Chapter 2

A/N: I forgot to mention, this takes place during the trio's 6th year. And thanks to my first-ever reviewer, Lollylover! I try to be creative...

The party had finally quieted down. The only ones that hadn't made their way to bed yet were the 6th years, Fred, and George. Everyone was sitting around the fire, laughing and talking. The excitement over Neville's...color change...had long since dissipated, although Ron still had to fight giggles when he spoke to the boy.

George was stretched out lazily on the floor, Hermione sitting cross-legged beside him. They seemed to be having a serious conversation, although with George, it was almost unfathomable. Fred, Dean, Lavender, and Parvarti were on the couch telling jokes, Parvarti using this as an excuse to lay all over Dean. Dean, with Parvarti practically sitting on his lap, looked quite content.

Harry, Ron, Neville and Seamus had dug out their chocolate frog cards, and were now swapping them back and forth.

"I'll give you two Dumbledore's for an Aggripa." Ron said directing this towards Harry. His best friend hadn't been very talkative tonight. Something was bothering him. Ron prodded him.

"Harry, are you in there? You've been weird all night." Ron said, and Harry jerked out of his stupor. Neville looked on, concerned.

"Yeah, you alright Harry?" Neville asked.

"Sorry. I guess I'm not feeling well." Harry replied, handing Ron the Agrippa card. Seamus grinned, and tossed his cards aside.

"This is boring. Lets do something else." He said, standing up and stretching.

"Like what?" Ron asked. "Clean up? Hermione can handle that. She knows all the spells."

"No, Ron. Who wants to play truth or dare?" Seamus replied, directing this last bit towards the couch. Harry was horrified. Truth or dare? With Seamus? Oh no...

"Not a chance, Seamus. Last time we played truth or dare, Dean ended up with his hand down my pants." Lavender replied. Dean laughed and sighed, muttering something like 'Good times.' Parvarti shot Lavender an evil look.

"And you liked it. C'mon. Hermione? George?" Seamus said, wiggling his eyebrows. "You two are looking mighty comfortable over there. Wanna play?" He inquired. Hermione rolled her eyes, and George laughed.

"Sure, why not." Hermione replied. Harry looked at his friend desperately. Why?

All but Neville and Harry finally agreed. Neville went up to bed, but when Harry tried to follow, he was called back.

"Harry, stay and play. You can't be tired yet, you slept in until noon!" Ron said, slightly hurt that his friend was leaving. Harry was trapped. He wanted to stay, it was Ron's birthday. But with Seamus's reputation, Harry knew he was bound to get into trouble.

"Uh, I ... Ok, Ron, but only for a few minutes." There. Hopefully he could evade the Irish boy for a little while. He sat down next to Hermione, to late realizing Seamus was across from him. He pointedly avoided the other boys searching eyes.

"Who wants to start?" Fred asked, looking around. When no one volunteered, he took it upon himself. "Ok then, Hermione, Truth or Dare?"

"Truth." The girl answered primly. Fred grinned.

"Have you ever had sexual fantasies about anyone in this room?" Hermione wiggled uncomfortably. "Tell the truth!" Fred warned.

"Well...yes, if you must know! This is ridiculous. My turn." She said quickly, a blush coloring her cheeks. "I choose...Dean. Truth or Dare?"

"Mmm...Dare." he replied, stretching.

"I dare you to...drink this." she said, pulling a vial of some dark blue liquid out of her pocket.

Dean made a face. "What is it?" He asked cautiously. Hermione grinned.

"Oh, nothing that will hurt you." He took the vial from her, pulled the stopper, and drank. He made a face.

"Blech. Tastes awful. Now what is it?" he asked, putting his arm back around Parvarti. He looked confused for a moment, and his arm fell back down in his lap. He picked it up, and tried to put it over the girls shoulder again. He stopped, as if some invisible wall surrounded Parvarti. Parvarti grimaced.

"What's wrong, Dean?" she asked.

"Nothing...I just can't..." he moved to pull her against him, but again, his body would not cooperate. Hermione burst out laughing at the look on his face. Everyone looked at her curiously.

"It was a virgin potion!" she explained, gasping for breath. "Until he starts having pure thoughts about Parvarti, he can't touch her!" Parvarti gave Dean a look, and he shrugged. She made a huffing noise, and then stood up.

"I," she announced, "am going to bed." With that, she stalked off to the dormitory stairs, everyone's eyes on her. The moment the girls door shut, there was a collective outburst of laughter.

"Did you see her face?" Seamus cried, shaking with giggles. "That was precious!"

"Ahh, yeah." Lavender said, wiping tears from her eyes. "She'll never live this one down." Dean grinned. Hermione met his eye, and she apologized.

"Sorry, Dean. Had to do it." He grinned.

"S'ok. Maybe a night of virginal behavior will be good for me." he replied. Fred and George stood up.

"Sorry kiddies, but we must be going. There's a...erm...experiment waiting for us at home." Fred said. "Happy birthday, kid." His twin nodded, and threw a handful of powder into the fire. They stepped in together. "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!" They said in unison. The fire swirled, and the disappeared.

"Um. Ok. My turn, right? Unless anyone else wants to leave?" Dean looked around. "No? Alright then. Harry." Harry turned and looked at the boy, eyes wide. "Truth or Dare?"

"Umm... truth?" Harry asked, uncertain.

"I happen to know you received a kiss earlier tonight." He paused, and Ron stared at Harry as he turned red. Was that what had been bothering him? Hermione smiled. She knew exactly where this was going. Lavender and Seamus sat, looking uninterested, but Seamus was listening quite carefully. "Now tell the truth. Did you like it?" Dean asked, grinning. The entire room went silent, but for Harry's breathing.

"Yes!" Harry answered quietly, and was off like a shot towards the boys dormitories. Once there, he threw himself onto his bed, and pulled the curtains shut.

Seamus's heart stopped. His mouth went dry, and Hermione turned her head slowly to look at him. Her eyes were round, and he glanced to the stairs. She shook her head.

"I'll go see him. You guys finish the game." she said, shooting another look at Seamus. Everyone resumed the game, and their eyes locked again when Hermione reached the foot of the stairs. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but change her mind.

'Don't you come up here!' She mouthed at him. He nodded, and turned to receive his Dare from Lavender.

"Harry? Harry, lets talk. It's not a big deal, no one knows who Dean meant." She peeked inside the curtains to his bed, and opened them when she found him sitting against the wall. She sat down on the edge of the bed, awaiting his answer. He shushed her, and nodded at Neville's sleeping form.

"Hermione, I know, you know, Dean knows, and most importantly, Seamus knows! And what am I supposed to say to Ron?" Harry asked, whispering.

"Good point. But let me ask you something. You're obviously upset about liking Seamus. Why? Is it because of Ron?" she asked, placing an arm comfortingly around her friend.

"No, no. I'm just... I don't know. Wouldn't yo be upset if I told Ron you like him?" Harry pointed out. Hermione smiled.

"Ok, I understand that. Just... if you like Seamus, let this work itself out, ok? There is no shame in carrying out a relationship with him. I'll be here for you, and I'm sure Ron will too."

"Alright. Thanks. But, Herm, if you could do me a favor? Don't tell Ron yet. I want to tell him myself." Harry said, looking slightly relieved.

"Ok, Harry. Do you want me to send Seamus up?" Hermione asked. She was going to whether he said yes or not, but she wanted to know if he wanted the other boy there. Harry's hands started to shake.

"Only if he wants to see me." Harry replied, nodding. "I'm nervous, Hermione." she laughed quietly.

"Well, don't be. It's only Seamus. You've known him for six years, and liked him for the past two." Harry gaped at her.

"How did you?...What? Uh..." he said intelligently.

"I'm your best friend, Harry. And in case you didn't notice, I'm not as dense as Ron." She left.

Well, she was right. He had like Seamus for awhile. When he first realized it, he threw himself wholeheartedly at Cho Chang. But then he had been to distracted to dwell on his feelings. Now Cho was pregnant, and graduating this year. And Harry was quietly accepting that Seamus was the one he dreamed about. However, the Irish boy had gone and thrown a boulder into a puddle when he kissed Harry, and Harry wasn't quite sure what to do now.

Seamus entered the dorm, and looked at Harry.

"Hi." he said.

"Hi." Harry replied, his voice squeaking.

"You liked it?"

"Yeah."

"Wanna do it again?"

"Ok." and Harry scooted over, allowing Seamus to sit on his bed. Seamus leaned in, and pressed his lips once more to the other boy's.

This time, Harry responded. Making a small noise in the back of his throat, he grabbed Seamus, one hand in the sandy colored hair, the other around the smaller boy's waist. Seamus responded, wrapping his arms around Harry, and parting his lips. Harry took the invitation for what it was, and began to explore Seamus's mouth when the other boy's tongue touched his own. Harry grunted, and their tongue's battled. When they broke apart a few moments later, Seamus gasped.

"Wow." Harry smiled.

"Yeah." He looked over at Neville, still sound asleep, and pulled the curtains shut, and smiling at Seamus.

"Again?"

"Sure."

And when Ron and Dean came upstairs an hour later and found the two sleeping in each others arms, neither one was that surprised.

"You knew?" Dean asked Ron softly.

"No. But I'm not surprised. It'll be good for Harry." Ron replied, smiling.

"Yeah." Dean said. "Seamus too."

That night there was once cold and empty four poster bed. But all five boys slept, content, two of them very, very happy.