Longing for You - Deamus

Streamers for Misdemeanours

The room was silent. Mouths hung open, a few first years hid behind their friends terrified of what could be happening outside of the door.

"I think that went rather well, quite honestly." Neville laughed.

No one spoke for a few seconds. And then, out of nowhere, someone began to clap. It was slow but distinct and soon more people had joined in until everyone in the room was clapping for them. Seamus felt overwhelmed by it all; he had spent the whole of his time at Hogwarts doing everything he could to be appreciated and Dean had been the only one there who had really seen him. Maybe now people were finally noticing him.

He looked over to Neville who was also looking quite emotional at the scene. It was quite ironic really, they were just four misfits who craved to be seen for who they were. For 6 years they had been 'the girl Weasley', 'Loony Lovegood, 'the useless, chubby kid' and 'the queer who set shit on fire'. Now they were leading and people seemed to be following. It was incredible.

Luna waved her wand in a delicate swirling motion and the whole room changed. Rainbow coloured streamers hung from the ceiling, the lighting dimmed and disco balls appeared from nowhere. Sofas were placed into corners, leaving the middle space open as a dance floor. A catering station full of biscuits and drinks materialized on one side of the room and music started blaring out from somewhere that couldn't be seen.

"Wow," breathed Seamus, "this is really gay."

Luna just laughed. "This is how we're going to combat the Death Eaters isn't it? Love, celebration, friendship and yes, gaiety."

"It's perfect," he smiled at her. "LET'S GET DANCING THEN!"

Everyone flocked into the centre of the room where all the fun was. Immediately, people began dancing and laughing and chatting. There were Hufflepuffs talking to Slytherins who were talking to Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. There were seventh years talking to first years and everyone in between. The integration was new and sparked a weird sort of energy throughout the room. It was like everyone was a part of something so big yet so small. It was like their own little community.

When Seamus got bored of socializing he sat down on a nearby sofa and closed his eyes. For a moment, just a moment, he allowed himself to think about Dean Thomas. He thought about the first time they'd met on the boats up to castle and Dean had been scared to get too near the edge in case he fell in. He thought about how Dean had always been there through explosions to sit with him in the hospital wing while his eyebrows were growing back. He thought about how they had danced together at the Yule Ball when Lavender went off somewhere with Parvarti. He thought about how much he wanted to dance with him again now, their bodies pressed close together as they swayed until the sun came up. But of course, that wouldn't happen so he stopped thinking and instead took another sip of the firewhiskey that someone had managed to sneak in.

"You're Seamus Finnigan aren't you?" said a small voice from next to him.

He looked across to see a young looking Ravenclaw girl staring at him intently.

"Yeah I am, who are you?"

"My name's Margie, I'm a third year." She replied.

"Why aren't you dancing Margie? Go have some fun."

She just chuckled and shook her head. "See those girls over there," she said, discreetly pointing towards a small group of girls huddled in the center of the dance floor, "I asked one of them out."

"I'm assuming she said no then."

"Oh she said far more than just no! If I'm remembering correctly the exact words were 'who would want to date you? You're a fucking queer!" She sipped her drink saltily.