The morning passed, and soon the whole school was again gathered in the Great Hall for lunch. Harry didn't feel like eating, so he told his friends he had to put some finishing touches on his potions essay and snuck up to Gryffindor tower. When he entered the dormitory, he saw that he wasn't alone. Seamus Finnegan was sitting on his bed, tongue sticking out and brow furrowed in concentration over Dean's Gameboy.

"Hey," Harry said, kind of relieved that he wouldn't have to spend the lunch hour alone with his thoughts.

Seamus jumped at the sudden interruption and dropped the computer. "Harry! Ye almost gave me a heart attack!"

Harry apologized and sat down on the foot of the bed. "What you doing up here?" he asked.

Seamus shrugged. "I can't go to class today, I'm sick."

Harry frowned. "You don't look sick," he commented. It was true, Seamus looked just as insufferably perky as usual.

"Oh it's one of those symptom less veshches, y'know," he said, "can't remember what it's called. But it's highly contagious so I can't leave the dorm." Seamus laughed as Harry unconsciously edged further away from him. The Irish boy slumped back on the bed and crossed his arms over his chest. "What about you? Shouldn't you be at lunch?"

"Didn't feel like it," Harry replied, his fingers absently playing with some loose threads in the bedcovers.

Seamus immediately picked up on the troubled tone in Harry's voice. He raised himself up again and wrapped his arms around his knees. "What did he do this time?"

Harry looked up at his roommate. "Who?"

Seamus rolled his eyes. "You know who! Draco! That drop dead sexy brat of a boyfriend you have!"

Harry couldn't help laughing at Seamus's description. "Okay, okay, you got me." He sighed. "He..did something he shouldn't have."

"I gathered as much! What I would like to know is, what did he do?"

Harry didn't meet Seamus's eyes. "He slept with someone else," he sighed. "I know I shouldn't be so worked up about it, but-"

"The bratchny!" Seamus yelled. "How could he do that to you? After all you've been through for him! Does he think it was easy for you to tell your droogs and the whole school that you're dating Draco Malfoy? I'm telling you Harry, he's never appreciated you the way he should. You should be with someone who worships you like the sex god you are, not someone who shags you when there's a hole in his oh so busy schedule!"

Harry smiled weakly. "You're probably right, exept for the sex god part," Harry said, sighing more deeply. "But what can I do?"

"Leave him!" Seamus said, sounding exasperated. "Isn't it obvious? He's hurt you way too many times, Harry."

"I can't," Harry whined, "I've tried that remember?"

Seamus nodded. The couple had broken up once, but got back together within a month. There was silence for a while, before Seamus suddenly said: "But why?"

"Why what?" Harry replied. He'd taken off his glasses and was rubbing his eyes.

"Why can't you leave him? He's a total dick, the way he treats you!"

"I know, but I love him don't I?" Harry said, looking up at Seamus. Seamus didn't reply. Harry looked down again and started polishing his glasses, which were enchanted to repell dirt so they didn't really need it. "Can't help who you fall in love with," he mumbled.

"Oh, Harry," Seamus said. He leaned towards Harry and pulled him into a tight hug. Harry gladly returned it.

After a while, Harry said, "Aren't you contagious?"

"Only muggle borns can get it," Seamus replied, his voice muffled because his face was buried in Harry's robes.

"Oh."


***************


A few days passed, and Harry and Draco weren't speaking to each other at all. Harry was starting to think that maybe it wasn't worth it, that maybe he should break up with him...for good. Okay so he loved Draco...but what is that worth when you're not loved back? He tried to avoid the fact that maybe-and very likely so-Draco didn't really care about him, he was just with him because it was 'cool to shag Harry Potter.' He hadn't mentioned his fears to anyone, least of all Ron and Hermione. They disliked Draco too much to be able to have a non-biased opinion. They wanted him to dump Draco even when things were good between them, and he couldn't really blame his friends for feeling that way. Draco wasn't exactly trustworthy after all he'd done to the three of them in the past.

Harry was pondering all these things one day in history class, tuning out the monotonous drone of Professor Binns. Then suddenly he heard someone whisper his name.

"Harry!"

He looked around and saw Seamus waving to get his attention. He mouthed, "What?"

"I've got a horrorshow idea! I think it might work!" Seamus whispered back, excitedly. Harry looked at the professor. He was writing something on the blackboard, so Harry used the chance and motioned for Seamus to come and sit beside him. Seamus got up and glided into the empty seat next to Harry, who was, for a change, not sitting between his best friends.

"So?" Harry whispered, "what's this great idea of yours about?"

"You and Draco! I think I know a way for you to get back at him and teach him a veshch or two!"

Harry's interest was triggered. "How?" he asked.

"Simple!" Seamus said eagerly. "You just get him at his own game, start spatting with someone else!"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "He'd kill the guy! I could never do that to anyone."

"Which is why you'd have to break up with Draco first."

"What? Why?"

"Then he'll get extra jealous, won't he? But he won't have the right to tolchock the guy cos you won't be his anymore." Seamus made it all sound really simple, but Harry knew very well it wasn't.

"But what if I lose him forever? What if he decides he doesn't want me back?"

The desperation in Harry's voice was evident. 'Poor malchick,' Seamus thought sympahtetically. He put his hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "If he doesn't try and get you back, he ain't worth it."

"True," Harry sighed. "But who should I....you know..."

"Sleep with?" Seamus said helpfully.

"Yeah."

"Me!" Seamus exclaimed, as if that was soooo obvious.

"You??" Harry was genuinely shocked. He'd expected for Seamus to suggest Dean, or Alexander from Ravenclaw ('cause Harry had once revealed in a game of truth and dare that he had a thing for him). But not himself!

Seamus looked mock-offended. "Is there something wrong with me?" Harry was about to reply 'no' but Seamus waved dismissively. "Don't worry, I know there isn't. Anyway, I thought it over, who it should be." He counted the possibilities off his fingers. "Dean? No, he'd only end up getting hurt 'cause he fancies you so bad. Alex? Nah, he's waaaaaay too much of a Percy. I know you think he's cute and all, but sorry....one Percy in my jeezny was enough."

Harry smiled. Seamus was right, Alexander (he hated being called Alex) was eerily like Percy. He was even made prefect and was considered a very likely candiadate for Head Boy.

"So," Seamus said, "that-"

"Seamus!"

Both boys looked up at Ron, who gestured to the professor. Harry and Seamus turned their heads and saw that their undead teacher was giving them a rather nasty look.

"Sorry," they both mumbled, and Binns continued teaching, glancing at them once in a while to make sure they weren't disturbing his speech about ancient potion makers.

"I'll tell you later!" Seamus mouthed to Harry as he snuck back into his own seat next to Dean.