Okay, as you may or may not have gathered: I was in a rather annoying situation – I had, with the help of Bella, realized that I was in love with my brother's boyfriend's brother, only helped along by Frank's revelation that he thought/knew that Mikey loved me… But, this was not my only problem; since the start of term, I had been plagued by confusion regarding a certain Irish charmer by the name of Seamus Finnegan…
Matters were only made worse in our next potions lesson: Snape, who was in a particularly venomous mood, gave our current seating plan an overhaul: meaning that, instead of being on a table with Frankie, Gerard, Mikey and Bella, I was now sat with Seamus, Neville, Sophia and Ron. Three of those, posed no problem. My only problem was that I was now forced to work with Seamus for the next however long on the term's project.
In a way, I suppose, Snape had done my mental battle a favor: he had forced me to face up to what I had been trying to avoid. Seamus.
Snape had set us to work on our antidotes which were due at the end of the next week. So, while trying to help Neville overcome his traditional Potions nerves, I had to try and think through the fact that Seamus' hand kept coming into contact with mine, as our ingredients were set up next to each other's.
"What, Seamus?" I hissed under my breath as his knee nudged mine.
"Just thinking that's all; I've heard that you liked me for quite a while now." He said quietly, keeping his eyes fixed on the desk and so, not looking out for Snape 'the Bat'
"That was a long time ago, Seamus: I'm sorry – I don't see you like that anymore." I tried my best to sound sincere, but, my nerves broke through and my voice cracked under the strain.
Seamus didn't seem to respond to me, but, kept his eyes fixed behind me and I swallowed hard before turning on my stool to see who he was looking at.
"Please," sneered the voice like ice-shards: piercing my soul, "do continue, Mr. Finnegan."
I cursed under my breath and felt my cheeks blaze as the giggles began. I knew that Frank and the others would have guessed what had been said and that crushed me: after all, I had aimed to have a conversation with Mikey later that day, while we made a start on our Charms homework for Flitwick. Now, that was not going to happen: especially as Snape was feeling particularly vindictive. He was not willing to let Seamus or I get away with our whispered conversation.
"Detention." He hissed, as Seamus did not respond. "For both of you and ten points from Gryffindor."
I continued to curse to myself as Snape delivered his punishment with relish: Seamus and I were to return to his dingy dungeon room that evening. My plans for the rest of the evening went up in smoke and there was nothing I could do about it – so, for the rest of the lesson, I muttered a constant stream of insults to Seamus, which I believe he heard. How did I know this? Well, that had something to do with the fact that by the end of the lesson, his face had fallen and he looked relatively put out at the fact that I had not only rejected him, but also insulted him.
Frankie and the others caught up with me after the lesson on the way to our next lesson: History of Magic.
"What did Seamus want with you, sis?"
He determinedly kept pace with me as I tried to pick up my pace. "What do you think he wanted, Frank? Take a wild guess." While my tone was heavy with sarcasm he was able to see through it and put an arm around me as we walked.
"It's okay, Sum: you don't need to worry about him again-"
I found myself laughing. "I don't need to worry? Frank, I'm spending detention with him tonight, what in the name of Merlin am I supposed to do?"
"Stop yelling at me for a start: I'm trying to help you that's all." He pouted. "Anyway, you don't have to speak to him tonight, ignore anything that Leprechaun says and just get on with whatever Snape makes you do." Again, I was laughing, not because the idea was laughable, but, at the idea of Seamus being a Leprechaun.
Mikey strolled on past us, looking back at Frank and I as we laughed together, momentarily forgetting my anxiety and anger. With one look at Mikey's pained expression, my mind was finally made up. I shook Frank's arm off my shoulder and ran to catch up with Mikey.
"Hey, M: can I talk to you later?" I panted; Mikey paused in the middle of the corridor and stared at me – his dark brown eyes glittering and, at the same time he looked confused. "It's nothing bad; at least I don't think it is."
So, the time was set: I would have to have my much needed conversation with Mike later that night after what was sure to be Hell incarnate if Snape had his way.
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And so it was. Seamus and I sat alone in the dark and miserable Hell created by Severus Snape. But, as Frank had suggested, I did not respond to anything that Seamus said over the course of our incarceration in that dungeon – which meant by the end of the time we spent, he had given up trying to speak to me and was resolutely silent and, oddly solemn, going so far as pouting.
But, I was not going to let that stop me from having my conversation with Mikey. My much needed conversation I might add.
I caught up with Mikey, Gerard and Frank in the Common Room after my detention. Frank took one look at the determined expression on my face and dragged Gerard away to the other side of the room.
Mikey had been trying to do make a dent in his mountain of homework, but, by the looks of things, his brother had not been helping and had proven to be an almighty distraction.
"Hey, Mikeykins." I greeted him cheerily, tucking my legs beneath me, and hugging my knees.
"Hey, Sum-Sum." He sighed to his work, throwing his quill down and trying to force his face into a smile. It was a sad smile and it hurt me.
"This is going to seem to come from nowhere, Mike, but, after the other night – I just need to tell you something-" My voice had been strong, but, as I made the mistake of looking him in the eye, it shook and wavered.
In the back of my mind, I heard the crackling of the fire and a whisper from Frank's voice and then there was a roar from the fire as it grew in size inexplicably.
"I know you do, Summer: I've waited a long time to have this conversation with you." He smiled nervously, a smile which illuminated his pale brown eyes.
"I love you." Three small words were the hardest to say. My mouth dried and I found that I could not look Mikey in the eye. I felt one of Mikey's hands on mine and the other was at my cheek, lifting my face so that I had to look at him.
His eyes met mine and he smiled softly. "I love you, too, Iero –it's been way too long." He was sincere and sighed as I rested my forehead against him. I shifted my chair closer to him and laced my fingers through his, savoring the soft texture of his skin.
His fingers dance through my hair and, I felt his lips against my cheek. I spun my head, catching his lips with mine and the moment of contact was pure joy. He kept a hand on my neck, pulling me close; the other hand found my waist and tugged me from my seat and into his lap.
I tucked my head under his chin and laced my fingers through his and sighed softly, gazing across the room and into the fire.
From his perch across the room, I could see Frank's smile of delight. I pulled my tongue out at him and curled closer to Mikey, feeling his arms secure around me.
My moment of joy was ruined when, while curled into my position, the portrait hole swung open and Seamus tumbled through it. Mikey's arms tightened, having felt me tense up at the sight of him.
"There's no need to worry about that Leprechaun anymore, Sum – I'm here to protect you." Mikey assured me delicately.
I nodded and sighed contentedly; there was a sense of satisfaction about being this close to Mikey after all this time.