Dean Thomas was confused.

He was confused about how he was going to do his Potions essay by Wednesday morning, he was confused about why he wanted to finish his painting of the Gryffindor Common Room so much, but most of all, he was confused about his feelings for his best friend, Seamus Finnigan.

Seamus had been Dean's best friend since their first year, when they had ended up sharing a boat by chance, but now Dean's feelings had changed into something more than friendship.

He had dated Ginny to try and suppress his feelings for Seamus, but now she had broken up with him, and he couldn't deny the fact that he was glad.

Of course, Seamus didn't like Dean back, at least not in that way.

While Dean was completely and totally in love with his best friend - he knew that now - Seamus was completely and totally straight.

For certain.

Dean sighed, stepping out the door and going down the staircase to the Common Room.

Technically speaking, Dean was meant to be at breakfast, along with every single other Hogwarts student. However, he didn't want to have to face Seamus this morning, now that his feelings for him had become all too clear.

Unfortunately, Dean's plans had backfired on him.

Seamus was lying on the couch, watching Dean with an amused expression on his face.

"Decided to sleep in late, I see."

Dean looked down, then left, then right.

Anywhere, to keep his gaze off Seamus's face.

Seamus frowned, confused by Dean's unusual behaviour.

"Uh, Dean? Is there something wrong?"

Dean could have told him everything right then, but instead he just shook his head.

"No...I'm...I'm just confused."

"Don't worry, mate. Me too."

Dean looked up sharply. Was it possible...?

No, it couldn't be. Seamus was probably  just confused about homework, or something simple like that.

Seamus was straight.

Definitely.

Dean was just dreaming.

But he had to just check anyway.

"Oh, really? What about?"

Seamus shrugged, trying to play it off as if it was nothing.

"Oh, you know. The usual. Bo-love problems."

He fake-laughed, but not even Dean was fooled.

He could have sworn Seamus had been about to say 'boy problems'.

Dean stepped a little closer to his friend, feeling awkward.

"We're best friends, you know, you can confide in me," Dean squeaked.

Seamus looked up into Dean's face and sat up.

"Well, okay, I suppose. There's this - uh - person. He makes me laugh, and smile, and he laughs at my mistakes so I never make them again. And...I...well...I'm in love with him," Seamus finished in a whisper.

There was no doubt about it this time.

Seamus had definitely referred to this person as male. But Dean knew it wouldn't be him. No, probably Harry.

Yes, that'd be right, Dean thought bitterly. The famous Harry Potter.

Dean would have said more, but all that came out of his mouth were two words.

"You're gay?"

Seamus almost laughed.

"Yeah. Didn't you wonder why I never had a girlfriend? Well, I suppose you wouldn't have noticed - you were too caught up with Ginny. You're straight. Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like that," Seamus apologised hurriedly.

Dean shook his head slowly. "No."

"What?"

"No. I'm not straight."

The two boys stared at each other in silence for a while, each caught up in his own thoughts.

Then Seamus got to his feet and dusted himself down self-consciously.

"Um."

Dean looked up again quickly, suddenly realising how close he was standing to Seamus. He was about to step back, then thought better of it.

He liked it here.

"So," Dean asked casually, though his voice shook. "Who was this boy that you're so in love with?"

Seamus fought a battle then.

Should he tell Dean...? But what if Dean didn't like him like that?

But Seamus was a Gryffindor for a reason.

He took a deep breath, losing himself in the deep brown of Dean's eyes for a second.

"You."

"Oh," Dean breathed.

He didn't know what else to say.

He was still a little confused.

Seamus looked down at the ground guiltily.

"Sorry, Dean. I know you don't feel the same way -"

"You idiot," Dean said softly. "You idiot," he repeated.

Seamus really did feel like an idiot. "What? Look, I've apologised, I'm sorry, and if you have any other sh -"

He was interrupted long before he could finish his sentence, which was probably for the best.

Dean ignored Seamus's ramblings completely and stepped forward, not hesitating to press his lips against Seamus's.

The other boy made some intelligible noise which was quickly stifled as he returned Dean's kiss.

Dean grinned.

It was all fine.

When the two finally broke apart, hearing sounds of the other Gryffindors coming towards the Common Room, they didn't speak.

No words were necessary to describe the way they felt.

And best of all, neither was at all confused anymore.