They next day, Seamus sat next to Hermione at breakfast. Ron sat across from him with his eyebrows raised. Harry shot him a look. Ron shrugged and piled food on to his plate. Seamus held Hermione's hand under the table and managed to eat with his other hand. Hermione smiled. Once they had eaten, he got up and kissed her hair.

"I will see you in history," he said. Once he had left the great hall, Ron burst out laughing. Hermione was alarmed.

"What?" she demanded. Harry tried to explain, "I think Ron is just surprised that this happened so fast." Hermione blushed.

"But we're happy for you" Harry added, kicking Ron under the table. At least Harry wanted to be supportive. Hermione frowned and left for her next class.

When she arrived at history. Seamus was waiting outside the classroom, leaning on the wall. Her breath caught when she saw his easy smile and neat brown hair over his forehead. She walked up to him with a smiled and kissed him once quickly. As they walked into class his hand brushed against hers. They sat in a middle row next to each other. Professor Binns did not notice but everyone else did. They tried to cover their surprise while getting out their homework. Seamus determinedly stared at the board because Hermione was taking notes furiously for the test right before holiday break. Seamus had to keep from rolling his eyes. This test was a month away. He hoped he could loosen her up a little. Maybe he could distract her from studying and she would see that it was okay not to work ahead all the time. She was already very smart, she knew more than what the fifth year required. He admired her, but he was slightly intimidated. She worked to be the best while Seamus blew everything up in potions, transfigurations, and charms. At least there was no actual magic performed in history class. He was determined to distract her later, to show her that there were other things to enjoy. He glanced at her. She was shifting through her notes. He looked up in time to write down the homework in his new notebook. Once class ended they left together, holding hands this time. They walked to Seamus's next class and got there before any one else. He kissed her softly for a long time. When he pulled away she kissed him once more, grabbing his arm. He was pleasantly surprised. Once she stopped, he straightened. She was not as tall as him.

"Don't you have charms class?" he asked in a low voice while he considered kissing her again. She looked stunned.

"Yes. I have to go," she said, jumping slightly as if the kisses had put her in a trance. He saw that she looked worried. He smiled. She did not need to try so hard, or worry so much.

"I don't think you'll be late," he called after her.

During lunch Seamus turned to her.

"Are you going to the library, after dinner?" She nodded. She had a report due next Friday and she wanted to start early because care of magical creatures was not her strong point.

"I'll see you, then", he said. Kissing her on the head again. Ron gave Harry a look that Hermione missed. Ron knew that Harry had a more delicate way of speaking.

"He really likes you," Harry said quietly.

"Does he?" replied Hermione bewildered. Ron nodded.

"He's very sweet," Hermione continued. "He wants to take me out for lunch next week".

"That sounds fun," said Harry. Hermione nodded and thought back to their kiss earlier before her charms class. She was surprised that she wanted more of him. She was more surprised that she was so assertive. She was worried that she came across desperate. When lunch ended she walked out with Ginny running her query by her. Ginny was telling Hermione that Seamus was probably pleased either way when Ron interrupted with "It's the sexual frustration, I'm tellin' you". Hermione blushed while Ginny turned her laugh into a cough. Normally, Hermione would beat Ron with the nearest book, but she had a feeling he was right. She wanted to take it slow, to keep from seeming slutty and shallow but she did feel a need to touch him more, to enjoy herself. This surprised her. She reconsidered beating Ron, but stopped herself. As she set up for potions, she resolved to keep her needs from showing. Although she was sure Seamus had needs of his own. This thought made her blush again. She was thinking so hard, she missed Snape's question and he called on someone else, while staring at her with surprise. He was visibly relived when the other student answered the question correctly.

When they met in the library, Hermione immediately started essay on hippogriff grooming. Seamus read another chapter on plants. He stopped and rubbed her leg under the table. She laughed and turned to him.

"What is it?".

He grinned, "I just wanted to know where I could find more books about plants," he inquired.

She smiled and put down her quill.

"I'll show you." They stood up and walked down a few rows and to the left. Hermione pointed to the shelves, "here through here behind me. Moving from left to right". She started to leave, but Seamus caught her hand pulled her back. He pushed her into a shelf with his arms, kissing her forcefully. She was caught by surprised, but very pleased. The kisses felt good, but there was a passionate urgency to them that reminded her too much of the needs that Ron mentioned. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer.

"What was that for?" Hermione asked breathlessly. Seamus smiled.

"Because I really like you". He kissed her on the forehead and turned to read the spines of the book. He kept speaking, "You do like it don't you?"

She nodded; but hesitated before speaking.

"I do enjoy it, but I don't want to move so fast. Isn't it more fun, taking our time? Everything seems more important that way"

"I suppose. But I don't think you can resist me". He responded while moving in front of her.

"So what do we do?" she was concerned.

"We could take it slow or we could do whatever we feel like"

"I don't know," she said.

He leaned forward and kissed her neck over and over, putting his arms around her waist. She pulled him closer, running her hands through his hair. It was very soft and the kisses felt so good that she closed her eyes and tried not to make any noise. This was the library after all.