The letter

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Seamus tried to make himself as small as possible. His father had seen Dean's letter on Seamus's bedside table. Seamus protested loudly but his father brushed him aside. He tore it open against Seamus's wishes and read it silently to himself. The letter had every connotation of being romantic, a secret Seamus tried desperately to hide.

Shay,

I'm sorry I had to tell you this way and not in person. I couldn't face doing that knowing what I have to do. I love you, Seamus. Always have but I was too afraid of what you might think of me. If you don't feel the same of course, I understand. But this war is driving families apart, people who care deeply for each other. And you are one of my family members, probably my most important in that way. I would hate my lack of courage if I let you go without you hearing this (somewhat) from me. Don't write back, I don't know where I'll be. But do try to keep yourself in one piece for when I get back.

-Dean

"Seamus?" The quiver in his father's voice, the flash of his eyes. Seamus wanted to run but stood his ground.

"Yes 'Da?" Every fiber in Seamus's body burned. A mixture of fear, rage and something else, undefinable.

"What is this?" The tone was measured but Seamus could hear the malice hidden underneath.

"A letter from Dean." The simplicity of the answer injected some relief into Seamus's anxiety-ridden system. He had a letter from Dean. Something, after days, weeks, even months of absolutely nothing. No one could take that from him.

"And...do you feel the same as your friend?" The way his father said "friend" turned the word to poison. Dean was more than just Seamus's friend. So much more.

Did he feel the same? Of course he did. Seamus felt the same way since he was 14 years old, watching Dean dance with someone else at the Yule Ball, or 15 when Dean dated Ginny Weasley. The desire grew ever stronger every moment since. Here Seamus was at nearly 17, about to go back to school for his last year, but for the very first time without his better half.

He decided on a simple yes or no answer.

"I do, 'Da." Seamus's father sighed.

"You know I don't agree with this...lifestyle, son. And Fergus will have much to say about-"

"I'll deal with Fergus when he asks. But I love Dean. And I don' think that feelin' just goes away." Seamus felt a thousand pounds lighter, a weight lifted once he said those words.

"You're right about that. If you really do love someone, those feelings aren't easily erased." Mr. Finnigan conceded. "What will your mam say?" Seamus smiled.

"She knew b'fore I did, 'Da." This surprised Mr. Finnigan immensley.

"And she didn't talk to me about it?"

"Would ye have lis'ned?"

Mr. Finnigan considered, "No, probably not."

"Then we both have our answer." Seamus gave a small hint of a smile. "May I have my letter back?"

"Just, be careful son." More to himself, "My son...a poofer." And with that he left the room, leaving Seamus to trace Dean's neat handwriting lovingly. He put the letter in his trunk, tucked away so no one found it.

Not being able to write back was difficult for him to bear but he understood why. So instead he wrote his thoughts out.

Dean,

I am writin' this letter to say I have read your letter, over and over. I love you too. You are and always have been the one person I want to spend my life with. It's taken me so very long to realize this and I wish we could have had this discussion earlier and in person. But it's good to get it out now. I hope you are safe, wherever you are.

Take care and come back to me,

Shay

Satisfied, Seamus tucked his letter in an envelope and addressed it: Open this when we see each other again, Dean. We will find each other, I promise.

He tucked it in the pocket of his robes and put everything in his trunk, ready to embark on the journey to the train station.

"Take care, Seamus." His mother told him for the millionth time that morning. "Be safe."

"I will, Mam. I'll write every day."

His father shook his hand and pulled him into a hug.

"I love you so much, son."

"Love you too, Da. I gotta go, I'll be late. Last train ride, can't miss it!"

Seamus ran to catch up with Ginny, Luna and Neville who were just boarding. With one last wave, he watched his parents disappear and felt Dean's letter in his pocket, a reminder that those who care will always be there.