I'M GOOD, I'M GONE ? george weasley

# 011 ━━ jealousy, jealousy

Phenix's smile wavered as she shook her head. "No one in particular," she replied, though the discomfort was evident.

"Why insist on ruining someone else's night for a bloke?" Angelina cut in, her voice sharp. "Seems a bit low, doesn't it?"

The girl rolled her eyes, undeterred. "If you care about someone, wouldn't you go after them regardless? It's all fair in love, yeah?"

Angelina didn't respond, but Indigo wasn't one to let it slide. "Doesn't mean you'll get them just because you go after them," she pointed out, her voice calm but firm.

"Maybe, but whoever wins, wins," the girl shot back with a smug smile. Deleine scoffed, catching the girl's attention. "Got a problem, Chang?"

Deleine turned to her, eyes narrowed. "You sound like a complete idiot," she said bluntly, the words dripping with disdain. The tension around the couches grew even thicker, George shifting uncomfortably beside her. "Trying to steal someone else's date because you can't get one yourself? Pathetic."

"If he's up for grabs, why does it matter?" the girl sneered. "If George was, would you still want him?"

Deleine's tone turned icy. "He's not, so I wouldn't know."

"Are you sure about that?" the girl pressed, laughing awkwardly when George glanced her way. "Just saying, you're not exactly official, so it's not like it's permanent."

Deleine's grip tightened, her voice deadly calm. "I'll leave you with a permanent black eye if you keep running your mouth." The silence that followed was deafening, her threat hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

The girl scoffed, not backing down. "Getting all riled up with me as if Lovegood isn't the one making moves on your precious Weasley," she finally said, laying her cards on the table.

"You're being a right cow for bringing it up," Indigo snapped, her tone daring the girl to say more. The atmosphere grew heavier, a sense of impending conflict settling over the group.

The girl rolled her eyes again. "Whatever, it's out in the open now. Everyone knows she asked him out before you did and got rejected." She laughed, her friends joining in.

"What?" Deleine's voice was sharp as she turned to George, who quickly looked away.

"Doesn't matter; she got turned down," Angelina interjected, trying to smooth things over.

"Clearly not enough, seeing how she's still hanging on," the girl shot back, her words twisting the knife.

Deleine's anger flared, burning hotter with every passing second. Why was it that the entire Gryffindor common room seemed to know things she should have heard first? And why was this girl even bringing it up?

"What a mate you are," Cassia muttered to Phenix's so-called "friend," the disdain in her voice evident.

"I'm just saying, wouldn't it be better to be honest about it?" the girl continued, oblivious to the growing storm. Deleine inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself, but it was no use. Why did it feel like everyone knew her date better than she did? The thought was maddening. Exhaling sharply, she stood up, her hand slipping away from George's in an instant.

"I shouldn't have to make it official for you lot to understand why you shouldn't flirt with him," she stated, her voice clear and commanding. "George answers to me, not you, so shut it and mind your own business, you muppet." The girl's friends gasped at the insult, their eyes wide with shock.

"And for Merlin's sake, stop throwing yourself at him," Deleine snapped at Phenix, the words tumbling out before she could stop herself. The frustration that had been building all night finally erupted. "If you're too scared to do it in front of me, don't do it at all, yeah?"