Dean's great to talk to when you're stressed out. We had a talk this evening about a bunch of things....Shay, school, other people's relationships...and, er...stuff. All in all, it was quite an interesting chat. And I feel better, so that's good.

I'm debating whether or not to owl Seamus. I'm a little angry that he just up and left like that, but that doesn't change the fact that I miss him, even though I barely saw him as it was. Probably something to do with the fact that I knew he was there if I needed him, and now he's a lot further off.

My head's swimming with too much information at the moment...I better go to bed.

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(IC RP with Dean Thomas and Melody Rose de Thenard)


Dean looks up from his Runes text in time to see Melody come down the girls' dormitory stairs, a strained look on her normally bright features. It's late and most everyone has already gone to bed. He raises an eyebrow and motions for her to join him on the couch by the fire. "You look as if you'll pop if someone even touches you. Is everything all right?"

Melody shrugs, trying to find a smile to put on for Dean and failing. She says weakly "I've been better." Plopping down on the couch, she stares blankly into the fire. "A lot better", she adds darkly.

He closes his book and sets it on the floor next to them gently. "Tell me everything."

"What is there to tell?" Melody inquires. "Everyone's stressed out, there are too many hot heads, and no one's getting along." With a disdainful look at Dean's book, she adds "And the enormous workload isn't exacly helping."

"The professors seem to enjoy giving us monumental amounts of work when they know that tempers are running high. Probably because they were treated the same way when they were younger. And the cycle continues," he says dryly. "And as for no one getting along, it seems that things in one quarter have come to a head at last. Did you talk to Shay since yesterday at all or did he really stay up in the dormitory all day?"

"I've left Shay alone", Melody says with a sad shake of her head. "I felt like if I tried to talk to him, I wouldn't be too...comforting. I'd have ended up yelling."

"Well, sometimes he needs it," Dean says succinctly. "When there's a deeper seated issue it doesn't take much to make him explode and this episode with Draco was the trigger this time. Talking sense to him doesn't work, so often the only thing that I can do is tell him he's being a prat and wait for the anger to burn its way out of his system."

Managing a small smile, Melody says "And during that time, I'm forced to miss him." Gazing into the fire again, she sighs in frustration. "It's a no win situation."

"The fact that he went home means that he's recognizing that he's overreacting already," Dean says comfortingly. "If only all of us could do the same thing, I bet we'd be out of each other's hair in no time. Unfortunately, things are just going to escalate until someone snaps. I hope it's not going to be you."

"For all our sakes, I hope so too", Melody agrees. "It's probably good that Shay went home, but...I don't know, I sort of wish he had told me and I didn't have to find out from his journal...." trailing off, Melody raises her shoulders in a half shrug. "If it makes him feel better, it's for the best, though."

Dean rolls his eyes. "That I have no explanation for other than the fact that he's amazingly stupid at times. I sent him a Howler earlier when he finally posted that he was gone."

Melody laughs. "Good idea!" she praises. "I'm sure that'll make him feel loads better," she says sarcastically. "But he needs the reality check."

"Yes, he really does. I went back and read what started this entire blowout and I have to ask what's wrong with Draco. He doesn't usually snap at anyone like he used to anymore, and this is more of a throwback to third or fourth year than anything else. It's not like him."

"The whole situation with Hermione almost attacking Harry completely set Draco off", Melody says thoughtfully. "You're right, he's being a bastard lately."

"Those two worry me," Dean says after a moment of thought. "It took us all a long time to get used to the idea of them together, but that's not the issue. It's almost that they're . . . too together, you know? I envy them but at the same time I worry about what would happen if something were to go wrong. Or if the war suddenly started."

"I definitely know what you mean about them being too together. They're pretty much attached at the hip. I mean...at least Shay and I talk to other people. They don't really have much to fall back on." Melody looks a bit bothered. "Harry seems to put Draco in front of everything...even Hermione and Ron barely matter to him lately."

"I haven't said anything more than good morning or 'pass me the toast' to him in about half a year," Dean says, chuckling slightly. "It's like he found Draco and the rest of the world ceased to exist. And Ron and Hermione will always be there, but . . . I don't know. It's like if Shay were to suddenly become entirely focused on you. I would still be his best mate and I would still make time for him when he wanted to spend time with me, but there would be some distance there. It just doesn't feel right."

"I wouldn't let Shay get like that with me", Melody says, wrinkling her nose. "Honestly, I think it's a bit unhealthy. You can't only have one person...what happens if that person disappears?"

Dean shakes his head slowly, wondering what it would be like and failing to imagine it fully. "I don't know. And I really hope that neither of them ever have to find out."

"I hope that too", Melody agrees. "Although I think it's impossible for someone to get through life with only one person to depend on."

He sighs and holds up his hands. "There's nothing that we can do, I guess. Neither of them would listen and despite my best intentions it's really none of my business. I would like to sit down and have an actual conversation with Draco before we graduate, however. He's . . . well, he's interesting, to put it simply."

"There's something about Draco that makes me not want to talk to him. He's hostile, I think. And overdefensive." Smiling in amusement, Melody says "If anyone tried to talk to him, he'd get even more hostile and overdefensive. But I'd like to see you try."

Dean smiles rather deviously. "Hostile and overdefensive does not bother me in the least. I've dealt with people like that all of my life and I know how to work around it. What's more, I have the patience to do it. Just call me Dr. Thomas," he says, miming pointing a gun at his head and pulling the trigger. "It seems to be my chosen lot in life."

"So what happens when you're the one who needs someone to talk to?" Melody asks. "You can't go around asking advice from yourself!"

"Seamus really does listen better than he lets on," Dean says, shrugging. "And most of the time I can sort out my problems without talking to anyone else. I'm naturally a private person."

"Even private people need to talk sometimes", Melody points out. "But you're right. Seamus can listen when he wants to. He's helped me out more than once when I've needed it."

"And all he needs most of the time is a firm foot planted on his arse to steer him in the right direction. You do it well," he adds, noticing the slight frown on her face. "And if it were anyone else besides the two of us he wouldn't listen at all. That's how you know he cares - when it comes down to it, he lets you push him around when he knows that's what he needs."

"And then I become a controlling bitch and ruin his life", Melody says, smiling. "I try to keep him in line, because otherwise he's hopeless most of the time. Loveably so, but hopeless is hopeless."

"Mmm, he's like an unhousebroken puppy half the time and then mature when you least expect it. Crazy Irishman," Dean says fondly. "When I first got here I would barely speak to anyone. It took him a full six months to wear me down to even trivial conversation and he just kept going from there until it evolved into the interesting dynamic that we have today."

"Interesting is right", Melody says. "I don't quite get the way you two work."

"Sometimes even I'm not quite sure," he says, smiling. "We're complete opposites in most ways and most people say that they can't see why we're friends in the first place, but somehow . . . it just fits. He's brought me out of my shell and I guess I've given him one to retreat into when he needs it. If we were girls we'd be watching movies and eating ice cream and all of that stuff," he says, wrinkling his nose.

Melody raises an eyebrow at Dean. "I don't even watch movies and eat ice cream with my friends" she says, laughing.

"Well, I don't know what you women do in your spare time. I mean, I usually just cover myself in glitter and prance around when no one's about," he deadpans, succeeding in keeping a straight face.

"Wow", Melody says. "I don't think I've ever known a girl to do that."

"I'm that special kind, in case you hadn't noticed," he said, winking at her.

"Clearly", Melody says dryly. "Us women aren't much different, I don't think. We just angst more and have too many emotions."

"I'm happy to say that the bitch factor does not run heavily in the Thomas family on the men's side, at least," he says. "Neither does the flamboyant dress. Why, if I didn't open my mouth people'd probably never know."

"Well, that's good, because it's easier to keep under wraps if you'd like", Melody says with a shrug. "Better than being really, really obvious."

"If Seamus were gay he'd be the biggest, most flamboyant pouf the world has ever seen. Thank the gods he's straight, otherwise I doubt wizarding kind would know what to do with itself."

Melody thinks of Seamus and tries to imagine him gay. Bursting into laughter, she exclaims "You are so right it's scary."

He chuckles softly and nods. "You understand. It'd be horrendous."

"It would be. Thank goodness he's not." With a sidelong glance at Dean, Melody says "You don't...fancy him at all, do you?"

Dean snorts slightly. "In a way, I suppose, if he were gay and not horrible at it, I think I would. But whatever angst was present in that quarter was something that I dealt with a very long time ago. I present no threat, I promise," he teased gently, poking her in the arm.

"Well, it'd be a soap opera like no other if you did, that's all", Melody says, poking him back.

"Exactly. Too much drama. There's enough going on in our daily lives without that adding any stress. I'm good at working out problems, remember? It's Cheery who needs a lesson now and then. Before this whole thing I hadn't seen him that annoyingly happy for awhile. He's mad about you."

"Well, if you ever need help working out your problems, I'm usually around", Melody offers. "Because you're right. There's too much stress and drama as it is." Melody blushes slightly. "And thanks."

"I'm sure they will, it just sucks now until they do." Shrugging, Melody stretches. "I'm sure a good night sleep probably couldn't hurt either."

"That always seems to help things along," he agrees, leaning down to gather his books.

"You're great to talk to, you know", Melody says with a smile, standing up. "I feel a lot better."

"My work here is done!" he concludes, standing and balancing the pile on his hip. "Take care and make sure not to beat Seamus too badly when he comes slinking back here."

"I won't, I promise", Melody vows. "It'd probably make him pout, and that's the last thing we need."

He grins and nods, tapping the side of his nose. "You're a fast learner."

Melody nods. "I try. Have a good night, Dean", she says.

"You too, Mel."