"Merlin, Hermione! You're on the cover of Witch Weekly!"
Hermione looked at the magazine distastefully as Ginny threw it at her feet, poking it like it was a bomb about to explode.
"Ginny-," She started, sighing heavily.
"I can't believe it. I nearly screamed when I saw it. And that picture of you and Krum? Great Gryffindor!" Ginny said, and Hermione swallowed hard, staring at the photo of her and Viktor at dinner, holding hands.
Krum looked… infatuated with her.
She looked, well, interested enough.
Still.
"I don't need to see a picture of it. I was just with him, you know?" Hermione said, shoving the magazine away anyway, "Besides, didn't you say most of the stuff in there was garbage?"
"Not the recipes. Mum likes to pretend they're family secrets, but unless the editor is our long-lost cousin, we all know where it's really from," Ginny shrugged, "And well, I mean, aren't you…excited?"
Hermione felt caught off guard, "What do you mean?"
"You're…dating Krum? The most eligible bachelor in the entire Wizarding World, basically!" Ginny sputtered.
"You know I don't care about that," Hermione said, her cheeks flushing, not with fond thoughts of Krum, but general embarrassment.
Ginny frowned, examining her, "Sure, but…I mean…" She tilted her head, "Did you have fun with him, at least?"
Hermione forced a smile, "Of course I did. He's very kind, and he let me buy a new book at the store. And I think 'dating' would be an overreaction."
Ginny snorted, "I don't think he feels that way."
Hermione shrugged, almost put out.
"Hermione, forgive me, but I guess I'm just really confused."
"About what?" Hermione said, already having moved on to something else, something better worth her time.
"Do you actually want to be dating Krum? And stop it; you are dating him." Ginny asked, holding up a hand as Hermione tried to protest the verbiage.
"I don't mind going on dates with him, I suppose."
Ginny gawked at her, "You don't mind? You act like he's a dessert choice and don't care for either! And another thing…that's not answering my question at all!" She realized, flailing her finger around.
"I-,"
"It's crazy! But you know what's even crazier?" Ginny continued, "The last time I heard you properly excited about a date was with Seamus! But then you stopped talking after the Yule Ball and I wanted to know, but didn't press, and next thing I know, Krum's saying he's asked you out. And I wanted to support you because, well, it's Krum, and it seemed to be what you wanted, but now I'm just rethinking all of that!"
Hermoine felt her heart race at the mention of Seamus, but she tried to squash it.
She remembered the last time they'd talked; on Valentine's Day, and he'd been downright rude to her.
"Seamus doesn't like me at all, so it's not a bother," Hermione said, biting off a bigger explanation, because her feelings on the subject were wide and unresearched, and she feared saying more would lead her to angry, hurt tears again.
"Screw what Seamus thinks! Or Krum! I'm asking you, Hermione Granger, what you want!"
Hermione studied Ginny, opening and closing her mouth. Then, after a moment, her brow furrowed.
"Of course, I want to date Krum." She said, but her words were almost toneless.
"Really?"
"I suppose…well, it felt like it didn't hurt to say yes when he asked me out. It seemed logical, right? He is, as you put it, very eligible. And he picked me-,"
"What, so it's an ego boost? I thought you didn't care about that."
"No," Hermione huffed, finding it difficult to articulate, "It would feel rude to say no. And perhaps he saw something I didn't. So I said yes. It felt…the least I could try."
Ginny reeled back, "So you said 'yes' as an obligation?"
"I said yes because it made logical sense," Hermione countered, "Without logic, what else do we have?"
Ginny laughed, "You are the dumbest smart person I know, Hermione, and I love you."
"That's not very nice."
"Well, it's true. You are allowed, you know, to just have…feelings. Feelings that aren't logical and don't make sense and are just as valid as anything else."
Hermione stiffened, "I don't know if I have a place within me for that."
"Just…answer me this. If Seamus did actually like you, would you even bother being with Krum?"
Hermione chewed on the tip of her quill, before quickly shaking her head.
"It's two days before the second task, Gin. I don't have time for pointless theoreticals."
Ginny grasped the magazine, holding it between her hands, crumpling it into an accordion, staring at Hermione with such a look…
But Hermione ignored her.
Harry was still woefully unprepared for the next step in the Triwizard Tournament, and Hermione hardly had time to sit up biting her nails about her love life.
There were greater things to worry about in this world.
XXX
Seamus and Hermione did not have a meaningful conversation - one in which neither was being mean or cruel or snippy- until February 24th.
But, to be precise, Seamus noticed Hermione (or, the lack thereof) the night before.
Though he wasn't talking to her, Seamus was excrutiatly aware of where she was at every moment of every day. It was like a curse; whenever she moved, Seamus logged it. He wouldn't call it intently watching, but it was like his brain was hard-wired to Hermioen's radio waves, and he was unable to exist without thinking of her at any given time.
So, when Hermione didn't return from the library near curfew, Seamus was on edge.
Hermione almost never broke curfew.
The one thing that reassured him was that Ron and Harry weren't back either. Not that this was a good thing, but at least it probably meant they were on some hair-brained scheme to help Harry not die tomorrow.
"You seen Hermione?" He asked Lavender as she came through the common room, his leg twitched and his eyes scanned, hoping she'd stumble through the portrait two minutes before curfew.
"Sorry, no. I think she was in the library, though." Lavender said, "It is odd she's not back yet…" She trailed off, "I hope she's not in trouble." Lavender laughed, "She tries to deny it, but trouble is her middle name, you know? Oh, don't worry. I'm sure she'll be in her bed by midnight. She's usually not out later. Go to bed, Seamus." She suggested gently.
It wasn't until the prefects came through that Seamus vacated his spot in view of the portrait hole. Harry and Ron were not back either.
In the morning, their beds were unslept in. And it only took one worried glance to Lavender to know Hermione hadn't returned either.
Seamus felt ill.
He thought of all the times he'd given her the slightly cold shoulder over the past few weeks and wished, with everything, he could take it all back. What if she was really in trouble? What if something was wrong?
What if he never got the chance to tell her everything that his brain had been percolating on the past few months; that she was beautiful and brilliant, and enchanting, and it wasn't just 'fine' that she was going out with Krum, and he should have stood up when she asked him all those months ago
"Eat, Seamus," Lavender urged, pushing a piece of toast toward him.
He swallowed hard. His throat was as dry as a drought, "I can't."
"What's his problem?" Angelina Johson asked, "Because if he's sick or going to vomit, tell him to do it that way," She said. She was sitting to his left, "I cannot be sick for Quidditch practice."
Seamus groaned, putting his head on the table, but turned. His cheek pressed against the sticky Great Hall table, his eyes focused on the entrance.
"He's worried about Hermione," Lavender whispered, though her whispers seemed to be as loud as yelling, "She's not back yet. I haven't seen her since yesterday afternoon, actually. Perhaps we should tell McGonagall-,"
"She knows already," Fred broke in, "Yeah, she asked me and George to grab her and Ron…erm, last night?" He scratched his head.
Seamus pulled his head up, eyes wild, "For what?"
"Dunno, mate," Fred said, apologetically, "But, if she's asking, I'm sure it's fine."
"Really, you'll be even sicker if you have nothing for breakfast," Dean agreed, "We aren't eating till long after the Second Task."
Seamus grumpily took two bites of toast. The piece of bread stayed on his tongue, dissolving, but he couldn't bring himself to swallow.
"I'm sure she'll be at the stands," Lavender said, "She's probably just prepping with Harry last minute. C'mon, I want good seats!" She squealed, grasping Seamus' arm, "I mean, the Black Lake! Ooh; do you think it'll be like water polo? Or maybe an obstacle course."
"But-,"
"Absolutely not, Seamus," Dean agreed, already anticipating his protest, "Let's go." He said, more to Lavender, who it seemed was going to drag him away whether or not he consented to it.
The walk to the Black Lake was dreadful and cold. Seamus sneezed at the wind, putting his hood up and bracing his shoulders.
"I hate both of you."
The viewing stations were rickety and Seamus shivered as they stepped onto the wooden platforms. They seemed to moan and groan with the swaying students and Seamus wasn't convinced they'd all go top over into the icy cold water in one fell swoop.
He grasped onto one of the pillars, pushing himself on the balls of his feet, scanning for Hermione.
Luckily, her wild, curly hair was easily spotted from anywhere.
Unluckily, her distinctive look was nowhere to be seen.
"She's still not here," Seamus whispered frantically to Dean, "I'm starting to really worry-,"
"And you weren't before?" He asked with a tired sigh.
"I'm serious, Dean!" Seamus said, crossing his arms, "What if she went too far with something this time? What if something really went wrong?"
Dean looked at him, jaw hanging half-open, but was unable to say something comforting.
"I'm going to find her! And you can come with me, or you can stay here and watch your stupid game!" Seamus snapped, almost feral.
"Great Gryffindor, Seamus! You're so dramatic," Lavender crossed her arms, "Do you think she'd appreciate you acting like this? Like a buffoon? You're not going anywhere-,"
"Try me," Seamus growled, intending to leave this blasted lake and scour the entire grounds if he had to.
"Well, tough luck, because the bridges just were pulled back," Parvati added, "So I guess you're stuck here. Try not to mope around too much...I want to actually enjoy this."
"Fuck off," Seamus muttered, shoving himself as far away from Parvati and Lavender as he could.
"Welcome to the Second Task!" Dumbledore's booming voice echoed over the still water, "Last night, something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure, of sorts. Each of these four treasures, one for each champion, now lies on the bottom of the Black Lake. In order to win, each Champion need only to find their treasure and return to the surface."
"Wicked!" Dean gasped beside Seamus, nudging him, "C'mon, that's pretty cool, right?" He asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Seamus craned his neck to see Harry on the edge of the platform, shaking out his hands and fingers, looking absolutely stricken.
"What do you think they took from him?" Lavender asked, eyes wide, migrating back over to this side, to see better.
"I could make a really funny, but really inappropriate joke about dead parents, but I want everyone to know I'm not," Fred said, "So...my guess would be all those letters he gets every summer. I mean, that's valuable to him, right?"
"Probably his broom," George suggested.
"His use of the 'Expelliarmus' spell," Parvati threw in her guess, and Lavender let out a roarous laughter behind her hand.
"If it were Ron, they'd just have to hide food at the bottom," George added with a snigger, "Hey...speaking of which, where is he? How pitiful that our dear old brother isn't here to wish him good luck?"
"Some best friend he is," Seamus muttered under his breath. But the same for Hermione…where was she?
If Hermione had gotten in trouble saving Ron from something stupid…well, Seamus made up his mind right then and there that he'd be angry at Ron forever.
It wasn't exactly a hard promise. Ron was currently very far down on his list of favorite Gryffindors. In fact, Seamus was pretty sure some first-year Slytherins beat out Ron.
"One hour…" Lavender's eyes were wide, as she was still listening to Dumbledore, "That's not much time for a really big lake. And, if it's something small…he might be looking a long time." She covered her face with her hands, looking pale.
"They wouldn't just let him die…would they?" Neville asked, face ashen.
"It's the Triwizard Tournament. There's a reason there was an age limit on it," Seamus responded, "Unfortunately."
"And why it was banned for like...forever. You know, kinda barmy it's started up again, with zero safeguards?" Dean said thoughtfully.
As he spoke, they all watched all the other constants gracefully enter the water at the sound of the canon. But not Harry. Harry rather…fell off the platform.
Dean rushed to the edge, and Seamus right behind. He watched the surface with confusion.
"What's the matter with him?"
It seemed like a poor time to be having a fit, didn't it?
Merlin, Harry truly was the unluckiest person Seamus had ever met. How much would it suck to go down in history as the poor sap that had a stroke and drown during the second task after surviving Voldemort?
"I dunno, I can't see him," Dean said, scanning, but it was useless. The Black Lake was aptly named.
"Oh my god, I've killed Harry Potter!" Neville said, turning and grasping his head.
"Who bet Harry?" Fred called out, waving his betting box, "Who wants to bet against Harry?"
"Oi!" Ginny said, arms crossed, "You'd better shove it, Fred! You too, George!"
"We're just making a semi-honest living, little sis," George tutted.
Just as Ginny seemed like she was about to start yelling, the water broke and a mermaid burst from the water, making an arc, and splattering Seamus' face with icy cold droplets.
Except…
"Blimey, it's Harry!" Dean cheered, falling back on his haunches, breathing deeply in relief.
They watched the water for a bit, but soon it became clear.
This was actually, very boring.
"Water Polo would have been far more fun," Dean said, turning his head to look at Lavender, "Maybe you should be on the committee for the Triwizard?"
"Someone finally realizes my brilliance," Lavender teased.
Most of the students were playing games that ranged from totally harmless, to near dangerous enough to drop students off platforms and into the water. Seamus declined a few rounds, still focused on shore, hoping that Hermione would come running down the hill any moment, arms waving, having overslept while reading about a rare charm to breathe underwater last night.
Seamus was beginning to think that they'd been herded out here just to watch the still surface of the water...
Until; "Now that the contestants are safely from range of spoiling the surprise, let us turn our attention to see how they're doing." Dumbledore said, throwing an image up, a picture floating above the water, like a muggle movie without the projector screen.
There were four quadrants, one for each contestant. It didn't follow them like something was attached but rather showed them passing points in the water.
"What's that?" Lavender asked, gasping hard as something slid past Harry's leg, "Oh, I hate this! Yuck! It's like a horror movie!"
"Imagine how it is to be him," Seamus said, snorting.
Something darted in front of the screen. Lavender grasped Parvati squeaking, "I can't look! I can't look!"
"Blimey! Something just grasped Fleur!" Parvati said, giving Lavender a play-by-play, "Whatever's near Harry!"
"Oh man," Seamus muttered, feeling uneasy. He was sure glad this wasn't him.
There was a great worried murmuring from the crowd at Fleur, especially when she did not appear on screen again, only a faint line of bubbles rising from down below.
"Ah, it seems that some of our contestants are getting close," Dumbledore continued, as though the possible murder of a contestant was hardly a worry, "Let's see what treasures have been taken."
The screen switched and at first, Seamus was confused. It was faces.
But, as the screen zoomed in, Seamus knew he was right to not eat anything more this morning.
As it was, he managed to get to the edge of the water and threw up bile before it landed on someone's shoes.
He felt dizzy, grasping onto the wooden blanks, hoping it was just a bad dream. Someone grasped the back of his hoodie, hauling him back on the platform, and everyone gave him a wide berth to lay down, staring up at the lightly swaying structure.
Dean helped him into a sitting position, grasping his violently shivering hands, as Seamus felt something block his throat.
"I think he's having a panic attack!" George called out, but he sounded far away and faint.
Seamus bit on the air, gasping, trying to swallow it down, but it was like his lungs forgot how to function.
"Breathe…it's okay…" Dean said, patting his back, "Focus on me, hey, Sea. C'mon," He placed his hand on the rough wood, "Feel that? And do you smell the fishy stench all about us? And what about...can you hear the crowd cheering for Diggory? Yeah...focus on all that, it's alright."
Someone shoved a glass of water in Seamus' hand and he took small, furious, and sickened sips until he didn't feel like he was going to pass out.
"It's Hermione!" Seamus whispered, staring at Dean with horror, "Why is it Hermione?" He tried to crane his neck to see the screen, but everyone was jostling about, trying to see it now that there was action and intrigue.
Dean looked up, face twisting into a scowl, "Looks like she's for Krum."
Seamus fell back onto the platform, "Even fucking worse." But he couldn't look away, "She's okay, though…right?"
She looked ghastly.
No…she looked dead.
Seamus thought he might be sick all over again.
All Seamus could focus on was Hermione. He barely heard Dumbledore announce that Fleur was out of this round. He didn't even notice that it was also Ron down there until Ginny started crying into her hands. All he could think was that, for once in his life, he was rooting for Krum.
Get her, get her, get her…
Harry swam into view, and cheers rose up. Seamus couldn't even manage that, watching as he went toward Ron, putting his webbed hands on the ginger's cheek.
Ron didn't even flinch.
"It's sick," Seamus whispered, "The contestants signed up for this. Hermione never did! She could be hurt! She could get stuck down there. She-,"
"Woah, Finnegan. I think your affections are showing," Katie Bell sniggered, "You carry on, and everyone and their mother will know how you feel about her soon."
"I don't bloody care!" Seamus snapped, "What if she's hurt? What if-,"
"And Cedric Diggory also is freeing Miss Chang!" Dumbledore announced.
It felt like no time at all that Cedric and Cho were breaking the surface of the water. As soon as Cho hit the chilly air, she gasped, looking around in confusion, eyes wild and frantic.
When Krum grasped Hermione with his shark head, Seamus felt his entire body relax.
"She'll be okay, mate," Dean assured, "See?"
"Not until she's here, dry," Seamus muttered, shaking his head, grasping the edge of the platform so hard he was sure he dug splinters into his palms.
The time between Krum grabbing her rope and her arrival to the surface felt like agonizing egons. Seamus counted each second in his head, sure that some god of time was playing tricks on him, stretching out the seconds just for his prolonged pain.
Hermione appeared from the lake, choking up water. Her cheeks were bright pink from the cold and her hair was as flat as Seamus had ever seen it, matted to her head.
The stand next to Seamus was cheering Krum's name, but Seamus was almost throwing himself off the platform to reach a hand out for Hermione. He so nearly catapulted himself off that if not for Dean grabbing his waist, he may have sent himself into the water too.
"Hermione!" He yelled, hoping she could hear him over the screams of Dumstrang and Diggory fans.
Hermione snapped her head around in the water, eyes flickering to all the faces until she landed on Seamus', and her eyes slid to his outstretched palm.
Her face was twisted in a deep, concerning scowl, but no doubt was she confused and overwhelmed. He saw some of the worry slide off her face. She paddled awkwardly through the choppy, harsh water to the ladder, ignoring Krum trying to encourage her toward the Durmstrang platform.
As soon as her hand touched Seamus', it was like he could breathe again. He clasped it hard, wanting Hermione to know that he had no intention of letting go, and pulled upward.
"Help me, damn it!" Seamus growled to the Gryffindors standing around, eyes wide, and suddenly everyone was hauling Hermione out of the water.
Hermione came up onto the platform and all at once, she was stumbling against Seamus, pushing him over.
As soon as she was on somewhat sturdy land, Seamus wrapped his arms around her, pressing her wet, shivering body against his, engulfing her in a warm, desperate, needy embrace.
Hermione was almost crying against him, not quite, but he could feel the wracks from her body as she tried to keep her emotions in check.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Neville asked as she detached herself, just enough so that Seamus could see her face.
"Cold," She stuttered out, her lips blue.
"Here, here," Seamus took off his outer jacket, placing it over her shoulders, "Someone get a towel, yeah?" He asked, a bit angrily, "Merlin! Can't you see she's freezing?"
Hermione looked around, pulling Seamus' jacket more on her frame, pulling her knees up to her chest. She looked so small and timid, not at all how he knew her.
"What…what's going on?"
"It's the second task. You were underwater, guarded by the Merpeople, for Krum to rescue."
"What?" Hermione asked, "No…what? When McGonagall asked if we'd help last night…" She shook her head, "I don't recall much after that."
"It's fine, you're okay now," Seamus said, rubbing her back, far closer than he should be, but even if he noticed, he wouldn't give much of a damn. He was just so relieved.
"Where are Ron and Harry?" Hermione asked, trying to stand, but Seamus kept her down.
"Hermione, you're freezing cold. Please, stay here," He asked softly. Hermione met his gaze, and it softened. Her fingers brushed over the frayed areas of his coat, as though in deep thought.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, just for him, "You look pale."
"Just glad that you're breathin'," Seamus answered honestly, "You gave me a fright, there."
Behind him, Lavender snorted.
Yeah. He got it. Bit of an understatement, but it didn't seem like the time for a grand confession of feelings and all.
The bell chimed on the hour. Hermione started to struggle up, but Seamus gave her a withering look.
"Really?"
"Harry-,"
"Is surprisingly good at beating death, right?"
There was commotion from the edge of the water. Seamus turned to see Ron and Fleur's sister arrive at the surface…but no Harry.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, still shivering underneath the towel and Seamus' jacket.
"Erm…"
He couldn't even find a lie, because, like a glorious, magnificent fish, Harry threw himself onto the dock, flopping.
"I'll help him, please, just stay there for a bit," Seamus said, grabbing a spare towel from the floor, and patting Harry off, "Someone get him another towel too?"
Somehow, he'd become the voice of reason here, though he was confounded about how that happened.
"Harry!"
Hermione was at his other side, still sopping wet. Seamus sent her a frustrated look, sighing, but she didn't notice, "Are you alright?" She demanded. She took off her towel, though she was far from dry herself, and patted it around his shoulders, now bulky with terrycloth, "You must be freezing!"
"Like you?" Seamus said, and Hermione spared a glance at him, as though realizing what she'd done.
When Hermione placed a kiss on Harry's head, a comforting kiss, all Seamus could think was that he wished that were him.
Until he remembered why Harry was getting a kiss from Hermione, and promptly recanted that desire in his mind.
He liked staying far away from death on a regular basis, thank you very much.
As Dumbledore came to examine Harry, Hermione was pushed against Seamus' side on the platform. When she shivered, Seamus leaned in closer. He pulled her against his chest, closing his eyes, and trying to focus his usual firey explosions inward, warming Hermione as she leaned into him, unstable.
Underneath all the chaos of the scorings, though her focus was on Harry and Dumbledore, Hermoine's icy cold fingers slipped into Seamus' and did not let go.
XXX
"So…you were worried about me?"
It was late in the evening. Seamus was sitting next to Hermione on a couch in the common room, near a Wizarding Chessboard, though neither was playing with much effort. It was clear that Hermione was too spooked to go to bed, but Seamus wasn't leaving her side, so he stuck next to her.
Now that she was back, the adrenaline of the event had worn off, and she just seemed haunted, like she was going to close her eyes and awaken underwater at any moment.
Who could blame her, though?
He looked up from his lazy examination of his board and pieces. He thought he would respond with wit and humor until his gaze met hers. Her expression was fiery and seemed to look right through him, held intently on his expression.
"Bloody terrified, luv," He mumbled, as though her tilted head had peeled away everything until she reached the truth. When she didn't reply, Seamus inhaled hard, feeling like it was an unspoken question to keep talking, "I didn't know where you were…it seemed odd you'd miss Harry's task, you know? And then they showed you on those screens…" He swallowed hard, "You looked dead ."
"It was just a stasis charm." Her voice creaked, and he knew she was seeking logic to ease herself, such as figuring out that the charm meant she wasn't in any danger.
Seamus gave a wry grin, "How was I meant to know that? And they made it seem like…well, if Krum hadn't grabbed you…you'd be left."
Hermione scoffed, "Oh, Dumbledore wouldn't actually let that happen. I mean…" She paused, gnawing on her lip, "He wouldn't, right?"
Seamus knew Hermione seemed to worship Dumbledore. Seamus liked him plenty, don't get it mixed up, but he was a bit more aware of the blind spots Hermione was missing.
"I dunno," He answered honestly, "He's put kids in jeopardy before. But I like to think so. Still…" Seamus sighed, moving a piece for, at least, the attempt to look like they had reason to be down here, "It really set my heart going. I think...I would have gone down there for you myself if I had to."
Hermione pulled her sherpa blanket around her shoulders, still shivering, digesting Seamus' words.
"Has yer hot coco gone cold?" Seamus asked, noticing that there was no longer a faint rise of steam from it.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Hermione said, but Seamus was already grasping it and pressing his hands to it.
"You know, I am a witch, right?" She asked with a bit of laughter when he handed back a warm mug.
"Oh, don't I know it?" He chuckled, settling back in, not quite relaxing until she took a sip, "But, well, call it a perk of mine."
"Reheating mugs with wandless magic?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, but he knew she was mostly just teasing. She'd been front row to more than just a few of his explosions.
"Exactly," He winked, "You'll never want for a warm mug again. These hands gotta come in handy somehow," Seamus said, raising them, "They sure as hell aren't getting me good grades. I'm like Midas; except everything I touch explodes."
"You ever looked into that?" Hermione asked, clearly curious, examining Seamus in an academic sort of frown.
"My mum did when I set my first bassinet on fire," Seamus said, "But not much dug up. Some kids just are bursting with magic, I suppose. Mine is just…less controlled."
"So wayward magic, you think?"
"I don't know. I've stopped asking 'why' and started asking 'what can it do for me'." He flexed his hands, "I'm still working on that part, granted. I only considered trying to…funnel it this year."
"Fascinating," Hermione said, almost a purr, and Seamus felt his heart thud fast. He should be offended that Hermione was looking at him like another research project, but he'd always had such low opinions of his pyrotechnic capabilities. To hear someone be so…invested in it, so interested…well, it made him feel like perhaps it wasn't the blight he imagined it to be, "Anyway…" She raised her mug in a cheer, "Thanks. For this. And…" she trailed off, her fingertips tapping on the ceramic of the glass, "Everything. You don't have to be here."
"I want to," Seamus replied simply.
"But why?" Hermione asked, "Most Gryffindors are celebrating Harry's second place."
"Because if I leave, chances are you'll go fuss over Ron or Harry. They can figure out what to do with themselves for a night. It's your night to be taken care of."
Hermione blinked hard, looking between the chess board, the blanket he'd put on the chair, to her mug, as though she hadn't realized this was a form of self-care. Seamus could almost see her start to argue, so he continued.
"You went through a trauma, whether or not you think you're fine now…I remember that look on your face when you woke up. And more than that, you've run yourself ragged trying to help Harry prepare. Well, now the second task is over. Tomorrow's Sunday…there's no reason to do homework. Let's be honest…you've already completed next week's already as well. You can't save everyone and forget to save yourself."
Hermione ducked her head, grinning slightly.
"Still, Seamus. It means a lot for me to be here."
Seamus swallowed, forcing a soft smile.
"I'm just getting all the time I can, luv, until…" He trailed off.
"Until?"
"Well, I figured that if you could, you'd be with Krum, ya ken?" He said quietly, "Where's your next date planned for, huh?"
He couldn't help the tiniest bit of venom in his tone. Immediately, he wished he could take it back, because of the look on Hermione's face.
He was better than that.
His Mam would be so ashamed if she knew.
Hermione, though, drummed her fingers on the mug, staring at Seamus in such an unexpected way. Her gaze slipped a bit, and he saw her staring at Ginny across the way, before she looked back at Seamus, like she'd just realized something herself. Or, rather, she had a decisive look, like she'd just untangled a riddle.
"No, I wouldn't. I want to be here too." She said simply, raising her chin, as though daring Seamus to correct her.
"But surely-,"
"But nothing," Hermione said dismissively, sipping her drink, "Krum is…well, he's very kind. And I enjoy his company….but as a friend. I think this whole affair has really made that clear for me. And as it is, I don't want to just be 'Krum's Girlfriend'."
"Right, so you choose me because I'm not going to amount to anything?" Seamus asked dryly. He wasn't offended. Being 'Hermione Granger's Girlfriend' was, honestly, about the best he could do, going forward, and he'd be gleeful for that title.
"Stop it," Hermione said sharply, furiously, "Don't do that. It's not…Merlin, Seamus, can't you get it?" She asked, looking vexed, "I'm trying to tell you that I…I…" She ground her teeth, "I like you."
Seamus stared at her, jaw open, completely blindsided.
"You-,"
As he was about to respond, Jack Sloper and Demelza Robins called to Hermione, coming up with a look in their eyes as they strode across the common room. Before they reached Hermione, however, Lavender and Parvati got up suddenly from the spot they were sitting, a table away, and set down their nail polish.
"Nuh-uh. Turn around." Lavender said, crossing her arms.
Hermione sent Seamus a bewildered look, but Seamus, not comprehending either, just shrugged.
"But we just wanted to-,"
"Bother Hermione?" Parvati jumped in, "Yeah? I thought so. Shoo. Can't you see she's recovering?"
The pair of girls stood like sentries between Seamus and Hermione, arms crossed, staring them down. After a few moments, Jack and Demelza realized their plight was useless and sighed, turning around.
Then, as though nothing had happened, the girls sat back down, swapping lip gloss colors and lapsing into friendly conversation.
Seamus turned to Hermione to see the look on her face that was on his; curiosity. They hadn't had anyone come up and badger her all night, which was odd. Ron had nearly gotten swamped with questions before Harry had shoved him up to the boy's room. He'd thought that maybe people found Hermione intimidating, as he did previously, but now…now he wondered.
As he turned around in his chair, Lavender sent a casual glance back. He caught her expression for just a brief pause, but it was enough to tell him that it was no accident that they'd been left unbothered this entire time.
"Blimey…" Seamus said with a quiet laugh, "I'm sure you're used to it, huh? People asking questions about everything."
"Sort of," Hermione shrugged, "I'd be curious if I were them too. I'm still trying to riddle out what happened to me today…and the previous three years," She added with a snort, "Where were we?"
"I think…" Seamus coughed, blushing, "Perhaps you had just…admitted that you fancied me?"
Now it was Hermione's turn; her cheeks burned and he saw the tips of her ears, underneath her bush of hair, tinged with pink.
"You didn't hear wrong," She admitted quietly. One hand slipped to reach for his, tentatively, until Seamus closed the space and grasped it tightly, "You?"
As though she needed to ask.
"Oh, geez, I'm over the moon, right?" Seamus replied with a rough laugh.
"But I thought…" Hermine's face pinched in confusion, "You told me to go on a date with Krum. Or did you just realize?"
"Naw, I was just…" Seamus groaned, "Stupid? I mean, I thought…well, of course, we're just here as friends, and Krum. He's…he's Krum. Why wouldn't you want to go on a date with him? I didn't want to be the guy who held Hermione Granger back from dating a Quidditch star, right? Krum is Krum and I'm that kid that blows things up in class, usually by accident." He held two hands on different scales, "I'm a footnote."
"Seamus Finnegan, I'll have you know that I'd choose you over Viktor any day!" Hermione whispered, "I dated him…it's not all you think it would be. I'd rather date you."
"Horrible choice, I'm sure," Seamus replied, not quite believing his ears.
"Perhaps," She agreed teasingly, knowing he wouldn't be offended. On the flip side, Seamus was glad she could add some levity to the situation at hand. She glanced around. Though the common room was quieter and mostly emptied out, it didn't mean they were alone and private, "I'd like to kiss you, but not here," She whispered, daring someone to pop out or ruin the moment.
"It seems like a proper date is in order," Seamus agreed, his fingers rubbing over her knuckles, "It's enough for me, though, to let you kick my arse in chess."
Hermione grinned.
That's exactly what she did.
Seamus didn't mind losing, not to Hermione Granger.
Besides, he was the one that truly felt like the winner tonight.