Two of a Kind

Two of a Kind

Dean Thomas had known ever since he saw Natalie MacDonald arrive at Hogwarts in his fourth year, that she and Seamus Finnagan were meant to be together. At that point, he hadn't actually known they had grown up together.

Dean remembered turning to Seamus at the Gryffindor table when Natalie sat down next to one of the other first years. Seamus had been looking at her, eyebrows narrowed. "What's wrong with you? Do you know that girl?" he had asked, glancing at her.

Seamus had snapped his attention to Dean and nodded, proceeding to tell him that they lived only a couple of blocks away from one another. Her father was Muggle, just like Seamus. But that was all he had told Dean at that moment.

As the years progressed, Dean found out that Seamus and Natalie were much more than neighbors. They had been practically attached at the hip.

Dean turned to his youngest daughter and grinned. "Ariel, come back here," he said. Ariel turned back and stared at her father questioningly. "You said you wanted to hear a love story didn't you?"

A wide smile flashed across her features and she ran into her dad's arms. And he began to tell her the best love story ever.

Chapter One = From Day One

(Seamus' PoV)

"Seamus, honey, come on!" Mrs. Finnagan said to her sandy haired four-year-old. Seamus looked up from his toys to see his mummy standing in the doorway of the living room, waving her hand impatiently. His eyes instantly darted to the walls covered in crayon and hoped his mummy wouldn't notice.

She didn't. "Mummy?" he said. In other words, 'Why are you calling me? Did I do something wrong? Where are we going? What are we doing? Who are we seeing? Why are we seeing them?' The questions running around in little Seamus' head were just too much.

"Seamus, come on, now!" his mummy said, tucking a long strand of hair behind her ear and reaching out her hand. Seamus grinned and walked over to her and she grabbed his hand.

His mother pulled a cloak over his head, to which he protested. He didn't need a cloak--he was a big boy! But his mummy was stronger, and she won that battle. She led little Seamus down the street, and his eyes took in all the sights.

It was very chilly outside and Seamus could see smoke come from his mouth when he breathed. He thought this was especially interesting, because that never happened in the summer. His feet hobbled along, crunching every so often on dried leaves lying on the ground, having fallen from the trees long ago.

The houses were all small and shabby, for they lived in the poorer section of the neighborhood. Most of the houses were a greyish color, with peeling paint. Some shutters on the houses were broken, and on one, the screen door was halfway ripped off. Big kids were riding their bicycles, and sitting on porch stoops sipping hot cocoa. One pair of older girls cooed when he saw him. "Isn't he cute?" they giggled, waving at him.

Seamus looked away and stared instead at the milkman, who was looking scared. Why was he frightened? Seamus thought. That big black dog was only trying to play with him!

"We're here, honey," his mummy said, helping him up a couple of large stone steps. "Would you like to ring the doorbell?"

Seamus felt excited! He really was a big boy! His mother lifted him into her arms and he pressed the white circular button on the door, feeling quite proud of himself.

A skinny woman with blonde hair came to the door. "Sara!" she said, and she gave his mummy a hug. "Seamus!" He got a hug too.

"Well," his mummy said in a happy voice, "where is she?"

"In here!" the other woman squealed and they went into her house, which smelled like flower petals.

That was when Seamus saw her.

She was lying delicately in her father's arms, the slightest peach fuzz on her head, sucking her thumb and making little baby gurgles. Seamus let go of his mummy's hand and walked over to the little baby girl and said to her daddy, "Who's she?"

"This is Natalie," he said, lifting her a bit so Seamus could see her better. She had bright blue eyes, and was giggling as her daddy tickled her. Seamus thought the giggling was pretty, so he poked her.

"Natalie MacDonald," said his mummy's friend proudly, and Seamus saw her eyes watering. Why was she crying? Was she sad?

He looked back down at the baby girl, who was squirming a bit in her daddy's arms. Seamus narrowed his eyebrows, thinking hard. He was very confused. "Mummy?" he said, and his mummy turned to him.

"Yes, honey?" she said, taking the little girl into his arms. "What is it?"

Seamus pointed accusingly at the bundle in her arms. "Is that an angel?"

All three grown ups began to laugh and Seamus didn't know why. What was funny? "Angels are in heaven, honey," his mummy told him, rocking the little girl in his arms.

"Maybe she came down to visit me!" he said excitedly, while the grown ups just shook their heads, fighting back their laughter. "Mummy, I want to hold the angel!"

"Seamus, she's not..." She broke off and shook her head, and placed Natalie into her son's arms, watching him closely.

Seamus didn't notice this. This itty bitty girl was rather heavy, and he held her closer so he wouldn't drop her. She had stopped making those gurgling noises, and was just staring at him, her eyes wide. He moved her back and forth gently and started talking to her. "Hi baby, my name is Seamus. Yours is Natalie. I'm going to be your friend, okay? But you have to grow some hair," he added in a whisper, "or your head will be cold when it snows."

"Seamus, do you want something to eat?" his mummy's friend asked.

"Yes Ms. Cindy," he said, not moving. "What do I do now?" His arms felt very comfortable

"Oh," the baby's father said, and he took Natalie from Seamus' arms, and she started gurgling again.

"Can I have noodles?" Seamus asked. "Noodles with cheese is yummy!"

"Macaroni and cheese coming your way," said mummy's friend, saluting him. Seamus grinned in excitement. Noodles with cheese, and a new friend, all in one day! Not to mention that his mummy never noticed he'd colored on the walls.