Feeling both his best friends beside him, Dennis felt his breathing begin to come under control. For several more minutes he said nothing, merely allowing their presence to soothe him.
Finally, he let out a snivelling cough and sighed, utterly exhausted. "I was at Finnigan's at the cuddle pile thing, and I was hugging Seamus," he began, proud that he could at least get full words out now. "Anyway, he tickled me and I knocked his shirt up to tickle him back and he-" he paused to take a steadying breath, "He has a scar, and I told him it was sexy and he got really weird, and Susan said that his Wards probably wouldn't let me in and now I've lost another person I'm close to and I hate myself." He blushed, glad that Rolf was still nuzzling him and Rose couldn't see his face. "Who knows, maybe I'll lose you two next. Everyone always leaves me and I can't make them stop," he finished the last word with small sob, pushing back a further flow of tears.