'Shay?' Dean calls out from the bed. He woke up just minutes ago to find that Seamus isn't here anymore and that his clothes, so hastily discarded last night, are gone. Dean sits up quickly, ignoring the lightheaded feeling he gets from moving too rapidly. He blinks in the sunlight streaming in from the small window.

'I'm here!' he hears, and breathes a sigh of relief. Smiling at the thought of breakfast—or lunch, it seems—with Seamus, he rolls out of bed and absentmindedly pulls on a pair of boxers. He walks out of the messy room and to the kitchen, beaming and rubbing a hand over his face. He enters, first spotting Seamus leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand, then stops cold when his eyes drift to the kitchen table. Seated around it are Harry and Ron, both in work attire, Winnie, her emerald eyes wide at the sight of a half-naked Dean, and Blaise. They are all crammed around the small, round table, and Dean observes them, confusion apparent on his features. His gaze rests on Blaise suspiciously.

'Good morning,' Seamus says, smirking faintly and raising an eyebrow at Dean. 'Want some coffee?' he asks as he gestures to the pot behind him. It is nearly empty already. Dean gapes at him and nods before looking down at his naked chest.

'I'll just… go put some clothes on…' he mumbles. Ron nods vigorously, Harry grins, Blaise smirks knowingly and Winnie breathes a deep sigh of disappointment.

'You can look but you can't touch, Missy,' Dean hears Seamus say as he turns to go change. Within minutes, he is back, clad in old sweatpants and a tight black t-shirt. He pours himself some coffee. No one speaks, and he can feel their stares on his back.

'What are you all doing here?' Dean asks cautiously once he's done. He rests against the counter next to Seamus, and the short man smiles up at him reassuringly.

'I don't know, we just got an owl telling us to come,' Ron says and Harry nods.

'I just came to see how you were doing and met these guys on the way,' says Winnie, jerking her thumb toward the Aurors.

'Same as Potter and Weasley,' Blaise says quietly, his eyes cast downward.

'That was me,' Seamus says, moving closer to Dean. The height difference is quite comical; Seamus only reaches Dean's shoulder, and Winnie smiles hugely at them. 'I sent the owl. And it's just as well Winnie is here.'

'What's this about, then?' asks Harry. 'The Carrows?' He folds his hands in front of him and stares at Seamus. Ron's eyes flit rapidly from Winnie to Blaise.

'Yeah. Oh, by the way, Ron and Harry, this is Bronwyn O'Neil, fifth year Gryffindor. And you know Blaise Zabini.' Winnie waggles her fingers toward the Aurors, then flashes a dirty look at Blaise when he opens his mouth to speak. He glares at her.

'Are they here to arrest me?' he asks Seamus bluntly. Harry leans back in his chair thoughtfully as Ron tenses and furrows his brows. Dean can practically hear the questions tumbling through their minds.

'Not unless you don't explain everything to them.' Seamus sounds tired.

'Shay, you're not mad at him?' says Winnie incredulously.

'I'm furious, but I know he didn't want it to happen. It's not his fault. I'm only slightly ticked off at him.'

'Well, I'm angry,' Dean mutters.

Seamus looks up and meets Dean's dark, unreadable eyes. 'I know you are,' he says softly.

'What the hell is going on here?' Ron asks, bewildered. He drums his fingers impatiently on the table.

'Zabini can explain,' Dean says harshly, crossing his arms. Blaise scrutinizes Dean, giving up trying to decipher him only seconds later. The Healer takes a deep breath and unconsciously pats his pocket to check for his wand's presence. Ron huffs impatiently. Finally, Blaise begins.

'Have you ever heard of the Detrutus Curse?'