Disclaimer: I'm running out of funny ways to tell ya'll that I don't own them so I guess I'll just have to say it: I DO NOT OWN THEM!
*** Tonight I would like to thank HogwartsHoe, who was the first one to review the last chapter. I'm glad you're wondering how Mitch is going to fall in love reading Katie's thoughts about another wizard. It shall be interesting, I promise. Americanangel I don't really like G/N either…it just sort of popped out last night when I was writing it…he he…it's funny how things like that work. And that pairing isn't set in stone either…hmm…enjoy the chapter! Mela I love that you give me ideas and it's so great that you seem to be way into this story. I appreciate that so much! Thanks! Pineapplehead I'm glad you've read my story, even if it means you stayed up way past your bedtime! Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Soupcann314 I'm glad you're rooting for Harry/Parvati, it means a lot to me that I've at least gotten people to tolerate that coupling. Thanks for the review (and here's the first part of the curing of the curse)! Ronaldrose you're right, not much happened in that last chapter but more happens now, I promise! Hermiones-Twin sorry about not posting this morning, life got in the way, but here's a chapter for tonight! AND I promise there will be another one tomorrow night. Promise. I mean that promise too. MinMuni it's so great you think my story is original! I was trying for original! Thanks so much for the encouragement! (And I will read your story soon!) Jenny you're much sought after R/Hr chapter hasn't come yet, but it will come SOON! I promise! Thanks for the review! Celeste yes that's right! Katie really likes Lee! What a way to put in a couple twists, eh? Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoy! Mrs Wood Felton another new reviewer! This is way too cool! I'm glad you like the story and I hope you continue to read and review! Lily Michelle I really love Seamus and Lavender too so I hope I did this part to your liking! I really like; I think it's cute! Thanks so much for being a first-time reviewer! Felicia OK, so I didn't update when you told me to, but I'm only a couple of hours off…I hope you enjoy this chapter! Triniroo I promise you this chapter has more "goings on" in it. I needed to somehow make a transition and I'm glad that you didn't think it was too, too dorky! Vanilla Baby I'm a fan of dorky too! I'm glad you like how I've portrayed Mitch; I decided the story needed someone like him. Thanks for the encouraging review! Shaunna you're a kick ass reviewer and so…this chapter is for you! I hope you enjoy! (And sadly, no, I don't know any guy like Mitch…not even my own boyfriend but alas…if I ever find one you'll be the first to know…) Thanks to everyone who's reading and reviewing it means a hell of a lot to me and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 31: Confessions of a Teenage Heart
Parvati and Hermione went with Seamus and Neville down to the hospital wing. Ginny didn't, feeling that she would have been out of place had she gone with. This was their thing; this was their classmate.
Seamus's face had long gone white. He looked rather sick to his stomach, in fact. "Are you going to be alright Seamus?" Hermione asked cautiously.
Parvati and Neville looked at him too then. He did look rather sick.
He nodded weakly. "O' course I'll be alright," he mumbled.
"Are you sure? You don't look like you'll be alright," Parvati continued. "In fact, you look like you're going to be sick," she added matter-of-factly.
"Well thank you for the encouragement," he drawled out. Seamus gave her a dirty look that sent her two steps into Hermione's direction.
She attempted smiling sweetly and batting her eyelashes to get him off of the defensive but he just snorted and went back to staring straight ahead. Parvati realized it was best to leave well enough alone.
She smiled weakly at Hermione, who shrugged.
They reached the Infirmary quietly as no one had attempted saying anything since Parvati had obviously crossed a serious line with Seamus earlier so it came as a surprise when the Irish boy stopped Parvati from moving any further.
Parvati looked nervously at Seamus who looked like he had nothing good to say.
She didn't want him to yell at her and at the same time she supposed she deserved it.
"Look Parvati, I'm sorry for snapping at yeh earlier there," he said sheepishly.
Parvati's mouth dropped open. She hadn't been expecting that at all!
He waited a long second for her to say something before finally speaking his mind. "Well? Aren't you going to say anything?" he asked, slightly miffed by her lack of response.
Parvati's eyes were a watery blue, filled by unshed tears and she threw her arms around Seamus's thick neck. "Oh I'm so sorry Seamus!" she sobbed onto his shoulder. "I didn't mean to say that, I really didn't!"
Seamus awkwardly patted her on the back, reminding Hermione of the time in Third Year when she finally broke down and threw her arms around Ron, finally letting go of residual anger.
"It's alright Parvati," he said finally. He looked part Parvati and gave Hermione a confused look. Hermione only smiled.
"Um, maybe we should go in now?" a quiet, slightly shaking Neville suggested.
Upon hearing that, Parvati pulled away from Seamus and gave him a quaking smile. "I suppose Neville's right," she sighed.
Seamus nodded and kissed his friend's tear-stained cheek.
Parvati stepped back and linked arms with Hermione before following Neville and Seamus into the Infirmary.
"Can I help you?" Madame Pomfrey asked when she saw the foursome come in to her ward.
Seamus shifted on his feet uncomfortably. "Can we—May I see Lavender?" he asked.
The school nurse looked each of them in the eye, seemingly judging what they could possibly be there for before she sighed, obviously conceding to the student's request. "You alone…or all of you?" she asked.
Madame Pomfrey's eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on Seamus.
Seamus looked over his shoulder to his three friends, who were all of no help as they continued to stare blankly ahead.
"All of us," he answered, making up their minds for them.
She sighed, seemingly irritated. Then she gave them a tight-lipped smile. "Very well then, you have five minutes." She looked down on Hermione this time. "All of you have five minutes."
The nurse left them there, briskly leaving the Infirmary but Seamus seemed rooted to the ground.
Parvati shoved Seamus forward. "You only have five minutes." He looked back toward her with a look of panic. "Go on now…make it good," she urged him. Neville smiled encouragingly and Hermione nodded.
"We'll stay out here," Hermione added.
Seamus took a deep breath, sighed and then nodded. He took a slow, agonizingly slow, step forward, and then another one until he reached Lavender Brown's bed.
He looked down at her and carefully observed her sleeping face. Or at least she looked like she was sleeping.
She looked like Sleeping Beauty, he thought. That Muggle girl in that Disney movie. She even had the blonde hair and the fair skin. But unlike in the Disney movie, she wouldn't wake up because of a kiss; no, she had to be difficult and wake up because of a confession.
"Damn you, Lav," he muttered. "You just had to go about this the hard way, didn't you?" he joked although no one was laughing. He wasn't. She sure as all day wasn't laughing.
He gingerly sat down on the bedside next to her. He even went as far as to hold her hand. It was cold, clammy. He thought back to his grandmum's funeral and how he had touched her hand as he looked down on the shell she had left behind…Lav felt clammy like his grandmother's cheek had.
She's not dead though, he reminded himself. She's…sleeping, he told himself in a pathetic attempt to calm his nerves.
Seamus took a deep breath. He knew his five minutes were almost up…if only because he didn't want them to be. He hated this type of pressure, it was hard for his sane mind to deal with.
His hand clutched at hers like it was a lifeline. "Lav…Hermione…she's told me the reason you're in here is because…because…well, because you fancy someone and you just didn't have the nerve to tell them you fancied him," he said in a rush of words.
He gulped nervously. Now what was he supposed to say?
Seamus shifted his weight on the bed and Lavender moved a little closer to him. He shut his eyes and gathered more courage. "It should be easy…telling you this, but it isn't Lav," he started again. "I mean, can yeh even 'ere me?" he asked. She didn't answer, as expected.
"I didn't think yeh could," he said rather mournfully.
His voice lowered an octave. "But well, Lav…Parvati…she knows you real well, yeh know? And well, she said it was me you liked and…and well, I was kind of hoping it was me yeh liked," he said finally. His words were quiet, meant for only her ears.
Lavender's eyes didn't flutter open, nor did she stir. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach.
Nothing happened.
Seamus leaned down closer to her face. "Lav, I-I think I love you…or that I'm falling in love with you—
Clapping hands interrupted him. Those clapping hands were followed by a clicking tongue. "Alright, you're five minutes are up! Mr. Finnigan, please move away from my patient!" Madame Pomfrey insisted.
Seamus got up from Lavender's bedside wearily.
"Well Mr. Finnigan, don't look so glum; you can always come back to visit tomorrow," Madame Pomfrey told him.
And that made Seamus feel a little better.
What did you think? Don't worry, Lavender will wake up, but I can't just wake her the minute Seamus admits his feelings now, can I? I have to put them through some agonizing moments! LOL! Sorry that everything in this story might seem a little…redundant. It is still interesting, right? OK, well, no matter what, please review! Thanks so much!
*** As a side note, please pray/light a candle/meditate/whatever-it-is-you-do for the Allied forces in light of the war…and not only for the Allied soldiers but also the innocent Iraqi lives that will be lost. Remember, it is not Iraq we are against, but Saddam Hussein. I apologize if this request has offended you.
For in much Wisdom there is much Grief, and he that increases Knowledge increases Pain.
~ Ecclesiastes 1:18, KJV
