Two Houses - A Draco Malfoy Fanfic

Chapter 7

-THE DAY BEFORE THE YULE BALL-
"Hey, Neville! Neville? Neville, what's wrong?" I panted, running up to Neville. He was in the courtyard, walking angrily, as if every step were a blow against his foes. His arms were crossed, and he wore a pouty expression. He gave me a glancing glare.
    "Why didn't you tell me that you were going out with Draco Malfoy?" Neville asked accusingly.
    "I... Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up a minute. Draco Malfoy and I are not going out. No way! We're just going as friends. Surely you knew this?" I looked up at Neville, whose arms were no longer crossed. Still, his eyes were narrowed in suspicion.
    "How long have you two been friends?" Neville asked carefully. Oh boy. Here it comes. The thing I've been hiding from the two of them for the past 3 years.
    "Since our first year." I whispered. I couldn't even meet his eyes. I just stared at the cobble floor in shame.
    "Why didn't you tell me?" Neville said under his breath.
    "I didn't think you would... well I didn't... I didn't think you'd take it well." I stammered.
    "I thought... it would be better... easier... no don't take offense, Neville, please! I just wanted to protect you!"  I wailed.
    "Protect me?" Neville whispered. "Well, it's been decided that you don't need to protect me anymore. I can take care of myself!" Neville shouted, and stormed off. With tears in my eyes, I collapsed onto the nearest bench. One of my best girl friends, Autumn Tyler, saw this and ran over. She wrapped her arms around me as I silently cried into her robes. I had been friends with Neville for as long as I could remember. I never imagined that one day it would all fall apart.
    "Hey hey, shhh. Everything's gonna be fine... Everything's gonna be fine..." She whispered, trying to comfort me. But not everything was gonna be fine. My heart, certainly, was not going to be fine. At least not for a while.

A/N: A short chapter today, i'll have a longer one for my next post :3