Neville felt the world around him dissolve as Fernsby pulled him up and out of the pensieve. He had almost forgotten that he was bent over a bowl. However, now that he was back in the real world, his muscles reminded him.

Fernsby patted him on the arm before turning and sitting back in his chair. Neville fell into his as he tried to come to terms with what he had just seen. He opened his mouth to ask some questions when Fernsby held up a finger. He scribbled a few notes of his own on the clipboard, using the previously-frantic QuickQuotes quill.

The sight of the two men creeping out the common room after Pansy, kept repeating over again in his head. He shuddered and crossed his arms across his chest as if trying to keep out the chill. The real Pansy could have been attacked had she been at the party. He shivered again and realised he was trembling.

"Weasley?" Fernsby called. The door opened as Ron stepped in. His bright eyes went straight to Neville as if assessing the damage.

"Yes, sir?"

"Can you arrange for Mr Longbottom here to get a cup of tea, he's received a bit of a shock," Fernsby muttered without looking up from his notes.

Ron frowned as he looked at Neville.

"You are looking rather peaky. You alright, mate? Or do you need me to get Madam Pomfrey?"

Neville shook his head, unable to speak.

"A cuppa should be fine, he'll be right as rain once he's got over the shock of it all," Fernsby replied.

Ron nodded, still frowning as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"So, regardless of you telling Hannah that "Cornfoot's up for a fuck" you had no idea?" He asked slowly as he looked up from his notes. Neville swallowed with dread at the choice of words he had used before shaking his head fervently.

"No! What happened? Is Hannah alright?"

"As I promised, I will tell you everything that we know to be true. When Hannah left the party, she went for a walkout on the grass where she was met by Stephen Cornfoot and Oliver Rivers. They managed to disarm her, and then each proceeded to have intercourse with her before leaving her. They then presumably rejoined the party and no one was any the wiser." Neville covered his mouth. He knew that the bullies were bastards, but he didn't realise that they would stoop so low as to rape. "Now, the reason we needed your's and your school mates testimonies is that the Polyjuice aspect confuses things somewhat."

Fernsby sat back after putting the notes back onto the table. "Because they intended to rape, not Miss Abbott, but Miss Parkinson, they deny that they raped Miss Abbott at all." Fernsby took a deep breath and leant forward, clenching his hands between his knees again. "And, as she was raped, Miss Abbott has filed a report pointing the finger directly at them… and also you." The silence filled the air as his heart stopped beating. "She says that you planned it."

Ice filled the spaces between every cell in his body as the words sank in. She was blaming this on him. He leant forward and closed his eyes as he tried to will the tears away. He could see any future he had ahead of him crumble as he wasted away in a cell somewhere in Azkaban.

The door opened, and Ron stepped in with a cup of tea. Neville almost jumped out of his seat as he stared at the redhead. He held out the mug before thinking better of it and set it on a nearby table.

"Thank you, Weasley," Fernsby said, and Ron obviously knew he was being dismissed. He stepped out again and shut the door, but not before giving Neville another worried look.

"I didn't plan it. Honestly. I would never!" Neville started to babble. He could feel his heart beginning to race as a panic attack started to edge closer. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe. This wasn't happening, It couldn't be happening.

"Neville, can I call you Neville?" Fernsby said as he touched his arm. "I know you didn't plan it."

Neville swallowed and blinked, his heart booming in between his ears.

"You… you know?" He stuttered as he tried to calm down. He sagged in his chair and sucked in the air as he pushed his hair away from his face.

"Yes, I know. Within seconds of you sitting in this room with me, I knew that you hadn't planned anything." Fernsby smiled, and it was kind. He stood and grabbed the mug of tea off the table behind him.

"Thank Merlin!" He sighed as he took a deep breath, letting it filter out between his lips, slowly.

"And even if I was in any doubt, After seeing what I saw at the party, my mind would still be made up."

"So, is she alright?"

"She just tried to pin you with a rape charge," The Auror frowned.

"She needs to go to see a mind healer. But I still care that she's alright."

"She's distressed, obviously, but she's alright. She managed to get to the hospital wing and raise the alarm not long after the crime occurred. It helped that she was sober when it happened." Neville closed his eyes again and shook his head.

"It's just awful! What's going to happen to Cornfoot and Rivers?" He asked, his breathing had slowed, but his heart still boomed.

"They're not going to be a problem for you any more, that's for certain." Fernsby nodded "I still need to complete my investigation and see whether anyone can add any more information. But, to be honest, I think your memory was a pretty full account. If you wouldn't mind having a read through these notes and signing them if they are correct. We will probably use your memory as evidence when it goes before the Wizengamot."

Neville sighed as he took the clipboard from the Auror and read through the notes. They were pretty accurate and extensive and took into account everything that had been said whilst they had been under the pensieve's power. It all seemed correct, so he signed and handed it back. Fernsby gave him a slightly cooler cup of tea.

"Drink this, and then you're free to go." Fernsby smiled. "There is one thing I would like to bring to your attention, though." Neville raised his eyebrows after taking a swig of the tea. He grimaced at the sweetness. The tea was like syrup.

"What?" He asked through his grimace. Fernsby chuckled.

"The sugar helps give you the energy to combat the shock." He shrugged. Neville nodded before putting the cup back down. Shock or no, there was no way he could drink tea so sweet.

"What I wanted to tell you was about your mother and father." Neville stilled at the Auror's words.

"My parents? What about them?"

"Well, Miss Abbotts told you that your mother couldn't love you. That wasn't true, obviously. But I wanted to tell you some things. When your parents found out they were expecting you, your father brought in cigars and a crate of butterbeer to the office." He chuckled as he continued "You couldn't see your mom's desk for parenting books and baby catalogues. They were virtually hysterical at the thought of having you. They had been trying for so long. Alice had almost come to the point of thinking it wouldn't happen. Too many curses can cause irreversible damage." Fernsby shook his head. "Alice brought you around the office not long after you were born" The Auror smiled as he stared off into the distance. "You were tiny, but you had such a grip. You held my finger for half an hour, and you refused to let go." I had to wait until you fell asleep before I could pry my finger free."

Neville sat, slack-jawed and feeling emotional as he listened to the stories of his parents. He swallowed the lump in his throat. "They were so proud of you. They glowed when they talked about you. You were very much loved."

"I know they love me." Neville smiled. "But thank you, it's nice to hear about them from other people besides Gran,"

"Ah yes, Augusta." He laughed "How is the old battleaxe?"

Neville had to smile. He nodded. "She's alright, getting on, but she's good."

"Right, I had better carry on with the interviews. It was a pleasure to meet you again, Mr Longbottom, and I look forward to seeing you for basic training in the summer."

Fernsby stood up and offered his hand. Neville took it and shook it. "Still got the grip I see," He smirked.

"Thank you, sir." Neville nodded as he left the room, shutting the door behind him.

He felt the urge to sink to the floor, but he didn't give in.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked as he patted him on the shoulder. Neville let out a huff as he pushed his hair away from his face.

"I'm not sure."

"You don't look good. Go and chill out in the common room. If I have any time after interviews, I'll see if I can come visit." Neville nodded. "If not, we'll still have to try the brooms soon!"

Neville nodded again and tried to smile. "Go on, you look like shit!" Ron smirked before he opened the door to Flitwick's office again.

Neville almost ran back to the common room only to find it empty. He almost turned around again when he heard a noise. He looked back and found Pansy looking around one of the armchairs.

All the thoughts left him as he rushed towards her.

"Neville?" She asked, confused as she stood, placing her book down on the table. "Are you alright? Whats happened?" She asked.

He gripped her and pulled her in tight, gripping her as though life depended on it. The thought that she could have been hurt by Cornfoot and Rivers almost made the panic attack start up again. He held her as he stroked her hair.

"Neville?" She whispered again.

"I'm sorry." He muttered into her hair "I just need to hold you for a moment."

"Alright," She said as she held him back.

"I love you so much," He whispered again.

"I love you too." She whispered back. She pulled away slightly. "You're worrying me, Neville. What's going on?"

"I just got out of my interrogation."

"What?" She asked, "But mine finished ages ago." He nodded as he pulled her close again. "Neville, let go." She said quietly. He reluctantly released her. The ache to hold her still made his skin itch uncomfortably.

She smiled and held out her hand. He took it without a second thought. "Come on, let's go somewhere more comfortable and private." She winked and pulled him towards the stairs.

He said the password and Sir Patrick's frame swung open. She pulled him inside and straight to his bed before pulling the curtains closed.

"Now, spill it, Longbottom!" She smirked as she cuddled up to him. He pulled her close, smelling her scent and feeling her warmth.

"I'm just so glad that you're safe!" He whispered as he held her tightly.

"Safe? What are you talking about? Is this the whole attack thing?" Neville nodded into her hair. "Did you find out what happened?"

He nodded again and shut his eyes.

"Well? The Auror wouldn't tell me anything." Neville wasn't sure he could say it. He took a deep breath and pulled away from Pansy and looked into her wide, silver eyes.

"You know I told you what Cornfoot and Rivers threatened to do to you?" She nodded slowly. "They thought they had." Neville finished. Pansy looked at him for a moment before her brain caught up. Her eyes widened as her hand shot to her mouth.

"Hannah?" Neville nodded.

"And she told the Aurors that I planned it with Cornfoot and Rivers." Neville sighed.

Pansy froze as her eyes grew cold.

"Sorry?" She asked, and her voice was just as cold. "She did what?"

"She told the Aurors about the attack, and they know it was them, but she told them that I had planned for it to happen."

Her face drained of colour as she pulled him close.

"They don't think you had anything to do with it, do they?" She sat up her eyes wide as she looked down at him. Her coldness had been replaced by panic.

Neville shook his head as he pulled her back down to him. "No, I'm fine. Don't worry. They know that she made that part up."

"How?" She asked as she propped herself up on her elbow to look at him.

"They took my memory of last night and watched it in a pensieve." He felt her stiffen and smiled. "Don't worry, they didn't see anything except what happened downstairs. I made sure of it," She sighed with relief as she relaxed into him. "Well, that's something." Pansy paused. "Are you alright?"

He shook his head and rubbed at his face. "It's been a very testing day so far." He muttered as he tried to hold it together.

Pansy didn't say anything as she waited for him to finish. "It was hard to see it all again." She kissed his cheek before resting her head against his.

"It wasn't me, Darling," She soothed as his mind raced.

"I know, but it could have been you." He said, rolling over to face her. He gazed into her brilliant silver eyes. "I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to you."

"Nothing's happening to me, I'm safe in your arms." She whispered as she kissed him.

He kissed her back as he held her tenderly as if she were about to break. "Did the Auror say anything else?" She asked as she slowly pulled away.

"He said that Cornfoot and Rivers aren't a problem anymore. They'll be going in front of the Wizengamot and then sentenced."

Pansy nodded, kissing his cheek again. "At least they won't be here any more to bully you or be a threat to me." She said calmly.

"True, I wonder what will happen with Hannah," Neville replied

"A stint in St Mungo's at the very least. I almost felt sorry for the vindictive bitch!"

Neville looked at her, shocked at the venom behind her words. Pansy rolled her eyes "No self-respecting woman goes around accusing innocent people of rape. It undermines the whole thing, and it certainly eradicates any sympathy I feel for her. " She stroked his hair, pulling it through her fingers. "For everything, she's put you through, I almost hope she gets to in Azkaban too!" Neville watched as her gaze turned hard and cold again.

Neville sighed and closed his eyes as his heart continued to thunder in her chest. The rush of emotions still floated so close to the surface.

"Do you think we can just spend the day hiding in here together without getting caught?" Neville asked.

Pansy smirked as she thought about it. "I'm sure its something we can arrange." She stretched like a cat as she draped herself over him languidly. He sighed as his heart started to calm. He thought guiltily that maybe, just maybe, he might get a chance to enjoy the rest of the year without the fear of being hurt.