I KNOW THAT SEAMUS AND ROSE LITERALLY HAVEN'T HAD ANY TIME TOGETHER LATELY, SO I FIGURED I'D GIVE YOU GUYS A LOVELY LITTLE OPENING SCENE FEATURING THE REUNION BETWEEN THE PAIR. ENJOY!
GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!
~ONE SEPTIC MARKIPLITE
I wasn't expecting to be disturbed this early in the morning as I worked on a bit of homework, curled up in an armchair in front of the fireplace.
I wasn't expecting it, but I am sure glad it happened. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs, but ignored it. Probably another early riser. Maybe Bitt or one of the Canterberry girls.
"...Morning, Rose." I straightened subconsciously. That was definitely not who I was expecting...I turned and sure enough...it was Seamus Finnagin. In the flesh. I put my work aside and stood.
"Good morning." I replied, swallowing. He didn't seem mad at me...he seemed amused, leaning against the boys' stairwell doorway with the cutest smirk ever on his face.
"You've been avoiding me." Okay...right down to it. I shifted from foot to foot. I had been avoiding him, but it wasn't because I didn't like him. Not at all. It was just that I was under the impression that he was still ticked at me about Scottie.
"I thought you were still mad at me." He laughed. I did, too. Now that I'd said it aloud, it was a pretty stupid excuse.
"Of course not, but every time I tried to talk to you, you scurried off like a frightened rabbit." I blushed a bit. That much was true.
"Again, I thought we were still on bad terms with the whole thing at the train station." Seamus sighed.
"...Yeah...heh. I was only mad until our talk at the Owlery. That straightened things out." I blinked, cocking a brow.
"Okay. Um...you left so suddenly, I wasn't sure what was going on, and..." Seamus cocked a brow, that amused smirk returning. He pushed off the wall and stepped closer. I leaned back against the back of the chair I'd been using, tucking my hair behind my ear like I do when I'm nervous.
"It was just...I was registering what you said and my feet carried me away while I processed it. I'm sorry it led you to think I was mad at you." I tucked my hair again.
"Oh. It's fine. It's just...man, this'll sound stupid, but...you always sounded upset when you called out, and so I didn't want to make things worse." Wait...when did Seamus get within ten feet of me? He had his arms crossed, and man was it a cute picture, with his bed-head and merrily glinting eyes. I shook myself subtly.
"Rose...I was just frustrated that you never replied." We were both laughing at our sheer awkwardness. This whole thing could have very easily been avoided, had I not been so timid and shy. Oh, well. Live and learn. Okay...now Seamus was the one tucking my hair behind my ear and pulling me into a hug. "I'm never mad at you." He added. I hugged him back, trying not to make this any more awkward somehow.
"So...we're good?" Seamus drew back. There was a lovely grin on his face.
"Yeah...we're good." I beamed and almost tackled Seamus with the ferocity of my hug.
"Good!" Seamus and I laughed again. We were both just awkward teens, but that was fine. "Wanna head to the Great Hall now?" I asked, still beaming. "Get some grub while we finish our homeworkâif you have any?" Seamus laughed.
"Sounds good." I just giggled, sauntering ahead after pausing to grab my books while Seamus grabbed his own bag. "I need to get a head-start anyway. Test coming up." I nodded.
"I can maybe help you study?" I offered politely, and genuinely. I really did want to help Seamus.
"Sure." I could not be happier as I entered the Great Hall. And who else should be there but Marcene and Scot? I guess it was too early for anyone but the freaks who like to get up early. Marcy and Scottie were sitting together on a side bench, looking at a book together. I smiled. I hoped she knew about who she was considering as potentially more than a friend, and curious as to what happened between her and her boyfriend, but I was happy for Marcy no matter what. And yes, one day she'd pulled me into the bathroom and told me about that night I'd caught the two of them walking toward the Astronomy Tower to do Astrology homework, telling me they'd gotten a lot closer as friends at that point. I'd squealed in joy and smiled every time I saw them together.
"Hey, Marcy." I called, sitting at a bench nearby. She beamed at me.
"Hey, Rose!"
"Good morning." Scottie added, smiling. I noticed that Seamus gave Scottie a 'I'm watching you' glare. I rolled my eyes. Really, Seamus?
I grabbed my usual cup of coffee, added the amounts of sugar and milk I like.
"You know...black coffee is the best coffee." Came a voice behind me. It was Sean. I turned, grinning and sipping at my coffee.
"Really? I disagree. Black is too bitter. You need a little something to get the edge off." Sean laughed.
"No way! Black is best."
"Guys...you know each other?" Seamus asked. I smiled.
"Yep! We met a few days ago in Transfiguration, bonding over a mutual failure of the Switching Charm."
"We conquered that Charm in the end, though." Sean added, grabbing a mug and walking over to the coffee.
"I guess we did, Sean." I replied, laughing as he smiled at me, pouring his cup, adding only one spoon of sugar, stirring it, and then gulping. He blanched, gasping and almost dropping his mug.
"HHOOOTTT!" He cried, fanning his mouth. I laughed. Sean frowned at me again, this time a playful, mischievous edge to it. "Not funny, Rose."
"It was kinda funny." I persisted, still laughing. Sean stuck his tongue at me.
"Donchu laugh at me." That only made me laugh harder.
"Keep it down, eh? I'm trying to do work here!" Came an unfamiliar male voice. He sounded very young, about Joseph's age. He looked quite amused, however, which negated the angry tone with which he had spoken. I smiled at him. So did Sean.
"You and I both know yer only out here to be around people, Mark." I smiled. So this was the famous Mark Sean spoke of. He sighed, closing his book as he stood and came over to where we all sat.
"I suppose, but I'm still not used to everyone in Hufflepuff and all that, so..." I nodded, somehow understanding what the boy meant. After all, I'd felt the same at first.
"You came out here to get away, but not be cut off from people completely." Mark beamed.
"Yeah! That's it!" As with Sean, Mark's enthusiasm and cheer was contagious. I laughed. Seamus cocked his head at Mark.
"You've met my little brother, right?" Mark nodded vigorously.
"Oh, yeah! He's great! Joseph, right?" Seamus nodded, sipping a cup of tea. Apparently, he didn't drink coffee. I did, but to each their own, right?
"Yep!" Seamus chirped, laughing as he leaned over his book. I drew out my quill and ink, trying to remain subtle as I stole glances every now and again at Seamus. We were friends again. The whole debacle was over. So excuse me if I seem a bit more chipper than usual.
I KNOW, I KNOW! FILLER AND SHORT! WORST CHAPTER EVER! I JUST HAD TO GET SOMETHING UP AFTER FAR TOO LONG WITHOUT POSTING ANYTHING! SORRY, BY THE WAY, FOR THE TERRIBLE HAITUS. WRITER'S BLOCK AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS SUCK.
TIL NEXT TIME!