year 5
End of fourth year, whatever Dean and Ginny had together, culminated in Dean being very much into her. Ginny however was a bit unsure, but that changed over the summer. One whole summer of dopey yearning Dean had passed and when it finally went away it wasn't because Dean got over Ginny, it was more like Ginny being over him. All over him. Like barely came up for air over each other.
It wasn't just that Seamus was the insanely jealous type, he genuinely felt betrayed. Dean was supposed to be his best mate but he apparently couldn't make any time for him because of his fully packed snog schedule with Miss Weasley. Ginny had stolen Dean away and Seamus felt lonely. Just as he had feared, a pretty girl had managed to catch Dean’s attention and the worst part was that Seamus’ couldn’t even dislike her.
So he seeked comfort where he could.
If he focused really hard he could pretend the hands pushed to the wall on each side of him were Dean's, even though they were a little too dark. He could imagine that the luscious lips pressed to his neck belonged to Dean, but he couldn't pretend that the harsh, cruel voice did.
That's why he hated it when Blaise spoke to him during their encounters.
"You're a real piece of shit, I can almost taste the mixed blood" Blaise snickered.
"Fuck you Blaise!" Seamus fiercely pressed his lips to Blaise's and successfully shut him up for a few minutes. Blaise pulled away with a grin and bit down hard on Seamus's jaw. Perhaps to punish him for talking back to his royal purebloodness. It fucking hurt, that arse! Seamus pulled a face and flipped him off as Blaise took a step back. The Slytherin just grinned and licked his own lip.
"Don't mind if I do, but I would prefer being the one doing the fucking" Seamus gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. He felt his cheeks burning under Blaise's gaze but he sort of didn't hate the idea. Although it also terrified him. It was one thing imagining it, looking at porn or playing with scenarios in his own head. At a safe distance. He wasn’t sure he was actually ready to… you know, actually have sex. Especially with Blaise Zabini.
"I do like that look on you Seamus... I have to go to class though" he took his satchel from where he had discarded it on the dungeon floor.
They called each other by name, not because they liked each other but because it felt weird calling each other only by last name when they were making out a lot. They had a slightly unhealthy relationship really, but at least they got away with calling each other the most awful things while simultaneously letting out some steam. Apparently you could get away with calling Blaise a lot of things as long as you also let him french you.
Otherwise Seamus would have punched Blaise in the teeth long ago.
Well, he did punch him sometimes anyway, for good measure. On occasions where he could claim it was an accident that his sharp elbow jabbed Blaise’s abdomen.
As Blaise tidied up his appearance Seamus tried to remember how it all started. That time Crabbe made a homophobic remark and Seamus had argued against his better judgment? Blaise had given him that knowing look, like he suspected Seamus spoke from experience. Was it when Malfoy called Seamus a slur and insinuated that he thought about Dean like that, and Seamus had blushed because he couldn’t deny it, and Blaise had known. Was that when he followed him out of the classroom and kissed him the first time? Because he knew Seamus couldn’t refuse.
Just like today, when he made his claims on Seamus and Seamus went with it.
As Blaise departed down the hall he turned his head.
"Meet me on the third floor after dinner, the classrooms should be empty" he said, that glimmer in his eyes. Then he disappeared around a corner.
Seamus felt filthy as he quickly straightened his tie and continued to his own classes.
He much preferred to be with Terry.
Terry Boot was sweet and his hands matched Dean's in size.Terry was Hispanic so he did have a darker tint to his skin, but he was fairer than Dean. Once again, if Seamus got real close and kissed a trail up Terry's neck he could pretend, but he felt more guilty about it.
Unlike with Blaise, Seamus didn't dislike Terry's voice either, and sometimes it was okay that he broke the illusion. Because Terry was pretty handsome, and Seamus didn't mind being with him as he was. He liked Terry.
As he stood in front of the mirror and buttoned his shirt Terry snaked his arms around him and started purring in his ear. The Irish boy laughed and turned to kiss him but Terry quickly backed away again.
"We have got to stop seeing each other like this" he gestured to the boys bathroom and to the small statue they had pushed in front of the door so it wouldn't open from the other side.
"Can't I please take you to Hogsmeade this weekend?"
Seamus slowed down on his buttoning and sighed. It probably wasn't a good idea, it didn't seem fair to Terry but Seamus wasn’t prepared to give him anything other than this. Besides, he had already made plans with Dean. They hadn't hung out in ages and this time Dean had said they'd go together. No Ginny involved.
"Terry, I-"
"I know, you don't want anything serious but it's just one date. Come on, I just want to have a normal love life like everyone else. Not hiding in a bathroom stall in between classes"
"Terry, I don't know..." Seamus finished his shirt and started on his tie while avoiding eye contact.
"He's not interested, he never will be" Terry looked at him, dead in the eye. Seamus made the mistake to meet his gaze, and almost lost his balance from the intensity.
His words hurt, Terry was right but it still hurt.
"I'm sorry Seamus but he seems really straight. Are you planning on being alone and heartsick for the rest of your life?"
Seamus closed the gap between them but didn't do anything except stare at Terry's blue tie, avoiding his eyes again. Eventually he started tying it for him. Looking down made it easier to speak about it.
"I know... but I can't just-"
Terry interrupted him.
"You have to stop pushing everyone away, eventually you'll have no one, cause your only friend is gonna be too painful to be around"
And with that he gave Seamus one last peck on the cheek and left, abandoning Seamus in the middle of the bathroom, alone with his thoughts.
He was right of course; Seamus had already driven both Harry and Ron away at the start of the year. Because of Harry's stupid convictions and blind faith in Dumbledore. But how could he not be mad, he'd almost not been able to go back to Hogwarts that year. Granted he should’ve blamed his mother more, but it was his mother.
And he'd never been very close with Neville either. So now that Dean was busy, he really didn't have anyone.
The best thing about Ginny, Dean thought, was how easy she was to talk to. It was like hanging out with Seamus, only he got to snog her too. And she was so beautiful, he wasn’t unaware of the jealous stares he received from other boys. Her kisses were both sweetly innocent and wildly passionate.
She knew more about Quidditch than Dean did, and he often found himself in situations where they discussed sports and Ginny had to explain things for him. It was funny. You suddenly got a girlfriend and it turned out not to be any different than hanging out with your best mate.
Maybe that was why it was so perfect, because Ginny was like a best friend.
Not like Seamus of course, Seamus was the best friend and he wasn’t planning on replacing him ever. Dean did feel awful for not spending as much time with him too, but that's what it was like being in a new relationship, Seamus understood. Seamus was a teenage boy as well, he had to understand that Dean had needs and that kissing his girlfriend took up most of his willpower.
Besides Ginny and Seamus would get along splendidly when the time came, because they had so much in common. They'd be great friends.
In the beginning of a relationship you had to have alone time. That's the way it was, and Seamus understood.
But since he had left Seamus in the shadows for so long, as he was aware he had, it made it so much more painful that when they finally did hang out again - they were arguing.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn, this is actually about your mom innit?"
"You don't say such things about one's mum Dean, and expect to get away with it!"
"Well she said a bunch of awful things about Harry and Dumbledore too!"
"It wasn't that bad, you weren't there. And I'm not stubborn"
"No, stubborn was me being kind. You're being an arse" and with that Dean threw the Quibbler at Seamus head and stormed to his bed to lay down. Back turned as he picked up his own paper.
"Just read it will you?"
Seamus huffed and muttered but eventually tucked the paper in under his bed, agreeing that he would read it later. There was a silence before Dean sat up again and scratched his head.
"Mate, I'm sorry for not being there this year. It's just I want to get to know Ginny proper, is all"
Seamus sighed and shrugged.
"No I get it, you want to be close to the one you like" there was something sad about Seamus's whole posture and Dean started to wonder if he'd missed something. Maybe Seamus was having some kind of love-problem and Dean had been too busy to notice. Some friend he turned out to be.
A little nagging voice lit his previous suspicion that maybe Seamus fancied men, and that's why he didn't feel comfortable enough to talk about it with Dean. Not that Dean would mind but he assumed these things could be difficult to voice to one's friends and family. He just hoped Seamus would tell him, if that was the case.
"I am sorry, I'll make it up to you"
Seamus grinned and fell to his mattress like a boneless lump.
"Well, you can start by paying for all my butterbeer this Hogsmeade weekend"
There was a pang of realization in Dean, painful and sudden and he felt cold inside. Seamus noticed and suspiciously peered over at Dean.
"Dean, you do remember that we're hanging out this weekend right?" the uncertain panic in his voice foretold that he already knew the answer.
"Oh Seamus, I'm sorry, I totally forgot. I'm going with Ginny"
There was a heavy pause, the doom fell over them like a curtain dropped by Peeves over Professor Snape. That kind of doom that you knew was going to end horribly. Seamus however, just turned his head, refused to look at Dean and shrugged.
"Aight'... some other time then"
Dean was starting to feel like his promises to Seamus were just empty words and he decided that he really would make it up to him. Maybe Ginny could help him think of something.
At the moment it felt like maybe she would understand Seamus better than he did.
Hell, anyone would probably understand Seamus better than Dean did.
Seamus did read the interview in the Quibbler like he'd promised and apologized to Harry. Then he sent the paper to his mother with a forceful note saying she had to read it. Or else the Irish rage would be upon her, as was customary to say in his household when something really needed to be done.
It did feel better after that, he suddenly had people he could talk to when Dean wasn't around and Blaise finally fell out of the picture. And since making things right felt so good he decided to go a little further. Therefore he sought out Terry after school and apologized for being such a git.
"Terry!" he shouted and jogged up to the beautiful curls that he'd spotted far away. Terry's hair always looked so soft and Seamus wanted to bury his hands in it.
The boy turned with a questioning expression.
"Sorry, can I borrow you for a minute?" he gestured towards Michael Corner that had been walking beside him and then back to Terry with an intent look on his face. Terry's eyebrows rose but he agreed and told Michael he'd meet him in the Ravenclaw tower later.
"I'm sorry for being such a tight stick up your-"
"yeah, Seamus! Maybe another phrase would be sufficient." Terry stopped him with a fierce blush and Seamus grinned at the prude. It was just a figure of speech, but then again... For them the implication could be misinterpreted. Again he wondered if he was even ready for such a step, but perhaps he trusted Terry enough. He wasn’t sure.
"I was just wondering if you’re still free this weekend, and if you still want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
When Terry literally beamed at him and said yes so fast he almost didn't make any sense, Seamus really felt like an arse. Why couldn't he just have said yes immediately? Going on dates and have a proper romantic teenage life was just what he needed to get over his stupid crush on his best mate.
He genuinely liked Terry too.
Terry had a skip in his step when he continued down the corridor and Seamus couldn't help but feel very proud that he was the cause of it.
There was something strange about Seamus that weekend. Dean might not get the best friend of the year award but he did notice when something was up.
The Irish boy was fidgeting and pulling out every single article of clothing from his trunk.
Dean sat on his own bed and watched as the freckled face dived into the mess and sniffed a shirt or two.
"Seamus... what are you doing?" he finally managed out and sat down beside his friend. He pulled out a shirt that went well with Seamus' eyes and handed it over.
"This one." he said assuredly and dropped it over Seamus' head.
Seamus looked bewildered but took the shirt and after sniffing that one as well, he put it on the bed with the boots and jeans he had already picked out.
For some reason Seamus was very serious about his clothes for this particular Hogsmeade trip.
"Seamus. Do you by any chance have a date?"
Seamus blushed fiercely and shrugged.
"Kind of."
Dean suddenly felt ten times better about ditching him. It didn't feel good obviously, but at least he hadn't stranded his best mate completely alone this weekend.
"Well that's great!" Dean beamed and smiled the biggest smile he'd given anyone in ages, his cheeks started to hurt "I don't suppose you'd like to go on a double date then?"
It was the perfect setup, if they were both on dates they could hang out as well. All problems solved.
But Seamus looked a little panicked and stuttered out a meek no.
"Ehm, no... It's our first date so I reckon we should be on our own..."
Dean nodded, he could understand that.
"I mean... you know how it is when a relationship is new. You need some alone time" there was something cold and scolding in Seamus' voice that didn’t go unnoticed, and a pang of guilt hit Dean once more.
He deserved that, he really did.
"Seamus, I am sorry. I really am"
Seamus shrugged and started undressing from his pajamas to put on his new clothes.
"Whatever. Thanks for your help with them clothes."
Dean stayed seated on the floor, looking up at Seamus's bare back. He'd apparently been working out lately because his back muscles were quite more mature than they used to be. There was hardly anything left of the boyish body Dean was used to. When did that happen? Had Dean really been so self-absorbed he'd not noticed how Seamus had changed.
The muscles still showed through his shirt and Dean congratulated himself on choosing it. Seamus's date would be impressed.
Speaking of Seamus's date, Dean still didn't know who it was.
"So, may I ask who this lucky person is?" previous thoughts in mind he didn't dare say girl. Hoping Seamus would pick up on the emphasis and be honest with Dean, if that was the case.
"... Just this Ravenclaw"
"Someone I know?"
There was a pause before Seamus sat down and started tying his brown boots. He didn't seem to want to answer.
"Yeah..." he finally said "it's someone in our year"
And after that Dean couldn't get anything out of him. And suddenly he had to leave to meet up with Ginny for their date.
All worries aside, the date went really well. They just walked side by side at first but as they melted into the crowds of Hogsmeade and no one seemed to bear them in mind, Terry slowly slipped his hand in Seamus'. He smiled secretively and looked the other way. Their hands were warm and fit well together.
They silently agreed that they could take the longer route to the café, that way they could stay like this for a bit longer. No need to rush, they had all day.
They just walked and talked and Terry had the cutest laugh Seamus’ had ever heard.
After they'd shared a pastry at Madame Puddifoot's tea shop they continued to walk for a bit more, since the weather was quite pleasant for being English weather. Puddifoot's hadn't really been Seamus's cup of tea, so to say, but everyone else there was too preoccupied with each other to notice two boys sitting alone in a corner.
They started to feel bolder, since no one had noticed them they sort of felt invisible and on the way back Terry hooked his arm in Seamus', and Seamus held on to it like it was the most precious thing. Seamus started to feel a pricking sensation in his stomach, like butterflies or carbonated soda.
Of course that was the moment they were spotted.
A pair of dark eyes met with Seamus' green ones, they left behind the redhead they had been ogling and soon the body they were attached to started to move. Towards Seamus and Terry.
Seamus let go of Terry, who quickly grew aware of the situation and let go of Seamus as well, while stepping a little to the side.
Seamus missed the warmth but he doubted any amount of closeness from his date would remove the icy feeling in his gut.
He left Terry standing there and went up to meet his best mate halfway.
This was not how he'd planned for Dean to find out about him.
"Seamus, I can't say I like this"
Sudden dread washed over him, Seamus wanted to die.
But Dean's expression didn't match his words at all. He was smiling.
"I mean I'm happy that you feel so comfortable showing it to the world but I seriously feel like I'm missing out on some best friend privilege here"
Seamus just stared and managed out a "wah?"
"I think there's a rule that says you have to come out to me first..."
"Wait, did you know or something?" why wasn't Dean more shocked? Not that Seamus minded, he preferred to be treated normally but Dean was so calm about it.
Typical perfect Dean.
"I didn't really know as much as I had a hunch, but I was waiting for you to say something yourself..."
Seamus was glad Dean was okay with it, he really was but it still felt strange. He had worried so long about how to tell him and perhaps that’s what made him feel so anxious. that he had wasted so much time when Dean was so obviously fine with it.
"Did you really think I would have a problem with it?" Dean asked and looked slightly hurt.
Seamus just shook his head but didn't really know what to say.
"I mean as a muggleborn in the wizard world I can't really be judgmental can I? And as a black man... I know what it's like you know"
Now Seamus just had to say something.
"Don't even compare it Dean, the muggle hate and racism in this place is way worse than being homophobic!"
"No it isn't! It's just as bad, don't even try to be a martyr. It doesn't suit you!"
Seamus smiled and the icy feeling completely melted, instead he felt fuzzy inside. Dean said something again but he didn't really catch it, too busy staring at Dean’s beautiful smile. So Dean had to repeat himself, a little impatiently.
"Terry's waiting for you Shay... seriously did you forget you were on a date?"
Seamus blushed and shuffled his feet.
"Well aye, actually I sort of did"
At this Dean laughed, loud and clear and he patted Seamus on the shoulder before starting to head back to Ginny.
"Honestly Shay, you're the worst! See you back at school"
And with that he was back at Ginny's side and Seamus went back to his own date.
Terry looked annoyed and when Seamus tried to take his hand again Terry moved away and crossed his arms.
"What now?" Seamus didn't understand a thing, Terry had been so cuddly all day, but now he suddenly backed away from him.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that you just left me here and went to talk to Dean"
"Oh" yeah, he probably should have said something to Terry first.
"I'm sorry Terry, it's just I hadn't come out to him yet and I wanted to say something myself, so he just didn't- "
"Maybe I'd bought that if I didn't know you had a crush on him!"
"Terry please, lower your voice." Seamus swallowed and looked around; hoping no one he knew had heard them.
"Is that all you have to say, you're not even gonna deny it?" Terry looked hurt and for a split second Seamus feared he was going to start crying. But he didn't, instead his brown eyes hardened with anger.
Seamus felt he had to say something quick or this whole thing would escalate.
"I'm trying to get over him. That's why this is so good for me" he gestured between them and tried to move closer to Terry but the other boy kept stepping back.
"I need to date other people so that I can move on from this"
"But see that's the problem Seamus, I don't want to be your rebound..." Terry took a sharp intake of breath and relaxed his body.
"I want to be your boyfriend"
And with that he looked Seamus in the eye, that way he did that made Seamus feel both like jelly and like a terrible person for using Terry like this.
Seamus was a little taken aback. He hadn't really considered that he could actually have a boyfriend. That Terry could be his boyfriend if he let him.
He was about to say something but Terry had already started moving. He stopped briefly at Seamus’ side.
"Tell me when you're over him and we'll do this again" he said, and then he continued up the road, on his own.
Seamus wasn't proud of it but after that weekend he started spending Hogsmeade weekends at the castle. Taking advantage of the fact that most sleeping chambers and common rooms were vacant.
That on its own wasn't so bad, but the fact that he spent them with Blaise Zabini was.
At one time Dean asked him about the bruises and hickeys, but after a fuzzy dodge from Seamus, Dean sort of dropped the subject.
At least verbally. He didn't seem to stop staring at them with great suspicion.
Dean also liked to bring up the fact that he liked Terry and that it was a shame that Seamus wasn't seeing him anymore. Seamus hadn’t even told him he wasn’t, but somehow Dean still knew it wasn’t Terry who left his marks on Seamus every weekend.
When Umbridge forcefully took the throne Seamus regretted every doubt he'd ever had about Dumbledore, and they were a few by now. But Dumbledore was the perfect headmaster compared to this toad.
However, Seamus and Blaise, among others experienced the advantage of snogging people your own sex. Since the "boys and girls must stay apart" rule didn't apply to them. For once Seamus was glad someone was so old fashioned, that it hadn't even occurred to this woman that maybe she should've established a no touching policy instead. Not that Seamus was complaining. Not when he lay giggling under the weight of Blaise, who had started being less hostile and a lot more fun to hang out with. Not that they’d show that in front of any of their friends.
It sometimes felt as if what the rivaling boys thought had been just dysfunctional hookups had started being dating and that was terrifying in itself. When they started having couple arguments they both tried to end things and avoid each other like the plague, but they always ended up back in eachothers arms.
It terrified them both that they did seem to care just a little bit about the other, and it all reached its peak when Blaise defended Seamus in front of other Slytherins.
Nothing grand, just a nudge for the others to go bother someone else.
Perhaps that was why he ended up sleeping with him, because he was sweet, when they were alone.
Seamus had half expected Blaise to drop him after that, now that he had gotten what he wanted. But he didn’t, he still held Seamus in his arms, showering him in compliments when no one saw or heard. Secret gifts and messages scribbled on ripped marchment, left in their special spots or sent with an anonymous owl.
Dean once said he was glad whatever Seamus’ had been doing stopped, because it seemed to have made him sad. Seamus found that funny, that he hadn’t stopped at all, it had just… changed. Suddenly he realized he might like Blaise, quite a lot.
In private Blaise laughed at Seamus jokes, he smiled so brightly and genuinely and kissed Seamus until they both lost their breath. Even in public he’d meet Seamus’ eye and grin, sharing their secret.
sometimes they still argued, it was just that when they argued like a couple now, it didn’t freak them out.
“I can’t have a boyfriend who keeps belittling my beliefs at every turn” Blaise said and it stunned Seamus completely silent. You could hardly ever tell when Blaise blushed, but this time it seemed so deep Seamus could detect the hint of it. Seamus forgot to be angry and just bit back a smile.
“Boyfriend?” he said teasingly and grinned. Blaise rolled his eyes.
“I said what I said” Blaise said, trying to act nonchalant about his slip up.
“Alright boyfriend” Seamus said again and got wrestled to the bed laughing.
They kissed deeply, slowly, then picked up the pace. The in between laughter died down and left room for only steady breathing. Then Blaise leaned back, and searched Seamus' face.
“I love you Seamus” he said and Seamus' heartbeat picked up. Seamus really liked Blaise, but he was pretty sure he didn’t love him. Instead he just kissed him again, with much more intent, hoping that was enough.
Being Blaise’s boyfriend turned out to be difficult when Blaise decided to join the Inquisition club and Seamus got more involved in Dumbledore's army. Again and again, Blaise tried to change Seamus’ beliefs. Hoping there was a seed left of his initial distrust of Dumbledore, but Seamus stood his ground. It was like some Romeo and Juliet shit but without the naivety, and a lot of the dysfunctionality.
It had been harder than expected to end things though, but eventually their meetings became fewer and fewer and eventually just stopped. They didn’t even have a proper breakup, they just stopped seeing each other. Every now and then their eyes still met in secret across the classroom, but the thrilling joy was gone, and only hurt was left.
At least he got to spend more time with Dean now, even though the surroundings weren't very uplifting, it was better than nothing. Seeing Terry in the DA was tougher, but they managed.
In fact, it was a great opportunity for them to just hang out as classmates and get to know each other properly. Terry turned out to be a great guy and he helped Seamus with his Patronus charm, to everyone else it seemed obvious that there was still something between them because Terry only helped Seamus and no one else.
Dean was happy for Seamus, and he hoped that he and Terry would get over themselves and just go out again.
He didn't know what had happened but it was quite obvious they still fancied each other and anything was better than whatever Seamus had been up to lately, with all the bruising and whatnot. Dean was so happy in his own relationship he just wished Seamus could get to experience that as well.
Ginny pulled away from him and scrunched up her face in silent question.
“Where’s your mind at prettyboy?” she asked and flicked him on the nose.
He gave her a confused look.
“If I wanted to make out with a dead fish, I’d go make out with a dead fish” she said teasingly and grabbed his face. Puckering up his lips manually by squishing it.
“Fishface” she said and gave him a peck.
He snickered.
“Sorry, I was thinking about Seamus”
that awarded him another funny look.
“Thanks” she said and he chuckled.
“I was just thinking about Seamus and Terry, I just wish they’d go out already”
Ginny smiled and nodded.
“you’re thinking about how you want them to be as lucky as you feel with me” Ginny said in a sort of bored tone, like she had heard it all before. Had he already talked to her about it? Or maybe she just knew him that well. He stroked her red hair behind her ear.
“I do feel lucky”
She smiled and nodded.
“I know”
Then she wrapped her legs behind his back and effortlessly flipped them over so that she landed on top.
“It’s so sweet how you think about your best friend while we make out, hold on, let me just go grab his sweater so I can smell like him too” she pretended to step off him, like she was seriously thinking about doing it. He quickly grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss instead.
“Don’t. you. dare” he said and successfully made her laugh as he kissed her neck where he knew she was ticklish.
He forgot all about Terry and Seamus, until the next DA meeting.
Michael Corner had also noticed that their friends had chemistry and unfortunately made the choice to come up to Dean and talk about it.
"Isn't it ironic that our best friends seem to have a thing, since you and I both dated Ginny?"
Dean frowned and glared at Michael from the corner of his eye. He didn't approve of the way Michael spoke of Ginny, but he assumed Michael was just bitter over being dumped.
“I am dating Ginny” Dean reminded him.
“Still?” Michael seemed genuinely surprised by that and it took every fiber in Dean’s body not to show exactly how annoyed he was.
If this was about their respective friends, then what did Ginny have to do with it anyway? It was purely coincidental, and it's not like Michael dated Ginny for a very long time either. Dean was pretty sure it had been right after or right before he himself had had a casual fling with Ginny. So Ginny and Michael had barely even been exclusive for more than a couple of weeks. Dean and Ginny had dated for almost an entire year now. How could he even compare?
It really felt as if he just wanted a reason to speak about Ginny and Dean wasn't in the mood for it.
"Why is it ironic?" he said halfheartedly, deciding to ignore Michaels comment about his relationship. He didn’t even look at Michael as he spoke, instead he looked at Terry as he put one arm around Seamus to better show him how to hold his wand. Dean rolled his eyes, that was such an old trick.
"It just seems like Ginny is the center of attention again" Michael had folded his arms and was leaning against the wall. Dean could feel his blood boil and tried to refind his composure.
"Michael, I don't feel like having this conversation... " he said instead of what he wanted to say, which was a lot more colourful.
Thankfully Seamus chose that moment to successfully form a semi-corporeal Patronus, which he made quite a ruckus about. Dean took this moment to excuse himself to go congratulate his friend. As he closed in on Terry and Seamus he managed to catch the end of the conversation taking place between them.
"...sort of looked like a beaver" Terry said.
"That's ridiculous, I don't even like beavers" Seamus had answered with a glimmer in his eyes. There was a pause before Terry burst out laughing.
Dean stopped in his tracks. He didn't want to intrude on them, but for a moment he wanted nothing better than to rip Seamus out of Terry's grip.
That was silly, where had that come from? He wasn’t usually so possessive of his friends.
He went up to Ginny instead and kissed her on the cheek, deliberately making sure Michael Corner could see it. Ginny seemed a little annoyed at this sudden affection.
"Dean, there's a time and place for everything..." she looked from him over to Seamus and Terry who were jokingly wrestling each other for Seamus' wand. Then she looked back at her boyfriend and rolled her eyes, as if she knew something he apparently didn't. Finally she gave him a quick peck on the cheek in return, before she left him to go talk to Harry instead.
Dean felt a little lost for a moment, as the year neared its end Ginny had become colder towards him. More annoyed and less bubbly and cute. And now that he needed Seamus to go to for advice, he had gone and met someone and didn't seem like he had time for Dean. Suddenly Dean felt like he was the one being left behind.
He guessed he deserved that...