The year drew to a heavy, unsettling close.

Rumors were rampant; Seamus heard all of them, either from Hermione complaining about it to people hissing behind Harry's back to letters from his Mum continually concerned about his safety.

He tried to ignore all of it, but it was hard to block out the voices.

Hermione was frazzled beyond belief in the wake of Cedric's death, even more so with Dumbledore's announcement that Voldemort had returned, which seemed to be very unpopular at best and foolish to do at worst. He had to think there was more thought behind it; someone like Dumbledore had to be smarter, didn't he?

Or perhaps his Ma was right, and Dumbledore was just an addled old man losing his touch...

Merlin knew he couldn't say that in front of Hermione, who balked and gawked at him when he so much hinted at it.

"He knew exactly what he was doing. He's treating us like adults, and we have a right to know what's coming!" She said firmly, and that was the last time he tried to sway her opinions.

He and Hermione tried to spend time together, but he could tell her mind was thrown into a million different places. No judging…his was too. Besides, Harry was taking the brunt of the damage, mentally, and Seamus could not fault Hermione for wanting to be there for him. Seamus would be his mate if he knew how, but he thought it was just better to step aside and let others soothe his nightmares or guilt-ridden nights.

Great cor, Seamus couldn't even imagine. If what Harry said was true...

Seamus had seen death only once, and it was after. A great aunt, laid out for viewing. Just seeing her corpse, not the heart attack itself, had put a weird taste in Seamus' mouth all night, like bitter wine.

"If I were him..." Dean said as they sat together, packing their suitcases, "Blimey, murder?" He laughed because he didn't know what else to do, "It's unimaginable."

It truly was.

"Did you ever figure out the Rita Skeeter thing?" Seamus asked on one of their final nights together, "She's been rather quiet. I thought she'd be having a field day with this."

For the best. Seamus imagined that her article headers would not be kind. Her whole point was to sell articles, not be honorable. All of the Champions would have it bad; Harry seeing Cedric die, Cedric being dead (Seamus imagined that she threw out the whole 'speak no ill of the dead' advice), Fleur bagging out early, or Viktor being charmed...she could twist whatever little fantasy she wanted, and the first lie wins.

Hopefully, Seamus muses, she's crawled back to the hell she came from and retired, but he knew they wouldn't be so lucky.

Hermione looked around cautiously before pulling out a small jar. Seamus stared at it.

"Ah. A beetle."

What she'd asked him to read up on, though he was still struggling to make the connection. He winced, expecting Hermione to be scowling at him, like when she was explaining something simple to Ron and he wasn't getting it, but there was no disappointment in her eyes. Just excitement.

"I was right! It was bugged. But literally; bugged."

"Erm…you'll have to explain this one, Luv," Seamus chuckled. He could admit when he was out of his depth. Sure, with Hermione, that was often, but she never made him feel silly for asking. He didn't know why he still thought, though, one time she would. She never had and something told him she never would.

"Well, I mean, last year, after the whole deal with Animangus-,"

Seamus held up a hand, "Wait, after what?"

Hermione blinked at him, startled, and it was just then that Seamus was met with the uncomfortable realization that previous to this year, they hadn't really talked much at all. He hadn't been in her world and she hadn't been in his. It felt so natural with her -like they'd always been best friends or dating- that it was a harsh truth laid at his feet.

That, put plainly, he didn't have the foggiest of Hermione's life up until a few months ago, apart from rumors, which he knew were rarely true. But he yearned to know. He wanted to learn all he could about her, from the most fantastical things she'd done to the most droll and mundane moments.

"Animangus. The ability to turn into an animal; really difficult stuff," Hermione said, "Very difficult, in fact. The numbers are few and far between. Usually, you're meant to register with the Ministry, but that's not always the case. Though..." She frowned, tilting her head, "Mostly that seems not to be the case. I mean, ever wonder how McGonagall can turn into a cat?"

"Shit, that's what that is? I thought she was just really good at transfiguration!"

"She is. I mean, it's a little-studied branch of very difficult transfiguration. Even I doubt I could be so talented. But to make a very long story short, when Lupin was turning into a werewolf as a student, his friends - James, Sirius, and Peter - were transforming into animals to stay with him." Hermione laid it out quickly, "There's more to it than that, but without launching into all the details...well, that's that."

"So I could just..." Seamus waved his hand, "Turn into a bear at will? Or a moose? Oh, what about a lion? That would be mighty cracker, I'd think."

"I mean, possibly. You don't know what animal you turn into until it happens, and you can't change it. It's like unlocking a deeper part of you."

"Okay," Seamus nodded, "Turning into animals. So what you're saying is..." He chuckled, "Skeeter was breaking a law or two, eh? Since I guess the point is she's unregistered."

Hermione grinned, overly pleased at his realization. She tapped on the glass, "Huh, Skeeter? Is Seamus right?"

Seamus gawked, "You're telling me that's her? You have her in a glass?" Seamus sputtered. Sure, he'd realized that she must be unregistered or someone would have known, and sure there was a beetle in front of him, but somehow, hearing that there was a person in there - as a bug, mind you - still sort of blew his mind, "Is it safe for her to remain like that?"

"Peter was a rat for twelve years," Hermione said dryly.

"Fuck, that's what happened to Ron's rat! I was sure Crookshanks ate him," He said honestly, leaning over to pet the fluffy animal on Hermione's lap.

"That's what we told everyone, but Crookshanks would never! He's far too smart for that," Hermione preened, "So I think Skeeter will be fine. She deserves it. I mean, I'm not going to keep her prisoner forever. She'll be released in London. But she should have a few days to think on things."

"Blimey Hermione you're…" Seamus wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, "You're really scary a lot of the time, you know that?"

Honestly, moral ethics aside, this woman had made Hermione cry for days on end. As far as Seamus was concerned, he was on Hermione's side.

Plus, he didn't think that light murder was who Hermione was as a person, and he trusted that Skeeter would be let go in a few days time. If she liked being a bug so much, perhaps she should get truly comfortable with what that fully detailed.

"Thanks," Hermione said, as though his comment warmed her, "Sit with me on the train tomorrow?" She asked quietly.

Seamus sighed, "My mum's in a panic. I'm going home another way." Not common to take other methods than the train, but it could always be arranged if a parent wanted to take on the effort and stress.

And his Ma didn't have much else to do with her time, it seemed, than to hover over her youngest son.

Hermine's face fell, "Oh."

"I mean, we're gunna stay in touch over the summer, aren't we?" He asked hesitantly. Hermione's face instantly brightened.

"Of course, yes. And you likely have a telephone, since your dad's a muggle, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Seamus said, "I mean, we'll just talk all the time. Summer isn't that long, huh?"

Impusilvly, and feeling like a character in an 80s film that he'd watched with Finn, he grabbed his quill and wrote his number on her hand. Hermione watched him, cheeks warm. When he finished, she cautiously pulled her hand back, like she was afraid it would vanish before her eyes. She did a quick sticking charm, to make sure it didn't rub off, and when she looked at him, her eyes were full of light.

Hermione leaned in to kiss his cheek, "It's not that long at all."

XXX

The next morning, Seamus woke up bright and early to catch a ride home with another Irish student; a sixth-year Ravenclaw. Though Seamus thought there should be far more Irish witches and wizards than there were, the truth of the matter is their numbers were somewhat lacking.

And his Mum had made it her mission to become mates with the mothers of every Irish student for situations directly like this. He liked to imagine they all had a yearly gathering where they complained about how there weren't any proper Irish boys or girls for their perfect sons or daughters, swapped the best cleaning spells, and agreed to make their kids' lives absolutely miserable. Irish Hogwarts Mothers felt like a gang to Seamus sometimes.

Seamus only really acknowledged the other kids, as they did with him, because it's not like he was out forming a club for them here. As it was, he and the Ravenclaw girl made awkward small talk, but everything felt overshadowed by the big, terrible, awful that had just happened. It was hard to complain about Professors or talk about summer plans knowing that a student had died here and everything was changing.

The girls' father met them outside of Hogwarts, and they started the very long car ride to the portkey location. After that, Seamus would take the train to Adare, bidding goodbye to his travel companions, and he'd be home late tonight.

He ran his finger over the parchment that had Hermione's address and phone number on it, wishing more than anything he could grab a couple more hours with her on the train. He wondered what she was doing now. He found himself musing over that often in his journey back home, wishing he could be snuggled up next to her, inhaling her perfect aroma of mint and old books, to give him good dreams until they'd see each other in person.

It was nearly 10 pm by the time Seaums was walking up the road to his house, all the lights in the country cottage turned on. He had barely opened the door when his older sister attacked him, pulling him into a hug so tight it knocked the wind out of him.

"Finn…oxygyn, please…" He laughed, burrowing his face into her shoulder, pleased to see her. They'd always gotten on quite well, despite their age difference.

"Oh, Sea! I heard about that student dying at Hogwarts! I was paralyzed with fear, you know!" She said. When he turned his head, he saw tears gathering in her eyes. She was bloody terrified, a look he didn't see often on her, "We just knew it was a student, but no one would tell us who!"

"I'm sure if it were me, you'd have gotten a call right away," Seamus pointed out, extracting himself from her. He turned to greet his parents but was surprised to see his brothers lounging, "It's a full house tonight, innit?"

Dilan returned home in between his studies, but Nathair was a rare sight. He scolwed at Seamus.

"Mum's just about beside herself with everything going on," Nathair said nastily, as though Seamus personally killed Cedric this year, "All the fuss about Hogwarts and Voldemor-,"

Seamus flipped him the bird, "Oi! Fuck off, Nathair," He sputtered, already in a bad mood from the long travels and being away from Hermione and he really wasn't in the right attitude to deal with his least favorite sibling, who was already proving to be the right git he always was.

"Stop it!" Roisin Finnigan came from the kitchen, her hair pulled up in a messy updo, and flour on her apron, "My baby, come here," She said, kissing Seamus' cheeks and peppering them all the way up his hairline, "None of that now, Nathair. It's all rubbish anyway."

From over his mother's shoulder, Seamus set Nathair a victorious look. He was pretty sure his Ma heard his potty mouth, but being the baby of the family had its perks. Nathair sulked.

"Fudge says that Dumbledore's gone barmy," Finn agreed, eyes wide, "And that boy in your year, Potter, well, I mean, you read what the Prophet wrote about him-," She began, rolling her eyes and laughing nervously.

"Hey!" Seamus broke free of his mother, glaring at Finn, "He's not crazy!"

"It sounds like he is. I think something broke his mind during those tasks," Nathair said, making a whirling motion around his head.

"He's traumatized. Cedric died right in front o' him." Seamus spat, "Can you imagine what it would be like to watch a mate of yours die?"

"I think he's mixed up, is all," Dilan said, ever the one vying for peace among the siblings, "Those games aren't for children." He shook his head, pursing his lips.

"He didn't very well have a choice," Seamus said bitterly, "And he didn't put his name in."

Dilan looked at Seamus as though he was naive, "Still. I think Cedric did die, but I think Harry's just, as you said, traumatized. Who can be sure what he really saw?"

"I'm just glad you're safe," Roisin said, "No more talk of any of this, alright? It does little good for your poor Ma's nerves. I have cupcakes for you."

"Please eat one!" Finn begged, "I've been trying to nick one for hours, but she said not until you have the first."

"Where's Da?" Seamus asked, glancing around.

"Oh, in the shop," Dilan tilted his head, "He doesn't quite get any of this talk. Think he said he's working on a chair…or maybe it was a side table."

Seamus followed his mum into the kitchen, his mouth salivating at the buttermilk cupcakes on the counter. All he'd gotten to eat on the way back was a cuppa and a few measly biscuits that were stale more than anything else.

"Will we see Dean this summer?" His mother asked, starting on the dishes as her other kids descended upon the cupcakes as soon as Seamus had gotten his.

"Yeah, yeah," Seamus said. Dean had been a regular guest at the house since first year, "He's thinkin' early August if that's alright with you."

"Of course. It's always lovely to host him."

"What about your girlfriend," Finn teased, and Seamus shot a furious look her way.

"What's this about a girlfriend?" Ma said, turning, crossing her arms, and staring him down.

"I've written you about it..." Seamus started uneasily, rubbing the back of his neck. He would admit that details had been scant. He was hoping to ease his mother into this conversation with a bit more tact, but Finn didn't know the meaning of the word. He knew his mother knew of Hermione...not just because she was always getting into trouble worthy of front-page news, but because she knew all the Gryffindors in his year in the general sense. She would probably throw out words like 'smart' or 'studious' if forced to describe her, from what Seamus had always said.

But, truthfully, he just hadn't talked about her before this year, which he hoped maybe would turn out in his favor, since (hopefully) his Ma didn't have too much of a bias yet.

"He's dating Hermione Granger!" Finn burst out, "One of my friends who's a seventh year this year told me!"

"I knew you took her to the dance, but dating?" Nathair scrunched his nose, "Really?" He spoke to Seamus like he was as dumb as a brick. Nathair just thought he was so much smarter than everyone else, at all times.

"Her?" He saw his mother's face draw tightly, "What happened to Lavender?"

"None of your business," Seamus said, ducking his head, as he glared out of the corner of his eye at Nathair and his sister, "And stay out of it, Finn!" He snapped, "And we just didn't work out, Ma. No big drama."

"Is it true?" His mother asked, her voice strangely tight.

Seamus could guess why.

Fuck. He could even see an issue of Witch Weekly out of the corner of his eye...if he was smart, he would have paid Finn a galleon to burn any copies that she saw Ma with.

He sighed, "Yes, Ma. But she's not dating Krum or Harry. Those accounts have been greatly exaggerated."

"Of course," His mother said, busying her hands, "I doubt you'd be a pushover to accept that, but," She raised her eyebrows, humming.

"But what?"

"Well, rumors always have a sliver of truth, don't they?" She asked, her face puckering, "And she seems to get into so much trouble…."

"She's a Gryffindor, Ma. I do too."

"You'd better hope not, Seamus Finnigan!" His mother chastised.

"Ma…you can't believe everything you read in those magazines," Seamus groaned, "Seriously."

"Don't talk to Ma like she's dumb," Dilan said, cupping Seamus' ears as he passed, "Shite, man."

"I'm just saying that I think you have the wrong idea of 'er." Seamus threw out his arms.

"Well," His mother finally said, clearly done with this conversation or the idea of Seamus dating her, "You're young. And summers are long. I'm sure by school's start you'll be over her entirely."

Seamus hopped down, feeling like he was going to set her flowers on fire accidentally if she didn't stop off it.

"Where are you going?" His mother sighed, "Seamus, I didn't mean to upset you! I'm just looking out for you!"

"I'm going to find Da!" Seamus snapped back, slamming the door as he went outside. He winced, knowing he'd be in big trouble for that tomorrow, but couldn't find the will to care.

His dad was working in the shop attached to the barn.

"Da?"

Darragh Finnigan looked up as Seamus entered, "Ah, son, glad to see you made it home safe. You seen your Mum?"

Seamus plopped on a chair, taking an angry bite of his cupcake, "Yes."

"What happened?" Da put his tools, coming to rub Seamus' shoulders. His father was getting on in his years and Seamus was horrified to find streaks of gray in his hair that hadn't been there when he'd left for Hogwarts this year.

"Mum is just…convinced by everything she reads," He muttered, "I guess I was hoping for a better welcome home."

"She worries for yeh," His father said gently, "It tore her heart out this year after the news of that Diggory boy. She was worried for days until we got your owl. No one knew anything, and to be honest, we still don't."

"But I'm fine," Seamus argued, "Clearly."

"Can't blame her for loving you."

"But I can blame her for being right nasty about my girlfriend."

Darragh looked up to the rafters, groaning, "Christ…" He muttered, "Do we need to…talk…about…"

"What?" Seamus asked, then his eyes widened and he shuddered, "No! Merlin, Da, that's not…" He blushed hard, "If Ma would have her way, we'd never get there at all," He added.

"Ah." Darragh took a seat next to him, "You're her baby. I think she'd be hard-pressed with anyone you dated. We were so worried you weren't going to make it, and now she is a bit… overprotective."

"I know," Seamus sighed, having heard the story about how he was premature and weak time and time again, "I think she just thinks I'm a boy with a schoolboy crush. I'm not, Da. I really like this bird."

"I'm sure in time your Mum will come around to it. When Finn brought her first boyfriend home, remember she nearly chased him out with a shotgun?"

Seamus smiled at the memory, "Yeah, you're right about that."

"Give her time. Her emotions are high. But now that you're home, I think she'll settle a bit," He encouraged, "Just…nod and smile and don't promise anything, alright? Summer goes by," He snapped, "Just like that."

Seamus licked his fingers for the last bit of frosting, "Thanks, Da. I'm glad I'm home."

His father pulled him into a side hug, "Just wait. All this will blow over quickly."

XXX

Seamus didn't hold it against his father, but in truth, things didn't blow over.

They got worse.

Much worse.

It wasn't his Da's fault; he couldn't have known. No one could have seen what came out of the Ministry, the Prophet, and the Wizarding World at large following the end of Seamus' fourth year.

By mid-summer's break, it seemed the Ministry was on a full smear campaign against Harry Potter, Dumbledore, Hogwarts, and anyone who took his side.

"Voldemort being back?" Fudge blustered into cameras on the front of the Prophet, "How preposterous! Just the overactive imagination of a teenage boy…"

But they were far from positioning Harry as just a well-meaning but confused boy. In reality, they were touting him as a traitor and a criminal, here to absolutely ruin their idyllic existence and poison their thoughts. It was all a big conspiracy between him and Dumbledore, or so 'They' said, though to what end Seamus didn't know.

Finn wasn't helping. She whispered back to Mum about the goings on at the Ministry, which at this point, were all insisting that Harry had seen nothing. Nothing at all.

His mother just ate it up, believing every single lie.

"It's all fake!" He bellowed at his Mum after one particularly nasty headline, "Can't you see it?"

"The ministry is not in the habit of lying!" His mother snapped back, "You're so young, Seamus. Can't you understand? Voldemort certainly isn't back!"

"I believe it!" Seamus said, though behind him, Dilan was making frantic axe motions to try to stop him, "I believe that he is!"

"Because Hermione told you?" His mother asked, her voice short and angry.

"Yeah, exactly!"

Dilan slapped his forehead and groaned.

"Congrats, Sea," He said later that day, "Now Mum's never gunna warm up to her."

"It's the truth, though!" Seamus objected, "I'm not going to let her sit there and badmouth her or her friends. You weren't there, Dilan. You didn't see the way Harry seemed. You don't know what any of those three have gone through to make their words worth something!"

"None of us were there," Dilan said evenly, "That's entirely the problem, right? How can we know?"

Dilan was right about one thing…he'd made Mum practically ban the name Hermione Granger in their house. He had to steal time on the corded phone whenever his Mum went into town (but she soon wised up to that and insisted that Seamus come with her), and then had to have owls deliver letters to Dean and Dean work as a go-between, sending her letters tucked into his. Mid-way through summer their phone broke, which Seamus was sure was a calculated plot on her end, and refused to have it fixed, claiming it was just too expensive.

But Seamus knew that she was trying to ruin his life.

His dad probably knew what Seamus was doing, having caught him in the rafters of the barn more than once scribbling back a reply, but he didn't rat Seamus out.

He would always remember his father doing that for him in the future.

When Dean did come in August, Seamus had been getting into rows with his mother all summer. And it didn't help that with Dean here he had no way of contacting Hermione.

"You could seem more excited to see your best friend, you know," Dean teased him.

"I'm going mad, Dean" Seamus groaned, "I feel like I'm in Azkaban lately."

"That's a bit harsh," Dean snorted, "I'd argue that the people there have it far worse."

"Try me," Seamus bit out as they walked the paths in the green meadows of his family's acreage, "Mum's gone insane." He looked at Dean, then sighed, "Of course I'm happy to see you, though." He said, shoving Dean's shoulder.

They did what boys did in their spare time; they set off some fireworks that Seamus found in the back of the barn from the last Beltane, they poked sheep in the herd, played with the family sheepdog, and swam in the river, duking each other under the water and throwing slimy moss on each other's backs when the other wasn't looking.

Only once did Dean bring up the whole anxiety-inducing affair of the world at large.

"Hear Dumbledore has been asked to step down from the Wizagamont?"

"You bleeding kidding? It's the only thing I've heard 'bout," Seamus groaned, "Mum's gone completely mad, I tell ya."

"That bad?" Dean winced.

Seamus pressed his lips into a thin line, digging a stick viciously into the dirt, "To say the least."

It clearly was a sore spot, so Dean didn't bring it up again.

They had plenty to talk about anyway. It started with O.W.L. talk, which of course was the first conversation.

"Merlin, I just hope I pass enough to keep Ma off my back," Seamus said as they threw stones at a bottle in the forest, "I don't even know what I want to be yet."

"Same. Too bad there's no art studies," Dean muttered.

Then, the conversation switched to Prefects.

"A galleon it's Granger."

"That's not fair," Dean snorted, "We both know she'll be picked. Plus you have to say her. She's your girlfriend."

Seamus got the feeling that Dean knew he was ribbed enough by his family about Hermione, so he didn't have to as well. Plus, Dean seemed genuinely pleased by their coupling. All he'd ever said was that it felt strangely complimentary, like two colors that you didn't know looked fine together just worked.

"Okay, who do you think for the male spot, then?"

Dean shrugged, "Neville?"

"I could see that. Good pick. I think you."

Dean threw his stone far off, "Me? Are you insane? No way it'll be me."

"Well, it ain't gunna be me," Seamus chortled.

"Hmm…take bets on the rest of the lot?" Dean asked as they walked back for supper. Ma was making Shepard's pie; one of Dean's favorites. She seemed to like Dean more than she liked her own son right now, Seamus thought bitterly. If he had asked her for pie, she would have likely burned it, Seamus was sure.

They sat together at the table with a parchment, arguing and making their choices. Finn, who was home often now, probably for Ma's sake, peered over.

"Oh, Prefects! I thought for sure they'd pick me," She pouted, "Didn't happen."

"I'm under no illusion either of us are picked," Dean said, "There's not a lot of choices, though, huh?" He said, scratching his head at the Slytherin choices.

"Tracy wouldn't be terrible," Seamus finally offered, "And Blaise or Theo seem level-headed…as much as a Slytherin can be."

By the end of the night, their votes were locked in and signed with a galleon per right choice. They did a gentleman's agreement - spat in their hands, and shook on it. Just how it should be.

"Better get ready to break your bank," Dean said, clicking his fingers against the ceramic piggybank as they went to bed, "I'm ready to make some money!"

Over the next couple of days, Dean filled Seamus in on all the drama and goings on.

It started with; "Did you hear that Ginny's dating Corner now?"

"That tosser?" Seamus gasped, "Wait…how do you know that?"

Dean shrugged, covering his face with his hand, staring up at the sun, "Lav. We've been writing."

Seamus shot up, "You've been… writing ?"

"What? Oh, not like that," Dean shuddered, "No, no. We've just been friendly. Friends. We ended up at the same beach a few weeks ago and just got talking." He paused, "Why, would it bother you?"

"Naw, I just…well, didn't think you two would be together."

"We're not. But if we were…it would be no stranger than you and Hermione. She's been seeing Louis this summer, by the way. Not seriously, but in case that was your next question."

"Hmm," Seamus narrowed his eyes, "Got anything else interesting?"

Boy, did he.

He knew that Percy and his family had a huge row and weren't on speaking terms with any of the Weasleys, choosing the Ministry and their lies over their family. Seamus would have to see what Finn knew about that, sneakily, later.

Parvati had been talking to Lee a lot, apparently, and Lavender was sure that something would come of it later this year.

Lavender and Louis were still writing to each other, though she wasn't sure how she felt about long distance. Dean was fairly sure that she'd had sex with him over the summer.

"How do you know?"

"Artist's intuition."

"That's not a thing. Still... Seems like everyone's trying to pair up, eh?" Seamus asked.

"We're that age," Dean said, so matter-o-factly it made Seamus break into uncontrollable laughter, "What? We are!"

"And you?" Seamus asked, smirking, tilting his head.

"Well, actually, I've been talking a lot to Hazel Stickney…she's the Ravenclaw a year ahead of us, right?" Dean said, his face bright red, "We both are muggle-borns and our parents know each other. My Mum ran into her mum in a shop and we had to suffer through a three-hour-long 'light chat'. Eventually, they sent us to the food court, and, well..."

"Wait, really?" Seamus struggled to recall the girl and was drawn to the idea of a lass with short reddish-brown hair and wide green eyes. Fox like, "She's pretty, mate. Good on you!"

"Well, gotta compete with you and Hermione who might just win the cutest couple, huh?" Dean teased, "Oh! Right."

He fished out a letter. Seamus grasped for it, "You've had it this whole time and never said anything? I'm dying here!" He said, ripping it open.

"I knew once I gave it to you, you'd be able to focus on nothing else," Dean said, which was probably true, because Seamus didn't hear a word.

The letter was responding to his last one, but at the end, there was an invitation to meet her before the school year with Harry and Ron at a location that he wasn't familiar with. In fact, it didn't list it at all, just told him a date and time to meet.

"I gotta get there," Seamus muttered.

"You crazy kids," Dean sighed, as though he was eons older than Seamus, "Young love."

Dean stayed until August 13th. He took the parchment with their bets, waving it around, smirking, "I'll be coming for my collection soon, mate. See you soon."

Seamus waved him off, "See you soon! I'll find you on the train!" He promised. His mother was lingering by the door, a strange look on her face.

"You have fun?" She asked, her tone taking a strange lit to it.

"Yeah, loads. We always do," Seamus said, "Have you gotten an owl about our school books yet? I feel like it's coming late this year…" He started sorting through the mail, muttering to himself.

"Perhaps for the best."

Seamus frowned, looking up, "What's that mean?"

Ma sighed, setting down her rag, fingers clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet. Seamus had been trying to burn those before his Ma got to them, but he'd been distracted with Dean around lately.

"I think…perhaps…you shouldn't go back to Hogwarts this year."

"What?" Seamus exploded, "What the heck do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said," His mother said firmly, "Between that dodgy character Dumbledore- you know I never liked him-,"

"That's a lie! You loved him!" Seamus sputtered.

"-And Harry and all the things the Ministry is warning us about, I just think…I think perhaps it's best you continue your education elsewhere."

"You're not serious," Seamus stared at her, eyes wide.

"Dumbledores sending dementors after children, Seamus!" His mother said, sliding the newspaper across to him. Seamus read the headlines but shook his head.

"You can't believe that, seriously?" He shook his head, "Naw, no-,"

"Then who? The Ministry? I highly doubt that." She laughed, "The Ministry isn't siccing Dementors on children!"

"But Dumbledore is?" Seamus rubbed his forehead, "Do you hear yourself Ma?"

"And Harry! He uses underage magic but poof! He gets off? The trial was yesterday. It's all right here!"

Seamu's head swam, "Trial, what…what trial?" He asked, "Ma, really? You're just working yourself up-,"

"I am not, Seamus Cinaed Finnigan! You know what? I've decided. You're not going. You're too close to the issue, and this tantrum just confirms it!" She said firmly, face pinched and red, "We'll send you to Beauxbatons. Or I'll homeschool you!"

"Oh, Merlin, please no," Seamus groaned, "You can't be serious."

"I'm dead serious!" She stomped, "I'm glad you had time with Dean, and I'll allow you to continue to write him but-,"

"Allow? Fucking allow?" Seamus threw his hands up.

"Language, son! I am your mother!"

"Yeah, and I'll stop swearing when you stop acting insane!" Seamus stormed out, "I'm going back, this year, you hear! I'll sneak away if I gotta, but you can't stop me!"

He found his father in the workshop again.

He just saw Seamus' face and sighed, "What now?"

"She's threatening to take me out of Hogwarts, Da," Seamus said, tears gathering in his eyes, unable to stop them, "She can't do that! She's not thinking straight. She wants to homeschool me-,"

"That's not happening," His father muttered, looking aghast at the very idea.

"Or send me to Beauxbatons. I don't know French and I…all my friends are there, my girlfriend, my whole life!"

Darragh sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "You know that I… well, I'm not magic. I don't know what's right or wrong when it comes to these Wizard schools, son," He murmured.

"But you know Mum's doing no good by reading those papers, those lies," Seamus pressed, "Please, please talk to her, Da, I have to go back!"

Darraguh wiped a tear from Seamus' cheek, and kissed his son's crown, "I will."

He heard their arguing that night when they thought he was sleeping. Their shouting rattled the house. Apparently, it got back to Finn, who sent Seamus a cold owl the next day, chastising him for pitting Ma and Da against each other.

Unfortunately, the opinion was big enough of a fight to bring in the whole family again. Seamus returned from doing his chores in the barn to find the whole family, sans himself, behind locked doors, whispering frantically and angrily over each other.

"He can't go back there, Da!" Finn said, "I agree with Ma, he's better off going elsewhere. Dumbledore is far past his prime and who knows what danger he'll put kids in."

"Oh, don't believe everything ya hear," Nathair said, someone whom Seamus would have never guessed would come to his rescue, "Yeah, Dumbledore isn't my favorite, but he's annoyingly good. He's not sending kids to deaths."

"Okay, what about this whole bit with Voldemort? Why can't they just let it go?" Ma challenged, "Seems fishy to me that they won't shut up about it…makes you wonder what they're hiding, hmm? What they're trying to distract us from!"

"Nothing!" Nathair said, clearly frustrated, "Nothing, Ma. There's no conspiracy. I don't give two shits whether they're lying or not, but really? If the Minister told you the moon was actually made of cheese, would you try to eat it? I saw the autopsy for that Diggory boy...nothing clear, which always means the Killing Curse. Do you think a fourth-year did that? Be real!"

"Hey!" Dilan snapped, "Stop it, Nath, really!"

"No one knows what happened that night. Only Harry was there. It just seems a tad suspicious, hmm? Is Dumbledore helping him hide the fact that he possibly killed Cedric?" Finn broke in hotly.

"You too? Merlin's balls…" Nathair groaned, "Da! Say something!"

Seamus shoved the door open, staring at the shocked faces of his family.

"You're early," Dilan finally choked out.

"What's this? Shouldn't I be in this conversation too?" Seamus demanded, "I'm bloody nearly fifteen! I'm not a child anymore, Ma." He said.

Nathair snorted behind his hand, "Okay, Sea-,"

"Stop it! Just stop it! Doesn't my wants count for anything?" He said.

"I know it's hard for you to see it, but it's for your own good," Ma said, coming to hold his cheeks in her hands, "Really, baby, I promise."

"Get off me," Seamus said, shucking his boots off and stalking through the family meeting, "I'm going upstairs."

He made sure to slam the door enough to rattle the house when he did, and his door handle burned red hot for hours after.

After what felt like an eternity, his father came knocking with dinner.

"Decided my fate yet?" Seamus asked sarcastically.

"I think I have…swayed your mother into letting you go back," Darragh said. Seamus shot straight up, trying to hide his grin.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I did point out you don't know a lick of French, Durmstrang isn't better, and honestly it would drive your Ma insane to try to homeschool you," Darragh pointed out. Seamus held a secret grin; it seemed his father knew more about the Wizarding world than he cared to admit, "And your Ma isn't ready to send you across the pond to Ilvermony either. So."

"Thank you!" Seamus leapt up, hugging his dad.

"Hug your Ma. Apologize, for both our sakes. She's just trying to protect you. There's so much…uncertainty right now," Darragh said, his expression tired and heavy, "You don't know what the war was like, Seamus. The first one. We can't take another. She's just scared, we all are."

"What changed her mind?"

"She heard through the Owl chain that a new Defense teacher is being considered; a ministry bird. A secretary or something. She figures that if Dumbledores lets Minstry in, it's a start," He squeezed Seamus' leg, "And besides, you know at the first sign of trouble, she's pulling you out." His final words were a warning, no japes.

Seamus nodded somberly, "I know." He swallowed, "What, uhm, what are the chances Ma would let me finish out the summer with Dean?"

Darragh gave a tired sigh, "I'd consider if you want to push your luck, son. But maybe…" He sighed, "Well, let's see."

Seamus apologized to his Ma, made up, and was a perfect son for the next few days.

By the time the 23rd, a week until Hogwarts was to start again, rolled around, Roisin was so pleased with her son's attitude that she gave him the seal of approval to visit Dean.

"A good, sensible, no-trouble boy," She said with a wide smile. It also helped that Seamus hadn't said Hermione's name at all or mentioned her even for a moment since her name had been banned. He moped in his mother's presence just enough to give her the illusion that perhaps they'd broken up.

Okay, he knew lying to his Ma wasn't good, but it was harmless.

He did meet up with Dean, just long enough to ensure that his mother wasn't watching him still before he slipped away until he was greeted by Professor Lupin behind a wall in Diagon Alley. Dean waved him away, meeting up with Hazel in secrecy too. He wasn't just using Dean for his benefit...Dean was using him as a cover as well, and he wished them the best with...whatever they were doing.

He peered around, waiting to see if someone else would appear. No Hermione...yet. He understood the need for the cloak and dagger, but he couldn't help to be a bit disappointed, though tried his best not to let it show. He knew the enormity of being asked to come here...he wanted to seem adult and able to handle this crazy turn of events, and not be seen as childish, so he swallowed back his wishes and focused on his old professor.

Lupin gave a chuckle and a smile. He saw straight through Seamus. He hoped it wouldn't be held against him.

"Hermione trusts you, I hear," Lupin said, "And that is a great gift, boy." He held out his arm, a sign of apparition as their method of traveling.

Seamus nodded, ready to face something bigger than him, and see Hermione again, "Don't I know it."