So it has become a chaptered story, not sure how long it'll be but let's hope that this chaptered story doesn't die the same death as my others. Enjoy Readers, and all reviews, comments, even death threats are welcome, and even flames if they are done in a constructive way so that I can build my skills for the better. Flames just to flame will be given to Regulus Black to send back tenfold. Thank you and have a nice day, night, or whatever it is where you are.

They had fallen asleep curled together on the cold stone floor; Neville's head pressed firmly against his stomach as his fingers combed through the short brush like hair. When he awoke however he was alone—in his own bed. He'd sat up and looked around wildly but the single occupant room revealed that he was the only one inhabiting it. Not even so much as a blood smear; though he was certain that he probably would have lost what little contents his stomach contained if he'd seen one; marred any of the surfaces to denote that the ravaged Gryffindor had stayed with him.

A sickening thought grabbed hold of him then.

What if the Carrow's found us?

As quickly as the thought entered his mind he dismissed it. Surely if the Carrow's had found them then he wouldn't be in his room, he'd be strung up right next Neville though he suspected his skin wouldn't bear the welts that the blonde Gryffindor's had. A knocking on his door jarred him from his thoughts and he hurriedly wrapped himself in his robe, muttering a quick spell to slick his hair back. With a scowl he wrenched open the door, looking down his nose.

On the other side stood one of the girls that he'd often seen hanging around Neville in the halls and he fought hard to try and remember her name. Luna Hoverwood, Looney Hextra. He shook his head not bothering to think any more about it as her name wasn't all that important to him anyways.

"Can I help you?" He snapped.

A slow blissful smile crossed her face and she shook her head. "No, but I want to thank you for helping Nev. He's such an old soul and in need of caring. It's amazing what Venus being in the right house will bring around."

"What are you blabbering about?" He questioned. "And what do you know about Longbottom?"

"Oh nothing that you need to be concerned about, and Nev is fine; he's sleeping off his injuries in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey said this was the worst bout of damage she's seen on him and she doesn't know if he'll heal without a scar."

He blinked at her for a couple of moments, unable to believe that despite what she'd said her voice was still airy and far away as if she was speaking of nothing but the day's events.

"Is he there now?"

"He is, but Alecto is there too. She's personally 'overseeing' his recovery."

That made him draw up short and he blinked slowly for a moment. "But you just said that he was fine. I fail to see how he is fine with that crazy loon there with him."

"It's simple really; she can't do anything because Madam Pomfrey is right there. And Madam Pomfrey isn't going to let anything happen to Neville. He's in there so much that he's become like a son to her."

"Well, thank Salazar for simple miracles." He murmured as he grabbed his wand and slid it up his sleeve for safe keeping and pushing past her.

"Where are you going?" She called out, "There are scallydrakes out there that just looking for a quick meal."

He didn't stop or even acknowledge that he'd heard her; he had to get to the Hospital wing quick and make sure for himself that the blonde teen was ok. It never crossed his mind that it would seem odd or out of place for him do so, it was just something that he felt he had to do. The walk to the Hospital wing had never felt so long in his life and when he finally pushed through the doors he seen Neville propped up in the very last bed. Like the blonde girl had told him Alecto was sitting right there; her face pinched up in a scowl as Madam Pomfrey hovered over Neville.

None had seen him yet so he grabbed his stomach and started to wail loudly, stumbling as he walked down the aisle. Madam Pomfrey was at his side in a heartbeat and he looked up at her with what he hoped were pained looking eyes.

"Mr. Malfoy, what seems to be the trouble?"

"It's my stomach, it's been upset and it feels like someone is stabbing me with hot pokers."

Madam Pomfrey looked at him and he thought for a moment that she had seen through him but after a minute she moved him over to a bed next to Neville and bade him to lay down. Once he was reclined in the bed she turned to Alecto and scowled.

"Professor Carrow, your concern for one of your students is overwhelming and I could only hope that more teachers were as involved as you. However, I have been healing the students of Hogwarts since you yourself walked these halls so I think it's safe to say that I don't need someone looking over my shoulder and telling me what is going to work and what isn't. I'm asking you to leave now and to not return until the student is feeling better. Besides Mr. Longbottom is a regular here so I don't need any input about how to best care for him."

Though the words were said as nice as can be the meaning was clear, "Bugger off". With a returned scowl Alecto stood and with a sickening sweet simper she turned and ruffled Neville's hair before turning on her heel and leaving. As soon as the door swished shut behind her a heavy sigh was let loose and turned to see Madam Pomfrey looking at Neville with extremely sad eyes. It looked as if she wanted to say something but a furtive look in his direction stilled her tongue so instead she just touched his shoulder and spoke quietly.

"Rest now dear, I'll be back later to check on you."

"Thank you Madam Pomfrey."

There was a shared smile between the two as she turned and assessed him again, clicking her tongue and pointing to the door.

"Out with you. You're not sick and I just got rid of one vulture, I'm not going to have another sniffing around the boy."

"Bu-but."

"Uh huh. No buts. The Hospital Wing is for sick students and you Mr. Malfoy are not sick. Now I suggest you take your things and leave."

"I came to see how Neville was doing!" He snapped as he moved from the bed and straightened his robes.

Madam Pomfrey was about to question the motives behind the visit as she was aware that Draco had been working for the Carrows for some time in the rounding up of rouge students. However the use of Neville's given name made her stop short and she looked over at the bed with a slight frown.

"Be quick about it, he's not up to long visits at this point."

She bustled away to attend to another student that had just arrived; this one nursing what seemed to be a boneless leg. The memory of second year when Lockhart had done the same to Harry struck him and he smirked a bit. Neville must have read his mind because his voice croaked as he looked over.

"Lockhart's back?"

Their eyes turned and caught one another and it enough to make them both chuckle a bit. He looked around a bit before taking a seat in the chair by Neville's bed; the uncharacteristic bout of nerves flaring up and threatening to choke him. He wanted to sneer—no he had to sneer, he had to insult, he had to put the broken Gryffindor in his place. But as he opened his mouth he couldn't get one foul word to leave his lips. Must be the consequence of watching someone be nearly beaten to death. The thought was there and then gone and before he could reattain his calm stance Neville's voice broke the silence.

"Thank you for staying with me last night." He murmured softly as he plucked at the white linen sheet. "Luna would have found me eventually, it wasn't the first time they've used that room with me before."

The color drained from his face he looked down; watching the steady plucking as a way to push the images from his head. He didn't want to think of the other times; he didn't want to imagine Neville strung p and being whipped within an inch of his life again as the sick and twisted Husband and Wife team leered and reveled in the teens pain.

It was nothing." His voice sounded distant and the action of his hand reaching out and capturing Neville's didn't seem to register as something he was doing. "You have to stay off of their radar Longbottom. I know even a soft brained, near squid as yourself is capable of saving their own hide if the need arises." The insults rolled easily off his tongue and his face burned red as he looked down. "I'm s-sor-."

Neville cut him off with a good natured laugh. "Don't worry about it Malfoy. Just…you stay off their radar. The Carrow's aren't a set of people you want to cross."

Neville wasn't given time to elaborate as Madam Pomfrey came over and with a scowl pointed to the exit. With what could only be termed a sad smile Neville gave his hand a squeeze before detangling their fingers and letting his hand rest on top of the covers. He nodded curtly to Madam Pomfrey before leaving the Hospital Wing. As he stood out in the hallway a sense of helplessness washed over him and he scowled; he hated feeling like he had no say in anything but the situation he suddenly found himself in left him no choice and with a shuddering sigh he started back to the Slytherin common room trying to figure when the blonde Gryffindor had come to mean so much to him.