Short little update. Thank you for the continued support! It's hard to believe I've been working on this for over a year now. It's all thanks to you readers. I appreciate you so much! Don't forget to review and let me know what you think, and what you think may happen next!
Ginny and Hermione stood in front of the mirror that was on the dormitory wall. They were both dressed in breathtakingly beautiful dresses that they had received a few days prior. Hermione's was a deep plum colored dress that came to her knees. Ginny's was her favorite, and elegant green that went to her feet. They looked at each other.
"Tonight's the night." Ginny said with an exhale.
"It'll be fine, Ginny. I really think it will. Seamus and Dean have seemed to calm down so…maybe tonight is when things will finally start to become normal again."
"I hope you're right." She sounded nervous but quickly pushed it away. "Hey, by the way, you look absolutely beautiful, Hermione. Ron would be driven crazy if he were here tonight." Hermione frowned a little and looked down. "Oh…no I'm sorry… I didn't mean to.."
"It's okay Gin." Hermione let out a small laugh. "Same goes for you. You look amazing. Harry would love to be here with you." They shared a weak smile, then Hermione perked up. "Well, shall we go meet the boys? Don't want to be late."
"As long as we don't have another wizarding war break out."
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Dean stood at the bottom of the staircase waiting for Ginny. He was anxious for tonight for whatever reason. The main reason being he wasn't going with who he wanted, and who he wanted was probably still mad at him. Almost as if on cue, Seamus appeared looking at him nervously.
"Uh…hi Dean."
Dean was caught off guard. That hadn't really spoken in a couple of weeks. He didn't make eye contact with Seamus, but he did answer him. "H…Hey Seamus. How are you?"
"Okay I suppose…just waiting for-"
"Your date, me too."
Tension hung in the air.
Seamus was hoping this would go a little better. "Right. Well….look I don't want to beat around the bush. We both said some things we regret, I'm tired of this silly fighting, and frankly I miss the bloody hell out of you, Dean. Even if we aren't coming to this formal 'together', I still want to be able to talk to you and enjoy this night with you and our friends. Can't we just call a truce?"
Dean finally turned to face him with a wide grin. "Blimey Shay, I've been waiting weeks for this!" He hugged him and held him tight for an extended amount of seconds.
"We're so damn stubborn, you know that? Both of us." Seamus chuckled.
"Agreed." Dean smiled.
Just then, Ginny and Hermione were coming gracefully down the stairs.
""Whoa…Hermione. Do you see what I see? They're talking. And laughing! Maybe this won't be so bad after all!"
"Thank Merlin! I knew they couldn't stay mad forever. Let's just hope it stays that way."
They finally got to the bottom and greeted their friends, took their arms and walked towards the great hall entrance.
Even though Dean and Seamus had seemed to just make up and clear the air, Seamus couldn't help but feel a small sting of jealousy when he saw Dean and Ginny with interlocked arms. It was nothing, they are just friends.
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Everyone met up once they got to the Great Hall. Neville and Hannah, and Luna and Joey all greeted them with smiles as they arrived. It was such a great night. It was nice not having to deal with the stress of school or fighting for a while. They had a few fun dances, and then slow music began to play. Everyone coupled off.
Hermione and Seamus began dancing, a little awkwardly at first.
"So Seamus, are you having fun?"
"Eh, I suppose yeah. I'm glad that Dean and I aren't fighting anymore."
"You don't look that happy though…it's because you two aren't at this dance together, isn't it?"
"Yeah… I mean, I wish we were, but I'll take us not fighting over going to a dance together any day."
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"Why so glum, Gin?" Dean asked, as he spun her around.
"You could guess."
"You wish Harry was here, huh?"
"Of course I do! That's my main wish right now."
"I understand…it stinks not being able to be here with who you want to be. Not that I'm not enjoying being here with you, that is."
Ginny stopped dancing. "Oh, come off it already, Dean!"
"What!?" He was caught off guard.
"Quit moping around like the one you love is miles away! He's right there!"
"Keep your voice down Ginny…"
"No! I'm sick of all this petty little fighting. If you like him, show him. He's not afraid anymore! Who cares what these numpties think?" She took a deep breath. "Look, I know this has been hard, and you're afraid of what might happen…but take it from someone who doesn't have their loved one here. I'd do anything to be able to see Harry tonight, but we're both doing our own thing right now and we have to wait it out. But you. You have Seamus right in your line of vision." She pointed at Seamus and Hermione dancing. "You have him here with you and on a special night no less. So I say, drop the fear once and for all and just do what you most desperately want to do."
Dean took a deep breath. "You…you're right. You are."
The music stopped and everyone walked of the dance floor and sat at their tables to get drinks and socialize.
"Save the next dance for him." Ginny told Dean, pushing him towards Seamus. Hermione noticed this too because she walked off with Ginny.
Seamus was sitting at the table where all of his friends stuff was. He was alone until Dean took a seat next to him.
"Fun night." He said with a smile.
"Yeah, for the most part." Seamus replied.
Dean scooted closer. "I'm really glad we're not fighting anymore, Shay. I really missed you. And I'm…I'm just really sorry about the way I acted."
"It's okay…I am too. I shouldn't have kept bothering you about it if you weren't ready."
"I could've handled it better. I should have. You weren't doing anything that deserved how I reacted and I want to make it right." Dean heard the next song begin to play and swallowed hard as he stood up. "So that's what I'm doing now."
Seamus looked up at him. "Uh…what do you mean?"
Dean held out his hand. "Will you please honor me with a dance, Seamus?"
Seamus stumbled over his words. "Dean….Dean you don't have…we don't have to dance."
"We don't have to, but I want to. Please. I want this night to be special. I know you want this too. Now, please join me."
Seamus looked at his hand nervously and slowly took it. They exchanged huge smiles and made their way to the dance floor. Only a few people looked at them for a few seconds. But by then…it didn't even matter. They were at the formal. Together. Dancing. Together. Everything was right in the world. Seamus rested his head on Dean's shoulders as they swayed back and forth.
Hermione, Ginny, and Neville noticed them and all smiled.
"I knew they'd make up." Neville said.
"Agreed." Hermione and Ginny chimed together with the warmest of smiles.
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They danced to three more slow songs before quicker paced music resumed. They stood in the middle of the floor just looking into each other's eyes and smiling.
"Tonight has been better than I could have dreamed." Seamus told him breathlessly.
"Couldn't have said it better. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way." Dean started to lean into kiss, before he caught himself. They both almost had forgotten…but they needed this.
Seamus seemed to come out of a daze of flushed cheeks and cleared his throat.
"Whatcha say we turn in early tonight? I mean, I'm awfully tired and…and my feet are just killing me.
Dean smirked excitedly. "You're totally right…we should go get your feet up. You don't need to be on them anymore."
Hand in hand, they left the great hall and disappeared up to the dormitories. It truly turned out to be one of the best nights they had ever had.