Song Suggestion- Medicine by Daughter
This is a memory from the past during Neville's seventh year at Hogwarts, and as such Seamus will sometimes be called Shay.
This takes place a couple of months before the battle and before Ginny left.
Neville sighed as he laid in bed tossing and turning unable to sleep, Seamus's scar still in the back of his mind, just the sight of it brought back unpleasant memories of his final year at Hogwarts. Closing his eyes once more Neville fell into a restless sleep.
Neville woke up with a start sitting up he stared at the red curtains surrounding his bed when did I get curtains? Neville wondered as he touched the silky fabric "Hogwarts, of course" he breathed feeling a slight pain his eyes wandered to the deep gash on his arm oh no not this one of all the memories in my head, not this one Neville thought anxiously knowing that it was going to be a rough night. Neville knew how this memory ended and even though he wanted to wake up before he had to relive the horror of that night he allowed the dream to overtake him.
Neville winced detention had been brutal that night, staring at the cut on his arm he glanced over to Dean's bed where Seamus spent most of his nights but to Neville's surprise it was empty turning his attention to Seamus's own deserted bed Neville began to worry where is that boy, he should have been back by now. Neville thought, getting out of bed, glancing at his watch he cursed, it was already two in the morning and even for Seamus who was notorious for taking a long time to get back from detention two o'clock was abnormal.
Even before he opened the painting of the Fat Lady, Neville was on edge glancing around every couple seconds for a potential threat. The castle that had once been his home, his safe haven for so many years had changed into something to fear, a place where an enemy hid behind every corner. Walking along the quiet dark halls he first went to the empty Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, looking around Neville took a deep breath, Seamus, where are you, Neville wondered trying to think of where the Carrows might have taken him.
"Neville what are you doing in here?" a voice asked Neville cursed and whipped around wand drawn. "Hey, there's no need to use wands you're not going to get attacked" Ginny Weasley murmured a playful smile danced on her lips as she held up her wand the pale blue light made her eyes dance although Neville could also see worry reflected in them.
Neville took a deep breath but allowed a faint smile remembering how Dolores Umbridge the former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had used that same phrase just a few years earlier before all hell had broken loose. "I was looking for Seamus; he never came back from detention," Neville explained knowing they were pressed for time.
Ginny's eyes grew wide her face turning pale "Nev I thought you knew… He did it again… he tried to fight back after you left so they…. They moved him to the dungeon" Ginny stammered.
Neville's heart dropped the few times students had been taken down there they came out bloody and broken never fully healing from the experience they all denied having. "Oh Shay, what were you thinking" he whispered thinking about how Seamus used to joke about being invincible and how he wasn't scared of no bloody dungeon.
"Come on Neville we're losing time" Ginny whispered urgently already making her way out of the dark classroom leaving Neville alone with a pit in his stomach.
It took longer to get to the dungeons than Neville thought, taking necessary precautions to avoid Filch and Mrs. Norris but they finally made it to the stairway that led to the dungeons. Making their way quietly down the stairs they spotted the old wooden door marking the entrance to the dungeons. Allowing Ginny to take the lead Neville stood behind the young Weasley listening for any sound that could signal a potential threat, finally finding the right spell Ginny unlocked the door. Creeping past the multiple cells they finally found what they were looking for, a small figure with messy blond hair laying against a stone wall his hands were shackled above him "Shay thank God" Neville hissed as he swung open the iron gate and ran to the Irishman, kneeling over the poor boy Neville noticed several shallow bloody cuts to his arms and legs but he seemed to be alive "Shay we're going to get you out of here, it's going to be okay" Neville murmured shaking the boy gently until pale blue eyes stared up at him
"Me hero" Seamus mumbled weakly as he feebly pulled against the iron shackles, his lip was swollen and split and his back ached from the multiple whiplashes that now marred his back.
"Nev you take care of the cuffs I'll stand watch." Ginny hissed standing by the iron door her wand out, trained at the door.
"Shay stay with me now okay and tell me what happened" Neville whispered gently as the Irishman's head listed to one side. Neville shook his head although he would rather Seamus stay conscious he knew it was better just to unchain the poor boy than to get caught trying to keep him awake. Using his wand Neville unlocked both wrists and gently pulled Seamus off the stone cold floor "Gin a little help over here" Neville hissed his knees buckling under the added dead weight.
Ginny raced over to help but at that moment a deep laugh echoed throughout the chamber "Look at what we have here, two little students coming to save their little friend, how heroic" Alecto Carrow cackled as she and her brother stepped into view.
Neville growled, passing Seamus to Ginny he stepped forward shielding his fellow Gryffindors from the so-called 'professors' "Out of the way" he hissed drawing his wand determined to get Seamus the medical help he obviously needed.
"Look at this one so brave for one so young" Alecto chuckled taking a step toward the three students her brother laughed."
"If only his wand work matched that courage huh Al" Amycus Carrow spat a dark smile forming at his lips.
"Take one step closer and I'll end both of you" Neville shouted watching the two Carrows with wide eyes knowing he couldn't possibly handle both Death Eaters at the same time but damn it he had to try for Seamus's sake.
Then a scream pierced the cold air as Neville felt someone knock him to the ground rolling over just in time to see a flash of green light shoot through the air then a thump echoed throughout the chamber as a body hit the ground "Stupify, Stupify" Ginny yelled. Forcing himself up Neville spotted the two Death Eaters lying passed out on the stone floor.
"Thanks Ginny" Neville exclaimed breathlessly turning around his heart stopped, lying on the ground, in a pool of blood, where Neville had been standing moments before was Seamus. Rushing to his friend's side Neville looked for the wound his heart dropped at the sight of the scarlet liquid seeping through the Irishman's robes "Shay, wake up come on mate" Neville whispered to the pale boy as he tore away the blood-soaked fabric revealing a long ragged gash on his abdomen.
"Nev we have to move, we have no time," Ginny said panic seeping into every word as she eyed the two Death Eaters who were already starting to recover from being stunned.
Neville nodded and gingerly lifted the boy bleeding out at his feet, cradling the small Irishman Neville was aware of the warm red liquid seeping into his clothes as they made their way out of the dungeons and up toward the Hospital Wing.
"Shay stay with me, we're nearly there" Neville whispered a low moan answered his desperate plea This was my fault, he took that spell for me Neville thought as Ginny banged on the Hospital Wing door yelling and cursing as she looked over her shoulder at the two boys as blood dripped onto the stone floor.
Finally, a familiar yet annoyed face opened the door "What in Merlin's beard is going on why are…. Oh my, what happened" Madam Pomfrey shouted ushering the exhausted youths into the deserted wing "Put him down right here" Madam Pomfrey commanded watching as Neville laid the bloody blond boy on a nearby cot.
"It was the Carrows I'm not sure which spell but…" Ginny trailed off tears running down her cheeks as she watched the pale boy his breathing was ragged and desperate.
"Don't worry dears I will handle this you can wait in my office, it's too late for you to be wandering the halls, but lock the door behind you, wouldn't want any unwelcomed guests barging in now would we." Madame Pomfrey said softly noting how pale and scared the two seventh years were. Turning away from the youths Madam Pomfrey got to work.
Neville only nodded as he stared at the small boy, only moving when Ginny guided him to the nurse's cramped office. Sitting on one of the uncomfortable chairs Neville broke down burying his face in his hands he felt Ginny put her hand on his shoulder "Gin what are we gonna do what if…. What if we lose him?"
"Nev I don't know, but he should be fine he's in good hands," Ginny said softly biting her lip to keep the tears at bay "Nev, you should probably rest it's been a long day and I doubt we're going to be leaving here anytime soon" she cooed.
Neville sighed "Alright but wake me if anything happens" he murmured following the red-haired girl to a spot on the floor sitting down against a wall Neville crossed his arms trying to calm down after the events of that night, it wasn't until Ginny forced him to lie his head on her lap did the adrenaline coursing through his veins leave his body, and he relaxed letting himself fall asleep.
Neville woke up with sunlight streaming through his Flat window sighing wearily he got out of bed the dream had thoroughly exhausted him, walking barefoot down the cold hallway Neville opened the guest bedroom door. Seamus was lying face down the quilt had been kicked off in the night shaking his head Neville padded over to the sleeping man and placed the quilt over his wiry frame. "Thank you for saving my life that night" Neville whispered before going downstairs to prepare for the day.
Please review
