Seamus heard absolutely nothing for an agonizingly worrying eighteen hours.
Nothing from Ron, Harry, or Hermione.
And no one else knew anything either; it just seemed the Weasleys had vanished from the school, while Harry and Hermione were pulled elsewhere.
"Sorry you can't say goodbye to her, but she wanted us to pass along her love," Lavender said apologetically to Seamus at breakfast.
He choked a bit on his eggs, "Love?"
Sometimes, he wondered who would be the first to say it. This would be a right shite way to announce it, though.
"Well, I'm paraphrasing," Lavender shrugged, no worries that she'd just given him a heart attack, "You know, it's…" She shrugged.
"Right," Seamus ducked his head.
He was once again paired with Enya to take alternative methods back home, but at least they were better friends this time around. They had plenty to talk about - namely the D.A. - as they swapped tricks and methods for acing the spells they were both stumbling over.
"Never thought you'd take such an interest in dueling club!" Mr. Moran said excitedly, overhearing their conversation, "You know, I was a-,"
"Three-time champion when you were in school. Yes, Da, I know," Enya rolled her eyes.
"Maybe we can do a round or two over the holidays? Show me what you've learned. Now that you're 17 and all!"
Enya sent Seamus an amused look at her father's excitement, "Sure." She agreed, "But I'll warn ya, I might just surprise you."
"Gotta say, I'm glad that Umbridge is installing proper wizarding traditions back in school, like a dueling club," Mr. Moran continued. Seamus pressed his fingernails into his hands.
But Enya, unable to say anything about the D.A. due to the spell, humored her father.
"Well, I'm just glad there is one," She said, skirting from agreeing or disagreeing.
"Thought you hated Umbridge?" He asked Enya when they paused for snacks and her dad was out of earshot.
"Sure, much as the next person. But if I start something now, the holidays will be long ." She rolled her eyes, "Mum and Dad think Umbridge invented Floo powder, basically."
"I don't know why you wouldn't stand up for what you believe in," Seamus said bitterly. He knew he'd get in fights with his parents during the holidays, but so what?
Enya looked at Seamus with one quirked eyebrow. Her gaze traveled to his nose, as though she could see how many times it had been broken and reset and her lips quirked into a miniature knowing smile, "Well, we all can't be Gryffindors," She said somewhat patronizingly.
"It's not about houses, Enya," Seamus whispered with a furious hush, "If we aren't telling our parents what's really going on, they'll believe whatever swill the Ministry is writin'!" He whispered hotly, "Don't you want to be able to be yourself? Without Umbridge deciding every little piece of yer life? "
Enya froze, snapping around, "What do you mean?"
"You and Zara-,"
Enya's eyes grew wide, panicked, "Shh! My parents don't know," She slapped a hand over Seamus' mouth, "Wait, how do you know? We're not…" She licked her lips, "Open about it."
"I have eyes," Seamus mumbled sarcastically underneath her palm.
Enya regarded him warily.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, I dinnae care who you fancy. There's much bigger things in this world to worry about." Seamus said, throwing up his hands.
Enya still looked on edge, "Not everyone would agree, Finnigan," She said quietly.
"Well, they can shove it up their arse then," Seamus said.
Enya leaned against the car, a genuine smile creeping on her face, "Thanks, Seamus. It does mean a lot, even if you don't fully understand why."
Mr. Moran was basically bounding back to the car, "I got sweets, I got crisps, and I have lemonade and water. Who wants what?"
Once again, it was late when Seamus arrived home. This time, Nathair and Dillon were absent, thank Merlin.
It was just Finn, sobbing in the kitchen. Mam was rubbing her shoulders comfortingly.
"Merlin, Finn, what's wrong? Who died? Great Auntie?" He asked, sure of it. Great Auntie was over 100, and with every slight breeze, the Finneigan family was sure she was about to kick the bucket.
"It's so horrible!" Finn sobbed, pressing tissues to her eyes, "About Mr. Weasley!"
Seamus dropped his bad, "What?" He croaked, incredulous that she'd know before he would, "What do you mean?" He demanded. This had to be what Harry was going on about, "Was it a snake?"
"How…how did you know?" Finn asked, her sobbing stopped up.
"Information moves far too freely through Dumbledore," Mam said disparagingly, "That's how!"
Seamus ignored his mother entirely, "Finn! Focus!" He demanded, snapping his fingers twice.
"Mr. Weasley was working late and, we're not sure how, but a snake attacked him! Oh, he's half to death!" She said.
"And Percy left to be with his father?" Seamus asked.
"No, well, of course not," Finn sniffled, rubbing her nose, "He couldn't, you see, associate with them…"
"Then…why are you crying?" Seamus asked, "Why do you care?"
"He's very upset about it, Seamus!" Finn said hotly, "And I'm an empath, you know! Being in that office is overwhelming, and I came home for a little sympathy-"
Seamus rolled his eyes, "Right. Okay, Finn." He sighed, though he couldn't help his biting tone, "I'm sure it's a trying time for Percy, you know, refusing to be with his half-dead father when he just…could."
"Seamus Finnegan, if you're going to be mean, just…go to bed!" His mother pointed upstairs, "I don't have time for this tonight," She said, as though being told the truth irked her, "And you'd better hope that we're so lucky that nothing like this ever befalls us!"
"If it did, I'd be right there next to Da! I'd skip all my O. or quit my stuffy job or...or anything!" Seamus snapped, "And if you think it's just dandy that Percy isn't going, well… you're all the problem!" He stormed upstairs, and dropped his things with a resounding 'thud'.
Three weeks of Yule Hols seemed like a prison sentence already.
XXX
The next morning, Seamus told his mother he needed to go to the nearest town because he hadn't gotten a chance to get Christmas presents at Hogsmeade.
It wasn't a lie; he hadn't.
And this is why he was fairly sure his mother allowed him to go. She absolutely could tell when he was lying, he just knew it.
But it wasn't entirely honest. Enya lived about an hour's walk from the town center, and Seamus was determined to get a letter to Hermione.
It was a lot to walk two hours, but he needed the exercise and he'd do anything for her.
Thank Merlin Enya was more than willing to aid and abet him.
When the letter was 'returned to sender' via letter-owl a day later (and Seamus was lucky enough to get the mail that day, before his mother saw it) he was almost sure his mother had something to do with it.
However, when Enya arrived a day after that - three days after returning from Hogwarts, on the 23rd, with a white lie that Seamus had left one of his school books in her father's car - she came with the only letter from Hermione that Seamus would get at his mother's house.
Imagine his confusion when he saw that it did not originate from a chalet in France, but instead a location in London. When he read on, it became startlingly obvious. In fact, he should have expected it.
Hermione went to be with the Weasleys, of course, as they sat vigil for Arthur.
He was pulling through, it seemed, though stuck at St. Mungo's for the next couple of days, just to rest. The family was there as often as they could, and Hermione said that she was told she would be allowed to visit with Harry on Christmas Day as a treat.
Right now, however, she was just doing a lot of 'being there' as a good friend for Ron, Ginny, and the twins.
It came with an invitation for Seamus to join them at Grimmauld Place, though it seemed she already knew that was a long shot.
Still, she wanted to extend the invitation and show Seamus that he was wanted and accepted.
She also wrote that Harry was doing better, though it had been unclear what transpired that night, or how he knew about the attack.
She didn't explicitly say it in her letters, but she was worried it was Voldemort's doing. And if Voldemort had done it just to show Harry he could…what else could he do?
It unsettled Seamus too.
For the first time, he felt like he was the parent at home, and his parents were children. His Mam sat there rambling on and on about all the stupid things she read in the Prophet, about how it must be true, while also worrying absolutely about such pointless things. And his Da just blindly nodded along, refusing to challenge her!
She had no idea that Seamus was picking at his dinner, wondering if Voldemort was coming for their heads, or if war was just on the horizon.
He didn't have time to smuggle another letter to Hermione, nor do much else, because his Mam put him to work after Enya left, and Seamus barely got a spare moment to read Hermione's letter.
He didn't even think Mam was doing it to annoy him. She was always thrown into a tizzy around the holidays, and this was no expectation. She was hosting the hols this year, meaning that she was extra frantic, and Da was hardly a help.
The last time it had been Mam's turn, the twins and Finn had still been in school, so the chore load had been split between four.
Finn came for a moment on the night of the 23rd before realizing what year it was and found an excuse to quickly vanish, meaning Seamus was doing basically everything.
Between hanging decorations, helping his Mam prep food and charm the back bedroom to fit the entire family tree, making approximately a thousand beds (well, that's how it felt), and cleaning places that no one would see or care, Seamus was bloody exhausted by the time people started arriving the night of the 24th.
Seamus had mentally prepared for the same questions from his extended family over and over:
Yes, he was preparing for his O. Yes, it was a very trying year Yes, he did hope to get at least three No, he hadn't given thought to what he wanted to do with his life post-Hogwarts Yes, in fact, he did have a girlfriend, perhaps you've heard of her? Hermione Granger? (It was usually at this point his mother would pull him away before he could talk about her more)And if anyone said anything about Umbridge, Seamus took it upon himself to find a reason to put a halt to that line of questioning.
He could only handle so much without setting someone's hems on fire from the sheer exhaustion of trying to explain why Umbridge was the worst thing that had ever happened to Hogwarts.
Finn and the twins were smart to be joining them for Christmas Day, as he doubted they were looking forward to these conversations with elderly relatives who pinched cheeks and gave enough unhelpful criticism to last a lifetime.
Like; "You still havin' trouble with that fire magic of yours?"
Seamus sighed, "I wouldn't call it trouble."
"The problem with young wizards these days is no control! That's why you're sparkin' out! You know what happened in Hogwarts if we got in trouble?"
"I'm sure you'll tell me-,"
"We got the slapping stick! A little bruising is good to keep yer magic in check!"
Seamus ground his teeth, "Right. Sure. Corporal punishment."
But, he would take two million old, crotchety aunts, uncles, and grandparents if it meant avoiding his cousin Fergus.
Seamus had a whole host of cousins. He was the youngest of the group, as his aunts and uncles all were older than his Mam and had kids quickly, and most of them were perfectly fine folk. He had some fond memories of causing trouble in his youth with them, but they weren't particularly close, especially after going through Hogwarts and leaving him behind. He still was polite with them, and even had fun in a few moments…except for Fergus.
Fergus was the worst .
A year older than the twins, but you'd think he was still in Hogwarts with how childish he was.
He delighted in using his apparition skills to pop right behind his targets, usually Seamus, and scare the bloody life out of them.
If it was just once, well, that would be one thing.
But it was every time he saw Seamus across the room.
Seamus really wished he had Harry's invisibilty cloak to make sure that Fergus never found him. Seamus had started the absurd practice of standing with his back against a wall at all times, assuring that Fergus could never get behind him. Moody, the real Moody, would be so feckin' proud. Constant vigilance was all Seamus was doing as long as Fergus was in 100 meters of him!
He was going up to his room, thinking he'd done it, when Fergus appeared behind him on the stairs.
"Oi, Sea!"
Seamus nearly fell over the railing.
"No fair, Fergus! Not on the stairs!" He snapped.
"Ooh, poor Seamus, can't take a little joke, can he?" Fergus whined in a loud, annoying tone, "Are you gunna tell on me?" He teased.
Not that his Aunt would care a lick. It was her babying of Fergus, and absolute barmy insistence that he was Merlin's gift to wizards and witches everywhere, that led to his sort of behavior. Apparently something with loosin' all the rest of her wains before they were born, so he understood his Aunt's worrying about Fergus, but Great Gryffindor she had to realize the absolute bloody disservice she'd done, hadn't she? It was bad enough she went about callin' Fergus her 'miracle boy', and even worse when he picked up and used the moniker himself. Blech.
The only miracle about Fergus was how no one had murdered him yet.
"No, Fergus. I'm just going to bed," Seamus groaned, running a tired hand over his face, "Goodnight," He said pointedly.
"Wait there, little Sea. I've barely seen ya."
Oh, really? You've noticed me avoiding you? Perfect.
"We'll talk tomorrow, I'm sure."
"I just wanna ask. I've read all of Skeeter's articles, and well…" Fergus said, popping in front of Seamus, blocking his way, "Is Hermione Granger as stuck up in the sack as she seems to be at Hogwarts, or does she put out? You know, birds like that are always a riot in bed, plowin' through as many wizards as she ca-"
He never finished his statement.
When all the adults found Seamus wailing on Fergus at the foot of the stairs, it took one of his uncles and his Da to pull him off.
"Up. To. Your. Room!" His mother yelled, pointing furiously. Her face was bright red, "And you should hope Santa comes at all for this behavior, Seamus! How dare you do this in front of the family! I'll never hear the end of it-,"
"Fergus started it!" Seamus tried to explain, but the muttering of the extended family drowned out his protests. Fergus wailed pathetically from where he lay on the floor.
"It was just a joke!" Fergus was sputtering, "Can't help it if Seamus is a big baby!"
"You shoulda heard him, Da!" Seamus snarled as his dad dragged him upstairs, "What he insinuated about Hermione!"
His father was halfway out the door, and paused, tensing.
Though he didn't think his Da was upset that he defended her honor, he was in a hard position that Seamus was now very unpopular amongst his family, while Fergus moaned and cried downstairs like Seamus had cut his leg off.
"First one to anger loses," His father just said with a sigh, and Seamus felt his stomach roll.
He grasped his pillow, shoved his face into it, and screamed.
The next morning, he awoke to Dilan sitting on the end of his bed.
"How angry is Mam?" He asked with a wince. Dillan's face was a deep scowl.
"Bloody furious. According to her, you've practically ruined Christmas."
"You're serious," Seamus groaned.
"You know how important it is to look good for her older siblings," Dilan said with a long sigh, "And Fergus is milking it…he has a black eye."
Seamus wanted to strangle himself with the blanket. No, he wanted to strangle Fergus with a blanket.
He wanted to melt into his bed so he wouldn't have to suffer through what was sure to be the worst Christmas ever.
"Leave me here to die," He said, digging his face into the duvet. Dilan didn't say anything, but he didn't move either.
When he looked up though, Dilan's palm was raised.
"What?"
"Don't leave me hanging," Dilan said. Seamus high-fived him, though was still confused, "Man, do you know how long Nathair and I have wanted to punch Fergus' face in? He's insufferable. Totally deserves it."
Seamus let a grin crack over his face.
"Thanks, Dil."
"Us Finnegan siblings are on your side of it," Dilan said, "I don't even know what he said, but I'm 100% sure he deserved it."
"Can you tell Mam that?"
"Finn did. Loudly. In front of Fergus too." Dilan said, and nudged Seamus' shoulder, "And if anyone gives you crap today, we got you."
Seamus felt a bit better about his Christmas. He looked up at Dilan, his eyes watery and when he spoke, his voice cracked; "Thanks."
"Hey, don't get sappy on me. Only we're allowed to push you around," Dilan said, standing, "Duh."
Seamus beamed. Having siblings sort of sucked sometimes, but other times, it was sort of alright.
XXX
Hermione sat against the wall of Grimmauld Place, twirling her wand in her fingers as she stared at the peeling wallpaper, wishing sometimes her mind would just stop.
In reality, this break had very little to do. Showing moral support actually had very little inaction, as it turned out. Arthur was still laid up and only taking family members, so Hermione being here, while a nice gesture, turned into not much for her to actually do. Not that she could have been skiing either, wracked with worry. She wouldn't have had any fun there either.
Mrs. Weasley insisted there weren't any chores that needed to be done, and while Hermione and Harry both took turns trying to distract their friends it wasn't like Sirius' house came with a thousand board games for them to do, or even enjoyable books.
Which left Hermione with free time, basically. And of course, she should be capitalizing on that opportunity, but her brain couldn't decide which direction to go in and it was vexing her, yet all she could do was sit and stare ahead.
As it was, there were about thirty different paths that her mind was weaving through.
She thought about Mr. Weasley and the circumstance of his attack, and if there was a lesson to be had or learned from it, something to help with this growing battle.
She was focused on her own research with bloodlines and magical activity, half-scribbled notes in her notebook.
She was thinking of her parents and all the lies she told them, and how startlingly unaware of her world they were, and she was wondering if they were missing her or enjoying their time skiing. She also wondered if it would have been better to go with them because Ron and Ginny both said that they wouldn't have been offended if she had just checked in with letters.
She worried about the D.A., trying to take things off Harry's plate and help him.
She thought about the upcoming O.W.L.s and how they would feel this much closer after hols.
And, of course, she thought about Seamus.
Often.
The reason she'd picked this spot, is that when she half-closed her eyes, she could almost see the ghostly memories of themselves this past summer, against this very hallway where Seamus had pushed her against the wall, knotted his fingers in her hair, and kissed her like his life had depended upon it.
It was heavenly.
She wished, so much, that he could be here too right now, though understood why he couldn't.
The letter she'd received before leaving for break from the unexpected sender was clenched in her fingers, as she contemplated the offer within.
"Whatcha doing on the floor?"
Hermione looked up to see Ron.
"How's your Dad?"
"Same as before," Ron shrugged, uncomfortable, "Well, no, not worse I guess."
"Good."
"I answered your question, now answer mine. Why are you on the floor?"
"You think the chairs are more comfortable?" Hermione asked dryly. Ron chuckled, sliding down next to her.
"Ohh! What's this?" Ron asked, and before she could stop him, he plucked the letter from her fingers.
"That's…private-," She began to protest, but he was already skimming it.
"Pfft; we have no secrets between us," Ron said, laughing at the idea.
"Ron-,"
"You're going, aren't you?" He asked when he finished, folding it nicely, but not handing it back. Hermione flexed her wand.
"I haven't decided."
"Well, you have to!" Ron guffawed, "I can't believe you're not even considering this!"
"I'm considering it plenty," Hermione said stiffly, "But with your Dad laid up-,"
"It's one day," Ron raised an eyebrow.
"What's one day?" Harry asked, poking his head through a doorway.
"Hermione is being stupid," Ron said, to which Hermione made a series of offended squawks, "Look!"
He handed Harry the letter.
Harry took more time to read it through, his eyebrows raising in surprise.
"Well, you should go," Harry said when he was done, "If you're on the fence."
"I can decide myself."
"Apparently not," Ron said, pushing himself from the floor, "That's it, I'm getting Mum involved. We'll figure out someone to bring you there and back."
"Ronald, don't! I don't want to add any more stress to this holiday," Hermione said, grasping for his wrist.
"One of us deserves to bloody enjoy ourselves," Ron said, "So shut up and let me organize this for you, yeah?"
Despite her annoyance, Hermione let a small smile crack through, "Fine. But only because I'm accepting this as your Christmas gift to me."
"Perfect," Ron said with a toothy smile, "I hadn't gotten 'round to picking one up anyway."
XXX
Seamus made out decently well for Christmas. He mostly got money, so he could do what he pleased with it, along with a few mothering essentials like socks and underwear. He had no idea if his gift pile was bigger or smaller due to the whole Fergus incident, but he'd take fewer gifts any year for Fergus to stay clear of him in exchange, which is how things had shaken out. Once Fergus realized all the cousins (even the ones that weren't Seamus' siblings) were against him, his tail tucked, licked his wounds, and kept quiet.
The best gift would come later, on the night of the 29th.
Well, second best gift.
Nathair tapped on his bedroom door. Seamus looked up from one of his books. He'd been trying to keep away from Mam this whole break, feeling like whenever they talked, they just got into fights.
"Things are tense here, huh?" He asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"You have no idea," Seamus said darkly, marking his page. He didn't feel like getting into it, so said no more.
"I talked to Mam. I convinced her that maybe a change of scenery would be good for you. She wasn't up for it originally, but after Fergus…well…"
This caught Seamus' attention, "Oh, Merlin, I'm not going to Great Aunties?" He groaned. Everything in her house smelled like Vaseline and medicinal cream. It was a common 'straighten out' vacation spot for Finnegan ilk who misbehaved. After his cousin Donovan nearly got a girl pregnant he was sent there a summer, and after his cousin Bria was found with the equivalent of Wizarding weed (enough to kill a horse) in her fourth year, she spent her three net hols 'getting her head on straight' there.
"Do you take me for a sociopath?" Nathair asked, eyes wide, "No, I convinced her that the rest of your break might be best spent with me."
Seamus blinked hard in surprise, "Why would you do anything nice for me?" He asked suspiciously, "We haven't been friends for years."
"You're still my baby brother," Nathair said, not denying his previous statement, "And if I have to hear from Mam about another fight you two had…" he clicked his tongue and shook his head, "I mean, we all had our teenage rebellion, but you-,"
"Are you meant to be making me feel better or worse?" Seamus cut him off hotly.
"I'm going to bat for you, I'm not your enemy," Nathair said evenly, narrowing his eyes, "Anyway, pack what you need; I'll be taking you until you go back to Hogwarts." He hesitated, "So."
Seamus tilted his head, examining him, trying to figure out what the catch was. Finally, when nothing was obvious (other than perhaps vying for Ma's favorite kid, the savior brother) Seamus shrugged.
"Better than here," He mumbled.
He packed his things quickly, never really having unpacked much to begin with. He said bye to his Da and forced a smile to hug his Mam, who was just overjoyed that two of her children were spending time together without forcing it. He could also see a hint of relief in her eyes; Seamus understood that he wasn't making it easy for her lately, though he didn't think it was entirely his fault to blame.
No matter.
Nathair had a very clean flat near St. Mungo's.
Seamus couldn't help but ask.
"You hear about Mr. Weasley?"
Nathair nodded, "Course, but it's not my problem. I'm not on long-term care." Seamus knew that Nathair was in the emergency room, and he lived for that adrenaline and probably being the best in any situation.
His Slytherin nature thrived on it.
Nathair had a guest bedroom, and the first night and day after, Seamus just got settled in. Nathair had to work anyway, and Seamus found ways to entertain himself. Just having time to breathe without his Mam's barmy opinions was present enough.
When Seamus awoke the next morning, Nathair was sipping coffee and reading a magical medical journal.
"Want a cuppa?" Nathair asked, uncrossing his legs and standing.
"Erm, sure?"
There was a beat of silence before Nathair sighed, "I know it's your birthday."
"Are you going to wish me one?" Seamus asked, leaning on his kitchen counter, eyebrows raised. Nathair poured him a cup, staring at him and sighing.
"Bloody sixteen already…" He muttered to himself, shaking his head. Seamus took it to show that this was as close as Nathair would get to giving him any notice of it, because Merlin forbid he showed too much brotherly affection, right?
Seamus grinned mischievously, "Yeah, Nath. If I'm sixteen…well, you're getting old."
Nathair grinned over his mug.
"What time do you go in today?" Seamus asked, "And any fun cases last night?"
"No, nothing noteworthy. All pretty mundane," Nathair pouted, "And I have a night shift, so I figured we'd do something this morning."
Seamus narrowed his eyes, "'Do something' as in finding something to do, or 'do something' as in you have plans for us?"
Nathair didn't answer, just flicked his wrist to look at his watch, eyebrows raised as though waiting for a certain moment. Just as Seamus opened his mouth to complain about what a wanker Nathair could be sometimes, there was a knock on the door.
"Perfectly on time," Nathair said to himself. Seamus was deeply confused, especially when Nathair just settled back in his chair.
"Aren't you going to get it?"
"I think it's for you, little Sea," Nathair said, his tone revealing nothing. It could be just an edible arrangement or the bloody Queen of England, and Seamus wouldn't be able to divine which from his body language.
Hesitant yet curious, Seamus opened the knob and opened the door slowly.
And then, he flung it the rest of the way open.
"Hermione!"
She turned, clearly wondering if she had the right flat, and her eyes lit up.
"Oh, Seamus!" She said, hugging him tightly, her arms braided around the back of his neck, as she pressed herself into his chest, "Happy birthday!"
Seamus swayed into the hug, a wide, unstoppable grin across his face, "Cor, I should have known you'd plan something like this," He said, kissing her temple.
"Actually," Hermione pulled back, "It was all Nathair."
Seamus tensed, "What?"
Heroine untangled herself from his grasp, pulling out a very wrinkled letter, "He sent me an owl on the last day of school. He told me that you'd be with him most of the holiday and wanted to see if I could meet up for your birthday."
Seamus turned, tilting his head, "I thought Mam wasn't on board until Fergus? Did you put him up to it?" He asked, suddenly furious, but also grateful at the same time, if it was some big scheme.
"Of course not," Nathair rolled his eyes, "But…did I make an educated guess that Fergus would say something absolutely stupid in front of you, and do I know you tend to jump into fights? Sure. And did I also know that Mam has about had it?" He shrugged, "You're terribly predictable sometimes."
"Great Gryffindor…" Seamus muttered, unsure whether to be embarrassed or upset.
"Even if you didn't muck up Mam's Christmas, I would have convinced her one way or another. And we both know Mam would never let Hermione come to you." He raised his mug, "Happy sixteenth."
"I don't think we met properly, other than owls. Nice to meet you," Hermione said, going right up to Nathair, sticking her hand out. Nathair looked amused.
"Well, we've all heard about you, Miss Granger," He said, "Nice to see who's got Seamus blushing red at the mere mention of-,"
"Nathair," Seamus coughed sharply.
"If I can't make jokes at your expense with your girlfriend, I'm not fulfilling my brotherly duties," Nathair said, grinning.
"I just don't want you to offend her-,"
"Her?" Nathair stared at Seamus, "I would never. I do hope to bother you, though. Plus, any girl to put up with you is a saint." He glanced over at Hermione.
"You said something about doing something?" Seamus asked, desperate to fill their time with things to do instead of ragging on him some more.
"Of course," Nathair said, grabbing his jacket and coat, "Do you like Quidditch, Hermione?"
She winced, "Not as much as I likely should."
"Neither do I. However, Seamus' favorite team, the Kenmare Kestrels, is playing the Chudly Cannons this morning, and it seemed like a good enough time. I have a friend who has box seats and was willing to give them to us."
"You're joking!" Seamus said, face bright, "No fucking way!"
"That sounds fun," Hermione said earnestly, "I've never been to a local match…only the World Cup, and, well…" She trailed off, swallowing hard. Whether she was remembering Viktor or Death Eaters, neither path was exactly pleasant.
They took themselves down to the Floo station and were at the stadium of the Cannons within the hour. Nathair bought Seamus (and Hermione) jerseys to wear, very cavalier about spending money, it seemed.
"It's your birthday, mate," He said when Seamus tried to protest, "And you're wearing orange," He added when Hermione tried to offer him money, "Can't be for the opposing team."
"Ron'll flip a gasket when he sees me wearing this," Hermione said, but seemed delighted at the idea, "And probably amazed you were able to convince me to go to any game."
Seamus couldn't recall a birthday that had felt so perfect in such a very long time. He was away from the thumb of his Mam, he was bonding with a brother who he had previously thought didn't like him, he got to see his favorite team absolutely demolish their opponents, and he got to see his girlfriend the entire time. What a sweet sixteen it truly was.
He couldn't have made a better day if he tried.