'Look how cute they are!'
'They're going to get married some day.'
'They're like a little married couple'
Things Seamus has heard said about him and Lavender Brown. He's only seven and adults think that he can't hear or understand them. But he does, of course. He's young, not stupid. And he tells them so.
'So, who's your girlfriend?'
He always says 'no one.' Ever since he started at Hogwarts last september, it's always the first question out of any relative's mouth when he goes home. It's annoying and unwanted. He says 'no one' and they say 'Really? A fine young lad like you?' He rolls his eyes, earning himself a sharp reprimand from his father. Seamus really can't stand that question. Is he expected to have a girlfriend? At twelve? That's ridiculous, he thinks.
'So do you and Lavender have a thing?'
'Do you fancy her?'
'Awh, you two would be so cute together.'
Who do these people think they are, making assumptions about Seamus and Lavender like that? They're just friends, always have been. Is that not allowed? They're like siblings. There's nothing wrong with it!
People wonder why, at 15, they haven't gotten together yet. People always assume they want to get together. Best friends are apparently always supposed to fall in love with each other, or some rubbish like that. Seamus really doesn't understand it. They went to the Yule Ball together, so what? They needed dates, they only went as friends. Seamus is sick of these questions and he's tired of the rumours. Can't people just leave Lavender and him alone?
'You must be heartbroken.'
'Lav and Ron, mate? How do you feel?'
'Are you okay?'
Obviously, they can't.
'…..'
'I never even thought…'
'As long as you're happy…'
'Didn't expect that coming.'
Didn't expect it? Why not? They expected Seamus and Lavender to fall in love. They wanted them to get married and live happily ever after. Why not expect the same, but with Dean instead of Lavender? Dean was there just as much as Lavender. Dean was as good a friend to Seamus, if not better, than Lavender. It was Dean who stopped the Slytherins from making leprechaun jokes during first year. It was Dean who brought Seamus to the infirmary the time he blew up his thumb in Potions class. It was Dean who helped convince Seamus' mam to let him go back to Hogwarts the summer before fifth year.
It was always Dean. And yes, Lavender was there for him too, but so was Dean. Why did no one look at him at thirteen and say 'Got a boyfriend?' Or at sixteen whisper 'Dean and Sea would be so cute together' to each other? Why was it always a wink and 'How's Lavender?' instead of 'Have you spoken to Dean lately?' Everyone forgot about Dean, and Seamus' fellow students chose to focus on Lavender instead.
Seamus knows it doesn't really matter. It hurt, but he's happy now and he's put a stop to those aggravating questions once and for all. But would it have been different if…? No, it's useless. Still, he wonders. And he asks himself if things will ever change.
