Title: Breaking Seamus
AU 6th year
Warnings:
One sided slash, angst, self hurt
Disclaimer: I do not own Seamus, just playing with an Irishman for a while, please don't sue!

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Chapter Four: Study Habits

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"That evening, after Lavender had fled to her dorm room to escape him, Seamus had taken off for the library. When questioned about his sudden academic interest by his best mate, the Irishman had muttered something about Lavender and ran off.

It was going to be a very long term."

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Dean was confused. It had been about two weeks since he and Ginny had broken up. It had been about that long since he and Seamus had spent more than five minutes together. His erratic best mate had taken whole-heartedly to a campaign of wooing Lavender Brown. And said campaign was not going well. But then Seamus was never one to give up. When questioned by Dean about his lack of success, the Irishman had told him that he was "wearing her down".

Seamus was wearing HIM down. All he wanted was to spend some time goofing off with his best mate. And even more strange than Seamus' sudden fixation on Lavender, was his newfound obsession with studying.

Every time Lavender managed to evade him, the Irishman had fled to the library. Seamus was rarely in the common room anymore unless he was glued to her side. Dean was really starting to worry about his friend.

Aside from the abrupt change in behavior, Seamus also looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. And every time Dean managed to corner him about it, the Irishman had waved him off or changed the subject.

Dean was at a loss of what to do.

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Seamus was so very tired. So very very tired. But sleep was the absolute last thing he wanted to do. If he wasn't asleep, then he couldn't dream. And lately all his dreams were the same.

Dean would confess his love or lust for Seamus, and they would start kissing. But the second he tried to reach for Dean, he would grab nothing but air. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't touch the other boy, he was like smoke. These dreams left him unfulfilled and depressed.

Even worse was the terror. Seamus was absolutely terrified that everyone would find out he wasn't straight. After Dean's initial reaction, he had a feeling it would not go over well. If his best mate was repulsed by homosexuality, what hope was there for Seamus that anyone else would accept him?

So Seamus continued to plague Lavender Brown, and continued to avoid Dean wherever possible. He spent a lot of time in the library these days. Which had been great for his marks. He had never done so well in school before, but outside of pestering Lavender, Seamus didn't talk to many people.

Hermione Granger kept shooting him odd looks, and he was really rather lonely in his self-imposed isolation from his best friend. Which is why, one particular afternoon instead of sitting alone in a corner of the library, he approached Granger.

She was sitting alone at a large table in the corner, surrounded by a vast pile of books, and taking notes at a furious pace from one particularly large tome, which probably weighed more than she herself did.

"This seat taken?" Seamus asked abruptly, which startled Hermione into almost falling off of her chair.

"No I suppose not." She replied with an aggrieved sigh.

The Irishman took a seat nest to her and unloaded a few books, a roll of parchment, a quill, and some ink. Opening his Charms text, Seamus began making an outline for an essay that wasn't due for two weeks. Needless to say, the bright Gryffindor girl was shocked.

"You're starting this early?" She asked incredulously.

Seamus glanced over at the girls work, "So? Looks like ye've already finished."

Hermione sputtered "but but but… that's different.!"

"Is it now?" the Irishman replied raising one eyebrow.

"Yes. Yes it is." She stated.

"Well then Miss Brilliance, I needa help with this part here," Seamus said pointing to a paragraph in his book, "Ye mind givin me a hand?"

Her academic senses tingling, Hermione leaned over and began to explain the section he had indicated with a clarity that made Seamus wonder why Harry and Ron didn't have better marks. The girl was a natural born teacher.

With her help, Seamus was able to understand the concepts with an ease he had never before experienced. When he went to write his essay about an hour later, it took him half the time as normal, and he was sure he'd get a better grade. Needless to say, when he was done he thanked the girl profusely.

Hermione had blushed at his praise. About this time Lavender wandered into the library. Spotting her, Hermione gave him an amused glance. "Now that your essay is done, shouldn't you be tailing Lavender?"

Seamus laughed for the first time in two weeks.

"That be my cue, and thanks again." He said with a wink.

Hermione watched as the droll Irishman sauntered up to Lavender and told her that her robes were so fine that Malfoy must be jealous. Hermione laughed quietly behind her book.

It had been wonderfully entertaining to listen to Lavender fret over the boy at night in the dorm room they shared. Hermione found Seamus' antics very funny, even if her roommate did not. She wished Ron would give her even a bit of that kind of attention… not that she'd ever admit it.

If Lavender was annoyed, serves her right for wearing that Bevanies Bust Boost Bra.

Honestly.

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Thanks for the reviews ProperT, Hermione0Weasley, and Fire elements! Not so much deanseamus interaction in this chapter… but well Seamus is avoiding him. Please Review!!!!!!!!!!!