Mac shuffled into the kitchen at Zabini Manor. She was surprised to see Justin Finch-Fletchley. Not overly, because she knew he was best mates with Hannah, but he was just wearing boxer shorts and a tee shirt and was eating things from the icebox like he lived here.

Mac patted down her wild hair. All she had been doing was sleeping for the last few days.

"Mac," Justin managed around a spoonful of ice cream.

She looked like she had just rolled out of bed. Her hair was all wild. Her feet were bare, and she was just wearing a long tee shirt that barely covered her lower half. Justin blushed and looked away.

Mac moved quietly around him and found herself something to eat. The kitchen was fully stocked, and the house-elf Didly had said she was a guest and could have anything she chose. Mac had chosen a loaf of sourdough bread, some croissants, and some cheese - four different kinds. She sat at the island and began eating.

Justin finished off the pint of ice cream and took out some fruit. There were green apples, strawberries, red grapes, sliced honeydew melon, and some pineapple. He also pulled out some sliced roast beef in a container and what looked like grilled chicken strips. He said them all with Mac's bread and cheese. Justin took out a bottle of wine and opened that too.

Mac was just watching him silently. She didn't think Finch-Fletchley drank anything but the occasional pint of ale. She didn't argue though. They two of them now had this huge pile of food between them that they were both picking off of. When one of them found a particularly good combination of something, they handed it to the other one to try - mostly in silence. Mac found a severe liking for apples and cheddar cheese.

"Lavender can't eat cheese. She's allergic to milk."

Mac looked at him suspiciously. "Why are ya here, Justin?"

"I'm hungry?"

"No' in the kitchen. At Zabini's."

"I'm not good at being alone anymore."

"So why not-"

"We're not. Anymore," he replied, looking at the strawberry in his hand. "She... she still loves someone else." SomeONES else, you mean. There is no way you can compete with the memory of two people, Finch-Fletchley.

Mac frowned. "Want me to beat her up?"

"No."

"Tha' were a joke, by th'by."

"I know. I know how you work by now."

Mac raised an eyebrow. "Do ya now?"

"Why are YOU here, Mac?"

It was her turn to look away. "Blaise brought me home."

Justin bristled. His head was full of all the things he was going to do to Blaise Zabini if he was up to something.

"No' like tha', mon. Stop yer posturin'. I were havin' a cryin' jag all over his person, and folk on the street kept thinkin' I were cryin' over him, so he brought me to Hannah to take care of."

She was not the sort that cried. Justin was scowling. "Why were you crying?"

"Neville doesna want me anymore," Mac whispered.

She felt stupid even saying it aloud. Neville Longbottom had ruined her. He was always working. He'd been distant and dismissive lately, and then he'd tried to kiss another lass. Yet she still cared about him. It was pathetic. It was beyond pathetic. She had not even seen or heard from him since then, so she had to assume it really was over. She needed to just move on.

"Then Neville's an idiot."

Mac smiled weakly. "Thanks. I would say Brown is an idiot too, aye."

"Thanks. Lavender is just stubborn though."

Justin got up and started packing away what was left of their feast. Mac watched him with interest. He was very tidy. Meticulous too. He even wiped the counters down.

Justin was shocked to discover that they had drank most of the bottle of wine. He was not certain how that had happened. He didn't even know he liked wine. It was a red too. One Lavender would have liked. He poured the rest in the big tumbler glasses they'd been using.

"Want to come wit me to m'guest room?"

Justin looked at Mac with wide eyes.

"No' like tha'," Mac said snickering. "I were enjoyin' yer talk. I kin ya dinna talk much."

That made Justin laugh a bit. He snagged another bottle of wine from the fridge and nodded her to the door after grabbing his cup.

Mac grabbed hers and led the way. She never drank, so the couple of tumbler-fulls she had had of the wine was already affecting her despite her having put food in her belly. They made their way up to the guest room Mac was staying in and ended up sitting on the floor, drinking wine, and listening to the wizard's wireless. When then finished that bottle, they asked Didly for another. Justin talked a lot about Lavender, and Mac could see he cared for the stupid bint. She was of the opinion that Justin deserved better, but she knew as well as anyone that the heart wanted what it wanted.

Justin was thinking wine made him talkative because the more he drank, the more he told Mac about Lavender. Though she definitely got him back when he got her started on Neville. He now knew more about Neville Longbottom's anatomy than any person who was not Neville should.

"We're a sad pair," Justin said. "Both wanting people who don't want us."

"I thin' ya should talk to Lavender. She isna thinkin' right. She were distraught 'bout her friends."

"She loves them. I can't compete with that."

"They're dead, mon. Yer no'! That's ya winnin' right there!"

"Mac..."

She crawled over to where he was and grabbed the front of his shirt, shaking him. "Dinna give in wit'out a fight, mon!"

Justin was smiling at her she was straddling his legs, and her shaking had rattled his teeth a bit. She really was a fiery little thing for a Ravenclaw. He made the mistake of looking at her mouth. They sort of met one another half way.

And the were kissing, really kissing for...

three...

two...

one....

Justin shoved Mac out of the kiss about the same time she threw herself away from him.

"I'm sorry," they both shouted at the same time.

Then they both started laughing.

"And this is why I do not drink wine."

Mac snorted. "An' this is why I dinna drink at all."

"Not that you aren't lovely, Mac, but..."

"Ya dinna have to say, Just. It were a mistake. No' tha' yer no' attractive, I just..."

Justin smiled. "I know."

"But iffen ya ever want to make Lavender jealous, ya gone on an' tell her all about it."

Justin made a face. "I worry what a jealous Lav might do."

"I dinna."

Justin snickered.


{SUMMARY} Mac and Justin commiserate with wine, words, and mistaken kisses.