Emotion prompt: Homesick

Characters: Seamus, Dean and Neville

Also written for 'Once I was 7 Years Old..' Challenge by Screaming Faeries; prompt :"We've travelled around the world and we're still roaming"

Summary: "We've travelled around the world and we're still roaming."

It was a quiet night. As the clouds shifted, the moon obtained her full reign over the sky once more, released from captivity, and shone upon the world with her soft, pearly glow bathing the tall cliffs which looked out over the sea. The waves rolled back and forth, crashing against the age-old rocks, wearing them out bit by bit, a grain at a time. Everything was silent other than the roar of the rushing waters, which foamed and frothed even whiter than the moon. Life was silent, and practically nonexistent in this quiet land, save the swaying trees and the grass, the sleeping birds, and the creatures residing deep beneath in the dark waters of the ocean.

But not quite. A closer inspection would reveal two figures sitting, leaning against each other, right at the edge of the cliff, with their feet dangling. The wind wove through their hair as they sat, but their eyes appeared listless, seeing and yet not taking in the beauty of the scenery around them.

Seamus' hand crept across from his side and clasped around Dean's rougher one. If the other boy noticed the gesture, he did not give any sign to indicate it. His eyes simply remained fixed on the horizon, staring, unseeing. Seamus sighed.

Things hadn't been easy after the War. Both of them had lost everything. An attack on the neighbourhood where Dean's family lived had taken their lives — his mother, sisters, all of them —scarce weeks after he escaped Malfoy Manor. He hadn't even managed to let them know that he was alive. Seamus' mother, his only living relative, too had died fighting when Voldemort's minions came calling. By the end of the war, the only thing they had left was each other. Seamus would never forget how Dean had looked after Voldemort finally died. The cheer and laughter in the wrecked halls had lifted Seamus' spirits to some extent, and he had gone to find Dean. His best friend was sitting at the end of what used to be the Ravenclaw table, his head resting on his hands.

"What's the use of victory," he had said, a tear slipping from his eye, "when there is nothing left? What are we supposed to celebrate over, Seamus, when our loved ones are dead and buried?"

And it was then that Seamus knew just how deep Dean's wound had run.

If there was one thing that they had common, it was their love for travelling. Both Seamus and Dean loved to go out and about, and often, Dean would tell him stories of his travel after the holidays. This hobby was something that Seamus took up as an escape. Perhaps going far away from the wreckage would heal their wounds; perhaps they would find peace and happiness again. Dean agreed that going away was a good idea. So as the rest of the wizarding community in Britain spent their time between celebrating and patching up, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan took their own route.

By the next year, there was not much left in the world that they had yet to see. Exotic locations, bright colours, bustling roads and still silence, Seamus and Dean had experienced it all. And yet their plan didn't work. No amount of travel gave them solace. From the lighted streets of Paris to the quiet lochs of Scotland to the dry heat of Cairo to the beaches of Hawaii, nothing cured the restlessness that haunted them. The locations were all very thrilling, just never enough to give what they were looking for — happiness and peace of mind. Dean had a dull, faraway look in his eyes half the time, and Seamus knew that he had, too. And here, over the quiet night and the rolling ocean, they were still wanderers.

"We've travelled around the world, and we're still roaming," Seamus murmured, sighing heavily as he looked out into the distance. Wouldn't they ever get back what the War took from them?

"Dean..." Seamus knew he wanted to say it, but he kept hesitating. The idea had been playing in his head for a few days, but he wasn't sure Dean would appreciate it. After all the resolutions they took...

"Seamus," Dean spoke up suddenly, as if roused from a reverie. "Seamus, I'm — I'm homesick. I want to get back."

Seamus couldn't help the small smile which crept up his face. "You just spoke my mind."

He gripped Dean's hand tighter as they slowly stood up.

They were finally going back.

-o0o-

The Leaky Cauldron was as crowded as ever. The golden light of the pub's interior spilled out, invisible to passing muggles, as the magical folk clamoured about at the tables. Neville Longbottom, sitting alone at a corner gave a cursory glance at the door as two figures stepped in. And stared.

Moments later, Seamus and Dean found themselves being tackled heavily by a familiar figure.

"Seamus! Dean!" Neville's smile was nearly enough to split his face in two. "Merlin, I never thought I'd see you again. You just disappeared without a news!"

"Neville!" Seamus couldn't believe how fate had twisted; mere seconds after stepping into familiar ground, he suddenly felt as if he had never left.

"Come on, you two. We must have a much needed chat." And with that, Neville herded them towards his table.

"So where have you been?" Neville asked curiously as they sat down. The boy was the same, except that he looked more well-toned and sharper than ever.

"Later," Dean spoke up. "You first."

"Well, things are looking up. Everything's under control now, what with Kingsley being the Minister, and the system's improving too... Hermione completed her school year by taking a year extra... Harry and Ginny are dating... Harry and Ron are up as aurors... I was too, actually, but I left... Oh, and speaking of which," Neville paused his rambling and smiled bashfully, "I applied for the Herbology post at Hogwarts."

"What?" Seamus started. "That's great news, Neville!"

"Congrats, man." Dean thumped him on the back.

"Yeah, well..." Neville's cheeks turned red. "And maybe Hannah will try a job there too, maybe in place of Madam Pomfrey... So it will be good..."

"You're dating?" Seamus caught the hint. "Seriously, mate, you are just soaring!"

Neville laughed. "Anyway, it's nowhere as good as seeing you again. If I had known, I would have called up Ron and Harry too. Now they have missed a chance of meeting you."

"No need," Dean smiled. "We are staying."

Neville beamed in astonishment. "Just a minute," he said, "I'll buy you drinks, and then I am hearing all of it from you."

As they watched their friend walk off, Seamus turned to Dean.

"You are smiling," he commented.

"So are you," Dean pointed out, the grin never leaving his face. And they both laughed.

"It feels good to be back," Dean sighed, leaning back in his seat. "This is the place we were looking for."

After a long time, they were happy and contented. Perhaps the place where they had lost everything would be the place to return them their broken pieces.

-o0o-