauren's glance. "And that…is Marcus Flint for you", he said. Lauren didn't say anything and looked down at her plate. "I'm sorry your day had to start out pretty lousy", said Sebastian sincerely.

"I have to go", Lauren replied, getting up and gathering her books for her first lesson.

In her Transfiguration class with Professor McGonagall, Lauren sat next to Angelina Johnson and Fred Weasley. Fred Weasley was fooling around as usual, turning his left thumb green with his wand. "Gross", Angelina said disgusted.

"I'm an environmentalist now!" Fred exclaimed.

"Can you get anymore lame?" Corinne Evans asked.

Lauren was able to complete all tasks set for her by the professor, impressing everyone in the class, especially McGonagall. This didn't please Lauren in any way, for she was still curious about Marcus and the pretty brunette. The day dragged on with Lauren, impressing all her teachers in Defense against the Dark Arts, Potions, Charms and Care of Magical Creatures. At five o'clock Lauren sat on a couch in the Gryffindor Common Room, exhausted. "How were your lessons?" Oliver asked, sitting down next to her.

"Dragging, but easier than expected", Lauren replied.

"So…you're interested in…" Oliver began, uneasily.

"For the last time, Oliver! I'M NOT INTERESTED IN MARCUS FLINT!" Lauren cried, still feeling crushed about what she saw at breakfast.

"I was going to say Sebastian…" Oliver said, calmly, "He's a nice guy, and if you want to go out with him…I approve, but I will kill him if he tries anything".

"I broke up with my boyfriend yesterday", Lauren said.

"Yeah…I kind of saw you with a guy on the Quidditch field…yesterday…saw how things turned out".

"WHAT?" Lauren asked, "You were spying on me?"

"I was going to test out some equipment, actually but…I decided not to when I saw you there…and I saw you with Marcus, I saw how you walked off…I'm proud of you".

Lauren turned red with embarrassment, "You…were right about him", she said, expecting him to rub it in her face but he didn't and she was glad for that.

"What subjects do you have tomorrow?" he asked, changing the topic, knowing that she was uncomfortable with continuing.

"Herbology, Ancient Runes, Astronomy, History of Magic and Arithmancy".

"You do Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures—three electives instead of the required two?" Oliver asked, shocked.

"I wanted to do four but I thought that would be a bit much, which electives do you do?"

"Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures—easy ones", Oliver said, "I'd die in Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, and there's no way I'm doing Divination".

Lauren laughed, "Divination's a bit of a joke, I heard".

"Sebastian does it", Oliver laughed, "He says it's useless but it's easy to get good marks, he says all you need is imagination".

"I'm going to the library…so I'll see you at dinner", Lauren said, getting up.

"See you then!" Oliver said, lying down on the couch. Lauren walked out of the portrait hole and began walking to the library. She entered the library and picked up some books. She sat down at a desk in the library and began to read.

She heard two sets of feet entering the library and didn't have to look up to see who it was. She heard Marcus mutter something and heard a girl laugh in response. They sat at a nearby table and before Lauren could pick up her books and leave, she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Sebastian?" she said, smiling. Sebastian came and sat down next to her.

"You're brother told me I'd find you here", said Sebastian, "How were your classes?"

"Fine", she said.

"It's the visit to Hogsmeade, this weekend and I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me? I can show you around", he said.

"I'd love that, I really would", she said, putting her hand on Sebastian's, sensing Marcus' eyes on her. Sebastian put his hand on hers and she didn't mind at all, smiling to herself. "Let's go to dinner", she said.

He picked up her books for her carrying them in his left arm and holding her hand with his right hand. She put her head on his shoulder as they exited the library, not glancing back at Marcus.

Marcus eyed Sebastian and Lauren walking out together, pounding his fist on the desk with anger. "Can you stop that? I'm losing my concentration!" Heather cried, as she didn't take her eyes off her pocket mirror, "I just lost count!" she said, slamming her hairbrush on the desk with exasperation.

"I'm sorry!" Marcus said, rolling his eyes.

"I forgive you", she said, oblivious to his sarcasm, "Oh and you must take me out to Madam Puddifoot's when we go to Hogsmeade this weekend".

"Over my dead body, Heather!"

"Fine, we'll find somewhere else!" she said annoyed. Marcus sighed; this distraction was giving Marcus a lot more stress than he expected.