Heads I Like Him, Tails I Love Him

Golden rays of sunlight inched their way in to the sixth year boys' dormitory at Gryffindor Tower. Since it was Sunday, the inhabitants had the luxury of ignoring the increasing brightness this morning. All remained quiet in the four occupied beds.

Behind the crimson curtains of one of the four-poster beds, a sandy-haired Irish boy, snuggled deeper under his covers. Seamus Finnigan's eyes flashed open when he realized he wasn't alone.

He peered over at his warm bedmate. A slumbering Blaise Zabini, he decided, was a truly adorable sight. In his waking hours, the Slytherin usually wore a sneer, a smirk, a glare, a wary stare, or a blank mask when he didn't want his expression to be read. Golden eyes reflected equal parts intelligence and suspicion. His clothes were always wrinkle-free and his hair was always perfectly styled. Sleeping as he was right now though, he looked angelic, innocent and almost happy. His dark hair was tousled and wayward with wisps framing a calm and peaceful face. In fact, Seamus could see a ghost of a smile on his lover's lips. To complete the heartwarming sight, Blaise had one fist curled tightly around a corner of Seamus' bright green blanket. "All he needs is a thumb in his mouth," he thought, chuckling softly.

The Gryffindor stretched and yawned. His lover sighed and stirred. Seamus grinned. Wrapping his arms around the sleepy boy, he began kissing and caressing the oh-so-tempting neck and torso. He was rewarded with a muffled groan. "Good morning," Seamus chirped.

"Don't tell me you're cheerful as soon as you wake up," Blaise muttered sleepily.

"Only when I wake up with a delicious beauty in my bed," the Irish boy purred, still kissing and caressing.

Another groan rose from his partner. "I'm a wreck in the morning and now you know it too," he growled.

"But such a gorgeous and sexy wreck you are, baby." Kiss. Kiss. Lick.

Groan.

From outside of Seamus' four-poster, another groan sounded. "Bloody hell, Seamus! Are you having another horny dream?" Ron Weasley brutally whipped open the curtain on his dorm mate's bed. "GAAAAAAAAUGH!" he screamed, leaping back as though he had just burnt himself. Dean and Neville bolted up from their beds. Neville gasped when he saw the two boys in Seamus' bed.

"Ack! Ron!" Seamus exclaimed, staring in horror at the red-haired, red-faced Prefect. He drew his grandmother's blanket up to cover his nakedness as well as that of his boyfriend. He glanced down nervously at his Slytherin lover. To his surprise, Blaise was staring up at Ron with an angelic smirk on his face. The redhead was not amused.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE WITH HIM, FINNIGAN????" Ron demanded loudly, jabbing an accusing finger at Seamus' bedmate.

"He was trying to wake me up, but your scream worked so much better, thank you," Blaise drawled. He glanced over at Neville and Dean who were both staring at him in horror. Unable to resist, he winked at them. Dean rolled his eyes. Neville went crimson. Ron was spluttering and looked to be on the verge of a temper tantrum.

Seamus couldn't help but grin. Nothing made a Slytherin happier than starting his day winding up Gryffindors, especially one Ron Weasley. Considering the rather dire circumstance they were now in, Blaise looked almost cheerful.

The Irish boy tried to placate his fiery fuming friend. "Aw...come on, Ron! Calm down. We're sorry. We fell asleep."

"FELL ASLEEP IN YOUR BED? WELL, WHAT A NOVEL IDEA FOR YOU!!!"

"Simmer down, Ron," Dean said, hoping to keep his idiotic, lovesick best friend alive for a while longer. "Just let Seamus send Blaise on his way so we can all start our day properly."

"Our day's already blasted to hell. He's a Slytherin, Dean!! You," Ron growled, jabbing another finger at Blaise, "are not supposed to be here."

"I can see why Granger spends all her time studying with nice quiet books, Weasley," the Slytherin smirked. "Snogging you would be like kissing a howler."

"GET OUT NOW, YOU PONCE! TEN POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN!"

"Oh, very well. Since you ordered me to so nicely." Before Seamus could stop him, Blaise slid out of bed, still naked.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!"

"What's the matter, Weasley?" Blaise purred. "See something you like?" Fishing around Seamus' bed for his clothes, he rolled aside his giggling, snorting lover to pull his robe out from under him.

Dean and Neville, though still looking horrified, were trying not to laugh. Ron, his hands clapped over his eyes, was trying not to have a seizure.

Once he was properly clothed, Blaise smirked once more at Ron and then leaned over to plant a long, deep kiss on his still-giggling boyfriend. "Later, Finn," he murmured. "I'll show myself out." Winking once more at the others, he trotted out of the room.

Seamus sighed beatifically. "I should have you around more often, Ron. You make him positively perky."

"SHUT IT, YOU PRAT. I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"

"Oy," Seamus winced. "Back to yelling now, are we?"

Dean decided to intervene before things got ugly again. "Ron, why don't you and Neville go to the showers? I'll sort this out. Okay?"

"I'll go only if you promise to castrate him!" Ron spat.

"Ow! That's not nice!" Seamus pouted.

"Don't you go all girly on me, you horny bastard!"

"Ron! OUT!" Dean said firmly.

Neville clapped Ron on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's go. This is too much excitement for a Sunday morning." He hustled the sputtering redhead out of the room.

"That," Dean said to Seamus, "was very stupid. You know that, right?"

"I know," the Irish boy replied, "but you'll get no regrets from me." He smiled dreamily. "He loves me, Dean. He introduced me to his nonna yesterday and he agreed to go steady with me."

"Well, I can see there's no talking to you about this. Just be careful, especially around Ron. Okay?"

"Okay, Dean. Thanks for your Valentine idea, by the way. Everything turned out beautifully yesterday."

"Uh...yeah. I can see that."

Dean and Neville tacitly decided to keep Ron and Seamus separated as much as possible. Neville went down to the Great Hall for breakfast with Ron while Dean and Seamus showered and dressed. When Dean and Seamus finally joined their housemates at breakfast, the others seemed to have already realized that something was amiss. It was hard to miss with Ron's thunderous expression.

Draco Malfoy, Gryffindor's Slytherin-in-residence, seemed particularly cheerful about Ron's foul mood. "You know, Weasley," he was saying conversationally as he buttered a slice of toast. "You should eat more fiber. Constipation can make you crabby." Harry Potter, Draco's former enemy and current lover, snickered beside him, happily eating his porridge. Ron glared first at his disloyal best friend, and then glowered at the cocky blond Slytherin.

"Go back to your own table, Malfoy," Ron said, stabbing his eggs and sausage viciously with his fork. "Surely you can stand to be away from Harry for breakfast at least, can't you?"

Draco shook his head. "Shame on you, Granger. Weasley's a bit sour this morning. Didn't you show proper appreciation for your boyfriend's Valentine efforts yesterday?"

"Not that it's any of your business, Malfoy," Hermione huffed, "but of course I did!" Then realizing how that sounded, she clamped her mouth shut and blushed.

Ginny giggled. "Oooh! How did you show appreciation, Mione?" she inquired brightly. Lavender and Parvati giggled too.

"Knock it off!" Ron snapped. "Leave her alone!"

"Ron," Harry admonished, "simmer down. Why are you jumping down all our throats?" He looked up and grinned at Dean and Seamus' arrival. "Hey! How was your Valentine's day?" he asked them. He blinked in surprise at Ron who started growling.

Harry's Slytherin boyfriend was gazing at Seamus with narrowed eyes. He glanced over at the stewing redhead for a moment, and then turned his gaze back to the Irish boy. An evil smirk appeared on his face.

"Brilliant!" Seamus replied with a wide grin. "Everything went as planned. Better even."

"Not everything," muttered Dean, glancing at Ron.

"Ooooh!" Lavender cooed. "Do tell, Seamus! We didn't see you most of yesterday. By the time we came for dinner, Neville said you had already rushed in, grabbed some food and ran off."

"This is sounding more and more interesting," Ginny commented. She turned to Seamus. "Want to tell us where you and Blaise galloped off to after Honeydukes in Hogsmeade yesterday?" She ignored Ron's disgusted snort.

"I don't know," Seamus said loftily. "Some people around here with their rude stuffy attitudes are making me think I should just keep it all to myself."

"Nooooooo!" Lavender, Parvati, and Ginny cried.

"Too late," Neville muttered.

"Oh, just ignore Ron and tell us!" Ginny said.

"Don't do it, Finnigan!" Ron snapped. "Ginny doesn't need to hear it!"

"Stay out of it, you prat!" his sister retorted. "Tell us, Seamus," she wheedled.

Before Seamus could reply, the door to the Great Hall opened and Blaise strolled in with Millicent Bulstrode. Millicent was smirking and shaking her head at something Blaise was saying. As they passed the Gryffindors, Blaise glanced over to where Seamus sat grinning dreamily at him. The dark-haired Slytherin was startled to see several other pairs of eyes on him as well, including Draco's smirking silver eyes. He turned quickly and continued on to his table with his friend.

Draco smirked at the retreating back of his blushing housemate. "So why don't you tell us how you and Blaise pissed Weasley off," Draco said, turning to Seamus.

Seamus rolled his eyes. "I don't know why he's in such a snit. I said I was sorry."

"You're not sorry you did it," Ron said caustically. "You're sorry I caught you."

"Sorry for what?" Harry asked, an impatient edge creeping into his voice.

"Bringing his Slytherin into Gryffindor towers," the red-haired Prefect whispered angrily.

"So?" Harry queried. "Draco's in there all the time. It hasn't exploded yet." His boyfriend snickered.

"Into the dorms? Overnight?" Ron's face was already red from both anger and embarrassment.

Harry's mouth formed a silent "Oh."

"Seamus!" Hermione gasped. "You would've been in a lot of trouble if you were caught!"

"Aw, Mione! It was an accident!"

"It was an accident that he ended up in your bed?"

"No. It was an accident that we fell asleep before he could get out of my bed." Snickers and giggles exploded around the table.

The bushy-haired Prefect rolled her eyes. "You're missing the point, Seamus." Ron was nodding emphatically next to her.

"No, I'm not, Mione," Seamus insisted. "Ron's not mad because I broke a rule. He's mad because I broke a rule with Blaise."

"What does that have to do with you missing the point?" Hermione demanded.

"Look, I understand that we broke a rule by spending the night together in the dorm. I even understand our Prefect deducting house points as punishment. I get that. What I don't get is him using that Prefect badge to demonstrate his homophobic attitudes."

"WHAT?" Ron bellowed.

"Hush, Ron!" Hermione hissed as students from other tables turned to stare at them. She turned back to Seamus. "What do you mean by that?"

"If our Prefect feels we both broke a rule, why did he only deduct house points from Slytherin?" the Irish boy challenged.

"Excuse me?" Draco queried, turning a raised eyebrow to Ron.

"Yeah. He took ten points from Slytherin, but nothing from Gryffindor."

"Ron?" Hermione looked pointedly at her fellow Prefect. Ron looked decidedly uncomfortable.

Draco raised his hand. "As both a Slytherin and the Witch Weekly poster boy for dating scar-headed heroes, I object to the discriminatory behavior of the Gryffindor Prefect." Harry rolled his eyes at the mention of the gossip magazine that printed almost weekly articles on the couple.

"Oh, shut it, Malfoy!" Ron growled. "Snape's always deducting points in Potions from Gryffindor for no reason, so don't go on about discrimination!" He turned to glare at Seamus. "If it'll make you happy, Finnigan, I'll take the ten points from Gryffindor too!"

"My point being, Weasley," Seamus retorted, "that you didn't do that earlier this morning. Even if you do it now, you've still shown everyone that I'm right. So don't be all stuffy and righteous about it."

"But you had him in our dorm all night, doing...doing...well...stuff! How could you do that?"

"We didn't even hear you come in, you prat. We were sleeping! We didn't do anything while you were there!"

"STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!" Hermione bellowed. Ron and Seamus both subsided, glowering at each other. "Just drop it. Neither of you is ever going to agree with the other so don't keep yelling at each other about it!"

The brainy Prefect took a breath and a sip of tea. She turned her attention back to the two boys. "Seamus, if Ron catches you again, you will lose house points for both Gryffindor and Slytherin. If McGonagall catches you, you'll likely both be suspended or even expelled. Understand?" Seamus nodded sulkily. "Ron. You'd better work harder at accepting the mates your friends choose. You do have a problem with being rigid and narrow minded." Ron glared at her. She shrugged. "I may not approve of some of the behavior, but I don't have a problem with Seamus and Blaise being together. Blaise at least is well-read and intelligent, which I can't say about most of the others Seamus has dated before."

"Hey!" the Irish Gryffindor protested. "Who's being judgmental now?"

"Well, Blaise's sister is Head Girl," Lavender pointed out. "He's got to have inherited some brains."

"Like I say, you get substance when you court Slytherin House," Draco drawled.

"Yeah, you do say that," Harry muttered, "with annoying frequency."

"Sure, Mione," Seamus grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. "I'm enthralled by Blaise's brains."

"Whatever," she retorted.

"So Finnigan," Draco said, casually pouring himself some coffee. "You must've drilled Zabini pretty vigorously to exhaustion yesterday. He's normally a very light sleeper. He would've heard someone coming into the room, especially if it was Weasley's big slapping feet."

"MALFOY!" both Ron and Hermione shouted.

Seamus chuckled, blushing slightly. "You'd better save that line of questioning for Blaise. I'm about to get killed here, Draco."

"Oh, but we want to hear details too, Seamus!" Parvati protested. Lavender nodded eagerly beside her.

"There are a few details I'm trying to forget," Neville muttered. Dean snickered.

Seamus chuckled again. "Oh. That. Sorry, mates. Blaise was just having some fun with Ron."

"Why? What happened?" Ginny asked eagerly.

"Never mind, Ginny," Ron said hastily.

Dean rolled his eyes. "Forget it, Ron. They're going to find out eventually."

"Yes," Draco said wickedly. "Do tell, Thomas. I want to know what my housemate did to Weasley."

"Oh, shut it, Malfoy!"

"Quiet, Weasley. I want to hear what Dean has to say."

The tall black boy chuckled. "He got out of Seamus' bed just like Ron told him to. Except he made sure he gave us an eyeful of his bits and pieces in the process."

The girls gasped and squealed. Harry tried to give Ron a sympathetic look but ended up grinning instead. Draco laughed.

"I think that earns Zabini a reward, wouldn't you say, Potter?" Draco said pleasantly. "That's Slytherin behavior at its best."

"Speak for your self," Harry snorted. "That's my best friend he traumatized."

"The trauma is not Blaise's fault, Harry. Living in a dorm for the past few years, Zabini is not the first naked boy Weasley has seen."

"Yeah, but he's the first naked boy who just had sex with his dorm mate Ron has ever seen," Harry pointed out reasonably.

"You know," Draco said in mock wonder, "that statement almost makes sense, boy-who-loves-me. Surprisingly, I'm always naked after having sex. Come to think of it, so are you."

Harry's housemates giggled and snickered around the blushing Gryffindor. "Malfoy," he growled warningly.

Ron held up his hand. "Harry. Don't try to help me, please."

"All right, Ron. It's just that you're not doing well on your own."

"Never mind, Potter," the redhead muttered. "I'll live, as long as you don't help me."

Parvati turned to Seamus. "Come hang out with me, Lavender and Ginny after breakfast. Then you can tell us anything you want without our Prefects around." Hermione rolled her eyes at this.

Seamus chuckled. "Maybe later, thanks. I was going to wait for Blaise. I'm thinking he's probably wondering what all the shouting and arm waving is about over here."

Draco snorted. "No worries, Finnigan. I'm sure Zabini knows exactly what's going on over here."

"Bring him with you," Lavender said brightly. "You're officially a couple now so you two can hang out with us together."

"I'll see. I just got him to agree to be my boyfriend. I don't want to scare him away with too many Gryffindors all at once."

"And trust me," Draco drawled, "for the average Slytherin, there's nothing scarier than a bunch of Gryffindors sharing the same breathing space as you."

"You mean we scare you?" Ginny inquired cheekily.

"No. I said the average Slytherin. I am not average." Draco nudged Harry. "In any area." Harry rolled his eyes at his boyfriend as his friends giggled and snickered once more.

* * * * *

Millicent Bulstrode glanced over at her best friend as they left the Great Hall. "You're really happy, aren't you?" she inquired gently.

Blaise smirked at her. "Why? Am I glowing?"

"Brighter than Pansy Parkinson's thong wardrobe."

"Eew! Surely not that much!"

"I actually saw you grinning a couple of times."

"Yikes. That's bad, isn't it?"

"For you, yes, pretty bad."

"I can't help it," Blaise said grinning again. "I had a good day yesterday."

The Slytherin girl snorted. "I can't believe you spent the night in Gryffindor Tower. That's like putting a skinny scrawny snake with a bunch of hungry lions."

"Hey! I resemble that remark! I'll have you know I slept very well there. No one knew I was there until Weasley screeched."

"I wish I had seen that," Millicent said, smiling reluctantly.

"I'm surprised you didn't hear that," Blaise snickered. "I think I'll tell Weasel what a good bitch he makes."

His burly friend laughed. "Don't think he likes you enough already, eh?"

"I guess I have to make friends with Finn's friends."

"Better you than me, Blaise."

"Oh no, Millie love," he said, poking her arm. "You're in this with me. If I have to play with Gryffindors, so do you!"

"Why? I'm not shagging one of them. They're your problem. Don't drag me into this."

"Sorry, doll. I still need you to protect my skinny scrawny body. For a while, I may not be safe in either house. You don't want me to get hurt, do you?"

"Shit! I liked it better when you were shagging Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Why did you have to go and fall for a Gryffindor?"

"We don't get to choose who we fall for. You know how long I've liked him."

"Yeah, yeah."

As they passed one of the numerous corridor statues, Blaise suddenly yelped and disappeared into an alcove. Millicent gasped and was about to dive into the alcove after him, when she heard a familiar lilting brogue.

"Hush. Be still, love," Seamus murmured. "It's just me."

"Finn?!? You want me to die from heart failure?" Blaise demanded.

A besotted sigh floated out of the alcove. "Sorry, baby. I couldn't resist. I missed you."

The Slytherin girl rolled her eyes as she heard the soft smacks and sighs of kissing. She spun around as an amused chuckle sounded behind her. A familiar blond Slytherin stood watching the scene with his arms crossed, smirk firmly planted on his face. A messy-haired Gryffindor stood beside him, grinning happily.

"Malfoy. Potter." She scowled at the pair, not sure what to expect.

"Bulstrode," Draco said, returning her cautious greeting. "Nauseating, isn't it?"

"Mildly, yes, but I guess I have to get used to it."

"Probably," Harry agreed. "Seamus is not real good at restraint." He grinned. "I hope Blaise wasn't intending to keep this quiet."

"Does he have a choice?" Millicent snorted.

"No," Draco drawled. "I'm afraid none of us do." He rested a companionable hand on her shoulder. "Come, Millie. Walk with us."

"Walk to where?"

"Walk to the Dungeons with us. We're going to wait in my room for them. Finnigan is bringing Blaise down after they finish snogging."

"Why? What are you up to, Malfoy?" the girl queried suspiciously.

"Why do you think I'm up to anything, my dear Miss Bulstrode? I merely wish to help the couple celebrate their newly consummated relationship in the relative privacy of my quarters. It'll just be us. No Gryffindors other than Harry and Finnigan. Harry and I will provide the refreshments, of course."

"Uh huh. Right, Malfoy. Let me guess what the entertainment will be."

"What? You think I'd be crass enough to tease and torment Blaise when he's in a soft and vulnerable state?"

"Faster than that Snitch you and Potter fight over," Millicent replied, smirking.

Two pairs of eyes, one silver and one bright green, twinkled at her. Their owners snickered. The threesome left the snogging couple in the alcove and headed off to wait for them.