Chapter 4

Seamus woke up from the sound of softly muttering voices. He didn't open his eyes at first; he just lay still and tried to feel the pain, but there was none. It was all gone. That made him wonder a bit, but then he decided to be thankful instead of suspicious. At least his head was clear so he could think without hurting.

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times and getting used to the light. When he could see clearly again, he looked around. He lay in a warm bed, which stood in the corner of a small but friendly bedroom. He knew that room. He just didn't remember where from.

Next to the bed stood a small nightstand with photos, a book and a wand on it, and next to that was a window. In the other corner was a desk, full with school stuff in one corner and painting utensils on the rest of it. Next to the desk was a closet, then the door, then a drawer. The whole room was covered with posters of bands he'd never heard of and various football teams. And then he suddenly knew.

This was the room of his favorite muggle-born of all time. And said favorite muggle-born sat next to him, on his left, a worried line between his eyebrows but a small smile on his lips.

„You're awake," he said instead of a welcome. Seamus grinned.

„Hey Dean, pleased to meet you again that soon, oh I'm fine, thanks for asking, how are you by the way?" he said sarcastically, his hoarse voice cracking a bit.

„Hey, don't get too cheeky, Finnigan! I saved your life, so have a little bit of respect in your manners, you Irish butthole!" Dean said and grinned, too.

„You saved my life?" Seamus asked, frowning; but before Dean could explain anything, the door opened and a bunch of dark-skinned people exploded into the room.

„He's awake! He's awake!" a girl, maybe seven years old, shrieked, pointing at Seamus and jumping up and down enthusiastically.

„Shh, Annie, don't scream! Mr Finnigan is still not sane," another girl, maybe twenty, said.

„I am sane!" Seamus protested. „And don't call me Mr Finnigan! I'm Seamus! Just Seamus!"

„Alright, Just Seamus, but trust me: you're not sane enough to handle these three," the girl said, smiled and dragged a shouting Annie and two smaller girls out of the room. She closed the door behind them and the room grew silent.

„Thank god she's here; I don't know what I would do without Shona, and my lovely Dean, of course," a woman said and smiled at Seamus. He knew this woman. It was Mrs Thomas, Dean's mum, and she was probably the nicest person he'd ever met. Except for Dean, of course.

„You'd go crazy," a guy said. He looked just like an older version of Dean, shorter but more muscular, with a radiant smile. „Hi, I'm Tom by the way," he said and shook Seamus' hand.

„Tom Thomas," Seamus said and grinned.

„Yeah, stupid, isn't it? But my dad wanted to call one of the children Tom, and I guess it was bad luck that it happened to be me," he told him and ran his fingers through his hair. His shirt revealed a bit of his dark stomach, just a tiny bit of abs. Very, very nice abs.

Seamus tried not to stare, which was easy because Dean was around. So he distracted himself by looking at his best friend, who gave him a huge smile.

„I'm glad you're okay," he said. Seamus wanted to explain why he wasn't feeling very okay, but Mrs Thomas cut him off before he even had started talking.

„Okay, boys, you really need to leave Seamus alone; his injuries are healing slowly, and I bet he's tired, so let him sleep," she said, stood up and opened the door. Tom walked out with a quick wink, but Dean stayed exactly where he was.

„I won't leave; I'll wait 'til he's asleep, in cause that he needs something, and then I'll come and join you," he said, crossing his arms and making sure he looked serious.

Mrs Thomas sighed. „Okay, but don't stay too long. Sleep well, Seamus," she said, smiled at him and then closed the door behind her. Seamus waited a few seconds to make sure they were alone before he looked at Dean.

„So...you saved my life?" he continued where they'd been interrupted.

„Yep. You were lying outside there, in the next street, and you were freezing and I just picked you up and brought you here. I'm a real saint," Dean said.

„Thanks, my lord, I'll be eternally grateful," Seamus grinned. Dean stuck his tongue out before he asked, „But the actual question is: Why did I have to save you? Why are you damaged like that, why are you here? What the hell happened?"

„Well, that's not a very nice story...Besides, where did all the pain go?" Seamus said, trying to avoid the answer.

„Mum gave you some antibiotics. But don't divert! I asked you something," Dean answered.

„Are you... sure you want to hear that?" Seamus asked, shifting uncomfortably.

„Of course I am!" Dean said, pouting. That was the cutest thing Seamus had ever seen, and he bit his tongue to resist the urge to kiss him.

„Fine, okay. I'll tell you." Seamus swallowed before he started to talk, fast and quiet, his Irish accent as thick as never before. A part of him was hoping that maybe Dean wouldn't be able to understand him. But of course he was.

„Well, I told me parents somethin', and they kicked me out. Oh, and me dad has beaten the shit outta me. As if that would change anything."

„What did you tell them?" Dean asked, his voice calm. He had to stay calm before he just apparated to Seamus' house and kill his parents for being they way they were.

„I ... well ... I'm gay." Seamus suppressed the sob in his throat and tried not to cry. That was it. This was the end of their friendship.

„Oh." Dean said, looking at him. And then he hugged him tight, and Seamus cried a few silent tears of relief, before he let him go and asked: „Aren't you ... disgusted?"

„Sorry?" Dean said, sitting back down. „Why would I be disgusted? I don't care if you like men or women or dogs or whatever; you are still Seamus, aren't you?"

Seamus sniffed, then smiled. „Yes. I am still me."

„See? I don't think there's any reason to be disgusted. You are still Seamus, my best mate, and you will always be. Not more and not less."

Seamus' smile grew even wider, while he felt his eyelids getting heavier. The medicine was kicking in. „You are such a nice person, I can't believe you're not a Hufflepuff," he mumbled, snuggling deep into the sheets. The smelled like Dean. He felt comfortable and warm and that made him tired. Dean grinned.

„Uh, Dean?" Seamus asked, yawning.
„Yeah?" Dean looked at him.

„I love you," Seamus whispered and closed his eyes. He fell asleep so quick that he missed Dean's very quiet and very serious „I love you, too".