Interrogation.

Amycus Carrow was having fun. He loved interrogations.

"So...," he started. "Who wrote this?"

Neville didn't answer. He knew who did, but he was not going to tell them.

Neville looked up. Someone had done a good job. Dumbledores Army, still recruiting was written all over the walls. Must have been enchanted paint. Probably from the twins.

Amycus dragged him by the hair into the dungeons, into his Office.

"Who." Kick. "Wrote." Kick. "This." Kick.

Neville lay on the floor, panting for breath. Snape had taught him how to magically fend off kicks, but Neville only used it a little, he didn't want that fact found out. If he hadn't used it at all, his ribs would have been broken.

"It was me."

"LIAR!"

He felt Carrow's foot kicking his face and as if in slow motion, he heard his nose crack and blood seeping on the floor. They were getting worse every day. The boundaries were pushed further and further and Neville shuddered at the thought of none being left.

He looked up to the man he now, straight after Voldemort, he hated most and with a shock, he saw him unbuckle his belt. He couldn't believe that he was going to get belted. What was happening to Hogwarts. And where was Snape when he needed him?

Neville's mouth fell open when he saw that Carrow made no attempt to take the belt off, but instead started to unbutton his trousers with one hand, the other hand held his wand and pointed at him. No. That couldn't happen. Not here.

Neville slowly raised his hands in defeat, tears and blood dripping down his cheeks and said: "Wait. I will tell you." His voice sounded far away. Carrow grinned his horrible grin and stopped for a moment.

"So this is what you are scared of? Good to know, good to know my boy."

Neville slowly stood up, hands still raised and stared at Carrow. Then, with a quick wandless and silent expelliarmus he disarmed him and with an accio the wand flew towards him. He put a full body-binding-curse on the 'professor'.

"You will die for this Longbottom. And your gran will, too," he screamed, his voice suddenly sounding high and angry, as if betrayed from a wonderful pleasure.

Neville knew that he would have to hide now. There was no way he could still attend any lessons.

"Dobby," he whispered, running up the stairs to the seventh floor. The house elf appeared immediately. "Go fetch Snape, bring him to the seventh floor. Do not be seen. Check if the Room is empty. Now."

Without a word, Dobby disappeared again. The coin in Neville's pocket was burning. In a certain rhythm. Neville recognised the morse code for L. A short one, a long one, two short ones. It was Luna. She was supposed to be on the train home now. The Carrow's didn't let Neville take it, otherwise he would have been on there, too. Then, the coin started burning again. Three short ones, three long ones, three short ones. SOS. They had captured her. Then, no more messages came. Neville kept running, leaving a trail of blood behind him, not noticing that this would lead everyone to him. Seventh floor. No one was there. Maybe Snape had put a Disillusionment Charm over himself. When he saw the trail of blood moving and leading somewhere else, he knew that Snape was just in front of him. He quickly muttered the commands and entered.

When the door closed, he collapsed on the floor and as if from a distance he heard episkey and scourgify.

Snape took the Charm off and was hovering above him, looking mad.

"That's Amycus Carrow's wand!" he shouted, anger written all over his face. "You stupid boy! I told you to keep your HEAD down!"

Neville filled with fury, couldn't believe what he heard. "He was interrogating me, wanting to find out who wrote all over the walls. He broke my nose and was going to rape me!"

Snape froze. "Why didn't you obliviate him prior to your escape?"

Neville stood up. He was itching to hit someone. Or something. He pushed Snape hard, but the professor wouldn't react. Or fall. Or do anything.

"Maybe," Neville roared, "I was a bit preoccupied trying to save my life. How could you ever join those beasts? They are evil!"

Snape didn't react to the accusation which drove Neville even madder. "They've got Luna. Captured her. What will they do to her? And they'll get gran, too."

Neville flung himself on the sofa and was unable to control himself anymore. He felt defeated. All hope was lost. Voldemort was winning. Everything had been in vain, they were stronger and... Neville started sobbing, not caring if Snape was in the same room as him anymore. He wanted to pour himself some of the whisky, but the glass and the bottle just smashed on the floor. His body started shaking and he was going to pass out when he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the words: "Drink this. Calming draught." Neville didn't react. Snape pulled his head back and poured it down his throat. Neville felt as if he was going to be sick, but Snape quickly poured another potion down his throat and the feeling vanished.

"And this," he said quietly. "Dreamless sleep potion." A third vial was poured down his throat and Neville passed out.