Word Count: 611

Rating: PG

Warnings: M/M kissing

Authors Note: Enjoy!

Seamus hadn't been eating, sleeping, or doing much of anything, really. Everyone had noticed. He was usually the last one awake in his dorm and it seemed now that he was always just sitting there in his bed, doing homework, reading a book, or staring into space. He had gotten visibly thinner and bags were always visible under his eyes. It was impossible not to notice. But no one noticed nearly as much as Dean Thomas.

Dean had been worried about him for weeks now. Seamus simply wasn't being himself. He barely talked anymore, and walked to his classes with his head down. Worst and weirdest of all, he had been distancing himself from Dean. It just didn't make sense. They were best mates, and then all of a sudden he's avoiding him in the halls and barely saying two words to him at lunch. Had Dean done something wrong? They hadn't gotten into any arguments lately, and he didn't think he had said anything particularly offensive. There was definitely something that Seamus wasn't telling him, and he wouldn't rest until he found out what it was.

Of course he had attempted to talk to him about it. Many, many times. But Seamus would always mumble something about homework and run away from him. He needed a plan. Some way to ensure that he wouldn't leave. He had no choice but for them to be somewhere public, somewhere he couldn't run away from. That's when he knew exactly what he would do.

"Hey Seamus, they've got bacon this morning!" Dean said brightly as the Great Hall buzzed with the usual excitement.

"And?" The Irish boy replied quietly.

"Bacon's your favorite! Why aren't you eating any?" Dean said while grabbing a plate for Seamus and placing a few pieces on it.

"Not hungry," He said simply, and shoved the plate back into Dean's hands.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you? I haven't seen you eat in ages, you never sleep, and you're always refusing to talk to me! What are you not telling me?"

"Er. Well, I. You know, homework and. It's just," Seamus stammered and started to stand up.

"No," Dean said, pushing him back down onto the bench, " I'm sick of you running away from me. I want an answer."

"I can't tell you, Dean," Seamus said in a small voice.

"Why not? We're best friends, we tell each other everything! Or at least I thought we did…"

"I can't tell you because you'll never talk to me again after I do. And you'll hate me."

"Nothing you could say would ever make me hate you, Seamus," Dean said.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Well, uh, you see. Um, I just. You know—" Seamus stuttered.

"Spit it out, Seamus."

"I-I love you," he quickly blurted out, and then put his hands over his mouth in shock of what he had just said.

Dean reached down, pulled Seamus's hands away from his mouth, and kissed him with such a passion that they both forgot where and who they were. When they finally broke apart for air, the Great Hall was silent. Every single pair of eyes was focused on the two Gryffindors standing centimeters apart, breathing heavily. Seamus turned bright red and his eyes widened. Suddenly, started by God knows who, applause tore through the Hall. Some people were even exchanging money with defeat or joy on their faces.

"Congratulations!" Neville shouted.

"FINALLY!" The Weasley twins screamed in unison.

"Nice going, mate," Harry said, nudging Dean on the shoulder.

Seamus grinned at Dean. "So, I guess this means we don't have to come out to the school then."