Seamus was sitting in the library, trying to catch up on some homework. He didn't realize just how behind he was, or even how it happened. He was working on a very complicated Arthimacy chart: This particular piece of homework was giving him quite a hard time. He sighed, putting his head on the table, thinking. How was he going to pass tomorrow's exam? It took everything in him not to ask for Hermione's help – she was always helping everyone, after all. He didn't want to be another bother.

But after twenty minutes of just staring at the homework, Seamus decided to give up for the night. He packed up his things and gathered the library books he borrowed. He made his way to the shelves where the books belonged, when he heard his name.

"If it isn't Seamus Finnegan, Hogwarts' resident fag,"

Seamus stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he proceeded to the bookshelf, reshelving his borrowed books.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Malfoy said. He sounded like he was right behind him.

"And I'm ignoring you," Seamus said, not turning around.

"Got nothing to say without your butt buddy hanging around?" Malfoy chuckled.

"I've got nothing to say to a pathetic loser like you," Seamus said. After putting the last book away, he turned around – Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing very close to him. "Excuse me."

"Pathetic loser, am I? There's one of you and three of us." Malfoy said as Crabbe cracked his knuckles threateningly.

"Exactly. Only cowards wait until they have back up before messing with someone who's by themselves. Now move! I have places to be." Seamus tried to push past them, but Malfoy shoved him, causing him to fall into a bookshelf.

"Come on, fag! Too pussy to fight back?" Malfoy laughed.

"Leave me alone!" Seamus yelled, hoping the librarian would hear him. Crabbe seemed to know what he was thinking and guffawed.

"Pince stepped out – no one's here to help!" He grabbed Seamus by the scruff of his robes and lifted him up. Seamus struggled, trying to get his wand out of his pocket. But Goyle was too quick: He reached in Seamus' pocket and pulled out his wand, tossing it aside. Seamus swallowed hard, feeling completely helpless…

Dean walked through the common room portrait hole. Looking around, he found Harry and Ron sitting by the window, studying for an exam. He beelined it to them.

"Hey Harry! Where's Seamus?" Dean asked, taking a seat at the table.

"What do you mean? I thought he went to Gobbstones with you?" Harry asked, looking at Dean confused.

"No, it was cancelled. He said he was going to get some books from the library and then meet us here to go to dinner. That was an hour ago." Dean said. Ron and Harry exchanged looks.

"I haven't seen him since you guys left. Maybe he got caught up studying?" Harry suggested.

"Maybe. Dinner's in twenty minutes though," Dean said.

Harry packed up his homework and stood up. "I'll go see if he's in the library. We'll meet you guys in the Great Hall." Harry bade his friends goodbye and headed off.

Harry didn't know why, but he had this awful feeling in the pit of his stomach as he got closer to the library. He knew Seamus sometimes lost track of time, but this somehow felt different. He made his way into the library: It was almost completely empty, most people having already made their way to dinner. Harry looked down the different aisles but found most of the tables empty. He was almost at the back of the library when he stopped in his tracks. There were a set of feet sticking out from the very last aisle – and they looked like Seamus'.

Harry's breath caught in his throat as he ran to the aisle and turned: Seamus was lying unconscious on his back, his face bloodied and bruised. "Seamus!" Harry cried, kneeling down. He grabbed him by the shoulders and heaved him into his lap. "Seamus! Shay, baby can you hear me?"

Seamus was completely unconscious, not stirring in the slightest. Harry looked around desperately – how did know one see this? Or hear anything? Seamus must have cried out for help. With a huge effort, Harry picked him up in his arms. He made the slow trek to the front for the exit, trying his best to not let Seamus slip.

"Mr. Potter! What is the meaning of this?" Madame Pince sprang from behind her desk, towards Harry.

"I found him like this, Madame! I don't know what happened!" Harry could feel his arms starting to shake with the weight of his boyfriend. He continued out of the library door, not stopping. Madame Pince followed him.

"Let me escort you the hospital wing!" She walked by Harry's side, her wand held aloft and pointing at Seamus, easing some of the weight as they headed towards the infirmary.

"Harry? What happened?" Ron, Hermione, and Dean – who were heading to the dining hall – suddenly stopped into their tracks.

"I don't know," Harry continued on, not stopping. He looked down at Seamus, who started to stir.

"Ms. Granger, get Professor McGonagall immediately! Have her meet us in the hospital wing please!" Madame Pince ordered. Hermione nodded and she and Ron ran off. Dean followed Harry and the librarian to the hospital wing.

Seamus started to groan, his eyes flickering slightly. "It hurts, it hurts so bad –" Seamus groaned.

"We're almost there, Shay. Almost there!"

They finally made it to the hospital wing. Harry hurried over to the first unoccupied bed and gently laid him down.

"Mr. Potter! Irma! What happened?" Madame Pomfrey rushed over to Seamus.

"I'm not sure Madame! I came to look for him in the library and I found him like this!"

"I'm not sure how this could have happened, Poppy. I didn't hear a single thing!" Madame Pince said in shock.

"It hurts," Seamus groaned again, his hands clutching his stomach. Harry reached down and gently pulled Seamus' hand away and pulled up his shirt – they all gasped. Seamus' rib cage was blue and purple from extremes bruising. The rage boiled inside Harry, but he tried to remain calm as he knelt next to Seamus.

"Who did this to you, Shay?"

"Oh my lord, Mr. Finnegan! What in the world – ?" Professor McGonagall rushed into the wing and to the little group surrounding Seamus. "Potter, what –"

"Malfoy," Seamus choked out weakly.

"Malfoy did this?" Harry asked, the rage building even more.

Seamus slowly nodded his head, his eyes barely open. "Him…and C-Crabbe and Goyle…I swear I didn't provoke them –"

"What did they do exactly, Seamus?" Professor McGonagall prompted.

"I was just trying to leave the library…they cornered me…called me fag…they took me wand – I couldn't even defend myself –"

"You don't have your wand on you?" Dean asked, concerned.

Seamus shook his head. "I think they threw it…"

Harry turned to Dean. "I found him at the very back of the library, section twelve." Dean nodded and left for the library. Harry turned back to him. "How didn't anyone hear what was going on?"

"They used a –" Seamus started coughing violently, holding his stomach in pain. Harry couldn't stand seeing his boyfriend like this. He reached out and put his hand on Seamus' head, lightly rubbing his hair. Seamus took a few deep breaths before continuing. "They used a silence charm on me. I couldn't make any noise."

Madame Pomfrey put up privacy curtains, allowing Harry to help Seamus change into the infirmary pajamas. While he did this, Pomfrey, Pince, and McGonagall spoke amongst themselves on the other side of the curtain, speaking in low voices.

Seamus winced as Harry gently peeled his shirt off. "This is not how I imagined the scenario of you stripping me would go," Seamus tried joking. But he winced once more as the laughter hurt his ribs further.

Harry couldn't help but smile. But sighed, continuing to dress him. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."

"It wasn't your fault, Harry. I should have told you where I was going."

Harry finished up and pulled back the curtains. Madame Pomfrey came over with a steaming goblet. She placed it by Seamus' bed. "Well, Mr. Finnegan, strictly eying those nasty bruises, I say you have a few fractured ribs. You're going to have to spend the night here. This potion will help ease some of the pain while fixing your ribs."

Seamus nodded. Harry grabbed the goblet and helped him drink from it. Professor McGonagall approached Seamus' bed once more. "You said this was Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle?"

Seamus nodded. "I swear, I didn't do anything to provoke them –"

"I believe you, Mr. Finnegan," McGonagall said. "I will take care of them, don't you worry. Try and get some rest." She turned to Harry.

"I can stay, right?" Harry asked, holding on to Seamus' hand.

McGonagall considered him for a moment before nodding. "You may. But if Madame Pomfrey feels you aren't letting Seamus rest, she will ask you to leave. Understood?" Harry and Seamus nodded. She bid them goodbye and left, Madame Pince following behind her. Madame Pomfrey made sure Seamus was comfortable before disappearing in her office. Harry sighed and sat on the end of Seamus' bed.

"You can go to dinner and come back if you want," Seamus suggested after a while. "I know you're probably hungry."

"Nah, I've lost my appetite to be honest." Harry shrugged. "Besides, it's my turn to take care of you." The two smiled at each other. Harry reached out and took both of Seamus' hands into his own and gave them a gentle kiss.

Seamus was in the hospital wing for two days recovering. Most of the bruises had subsided, but Seamus was still finding it difficult to breathe deeply. Harry stayed with him after lessons over the next few days, helping him get caught up with homework, and studying for the make-up exams he had to miss. The two were also in very good spirits, as they had just received the news about Malfoy and his gang losing two hundred points for Slytherin and each gaining a month's worth of detention.

"With all those house points lost, Slytherin is now dead last for the cup." Harry said, plopping himself on Seamus' bed.

"Music to my ears!" Seamus chuckled, but soon winced. He closed his eyes tightly and held his stomach.

"The potion hasn't been helping?" Harry asked worriedly.

"It has been. Madame Pomfrey says that I'm just a little extra sensitive to it….it's just gonna take a little more time."

"Does that mean you have to stay here longer?"

"No, she said I can leave around dinner tonight. I just have to take it a extra easy over the next few days."

"I'll make sure you do!" Harry chuckled.

When dinner time was finally here, Harry helped Seamus out of bed and back into his clothes. Madame Pomfrey gave him one more look over before officially dismissing him. They left the hospital wing hand in hand, walking in a comfortable silence for a bit. Then something Seamus said came floating back into Harry's mind.

"Shay?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember when I was helping you get dressed…when I first brought you to the hospital wing…"

"Yeah," Seamus said slowly, watching Harry from the corner of his eye.

"Remember…remember when you said that that wasn't how you pictured me – er, undressing you?" Harry asked, turning slightly pink.

Seamus smiled. "Vaguely. Why?"

Harry stopped and turned to Seamus, who watched him curiously. "Were you being serious?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like…do you see us being intimate together?" Harry asked. He could feel his face completely burning. Seamus turned slightly pink himself.

"Oh! Er…I mean…" Seamus thought for a moment. "I have been thinking – I mean obviously I've never, er –"

"Me either!"

Seamus cleared his throat. "I'm not ready for that step in the relationship yet, I'm not gonna lie, Harry. But…I can't pretend it hasn't crossed my mind. And well…if and when I'm ready, I do hope that my first time would be with you."

Harry smiled, feeling relieved. He pulled Seamus into a quick hug. "I'm not ready either. But I would love my first time to be with you too."

The boys stared deeply into each other's eyes, both thinking the same thing: They couldn't believe how lucky they were to have each other. They started heading towards the dining hall once more and were stopped in their tracks once again. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing by the staircase, watching them menacingly. Harry started to clench his fists, but Seamus put his hand on his shoulder.

"Don't Harry. They're not worth it." Seamus gave them one last glare before steering Harry into the dining hall.