Disclaimer:  I don't own any of it.  Except the plot line.  That goes for Muggle Studies: Ron's Story too.

Author's Note: Here's chapter two.  I think Seamus is so sweet and understanding in this chapter.  I'm giving you some insight into Lavender here.  She's a cold-hearted bitch, she's just unhappy.

NOTE:  This is a companion to Muggle Studies: Ron's Story.  You will understand it better if you read both.  Sometimes Seamus doesn't pay attention but Ron does or vice versa.  You will have a cleared picture if you read both.

Chapter 2: The Common Room

            Seamus spent the rest of the day gazing at Lavender and trying to pay attention to classes at the same time. Needless to say, he didn't quite succeed and that evening found him in the common room copying out Dean's notes. When he'd finished he observed Lavender from his spot at a table in the corner.

            She was sitting on a couch, reading letters she had received that morning. It was late and there weren't many people left in the common room. However, those people did take the time to ask her if she were okay, and if she wanted to talk.  She looked like she was getting irritated.

            Seamus did notice that every time she turned back to her letters she looked quite distraught. He thought that if he was going to talk to her, now was as good a time as any.

            He sauntered up to the couch and sat down beside Lavender. His heart started beating faster because of the close proximity.

            "I'm here if you want to talk about it," he said bluntly.

            "Talk about what?" she said sounding very sarcastic. "How much I hate Hogwarts?"

            "Why would we talk about that? You don't hate Hogwarts," Seamus said.

            "That's what I've been telling everyone," she said raising her voice. "All day people have been asking me why I hate Hogwarts. But I don't. Just because I sang a song doesn't mean I hate Hogwarts. What do you think I want to talk about?"

            "Why you hate your parents' house," he said frankly.

            Lavender looked at him for a moment and he noticed the hesitation.

            "Why would you think that?" she asked after a second.

            "Because of your song."

            "It's just a song, Seamus. It doesn't mean anything," she said, with definite hesitation in her voice.

            "You forget I know Beauty and the Beast. There are a lot of other songs you could have picked. Most of them are happier too."

            "I don't hate my parents' house. It's just a song," she repeated.

            "If you say so," Seamus shrugged. "What are you reading?"

            Lavender swallowed. "Just letters from my parents."

            "Two on the same day?" Seamus raised his eyebrow at her.

            "Yes. Is that strange to you?"

            Seamus let that comment slide. "What do they say?"

            "I don't see how that's any of your business, Seamus Finnigan," Lavender said indignantly.

            "Fine," he said and stood up. Looking around the common room, he realized that they were the only ones left. "Goodnight, Lavender." He turned towards the boys' dormitory stairs.

            "Wait," she called in a soft voice.

            Seamus turned back to her and saw that she looked to be on the brink of tears.

He went back to his spot on the couch.

            "Seamus, you're right. I don't like my parents' house at all. And it is odd to get two letters from the same place. I just wish it were different." A small sob escaped her lips.

            Seamus put a hand on her knee in an attempt to comfort her. He didn't say anything; he just let her continue with her story.

            "The letters are from my parents; one from my mother and one from my father.  They sent them with separate owls. Oh Seamus! The letters are full of complaints about each other. My father's says how stubborn and unsatisfied my mother is. My mother's says how much she hates my father and that he is a horrible person. Hers doesn't even ask me how I am or how school is going. My father's asks that at least. Of course his threatens every other line that he's going to leave her. They didn't even tell me how my brother Joey is. They didn't even mention him. He's only seven, not old enough to write me himself.  They probably wouldn't even let him. I don't want them to split up. It would be my fault." She paused and took a deep breath to calm herself.

            "It wouldn't be your fault, Lavender. It's their business and you are not to blame for anything they do," Seamus murmured soothingly.

            Lavender looked at Seamus and smiled.

            "Thanks Seamus." She tilted her head to the side and looked at him closely.  "You're a good friend. I've never told anyone else that. You can't tell all right. Nobody knows this but you. I haven't even told Morag. He wouldn't understand."

            She looked into the fire for a minute and sat in silence. When she started talking again Seamus was surprised by the sudden change of topic.

            "My mother doesn't want me to go here you know. She's a Muggle, you know, and she didn't want me to be magic. They fought all the time about whether my behaviour was magic or not. They do that with Joey too. My mother was really angry last year when I wrote them about the Yule Ball. She doesn't want me hanging around with wizards." Lavender's brow furrowed as she imitated her mother, "She wants me to 'settle down with a respectable, rich Muggle, have Muggle job, have Muggle kids and never touch magic again. Every summer when I go home I'm afraid she won't let me come back. That makes me scared. This is my home, a lot more than her house ever was. I don't know what I'd do if she didn't let me come back. That's why I kind of ignored you after Easter holidays. She threatened to keep me at home if I had anything to do with you."

            Seamus listened to her kindly, but he had a question, "If your mother hates wizards so much, why is she letting you date Morag? Or does she not know?"

            "Oh, she knows. It's just she doesn't know he's a wizard. He lives near my parents and I met him once this summer when I was running awa-, I mean taking a walk. He recognized me from school and we just never told our parents that. So they think he's just a rich Muggle and his parents think I'm just an average Muggle. It's not that bad. At least I get a boyfriend, even though I have to lie to my parents."

            Seamus looked at the floor. He'd never have a chance with her now. Not if she wasn't allowed to 'have anything to do with him'. Lavender stifled a yawn.

            "You're tired, Lav. You should go to sleep. It's late," Seamus said quickly.

            Lavender nodded, maybe because she truly was tired or maybe because she wanted to get away from the obvious tension that had entered the room.

            "Thanks Seamus. It's nice to have someone to talk to," she said.

            "Anytime," he mumbled still looking at the floor. Then he looked up at her, "I mean that, anytime you want to talk I'm here."

            "I'm glad. Goodnight, Seamus. Sleep well," she whispered and went up to her dorm.

            As Seamus watched her go he thought, if I haven't got a chance with her at least I can be her friend. Once she was out of sight he headed towards his own staircase and up to his dorm. He flopped onto his four-poster and fell asleep with one thought on his mind. Maybe she really did like me before.

Author's Note:  Please review.  You'll be my best friend!