Lavender woke up the next morning at Seamus's house and a small wave of panic flushed over her. What had she done? She had sworn it wasn't going to be anything more than dinner with a friend – now look at where she was. She breathed a sigh, smelling the slight tinge of curse fire, the warm cooking scents, traces of whatever laundry soap he was using for his sheets, and something that was uniquely, perfectly Seamus. Lavender shifted slightly, seeing his arm out of the corner of her eye. He was turned towards her and she could feel his hand on her hip.
Last night had been... well. Lavender flushed as she remembered. After she had kissed him in his living room things had progressed quickly. She remembered being carried into the bedroom. She remembered a trail of clothing left behind them, and a quick glance confirmed that her bra was on his lamp. She remembered the press of his skin up against her, hot and sweaty and longing, and the feel of her nails clawing his back, the sound of his groaning at that muffled into her shoulder. She had bitten his neck hard enough to leave marks and he had panted her name and returned her scratches and bites she had whimpered his name, sweat and breath mingling into one. Sheets had been flung all over the bed until they had been kicked off. His pillows had been jettisoned as well, and soon they had been intertwined on nothing more than a fitted sheet and his mattress.
It had been more desperate even than the last time they had had sex. Last Christmas, she realized with a start. Then, they had been clinging to each other because it was ending, and Lavender hadn't wanted to let go. Neither had Seamus, she suspected, but things had gotten so out of control, they had both gotten so scared... and desperation had tinged their passion. This time, it had been with a different sort of desperation, a desperation bent on reclaiming what they had lost. Lavender remembered being hell-bent on showing him that she remembered how exactly he liked to be touched and she could tell he had been the same for her.
Last night was probably the best sex she had ever had.
But now, self-preservation instincts were screaming at her to run. And she debated that option for all of three seconds before dismissing it. That would hurt him like he had hurt her, and more hurt wasn't what was going to fix them. And she wanted to fix them, and she knew he did too. Plus, whispered the practical part of her, after last night she could feel her legs and core and arms still trembling. Walking might be out right now, let alone running. Let alone operating doors and clothing.
He stirred slightly in his sleep, the lone sheet that he had reclaimed before they fell asleep tangled up in each other last night rustling on his bed. His hand on her hip tightened and he pulled her closer to him. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face and she relaxed slightly, letting him do it. She rolled towards him gently, trying not to wake him. He looked so peaceful, a tiny smile on his face and his muscles relaxed. And my goodness, what muscles... she allowed herself a good look at what she could see above the sheet.
Of course, last night she had felt him, his skin burning satin under her hands, but feeling was different than looking. He had gotten into great shape in seventh year, they all had, but that had been more out of desperation to last longer in the final battle than anything formal. Now, he had clearly seen someone about how to exercise properly, and the results... well, she supposed he would always be lanky and not every girl's cup of tea, but to her, he was amazing. Long, wiry muscles slipped under his skin as he moved and she had to restrain herself from reaching out to touch his arm.
New scars and wounds decorated him (to say nothing of the red scratches she had left last night, but those would heal quickly enough). Most of them looked like curse marks. Some looked like knives. Of course, they were nothing compared to the patchwork of marks he had gotten during seventh year. Some of those had vanished. Most hadn't. Her gaze in particular was caught by a long slash from his ear to his chin, raking along his jawline. That one he had gotten for her when he had stood up for her during a Dark Arts class after she had gotten Crucio'd for being late. She had been whimpering and crying on the floor like a kicked dog and a terrified, pitiful noise had escaped her when she saw another wand being pointed at her, but then there had been no pain. There had been some loud yells and then Parvati picking her up and holding her together and she had looked over to see Seamus being slammed into a desk and bright red blood suddenly happening...
Lavender traced the long healed scar with trembling fingers. It was nothing more now than a white line against white skin, barely discernible, but she knew what it meant. She remembered and she loved him for it. Merlin, she loved him.
He sighed and opened his eyes slowly. She watched him pick through his brain, trying to hide her amusement as the events of the previous night flashed across his memory and his expression changed accordingly. Finally he said, almost warily, like he didn't want to spook her away, "I thought you would be gone."
"I thought about it for a second, but no," she disagreed. She ran her fingers down the long scar on his face again and he leaned into her touch. "I want to make this work, Seamus. I meant that."
A smile crossed his face and he put his hand over hers, pressing her palm to his cheek. "I do too."
This wasn't the best place to talk about things – doubtless he had to go to work, and she had paperwork she should be taking care of – but suddenly all Lavender wanted to do was stay in bed and talk things out with Seamus. He wasn't making any moves to get up either, and maybe he felt the same. She didn't know. She took a deep breath and then said, "Do you have to go to work soon?"
"Wild horses couldn't drag me from this bed," he answered immediately. She couldn't help her giggle at that. More seriously, he added, "I meant it when I said I was going to make time for you. I'm always going to be here for you, whenever you need me around."
"Within reason, I'm sure," she commented, joking a little. She didn't handle tension well. She never had.
"No," he said, quietly and firmly insisting. "I am here for you. If you asked me to quit the Aurors, I would."
"Seamus, no," she scolded him instantly. "Don't offer that to me. Don't offer that to anyone."
"I just want to do right by you," he said, voice soft. It was a mark of how much he meant it that he wasn't yelling, she knew. He was passionate and vocal all the time, but he seemed to realize that this was a conversation to be had with a level head. "If that means quitting my job – "
"If you do that, you're not the man I fell in love with," Lavender declared, fixing him with a look that wasn't angry, but certainly wasn't pleased either. "And if I asked you to do that, I wouldn't be the woman you want either. Or I shouldn't be. I'd be that stupid, insecure, idiot girl who thought she was in love with Ron in sixth year, back before the world went insane. You don't want her and I don't want a Seamus who won't fight for what he wants. Your job is a part of you. Yes, you let it become too much a part of you a few months ago, but we both needed to figure out boundaries. We're still working on that, but it's better now. We're better. We can make this work – make us work – but only if you don't lose a single part of you that makes you you."
"Do you really think we can make us work?" He asked. His voice was so hopeful that she couldn't help but smile.
"I do," she affirmed. It felt like they were reassuring each other of that constantly, but maybe the reassurance was necessary. "I've missed you so much, Seamus, and I want you in my life. Not just as a friend."
He reached up to touch her hair and then brushed a finger over her ear. She shivered. "I don't want to rush you into anything," he said. "I hurt you last time. I can't promise that I won't hurt you again. I want to promise, but I can't, because I don't want to ever lie to you."
"I don't need that promise," she said, staring at him and hoping he could see that she meant it. "I just need you to try."
They breathed together, once, twice, before Seamus closed the few inches between them and kissed her, long and slow and deep. It wasn't like the night before, two people lost and lonely and reunited and frantic. This was sweet and gentle, a promise between old friends, and she returned it with interest. "Always, Lav," he murmured against her lips, tangling a hand in her golden hair.
This time, everything was gentle. Light fingers and light touches, gentleness in every line of them as they collapsed into each other. There weren't any sheets or pillows to get in the way this time – the one he had been using he chucked off the bed in an instant – and in the morning light she could see him. Long and lean and wiry and freckled, she kissed him with an intensity that would have shocked her if it wasn't him. But it was him, and this was right.
"So," he asked after, a little breathless. She had her head on his shoulder and his arm around her and made a humming noise to show she was listening. "Does this mean we're back together?"
That got a burst of laughter out of her. "Yes, of course." She leaned up and kissed his neck.
"My coworkers were planning a night out tonight. Club and dancing and the like. I wasn't going to go, but... be my date?"
A catlike smile crossed her face. He knew how much she loved dancing, and he clearly knew it was a good thing to suggest to her now. It wouldn't have been before, but now... "One condition."
"Anything."
"Make me breakfast," she demanded, giving him a light push. "I'm starving."
He laughed and rolled out of bed, offering her a hand up.
They lazed around his house the rest of the day, though Lavender did insist on going home to change before going out with his coworkers. She pawed through her dresses until she found one she liked, a dark red dress with gold trim and gold sparkles on it. The dress hit her mid-thigh and the halter straps around her neck were narrow, a deep V-neck accentuating... well, pretty much everything. She twirled her hair up with the gold and red silk clip that she had as well, before brushing gold eyeshadow on and doing the rest of her makeup lightly. Red silk pumps completely the look and made her three inches taller. "Gryffindor bold," she told Seamus as she walked out.
He looked stunned for a moment and then shook his head slightly. "It's been ages since I've seen you dressed up like that."
"Oh nonsense," she started, and then paused. Of course. The last time he had seen her 'dressed up' to go out it had been in a loose fitting dark dress with long sleeves, and tights to go underneath to cover her scars. Now all her scars were bared and she didn't care one bit. "Well," she amended. "I said I was better. I'm not hiding. I'm not ashamed anymore."
"You look fantastic, Lav," he said. He couldn't quit staring at her and it felt like seventh year again and she giggled.
"Come on," she said, gesturing to her door. "It's Saturday night. Take me dancing."
The place they ended up was, of course, the Dragon's Head. Seamus took her hand before leading her through the crowd. The music made her want to dance – it was something heavy, with a beat that was making the floor throb under her red silk pumps. He'd never been overly fond of this kind of scene, she remembered, especially after seventh year. Maybe he was trying to move on too. That thought made her happy and she had a fantastic smile on her face by the time he brought her to his coworkers.
"Hannah! Neville!" Lavender greeted, waving her free hand at them. The gathering was of the younger Aurors, she noted, so of course Hannah and Neville would be there.
Hannah turned to Lavender and did a visible double take. "Lavender? You look amazing!"
Belatedly, Lavender remembered that actually, none of her friends had seen her dressed up like this since seventh year. Doubtless they were all still expecting her to be hiding her scars. Lavender went up and hugged Hannah, not letting her smile fade at all. They might still be expecting her to be some broken, flinching, wild thing – that was fine. She just had to show them that she was good now. She was great.
"Come dance with me!" Lavender said, dragging Hannah onto the dance floor after kissing Seamus on the cheek and leaving a smear of red lipstick.
"I think he wants to introduce you to everyone," Hannah said, leaning close to Lavender to be heard over the blast of the music. "Wait, are you here together?"
Lavender's smile was enough to make Hannah cry out in happiness and hug her excitedly. "We're fixing things," Lavender confided. "Now come on! Dance with me!" Hannah laughed and batted her off, so Lavender shrugged and took to the floor herself. She swirled around, hair flying loose of the red and gold silk clip, gold sparkles on her dress flashing in the lights. She always was a fabulous dancer, from the ballet classes her mother had put her through to the modern dance workshops she had done through the summers up until she was sixteen.
Dimly, her werewolf ears heard one of Seamus's coworkers whistling and saying "That's your girlfriend, mate?" She turned and flashed them a look, red lips parting around bright white teeth, and a laugh bubbling up from her throat. She caught Seamus's nod at the question and laughed outright, darting back through the crowd to take his hand and bring him onto the dance floor.
"So I'm your girlfriend, eh?" She asked, mirroring his question from that morning.
Seamus shrugged. "Unless you want Kissenger pawing at you all night, I'm your only option." He winked at her and it made her catch her breath.
"You're the best option," she said, putting her arms on his shoulders and lacing her fingers together behind his neck. "Do you remember the last time we danced?" That song had been very different than this one, but it didn't matter.
"Christmas party, seventh year," he replied promptly. She grinned at his exactness. "Merlin, was that really almost two years ago?"
"Mhmm," she affirmed. "Feels like shorter and longer all at once." She could remember their last dance perfectly, her head on his shoulder, breathing in his cologne. The Room of Requirement had been packed full of couples dancing like they were, but she liked to think that no one had danced as long as they had. They hadn't been officially together at the time – Lavender hadn't wanted anything serious because of their plans for the battle at the end of the year – but it had sure felt serious when they danced, and when he looked at her like he had done. Like he was looking at her now.
But now was different than then, because they had lived. Oh Merlin, they had lived. And the past year and a half had been crazy and lonely and hard, but he was here with her now, looking at her like she meant the world to him and she knew he was telling the truth when he said that he would try not to hurt her again.
"I love you, Seamus," she said, low over the hum of the music. He couldn't possibly have heard her over the noise, but she saw the same affirmation on his lips as he said the words back and she leaned up and kissed him, and all was right with her world.
And we're done! Whew. I hope you all have enjoyed my quick and wild ride with Lavender and Seamus - I can't say for sure if more of this pairing is going to come, but leave me a review if you want more, or have any feedback, or just want to say hi! Check out some of my other stories as well, and be sure to stay tuned for more writing from my by clicking the follow/favorite button! I thank you all so much for reading and I truly hope you have smiled and laughed at least once during the story.
All my love,
Vee/amerikanka