That morning Seamus woke to still be up on the sofa with Stacey still laid on his with his arms wrapped around her. She looked so peaceful when she was sleeping like she had no care in the world as if nothing could hurt her not now or ever, and Seamus would make sure it stayed that way.
Maybe he should tell her how he feels about her, for all he knows she'll feel the same way. From what went on that day in Muggle Studies she did feel the same, but that could have just been Malfoy winding her up but she didn't deny it one bit. Maybe she did love him back?
"Hey" she quietly said, seen as he was lost in his own thoughts he didn't hear her, she knew he was thinking too hard on something; his expression said it all. Instead of saying anything again she poked his cheek making him snap out of his thoughts and look at her, she gave him a warm smile.
"Morning" she said tiredly.
"Hey, you okay?" He asked. He was worried about the damage Goyle had caused to her mentally.
"I'm fine my face just feels a little sore that's all" she said he laid his head on top of hers as she laid her head on his shoulder. Lavender would kill the pair of them if she saw how they were.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"Its 6:30, why you got somewhere you gotta be?" He joked causing her to smile a little, but when her smile reached her cheeks she felt the bruising which was sore causing her to wince in pain. Seamus saw this and carefully cupped her cheek stroking it softly.
"Why don't you take lessons off today, I'll stay to keep you company. Just so no one asks you questions and stuff" he said, Goyle had given her a huge black eye and both of her cheeks were purple from the bruising.
"No, we both need to go. It doesn't matter what people think" She said. She or Seamus could not miss any lessons just because she had some bruises on her face. He admired her courage and the fact she didn't care about others, she's definitely not like any other girl he knows, and maybe that's what he loves about her.
"I'm just going to get ready" she said as she got off him.
"Okay me too. I'll meet you back her" he said and they both walked up the stairs together and then going to their separate dorms.
As they were walking to their defence against the dark arts class everyone stared at her, she felt very uncomfortable and picked up her pace to her lesson which because of the whole situation seemed to be forever away. She wished she'd just stayed in her room now.
"What's wrong?" Seamus asked her as he caught up with her speed.
"People are staring." Well what did she expect if someone looked as terrible as she did she'd be staring too.
"It's alright they are just being nosey that all" He reassured her.
The walked through the door of their lesson seeing Professor Snape standing there waiting as everyone arrived with such a miserable look on his face, does he ever smile?
Stacey took her seat Neville as Seamus took his behind her next to Lavender.
"Hey Stacey" Neville said quietly so he didn't get in trouble.
"Hey Neville" she too said quietly for the same reasons.
Stacey felt weird she felt as if someone was watching her. She turned and looked to the right of her to see him, what was he doing here still?
"Hello Stacey" he said with a smirk on his face, she could feel the fear in sitting in her spine but she could feel the anger more that sits there.
"What are you still doing here?" She didn't care about keeping quiet now. Seamus turned from Lavender to see who Stacey was looking at, he couldn't believe it. Anger grew in his body and he used every piece of him to not go over there and kill him.
"Sir what is he still doing here?" He shouted, he can't see why he was, Professor Snape saw the damage he had did to Stacey last night.
"Mr Goyle has been punished for recent events." He simply said as he got back to their lesson.
"But Sir come on, you saw what he did and all he gets is a slap on the wrist" Seamus didn't care who he was talking to, he was too angry to care.
"Mr Finnigan I said he's been punished, now keep quiet!" He shouted back.
Seamus slumped back in his seat burning holes into Goyle's head. Goyle turned back and just smirked at him and the he turned to Stacey and smiled at her boiling Seamus' blood much more.
"Now today we are going into pairs and we are going to have a small duelling session. Before you think about choosing your own you are wrong and I'll be choosing who you are with." He stated. This could only get terrible everyone hated when Snape put you with someone you hate.
"Potter and Malfoy, Granger and Parkinson, Crabbe and Weasley…" He went through all the names until "James and Goyle" that caught Stacey's attention quicker than anything else did, everyone began whispering about it. She turned towards him to find he was already looking at her smirking. "Everyone move now." Seamus got up and crouched in front of Stacey. "Want me to say something?" he tired to stay calm for her but it was really hard when he could see the fear in her eyes.
"No, I'll be fine." She didn't know who she was trying to convince him or her.
"Okay, I'm only over there if you need me okay." He said and he held her hand and gave it a little squeeze for support.
"Okay" She said then he got up and looked at Goyle who looked back smirking.
"Don't worry Finnigan I'll be gentle with her" he whispered causing Seamus' blood to boil once more. "You touch her and I'll kill you" He walked off to his pair and Goyle sat next to her.
"So this is nice" He said as he put his hand on her leg making her move it.
"Don't touch me"
He admired his work that had left marks on her face making her look terrible and uglier than he thought she already was.
"Your face looks uglier than it was." He laughed; he was going out of his way now to make her feel terrible. He thought she deserved everything she got because of her he lost Pansy.
"Shut up" was all she said as she put her head down to try and hide the fact he was getting to her.
He giggled I knew he was.
"You know I reckon you would have liked it you know, sex. Me entering your body as you moaned and groan for more an-" She couldn't take it no more.
"Shut up!" She screamed.
He grabbed hold of her neck to bring her close when…
"Stupefy!" Harry shouted making Goyle drop to the floor. Stacey ran out of the classroom and corridor not caring to where she was going.
Meanwhile in the classroom Seamus watch her run from the classroom and got up from his seat and turned towards Professor Snape. "You see! This is what happens when you don't do anything from the start" he shouted then ran towards the door to go after her. "Seamus!" Lavender shouted but he just ignored her and ran out of the door after his best friend. She'd had a head start so he had no idea where she'd gone.
He looked all over for her she wasn't in the great hall, she wasn't in the Gryffindor dorm, and she wasn't in any of the corridors, where could she be?
He went back to the dormitory to see if she had came back or if anyone had seen her. He was really worried about her, he was more worried about the fact he couldn't find her and that she may be in trouble or something.
As he got back he saw that she wasn't in the common room and everyone was looking at him. "Has anyone seen Stacey?" He asked but all he got was a lot of "no's" or shaken heads.
"Seamus come with me I have a way to find her" Harry said from behind him. Both boys ran up to the boy's bedroom and Harry pulled out a piece of paper from under his pillow. Seamus had no idea how this would help him find Stacey.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" Harry said and that's when Seamus saw the paper have some ink on it.
"What is it Harry?" He asked.
Harry opened it to look for her "It's called a marauders map; it tells you were everyone is that this very moment in time. Do you know this part of it here?" He said turning the map around to show Seamus, he saw Harry pointing at the owlery, and then he saw Stacey's name. "That's were she i-" Harry didn't get chance to finish the whole sentence as Seamus was already running out of the dorm.
"Mischief managed"
Seamus was running up the owlery stairs, his legs were aching and it was freezing seen as winter was coming soon. He got up the top and stopped for a minute or two to catch his breath. He walked round the corner to find her sat in the corner with her legs pulled into her chest crying. He knew he should have been angry with her for making him worried sick but seeing her so vulnerable he just couldn't feel that anger no more.
He walked in and sat next to her putting his arm around her and pulled her in. She cried into his chest feeling so weak and helpless. "I'm sorry I ran off like I did, he just scared me that's all" she said through the sobs.
"Hey it's alright, I was just worried sick about you I thought you'd hurt yourself or something." He said stroking her head and playing with her hair between his fingers.
"Do you want to go back?" He asked
"No, I don't think I could face everyone just yet. But you can if you want" She said, she didn't want to keep him here when he could be with Lavender.
"No, I'll stay with you." He said simply. She said up from his chest and just looked at him she was confused a little.
"But she'll be angry, you were meant me to meet up with her tonight" She said as she went to wipe the tears from her cheek but he stopped her so he could wipe them himself. "I'm more concerned on looking after you other than how pissed she'll be at me" He said and brought her back to his chest. Stacey didn't mean to but she fell asleep there as she was too comfortable, because Seamus didn't want to wake her he picked her up and carried her back and put her soundly in her bed.
The next day Stacey was sat in the great hall doing her muggle studies homework in her free period. Seamus would have normally been with her but he had to make it up to Lavender for not being with her last night.
Harry came into the great hall and saw who he was looking for, he walked over and sat in front of Stacey as he cleared hi throat to get her attention. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Harry, hey I wanted to speak to you" she said. He looked a little surprised as he wanted to speak to her too.
"Really, that's weird I wanted to speak to you too" he replied, he felt a little nervous.
"Really, whats up?" She asked putting down her Quill and sitting up straight.
"No, you go first" he said.
"Well, I just wanted to thank you for what you did to Goyle yesterday. If you hadn't had done it who knows what he'd have done to me." She felt a little awkward talking to Harry because they hadn't spoke in a while, they use to be good friends in first year and a bit of second and but she grow so close to Seamus and he to Ron and Hermione they barely talked.
"Oh don't mention it. What are friends for right." He said as he smiled at her.
"Right, I seriously owe you one" She said.
Perfect! He thought.
"Well now that you mention it I wanted to ask you something" He could feel the nerves kicking in now.
"Sure, anything" she stated. His face was blushing a little.
"Well you know Professor Slughorn is having a party for most of our year the day before we go home for Christmas?" She knew exactly where this was going she just start there and nodded.
"Well I was wondering if you would like to go with me, seen as we both can't go with who we wanted to." The last bit caught her attention quite quick.
"Harry, am I really that obvious?" she asked with a small smile of her face, her question caused him to smile also but he said nothing he just nodded his head.
"Oh god, sorry you're still waiting for an answer. I'd love to go with you Harry" she said with a sweet smile on her face, she'd been invited to the party but she didn't really want to go because she'd have been on her own and plus she didn't want to see Seamus and Lavender all over each other, but now she had a reason to go plus it would be a laugh if she wasn't on her own.
"Great! Anyway how are you today?" After the way Goyle has treated her the last two days he'd been worried about his friend.
"I'm okay, I'm still a bit shaken from the whole thing but I'll be alright. How are you anyways?" She asked.
"Oh I'm fine. But I'm glad your okay, I've been worried since I heard what Goyle did you that night, and as if he got away with it" Stacey had to admit she was a little hurt Professor Snape had not done anything about it at all.
"Let's go see Dumbledore, he'll do something about it" He suggested. He really wanted to help her. Stacey wasn't too sure about this.
"Oh I don't know Harry, I don't want to cause much trouble" She really didn't want to cause anything else to happen.
"You won't be causing trouble. Its better this way. Come on" Harry didn't let her say another thing; he jumped over the table and grabbed her hand dragging her to Dumbledore's office.
"Hello Harry, what brings y-. Ah Miss James I was wondering when I would be seeing you." He said as he turned around to greet his guests. Stacey was a little confused; she didn't think her headmaster even knew who she was.
"Why would you be waiting to see me sir" She quietly asked. She was a little shy she'd never spoke to Dumbledore before.
"I'd expect you'd be confused. I've only just got back you see and Professor Snape has just informed me of what happened two nights ago. I have to say but your lucky to have Mr Finnigan to be there for you." Dumbledore was right Stacey was lucky to have Seamus.
"Yes sir I am indeed" She said putting her head down. Even praising Seamus sends her red.
"Ah Mr Goyle thank you for coming" Dumbledore said causing Harry and Stacey to turn around, Stacey slowly moved to stand behind Harry as she saw him, he still did petrify her.
"My pleasure sir, what is it you wanted to see me about?" Stacey and Harry couldn't believe it, he was being polite!
"I think you know why you're here Mr Goyle; from recent event of what happened with Miss James is what brings you here"
"But sir sh-" Dumbledore couldn't be bothered hearing any pathetic excuse.
"Please don't lie Mr Goyle, there's enough proof from the state Miss James is in. Professor Snape and I have decided you must be punished; you'll be expelled from Hogwarts for the rest of the year. The things you attempted on Miss James are unacceptable Mr Goyle, you must think about your own punishments and you should be very ashamed of yourself" After Dumbledore finished his small lecture Goyle put his head down as if he recognised his actions were wrong.
"Now, run along and find Professor Snape he's expecting you" Goyle did as his headmaster told him, leaving Stacey and Harry with Dumbledore.
"Thank you headmaster" Stacey said.
Dumbledore turned and smiled at the young girl. "My pleasure Miss James, now would you mind I need to talk to Mr Potter for a moment" He didn't want her to get the wrong impression but it was important.
"Sure sir, I'll see you later Harry" She said then went through towards the door.
"Bye" was all Harry said before he turned his attention back to Dumbledore.
As she reached the other side she started walking towards Muggle Studies.
"Stace!" Someone shouted, the voice came from behind her. She wasn't happy to see her with him, but she was kind of happy anyways so her smile wasn't fake.
"Hey Seamus" She said as she went to his other side.
"Hey, whats got you all happy" He asked as his girlfriend linked him tighter.
"Oh I just came from Dumbledore's office, he's expelled Goyle for the rest of the year and I've been asked to Slughorn's party" She said with smiles causing jealousy to sit in Seamus' stomach. Act normal! He told himself.
"Really, that's great on both counts. Who by?" He asked turning not to sound too jealous.
"By Harry Potter" She said. Seamus was devastated Harry had asked her when he wanted to take her; he wanted to ask her there and tell her how he felt about her. Now his plans are ruined on everything thanks to Harry, but it wasn't his fault as he didn't know how Seamus felt about her.
"That's great Stacey." Just great.
