Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/122525.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Harry_Potter_-_Rowling
  Relationship:
      Seamus_Finnigan/Dean_Thomas
  Character:
      Dean_Thomas, Seamus_Finnigan
  Stats:
      Published: 2010-09-29 Words: 2761
****** time watches from the shadow ******
by carolinecrane
Summary
     Dean can't think about Hogwarts without thinking of Seamus.
Notes
     Set just before fifth year.
Hottest summer in a decade: that's what they've been saying on the Muggle news,
and it's not hard to believe. The grass crunches underfoot and the air weighs
down oppressively and even the birds seem too tired to sing. As far as Dean can
tell, the only life form with enough energy left to go about its business is a
single bee, buzzing just outside the window as Dean lies on Seamus' bed and
tries to catch the feeble breeze that stirs the curtains every so often.
Downstairs Seamus and his mother are still shouting, voices raised the same way
they always are when one of them is laughing or telling a particularly colorful
story. They're a loud family, the Finnegans, and that's part of what Dean likes
about them. Different from his own – so much different – more exciting and Dean
feels a little guilty every time he thinks it.
The house shakes a little and Dean can't tell if it's some weird magical charge
from the row going on downstairs or if it's the force with which someone's
slammed a door. From the way they've been yelling he wouldn't be surprised if
the whole place blew up, though, so he just stays where he is and tries not to
listen. The shouting dies down with the slam of a door, and a few seconds later
Seamus wrenches open the door of his bedroom. He slams it behind him with a
flourish and when the bed shakes a second time, Dean has his answer.
"For the love of Merlin," Seamus mutters under his breath, fists clenched and
the back of his neck red as he turns to stare at the closed door.
"What's the matter?" Dean asks, though he's pretty sure he knows the answer. He
was trying not to listen, but short of a silencing charm he's not sure how he
could have blocked it out completely.
"She still doesn't want me to go back," Seamus answers, throwing himself down
on the bed next to Dean and it's even hotter now, but Dean doesn't mind. He can
feel the anger vibrating through Seamus, feels the heat radiating off his skin
where it presses up against Dean's bare arm. "There's no reasoning with that
woman."
It's been like this since Dean arrived, sweaty and desperate to get off the
crowded train and into the Finnegans' loud, bewildering and exciting house.
That's the way it's been every summer since their first year, anyway, when
everyone paired off into 'best mates' and Dean and Seamus chose each other. But
it's different this summer, starting with the tension Dean could feel radiating
off Seamus when he and his mum met Dean's train, and the daily shouting matches
have made things even worse. They haven't talked about it much, but Dean's been
here three days already and if he's going to stay an entire fortnight, they're
going to have to talk about what's going on.
"She'll come round, mate," Dean says, tensing when Seamus glares at him, but
the second their eyes meet the fight drains out of Seamus. And Dean hates
himself a little for being grateful that Seamus isn't shouting at him, because
it means Seamus might actually back down from this fight eventually. Or maybe
he just knows he can't win this one; he knows his mum a lot better than Dean,
after all, and he probably knows when she's put her foot down.
So he doesn't try to reassure Seamus with words, doesn't say anything stupid
like you have to come back or I can't imagine Hogwarts without you, even though
he's been thinking it since he arrived. Instead he turns on his side, watching
a bead of sweat roll down Seamus' forehead and along his temple. He reaches out
to press too-warm fingers against Seamus' skin, wiping away the trickle of
moisture and okay, it's just an excuse to touch. But Seamus doesn't mind, at
least if the way he looks at Dean is anything to go by. In fact, he relaxes a
little under Dean's touch and reaches up, catching Dean's fingers and squeezing
for a second before he lets go again.
They're both thinking the same thing; Dean's pretty sure of it, because he
can't think about Hogwarts without thinking Seamus, and he knows it goes both
ways. "Maybe if The Prophet stops running stories..."
"Not bloody likely," Seamus mutters, and Dean knows he's right. "Wish Harry and
Dumbledore would just lay off the You-Know-Who business."
"You reckon he's lying, then?" Dean asks, keeping his voice as neutral as
possible because he doesn't want Seamus to start shouting at him now.
"Has to be, doesn't he?" Seamus says, as though it should be obvious. And maybe
it should be; Dean hasn't been around all summer to hear the rumors and see
what's been printed in The Prophet, after all, so Seamus probably knows more
about it than he does. But that doesn't change the fact that Dumbledore told
them You-Know-Who was back, and it doesn't change the fact that Harry's their
friend.
"I don't know, mate. Never reckoned Harry for a liar."
Seamus shrugs against him, skin sliding together and reminding Dean of just how
close they are. "Maybe he believes he really did see You-Know-Who. Wouldn't be
that hard to believe Harry's finally gone round the bend, he's always been a
bit off."
Off, maybe, but not mad, and Dean thinks about pointing it out. They don't know
that much about Harry's life before Hogwarts, but they know it wasn't great.
And there's the fact that his parents were murdered by You-Know-Who, that would
be enough to send anyone a bit off. Granted, Dean's never met his real father
and he turned out all right, but that's different than watching your parents be
murdered, even if you were too little to remember.
But he doesn't point it out, because he doesn't want to argue. Seamus has done
enough shouting for one day, and besides, Dean likes the feel of him pressed
against his side, warm and heavy and if Dean finds himself alone at Hogwarts
come September, he wants to make the most of the time they've got. So he
doesn't say anything at all; instead he leans even closer, pressing against the
furnace of Seamus' body and resting a hand on the center of his chest. He feels
Seamus' heart beating through the thin fabric of his vest, hears the catch in
his breath as Dean presses his lips to the corner of Seamus' mouth.
They've done this a few times before, but never in the middle of the day. The
other times have always been in the dark, either in a forgotten cupboard
somewhere in Hogwarts or in Seamus' room after they're sure his mum's long
asleep. They've done it right here, but never when they could see each other
properly, and Dean guesses that's why Seamus shakes a little as he turns into
the kiss.
Dean's not planning to take it much further, because Seamus' mum is still
downstairs and there's no telling when she'll turn up to chase them out into
the afternoon heat. He never plans these things, though, didn't plan it the
first time and he's still not sure which of them had the idea first. And it
doesn't mean anything; it's just mates, just something they do together because
it feels better than doing it on their own. That's what he tells himself in the
dark, but it's not dark now and when he opens his eyes Seamus is watching him.
It takes him by surprise, because he always kisses with his eyes closed and he
wonders how many times Seamus has watched him in the dark.
His heart does a funny little skip and he pulls back a little, panting and even
more sweaty than he was a few moments ago. He thinks wildly that they should
stop this, knows they should stop and not just because it's the middle of the
day and they might get caught. "What about...?"
"Me mam's gone to town," Seamus interrupts, hands on Dean to push his shirt up
his stomach, and that's new too. They've never bothered getting undressed
before, but what little breeze there is feels good against his skin, so Dean
doesn't argue when Seamus pulls him forward and tugs his shirt off. "Be at
least an hour before she's back."
He has a second to feel overexposed, absurdly shy about being shirtless in
front of someone who's seen him starkers more times than either of them can
count. But Seamus has never looked before, and that's the difference, because
he's definitely looking now. He's watching his hands as they slide down Dean's
chest, sending a hot blush up Dean's neck to creep into his cheeks. His fingers
splay across Dean's stomach, pale against his skin and resting there like he's
not sure what to do next. And Dean's not sure either, because for all the times
they've done this, this time feels completely different.
Then Seamus leans in, opening his mouth against Dean's neck and that's new.
He's never kissed Dean like that before, but it's better than Seamus watching
him like he's trying to memorize what he looks like. Like maybe he thinks
there's never going to be another time, and if his mum doesn't let him come
back to Hogwarts, there might not be.
Dean reaches up to run a hand through Seamus' hair, shivering a little when a
warm tongue slides along his skin. "Mate…" he says, and his voice shakes a
little because he's not sure how to ask if Seamus just licked him. Before he
finds the words Seamus murmurs something that sounds like 'shh', then he pulls
his mouth away from Dean's neck to kiss him again. And that's better than
talking, because when Seamus is kissing him he doesn't have to think about
anything. He can forget about Seamus' mum and Hogwarts and You-Know-Who, he can
forget about everything except Seamus' mouth and the body pressing him into the
mattress.
His hands land on Seamus' waist, fingers gripping the hem of his vest and
before he realizes what he's doing he's pushed the fabric halfway up Seamus'
back. Seamus mumbles something against his mouth and presses a thigh between
Dean's legs, and Dean can't help thrusting up into the sudden pressure. His
hand finds the back of Seamus' neck, clamping down hard to hold him in place
and then Seamus is laughing against his mouth and reaching between them.
When his fingers find Dean's stomach this time he doesn't hesitate, doesn't
wait for permission before he pops open the button on Dean's trousers and
slides the zipper down. And this is the part where he pushes his hand inside
Dean's trousers, closes his fingers around Dean's cock and jerks him off in the
dark where neither of them can see. Only it's not dark now, and Seamus isn't
pushing his hand past fabric. Instead he's gripping the top of Dean's trousers
and tugging them down, lifting up just enough to let Dean help a little.
He quits when Dean's trousers are around his thighs, but that's fine with Dean
because Seamus is already leaning in to kiss him again. Then Seamus' hand does
close around him, fingers just sweaty enough to let his hand slide easily up
and down Dean's cock. And he knows he should feel kind of weird about the way
Seamus is looking at him, alternating between feathering kisses along his jaw
and pulling back to watch Dean thrusting up into his grip. He should feel weird
about all of this, because he's nearly starkers and Seamus is still wearing all
his clothes.
And it is a little weird, but it's amazing too, better even than those furtive,
stolen moments in the darkest corners of Hogwarts. It's better than…everything,
and Dean can't make himself care how he looks. All he can think about is the
hand on his cock and the mouth moving along his skin, murmuring nonsense words
in that voice Dean knows better than his own. He thinks maybe he should try to
catch what Seamus is saying, but it's hard to hear anything but the blood
pounding against his eardrums, so he gives up and focuses instead on the
pressure building at the pit of his stomach.
He's vaguely aware of thrusting into Seamus' grip, hands clutching hard at
Seamus' shoulders and he just manages a choked can't before he comes. And even
with his eyes closed he can feel Seamus' eyes on him, knows he's watching while
Dean pants for breath and delays the inevitable moment when he has to open his
eyes and look at his best mate. But that's the thing, because no matter what
else they are, Seamus is his best mate, and Dean knows he can always count on
that.
His heart's still beating fast when he finally opens his eyes, and sure enough
Seamus is watching, eyes wide and just a little scared and Dean doesn't
hesitate before he wraps an arm around Seamus' neck and pulls him into a kiss.
Seamus squirms against him and for a second Dean thinks he's trying to get
away, then he realizes that Seamus is wriggling out of his own trousers. His
stomach lurches at the thought of a mostly-starkers Seamus Finnegan stretched
out on top of him, but there's a part of him that kind of likes the idea of
being able to watch while he gets his best friend off.
Dean flattens his hand against Seamus' chest and pushes him backwards onto the
mattress, stretching out next to him and pressing their mouths together as his
hand closes around Seamus' cock. And he hasn't done this all that much, so it
takes him a couple tries to get the rhythm right. Seamus doesn't seem to mind,
though, at least not if the murmured encouragements and occasional exclamations
are anything to go by. And he's not shy at all about thrusting up to meet Dean,
rocking into his grip and moaning a little louder with each stroke.
Just when Dean's starting to worry that the neighbors will hear, Seamus shouts
something he's pretty sure isn't English and thrusts up one last time, wet heat
coating Dean's fingers and Seamus' vest. He sinks back against the pillows,
eyes closed and face flushed a shade of red Dean's never seen on him before,
but it makes his freckles stand out a little more and Dean decides he likes it.
He's so busy studying Seamus' freckles that he doesn't notice when the other
boy finally opens his eyes, but when Seamus sits up and pulls his vest off Dean
realizes he's been staring. He blushes and turns away, finally kicking his
trousers off the rest of the way before he takes the offered vest and wipes his
hands on the fabric. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Seamus answers, collapsing back onto the mattress and Dean
has to stop himself from suggesting that they get dressed again before his mum
comes home and finds them like this. He knows he should – it's his job to keep
a level head, after all, but Seamus finally looks relaxed for the first time
since Dean arrived, and he can't bring himself to do it. Instead he settles
down on the bed again, shoulders pressed together and sweat pooling in the
small of his back. And it's weird, just lying there with his best mate without
even a pair of shorts between them, but it's kind of nice, too.
Then Seamus turns into him again, buries his face in Dean's neck and mumbles
something Dean can't make out. "Sorry?"
Dean tries to pull back, to get a look at Seamus so he can catch whatever it
was this time, but instead Seamus just burrows a little closer and presses
another kiss to Dean's neck. A few moments later he's breathing a little more
evenly, and Dean can tell he's meant to believe Seamus has gone to sleep. After
four years of sleeping in the next bed Dean can tell when he's faking it, but
he lets Seamus get away with it, just this once. He reaches up to rest his hand
on the back of Seamus' neck, listening to the sound of Seamus' steady breathing
and the buzz of the bee still stirring outside the window. And they should get
up and tidy up before Seamus' mum gets back, but for right now, he doesn't mind
staying just like this.
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!