Alecto Carrow paced back and forth in her dark, murky, office as her chest heaved up and down, a result of her poorly concealed aggravation.
"Now tell me again. . . child. . . What were you doing out past curfew? Hmmm?" The stout witch smiled 'sweetly' at the blonde girl seated in front of her. "Were you and Mr. Longbottom spreading lies about the Dark Lord again? Were you trying to make another show of your love for muggles, the putrid things they are?"
"I don't know what you want from me, Professor? Are you okay? I think you may be infected by some wrackspurts. You should get that checked out. . . Soon, too. You know they can cause severe brain damage, and from what I can see, they started to take their toll on you a long time ago."
Professor Carrow was in shocked silence as she looked at Luna Lovegood. The sixth year girl looked up at the woman, nothing on her expression to reveal any intended meaning but sincerity. Alecto drew her hand back, taking pleasure in the cringe of Luna and the obvious struggle of the boy who was held back to the left of Luna's cowering form. The loud crack! that sprang throughout the room only made Alecto's smile widen as she took notice of Luna's obvious pain and Neville's rage.
"SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, YOU EVIL BLOODY HAG!" Neville screamed at her as she loomed threateningly over the blonde.
"Oh, you didn't want to speak up before, Longbottom. . . Has something loosened your tongue up? Care to tell me why you were out of bed, now?" Carrow sauntered up to him, a raspy cackle coming from her mouth, allowing a disgusted grimace to take hold on his face.
"No." He spat at the horrid woman, "I don't really. . . My deepest regrets, Alecto."
Alecto Carrow's face contorted even more as a new level of rage became known to her. How dare the filthy blood traitor treat her with such disrespect?!
"Should I call my dear brother in, Longbottom?" She growled at him, anger seeping out with each syllable.
"Oh sure. Sounds grand, love. You know, we have been meaning to catch up over a pot of tea for the longest time." Neville smiled at her.
"CRUCIO!" Alecto shot another unforgivable at Neville, making him writhe in pain.
"Oh don't fret, dear boy", she cooed, "I won't take this as far as sweet Bella did with your mummy and daddy."
The fire in Neville's eyes burned impossibly brighter as she continued to tease Neville.
"You. . . Bloody. . .Bitch!" Neville spat through the pain.
"Just as stubborn as your mummy and daddy then? That's alright, I have another idea." Alecto lifted the curse and turned her wand on Luna.
"Crucio!" She cackled as a strangled scream escaped from Luna's lips at the pain of the curse.
"NO! STOP! STOP, PLEASE!" Neville screamed his helpless calls at Alecto, fury and pain building inside of him.
Neville and Luna were held for another hour before they were released from the office. They ran off to the Room of Requirement instead of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tower. They knew that the others would be waiting, scared at their long absence. Luna was worse off than Neville, not being as physically strong as him and suffering from the extent of the curse. Seamus met them at the door, helping Neville into the room while Cho rushed to help Luna.
The teenagers in the room all helped in situating Neville and Luna while they tended their wounds from the curse. They sent a young girl out to fetch Professor McGonagall, knowing that she would help them.
It was now, in this room, that the Battle of Hogwarts started for Neville. He knew that he would have to be strong for those younger than him, and help them through the tough spot that the castle seemed to be in. It was now, in this room, that Neville Longbottom knew that he could do whatever was needed of him, to fight this war until the very end.