Matchmakers & Fireplaces

Author: Sunnycouger (foolofatook_@hotmail.com)

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: The characters of Harry Potter don't belong to me, I'm just taking them out to play and I promise to get them home to JK Rowling in time for the next book. But, just in case you were in any doubt as to who they belong to have a look at this: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Category: Romance, Humour - S/Par, N/La, De/Han

Summary: A long long time ago Marianne began a fic and never finished it - now, the time has come for it to be adapted into a multi part fic. And this is it...Lavender Brown is very perceptive and she's on a mission to rectify something that should have happened years earlier by getting her best friend together with her former boyfriend. To do this she enlists the help of her current boyfriend (the ever lovable Neville), the unknowing guru of the seventh years (the one, the only Dean) and Dean's lovely, if somewhat clumsy girlfriend (Hannah Abbott.) Throw in an unsupervised (and quite frankly ill advised and against every rule known to Hogwarts) trip to Muggle London and you have the basis of this all told through the eyes of Ms Brown.

Authors Notes: As I said I started this a while ago but talking with Gracie at the D/H thread and I decided to adapt it and finish it. This fic is looking to be about five chapters at the moment and isn't going to feature any of the trio (they have enough fics ;)). It's just a bit of fun so I hope you enjoy :)

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Chapter 1: This Is Me & My Mission...

You know, thinking back I think I can pin point the exact moment that it happened. Isn't that weird? I can pin point the exact moment it happened. You're probably wondering what exact moment I'm talking about, right? Actually, you're probably wondering who I am as well, aren't you? Okay, well one question at a time.

The exact moment I'm referring to is when my boyfriend's affections switched from me to my best friend and I started down a long and winding path that ended up with me in love with perhaps the worlds most unlikely person.

In case you're wondering, my name is Lavender Brown - I'm seventeen, 5'4", with chestnut shoulder length hair, blue eyes, killer smile and slim figure. (I'm not being conceited I really am that pretty - ask my boyfriend.) I'm a seventh year Gryffindor - I excel at Divination and pass just about everything else, although to be honest I figure about half of that is down to luck (hey, I'm big enough to admit it.) I use a birch and unicorn hair wand which I got in first year. My Mum's a pure blood, my Dad's a Muggle born wizard. I'm an only child but since first year I have been as close as a sister with Parvati Patil. We met on the train to Hogwarts, she's a pure blood from a very long line of wizards, she's very pretty and I think she's nice. We have a reputation for being 'too girly' and 'gossipy' and 'giggly' - of course, we have that reputation because of Hermione Granger who is basically our polar opposite. She doesn't have a high opinion of us because we're not as boring as she is.

Anyway, I digress, I was telling you about something else wasn't I? Yes, the exact moment that it happened.

Well, thinking back the exact moment it happened was way back in fourth year at the Yule Ball when, out of sympathy (apparently), my date Seamus Finnigan asked Parvati to dance. At the time I thought he was just - well, being over protective. I mean, Parvati didn't look too concerned to be dancing with a rather large and attractive Beauxbaton's boy but Seamus was having none of it.

"Look at him, thinking he's got a chance. I'm gonna go before he starts manhandling her - we got to take care o' our own, Lavender. I'm just going...you can dance with Dean? Or...or Neville? Or some one, I willnae be long..."

To my credit I didn't let him see how much it bothered me, actually maybe because it didn't bother me. Whatever, I told him to go and have fun and I went and stood beside Neville who was standing by himself (Ginny Weasley had apparently developed a headache) and watched the dance floor. Anyway, it was at that exact moment that I saw it happen - and I didn't even realise what I had saw until recently. I can't believe I never noticed it at the time - the way he walked over to her, the look he gave the Beauxbaton's boy that made him get out of the way rather quickly, the way he leant down and whispered in her ear as he took her hand and guided her away from the boy. The way she blushed as she looked at him in the eyes. The way he stopped laughing as he lay his hand on her waist and pulled her closer as they danced.

The way they both held on that little bit longer than was necessary after the song had ended just looking at each other.

Yeah, probably thinking back I should have realised that maybe something was up with the situation but you know - I was only fourteen. I mean, I'm three years older now and it's painfully obvious now what happened started that night. You know what the funny thing is? I don't mind. I really don't - some things fit and some things don't and me and Seamus just never fitted together like that. He never looked at me like that when we danced.

I know what you're thinking - I'm being awfully forgiving for a guy who dumped me for my best friend, right? Well, the truth is I'm not. See, he didn't dump me. We just moved apart about three months after the Yule Ball and that was it. He never made a move on Parvati - he just sits there and watches her. He watches her laugh, he watches her study. He watches her just sitting and, on occasion glares at any guy who so much as smiles at her. On her part she does basically the same - she watches him. She watches him clown around with Dean. She watches him play Quidditch. She watches him flirting with other girls, but she never sees him watching her. The same way he never sees her watching him.

It's quite frustrating for me as a neutral. The others all find it amusing - they don't see the seriousness of the situation - I mean we have just over four months before we leave Hogwarts for good and at this rate Seamus and Parvati may never admit anything. Which, as you can tell, would be a disaster - because when two people are that perfect and have spent three years being perfect for each other it is kinda depressing to think that it might come to nothing.

"Lavender?"

I look up and see Neville Longbottom looking at me in concern. "Uh huh?"

"You're...scoweling again. You trying to work out what you're going to do, again?"

I smile as I lean back against his chest. That's Neville, my boyfriend. He's a sweetheart who thankfully hasn't worked out how great he is yet or else he would've dumped me so quickly and got himself a girl who deserves someone like him. We've been together for about a year - yeah, I say about like I can't remember the date. We've been together for eleven months, twenty four days. (I have the day marked in my calendar - Hermione thinks it's 'sad' that I've charmed the calendar to light up. Apparently it's ridiculous to pay so much attention about a date. My opinion? Hermione should remember that me and Parvati have both seen her sleep talking about a certain redheaded boy and that we know quite well so she should pay a little less attention to us and a little more time to her own relationship.) Eleven months, twenty four days - can you believe that? I'm quite impressed with that - I never thought I would be in a relationship for that long while at school. Of course, now I think that this will be the longest relationship I'll ever be in - maybe because I can't see it ending.

"Lavender? Why are you giggling?"

Ooops, didn't mean to do that out loud - must be scary for poor Neville. I reach out and take his hand and sigh. "Um, would you believe it if I said I was thinking about us?"

"And...that made you laugh?"

I bite my lip to stop from laughing some more, oh he is so adorable when he's worried. His eyes go all wide and he starts playing with his hands like a child that's been shouted at. "Not 'us', silly - us, as in imagine us lasting a year."

He visibly relaxes as he gives me a smile. "Ah right, um, yeah...a whole year..."

"Long time..." I whisper but don't add how it doesn't feel like any time at all. I promised Parvati that I would stop being so obvious in front of her. It depresses her apparently.

"Hey, Lav, Neville."

Ah, speak of the devil and all that... I look up and see Parvati looking down at me with a sad smile. "Why so sad, Parvati?"

She sighed dramatically and slumped down on the seat. "Hogsmeade."

I nodded my head as I reached out and locked her arm with mine. "Don't worry about that, you can come with us two."

She looked at me with a semi-pout that she only ever used when she was trying to stop from calling me an idiot for missing the obvious. "Don't you think you two will want to spend that time together? Alone? You know, coming up to that," she leaned into my ear and whispered, "important date? Do you really want a third wheel?"

I look at her and nod my head. Really, I should have told her not to be daft and that she wouldn't be a third wheel but...well, it wouldn't be true. And she knew it and she was a good enough friend to accept that. "What about Padma?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, she's going with Justin - apparently it's love...Hermione's off with Ron and Harry like usual..."

"What about Hannah?"

She pursed her lips and looked at her shoes. "She's off with Dean...traitor. We were supposed to be single together..."

My ears immediately perk up as I sit up quickly, inadvertently sticking my elbow directly into Neville's ribs. "Owww."

I turn around and smile apologetically. "Oh baby, I'm sorry..."

He forced a smile as he stood up and rubbed his ribs as he walked away. "It's okay, plenty of padding..."

I turn back to Parvati, grinning like a Cheshire cat. She sighs and sinks back in the sofa next to the one I'm sitting on. "You two make me sick some times, you know?"

I grin as I slump back. "I know, but you love us anyway, don't you?"

She let a laugh escape as she nodded her head. "On occasion..."

"Anyway, if Dean's off with Hannah - who's Seamus off with?"

She sighed again dramatically. (She's a bit of a drama queen is our Parvati, if I'm honest.) "Take your pick, I guess..."

I reach over and take her hand in mine. You see why this is so frustrating for me? A normal person would just say - I'm on my own why not go with someone who is a 'friend' as opposed to being on my own. But I learned early on that Parvati wasn't a normal person - she likes things done properly and that involves the guy making all the moves first. "Why not you?"

She turned her head and looked at me. "Um, no. How about some stupid blonde Hufflepuff bimbo...that's more likely."

"You could ask him," I try and sound innocent but she doesn't want to know.

"Or I could stay here and just...eat..." She rubbed her stomach and gave a smile. "I'm starving, when's dinner?"

"You always over eat when you're upset," I say sternly. "Don't you think your waist line might be upset if you did that?"

She folded her arms. "Tough." She turned and looked at me with a smile. "I'll just traipse along with someone - don't worry about it. What I want to know is, you got him his present yet?"

Ah, the tact of changing the subject - now, some people would take this as it was and go off and talk about the new topic but, well if you've ever been close to someone then you know that you really can't let them do that when it's something as important as getting them together with their most suited life partner. And if you don't know that then you are either a guy or Hermione Granger (who I'm sorry to say has simply spent far too much time in the company of two of the densest males in Hogwarts.) Anyway, I refuse to let my best friend go into denial (that and I don't want to admit that I still have no idea what I'm getting Neville) and as a result I have to employ stealth and tact as I deftly turn the conversation around again. "No, I haven't but that's enough about that. You're crazy about Seamus and you're scared to admit it - aren't you?"

Parvati looked open mouthed at me before gasping. "Me and Seamus? Please - you...you think that I'm interested in Seamus? No. Don't be silly, you've been reading too much of witch weekly's romance section. You think that me and Seamus?" She gave a forced laugh to highlight her point but it didn't really hide the fact that she was blushing. "Don't be silly. Silly, silly girl..."

Uh-huh, I really believe that and am just about to voice that opinion but before I can someone else speaks.

"What's she being a silly girl over and why are my ears burnin'?"

Parvati looks up and suddenly begins to laugh nervously (some people would say giggling but there is a difference.) "Seamus! I...yes, I was just...Lavender. She seems to think that...you and I...that we..."

She blushes some more and I look at Seamus to see his reaction as he smiles and plops down right next to Parvati and waits on her to finish. I groan and roll my eyes as I see Dean Thomas trying to stifle his own laughter from behind the pair of them.

"That we were both failing Arithmetic. She said she was reading the...starcharts and thought she saw it. I told her she was being silly because you don't even take arithmetic..."

He smiles and turns back to me and shakes his head as he gives a small laugh. "You been frazzlin' that brain of yours by trying to be a Diviner again?"

I narrow my eyes at him - why is she interested in such a Neanderthal? "I am more of a Diviner than you are a Quidditch player."

He laughs and sinks his head back against the couch. "So, you two both going to Hogsmeade at the weekend?"

I nod my head but I see he's not even looking at me and is instead looking at Parvati, which I think is rather ignorant. You don't ask an open question and then only want one reply - why didn't he just say 'Parvati, who you going with at the weekend?' The appropriate answer to that is simple - he's a male, and a particularly dense male at that. Anyway - if they don't sort this out I'm just going to have to do something myself.

"Parvati?" he enquires, his curiosity not even close to being disguised.

She shakes her head and gives a fake smile. "Oh, definitely. Yeah, I'm going..."

"Really? Who you going with?" He began as he turned around more fully to look at her before continuing. "I'm going as well but my so called best friend has decided to leave me on my own," he gave a wink to indicate he was joking before raising his voice to allow Dean to hear him. "He doesn't believe me when I tell him that a man who drops his mate for a girl is whipped. I would never, ever do that to him but I guess friendship just means more to some people. My Ma always told me to be careful of city boys - that they would drop you like a hot potato at the first sight of a pretty face."

"You aren't still trying to make me feel guilty about that? Come on! I told you that you could come with us..." I turn around and see Dean looking rather sheepish - that boy is far too easy to get a reaction out of. His problem is he's too nice for his own good - the definitive sensitive soul - probably the only guy that casual acquaintance's would feel comfortable enough with to unload all their life story to on the first meeting. He wouldn't thank me for telling you this but Dean has become a bit of a guru with the seventh years and he doesn't even know it. It all comes down to the fact that if you catch him on his own then you're could literally talk to him for an hour and he'd listen and give you some good advice. He's my co-conspirator in Operation: SAP (Operation: Seamus and Parvati - okay, admittedly it's not original but it's better than SPEW.)

Seamus rolled his eyes at his friend's discomfort and nudged Parvati as he leant close and whispered "Like I want to be the hanger on with those two. Who you going with?"

I watch in wonder as Parvati splutters something about tagging along with someone - she sure knows how to make it difficult for herself. It's then she makes the most unbelievable mistake. "I suppose I might go with Colin, he asked if I was going..."

You become perceptive of things as you grow older - now I might be more perceptive than most because I have The Sight but the shift in his body language is obvious and he did not like that option. "Colin, huh? Oh...that will be nice for you."

Ouch. That's really not what she wanted to say - Seamus really has a problem with Colin and the fact that he's less than discreet about his feelings for Parvati.

"Um, no...I...just don't want to go on my own and...and Colin, he said he was going with Ginny anyway..."

Seamus nodded his head as he sat up and gave a smile which actually didn't seem very smile like. "Oh well, maybe I should join you three..."

I close my eyes - it's like a disaster area watching this. Dean, who had walked over and joined me as this whole disastrous conversation began drummed his hands on his knees at that statement. He knows as well as I do that Seamus' dislike for Colin is almost matched with Parvati's dislike for Ginny's attentions to Seamus.

"Well, I'm sure Ginny wouldn't mind you tagging along," she says with a forced smile. "You and her get along quite well anyway."

"We do, same with you and Colin," he began with another fake smile. "This is going to be great. You and little Creevy will be able to spend some time together."

"Why, you planning on taking young Weasley off somewhere on your own?"

"Only if you and him want some alone time."

"I suppose we might."

I am rendered almost speechless - I have never seen two people actually talk the other one into dating someone to make them jealous before. I mean, they are practically daring each other to go off with Colin and Ginny - it's very destructive to my plans! Taking away the fact that the whole exchange is actually sizzling in the way they keep leaning closer to each other and the way they haven't actually broken eye contact (I can tell already that they are going to have a very passionate relationship - lots of fallings out and lots of make-ups. It's very romantic in a way - I'll need to try and read both their palms later to see how many kids they're going to have) it's very detrimental to all my work! How am I supposed to get them together if they end up dating other people to spite each other! I want to hit them both over the head but I really can't seem to work out who deserves hit first.

Dean coughed loudly and looked at the two of them before I had to make that decision (did I ever say I love Dean - he's so good in situations like this.) "Well, I have a better idea - why don't you two come with me and Hannah? Save you from associating with the sixth years - I mean this is one of our last trips out and I want us all to spend it together. Wouldn't that be better?"

Seamus never took his eyes from Parvati as he answered. "We can't do that, Dean. It's your first proper date with her - you don't need any hangers on."

"Don't be stupid - I wouldn't enjoy it if I thought you two weren't having fun."

"Oh, I'll be having fun, don't worry about that," Parvati said with a laugh as she smiled sweetly at Seamus. "You don't need to worry about that."

"So will I - it'll be a good day," Seamus replied - matching Parvati's expression.

Dean looked at me and indicated with his head for me to say something. But what could I say? The whole thing was way beyond my plan. Perhaps I should go and consult the crystal ball before I answer? "Um, no...Dean's right. We should all go...the six of us."

The words are out before I even realise what I said and I look up to see three faces looking at me like I'd lost my mind. On the plus point I had managed to get Seamus and Parvati to stop their little tiff.

It was Parvati who spoke first. "Lavender, we are not going out with you and Neville. I'd rather stay here on my own than ruin your date."

"Same here, don't be daft, Lavender. Me and Parvati will be fine."

That was my out - that was my way of getting out of my foolish statement and I really wanted to take it. But, looking at the two of them I realised that there was really only one thing I could do - and my sacrifice would be greatly appreciated further down the line - maybe they would name a child after me. Although, if I'm honest I think that Seamus would probably name the cat after me and that would be the extent of his gratitude. "No, it will be fun - and it will let us all spend time together. We might not get a chance to do that from now on - especially if Dumbledore does stop Muggle borns from going out the school after this trip. I really want the six of us to go together - we might not get another chance."

And the sad thing is I really mean it. We might not get the opportunity again - this could be it. Dean looks at me and gives a sad smile and I see Parvati's and Seamus' smiles falter as they look over at the Muggle born Dean and he gives them a wave back to lighten the mood. Parvati sighs and looks at me with a smile. "You mean it?"

"Yes, please come."

She nodded her head and smiled as Seamus turned to Dean and gave him a grin. "Look on the bright side, if Dumbledore does ban you then you and Hermione will be able to study while we're off having fun."

Dean gave him a thumbs up sign. "I know, I'm just upset he didn't ban us already - I'm quite upset at missing all that precious studying time by spending time with you lot."

I grin - all worked out. I've kept Parvati and Seamus from going with completely the wrong people and effectively forced them on a triple date. This couldn't be better - me and Neville will be off doing our thing, Dean and Hannah will be doing theirs and that will leave those two all alone. I feel myself laugh a little as I think - this is a stroke of genius. I really need to get myself a column in the Daily Prophet handing out advice, I am far to good at it to let this gift go.

"Lavender? You gone a bit mad?" Seamus asks me as Parvati gives me a strange look.

"No, just thinking - where do you guys want to go?"

I'm about to gently 'suggest' all my favourite places but before I can Dean coughs loudly and indicates for us all to gather round closer. This I don't like - Dean shouldn't be getting to make the decisions. It was my idea afterall...I try and not sulk, it's apparently not very attractive but in situations as blatantly unfair as this I can't quite help myself. It's my date they're coming on! I should get to decide what we do!

"Lavender, you waiting on someone to come over?" Dean asks, his voice down low.

I sigh and slide closer - I have no idea what is so secretive but Seamus seems to and is bouncing up and down and grinning at Dean. "You got it?"

"Was there ever any doubt? This is going to be so much better than what I had planned - the six of us loose in London!"

Seamus lets out a small yelp and jumps over and hugs Dean while me and Parvati look at each other in confusion. This is clearly a male thing - when women hug they don't need an excuse but when guys do it it's usually for one of three reasons. Either because of a sporting event, because they're gay or because they're dying. If it's not for any of these reasons then generally they're weird - which isn't anything I didn't already know about these two guys but it is still very confusing for me. "Um, excuse us?"

Seamus pulled back and clicked his fingers as he sat back down next to Parvati. "You, you are a genius, my man - never mind all that crap about Hermione being the brains and Harry being the craftiest - you've blown then all out the water!"

Dean grinned and took a small bow (like the humble thing he is). "I thank you."

"Anyone want to fill us in?" Parvati asked again.

Dean nodded and looked at us. "Okay, you can't tell anyone - well, apart from Neville obviously 'cause if we're found out then we'll be in so much trouble..."

Oh, trouble...i don't like trouble. I don't handle it well - the thought of being shouted at actually terrifies me. I know it's pathetic but it's a genetic flaw.

"Anyway, I got my dad to finally connect my fireplace up to the floo network - under the excuse that I need it to visit Seamus in the summer. And he did it," he continued. "Anyway, I may have mentioned to my Mum that it would be quite nice to have the option to come home if I ever got the chance."

"Which of course you wouldn't, but she doesn't know that," Parvati asked as Seamus and Dean dissolve into laughter.

Dean nodded and gave us a broad smile. "Got the floo powder in this morning - all we have to do is get to Zonko's and use the fireplace and floo to Diagon Alley. We'll leave there and hit Muggle London!"

I want to protest and say what a bad idea that is - I mean, we wouldn't know a thing about a Muggle town as five of us have been raised in a wizarding environment but, it's hard to deny that there are benefits to this. I turn to Parvati as she looks at me - a look of excitement in her eyes. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

I nod my head and give a small squeal as we both say the magic word at the same time - 'shopping.' Shopping in Muggle shops for Muggle clothes and...

"Muggle shoes," Parvati whispers airily as we both come to the same conclusion.

Dean looks at us both. "So, you two in?"

I quickly confirm my own participation whilst considering how I am actually going to break this to Neville. I feel a bit bad that he's kinda been cut out of the equation but I know he'd understand why I did it - he knows how important it is to get Seamus and Parvati to spend time with each other. I mean look at them sitting there laughing - it's like a completely different couple. Oh what a difference a trip makes.

So with that, and after swearing each other to secrecy we agree that we would make a break for it on Saturday morning and be back before anyone missed us. It sounded good and after we both hugged Dean I grabbed Parvati's arm and we both went off towards the portrait hole to go and find Neville. I turned back and noticed Seamus watching Parvati walk away and Dean rolling his eyes as he grabbed a cushion and hit Seamus across the head with it. Yeah, Parvati and Seamus better appreciate the pain that we're enduring in helping them out.

"So, looking forward to Saturday?"

"Uh huh, it will be so good being able to spend time with everyone..." Parvati said with a nod of her head.

"And Seamus," I add innocently as we disappear out of the common room.

"And Seamus," she concurs with a giggle.

I give a small jump as I link my arm with hers and we both skip along the corridor for a few steps. "I knew it! Even just with the way he was looking at you tonight when you were arguing!"

She sighed as she looked at me with a wistful smile. "I don't think I wanted to accept I liked him until then - it was just so..."

"I know - the only thing that would have made it better would have been if he would have kissed you." And that's so true.

She groaned as we walk on. "Don't mention that - I am not wasting my time dwelling on a guy that won't work out."

I am about to push the whole 'soul mates' argument but we both see Neville at the end of the corridor and my whole line of thought is interrupted as I run to him and fill him in on the new plans for the weekend. I smile as Parvati teases me a bit more about my obvious 'smitteness'. (I maintain that's not a word but she says that it's a coined word that she plans on using in a book so she's allowed to use it. I think she's a big fat liar but I'm not brave enough to say it to her face.) Parvati gives me a quick hug and leaves me to fill in a rather confuddled boyfriend on why we're now sharing our date with four other people. Actually, now that I think about it - why am I doing it again? Ah yes, the course of true love and the opportunity of going into London while breaking the rules - see, I knew it was for a good reason.

TBC

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