First time I cook for someone

[pb_justin]

Characters: Justin Finch-Fletchley, Neville Longbottom
Date: September 9th 2000
Location: Justin's flat, Diagon Alley
Status: Private
Summary: Justin invited Neville over for dinner.
Completion: incomplete

Comments

[pb_neville]

Neville remembered the way to Justin's. He'd practically put the bloke to bed last week, it was hard to forget that. But he didn't mind. Justin was a nice guy, who'd come through a tough situation and was trying to get back into the swing of things.

It had been a while since Nev had seen his mum and dad, though he tried to visit at least once every other week. He'd made a point taking a break today to go over and sit with them, telling them about the auction, and about how he'd 'won' a bloke, the pending dinner with Rosie. He avoided mentioning the werewolf attack from earlier in the month. It had taken a few weeks before he could sleep soundly, not actually having nightmares, so much as memories resurfacing and making it hard to close his eyes. Seeing Seamus covered in blood, looking close to dead, Ginny hurt, the old man dead...

He pushed it all aside and knocked, smiling at Justin as he greeted him.

"Hiya. Thanks for having me." He sniffed. "Smells good." He stepped in, shrugging off his jacket.

[pb_justin]

Justin grinned and walked back to the kitchen, telling Neville to follow him there. "Still got a few last minute touches, then we should be able to eat." he said, clapping his hands together before rubbing them.

Putting on his apron again (one that was written Hufflepuff chef' on it, graciously from one of his collegue) and started mixing grainy mustard, apple cider vinegar and oil together, whisking it all together before he poured it into a bottle and setting it on the table along with the salad bowl.

"You know, I think you will need to give me a crash course in gardening." Justin told Neville, blushing slightly. "I do have a small space to grow some fresh herbs, they get expensive in wintertime." He grabbed a bunch of basil from a glass of water that was on the counter and startd chopping it as the flat started to fill with the apetizing smell of apricots.

[pb_neville]

Neville smiled. "No problem. Will watch the chef work, maybe some of it will rub off on me." He joked.

Neville bit back a laugh at the apron, though it was very appropriate. If someone got him one that said Gryffindor Herbologist or the like, he'd feel obligated to wear it.

"Not a problem. Rather like teaching folks how to have a green thumb." Neville smiled. "herbs are easy, so long as you don't let them overgrow, or ignore them too often." He watched the preparations with interest. "Can I ask what we're having?"

[pb_justin]

Justin turned around to face Neville, his hands on his hips. The color was atrociously yellow and was clearly given as a joke. Seeing as his new friend looked close to laugh he quirked his brow. "There is no laughing. It was my birthday gift from my coworkers and I have to admit that I am always dropping something on myself. It's getting ridiculous."

He turned back to his counter to chop some parsley. "Well, we are having apricot, apple and pepper pork chop with herb rice and a salad in which there are cucumbers in there." he told Neville, looking over his shoulder as he grinned.

[pb_justin]

Justin chuckled and sipped his wine too, smiling as he looked over at Neville again. "I would have put myself up for any charity involving children, research and such." he told Neville before he smirked. "Rescuing you? I guess it's from your ex because break ups are what you mentioned next."

He tilted his head and smiled genuinely at Neville. "I'm sorry if he hurt you. He's an arse if he couldn't be decent to you. You clearly deserve better."

[pb_neville]

"Was for the library, so for everyone." He smiled. "Think Seamus Finnigan signed me up. Or Gran. Wasn't my idea." He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. We were friends but lately he wants to be, ah, friends with benefits, and I don't need that." Really, Rhys was all about the good time, even in between times.

Neville shrugged. "It was both of us wanting different things. I mean, he was pretty patient with me when I was trying to figure out if it was who I really am, but he's far more interested in having a good time than in building a life, a future." He flushed a bit. "Thanks. He was decent, don't get me wrong. Just wants different things, and we couldn't make it work."

[pb_justin]

Justin smirked at Neville said it was either Finnigan or his Gran who had signed him up for the auction and it didn't surprise him at all. He figured it was probably Finnigan. "Friends with benefits.. like, you two sleeping together but not calling each other 'boyfriend' or something?" he wondered if he had it right. He had rarely heard of that saying before, except once or twice from his brother's mouth.

"Oh, so you want a boyfriend and he just prefers to have safe sex. That works for some." he commented then realized how unsensitive he might have sounded. "I'm sorry though.. I mean, if you really liked him.. his loss, though you are a terrific bloke."

[pb_neville]

He squirmed a bit in his seat. Talking about his sex life wasn't something he ever did seriously, not with George, or Dean, or Seamus or anyone, really. "Um, yeah, that's pretty much it. Shag buddies." He shrugged.

"Wasn't interested in just playing at it. I mean, if you're in love, then you want to share your lives, everything. Not just your bodies." He blushed. "I mean, yeah. his loss." It was a bit disconcerting for Justin to be so complimentary to him.