Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series or any of its characters.

Matchmakers, Inc.: It starts

By: Kaoru2.50

Dean Thomas had started the company while he was still in school. The purpose of Matchmakers Inc. was to help everyone find that perfect match and no one was better at it than Dean. His partner in business and his own true match, Seamus Finnigan, was nearly as gifted. The company was a raging success, making perfect matches for every customer. They were a never-fail duo and by the end of the war, nearly a year after graduation, the two had made enough money to live comfortably without ever actually working. Then the accident happened.

Harry Potter sighed heavily and collapsed on the sofa next to his friend. At last, the room was empty, devoid of all the annoying people whose looks of pity directed at Seamus were enough to drive an observer crazy, much less the intended target. He glanced at the Irishman from beneath his thick fringe of bangs. The sight of his normally hyperactive friend sitting so dejectedly head in his hands and curled up into himself almost brought the hero to tears. And he didn't cry easily, not since Dumbledore.

He reached out, awkwardly patting his friend's back. Seamus looked up and Harry gasped at the unshed tears shining in the dark orbs. "Merlin, Seamus, its okay to cry!" the brunet exclaimed softly before pulling his friend into his arms. He rubbed calming circles on Seamus' back as the former Gryffindor sobbed brokenly into Harry's shoulder, tears drenching the dark shirt Harry had worn to the funeral. For a time, the two did nothing else, and gradually the sobs became sniffles and Seamus lifted his head.

Harry watched as the Irish wizard wiped his red-rimmed eyes dry, noting how tired the other man looked. "Seamus, you should get some rest," he said, concerned for his former dorm-mate. The other man shook his head and met Harry's worried gaze with a slight grin. "Its okay, Harry," the Irishman said. "I'll be okay. Dean wouldn't want me to be so depressed all the time." Harry smiled a little too. "Yeah, and it has been a few week since you last showed your teeth." Seamus rolled his eyes and shot back "How'd you feel if the one you loved…if he…" Tears began to well up in Seamus' eyes again and Harry reached out to comfort the man. Seamus waved his friend's hands away. "I deal with it Harry. You won't be here every time I think of him, okay? I can take care of it by myself."

Harry listened quietly as Seamus spoke and could almost sense the moment his friend had succeeded in willing his tears away. "There," Seamus said with a grin. "See. I can do it. I'm fine." Harry shook his head and stood, brushing his hand over his shoulder in an attempt to flatten the wrinkles caused by the other man's tears. "That's good then, Seamus. I have to go meet Ron and Hermione." He slanted a look down at the still-sitting Irishman. "Do you want to come?" he asked hesitantly and wasn't surprised when his friend just shook his head. Harry sighed and Seamus looked up.

"Its not that I blame them! I know it wasn't their fault," he said vehemently. "I know it was Dean's idea to take the car, but…but I just can't…I just can't see them yet. Not yet, Harry." Harry nodded, looking away from the pleading dark eyes. He cleared his throat a few times before asking "Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?" Seamus nodded and said yes a bit more forcefully than necessary. Harry ruffled the short sandy hair of his friend before letting himself out, throwing a "Call if you need anything" over his shoulder as the door shut.

Seamus Finnigan sighed and leaned deeply into the cushions. He rubbed at his eyes, trying to keep more tears from falling. He needed to do something to keep his mind off the funeral. He knew Dean was gone, knew he'd never see the grin he loved so much again, knew he'd never be held in his strong arms again. That didn't mean he could mope forever and he wouldn't. Tomorrow, Seamus decided, he would set about making another match. Harry was single, he mused. Harry would make for a perfect target. Tomorrow, though. Tonight, he just wanted to curl up and say good-bye to Dean.

A/N: Okay so there's the set-up chapter. Sorry it's a little depressing. Well, I think so anyway… I promise to bring in Draco next chapter. I love reviews! So post one, yeah?