Everybody is Someone Else's Secret (Seamus Finnigan)HOLD

Chapter 17

It was the end of the Winter Holiday. School would be starting up again soon. Cedric and I were packing up our things, double checking to make sure we had everything to go before we headed down with father to the Hogwarts Express. Cedric and I were in a jolly mood, mostly. Even my doubts of Draco weren't clouding up my thoughts too much. We were happy to be heading back to Hogwarts. To be able to see our friends again. Plus, I was also kind of actually excited to see Draco. Any thoughts of Seamus were still in my mind, though. I felt as though I needed to make-up with him at least to become friends again. Who knew what was going to happen. Cedric smiled at me, "Hey, Emma," He says, sitting down on my bed. My heart raced, hoping he wouldn't find the letters Draco had sent me. My trunk was open-the letters were easy to see. I kept them in a small front compartment along with my list of items that I needed for school. If he were to grab the list, there was a chance he would pick up a letter instead. The letters. Cedric would never be able to forgive me for that if he only knew. Draco seemed nicer, it seems he was just scared before. So why not at least give him another chance. No one could know. Not yet. Everything would be settled later today, at the Black Lake, with Draco. My one fear was getting caught. Though I highly doubted people would be sneaking out to go to the lake the first day back from break. Especially when it was still cold and snowy outside.

"Hey," I replied, zipping up my trunk and turning around to face him. He had grown a lot it seems. Every time I look at him I realize that he's no longer my annoying older brother. He was getting much more mature than I. If it wasn't the first day back from break, or technically, the last day of break, I would be feeling plenty guilty about keeping this secret away from him. It seemed like nothing much could break my good mood and turn it sour.

"Excited?" He asks me, his eyes lively and his smile genuine. No doubt he was also happy to be going back. He was practically the most popular person in his house. It bothered me when people dissed his house. A lot of good witches and wizards, including my brother, are from that house.

And every bad wizard from Slytherin, a nagging voice in my head announced. I pushed the voice away, smiled back at my brother, "Of course I am. You know it!" My smile was as genuine as his was. Nothing today could bring me down, right?

"Great. Me too. I was hoping you would be able to patch things up with Seamus as well. I heard from a couple of friends that his break wasn't going that well. He told his friends he missed you, Emma. He realized you wouldn't betray him or Gryffindor for a Slytherin."

A pang of guilt sliced through me. Well, I believed that Draco was a better person now. He was misunderstood and angry before. He meant no true harm. Whatever he was going to tell me is probably why. This made me happier, and the pit in my stomach slowly went away.

My throat went dry, but I was able to croak out my response. "Yeah. I will talk to him...Truth is I can't ignore that somewhere inside-I miss him too. What he said hurt me. But I am sure we can talk through it, become friends."

Cedric smirked, "Well, Seamus says he wanted to meet up with you tonight at the Black Lake, if you could try to meet him there. After the Welcome Back Dinner, of course. I can cover for you if someone asks, too. The only thing is, I know you don't like to break the rules, but can you just this once? He and I have become great friends when you two were together, he's not a bad person."

"I know he isn't..." I sighed, that was where and when Draco was planning on meeting me! Oh well... I will try to talk to Draco and figure something out. "Yeah...I mean, if it's for Seamus and you..." I choked out, closing my eyes and hoping Cedric wouldn't notice my hands were shaking.

"Hey, hey. No need to be nervous. I'll stand up for you if you get in trouble, 'kay?" Cedric replies, squeezing my hand and grinning at me. "It's not like I have never snuck out and had you cover for me before. I am repaying the favor you did me. Have a little fun before your last year at Hogwarts. Once you're my age, most of your time will be spent studying for your final O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's to get a good start on life, little Emmy."

"Haha," I comment, giggling a little, feeling less nervous. No matter what, Cedric had the ability to make people feel better. He understood me better than anyone else could. Now I could only hope he would understand about Draco once I tell him later on...It will probably take a little while at first but I am sure that I can convince him...

Cedric laughed, eyeing the doorway. Looking up, I saw dad standing in the doorway. "You two ready to go?" Dad asks, stepping inside my room. We nodded, glancing at each other. Dad grinned, nodding himself. "Good, get your stuff, Cedric, and we'll head over to King's Cross."

"Emma!" As soon as I boarded the train, I was bombarded by Nicole, Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Nicole hugged me, "Wow, you have not changed a bit!" She grinned, giggling. Ron rolled his eyes, but Hermione smiled, Harry laughed. Everything felt normal again.

"Hey!" I stuck my tongue at her, biting back a smile, "Fine, maybe I haven't changed. But...well, neither have you, you annoying git!" I retorted as we ended the embrace. Nicole went back to stand by Harry again. Hermione was looking around, attempting to find an empty compartment. Which was looking quite impossible.

"Here, come on guys," Hermione says, pulling on Ron's hand, leading us all down the hall, eyeing each compartment until we finally found an empty one. While they had plans to sit down and talk the way there, I had plans to find Draco...I had to warn him about tonight. Didn't want Seamus to see him, or Draco to see Seamus for that matter.

"Be right back, I have to find someone..." I whisper, getting up and going towards the compartment door. They all looked up in shock and surprise at me, but I waved it away. Nicole seemed to catch on that something was going on the most. "Seamus?" She mouthed at me, and I nodded, grateful for an excuse. Well, truth was, if I did end up finding Seamus, I would talk to him, too.

If you really thought about it, it didn't matter who I ran into, as long as I talked to them about tonight...There was no way I could meet up with both at the same time. I had to convince one of them to meet up with me later for some reason.

Though I did hope to run into Draco more than Seamus. If I ran into Seamus, it would be like another arrow to my heart, even if he did forgive me, and I forgave him. Just seeing him with knowing we have not officially made up yet...

"Whoa there, where's the fire?" A voice says. Uh oh...I have really got to stop getting too caught up in thought to stop paying attention about what's happening around me. It has gotten me into trouble too many times. Way too many times to count.

"S-Sorry," I say, looking up to see Dean Thomas. He was smiling, as if he had won the lottery. "Are you looking for someone?" He asks me, while he helped me up. I nodded, blushing a little, I knew what this was heading towards...

"Is that someone Seamus?" He asks me, and I nodded. Maybe I could work something out with him if I couldn't find Draco, he would have to do. Gah! I never thought a situation like this would ever happen to me. Everything had a possibility to go wrong. And this seemed the perfect recipe for a disaster.

"Good, he was looking around for you as well. I figured you were wanting to talk to him as well. You know, sort some things out. Was a nasty fight you had, not really the fight, but the ignoring each other. It was a shame you two didn't make up sooner..." Dean was saying as he led me to where Seamus was at. Then he smiled as he had a secret, turned, and left us alone.

"Hey..." I whispered, and Seamus turned around to face me, he looked a little nervous but brightened up when he saw it was me. His eyes were shining brightly, I remembered why I loved him...My heart nearly did a flip when he spoke my name.

"Emma, I am sorry." Seamus whispered, drawing me closer to him, I let him, my brain still wasn't thinking clearly, it seemed. I nodded, "M-me, too, Seamus. I had too-"

"It's okay, Emma...Actually, I had a question," Seamus says shyly, my heart thumped faster, I already knew what he was going to ask me...The only problem now was that I didn't want to say no. I had fallen under his spell again, I loved him, and a part of me started to like Draco. Seamus won out, though. I knew him better, I knew for sure he could be trusted...Draco...I sighed, "Yes?"

"Will you meet me tonight at the Black Lake, after the Welcome Back Dinner?" Seamus asks, his grin cutting through me like ice. Great.

"Seamus..." I replied, not sure what I should say...Seamus sighed, "It's okay, Emma. A few friends promise they'd cover for us. Besides, we should enjoy our first night back together."

I nodded, somehow, in some way, as I knew, I could not say no to Seamus. Yes, I did talk to at least one, but nothing was accomplished. So tonight, unless I find Draco during the school day, I will be expected to meet up with both Seamus and Draco...