A/N: It's been longer than I intended, but this chapter is about four pages long, a record as far as this trilogy goes. As promised, it has Seamus and Bill.
Thank you Cassie, Myst, Foxglove, sika-chan, Blackice (thank you ever so much for this review and your kind review of fire and ice! *hug*),SemiCharmedGirl, Brian, Fireheart, Mystica, flynfinish, Annclaire, Eccentricity is Me, Redhawk, Silverfox, SilentStalker, Lyansidde, coriander, Scratches,Minna, MiniMe, and Fluer Rochard.
***
Seamus met Lavender in the library as agreed, genuinely confused as to what the blond girl could possibly want from him. They had been close friends what seemed ages ago, but those days were gone. She looked anxious and for a moment said nothing. "Lavender?"
"Oh, hi Seamus," She said, pushing her hair back behind her ears. "Sit." He did as he was told and waited for her to begin.
"How are you?"
"Tired. I went away for holiday and the wiring in my head is shot."
"I know how that is."
"Do you travel?" she inquired politely.
"No, but the wiring in my head is defective. Mum tried to exchange me, but the store said 'No returns'." He smiled as if to apologize for the lame joke. Lavender giggled.
"How's Dean?"
"Okay, all things considered."
"It must be rough to have your girlfriend leave you like that."
"Must be."
"I heard Lisa has gotten tired of Padma already." Seamus laughed grimly.
"Figures."
"She wants him back," she continued dully.
"I don't think he'll have her back."
"Really?" A light shone in Lavender's eyes. "What makes you think so?"
"Lisa gave him a wrong turn. Dean isn't the type to hold a grudge, but he's not a fool. " Lavender pressed her lips together and fell silent.
"Can I ask you a favor?" she said suddenly.
"Anything, Lavvie. You know that."
"Could you set me up?"
"Set you up? With what?" Seamus asked.
"Dean!"
"Dean? Why do you want to be set up with Dean?"
"Because I like him, silly."
"Lavender, why are you asking me?"
"He trusts you. I trust you. Please, Seamus. You said anything."
"So I did. I'll try." Lavender gave him a grateful smile and he smiled back. Dean was going to kill him for this...
Seamus was pondering the issue in class the next day. Dean and Lavender? How was he supposed to pull that off? "Perhaps you could tell us the answer, Seamus?" Bill's voice cut through Seamus's reverie. //Damn. He's using the teacher voice.//
"I sorry. I was still trying to understand the notes I took five minutes ago." It wasn't a lie exactly. He couldn't decipher his own handwriting half the time. "Could you please repeat the question?" Bill sighed.
"Greatest fears. What are they?"
"Of redheaded teachers? How about cute, underage Irish boys?" The class giggled. Draco raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"Very amusing but completely inappropriate. Five points from Gryffindor." Seamus's hand shot up immediately. "Yes?"
"I hardly think it's fair for the entire house to suffer for my momentary lapse of judgment-"
"Why not?" Draco asked. "We have to suffer because of a momentary lapse of judgment by your mother." Ron stifled a laugh. Draco gave Seamus a small smile to soften the slight. Seamus brushed it off.
"Like I was saying before, I hardly think it's fair, especially since I was completely justified." Bill looked over the rims of his blue-tinted shades.
"How so?" he asked, realizing immediately afterwards that he would regret asking.
"The only person here who can be expected to pay any attention to the lesson is Ron." Bill covered his face with one hand and he made a motion for Seamus to continue with the other. "And that's because you're related and for him to be staring at your arse when you write today's lesson on the board would just be disgusting."
//Note to self: Write Mum a thank you note for toning charm. Write today's lesson before students get to class. Wear baggy pants.// Bill shook his head. "That explains your last test scores."
"I'm sorry, but when you say the word 'sex' in a classroom the way you do, everyone's mind takes a one way trip to the gutter." Harry smiled ruefully. Seamus had a point.
"What does that mean?" Bill asked, horrified to think that he had implied anything with his voice.
"When you say it, the 'sex' has three delectable syllables. It's not a word, it's a song." Parvati nodded agreement.
"I'm sorry I asked. Next time I'll use hokey euphemisms." The bell rang, signaling the end of class. "Study this section. You will be tested tomorrow. Mr. Finnigan, see me after class." That's when Seamus knew he was in trouble.
"Are you trying to get me in trouble?" Bill asked tiredly.
"I'm trying to get into your pants," Seamus replied honestly.
"In other words, you're trying to get me fired and imprisoned."
"Nope, just undressed and willing." Seamus sat on the edge of Bill's desk. "It's not just me, you know." He leaned in confidentially. "Nearly all of Gryffindor and half the other houses would like nothing more than to jump you."
"I'm flattered, but I'm not particularly fond of the taste of jail b-" The rest of his words were muffled as Seamus pressed his lips to Bill's. Bill placed his hands on Seamus's shoulders to push him away, but soon melted in the kiss and ended up wrapping his arms around Seamus's waist instead. The kiss had a slow, burning intensity that left Bill panting and very much afraid of what he might do next. Seamus smiled and hopped off the desk, knowing that Bill was going to remember that kiss for a long time. //That couldn't have gone better if I had planned it.//
Bill sat down, not trusting his knees to support him. If Seamus hadn't been content with that small victory, his plan to seduce Bill might have succeeded right then and there. That wouldn't have been any kind of good. It was clear to Bill that he couldn't do this on his own. Maybe Percy would join him for lunch.
"Thanks for meeting me, Perce," Bill said, cordially greeting his brother.
"It's not like I couldn't get here instantaneously," Percy replied dryly.
"I know how seriously you take your work."
"Don't start."
"Perhaps that zealousness is a sign of frustration in other areas?"
"Don't start."
"You need a life. You need a girlfriend."
"I do not need a girlfriend and I happen to like my job."
"Sure."
"At least I'm not falling apart because of a blond sack of hormones."
"Seamus?"
"Whatever."
"What do you think of him?"
"Not much. It took me six months to learn his name."
"How could you not notice him? He's so cute."
"Pedophile."
"I am not."
"You just like a boy ten years younger than you, who happens to be your student."
"I'm trying not to, Perce, but it's hard."
"I'm sure it is," Percy said with a sly grin.
"I didn't mean it that way."
"What way is that?"
"Damn you," Bill muttered, going red in the face.
"I've never seen you this flustered. Sleep with him and be done with it."
"Percy!"
"Fine, don't. Just wish you had."
"How could you say such a thing?"
"I'm not as frustrated as you think."
"Manually relieving the tension doesn't count," Bill retorted. Percy looked aghast and kicked Bill under the table. "Ouch!"
"You deserved it. Pedophile."
Bill sighed and stirred his drink absently. "Only two more years. Then he's legal."
"Find someone else. There are plenty of cute guys who aren't jail bait."
"Like?"
"Neville's brother was kinda cute."
"I thought he was dimwitted."
"Not dimwitted, just a bit awkward."
"But you he's straight."
"H'm..." Percy said thoughtfully.
"Perce?"
"Yes, brother dear?"
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Charlie would kill you."
"Why on earth would he do such a thing?" Percy asked innocently.
"If you sleep with his idol, he'll skin you alive."
"If I sleep with the brother of Ron's boyfriend, Ron will skin me alive and I fancy keeping my skin."
"Mm...Hey, Perce."
"Hey, Bill."
"Since when do you sleep with guys? I always thought you were straight, repressed as of late, but straight," Bill admitted. Percy smiled.
"Fifth year. December 23."
"Spill! Spill!"
"No."
"Per-cy!"
"Bi-ll!"
"Fine, be that way."
"I will."
"You're no help," Bill said sulkily. Percy laughed.
"Please, some Harlequin-esque tale of how I lost my virginity again would hardly be helpful right now."
"Again? You mean- My God, Percy, precocious little bugger, weren't you? What the hell happened?"
"That's a story for another day. Besides, I'm not pumping you for details about your first time. Who was it? " Bill sighed in reply and picked at his salad. "It wasn't Charlie, was it?" Bill choked.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, you guys were here about four years before I was."
"By that reasoning, I should ask about you and Ron."
"You know what they say about incest."
"Percy!"
"I'm kidding! And they say I've lost my sense of humor."
"Y ou're not going to be any help on this, are you?"
"Of course I will. But who said I have to help you?"
"Why do I talk to you?"
"Because if it doesn't have scales, Charlie's not interested and if it doesn't explode, neither are the twins, leaving you with Ron and Ginny. Enough said," Percy finshed, taking a bite out of his roll. He spit it back out. "Eww! It's doughy!" Bill laughed.
***
I think I'm starting to like Percy! Comments, requests, suggestions? Review!
Love ya!
J. Silver
Thank you Cassie, Myst, Foxglove, sika-chan, Blackice (thank you ever so much for this review and your kind review of fire and ice! *hug*),SemiCharmedGirl, Brian, Fireheart, Mystica, flynfinish, Annclaire, Eccentricity is Me, Redhawk, Silverfox, SilentStalker, Lyansidde, coriander, Scratches,Minna, MiniMe, and Fluer Rochard.
***
Seamus met Lavender in the library as agreed, genuinely confused as to what the blond girl could possibly want from him. They had been close friends what seemed ages ago, but those days were gone. She looked anxious and for a moment said nothing. "Lavender?"
"Oh, hi Seamus," She said, pushing her hair back behind her ears. "Sit." He did as he was told and waited for her to begin.
"How are you?"
"Tired. I went away for holiday and the wiring in my head is shot."
"I know how that is."
"Do you travel?" she inquired politely.
"No, but the wiring in my head is defective. Mum tried to exchange me, but the store said 'No returns'." He smiled as if to apologize for the lame joke. Lavender giggled.
"How's Dean?"
"Okay, all things considered."
"It must be rough to have your girlfriend leave you like that."
"Must be."
"I heard Lisa has gotten tired of Padma already." Seamus laughed grimly.
"Figures."
"She wants him back," she continued dully.
"I don't think he'll have her back."
"Really?" A light shone in Lavender's eyes. "What makes you think so?"
"Lisa gave him a wrong turn. Dean isn't the type to hold a grudge, but he's not a fool. " Lavender pressed her lips together and fell silent.
"Can I ask you a favor?" she said suddenly.
"Anything, Lavvie. You know that."
"Could you set me up?"
"Set you up? With what?" Seamus asked.
"Dean!"
"Dean? Why do you want to be set up with Dean?"
"Because I like him, silly."
"Lavender, why are you asking me?"
"He trusts you. I trust you. Please, Seamus. You said anything."
"So I did. I'll try." Lavender gave him a grateful smile and he smiled back. Dean was going to kill him for this...
Seamus was pondering the issue in class the next day. Dean and Lavender? How was he supposed to pull that off? "Perhaps you could tell us the answer, Seamus?" Bill's voice cut through Seamus's reverie. //Damn. He's using the teacher voice.//
"I sorry. I was still trying to understand the notes I took five minutes ago." It wasn't a lie exactly. He couldn't decipher his own handwriting half the time. "Could you please repeat the question?" Bill sighed.
"Greatest fears. What are they?"
"Of redheaded teachers? How about cute, underage Irish boys?" The class giggled. Draco raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"Very amusing but completely inappropriate. Five points from Gryffindor." Seamus's hand shot up immediately. "Yes?"
"I hardly think it's fair for the entire house to suffer for my momentary lapse of judgment-"
"Why not?" Draco asked. "We have to suffer because of a momentary lapse of judgment by your mother." Ron stifled a laugh. Draco gave Seamus a small smile to soften the slight. Seamus brushed it off.
"Like I was saying before, I hardly think it's fair, especially since I was completely justified." Bill looked over the rims of his blue-tinted shades.
"How so?" he asked, realizing immediately afterwards that he would regret asking.
"The only person here who can be expected to pay any attention to the lesson is Ron." Bill covered his face with one hand and he made a motion for Seamus to continue with the other. "And that's because you're related and for him to be staring at your arse when you write today's lesson on the board would just be disgusting."
//Note to self: Write Mum a thank you note for toning charm. Write today's lesson before students get to class. Wear baggy pants.// Bill shook his head. "That explains your last test scores."
"I'm sorry, but when you say the word 'sex' in a classroom the way you do, everyone's mind takes a one way trip to the gutter." Harry smiled ruefully. Seamus had a point.
"What does that mean?" Bill asked, horrified to think that he had implied anything with his voice.
"When you say it, the 'sex' has three delectable syllables. It's not a word, it's a song." Parvati nodded agreement.
"I'm sorry I asked. Next time I'll use hokey euphemisms." The bell rang, signaling the end of class. "Study this section. You will be tested tomorrow. Mr. Finnigan, see me after class." That's when Seamus knew he was in trouble.
"Are you trying to get me in trouble?" Bill asked tiredly.
"I'm trying to get into your pants," Seamus replied honestly.
"In other words, you're trying to get me fired and imprisoned."
"Nope, just undressed and willing." Seamus sat on the edge of Bill's desk. "It's not just me, you know." He leaned in confidentially. "Nearly all of Gryffindor and half the other houses would like nothing more than to jump you."
"I'm flattered, but I'm not particularly fond of the taste of jail b-" The rest of his words were muffled as Seamus pressed his lips to Bill's. Bill placed his hands on Seamus's shoulders to push him away, but soon melted in the kiss and ended up wrapping his arms around Seamus's waist instead. The kiss had a slow, burning intensity that left Bill panting and very much afraid of what he might do next. Seamus smiled and hopped off the desk, knowing that Bill was going to remember that kiss for a long time. //That couldn't have gone better if I had planned it.//
Bill sat down, not trusting his knees to support him. If Seamus hadn't been content with that small victory, his plan to seduce Bill might have succeeded right then and there. That wouldn't have been any kind of good. It was clear to Bill that he couldn't do this on his own. Maybe Percy would join him for lunch.
"Thanks for meeting me, Perce," Bill said, cordially greeting his brother.
"It's not like I couldn't get here instantaneously," Percy replied dryly.
"I know how seriously you take your work."
"Don't start."
"Perhaps that zealousness is a sign of frustration in other areas?"
"Don't start."
"You need a life. You need a girlfriend."
"I do not need a girlfriend and I happen to like my job."
"Sure."
"At least I'm not falling apart because of a blond sack of hormones."
"Seamus?"
"Whatever."
"What do you think of him?"
"Not much. It took me six months to learn his name."
"How could you not notice him? He's so cute."
"Pedophile."
"I am not."
"You just like a boy ten years younger than you, who happens to be your student."
"I'm trying not to, Perce, but it's hard."
"I'm sure it is," Percy said with a sly grin.
"I didn't mean it that way."
"What way is that?"
"Damn you," Bill muttered, going red in the face.
"I've never seen you this flustered. Sleep with him and be done with it."
"Percy!"
"Fine, don't. Just wish you had."
"How could you say such a thing?"
"I'm not as frustrated as you think."
"Manually relieving the tension doesn't count," Bill retorted. Percy looked aghast and kicked Bill under the table. "Ouch!"
"You deserved it. Pedophile."
Bill sighed and stirred his drink absently. "Only two more years. Then he's legal."
"Find someone else. There are plenty of cute guys who aren't jail bait."
"Like?"
"Neville's brother was kinda cute."
"I thought he was dimwitted."
"Not dimwitted, just a bit awkward."
"But you he's straight."
"H'm..." Percy said thoughtfully.
"Perce?"
"Yes, brother dear?"
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Charlie would kill you."
"Why on earth would he do such a thing?" Percy asked innocently.
"If you sleep with his idol, he'll skin you alive."
"If I sleep with the brother of Ron's boyfriend, Ron will skin me alive and I fancy keeping my skin."
"Mm...Hey, Perce."
"Hey, Bill."
"Since when do you sleep with guys? I always thought you were straight, repressed as of late, but straight," Bill admitted. Percy smiled.
"Fifth year. December 23."
"Spill! Spill!"
"No."
"Per-cy!"
"Bi-ll!"
"Fine, be that way."
"I will."
"You're no help," Bill said sulkily. Percy laughed.
"Please, some Harlequin-esque tale of how I lost my virginity again would hardly be helpful right now."
"Again? You mean- My God, Percy, precocious little bugger, weren't you? What the hell happened?"
"That's a story for another day. Besides, I'm not pumping you for details about your first time. Who was it? " Bill sighed in reply and picked at his salad. "It wasn't Charlie, was it?" Bill choked.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, you guys were here about four years before I was."
"By that reasoning, I should ask about you and Ron."
"You know what they say about incest."
"Percy!"
"I'm kidding! And they say I've lost my sense of humor."
"Y ou're not going to be any help on this, are you?"
"Of course I will. But who said I have to help you?"
"Why do I talk to you?"
"Because if it doesn't have scales, Charlie's not interested and if it doesn't explode, neither are the twins, leaving you with Ron and Ginny. Enough said," Percy finshed, taking a bite out of his roll. He spit it back out. "Eww! It's doughy!" Bill laughed.
***
I think I'm starting to like Percy! Comments, requests, suggestions? Review!
Love ya!
J. Silver