It was 4:30 he was going to be late if he didn't leave now. Neville
hurried down the staircase from the boy's dorm into the Gryffindor common
room. "I can't believe it. I just can't believe it, a girl, an honest to
goodness girl, asked me Neville Longbottom, clumsy overweight Neville
Longbottom to come and take a walk with her around the lake." He thought
excitedly to himself. For five years, his entire time at Hogwarts no girl
had ever noticed him, let alone asked him any were. Sure this girl was a
Slytherin, but still a girl asked him to spend some time with her. And not
just any girl, but one of the prettiest girls in the castle Lysandra
Drannor. In his hurry to get to were he needed to be he missed the final
two steps on the stair case and fell right into Parvati as she and Lavender
were beginning there ascension of the stairs. "Bloody hell, I'm sorry
Parvati." Parvati had become a good friend to Neville this year do pretty
much to the fact that when it came to herbology Parvati didn't know
mandrake from gillyweed. "What's the big hurry Neville?" she asked as he
helped her to her feet. "Nothing, just in a hurry that's all."
"Were to" she inquired. I guess I could tell her she is my friend and all
he thought to himself. He leaned in, and unnoticed by him she held her
breath. "Girl asked me to meet her by the lake to take a walk." he
whispered. "Oh" she replied he noticed a strange look pass through her
eyes. "Oh, well just be careful getting there I still need you to help me
with that herbology assignment that's due next week." "I totally forgot
about that" he told her. "Tell you what meet me tomorrow by the forest and
we can gather what you need for the assignment." "Thanks Neville." She said
as she touched his arm. "My pleasure" he then turned and headed toward the
lake. The rest of the castle seemed to be nothing but a blur except for
those few instances were he almost fell down again. Finally making it to
the lake he saw who he was looking for Lysandra Drannor, Every teenaged
male's fantasy girl 5"9 blonde hair, ice blue eyes, legs so long it should
be illegal. Huffing and puffing he almost ran her over. "S-s-sorry I'm
late" he managed to say before bending over and trying to regain his
breath. "Great I thought you'd never show up." still trying to regain his
composure Neville missed this sarcastic comment. When he was finally able
to look at her she was smiling at him "I'm just so happy you're hear" she
said as she took his hand. "Well its good to be here" replied a blushing
Neville. She then began to lead him around the lake towards the dark forest
well he tried to make conversation. "And.and.and he said that's not a
mandrake that's my wife! HAHAHAHA!" Neville laughed at his own joke.
"That's hilarious" Lysandra remarked under her breath as they reached the
edge of the dark forest. "Wait we can't go in there" Neville informed
Lysandra. "Why not." she pouted, "I know a place were we could be alone and
..." she proceeded to whisper suggestions that would have made a sailor
plush beat red into his ear. "O-o-okay" he stammered trying to control his
breathing so he wouldn't pass out. A few hours later they walked into a
clearing "Well we are finally here!" she said a little loudly noted
Neville. Just then five figures apperated into the clearing surrounding
Neville and Lysandra. Two had chains; two others had American baseball
bats. The four with weapons had masks on while the fifth Neville
recognized. "What are you doing here Malfoy." He stated as he stepped in
front of Lysandra to protect her if need be. "My he is as stupid as he is
fat isn't he" Lysandra stated flatly as she stepped around Neville and into
the open arms of the blonde Slytherin. "That he is pet" Draco said
flippantly before placing a small kiss on the girl's forehead. "Ly-Ly-
Lysandra what are you doing" Neville stuttered beginning to finally
understand what the four masked men were there for. At his question Draco
looked at Neville with a cold glint in his eye. "He still doesn't get it
Lysandra please illuminate this poor Gryffindor." She smirked at Draco then
looked distainly at Neville "I brought you out here so the boys here could
deal with you and do the rest of Hogwarts a favor and make sure you never
show your fat, ugly, clumsy self there ever again." She remarked coldly.
"And you, you stupid git actually fell for or little scheme to get you out
here." She laughed at him then, for the rest of his life he would remember
that laugh, because right then one of the men with the baseball bat
connected with Neville's chest. Pain such that he had never felt before
scythed through his body. He fell to his knees one hand clutching his ribs
while the other he used to balance himself to keep upright. He looked up
pleadingly into Draco's cold eyes and said one word "Why?" Draco cocked an
eyebrow and answered him "Well a) because I needed to prove to my father
and my Lord that I could be a valuable asset to them and b) I really just
don't like you." With that Draco put his arm around Lysandra and began to
walk back to the castle. At the same instance on of the chains hit Neville
in the arm and shattered the bone. The scream that was torn from Neville's
lips scattered birds for miles. Draco half turned and said "Almost forgot..
SILENCIAS." The spell cast no more sounds escaped Neville. The beating
continued Neville could feel bones breaking all over his body he could also
feel those broken bones jabbing and tearing into the muscles and organs
that they usually worked and surrounded. He was finding hard to breath and
could taste blood every time he coughed. On of the men with a bat decided
it was time to finish the job they had come to do he began to beat Neville
about the head. The last thing Neville heard before he passed out, other
than the sound of his skull being cracked, was a soothing voice say "Don't
worry little brother your safe now" then Neville slipped completely into
the darkness.
