7 years later:

Seamus Finnigan gazed into twinkling burgundy eyes. Spherical coffee jewels staring back at him.

"The truth is Hermione, I like you a lot. I've been in love with you since the first day of our first year. And the thing is, I would love it if we went to the graduation ball together. So will you?" He asked. Uproarious bursts of laughter broke out as the flushed brunette finished practicing his little speech in front of the mirror.

"Will you shut the hell up, Dean? This is serious matter!" Seamus exclaimed in frustration. Dean rolled his eyes,

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. No need to get your knickers in a twist."

"This is my last year at this damn school. My last chance to ask out the girl of my dreams. And all you can do is tell me to straighten out my panties!" Seamus complained as a drop of spittle flew off of his tongue.

"I just thought that after eight years of admiring her from afar, you'd finally gather up the courage to ask her out!" Dean explained with a smirk. "You're Irish, aren't you? Why don't you just wear a shirt that says Kiss Me Hermione Granger! I'm Irish!"

"Well of course, you would never understand, Dean. You're a womanizer for god's sake!" His friend raised his hands in defense,

"Blimey Seamus, you've turned into Bridezilla." The infuriated and irascible Irish teenager playfully slapped his best mate upside the head and exited the Gryffindor common room. Seamus stepped into the main corridor and began his journey to Hermione's dorm. She happened to be appointed Head Girl. Not that the news came as a surprise to anyone. The big surprise was the Head Boy, none other than the infamous, seductive, sneaky ferret Draco Malfoy. Seamus hated the bloody git and hated the fact that Draco and Hermione shared a dorm. As he neared the hallway, Seamus heard the sounds of moaning and grunting, public displays of affection to say the least. He quickly scanned his surroundings. There was nobody in the broom cupboard, and no one sitting by the window. Then he saw a sight he never wished he had witnessed. There stood a couple having a full-on snogging session in a dark alcove. The girl had curly brown locks of hair and looked like Hermione! Seamus shook his head in disbelief. No, it couldn't be Hermione. Shocked and confused, Seamus dropped the bouquet of roses he had planned on giving to Hermione. The flowers seemed to fall to the floor in slow motion, a forgotten cause. Seamus rounded the corner and slammed his back against the ancient stonewalls.

"What was that?" Hermione asked. She scurried to the roses and picked them up.

"Draco, dear, look! Roses, my favorite!" she said in excitement. Draco? Seamus thought to himself. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy were together? His worst nightmares had come true.

Hermione raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows,

"I wonder who left these."

"I dunno, love. Must've been Peeves trying to play a prank." Draco said.

She sighed wistfully,

"Well, whoever left them. That was really sweet."

Too bad the sweet moment for Hermione was a sour one for the heartbroken Seamus. He crept along the wall and hurried back the way he came from. Tears welled up in his eyes.

"No" he told himself, "You will not cry over a girl, Seamus. Suck it up." As he shuffled back to the Gryffindor tower he found himself face to face with Cho Chang. She looked concerned,

"Seamus, are you alright?"

"Erm..yeah. I'm fine." Seamus replied as he wiped away a tear from his face. He found it embarrassing that a girl had seen him crying.

"Let me guess, girl troubles?" Cho asked.

"You can say that again." He said.

"Well, I happen to have a vial of Felix Felicis. Would that help your problems?" She pursed her lips into a thin line. Cho held out the vial and Seamus took it without hesitation. He drank the potion in one gulp.

"How do you feel?"

"Loads better!" he exclaimed as he skipped off happily down the corridor.

"Thanks Cho! You're a great friend!" Cho faked a smile. If only he knew that she wanted to be so much more than just friends.