Title : I'll show you mine…

Fandom : Harry potter

Genre : Slash, angst. (slightly AU maybe)

Pairing : so far, Draco/Justin Finch-Fletchley/Neville

Note : Companion to "I thought you cared" (lyrics from The cranberries, Just my imagination. )

Summary : Neville wonders what it's like to have friends; Justin and Draco have to share a compartment on Hogwarts express because they both have some issues with their respective housemates…

I'll show you mine…

If you show me yours first…

seventh part

There was a game we used to play
We would hit the town on friday night
And stay in bed until sunday
We used to be so free
We were living for the love we had and
Living not for reality

It was just my imagination

Five years have gone by since the first time I laid eyes upon you…

Five years of laughing, five years of cheer happiness. I was with you, and it was enough. You seemed happy too, happy to have a friend to talk to, to listen to, to cling to no matter what.

But you don't need me anymore… who does?

I remember the joke we used to share…

((("I'm just… a little tired" I say, faking my most charming smile for you.

"Not working, Jus'… I've known you for five years already. I can tell when you're hiding things from me."

"Hiding things? Me?" I ask, trying to sound hurt by your lack of trust "How can you possibly think something like that? I'm a Hufflepuff, remember? Secrets are not my cup of tea…"

So okay, I'm being a little sarcastic here.

"…especially not when it comes to my marvellous best-friend" I add, hopefully.

"I'm still not buying it, Justin. You could drop down on you knees and start licking my hand in allegiance and I would still not—What the…? Justin, stop it, get up! Now!"

"But you said…" I smile mischievously.

"You dumbass…" you sigh.

Eyes widening, lips parting in a highly surprised expression, I frown at the sudden realisation of the fact that…

"My God, Ernie! I just realised something!" I cry out.

"What? What is it, Justin?" you ask, looking worried and slightly panicked by my sudden outburst.

"The… the… first four letters of Dumbldore are D.U.M and B. DUMB!" and with that, I literally break into an incontrollable fit of laughter. "Oh my God, Oh God Ernie" I moan, holding my ribs.

Wide eyed, you stares at me for a few seconds more before you finally give in and start laughing manically with me.)))

Back then, I trusted you, with all my heart. Back then, I was willing to sacrifice everything I had for you, Ernie…

Back then, I could just look at you when you were angry…I could disarm you with a simple smile.

We would laugh it off and you would hug me tight. Like the brother I never had…

Everything changes, teenager grow into the men they want to be. Or so I thought until I had this first little chat with Draco on the train…

Some people are given the opportunity to choose their pass.

Some say 'You can choose your friends, not your family'.

But sometimes, you're not even allowed to choose those you are supposed to cling to and trust.

Through the years, I've come to understand that no amount of money, no proprieties can substitute a real friend.

And here I am now, sitting in the waiting room near the Hospital wing, waiting for Mme Pomfrey to be done with Malfoy.

He'll be nursing a few bruises and broken ribs…

She says he'll be okay in a few days. In a few days it will be too late to help him…

"Justin!"

Shaking my head to clear my thought, I look up to see Longbottom standing in front of me, a look of concern in his soft blue eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asks, sounding worried "I heard you had a fight with… with Ernie and I--"

"I'm okay, Neville, don't worry" I smile standing up to greet him. "I had to take Malfoy here and, Ernie happened to be in the way..."

"Ohh" he sighs, obviously relieved. "And, err, how is he? Seamus says he heard Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson say they would 'get back at this little runt Malfoy' for what he did to them."

"Just a few bruises and broken ribs, nothing too serious." I grin. "But I guess he was a little… hnn… perturbed by the fight because he… he defended me when Ernie attacked us. It was… weird, really"

"He defended you?" Neville asks

"Yeah, I know. You see, we were coming down from the astronomy tower and Ernie just…"

)))))))))OoO(((((((((

Hands in my pockets, I slowly walk back to my room.

Yeah, being a prefect has it's advantages.

It's quite cold outside, but not enough to make me long for my robes.

Singing softly to myself, I close my eyes and let the cold wind bite into my skin. It feels strange to be walking alone. Be it at Hogwarts or back home, I'm never completely by myself. People. People everywhere, surrounding me all the time. And still, I feel invisible.

And I like it…

Sometimes…

Finally reaching the door, I smile to myself before uttering the password.

"Mighty Hufflepuff Poof"

Malfoy is a funny one when he wants to be.

Strangely, I feel more at ease, almost relaxed as I stretch my legs on the bed, hands behind my head, to watch the ceiling.

While I was confronting both Malfoy's former crowd and Ernie, Neville went to see Dumbledore. And it really sounds like that old lunatic had a plan all along…

Couldn't he say so sooner? Really…

I feel kinda stupid now…

Sighing softly, I bring my hand to my face to brush my fingers against my cheek.

Malfoy kissed me…

Now, that's weird.

Really, really weird.

I'm not complaining, not really.

Still...

Smiling contentedly, I let my mind wander a little.

"Finch!" someone calls suddenly from the other side of the door.

Startled, I quickly get up and rush to the door…

...to find Draco and Neville staring at me.

"My father found out about Dumbledore's plan… and he's coming to get me…"

)))))))))End of Seventh Part(((((((((

Aha! Suspense xP !