The two boys took their seats at the end of the Slytherin table. Seamus only stared in complete shock, this was the last thing he expected to happen. Who even knew Blaise was into guys for starters? Dean felt slightly guilty for making Blaise beleive that he still had feelings for him and actually wanted to be together again, but it was the only way he could draw Seamus in. They say love conquers all, right?

"No way." Ron said, glacning over. "Zabini, gay? And with Dean?" It hurt Seamus more to hear someone say it out loud. He had to deal with the fact that the two boys were truly holding hands, smiling, and laughing together, and that it just wasn't his imgination. He caught Hermione's eye glance over at the couple then back to Seamus, filled with worry, then back down to her toast.

Although the Great Hall was probably the biggest room in the castle, Seamus felt like the room was shrinking and he was being suffocated. He gathered his things and quietly left the room, hoping no one would make the connection on the timing of his departure. He headed for Slughorns classroom, his stomach turning when he remembered Gryffindors had potions with Slytherins. He entered the empty classroom and took a seat, Slughorn commenting on how early he was. Seamus only gave a weak smile and tried to make himself look busy.

Back in the Great Hall, only one person seemed to notice Seamus's reaction, Hermione of course. At first, she had been mad at Seamus, but her loyailties switched the moment she saw Dean's fingers intertwined with Blaise's. It was one thing to be mad at Seamus, but it was a whole new level to use another innoccent boy to hurt Seamus to the point where he'd be forced to come out of the closest. It reminded her of when Ginny had forced Dean to come out, and how hurt and scared he was. Would he really do that to someone else?

Excusing herself from her friends, she silently made her way over to the Slytherin table, where the two boys were sepearated from the rest of Slytherins, enjoying their meal.

"Dean? Can I please speak to you...alone?" She asked, her eyes examining Blaise.

He nodded. "I'll be back in a sec." The Gryffindor realsed the Slytherins hand as he followed Hermione to the corner of the Great Hall.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I think it's best you stay out of this, Hermione." Dean stated, hoping she wouldn't make him feel guilter that he already did.

"No, I won't. I can't beleive you'd do this to Seamus." He shifted umcomfortably and looked over at the Gryffindor table, where the silly little Irish boy was missing. "He left after you two sat down." She stated after she noticed his gaze.

"I'll talk to him in potions." Dean said under his breath.

"And another thing, do you even like Blaise? Please don't tell me you're using the poor boy."

"Don't be mad at me, you're the only friend I've got." His eyes were wet but no tears were escaping as he glanced back to her. "You-you just don't understand. I feel guilty, okay? But I want Shay, no, I need him. And I feel like this is the only way, because he won't listen to me. Like I told you, he wants to pretend like that night never happened. So, I am. I'm pretending it never happened and persuing a realtionship with someone else."

Hermione dropped the subject, not wanting to start an argument. She understand where Dean was coming from, but still, what he was doing was wrong. Dean gathered his things and walked to potions, still holding hands with Blaise. After a few minutes of walking down a desereted corrider, the two realized that had taken a wrong turn and would be late for class. They retracted their steps, laughing about how the got lost after going to the class room all year. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw three huge Slytherin boys standing in their path.

Potions class began with Slughorn instructing them to open their books and attempt to make a potion that cured the common cold. Seamus thought it would easier to focus with Blaise and Dean missing, but it only clouded his vision further. Where were they? Skipping class to be together?

"Ah, Miss Gragner, could you please assist Mr. Finnigan seeing as we're short on a few students?" Slughorn asked. Hermione nodded and walked over to Seamus's desk where she began at gather ingredients.

"Do you know where Dean is?" She asked after a few moments. Seamus kept his distance from the couldron, knowing if that he helped he would probably cause another explosion like he did every day he tried to help. In fact, the action was so common that the potions master had put a rag at Seamus's spot so he could whipe off whatever would explode onto his face.

"N-no." He responded with a shaky voice, the mention of Dean's name making him feel like there was a hole in his stomach.

Both Dean and Blaise were on the tall side, but when it came to muscle, they were lacking. The first boy grabbed Dean, and held him while the other two attending to Blaise, one holding him and the other ripping his wand from his hand and throwing it down the hall. They disarmed Dean and gave them both devious smiles.

"Stupid fags." One said before violetnly punching Dean in the face. His jaw ached as he tasted blood in his mouth from his lip colliding with his teeth.

"Dean!" Blaise yelled right before he received his first blow to the face. The boy that wasn't restraining them took turns punching each boy in either the face or gut, yelling out vulgar names at them. This was the first Dean had ever been physically assaulted, but the names he was being called hurt worse than the bruises forming on his eyes. More painful then anything was watching Blaise get hit. It was Dean who convinved him the night before to come out and be his boyfriend. If Dean hadn't convinced him to come out, he wouldn't be in this mess. The guilt of using Blaise dominated all his emotions.

Potions ended with a bang when Seamus attempted to help. He had incorrectly measured something and added way more than the recipe called, and caused a explosive reaction. The rag was soon a deep purple as he whiped off his face and the desk.

"S-sorry Hermione, I'm so bad at this." He muttered.

"It's okay, here, let me help." She pointed her wand at the desk and muttered a cleaning charm as the purple liquid dissappeared. Seamus decided to take a longer and more quiet route back to the common room. He turned left down the hall as the rest of class turned right, his foot rolling on something as he almost fell over. He glanced down to see two wands, one he was certain belonged to Dean Thomas.