Three years and four months before the Battle, Yule Ball, December 1994.

"Stop staring!"

"Am not!"

"He just made a very good transformation spell. I'm just admiring his spell work."

"His spell work is awfully close to his arse."

"Lav! Shut up!"

The giddy couple at the other side of the bench shot an irritated look at them but said nothing; they had all learned years ago that trying to reign in Lavender was a futile effort, and in Seamus' opinion, a bloody stupid one. He'd always liked her smile and laugh. It was high and melodic, girly and a pain for the ears, but it was also warm and genuine. They just didn't know her like he did. She was silly, yes, but she was also kind, and supportive, and most of all, a true friend.

"Oh bunny, are you blushing?" Lav giggled as she poked his pouting cheek.

"You know I am. It's your fault," he mumbled back.

She pressed tighter against his side and pressed her head against his shoulder. "I know. I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"I am! A little. A tiny bit."

"You're such a bad friend."

"I'm a great friend. See? He's coming over."

Dean jogged cross the room to them, grinning and still holding tight to his glass of whatever he had transformed the punch into.

"Why are you doing sitting here? The party's over there!"

"We're here, a safe distance from the stomping feet and spilled drinks. It's a conscious choice, and a wise one," Seamus sagely said.

Dean grinned. "Did you see me dancing then?"

What else was he supposed to do? He'd seen it all, Dean in his new and fancy dress-robes, waving his arms wildly in the air on the dance floor, smiling and laughing, before those warm dark eyes turned to him and him only. It was as if Lavender wasn't even there, her side pressed right to him and her strawberry curls cascading over his shoulder. Dean didn't see any of that, and Seamus knew it.

Lavender snorted inelegantly to his shoulder. Seamus poked his elbow to her ribs, but it was too late. Dean had finally noticed he, and the spell was broken. His smile faltered only for a fraction of a second before returning.

"Lav! I thought you'd be out there with Parvati."

She burst out laughing. "No, not yet! She has enough willing cavaliers without me. I've had too much fun with our Shay here to even think about that yet."

"Oh? What've you been talking about?"

"Nothing much, about – "Seamus quickly said, in a desperate effort to change the topic, but his Yule Ball date did not have a difficult reputation for no reason.

"The Easter break, actually. Shay asked me to visit him during the holidays."

"I did not – "

"He's giving me a grand tour! Biking around the Irish countryside. Doesn't that sound fun?"

This is it. This is how I die.

Seamus had never felt so embarrassed in his life. His cheeks were burning with fire, all the way from the tip of his ears to his chest, and his heartbeat so fast that he was sure he was going to meet his end just like his late pops, may he rest in peace. He kept staring at the buttons on Dean's dress robes, unable to move his eyes. Lavender's nimble fingers traced his spine, and he could feel her grin, and dear Father thou art in heaven, please save poor innocent Seamus Finnigan from his well-meaning friends who have no idea what they're doing to his heart rate.

"Oh! It does, actually. Can I come too?"

His heart finally stopped beating. He could hear the smile and warmth and excitement in Dean's voice, he wasn't angry that Seamus had told Lavender, he didn't mind that she knew, he -

"Yay! Of course! It's going to be amazing. Right, bunny?"

"Mrghm."

"See, Dean? He loves it!"

Dean laughed. "I'm going back to listen to the band for their final songs. We'll talk more afterwards, right?"

"Can't wait! Go on now, leave us here to gossip in peace and go dazzle us on the dance floor."

"Yessir!"

Seamus felt a hand tussling his head and then parting footsteps, and he had absolutely no idea what had just happened and how he was going to survive tonight or how he could face Dean again and how far away the Easter break was and fuck his brains were not meant for this many emotions all at once.

"Oh my god," he finally breathed out. "Oh my god."

"Deep breaths, Shay. See? That wasn't so bad?"

"Oh my god."

"Stop saying that and get back to making mutual puppy eyes with him. Can't believe I have to do all the work here."

"Oh my god."

Lavender kissed his temple and he could feel her smiling.

"You're well loved, bunny."

His house is freshly painted daffodil yellow.

The garden remains an overgrown jungle. Miss Knight gave him some gardening books, which were clearly never once opened, judging by the mess that was her lawn, but he accepted them with joy. Martin had donated their garden swing, which Seamus painted cornflower blue, which had quickly become Louie's domain. The tabby always laid down on the left side, so that Seamus would have enough space to sit next to him and give the old boy all the pets he deserved.

Seamus already has some other ideas; his ma had always prided herself on her cosy garden filled with wildflowers and the mighty weeping willow that he used to take naps under during the hot summer days. Charlotte has promised to be his very first guest at his newly renovated house, when one day he would finish it, hopefully before autumn.

His nightmares are still there, like they always will be. Just like the good memories will be, of best friends sitting under the shade of great tree on a beautiful summer day, of a girl with a golden hair and shared dreams, of his parents welcoming him back from school and hugging him so tightly he could barely breathe.

The world didn't die in 1998.

Neither did he.