Painful Realizations (Deamus)

The disapproving mother

It had been nearly a month since Dean and Seamus had become an official couple.

Seamus was ecstatic.

For the first time in years, Seamus felt wanted.

They walked to every meal hand in hand.

They sat together during almost every class, but potions.

They cuddled by the warmth of the fireplace in the common room.

Dean was so incredibly open about their relationship, and it made Seamus's heart swell.

He loved Dean so, so much.

So, it hurt Seamus twice as much when a Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or even a fellow Gryffindor made a homophobic comment.

It enraged Dean when their dormitory was raided, so destructively that it looked as though a typhoon had passed through.

The drapes around all of the beds were ripped apart and scattered about the room. Faggots, was written in blood red spray paint across the wall above Seamus's trashed four poster bed. Some of Neville's robes were torn in pieces around his four poster.

Seamus begged Dean not to retaliate.

As soon as Neville, Ron, and Harry arrived to the scene, Dean nodded to Harry meaningfully, grabbed Seamus's wrist, and gently ushered him behind Dean as he stomped, Harry, Ron and Neville in his wake, down the dormitory stairs.

As soon as he caught sight of McLaggen and his sniggering goons, Dean pushed Seamus into Hermione's grip, and grabbed McLaggen by his collar.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny pulled out their wands, and disarmed McLaggen's friends.

"Right, McLaggen", Dean started, pushing his wand against the git's throat,"was it you or the Slytherins?"

McLaggen thrashed uselessly and contorted his face gruesomely.

"Go to hell, faggot."

Dean was unfazed.

"Gladly, as soon as you answer my question."

McLaggen was silent, and his goons had the nerve to smirk stupidly.

"Well then", Dean sighed in disappointment,"I guess we'll just take you to Dumbledore then."

McLaggen tensed, but said nothing.

"You lot, too." Ginny rounded on his goons.

_

McLaggen and his friends were given three months of detention and were magically warded from any dormitory but their own.

Dean wasn't satisfied.

Maybe it was a mistake for Dumbledore to have Professor McGonagall deliver the news of their punishment to him and Seamus.

"Professor, they threatened Seamus's life!"

McGonagall sighed, her eyes never held such softness in all of her time as a professor.

"Mr. Thomas,  I know this situation is difficult, but both Dumbledore and myself are sure both of you are safe."

Dean jumped from his straight backed chair, knocking it backwards.

"But, Professor -"

McGonagall raised from her seat, calm and cold once more.

"Please, Mr. Thomas, you need only worry about making the train home for the holidays."

Seamus spoke quietly for the first time after hearing the news.

"Thank you, Professor."

He didn't meet her eyes, choosing to speak to the floor in front of him.

He reached for Dean, searching for comfort.

"Let's go, love."

Dean reluctantly let Seamus usher him back to the safety of the common room.

_

Seamus woke to Dean jostling him softly into consciousness.

"D-D-Dean? What is it?" Seamus yawned out, stretching.

"We've to catch the train, remember?"

Seamus's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

He was at Dean's side in an instant.

Seamus tugged at his arm for attention.

"Don't make me go. I can't stand the sight of that wretched woman."

"Sea, she's your mum." Dean chuckled out.

Seamus frowned and turned away. He jumped back into the comfort of his four poster.

"She stopped being my mum, when she sent that howler."

Dean sighed and scooped Seamus up in his arms.

"She was scared. She's just angry at herself for not knowing."

Seamus chortled darkly.

"That's not what she screeched at me through that damned letter."

He buried himself deeper into Dean's embrace.

"I hate her." He mumbled, digging his nose into Dean's collar bones.

"No, you don't."

Seamus groaned and slithered out of Dean's grip.

"No, I don't." He grumbled, snatching the jeans and soccer jersey Dean laid out for him.

_

"Ready, mate?" Dean challenged, reaching to ring the doorbell Seamus's father installed years ago.

"As I'll ever be."

Seamus's father came to the door, cheerful as ever, and invited them in eagerly.

"I know you and yer mum are in a bit of a squabble right now, but she'll get over it."

Seamus nodded. His father had always loved Seamus unconditionally and enjoyed Dean. Nothing had changed in their relationship when Seamus had come out.

Seamus's mother was a different story. He always felt like he had to impress her to get her attention. She had tolerated Dean, but only because he was Seamus's closest friend.
Now, she refused to be in the same vicinity as both of them.

"She laid down earlier. I'll go get her."

Seamus began to hyperventilate as his father's shoes disappeared up the stairs.

Dean was at his side at once. With his touch, Seamus's breaths slowed.

His father's shiny shoes reappeared, and not far behind, so did his mother's scuffy boots.

She stomped to her seat by the window, crossed her arms, and refused to meet anyone's eyes.

Seamus had expected kicking and screaming, so he settled back into Dean's arms with ease.

"So."

"Don't you dare speak to me."

Dean removed himself from Seamus and stood in a protective stance in front of him.

"Don't you dare speak to him like that. Your son adores you, and seeks your approval above anyone else's. Do you know how scared we was to come out to me? You can't imagine the level of anxiety he has coming home, to come out to you, his mother."

She immediately inflated with rage.

"Who do you think you are? This is my son!"

"Exactly! You can't cast him out because you feel guilty that you didn't know he likes blokes!"

She sputtered wildly, made obscene gestures in Dean's direction, and stormed back up the stairs.

Seamus's father heaved a great sigh and patted his back.

As his shoes disappeared up the stairs once again, Seamus heard him call down to them.

"Don't worry, she'll come round."