Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
A/N: I wrote this for a couple of challenges.
Raise a Witch/Wizard: Write a slash pairing with characters of your choice. I chose Seamus Finnegan/Dean Thomas.
If You Dare Challenge: 520: Lost Life
Are You Crazy Enough?: 258: (location) Leaky Cauldron.
Disney Character Challenge: Mushu: an old spirit guardian hoping to earn his job back. Write about someone trying to prove him or herself. Alt, write about Seamus Finnigan.
Harry Potter Chapter Challenge: The White Tomb - Write about grief. Write about a break-up.
I never thought I'd see him again. But as fate would have it, I did.
It was thirteen years later. Thirteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts. Thirteen years after we had broken up from a five-year relationship. Thirteen years of regret for me. Thirteen years of hoping for a second chance. I was sitting outside the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley sipping on my ale when I heard a familiar voice say, "it's this way, darling." I whipped my head around and saw him walking out of the pub into the cobblestone street. Dean Thomas.
I nearly leaped with joy. This was it. This was the moment I had waited thirteen years for. The moment I would see him again and apologize for all the foolish things I'd said before. Though it had been so long since we were together, maybe it would still-
A little girl walked out behind him with a look of awe on her face. She had lighter skin than him, but her eyes were the same color as his and they were wide in astonishment - clearly her first time to Diagon Alley. I could see in Dean's eyes as well, the pride and love that they beheld at making his daughter so happy - for there was no mistake that this was his daughter.
My heart sank lower than ever before. I had never quite let go of the hope that maybe one day I could still be the one to make him smile. That maybe one day we would fall in love again and get our happily ever after. But seeing him with the girl crushed every single one of the fantasies I had ever dreamed of happening.
But still, I couldn't let go. There was something in me that refused to give up. Maybe he still single. Maybe he still loved me and would leave her for me. The logical part of my brain said that wasn't possible, just look at the love they clearly had for each other written on their faces. I gagged that small voice and threw it in the corner. I had to know if there was any chance of us again.
So I waited. I watched as she ran to the windows of each store asking Dean about all the things she saw. He answered very patiently and told her about everything she asked. I couldn't believe he was so calm about being bombarded with millions of questions. He was clearly a different person. They went inside many of the stores and came out of each laden with more and more bags. They spent the longest time in the Weasley's joke shop. At one point they came out with a beautiful tawny owl. When they were finished with their shopping they went to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour to get a treat.
Finally, when they came out Dean looked up straight over to where I was sitting and saw me. We both froze and locked eyes. This was it. The little girl kept pulling on his jacket. He finally tore his eyes away and said something to her, with a huge grin on his face. Then he picked her and carried her towards the Leaky Cauldron. As he passed he gave me a nod of acknowledgment.
Once they were out of sight, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Something in me felt lighter. After thirteen years, I couldn't blame him for moving on and starting a family. It was what I should have been doing as well. The lost life that we had before would never come back. We could never have the relationship we had before and it was time to accept that. Seeing him with that girl only proved that and now that I knew he was happy, though not with me, I was okay. Goodbyes were never easy, but they were a necessary part of life and growing up.
I stood up and poured the rest of my ale on the ground next to me. Then I walked through the Leaky Cauldron into London, ready to start over and finally move on.
A/N: So that's it! I know it ends super abruptly. I had an alternate ending that I thought about doing, but it just didn't work out. If you think I should finish and publish the alternate ending to this story, let me know! I appreciate all reviews and once again, thank you so much for reading my fanfics.
PS: this song was inspired by Good in Goodbye by Carrie Underwood.