Dean was terrified stepping onto platform 9 ¾ for his first time. He was muggleborn (as far as he knew) and it was a whole new world to him. He saw so many people dressed oddly in robes while he was sporting jeans and a black shirt. After saying goodbye to his parents and fighting the urge to cry out of fear he boarded the train. He passed several cars looking in nervously not sure whether to go in. This went on for a while. He felt too awkward to ask to join anyone.

Eventually Dean got to a car with just a short boy in it. His eyes met the short boys almost pleading for him to talk. Sure enough he did, "Wanna sit here mate?" Dean smiled with relief and said, "Thanks," as he reached out his hand to shake the boy's. "I'm Seamus Finnegan. I'm a half and half. Me dad's a muggle. Mam's a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out. What about you?" Dean stumbled on his words at Seamus's odd introduction of himself, "Well, umm, my mom's a muggle and I don't know about my dad, so I'm either half or none."

Seamus grinned, "That's cool. Do you know what house you want to be?" Dean hadn't done much research so he didn't really have an answer, "I don't know," he told Seamus. "That's alright," said Seamus, "I want to be in Gryffindor they're the brave ones ya know. Well whatever I am I hope you are too. You seem cool." This made Dean smile. He liked this kid. He didn't have much to say, but that was fine, because Seamus talked his ear off for most of the ride. Seamus even bought him a treat from the trolley, Bertie Botts every flavored beans. They were a weird treat; some tasted good and some were just disgusting, but Dean thought they were cool and Seamus said they were his favorite. Dean hoped they would be friends at Hogwarts.

Sure enough they both got sorted into Gryffindor and they were assigned to the same room. So were three other nice seeming boys. Harry potter who was apparently very famous, a boy who he seemed to be best friends with named Ron and a boy who seemed even more terrified to be there than him named Neville.

Dean followed Seamus around like a puppy. He felt swallowed by the giant that Hogwarts was. He felt safer trusting Seamus to guide him around, despite how silly it was, as Hogwarts was just as new a place to Seamus as it was to him. They had all the same classes together, so that was easy. Dean often felt self-conscious and worried he was annoying Seamus constantly following around. Most days Dean would ask Seamus to make sure he wasn't a bother. Every time Seamus would laugh and respond, "No you're not a bother. You're my best mate. It's great having you around all the time." This would make Dean beam with delight.

When their roommate Harry was given a spot on the quidditch team Dean got really curious and asked Seamus what it was. This got Seamus really excited and he spent days going over every quidditch fact he knew. Dean grew infatuated with the sport and could not wait until the first game. He wished he could have tried out, but settled for the excitement of getting to watch every game. As his confidence grew he started interjecting Seamus more trying to get turns to speak. One day he turned to Seamus as he was telling him about a quidditch world cup and told him, "You know I'm dragging you to every game right?" Seamus grinned, "I wouldn't have it any other way mate."

On the day of the first game Dean dressed in every item of Gryffindor clothing he had. Seamus bought him a Gryffindor pennant to wave. Dean was eternally grateful to have him as a friend. They sat in the Gryffindor section of the bleachers front row. Dean was so excited he screamed with each point scored by the Gryffindor team. He freaked out when Harry was being tossed around on his broom. Seamus was definitely his best friend, but he'd grown to really like Harry, Ron and Neville too. He instinctively grabbed Seamus's hand out of fear. He immediately worried that it was a bad idea and almost took his hand away, but then Seamus squeezed his hand with his eyes fixed on Harry. It was comforting to be holding his best friend's hand through the terrifying incident. They hugged when Harry got back on his broom and again when Harry caught the snitch and won the game for Gryffindor.

Harry and Ron had become friends with a frizzy haired know it all girl named Hermione around Halloween. It meant that Ron and Harry spent less time with Dean and Seamus, but that was how Dean preferred it. He liked Harry and Ron plenty, but Seamus was his best friend and he was very protective of that. Dean didn't like sharing Seamus. He liked knowing that their friendship was special and just their own.

Dean had felt that way since pretty much the first week, but one thing changed after the quidditch game. Dean began to long for Seamus's touch. Holding his hand at the game had given a Dean a new sensation that just couldn't be matched by anything else. He wanted to figure out how to do it again without it being awkward. Dean came up with an idea one day purely by accident. One day the boys were about to be late for class and they were terrified. No one had been late to McGonagall's class since the first day when she scolded Harry and Ron. She seemed to scare everyone.

Seamus seemed oblivious to the time as he walked slowly trying to tell Dean a story. Dean was getting impatient telling Seamus to hurry up, but Seamus wouldn't listen. Dean rolled his eyes and followed his impulses. He grabbed Seamus's hand and sprinted down the hall pulling his best friend behind him. This shut Seamus up and got him to run to, but neither of the boys let go of their hands until they got outside of the classroom. They had just barely made it to class and Dean had found a way to hold Seamus's hand. After that day Dean used any excuse he could to drag Seamus around places and Seamus never complained.

Christmas break was approaching and Dean didn't want to go home. He missed his family, but the idea of being without Seamus was upsetting. He made Seamus promise to write. Seamus laughed and told him, "It'll only be a couple of weeks mate, but sure I'll write ya." They boarded the train and sat alone in a car together. Seamus pulled a small poorly wrapped package out and handed it to dean. "You got me a gift?" Dean asked. "Kind of," Seamus said and Dean could have sworn he blushed. "I didn't get you anything. I feel awful," Dean told him. "No worries. I don't care about gifts I just wanted you to have this," Seamus responded shaking the package."

Dean smiled and took it. He undid the knot of string and opened it up. It was three Quidditch cards. His smile widened. Seamus smiled back and said, "I have so many and I thought I could help you start collecting." Dean practically jumped out of his seat to hug Seamus, "You are the most amazing best friend ever!" Dean exclaimed in Seamus's ear. Seamus hugged him back and said, "I'm glad you like it," giggling. They hugged again as they parted ways getting off the train before going to their parents.

Dean spent so break telling his mother about school and trying to get used to muggle living again. He constantly thought of Seamus wondering what he was doing. He often laughed aloud to himself thinking of Seamus blowing himself up in class. Dean loved it when he did that he thought it was hilarious. He also worried about it though. So far Seamus had never been badly hurt. The worst that ever happened to him was getting his eyebrows burned off, but Dean always feared something worse could happen.

When the two boys met again on the train platform they practically ran into each other. Dean didn't let go of Seamus for almost a minute before realizing how awkward it must be. Luckily Seamus didn't seem fazed. They spent their train ride back to Hogwarts talking about their holidays. Dean had little to tell, so, like usual, Seamus did most of the talking. He told Dean about all the gifts he got and the gossip he heard from his parents. He told him how cool his parents thought it was that Seamus shared a room with the famous Harry Potter. Dean nodded along half listening to Seamus and just half watching his mouth move excitedly as he spoke.

When they got to Hogwarts Dean and Seamus greeted Harry, Ron and Neville and shared abridged stories of their holiday. Harry and Ron had stayed at school, so they didn't have to unpack again. The two of them ran off to spend time with Hermione leaving Seamus, Dean and Neville to unpack their stuff.

Classes started again quickly and Dean and Seamus struggled to stay on top of their work. When the boys were not attending classes or doing their homework they were either talking about Quidditch or actually going to watch the games. They even went to games where Gryffindor wasn't playing. Seamus often joked to Dean, "You must be the biggest Quidditch nut this school has ever seen." Dean felt proud of this despite it actually being Seamus teasing him.

Harry and Ron had begun acting suspicious before the holiday, but it got much worse after. Dean and Seamus struggled with deciding whether or not to ask them about what was going on. They eventually decided on not asking. Especially after Harry, Ron and Hermione lost Gryffindor 150 points by sneaking outside at night.

As the end of the year was approaching time sped up. Dean realized if he hated spending just Christmas away from Seamus how was he going to last a whole summer? He tried to soak up all of Seamus he could get. He listened to all of his long stories and laughed at all his lame jokes. He asked him questions about homework even when he knew the answer just to hear his voice more.

Too many things kept reminding Dean that the year was almost over. The quidditch season ended. The weather became warmer and flowers covered the grounds. But most of all what fueled the realization was the thing Dean dreaded most, the finals. Dean wasn't a bad student, but he had heard that Hogwarts finals were brutal. The only thing that kept him going through the endeavor was studying with Seamus.

The two of them spend most of their free time sitting close in the corner of the Gryffindor common room, mostly undisturbed. They read books together and quizzed each other. When they read together they would take turns reading pages to each other. They sat so close Dean could feel Seamus's breath on his neck when he was reading aloud to him.

At the very end of the year a major event took place in the school. Dean and Seamus's very own roommate Harry Potter apparently took on the infamous Lord Voldemort in a secret part of the school. Ron and Hermione had also been part of the event. Dean and Seamus were amazed by what they heard had happened there and agreed that if all they heard should be believed to be true then Harry really did live up to his reputation. Best of all their heroic feats, and apparently one done by their other roommate Neville as well, made it so Gryffindor won the house cup.

The last day finally came and Dean felt a knot in his stomach that would not loosen. It was time to say goodbye to his best friend. They packed up together talking with Harry and Ron and congratulating them yet again on their heroics. The two boys were really quite modest about it, which impressed Dean. Seamus being himself was still bombarding them with questions about what happened. Poor Harry and Ron Dean thought, but they were good sports and answered whatever questions they could.

Dean and Seamus were able to find a car for just the two of them yet again on the train. Dean was eternally grateful. The last thing he wanted was to share his last couple hours with Seamus. Seamus told Dean about all the things that he was excited to do the coming summer. Seamus asked Dean tons of questions about what he was going to do that summer. Dean had a couple answers, but all he could think about was that he was that the only thing he was going to do that summer was miss Seamus.

When the train pulled into the station Dean's face fell and his heart dropped. This was it. This was goodbye. He wasn't going to see his best friend for several months. It took all he had to pull himself out of the seat and walk off the train. Dean followed Seamus out of the train. He was holding back tears with every bit of his strength. When they exited Seamus pulled him into a tight and long hug,

As Dean hugged him he finally allowed himself to accept a realization that he had been trying to ignore all year. He liked Seamus as more than a friend. He didn't want to. Seamus was his best mate and he was worried he would make things awkward. It was obvious, though by his need for his touch and to be alone with him constantly. After what felt like an eternity Seamus let go of Dean and said, "See ya mate. Have a great summer." Dean could have sworn he saw tears in Seamus's eyes. Dean wasn't sure he was gay, but that didn't matter. As he watched his best friend run towards his parents it became painstakingly clear. He had a crush on Seamus Finnegan and it was big one!