The Denial Stage
Harry Potter was not having a crisis.
Definitely not.
Was he maybe thinking too much about the way Seamus Finnigan casually invaded his space? Sure.
Was he very aware of the way Seamus’s stupid Irish accent made literally everything sound attractive? Maybe.
Was he completely, utterly, one hundred percent in denial about all of this?
…Absolutely.
Step One: Avoid Seamus at All Costs
The day after The Realization, Harry made a plan.
Avoid Seamus. Easy. Simple. Foolproof.
Unfortunately, Seamus did not get the memo.
Because Seamus found him immediately.
“Oi, Potter!”
Harry flinched so hard he nearly dropped his book. He turned slowly, forcing a normal expression onto his face.
Seamus grinned at him, looking obnoxiously perfect in his wrinkled uniform and loose tie.
Harry immediately looked away.
Seamus frowned. “You alright, mate?”
“I’m fine,” Harry said way too quickly. “Completely fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine? I’m always fine. Fine is my normal state of being.”
Seamus stared.
“…Right.”
Harry cleared his throat. “So, uh, I just remembered—I have a thing. A very important thing. Somewhere far away from here.”
Seamus raised an eyebrow. “It’s breakfast, Harry.”
“…Yes. And I need to—um—leave. Immediately.”
Harry turned and power-walked away.
Seamus watched him go, frowning.
“…What the hell was that about?”
Step Two: Pretend You Are Not Blushing When He Calls You ‘Love’
Harry had barely recovered from his failed escape attempt when it happened again.
They were sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts, waiting for class to start, when Seamus nudged him.
“Hey, pass me that quill, love.”
Harry froze.
Seamus didn’t even seem to notice. He just kept holding his hand out, waiting.
Harry, however, was having a breakdown.
Love.
He called me love.
WHY DID HE CALL ME LOVE?
“Potter?” Seamus waved a hand in front of his face. “Y’alright there?”
Harry threw the quill at him and immediately looked away.
Seamus chuckled. “Cheers, love.”
Harry prayed for the ground to swallow him whole.
Step Three: Hermione Granger Figures It Out Immediately
By dinner, Harry had completely failed to avoid Seamus and had spent the entire day flushing like an idiot.
Unfortunately, Hermione noticed.
They were sitting in the Great Hall, Hermione reading a book, when she suddenly said, without looking up:
“So. You fancy Seamus.”
Harry choked on his pumpkin juice.
“I—what?!”
Hermione turned a page. “You fancy Seamus.”
Harry’s brain short-circuited. “I—I do not—”
“You do.”
“I don’t!”
“You do.”
Harry looked around frantically. “Would you keep your voice down?!”
Hermione sipped her tea, completely unbothered.
Seamus walked into the Hall, grinning as he spotted Harry.
“Oi, love!” he called out.
Harry dropped his fork.
Hermione smirked. “Uh-huh.”
Harry buried his face in his hands.
He was so doomed.
Step Four: Absolutely, Under No Circumstances, Acknowledge That You Are in Love With Seamus Finnigan
The final straw came that night.
Harry was sitting by the fire, trying to calm his racing thoughts, when Seamus plopped down beside him.
“Long day?” Seamus asked.
Harry sighed. “You have no idea.”
Seamus chuckled. “Yeah?”
And then—before Harry could react—Seamus casually reached out and ran his fingers through Harry’s hair.
Just once.
Soft. Thoughtless. Completely natural.
And Harry—
Harry actually stopped breathing.
Seamus didn’t even notice. He just yawned, stretching his arms, then leaned back against the couch.
Harry sat there, staring at him, heart pounding.
And in that moment, he knew.
He was so completely and utterly screwed.
Because this wasn’t just a crush.
This was Seamus Finnigan.
Loud, reckless, stubborn, ridiculous Seamus Finnigan—who had somehow become the best part of Harry’s day.
And Harry was falling for him.
Hard.