Dean stepped away from the group. Dirk and Ted were huddled close, discussing their next spot to stay out and how long they'd be able to stay there, and this time Griphook and Gornuk were actually helping. But Dean couldn't tonight. He got like this sometimes, spiraled back into his mind.

He was hoping looking up at the stars with some peace and quiet might help, so he strayed from the group. The crisp February air felt cool in his lungs and he shut his eyes for moment. If he ignored everything else, it was a really beautiful night. The wind was blowing gently and he could feel it bristle his hair, already growing longer than he'd had it for years since being out here. It was weird to think that it had been almost six months since he'd last seen Seamus.

He ran his finger around the dreamcatcher. He'd kept it in his pocket since she'd given it to him. He always wondered when he should use it - when he'd need to. It felt so long since he'd last seen them, since he'd hugged Ginny, since he'd felt Seamus' lips brush against his… He'd taken them for granted for so long and now, he didn't know if he'd ever have them again. The longer he was out here, the more it felt like he was leaving them behind.

Dean looked up. The sky was littered with stars tonight, and for once, they felt a little bit brighter. He wondered is Seamus was looking out at them, too. Christmas was on its way, though Dean didn't know exactly when. It suddenly occurred to him that he'd probably being spending Christmas out in the woods, and that made him sadder than anything had for a while.

He looked out into the distance. There was a lake that stretched out farther than he could see, and he suddenly wished he could stop time and chase the end of the horizon until he caught it without fear of being struck dead by anyone who could see. He wished he could change the way things were, the way him and his friends all lived in fear, the way he felt loneliness seep into his bones.

He could be out here, wandering from place to place for years, for as long as the war went on. There was no way of knowing. He could be out here so long that when he did come back, he and Seamus would barely recognize each other. It was a terrible thought, but one that surfaced often. It was possible that when Dean returned, their love would just be a painful memory. For both of them. And whatever tied him to his friends at Hogwarts would be severed.

So, without thinking, Dean put the dreamcatcher to his lips and whispered, "Luna," and before he knew it, it was glowing blue and he could hear her.

"Dean? Is everything alright?" she said, sounding only vaguely surprised. The love he felt for her in that moment multiplied by a million and for the first time in half a year, an authentic grin sprung to his face.

"Yes, yes. Sorry, I just…"

"Just a mo', Dean." He stopped and waited. If he strained his ears, he could have sworn that he could hear the crackling of fire from the common room.

"Dean?" Seamus rasped. Dean breathed in, sharply. He'd wanted to hear that voice for what sounded like forever, but from the sound of the ragged breathing, something was wrong.

"Seamus? Seamus, are you alright?

"I'm fine," he said, but Dean heard Ginny cut in next.

"He's had detention."

"I'm fine," Seamus said again, but Dean felt despair tug at him. There Seamus was getting tortured and there was nothing he could do, but then, Seamus said, "Brilliant, actually, now that you're here."

"Seamus, I…"

"I know, love. Me, too." There was a pause and Dean could practically hear Seamus grinning on the other end. "How've you been, are you safe?"

"Yes, we all are. I've - I've met some others on the way and we're - I'm not alone out here."

"Good. Good. God, I've bloody missed you."

"I'll be back soon, I can feel it," he said, and it wasn't until he spoke it aloud to Seamus that Dean realized he believed it.

"I'm holding you to that, you know. I love you, Dean, more than you know," he said, and Dean's heart lifted so high that he felt his head was about to pop off.

"I love you, too, Seamus," Dean tried to call back, but the blue light had faded and the magic had worn off. He didn't realize he'd been crying.

But Dean just got to his feet and rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes. There'd be time to say it again, he knew. He'd have to believe that. Because without it, Dean really didn't know what else he was fighting for.