Lucky Charms

I die when he comes around

To take you home

I'm too shy, I should have kissed you

When we were alone

What am I, darlin'?

A whisper in your ear?

A piece of your cake?

What am I, darlin?

The boy you can fear?

Or your biggest mistake?

"Cheers Darlin'" By Damien Rice

It was a very cold day. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, but it was all just an illusion. The sunlight gave off a pretense of warmth in order to coerce the students outside and the dumb gits were buying it.

Seamus snorted.

It was the perfect day for a Hogsmeade trip. He had been hearing that same line over and over again all day and he was quite sick of it.

Seamus stared out of the window in Gryffindor tower and watched all the excited students milling about on the Hogwarts grounds. He shook his head in disbelief. Did they all just conveniently forget about what happened last year?

Seamus had been lucky then, but it didn't seem like that at the time. He had been laid up in bed with an incredibly high fever last October and Dean had stayed with him by his bedside in the Infirmary. They were both lucky that day.

They weren't at Hogsmeade when the Death Eaters attacked, but they had heard about it later when the Infirmary was overrun with injured students. Those terrorists had run through Hogsmeade hexing and cursing anyone who had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fortunately, no students were killed, but many were injured.

Why am I the only one who's afraid to go? Am I such a coward that even a third year Hufflepuff is braver than me?

Seamus shook his head and raked a hand through his hair. Even as he considered these self demeaning thoughts, he knew he wasn't being fair to himself. There was more to it than just the fear of a possible Death Eater attack.

When his mam had heard about the attack last year, she'd rushed to Hogwarts with the intent of taking him away from the school for good. She had been mere seconds away from dragging him, kicking and screaming, out of the Infirmary and back to Ireland when Madame Pomfrey brought in Dumbledore.

If it weren't for the Headmaster's reassurances and Seamus' pleading, he wouldn't be at Hogwarts this year at all. However, if there was another Hogsmeade attack and his mam found out that he hadn't stayed within the school's protection wards, he would be on the first train out of here by the day's end.

Is that really such a bad thing, Seamus asked himself with a miserable frown. Dean still wouldn't speak to him, but Seamus did catch him staring at him from time to time. Blaise had gone back to acting like Seamus didn't exist and no matter how many times he felt eyes on his back, he could never catch Zabini watching him. Besides, it's not like his marks and education really mattered to him. He was never much of an academic.

Oh and let's not forget the rather curious Hogwarts student body and their asinine questions and comments.

"Wow! You're a homosexual? How did you know?"

"I've never met a poof before!"

"How do two blokes kiss? Don't your chins get in the way?"

"God still loves you, even when you'll be burning in the flames of hell!"

Seamus had been about to punch that sanctimonious little Ravenclaw bastard, but Harry had held him back.

Harry.

He had been the one good thing that had happened in his life these past few weeks. He had shielded him from the worst of it and he had used his fame as The Boy Who Lived to get others to be a little more accepting of Seamus' sexual preference. When people saw The Harry Potter treating Seamus just like any other bloke, they were more inclined to keep an open mind. It's stupid, but true all the same.

Hermione and Ron had also been there for him as well. For the first few days after the 'incident' in the dorm, it seemed like the Trio was unwilling to let Seamus be by himself at anytime.

One of their number always happened to be around Seamus when he was walking to class or eating dinner. They wouldn't let him isolate himself no matter how many times Seamus reassured them that he was fine.

Ron had accidentally walked into the loo with him on two occasions! It was rather funny. It was too bad Ron didn't see it that way.

After a week of constant observation, Ron and Hermione came to the conclusion that he was alright and lightened their watch over him. They went back to their normal lives: Hermione had her studies and societies and Ron had Quidditch and prefect duties. Harry, however, always seemed to have time for him, despite the fact that he was Quidditch Captain.

Even when things had become so hectic and Seamus hadn't seen him all day, Harry would come back to the common room after Quidditch practice and just talk to him about everything. Seamus would often fall asleep on the couch and Harry would have to drag him up to bed. No matter how tired he looked, Harry never seemed to be asleep at any time.

Harry was a really good listener and he always made Seamus feel like he had someone he could vent to about anything. However, as soon as Seamus would try to ask Harry about himself and his issues, he would divert the conversation back to Seamus and that would be the end of that. Seamus had the frustrating feeling that Harry knew everything about him, but he knew nothing about Harry.

Sighing deeply, Seamus looked away from the cheery scene outside and pushed himself away from the window. He didn't want to tempt himself anymore than he already had. He picked up a book Harry had lent him, Quidditch through the Ages, and started walking down the stairs to the common room. However, when he heard the voices of the Trio, something made him pause on the staircase and listen in on their private conversation.

"I really don't see what the problem is, Harry," Ron said loudly. Seamus heard the confusion in his voice and frowned. What's going on?

Harry sighed deeply and said, "You should have told me you were both taking dates to Hogsmeade."

There was a pause in the conversation and Seamus waited. He didn't need to see Ron to know that he was blushing hotly.

"It's not a date! I'm just taking Lavender to Honeydukes because she's scared to go on her own and Parvati can't go with her. It's not date!" Ron shouted loudly.

Seamus had to hold back a disbelieving snort. Of course it was a date. Lavender would never waste a Hogsmeade trip if she could help it.

"You're going to Hogsmeade with Lavender. I don't care what you call it, Ron. That is still a date and you should have told me. The last thing I wanted to be was an unwilling third wheel on a threesome date!" Harry said sharply.

"Why are you so mad at me? Hermione's going on a date with Boot and she didn't tell us. I had to hear about it from Ginny. Why aren't you yelling at her?" Ron asked shrilly and pointed at Hermione's bushy head.

"Don't bring me into this, Ron!" Hermione said after she slammed her book shut. Harry groaned.

"Just forget it. I don't actually need to go to Hogsmeade. I just wanted to spend some quality time with my best friends. Maybe drink a butterbeer or two. I didn't know I'd have to schedule it in advance," Harry said miserably and collapsed backwards onto the couch.

Seamus didn't hear anyone speak for several minutes. Eventually, there was a rustling of cloth and the sound of Hermione pushing back her chair. Hermione and Ron both sat down on the couch next to Harry.

"We've all been rather busy these past few days. I suppose we could have made more of an effort to talk to one another, but, Harry, you yourself haven't exactly been available," Hermione said hesitantly.

"Yeah! You're always with Seamus," Ron declared grumpily.

Seamus started and almost dropped the book. He clamped a hand over his mouth. Is that what they really thought? Did they resent him?

Hermione cleared her throat and said, "I assumed you would be taking him to Hogsmeade."

"Hermione, what are you implying?" Ron asked with a horrified shout. Harry flushed.

Hermione rolled her eyes and said rather crossly, "I'm not implying anything, Ron. I'm just stating the facts. Harry has spent a lot of time with Seamus, who recently outed himself as a homosexual. What could I possibly be implying, Ron?"

Ron spluttered, coughed, and managed to choke out, "Harry isn't a poof! Merlin's beard! He liked Cho. Tell her, Harry."

Seamus tensed. This was the moment. This was the question that Seamus had been dying to ask, but wouldn't dare to. He held his breath.

"If I turned out to be a poof, would you not want anything to do with me?" Harry asked thickly.

Ron sharply inhaled a breath of air and his bottom lip quivered. He looked towards Hermione for help, but she just glared at him with a steely gaze and waited.

Ron looked back at a disappointed Harry and said, "No. Of course not. You're my best mate, so it wouldn't change anything. I won't let it."

Hermione and Harry both exhaled loud sighs of relief that carried all the way up to Seamus on the staircase. Those sighs made Seamus so weak in the knees that he had to sit down and inhale deep breaths.

"It wouldn't change how I feel about you either, Harry, but I have to ask. How long have you felt this way?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.

"After Sirius died, I-" Harry began, but he had to pause because his voice almost broke. Ron nodded and Hermione touched his hand sympathetically. They didn't rush him to continue.

Seamus frowned. Who was Sirius? Who was he to Harry? It was all so confusing. He realized then that he really didn't know anything about Harry Potter and his frown deepened.

"I was messed up. I was just so angry. I blamed myself for his death, but I blamed him for dying more and the guilt tore me up inside like poison. One day, Remus came to visit and he told me some truths that I didn't want to hear. I attacked him or tried to anyway," Harry explained softly.

Seamus heard Hermione's gasp of shock and Ron's whistle. This Remus person must be pretty impressive.

"He pinned me down and told me to just let the hurt out and I did. When I was done, he just started talking to me about Sirius. He told me everything he remembered about him. He described how they met way back in first year and how his friendship with Sirius helped him to live his life and not to just survive the transformations. Remus told me how much he loved him," Harry said thickly and wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

Hermione speechlessly gaped at him. She comprehended exactly what Harry was saying, but she was trying to understand why she never saw the signs.

It took Ron a little bit longer to realize the truth. When he caught on, his mouth dropped open and he asked, "Remus and Sirius were together?"

Harry nodded and whispered softly, "Remus said that those ten years with Sirius were the best years of his life and that the memory of that love, no matter how much it hurt, kept him alive after my parents' death."

Hermione moved closer towards Harry and tentatively wrapped an arm around his shoulders. She inhaled a deep breath and asked, "What happened next?"

Harry flinched away from Hermione and closed his eyes briefly. He avoided her gaze and stared down at his hands.

"I blamed him. I just wanted him to hurt more than I did. I don't know why. The words just came out of my mouth. I told him it was his fault Sirius was in Azkhaban for 13 years instead of with me. I told him he should have tried harder to learn the truth. I asked him where his love for Sirius was then and he just started to cry."

"Oh, Harry," Ron whispered and shook his head from side to side in commiseration. Harry wouldn't look at either of them.

"Remus said I was right and that there was no excuse for what he had done and that nothing he could do would ever be able to make up for all that lost time. Then we just sat there miserably for an hour. So much had been said, but nothing had changed at all and we both knew it. He got up and I thought he was going to leave, but he didn't. He pulled me into a hug and told me that he didn't have the strength to lose Sirius a second time and that if I was going to give up on life, he was going with me," Harry said softly, as if talk of suicide was nothing to get overly worked up about.

Ron gripped Harry's shoulder painfully tight and struggled to let the words come out. He blinked rapidly and said, "I wish I could have been there to kick you in the arse for even thinking that."

Harry laughed bitterly and said, "Don't worry. It honestly never occurred to me to do that, but Remus must have been thinking about it. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let another death be on my head, so I hugged him back and I promised him that I would live if he would. He held me to that promise and that's how I got through that summer without breaking."

Hermione sighed deeply and placed her head on Harry's shoulder. Ron nudged Harry's knee with his own and asked, "So that's what turned you into a poof? Ow! Hermione, what the hell was that for? It was an honest question!"

Harry laughed and said, "Don't you see, Ron? I want the kind of love that Sirius and Remus had because it's the kind that would survive anything, even death or betrayal. The kind that would give me a reason to live through the worst life can throw at me. I don't know if I'll find what I'm looking for with Seamus, but I do know that I like him and that I won't let myself miss out on something that could be great just because of his gender."

Hermione huffed and elbowed Harry in the ribs. Then she glared at Harry and said, "Git! You have that kind of love already! What are we? Chopped liver?"

Harry sighed and pushed Hermione back. Then he smiled faintly and said, "It's not the same, Hermione."

Ron clapped Harry on the back and said boisterously, "Harry, you're only 17! You've got plenty of time to find someone to fancy that much."

"Do I really, Ron?" Harry asked soberly and some of the light faded in Ron's eyes. How's a person supposed to answer something like that?

"That's enough of that, Harry! We've got a Hogsmeade itinerary to plan!" Hermione said confidently as she changed the subject.

"What?" Harry and Ron both asked at the same time. It had been seven years and they still didn't understand Hermione's moods.

"I'm sure we can accomplish everything we'll set out to do if we make a list. Ron! Go to Ravenclaw Tower and get Terry. Tell him to wear sensible shoes and be prepared for a long day. I'll go get Lavender and tell her the change of plans. If she wants to come with us and be a part of our cubed double date, the more the merrier. If not, it's her loss. Don't just stand there, Harry! Run up those stairs right now and ask Seamus to Hogsmeade!" Hermione shouted spiritedly.

"You don't have to change your date plans for me, Hermione. I can just stay here," Harry said hastily until Hermione silenced him with a glare.

"You wanted to spend time with your friends and you're going to do just that, but you won't feel like a fifth wheel if you go up there right now and get Seamus," Hermione declared as she pulled Harry off of the couch.

A pale Harry silently pleaded with Ron to help him call off Hermione, but the other boy just shook his head and said, "You heard the woman, Harry. Do what you have to do."

"Don't be nervous, Harry. Just be yourself," Hermione said with a confident smile.

"Don't listen to her, Harry. Being yourself never works! Just go up there and say, 'You. Me. Hogsmeade. Now!' Trust me. He'll love it!" Ron said with a knowing wink.

Harry gulped nervously. He kept looking back and forth between his best friends and the staircase to the boys' dorm. He inhaled a deep breath and said, "You're right. I can do this."

After he said that, Harry squared his shoulders and then sprinted over to the staircase. Seamus, who had been listening in on the entire conversation, had about ten seconds to jump up and run back up the stairs to evade being caught.

Seamus reached his dorm room in record time and promptly jumped on to his bed. He stilled his breathing and pretended to be asleep, but he couldn't remove the blush from his flushed face. Seamus didn't have to wait long for Harry to arrive.

"Seamus, are you sleeping?" Harry whispered softly, but Seamus didn't answer him in a coherent sentence. He just moaned a sound, that he hoped was enticing, into his pillow.

Harry gasped. Seamus bit his lip to control himself. He didn't want to give up the game too soon. He waited for Harry to make the next move.

Harry reached out and grasped Seamus' right shoulder with his right hand. Then he shook Seamus gently and said, "Wake up, Seamus!"

Seamus mumbled something on cue and then he turned onto his left side and stretched his body tautly. He turned his face towards Harry, so that other boy could see his flushed face and blinking eyes. Then he propped his elbow up on the bed and placed his head in his hand to get a better look at Harry.

"Did you want something, Harry?" Seamus asked thickly.

Seamus watched with increasing satisfaction as Harry flushed and squirmed under his gaze. Seamus liked having this kind of affect on another person. It made him feel good about himself in a way that reassuring words couldn't. A part of him felt bad that he was using Harry to boost his ego, but that didn't make him stop doing it.

Harry eyes swept over Seamus' relaxed form and took in the rumpled clothes, disheveled hair, and flushed face. Harry had never seen Seamus try anything this aggressive before. He didn't know what to make of it.

Harry had no way of knowing that Seamus had spent hours agonizing over what he could have done differently in Blaise's bedroom. He didn't know that Seamus had been practicing methods of seduction in the middle of the night and thinking up plans to make Blaise change his mind.

Blaise would have taken Seamus up on his invitation. Blaise would have pulled Seamus to him and punished him for his audacity. Blaise would have touched Seamus like he was starving for him.

Harry wasn't Blaise.

Harry cleared his throat, looked away, and took a step back. Then he smiled nervously and asked, "Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with us?"

Seamus sat up on his bed and stared out of the window lost in thought. His mind weighed the pros and cons of the situation, but none of them mattered in the end. The only fact he gave a damn about was that Blaise was outside right now. Blaise was going to Hogsmeade and so that's where he wanted to be.

Seamus turned back to Harry, smiled a 'just friends' smile, and said, "Sure, Harry. Just let me get my coat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~----------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seamus hated shopping. He hated shopping with the heat of a thousand suns. There was nothing worse than shopping, except Christmas shopping.

Pushing and shoving crowds were everywhere. They stepped on his toes and gave him dirty looks, as if it was his fault that the shop had run out of Snowy owls.

Hermione, in an insane burst of consumerism, had dragged them to every store on her evil itinerary. They had gone to three bookstores for a book that Hermione couldn't find, the Owl Emporium for more treats for Ron's owl, and to the third level of hell also known as Honeydukes because Lavender needed to replenish her stash of Blood Lollies.

Surrounded by a thousand Hufflepuffs on a sugar high was not Seamus' idea of a good time. However, Harry seemed to love it. He devoted himself to finding out the secret identity of Seamus' favorite sweet through a slow process of elimination.

Ron, Hermione, and their dates had conveniently left the two of them alone together in the sweet shop with a promise that they would meet up in an hour at The Three Broomsticks. They were probably hoping that the two of them would bond over multi-flavored Sugar Quills. Seamus didn't have the heart to tell Harry that he hated Sugar Quills. Seamus wondered what kind of sweets Blaise liked or whether he liked any at all.

"Is this it, Seamus?" Harry asked over the loud racket of screaming children.

Seamus nodded absentmindedly without even looking at what Harry was holding in his hand. Harry smiled happily and ran off to pay for the sweets.

Hmmm. Maybe Blaise is like me? Maybe he only likes cakes and biscuits too, but hates regular sweets? What kind of cake does he like? I don't think it would be just plain chocolate.

"Come on, Seamus. Let's get out of here," Harry shouted as he pulled Seamus by the arm through the throng of greedy midgets.

They eventually managed to exit the shop and breathe fresh air again. Seamus sighed in relief that he was outside once more. He always hated crowds.
"It was a madhouse in there, but it was worth it just to buy something I know you'll like," Harry said excitedly. Then he gave Seamus a bag of pineapple flavored Sugar Quills.

Seamus hated pineapple.

Seamus forced a smile and said, "Thanks, Harry."

Seamus waited for Harry to start walking, but he didn't move. He just looked at Seamus expectantly.

Shite. He's waiting for me to try them.

Seamus let out a strained laugh and reached inside the bag for the smallest Sugar Quill known to man. He picked it up and hesitantly took a bite out of it. The incredibly tart taste made his eyes water and his tongue shrivel, but he tried not to let it show.

"Tasty," Seamus lied and then offered some to a pleased Harry.

Harry refused Seamus' generous offering and said, "They're all for you, Seamus."

Seamus smiled weakly and didn't say a word. Harry grinned and started walking towards the other side of the street. He looked over at Seamus and said, "I don't want you to be hungry when I take you to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. You might eat something you shouldn't and turn into a giant ferret."

Seamus stopped suddenly and looked at Harry in confusion. He frowned and asked, "What? Why would I turn into a ferret?"

Harry blinked in surprise and said, "Oh, that's right! You've never been to the twins' shop. They opened it last spring with a whole set of new inventions. They have this candy that looks like a Bertie Bott bean, but it transforms your head into a ferret's! You'll love it, but just don't eat it yourself."

Seamus looked upwards and saw the large red and gold sign of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes flashing almost painfully bright on the roof of the building. He smiled genuinely and said, "I can't wait!"

Maybe when I get in there, I can lose these quills and tell Harry that I ate them all.

Sighing in relief, Seamus bit into another tart quill with more enthusiasm and walked faster towards his destination. Harry grinned at him and looped his arm around Seamus' shoulders.

They were just about to round the corner next to the twins' shop when a cloaked figure blocked their path through the alley. Harry had his wand out before Seamus had even swallowed his recent bite of Sugar Quill.

"Well isn't this a sickeningly touching display. You don't waste anytime. Do you, Finnigan?" Zabini asked Seamus with a heated glare.

Seamus gulped and looked back at a rather infuriated looking Harry. He saw the wand pointed at Blaise and promptly stepped in front of Harry, blocking his shot. He didn't see the surprised look that came over Harry's face.

"What do you care?" Seamus asked desperately because he really wanted to know. Zabini had ignored him for weeks and now he was acting like the hurt party. Why?

"Seamus, we should just go the other way," Harry said hastily and pulled Seamus back.

Seamus jerked his shoulder out of Harry's grip and said, "Back off, Harry!"

This had all been a long time in coming. Seamus inhaled deeply, glared at Zabini, and forcefully said, "You're right, Zabini. I don't waste anytime. I am on a date with Harry Potter. Now what are you going to do about it?"

Zabini didn't take the bait or move forward at all. Only his eyes darkened to full black when he sneered and said, "I just wanted to congratulate you on your recent change of status. The title of Gryffindor whore is definitely a step up from your previous title of Gryffindor coward."

Seamus didn't think. He just reacted. He brought his fist upwards to destroy that beautiful face, but Zabini was too fast for him. He grabbed hold of Seamus' wrist just a fraction before the fist made contact with his face.

Unfortunately, Seamus tried to hit Blaise with the hand that was holding the bag of Sugar Quills. When Blaise grabbed his wrist, the bag slipped out of Seamus' hand and its contents spilled all over the ground.

Seamus struggled to pull his wrist out of that tight grip, but Zabini's hold was too strong. Seamus suddenly stopped tugging backwards and was immediately pulled forwards. His chest collided with Blaise's and the breath rushed out of his lungs. His lips were just inches from Zabini's chin. All rational thought escaped him and he lost himself in Blaise.

"But you hate pineapple," Blaise said softly and Seamus' eyes widened as big as a house elf's. Of course, Blaise knew he hated pineapple. It made perfect sense.

"Blaise, I-" Seamus began and then stopped. He knew that there had to be one perfect sentence that would keep Blaise here with him forever, but it escaped his scattered mind.

"Zabini! We don't have time for this," a female voice complained from behind Blaise.

The reality of the situation finally dawned in Seamus' mind. He was in a Hogsmeade alley with Blaise. Wait. Wasn't Harry supposed to be with him? Where is he?

Seamus turned his head to the left and gasped. Harry was now aiming his wand towards Blaise's head at point blank range and shouting something. What was it?

"Let go of him right now before I blast your head off," Harry ordered quietly. He looked even scarier because he was so very calm.

"Blaise," the nameless girl called out to him again and Seamus frowned.

Seamus stood on his tiptoes and looked over Blaise's shoulder. A fierce looking blonde Slytherin was leaning against the wall with a cigarette in one hand and her wand in the other. She was currently aiming at Harry and looking rather annoyed at the present situation.

Things were about to get bad rather quickly.

"Give me one minute, Daphne," Blaise commanded without even turning around.

The blonde girl threw her cigarette on the ground, mumbled something about all their plans being ruined, and walked around the corner.

Seamus sighed and frowned at the same time. It wasn't fair. How can he be able to speak correctly when I can barely remember how to breathe around him?

Seamus stared up at Blaise and blinked. His eyes were brown again. That wasn't right. They were supposed to be black. Seamus shivered from the cold and looked at his wrist. Blaise was no longer holding it. He stared down at his chest. Blaise was no longer pressed against it. Everything was now so very wrong.

"You shouldn't be here with Potter. Don't you realize that you're just as much of a liability to him as you are to me? You're nowhere near our league, Finnigan. So why don't you do yourself a favor and shack up with someone beneath you? I'm sure if you looked hard enough you'll find someone," Blaise declared quickly, as if it would hurt less if he said it as fast as possible.

Seamus hurt so much he couldn't even speak. He was just so stunned. He couldn't believe this was happening. Why would Blaise say these things to him? How did he know just what to say to build him up and tear him apart?

Seamus turned around and ran for it. Why did every encounter with Blaise always end up with him running? Is this really what love is supposed to be like?

As soon as he saw the affect Blaise's words had on Seamus and the boy's hasty departure, Harry jumped forward and grabbed Zabini by the shirt collar. Then he slammed the Slytherin against the wall and struck him hard in the face.

"Why do you have to be such a bastard to him?" Harry shouted as he shook the Slytherin roughly. An explanation was more important than the satisfaction he would get from beating him.

"Just hurry up and finish, Potter. The sooner you find Seamus, the better off you'll both be," Blaise said through clenched teeth. Then he held his breath and waited for another hit, but nothing came.

Harry released his collar and shoved Blaise away as if he were contagious. He frowned at the boy in dawning understanding and said softly, "You make your life hard, Zabini."

Then Harry turned around and ran off to find Seamus as fast as his legs could carry him. He raced through the ins and outs of Hogsmeade, glanced through darkened alleyways, and peered inside random shops. He asked everyone he found if they had seen an infuriated boy running by, but no one had noticed him. Harry was just about to give up hope on finding him when he heard a loud racket coming from an alley behind Madame Puddifoot's.

He turned a corner and found Seamus destroying what looked like an abandoned wooden chair. He had just picked up one of the chair legs and was currently in the process of pounding it to dust against the wall.

"So I'm a liability, eh? Well, I'll show him what a fucking liability can do. God damn bastard! We'll see who's useless when I'm through with him! Ow!" Seamus cried out in pain and dropped what was left of the chair leg on the ground. He raised his injured finger up to his lips and sucked on the cut. Even splinters were out to get him.

"Seamus, are you alright?" Harry asked hesitantly and stepped into the alley. When Seamus saw Harry, he started abruptly and hid his injured hand behind his back like a guilty child.

"I wasn't- I was just- I needed-" Seamus stammered as he took a step away from an approaching Harry.

"Just leave me alone!" Seamus shouted angrily. Then he turned his back on Harry and looked around for another piece of wood to smash.

He reached out to pick one up, but it flew away before he could even grab hold of it. Harry had summoned it away from him.

"Give it here," Seamus ordered with a heated glare. He just wanted to hit something, but he promised Harry he would never damage himself. First, Harry had taken away his God given right to abuse himself and now he was taking away his means of destroying inanimate objects. Son of a bitch!

Harry shook his head from side to side and said, "Breaking things won't make you feel any better."

"How would you know and why the hell are you even here?" Seamus asked angrily and kicked a dumpster. Great, now his foot hurt.

"I'm here because I'm worried about you, Seamus, and because I care about what happens to you," Harry said earnestly and took another step forward.

Seamus moved away from Harry and glared at him with bright eyes. Then he shook his head and said, "You don't have to worry about me, alright? I can take care of myself. Besides, weren't you watching back there? You don't even exist to me when Blaise is around."

Harry inhaled a deep breath and held it, but he didn't try to deny Seamus' statement. He was entirely too in control of himself. What happened to that Gryffindor temper? What had happened to Harry?

"I know," Harry said softly. Seamus glared at him. Why was he so calm? Why couldn't he get upset like a normal person?

"Then why are you still here? It's obvious that I don't want you like that, so why do you put up with me? What could you possibly have to gain from listening to me blubber on like a girl?" Seamus asked with a pained ache in his voice.

"Because that's what friends do, Seamus," Harry explained with a soothing voice and stepped even closer to Seamus.

Seamus sighed deeply and his shoulders slumped. He looked at Harry with jealous wonder and asked, "Why do you have to be so damn good?"

Harry blinked at the absurd question and gave Seamus one of his usual half smiles. He laughed at the insult within the compliment and said, "Just born that way, I guess."

Seamus snorted and said, "Git."

Harry ruffled Seamus' hair and said, "Prat."

Seamus sighed at the touch and asked, "Does this mean you'll help me kill Zabini?"

Harry nodded and said, "I'll even bring the shovel."

"Don't forget our alibis and-" Seamus began, but he was cut off when the very ground they were standing on shook and they were sent sprawling onto the ground.

"What the hell was that?" Seamus asked incredulously as he stood back up and brushed the dirt from his robes. He tried to walk out to the street to see what was going on, but Harry pulled him back.

"I think there's been an attack," Harry whispered tensely and put his finger to his lips to indicate quiet. Seamus choked on his breath, but he didn't say a word.

"I'm going to check it out, but I want you to stay here," Harry declared curtly to a disbelieving Seamus.

"Hell, no, I'm not going to just stay here!" Seamus shouted loudly and tried to get away from Harry, but the other boy pulled him back against the wall and clamped a hand over his mouth.

"There could be Death Eaters out there or even Voldemort! I don't know! All I do know is that I can't protect you from all of them. Please, Seamus, just stay here," Harry pleaded desperately and took his hand away from Seamus' mouth.

Then he wrapped both of his hands around Seamus' face and leaned forward in a distinctly more than friendly way. Harry kissed Seamus. There was a gentle pressure of warmth, the faint taste of chocolate, and the exchange of breath. Seamus sighed into Harry's mouth and closed his eyes.

After Harry moved away, Seamus opened his eyes and found Harry staring at him hopefully. Seamus wrapped his arms around himself and asked, "Was Zabini right, Harry? Am I really a liability?"

Seamus watched in confusion as something indescribable flashed through Harry's eyes for one brief moment. Seamus blinked once and it was gone. All expression was now absent from Harry's face and he seemed older. Seamus couldn't explain the sudden change.

Harry cleared his throat and said, "Yes, you are, but not in the way you're thinking."

Seamus was about to ask him to explain when there was a much louder second explosion. However, the noise wasn't actually coming from the actual explosion, but from the screams of people.

Harry grabbed Seamus tightly by the shoulders and said, "Promise me you'll stay here and be safe. Promise me you won't follow me. Say it, Seamus!"

Even though it went against everything he had been taught to believe as a Gryffindor and as a man, Seamus managed to choke out the words and say, "I promise."

Harry nodded once and then he bolted out of the alley as fast he could. He didn't look back, but Seamus didn't expect him to. It would only make things harder for him.

Seamus stepped out of the alleyway and was immediately immersed in a rolling surge of terrified students running past him screaming and sobbing.

Seamus watched Harry's back until he could no longer see him, and then his gaze rose up into the sky and caught sight of a black billowing ball of smoke.

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' sign was on fire, but all he could do was stare at the flames and whisper, "Blaise."