She let herself cry as she watched from the courtyard gate. She watched as his back got bloodier with each strike. She felt sick and hot as the skin started to puker. She refused to turn away from the sight though, if he had to endure it, then so did she. She heard him grunt in pain after a while and didn't think she could bear it any more. She found her father and tried to get his attention.

Her father was furious as she stepped up next to him. As she got closer, she could see the Nevilles skin, in ruins from where the whip had started to slice through the skin. She looked away and to her father.

"Father, you know he is innocent, stop this, please." She hissed into his ear.

"I know nothing of the sort. He pushed you over, and so he will be punished." The King muttered firmly.

"He only knocked me over because he was blinded by a wound inflicted by Zacharia ad Terrence."

"Be that as it may, you were struck to the ground. I cannot let that slide without some sort of punishment.

"He's been punished, please father. Make it stop." She begged.

"I cannot, daughter. He has been sentenced to one hundred lashes. I cannot now revoke that sentence. It will be over soon, and then we will talk further." He replied as she glared at him.

She watched as Neville sagged in the ropes and how he almost fell as they undid the bonds. She felt an odd sense of pride as he stood without help before the guard guided him away.

Zabini was watching him intently as he gave the guards instructions. And then they were gone.

Pansy stood there and watched as people left, muttering as they disappeared. She heard someone mention his chest, but she ignored them. She didn't care what he looked like he was worth more than any one of the lords that had come to watch the punishment. As the lords descended the stairs, she felt sick to her stomach. As the Lords approached, she felt her blood boil with fury.

"Not a bad show after all. Surprising really." Said Zacharias as he stepped close to Pansy. "I, for one, would have thought that he would have cried or fainted. He seems the type."

"I thought he'd soil himself." Replied Terrance "I see that we were both wrong."

"I have no words for how much I despise you both!" She growled

"Now, now. That is no way to speak to your beloved." Zacharias smirked. "Now be a good little wife and disappear from my sight."

"Gladly!" She spat as she started to walk away.

She heard them mutter behind her as she stormed off. She needed to see him; needed to make sure he was alright. She followed her feet, and before she knew it, she was at Zabini's door. She knocked gently and waited.

The door opened, and she was greeted by a distracted Zabini.

"May I come in?" She asked, nervously as she waited for him to open the door wider. He stood and looked at her as though he had never seen her properly before.

"Erm, yes for a moment, I could do with your help with an experiment I'm conducting." She looked at him curiously but stepped past him as he opened the door wider.

She saw the examination bed with Neville sprawled out upon it. Sweat had stuck his light brown hair to his scalp, and the blood had drained from his face. She started to run to him before she remembered herself. She slowed to a walk and was almost close enough to touch him when Zabini cried out.

"Stop, don't touch him, You'll ruin the experiment." She froze in her steps as she turned to look at him.

"Right, Tell me how you feel, right this second." He demanded as he watched eagerly.

"I feel wretched. Look at him. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for me."

"Yes, yes. But what are you physically feeling?" she frowned at the odd question but really thinking about it. "Are you experiencing any sort of physical sensations right now?" he rephrased before waiting for her response.

"I feel sick and anxious. My heart is racing. My face and neck feel hot and flushed and slightly itchy, but I think that is because I was crying." She explained as she pulled at her veil.

Zabini waved a finger at her excitedly as he turned back to his books.

She turned back to Neville and peered closer. He had a fine stubble growing around his chin, and Pansy wondered how he would look with a beard. She stuffed her hand into her mouth as a sob tried to escape. She had caused this.

She tried not to look at the bloody bandages and the red cloth to one side where Zabini had tried to fix him up.

"Step closer," Zabini demanded as he turned around to watch her again eagerly. She frowned but did as she was bid. "Now, Place your hand on his leg, make sure you don't touch his skin. That's very important. She frowned again as she reached out and placed her hand on his calf. She felt a blinding sensation as the heat around her intensified.

"Now, what do you feel?"

Pansy struggled to get her words out, it was as though the air had turned to syrup.

"It's difficult to talk, I feel very warm and uncomfortable.

"Aha!" He cheered as he turned to his books again. He started to write furiously as she stood there. She wanted to touch Neville's hair, to see whether it felt as soft as she thought it looked. She tried to take a deep breath, but the air felt so thick that she struggled. She removed her hand from his leg, and immediately, the air cleared.

She stepped back and sat on one of the benches as she pulled in a deep breath.

"One more thing your highness. May I take a few measurements of your mark? I can assure you that Lord Longbottom here will not wake up and see you."

"After what he has endured thanks to me, I couldn't care less." Zabini's face softened, and he smiled as she removed her veil. She had to sit awkwardly as he poked and prodded her with his tools, but eventually, he had all the measurements he needed.

"Thank you, your highness. I think I have everything that we need."

"What have you found?" Zabini shook his head.

"I'm not sure at this moment in time however I should be able to tell you soon. Now, you had better go. If your father finds you here, I don't think even my influence would be able to spare you banishment or execution at this point." He smirked as she stood. She looked down at the sleeping Neville and smiled.

"Just take care of him."

"I will you highness, have no fear. He will be safe until he is healed, you have my word."

"Thank you." She nodded as she left them, Zabini once again furiously writing why Neville snored gently into the cushion.