Served Cold

Chapter One-A Miserable Summer

Night had never seemed so dark or cold to the three boys before. They were a glum looking group, walking down the sidewalks, huddled near one another. The smallest, Seamus Finnigan, was sandwiched between his two larger friends, chattering away about quidditch and music and whatever else popped into his head.

“Oh, give it up, Seamus,” Neville Longbottom snapped, “You’re not making it any better.”

“Oh. Sorry,” the Irish boy muttered, though he had certainly begun to feel better. He chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip, but couldn’t figure a way to make his friends stop going over their horrible summer.

“I’m tired,” Seamus said, not five minutes later. To his left, Dean Thomas came to an abrupt halt.

“We’ll sit then. It’ll be easier for Neville’s owl to find us that way, anyway,” he said, visibly tired. He perched on the edge of the pavement, his long legs drawn up at an awkward angle. Neville plopped down to his left, leaving Seamus staring down at them.

“I’m tallest,” he said softly before he was yanked down by a grinning Dean.

“You’ll never be the tallest,” he told him, white teeth finally showing as he smiled. Seamus didn’t risk ruining the moment and kept quiet, tracing the tip of his shoe in a spiral pattern. Very few cars passed by them, but Seamus and Neville started each time the lights of head beams washed over them.

“Dean, couldn’t we just-”

“No,” the black boy snapped before Neville finished his question. It was a testament to how close they had become. Two years ago, the muggle born wizard would have never considered being rude to Neville since he didn’t know him well enough. Over the first few weeks of summer, they had all gradually come to feel as brothers.

Dean stared moodily at a large pebble, going over what Neville would have asked. He wanted to know if they could just return to Dean’s house, since it was the only home they had.

‘If only his gram hadn’t died,’ Dean thought bitterly. It was what set everything off. Seamus had offered Neville a spot at his home since the young wizard felt awkward with the rest of his relatives. Dean had come as well, and they’d shared his home for only a week when it became apparent Mrs. Finnigan was turning. Much to her son’s dismay, she began dropping less than subtle hints about Harry Potter and the Dark Lord and what she thought of them.

Dean and Neville had convinced Seamus to leave and go to Dean’s after one rather brutal night. His mother had nearly hexed him when he defended Harry and spoke of how twisted He Who Must Not Be Named was. Dean’s house was crowded without him there, but they managed. The three wizards had even had a lot of good fun for a few weeks. And then…

Dean’s breath hitched as he recalled the event. An old man had arrived at their door, demanding to see his grandson. Dean’s mother had paled and refused, telling him to leave. When Dean had tried to investigate, the man saw him and spelled the door open. His mother forced the bony man away, but not before some life changing words spilled through his lips.

Dean’s true father was a wizard who had left him as a baby, and much of his life had been a lie. Of course, his inquisitive best friend had appeared with Neville in tow, and they watched in nervous apprehension as Dean asked his mother if it was true. They’d left soon after.

“Look!” Neville’s shout shook him out his gloomy thoughts, and he followed orders to see a winged creature flying towards them. The salt and pepper feathers of Neville’s family owl soon came into view, and she landed with a graceful thud before them. A scroll of parchment was tied to one of her legs. Neville quickly removed it and read it aloud for them all to hear.

‘To Neville, Seamus, and Dean-

Don’t be so bloody stupid. Of course you can stay with us, if you want to. Stay where you are and Lupin will come get you and explain everything. While everyone has agreed that you may stay, you might be better off trying to find shelter elsewhere. Just stay where you are and Lupin will explain.

-Ron, Harry, and Hermione”

The other two snad itd it away from Neville, and reread it themselves. It had been written quickly, no doubt by Ron, as it was difficult to read.

“Lupin? As in our old professor?” Seamus asked at last.

“I guess,” Neville said with a shrug.

“It’s good news, though. I just wish they could’ve elaborated a bit more. And why is Hermione with Ron?” Dean asked.

“Cause Harry is,” Seamus answered promptly.

“Well, how’s Lupin getting here?” Neville asked. The bang behind him was answer enough. He yelped and stumbled over Dean when getting up to turn around, causing both him and the black boy to topple over and crash onto Seamus.

“Ow! Get off of me, you idiots!” Seamus cried from beneath them, unable to shove either off. He heard Lupin laughing slightly behind him, and he tilted his head back to see their former professor. The silver flecks that peppered his hair seemed to have taken over more territory since they’d last seen him, and his eyes were very tired. Seamus glanced from the man’s face to the sky, satisfied only when he saw the moon was half full.

“I assure you, Finnigan, I would not be here if it was a full moon,” he said, voice raspy as ever. He extended a hand to both Neville and Dean, pulling them back up onto the sidewalk. Seamus grumbled under his breath as he scrambled to his feet, stepping towards them.

“Now, I know Ron said that I would be here to explain, but first I have to ask you a question,” Remus said, pausing to let them nod in acknowledgement, “And this is it. You know that He Who Must Not Be Named is nearly back to full power. When, and not if, the war begins, would you fight for him or against him?”

“Against,” they said in unison, sounding horrified at the thought at being allies with the dark lord. Hadn’t that been the reason they had gotten away from Mrs. Finnigan? Their former teacher’s honey eyes widened, his irises sweeping right to left. He finally seemed content and let out a shaky sigh.

“I’m glad. However, there’s still a lot to be cleared up…”

For the next ten minutes, he told them about the Order of the Phoenix, who was there, and where they were staying. After that, he answered their questions for another ten minutes.

“Anything else you want to know?” He asked, now leaning back against a lamp post. It seemed that he was not up for teaching so early in the morning. Neville looked to Seamus, who looked to Dean, and then they all shook their heads in unison.

“Do you want to still come, then?”

Seamus was staring down at his feet, Neville was chewing at his nails, and Dean gazed up at the stars. Remus smiled slightly, thinking that he could almost see Seamus raising and lifting his hands as if weighing something.

“I do,” Neville said at last. It startled the others, who agreed barely seconds later. One for all and all for one. Remus smiled.

“Have you ever ridden on the Knight Bus before?”

(( A.N. I don’t own anything, naturally. Reviews make me awfully happy. There’s a bunch of dirty Dean/Seamus smut in the next chapter, so don’t you worry! ))