A/N: It's been quite a while since I posted a new story... life and stuff, ya know? Anyways, this is (again) part of the ongoing prompt challenge with me and my two fantastic friends, Bruhaeven and Le Requiem... CHECK OUT THEIR SHTUFF!

story notes: Takes place during seventh year.

disclaimer: i disclaim everything.

Prompt: Miracles are things we make for ourselves, here and now.

"Crucio…" It was spoken so softly, so tentatively, that the dark curse was almost a question.

"You've got to mean it when you say it, coward!" The Death Eater spat the words at the seventh year, who trembled at the prospect of torturing a fellow student.

Professor Carrow, poked the girl sharply with the end of his wand, a warning for her hesitation.

A tear ran down the girl's pale face as she watched the small second-year boy before her plead with his eyes. She didn't know what his transgression was, but she was sure that neither skipping class nor wandering the halls after curfew, nor any other school-boy misdemeanor warranted this type of punishment.

But Carrow's breath was hot on the back of her neck.

She closed her eyes, her mouth quivering at the corners and furrows gathering in between her brows. But when her brown eyes opened, they were cold. Her features hardened into a scowl, and she lifted her wand.

His screaming started before she spoke, the curse drowned out by his cries for mercy. The stream of light hit him all the same, and he writhed in pain as tendrils of white light wrapped themselves around his limbs and electrified his nerves.

Carrow laughed, exposing brown, crooked teeth. Finally, after the boy's cries grew quiet with exhaustion, Carrow placed a large hand on the girl's shoulder, signaling her to stop.

She was lost.

Her brown eyes saw the pained look on the boy's face, how his body twisted in unnatural contortions, but there was no emotion behind them. They were flat. She would probably say later that she didn't register what was going on – there was no emotion in her eyes, no guilt, no sadness, because her mind had departed – gone somewhere happier for a bit. But it would be a lie. A part of her, perhaps not large but a part nonetheless, recognized what was happening and felt nothing. No remorse, and no regret. Just relief and happiness that she would be saved from experiencing the pain and suffering she saw before her.

A part of her started to enjoy it.

"Good, Susan… Very good."

It was Carrow's greasy voice that finally pulled her out of the dark trance she'd entered. With effort, she dropped her wand, breaking the curse, and looked around at the room of people. Fellow seventh-years stared in horror and disgust, and the long line of mismatched offenders looked on in dread. Their eyes closed in on the brown-haired girl, until it all became too overwhelming. Her breathing quickened, become frantic and verging on hysteria until she fell to the ground.

"Someone please accompany Miss Bones and Mr. Patterson to the Infirmary."

One of the seventh-year boys stepped forward, a Gryffindor.

"Not you…. Mr. Longbottom."

Seamus stepped in front of Neville, scooping up Susan and tossing the crumpled second-year over his shoulder. He'd become strong from too many trips like this one. He gave Neville an apologetic look before disappearing into the hall with the two students draped over his body.

"Well, well, well. Mr. Longbottom. Step forward, please." Carrow's tone was sickly sweet. He gave Neville a dark smile, beckoning him forward.

He stepped forward to where Susan had been and he waited, staring straight ahead. His breathing was steady as Carrow carefully examined him. The Death Eater stopped with his face mere inches from Neville's.

"Well, Mr. Longbottom - are you ready to begin the lesson?" He sneered, again revealing dark, gnarly teeth.

Still facing Neville, Carrow's face hardened and he yelled, spraying Neville with his foul-smelling spittle.

"MISS LOVEGOOD. FORWARD."

Neville's forehead quivered slightly, betraying the barest hint of emotional duress, but Carrow caught it all the same. His face broke into that ugly smile, and he chuckled a wheezing, dark laugh.

Neville tried to keep his gaze steady, focused on something very far away and nonexistent, but he couldn't help stealing a glance at Luna.

She waltzed forward to the mark on the floor if she were stepping up to receive an award rather than to be tortured within an inch of her life by a fellow student. Her eyes were clear blue as always, but there was a dark purple ring surrounding one, which seemed to leech the vitality from her icy irises.

Her eyes… they lacked their usual shine. There was no fear in them, but there was also no hope. They were empty.

"Perform the spell."

Carrow stepped back, but still kept his eyes on Neville, who, despite his instructions, remained completely motionless.

Staring forward, trying to keep his eyes from straying back to the blonde Ravenclaw before him, Neville asked,

"What was her crime?"

Carrow's eyes narrowed, incredulous at this ridiculous question. He lifted his wand slightly, and walked back towards Neville.

"Excuse me?"

Neville swallowed hard, but his feet remained planted.

"I'd like to know what she's being punished for, sir."

"Ahhh, hmmm, her crime.. her crime…" Carrow paced, muttering to himself softly when suddenly, without warning, he whipped around to face Luna and bellowed.

"TELL HIM WHERE YOU WERE LAST NIGHT."

The students behind her cowered, but Luna stood still with the same soft look on her face and smiled.

"Why, I was out by the Herbology garden."

Carrow nodded, and pressed her on.

"Tell us, what time was this, Miss Lovegood?"

Several students shook their heads, hoping she wouldn't say, but, oblivious, she continued.

"I'd say it was about a quarter past midnight."

Neville's head dropped, and Carrow smiled that creepy smile.

"Well-past curfew. Surely you see know how dangerous it is to have students wandering about late at night. We could have mistaken her for an intruder, Mr. Longbottom. She must be punished."

It was silent for a moment, but finally Neville raised his head. There was a pained look on his face, and streaks where tears had cut through his cheeks.

"Why, Luna? What the hell were you doing out there?"

It was only a whisper, but in the hushed room it could be heard by everyone.

She smiled and reached into her breast pocket. Carefully, she pulled out a small yellow bud.

"Mortica Ponciferious. It's really rare, you know."

He did know. Neville knew just about everything about Herbology.

Mortica Ponciferious: Flowering species in the Mortica family; No known relative species; Color variations - dark to buttery yellow; Thrives in desert environment; Originally native to Northern Africa; Status - endangered; Uses - none.

What he didn't know, was why Luna would risk getting caught just so she could take care of a useless, yellow flower.

"It's beautiful, don't you think?"

Carrow smacked the flower out of her hand, no longer amused by her childish ignorance.

"Enough! Perform the spell, Longbottom – NOW."

Neville shook his head slowly, a few final tears slipping into the streaks already on his face. He lifted his head and wand together, and his features, like Susan's, had hardened into a bitter and steadfast expression.

He took two steps forward, towards Luna.

Carrow watched eagerly, waiting for Neville to break and Luna to scream.

But, as he got closer to Luna, Neville slipped his wand back into his pocket and bent to pick up the small flower that Carrow had thrown to the ground.

"What do you think you're doing? GET OUT YOUR WAND AND CAST THE BLOODY SPELL, LONGBOTTOM."

Neville straightened, and smiled wide enough to show off the dark hole where Carrow had knocked a molar out last month. It would have been easy enough to fix, but when Madam Pomfrey had asked Neville if he would prefer some Skele-Gro or a false tooth, he just shook his head and told her he always figured he was a gap-toothed buffoon at heart.

Back in the Dart Arts classroom, Neville's grin turned into a smooth smirk as his tongue slipped between his teeth to rest cheekily in the empty space in his smile.

There was a growl of some sort from Carrow, but his frustrations made any words he spoke unintelligible.

A few of the students in the room giggled as the Death Eater began to turn a magnificent shade of maroon, but an icy glare silenced them all.

Carrow drew his wand, and, regaining some of his lost composure, hissed,

"Unless you want join the students on the opposite side of the room, I suggest you hurry up and cast the damn spell, Longbottom."

Neville took a step sideways, positioning himself between Carrow and Luna, and smiled a mirthless smile.

"And what if I don't?"

Luna placed a hand on his arm, trying to pull him backwards even as he leaned forward, daring Carrow to make a move.

Carrow wasn't the most eloquent man, managing only a few sputters and head-shakings as his cheeks turned back to a blotchy red.

"I - I'll –"

Neville smirked.

"Do your worst."

…..

post-notes: so... as you probably noticed, i didn't use the prompt. why? well, this was originally supposed to be a one-shot, but it's kind of gotten out of hand. it'll probably end up being about 4-5 chapters in the end... we'll see.

so... yeah, the prompty will be incorporated - although perhaps not until the final chapter.

also, i made up the flower.

also, also, please to review? I do love me so reviews and the inspiration and joy i receive from them may or may not help me finish the story more quickly *ahem-ahem* not trying to bribe you for reviews or anything *ahem-ahem* what? ;)

stay tuned ya'll.