Seamus looked up from the display he had been examining just long enough to discover the new customer's identity. Ginny stood in the doorway, her eyes taking in the shop. Seamus picked up an eagle feather quill, looked down its length, then put it back, pretending to ignore her. He moved to another display, this one containing spell check quills. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny walk ever so casually over to the eagle feather display, her hips swinging, her hair glinting coppery gold in the dusty sunlight pouring through the window…
Seamus turned abruptly back to the display, anger and frustration burning in the pit of his stomach. A swollen, purple bruise disfigured her face. He clenched his teeth and focused on a small black quill labeled, 'NEW! Checks spelling in English, Spanish, and French!'
He felt like throwing something.
"What happened to you?" he hissed as Ginny walked past. She bent over the elegant eagle quills and, shrugging, whispered, "Carrow heard I was involved in last Tuesday's 'incident.'"
Seamus glared at the multilingual quill, fuming. After a few minutes of silence, Ginny whispered, "I came to tell you: there's a meeting tonight, Seamus. Tell Ernie the next time you see him, will you?"
"Why didn't you use the Galleons?" Seamus muttered, leaning closer on the pretext of scanning the price tag attached to a striking, spotted quill.
Ginny crossed behind him again to look at the display of color-changing ink on his other side.
"That's why we're having the meeting. I was just talking to Michael; Carrow confiscated his Galleon. We don't think he knew what it was, the greedy sod, but we can't use them while he's got it. We need to get it back."
Seamus nodded absentmindedly, his eyes on the ugly bruise. Only a year ago, it might have been a cause for concern and alarm; teachers would have been notified; brothers and boyfriends would have glowered and pounded the one responsible. Now it was merely a dull reminder of the change that had taken place at Hogwarts; of teachers no better than bullies and empty beds in the dorm.
Ironic, Seamus thought, that all the boys he had shared a dorm with had cared for Ginny as more than a friend. As girlfriend, sister, first date or secret fancy, they had all loved her, protected her. Now, only he and Neville remained.
Seamus glanced at her again out of the corner of his eye. "Ginny… my offer stills stands. Just say yes and I'll tell them it was me."
Ginny looked up, eyes flashing.
"Seamus, it's very… gallant of you to offer, but no. I won't let you take the blame every time I get in trouble!" She sighed. "So many people, gone..."
Again, Dean thought of the empty dorm. There was a moment's hesitation, then she laid her hand on his and looked up at him with troubled eyes.
"I don't want anything to happen to you, too."