Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Graces Malfoy and Thomas Higgs who are my own. I do not claim ownership of the characters or the settings within. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story.

Author's notes: As usual a huge thank you to my beta Denarii for editing this chapter! And to my best friend Aleah for reading it over before I sent it to you lovely people.

Special thanks to ladymoonscar, Bageltiger, draconusmarauder, fairydaisy777, spannieren, Franipher, GTH, Blue Luver5000, Manoirmalfoys, Lift the Wings, Celine, and noone297 for the feedback and reviews!

I know you all are anxious to know how Neville is going to react so here it is ;)

Chapter 46

Something was wrong. It was more than the fact that Graces had not shown for their morning meeting, or that he hadn't seen her in the Great Hall for meals. Neville was sure something was wrong; he could feel it in his bones. Something had seemed off ever since he laid down for bed Friday night. At first it was a nudging in his gut, a fleeting bad feeling whenever his thoughts drifted to her, but now it was overcoming him. It spread through his belly and sank his heart down to his knees. Something was wrong.

He could have ignored the feeling in his gut and chalked everything up to paranoia, but when Graces hadn't owled him her apologies at not meeting or even sent Pansy to tell him she wasn't coming he couldn't help but dwell on it. And, if he were being perfectly honest, he didn't expect her to show up for their meeting. He had woken up today knowing that Graces wasn't going to meet him, which is why he was hiding behind an old tapestry waiting for some Slytherins to pass by so he could enter their common room.

He was aware that this was a stupid plan and that he was about to enter a den and anger a multitude of snakes. He also realized that Graces was going to kill him, but he didn't care. Something was wrong and he wasn't about to ignore this feeling welling up inside him. Graces could be as angry as she wanted. He really didn't care so long as she was alright. And as for the rest of Slytherin, it wouldn't be the first time he was hexed. He had been cruciated before, he doubted that anything they did to him would be as bad.

Neville clung to that thought as he moved out from behind the tapestry and followed two second year girls who both seemed completely absorbed in their own thoughts.

"I heard she likes sweets," the smaller girl whispered hollowly. "Maybe we could order something from Honeydukes."

"Maybe."

"What's wrong?"

"I-I just can't stop thinking about her screaming."

"Yeah, I know…"

"Didn't it bother you?"

"Not as much as when it stopped."

Neville tried to tell himself that they weren't necessarily talking about Graces, or that he was just taking this the wrong way. Perhaps Graces was screaming at Draco, or she and Pansy got in a tiff. Perhaps it wasn't Graces at all, he reminded himself again, but that feeling of dread continued to hammer at his insides.

"Purity," both girls said together in unison after moving behind the stone wall hiding the entrance. Neville quickly moved behind it as well and entered the common room directly behind them causing both girls to turn and let out a shrill scream.

Blaise Zabini looked as though he were about to hex him, but stopped himself short when he realized Neville was still behind the second years.

"What are you doing here, Longbottom?" the dark skinned boy asked, moving forward with his wand in hand.

"I, uh, I—" Neville all of the sudden felt very stupid for continuing with his plan. Everyone in the Slytherin common room was now standing, holding their wands. Distaste and even hate were obvious in their stares.

"Who cares why he's here?" Pansy screeched, lifting her wand higher. "Get him out!"

Neville ducked as a curse came whizzing by him. The two girls he followed had now gotten over their initial shock and ran over to join the crowd of Slytherins closing in on him. Montague was lifting his wand up and Neville had the impression from the way he gripped it that whatever he was about to send was going to hurt.

"I-IcametoseeMalfoy," he blurted out immediately, covering his head with his arms from the curse he suspected was on its way. Neville waited for a barrage of curses and jinxes to start bombarding him, but to his surprise nothing happened. He looked up and all of the Slytherins were looking at him oddly.

"She's not well today," a curly haired boy from the Quidditch team said. "Just leave."

"If she isn't well then why isn't she in the hospital wing?" Neville challenged, slowly bringing his arms down.

"Our head of house is the potions master," Graham reminded darkly. "He's tending to her."

"If that is true, why doesn't he attend to all of you when you're sick."

"Graces is his goddaughter. He gives her extra care and attention," Millicent drawled, as though this was obvious and Neville was a fool to not know.

"I think you're all lying," Neville stated, looking at all the faces surrounding him. "Something's up and you all are trying to cover it up. I want to see Malfoy and I want to see her now."

"Exactly what do you think gives you the right to sneak into our common rooms and make demands?" Blaise questioned in a way that made Neville feel like he was standing on thin ice.

"Malfoy always, without fail, sends me an owl or gets someone to tell me if she is unable to meet for tutoring. Always," Neville emphasized. "Today she didn't show up and I received no notice telling me she wasn't able to and—"

"In case it has escaped your notice there has been a massacre," Graham spat, pulling Neville up by his collar and shoving him away. "People are dead. I doubt her mind is on arrangements she made to tutor you!"

"S-so which is it?" Neville challenged. "Is she lost in grief or is she ill?"

"It can't be both?" Pansy quipped.

"Fine," Neville contended. "I'll leave, but I'm stopping at the hospital wing to tell Pomfrey she's sick and I suspect she will want to examine her herself."

"She doesn't need Pomfrey!" Blaise shouted as Neville made his way to the door.

"Doesn't hurt to have a real mediwitch check her out."

Neville yelped as a hex burned his hand when he reached for the door to leave. He spun around and glared at the Slytherin responsible.

"Right," he nodded. "So now I shall go see Pomfrey and tell her how I got my hand burned and also that for some reason no one in Slytherin wants Graces to be seen."

"What makes you think you will make it out of this room to tell?" Graham asked, moving to stand beside Neville at the door, his chiseled arm now blocking the way out.

"Are-are you insinuating that you're going to-to do away with me?" Neville asked, trying his best to sound confident but failing miserably. "Well, isn't that a smart idea. Kill me. Then we'll see what happens. If I go missing the whole castle will be swarmed with even more aurors and you can bet the headmaster will be wondering why he hasn't seen Graces as well."

If Neville learned one thing from Graces it was that Slytherins liked their intimidation tactics. Most of them would rather keep their hands clean. They used their power, strength, wealth and other influences to make their opponent stand down, but if you remain standing, if you demand as loud as them usually there would be more discussion.

"Someone get Draco," Montague ordered, his dark eyes not moving away from Neville's. "Tell him Longbottom's little infatuation with his sister is going too far."

sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Graces tried not to flinch as the… doctor… examined her face. Thomas was asleep, slumped in a chair by her bed clinging to her hand. She had woken up with him there: him on one side, Draco on the other and this muggle standing over her hurriedly taking a tube out from her mouth. All three of them had stayed hovering around her since she had become conscious.

"How is your vision?" the chestnut haired man asked, a concerned look on his face as he examined her right eye.

"Fine," Graces lied, turning her head away so he couldn't open her eyelids.

"You are able to see fine out of both eyes?" the doctor asked skeptically.

Graces gave a small nod and turned back to Draco, who kissed her head reassuringly.

"Your stitches are healing incredibly fast," Dr. Harris commented, looking down at her abdomen as he lifted the sheets. "It's remarkable."

"She's a witch," Draco deadpanned. "We don't heal like you muggles."

"Isn't that lucky for you," Dr. Harris smiled kindly, gaining Graces attention back. "Now, since you seem to be doing so well I think it would be best if we moved forward with your other injuries."

"What do you mean?" Draco frowned.

"I would like to re-set your sister's arm for one. It's dislocated, so today I would like to pop it back in place. If she does well with that we should reset the other broken bones."

"Why didn't you do this last night?"

"It was not a priority. She can live with her arm dislocated, her fingers broken and hips out of place. I was not going to put her through unnecessary pain, but judging by the way she is healing I think we need to set those bones. I don't want them to have to be rebroken because they healed out of place."

Graces turned back away from the doctor. She'd rather Draco handle everything. Pain was now becoming a part of her. She felt as though it was more than just a state of being at this point. She felt it everywhere. It sounded like what this muggle wanted to do was only going to add to her pain and she would rather die than suffer anymore. Her abdomen burned and ached from where he had sliced her open like a fish. She had screamed when she felt his barbaric tools cut through her and she had cried out in agony when she awoke and saw that he had sewed her up like a quilt. She didn't want anything to do with the butcher standing over her.

"We will wait for a proper healer to fix those things," Draco said curtly.

"I really think we should at least fix the—"

"Draco." Dr. Harris quickly let the blanket drop and Graces tried to hide her discomfort at being seen as Blaise walked into the room. "I'm so sorry, but I need you to come downstairs."

"I'm a little busy," Draco growled, moving so his sister's face was blocked from view. "Whatever it is I'm sure can be handled by someone else."

"Draco," Blaise repeated. "You need to come down."

Draco glowered at the boy standing in the doorway and angrily shut the curtain, ensuring Graces' privacy, something Graces did not appreciate. She would rather have Blaise see her beaten to a bloody mess than be left lying in bed defenseless with the muggle. She tried to hear whatever it was Graham was saying, but both boys seemed to be talking quietly, making it impossible for her to hear.

"I'll be right back," Draco promised, coming back to her side and kissing her cheek .

"No," Graces mouthed, pleading with her eyes for Draco not to go. Not to leave her alone with the strange man beside her.

"Thomas is right here," Draco reminded. "I'll be right back."

Graces shook her head in protest desperately trying to get her brother to not leave her, but Draco continued out. She stared at the door in disbelief. He had left her alone in the room with a muggle. He left her.

"Graces?" Graces tried to focus on Thomas' hand on hers' and not the fact that she felt frightened in this man's presence. "I would like to continue examining you, if you don't mind."

Dr. Harris watched as the girl he had saved cowered away from him and desperately looked to the door as though praying that her brother would come back in. He stared at the bruises on her collar which suggested that she had been held down and took a step back from the bed.

"Graces, were—"

"Stop calling me by my given name," the blonde rasped, her voice scratched and hoarse from the tube that had been helping her breathe through the night. "We're not familiar."

"Malfoy… right? It's Malfoy?" Graces nodded. "Miss Malfoy," Dr. Harris said gently. "You can't see out of that eye, can you?"

Graces ignored the question and continued stare forward.

"I didn't think so…" Graces could feel the tears building up from behind her eyes. She couldn't see out of her eye. She couldn't see and she had a feeling the sight would not return. "May I examine it?"

"No."

"I just want to help you," the doctor whispered, moving a piece of her hair away from her face. "Please, let me examine you."

Graces shook her head defiantly and continued staring at the door waiting for her brother.

"Miss Malfoy, it may not be permanent. There is a chance that this would be temporary. Your eye is almost swollen shut at the moment, but if you allow me to examine it I can assess whether we can treat it. If you do not allow me to assess you and it is a problem I could fix you risk losing that vision forever. Please allow me to examine you."

"You won't tell my brother?" Graces asked, hiccuping a sob.

"Not if you'd prefer I didn't." Graces nodded and did her best not to move as Dr. Harris forced her eye open. It was excruciating. Her eye socket was fractured and it took all her strength not to scream, but she pushed through breathing heavily as the pain worsened. "What can you see?"

"Nothing," Graces whimpered.

"Nothing at all. Make sure. Not a fraction of an image."

"I can see a small portion out of my inside corner," Graces sniffed. "But there are spots."

Dr. Harris nodded sadly and moved away from her eye to sit beside her on the bed.

"I'm not an ophthalmologist," he began quietly. "I'm not a doctor that specializes in eyes, but I believe your retina to be partially detached." Graces waited for the muggle to say more, but he seemed hesitant. "There is a possibility you may lose all of your sight in that eye," Dr. Harris said apologetically, taking his hand and placing it on hers. "And there is a possibility that with surgery you could have full sight or it will remain the same."

Graces was desperately trying not to become upset. It wouldn't do for Draco to come in and see her crying hysterically over the possibility of being blind in one eye. He blamed himself enough for all this. If he knew there was a possibility of permanent damage he would never forgive himself. She tried to clench her mouth closed to keep it all in, but it just hurt her jaw more and caused her to succumb.

"I'm so sorry," Dr. Harris choked. "This shouldn't be happening."

Graces looked over at the doctor sitting next to her and watched as he seemed to be wiping away tears and looking over at her collarbone. It was obviously broken as well as riddled with bruising in the shape of hands, an obvious sign she was held down.

"That didn't happen," she rasped angrily. "I wasn't… violated. Not like that."

"I know," the older man nodded. "I examined you last night. No fluids. No bruising. No tearing. No signs of forced entry," he murmured answering the unspoken question. "Your brother… he was beside himself. He wanted to know."

Graces closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. She didn't want to imagine what last night had been like for Draco. She didn't remember anything really after Snape took her away, but she had an idea that it was all out of a nightmare.

"Why did they hold you down like that?" Dr. Harris whispered, moving a hand and tracing the handmark on her collar.

"I curled up in a ball," Graces explained tightly, not wanting to relive such memories, but unable to resist being able to tell someone. She certainly would never tell Draco. "I curled up in a ball to protect my vital organs… It was a mistake. I was told not to… but-but I kept doing it and then-then they held me down. I made it worse."

Graces held her breath to keep from crying. She did not want to start blubbering like a pathetic child. It had happened. She had survived. It was over, done. She concentrated on ignoring the burning in her eyes and the tightness in her throat.

"That's not your fault," Dr. Harris whispered. "That was smart."

Graces ignored his reassurances. It was stupid. She had caused herself more pain for angering them. Listening the first time would have made it end faster.

"Why was this allowed to happen?"

"It just was," Graces clipped.

"Has it happened before?"

"No."

"Will it happen again?"

Graces could feel the inside of her chest vibrating anxiously at the question. Would this happen again? Would it be worse? Would she even be permitted to live? Whenever she had thought about Draco's failure she had thought of a quick death, but now... Now she knew. She swallowed a sob and closed her eyes, breathing in through her nose deeply to try and control her emotions.

"Graces?" Graces slowly opened her eyes to her brother's voice. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, just hurts."

Draco nodded sadly and continued to gently run his fingers against her arm far away in his own thoughts.

"Neville Longbottom is here." Draco must have still been able to see the look of surprise on her face, despite it's swollenness, because before she could ask why the hell Neville was there he continued. "You were supposed to meet him this morning, I guess, and now that you did not show up, owl, or send someone to let him know you could not make it he is convinced something is wrong. He snuck into the common room. I guess he followed two second years and now will not leave until he sees you."

"Make him leave," Graces demanded. "You're a wizard, damn it! Make him!"

"Graces," Dr. Harris broke in, his hands on her shoulders making her lean against the pillow. "None of that. You need to keep calm." Graces knew what the muggle was saying was true. She already felt light headed and her heart felt like it had just ran thirty laps around the pitch. She mimicked the doctors breathing and did her best to remain calm. "Draco," Dr. Harris began turning to her brother. "Your sister is not well enough to receive visitors. Especially ones that will only make her upset."

Draco nodded, but didn't move to dismiss Neville. He sat beside her on the bed staring angrily down.

"He said if he doesn't see you for himself he will tell Madam Pomfrey that you are not well. If I hex him or anything he said that he's going to tell his head of house that he thinks something's amiss and make someone check on you." Draco closed his eyes and was visibly trying to swallow his anger. "I had to agree to let him see you… He's made an unbreakable vow to not tell anyone anything about the situation."

"No," Graces choked, angry tears now brimming out of her eyes. "No. I don't want to see him. Tell him I don't want to see him. Please, Draco. Please make him leave. Please."

"You don't think I tried?" Draco sighed. "Graces, he won't leave. He's as stubborn as he is stupid when it comes to you. I swear to the gods, Graces, if I could kill him I would. His little infatuation with you has crossed the line."

"I'll speak to him," Dr. Harris offered as Graces continued to hiccup tears. "I'll explain to him that—"

"If a muggle doctor goes out there and talks to him he will know something is up. We don't use muggle doctors. Ever. We consider you barbaric butchers. I never would have let you touch my sister if we had another option," Draco murmured darkly, wrinkling his nose in disgust at the man in front of him.

"Draco, please make him leave. Just tell him that I'm not well and that I'll even write him later tonight, but I don't want to see him. Please," Graces stressed. "Shouldn't I be left with some shred of dignity."

"Okay, okay," Draco shushed. "I'll tell him. Don't get yourself upset. I'll tell him."

"It's too late!" Graces barked, her voice breaking from the strain. "I am upset! I want him to leave and I want him to leave right now!"

Thomas woke up from the loud angry voice and looked from Graces' tearful face to Draco's.

"It's a long story," Draco groaned. "Longbottom is here demanding to see Graces and she naturally does not want to see him. I'm taking care of it."

Draco stood to leave and Thomas moved to follow him, but Graces grabbed his hand.

"Don't leave me in here with him," she whispered, nodding her head at the doctor standing beside her. "Don't."

Thomas nodded and sat back down by her bed. Graces closed her eyes and tried to relax, telling herself this would all be over in a few days. Praying that it would be. She felt Thomas lay back down by her hand and wished she could run her fingers through his air to offer him some sort of comfort.

"I'm s-s-sorry," Thomas whispered, his shoulders shaking from tears. "I'm s-s-so sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Graces dismissed, closing her eyes. "I made my choices. None of this was your fault. I chose this."

Thomas didn't seem to take much comfort in that statement, because the younger boy began to cry even harder after her proclamation.

"Thomas, I made this choice," Graces stressed. "Me. No one else. I chose to go there and I knew the risks. I'm fine. I'm alive and in a few days I'll be made well, like none of this ever happened, but you would not have. He was going to kill you."

"H-he a-almost k-killed you," Thomas sniffed, trying to stop his tears.

"If he was going to kill me he would have killed me. Don't be fooled, if he wanted me dead I would be."

Thomas nodded quietly and stared down at the bed. She thought back to his screams when Snape dragged him away from her, his arms outstretched to her like if he could grab ahold of her he could save her.

"Will you bring Octavian to see me tonight?" she breathed trying to not think of the pain. "I'd like to see him." Thomas nodded, but didn't lift his head. "Maybe you could pack an overnight bag and the bassinet? It would be nice to have both of you here."

"H-he'll d-disturb your s-sleep."

"That precious child? No. I'll sleep well with him here, please?" Graces begged.

"I'll get him when Draco returns," Thomas swore, offering a small smile.

"I don't know if a child is the best thing to have here when you're not well," Dr. Harris broke in, earning himself a very nasty Malfoy glare.

Graces was about to make a nasty remark, but before she could work up the energy Draco came back into the room.

"Draco?" Graces asked, curious as to why her brother was not moving more into the room and had decided to hover at the door.

"Longbottom refuses to leave," he whispered. "And-and the unbreakable vow was specific in that he had to be able to see you in order for it to take place. He's… he's threatening to go to Dumbledore now."

Graces took a shuddering breath and then another and another, until she was choking on the lump in her throat preventing her from crying.

"Noooo," she moaned. "No, I don't want him here. I-I just want Octavian, you and Thomas."

"Octavian?" Draco repeated, frowning over at Thomas.

"Sh-she w-wants him h-here," Thomas blushed.

"I see," Draco nodded. "Is that wise?"

"No, I don't believe so," the doctor interjected angrily. "She needs rest and relaxation. She's healing remarkably, but I need to reset those bones. After I do that she will be in even more pain. A screaming child is not going to help her."

"I believe I said that you would not be resetting her bones," Draco said coldly. "Octavian may come, Thomas why don't you go home and bring him here in a few hours."

"I would strongly advise against that," Dr. Harris continued, obviously upset.

"You have advised and I have decided," Draco declared curtly, as Thomas walked out of the room. The doctor opened his mouth to argue, but Draco just continued to speak to his sister. "It's not an option, Graces. I'm sorry. Longbottom has to see you. We cannot afford anyone finding out about this."

"Draco, please," Graces begged, growing more panicked and upset. "Please don't. Tell him what happened if you have to, but I don't want to see him."

"Graces," Draco sighed, trying to be gentle and reassuring, but beginning to become frustrated. "He won't be able to tell anyone, if you're worried about people thinking—"

"I don't want him seeing me like this!" Graces exclaimed. "It has nothing to do with anyone else! I just don't want him to see me like this!" It was then as Draco stared at her curiously that she realized she had made a mistake. "I'm not dressed, I'm vulnerable and-and I can barely stand for the people I love to see me. I'm not comfortable around him. I don't want him seeing me at my weakest. I can't even put on a shirt, because of this damn tube in my chest, all I have is the sheets covering me. Please don't allow him in."

"Graces, I tried," Draco groaned, clearly taking her excuse without question. "He won't leave. He refuses—"

"I'll talk to him," Dr. Harris snarled, walking towards the door before either twin could stop him.

"Who's the lad wanting to speak with Miss. Malfoy?" he called out, as he left the hall and entered the common room.

A young man wearing a red and gold tie stood up from against a wall. Dr. Harris was a bit surprised at this boy's appearances compared to the boys he had seen in the past hours. He wasn't dressed as sharply and his face, though frowning, had much more of an openness to it.

"Longbottom?" The sandy haired boy nodded his head and crossed his arms in front of him. Normally such actions made a person look closed off, but not when he did it. His eyes were alert and the small frown between his forehead spoke more of worry than annoyance. "I'm Dr. Harris."

"Doctor?" the boy questioned a deeper look of concern coming to him. "Like a muggle healer?"

"Uh, yes, I suppose. I'm not magical, if that's what you mean and I heal people. I'm a trauma surgeon."

"I'm sorry," the younger boys murmured, moving one of his hands through his hair anxiously, "But what's a surgeon? I understand trauma, but what's surgeon?"

"A surgeon is a doctor that can perform surgery. Surgery is usually used to treat any injuries or problems in a body by opening the body up and repairing it," Dr. Harris added quickly, realizing that this boy had no idea what he was talking about.

"Opening the body," the sandy haired boy repeated, his face turning paler.

"Listen, Mr. Longbottom I—"

"Neville."

"I'm sorry?"

"Neville. You can call me Neville."

"Right… Neville, Miss Malfoy is not well, and I want to keep her as relaxed and comfortable as possible. I can't have her becoming overwhelmed, anxious, upset or even just overly tired." Neville nodded in understanding. "That being said she doesn't want to see you. She's become exceptionally upset at the mention of seeing you, something I cannot allow in her current condition."

"What is her current condition?" Neville asked frowning.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot discuss my patient's medical care outside of family. It wouldn't be professional."

Dr. Harris turned to walk away, but Neville grabbed his arm stopping him.

"It doesn't make sense for you to be here," Neville frowned. "I-I'm sure you're a good doctor and that you're taking good care of Graces, but-but it doesn't make sense that you are caring for her and not a healer." Dr. Harris didn't say a word. "What's going on? I can't leave her without knowing. I won't."

"My patient does not wish to—"

"I don't care. I want to see her. If you don't allow me to see her I will tell the headmaster that I think something is going on here."

"What will happen if something was going on here?" Dr. Harris asked curiously.

"He would come and check on her."

"And if he saw she was in trouble?"

Neville let his hand drop from the doctor's arm and stared at the man curiously.

"What's going on?"

"The headmaster, is he a good man?" Dr. Harris asked.

"Yes," Neville said slowly. "Yes, he's… he's a very good man. A little eccentric, but he's good."

"Do you think he would harm Miss Malfoy?"

"No, of course not," Neville declared in disgust. "Why would he—"

"Neville, if he really is a good man maybe you should tell him to come."

Dr. Harris quickly began walking away leaving Neville standing there in confusion. He didn't understand why it was that no one wanted to get this girl real medical attention, but he wasn't going to throw away the first opportunity of really helping her.

"It's done," he clipped entering the room. "I told him it wouldn't be good for your health to receive visitors."

"And he accepted that?" Draco frowned.

Dr. Harris nodded and went back to the bed.

"Graces, I need to check your temperature again," Dr. Harris said reaching for the thermometer. "I'm still worried you may develop an infection."

Graces rolled her eyes, but allowed the muggle to place the thermometer in her mouth. She knew exactly what the doctor was going to say next. He was going to mutter about the unsterile environment, like her bed was filthy or something, and then he was going to go on and on about how if they were in a hospital they would have this and there would be that. It was getting to the point where she was glad her arm was dislocated or she would hex him for being annoying. Everything hurt and his constant chatter was not helping her.

Graces turned her head as the door to her room opened, expecting to see Thomas early, but stilled as she locked eyes with Neville. She felt as though time had frozen, like they were locked in a bubble. Draco was screaming and Dr. Harris was grabbing his hand to take his wand, but it all seemed so far away. What was near was how loud her heart was thumping, the sound of her breath, and while the world blurred Neville remained crystal clear.

Her insides twisted as he continued to stare at her in horror, unconsciously taking a step away from her, his mouth still gaping open from shock. She tried to hold still as his brown eyes raked her body and the area around her: the strange tubes going in and out of her body, the odd instruments on her dresser, orange bottles and clear bags. She didn't want to panic that he was there. He was there and that was it. This was it. She wanted to preserve what she had with him, keep him far away from this horror, so that he would always look at her with wondering eyes and now it was gone.

"What-what-why are you not at St. Mungos?!" Neville exclaimed, turning around and glaring at Draco. "Why is she not at St. Mungos!? Why is she not seeing a healer!? What's wrong with you?! LOOK AT HER!"

"Don't you think that if I could take her to see a healer I would!" Draco roared.

"THEN WHY ISN'T SHE WITH ONE!"

"IT'S COMPLICATED AND NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, LONGBOTTOM!"

"None of my business, huh?" Neville growled lowly. "None of my business, well apparently I need to make it my business since you're so much of a coward that you would let her suffer like that instead of getting her help!"

Graces watched in horror as Neville drew his wand on her brother. Draco shoved the doctor away and raised his, but before he could mutter a spell Neville disarmed him.

"Longbottom, I would advise you to put your wand away," Draco gritted, his silver eyes dangerously wild.

"Just don't give me a reason to use it, Malfoy," Neville said darkly. " Step away, Malfoy. If you can't care for her move aside and let me."

"You can't tell anyone," Draco reminded, his brow raised challenge. "You made an unbreakable vow."

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Neville whispered. "I'm taking her away."

"You can't."

"Why?" Neville bellowed.

"It's complicated," Draco muttered tightly.

"It doesn't look that complicated to me," Neville hissed, striding over to the bed, but keeping his wand level. "She's hurt. When someone's hurt like this you take them to St. Mungo's. You get them real medical attention!"

Graces yelped as Neville moved to lift her up. He hadn't even fully lifted her and she felt as though something in her leg and middle back was close to snapping.

"You cannot move her like this," Dr. Harris interjected, placing a gentle hand over the blankets on her chest. "If you just pick her up out of that bed you could kill her." Neville glared at the doctor and waited for him to continue. His nostrils flaring angrily as he kept his hands under her knees and back. "She has a tube in her chest, preventing her lung from collapsing, if you moved it out of place and it collapsed again she wouldn't be able to breath. If you picked her up and the sutures I made inside her ripped she would bleed out. She can't make a transfer. Just a few hours ago her heart stopped during surgery. I had to restart her heart and we had to put a breathing tube down her throat and breath for her until she woke up this morning. These things attached to her are tubes, tubes that need to be kept inside her. If you move her they will rip out. You. Can. Not. Move. Her."

Neville stilled, but he did not move his hands from under her. He seemed to be trying to rack his brain for another answer, a way to move her.

"You're h-hurting m-me," Graces whimpered, closing her eyes as the pain deepened. She felt Neville's hands move out from under her, but it all still hurt so much. Right where her left leg met her hip throbbed with newly awoken ache.

"Miss Malfoy?" Graces hummed a reply to the doctor's voice, still keeping her mouth tightly closed to stop herself from screaming out. "Is it hurting here?" Dr. Harris asked, placing his hand on the side of her leg and hip. Graces nodded and choked a bit on some of her tears. "May I realline it?" Graces shook her head. "It will ease some of the pain, if you let me."

"Just do it," Draco whispered curtly.

"No-no-no nononono," Graces wailed, moving her one hand out to push him away making sure not to apply pressure to her broken finger.

"You're sister is fully aware," Dr. Harris said taking a step back. "If she is not wanting me to perform a medical procedure and is of sound mind I can't go against her wishes without a guardian's approval."

"I'm the patriarch of the family," Draco huffed. "She is in my custody."

"Let me rephrase that," Dr. Harris began an edge to his voice. "I will not do any medical procedure on her if she is denying it with a sound mind and no parental guardian's approval."

"I-I'm sorry," Neville whispered, lowering his head in his hands and he sat in the empty chair by the bed. "I didn't mean to—"

"She already had the injury," Dr. Harris interrupted. "You didn't injure her any further. You just irritated it. It will mellow out in a moment or two."

"I want you out!" Draco demanded, turning round on Neville. "Get the fuck out! You could have killed her you could have—"

"I could have killed her?" Neville exclaimed in disbelief. "You're the one locking her up in here with no real medical care!"

"I didn't have a choice!"

"THERE IS ALWAYS A CHOICE!" Neville bellowed.

"If you believe that you're more of an idiot then I thought," Draco whispered venomously.

Neville angrily stood up from the chair and was about to make some sort of declaration, but before he could say another word he was on his knees clutching at his chest.

"What's happening to him!" Graces shrieked looking to the doctor who was now rolling Neville on his back and examining him.

"Neville, what hurts?" Dr. Harris asked, his stethoscope against the young boy's chest.

"Chest," Neville grunted, closing his eyes.

"Do you have a history of heart problems," Dr. Harris asked.

"No."

"Just a history of stupidity," Draco smirked. "Are you done thinking of telling someone, Longbottom?" Draco asked with false innocence.

Neville glared up from the floor at Draco defiantly before he gritted his teeth and groaned as more pain came to him.

"He's having a heart attack," the doctor whispered in disbelief.

"Help him," Graces sobbed. "Make it stop."

"Longbottom, can make this stop on his own," Draco shrugged. "All he needs to do is stop being an idiot."

"This isn't funny, Draco!" Graces shouted. "He could die!"

"If he does it's his own bloody fault," Draco muttered irritatedly.

"Longbottom, whatever foolish thing you are thinking of doing I demand you stop it right this instant!" Graces yelled, straining her own body as she yelled it.

Neville's eyes met with hers and for a brief moment she worried he would not listen that he would continue this foolish line of thinking until it killed him, but to her relief he stopped.

"What was that?" Dr. Harris asked accusingly glaring at Draco.

"He made an unbreakable vow to not tell anyone and was thinking of telling," Draco smirked. "Poor choice, Longbottom, let that be a lesson."

"I want everyone except Longbottom out of this room," Graces demanded, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"Pfft, I'm not leaving your side," Draco scoffed.

"Yes you are," Graces seethed. Draco just rolled his eyes and sat back in the chair stubbornly. "Draco I want you to leave!" Graces croaked. "Right now! GET OUT! GETOUTGETOUTGETOUT!

The bed shook with Graces' last declaration and a steady stream of blood started to come out of her nose.

"Draco," Dr. Harris broke in. "Remember what I told you about her remaining relaxed? About trying to keep her blood pressure down? We should leave. We can be right outside the door, if something goes wrong I'm sure Mr. Longbottom will retrieve us."

"Let her throw her fit. I am not leaving," Draco growled, sending a warning glare at his sister.

"Do you not see your sister's nose? That's a sign her blood pressure is up. You are causing more harm than good being here right now. Her heart cannot take this," Dr. Harris spat, taking Draco by the arm and dragging him to his feet. "We are leaving the room and we are not returning until she says we can."

Draco, who had taken Neville's time of need to regain his wand, angrily drew it at the doctor.

"Oh, yes. Do hurt me," Dr. Harris dared. "Go ahead. Hurt the only one here who knows how to treat your sister's injury. See how much use I am to you injured myself." Draco seem to glower at the doctor's statement, but put his wand down. "We are going to go outside and let your sister talk to Mr. Longbottom here. You're lucky with all that shouting and excitement her heart didn't become tachycardic or her lung didn't recollapse."

Draco angrily stomped to the door and Dr. Harris turned to Neville.

"If anything anything goes wrong you get me immediately. Do not try to move her and do not do any basic life support without me. Her ribs are broken. Doing it incorrectly can puncture her lungs. Understand?"

Neville nodded and slowly picked himself up from the floor.

"Good," Dr. Harris nodded curtly, before leaving the two of them alone.

"Are you okay?" Graces asked quietly.

"I think that's a question I should be asking you," Neville pointed out, staring wide eyed at the injuries she had obtained.

"I'm fine," Graces lied. "In a few days this will all be gone. I'll be the same as before." Neville didn't say anything, he just continued to stare off at her injuries. "Please stop looking at me like that," Graces hiccuped. "Please."

Neville sat down on the bed and moved his arms as though he were going to hold her, but stopped himself. Graces tried to sniff back her tears, but they continued to fall as Neville continued to look at her.

"He was going to kill Thomas," she whimpered. "Thomas and Octavian both. He-he let them live, but-but he was going to kill Thomas when he came for the meeting."

"What meeting?"

"The meeting to declare the Higgs' allegiance," Graces explained. "He-he was going to make an example of him. He never believed Thomas would be loyal to him after he slaughtered his family. He was going pretend like he was giving the Higgs family a chance to go on, but kill Thomas after he came forward. I-I couldn't let him kill Thomas. I couldn't. So-so I went to the meeting. Draco had no idea, I went without telling him." Neville didn't say a word. He closed his eyes and leaned down with his chin against his folded knuckles and nodded for Graces to continue. "I-I told the Dark Lord that Thomas was just a child, a child that needed to be taught and that if he gave me a chance I could ensure Thomas would be one of his most devoted followers."

"And how do you plan on managing that?" Neville asked tightly, still not looking at her.

Graces was silent for a few moments. "I am to be held responsible for Thomas' actions and thoughts," Graces whispered quietly.

"So his love for you will be dangled over his head," Neville surmised. "He'll obey, because he won't want you harmed. Jesus Christ."

Graces nodded her head and decided to not tell Neville the part about her taking the mark in the summer.

"He would have killed him," she whispered.

"What happened next?"

"I was punished for Thomas' trespasses... and then for Draco's…"

Graces watched as Neville closed his eyes tightly and knew he was trying not to cry. He nodded at her explanation, but didn't seem able to open his mouth.

"How were you punished?" he asked tightly, not bothering to try and take a breath with the question. Graces couldn't bring herself to answer. She, like Neville, was now holding her breath trying to keep back her tears. After a long silence, Neville turned to her tearfully and began asking. "Did they beat you?" She nodded. "Did they curse you?" Again she nodded. "Did-did they c-cruciate you?" Graces took a shuddering breath and looked up at the ceiling so she didn't have to see Neville's face when she again confirmed what had happened. She closed her eyes as she heard him choke back his sobs and once again found herself wishing he wasn't there. "Did-did they-did they rape you?" he forced out.

"No. No, that didn't happen. I didn't do anything to warrant that."

"Graces," Neville choked. "Nothing you could have done would have warranted that. If-if that happened you can tell me. It would change nothing about how I feel for you. Nothing. I-I just want to know so-so I can help you."

"That didn't happen!" Graces protested. She could tell Neville didn't believe her. He just nodded his head and continued to cry into his hands. "It didn't happen. It didn't," Graces continued, now crying herself. "Go ask the muggle. He examined me. He'll tell you. You can look yourself. It didn't happen. My family hasn't fallen that far. I am still considered respectable, they wouldn't dare do such a thing to a respectable pureblood witch. I'm not ruined!"

"Graces, you wouldn't be ruined," Neville sobbed. "I swear you wouldn't be."

"Longbottom, you stop this right now. I'm still wearing your ring. You said so long as I had it on that wouldn't happen right?"

"The ring isn't on you," Neville sputtered.

Graces frowned and looked down at her left hand. She really couldn't feel anything in her ring finger it was broken, but it was swelled up and there was no ring indentation.

"Go get the muggle," she demanded. "Just him, tell him I want him to readjust my pillow."

Neville stood up and hurriedly wiped his eyes before going to the door and quietly requesting the doctor.

"Miss Malfoy, I think the position you are in now is as comfortable as I can make you without resetting some of those bones," Dr. Harris said tiredly, moving to her bed side and grabbing a pillow off another girls bed.

"Where is my ring?" Graces asked accusingly. "I never take it off. Where is it? I know I had it last night."

Dr. Harris frowned and took a deep breathe to calm himself down, before answering.

"I did not steal your ring. Your finger is broken. I had to remove it before it swelled to the point where I would have to saw the ring off you." Dr. Harris moved to her nightstand and opened the dresser drawer taking out the simple ring."It's right here. Safely tucked away."

Graces looked over to Neville and gave him an 'I told you so look" before dismissing the doctor to leave. Dr. Harris seemed beyond irritated, but left the two alone. Neville didn't look that much better after Dr. Harris left to Graces' surprise. She had hoped that bit of information would give him some relief, but Neville seemed to have a storm brewing around him.

"Why aren't you at St. Mungo's?"

"The Dark Lord was very specific," she said quietly. "No magical care and no medical treatment for the pain for three days. He's sending a message." Graces felt a pit in her stomach open as Neville scrunched his face and turned the other way. She knew he was crying she could see his shoulders shaking and his left hand was raised to his face. "It's okay. I'm okay."

"You are not okay, Graces," Neville moaned. "You are very far from okay. That… that muggle that doctor is right. You are not well, Graces," Neville was now facing her "You died last night. Died. Your heart stopped and he had to figure out a way to breathe for you. You were dead."

"I don't know what you want me to say. I did what I had to do. I don't regret this. Thomas is family to me. Octavian is my godson. What was I supposed to do?"

Neville looked down at her morosely. She could see how sickened he was at the sight of her brokenness; how awful he felt that she was in agony, but there was something else in his eyes. Something that made her skin prickle and her heart fluttered nervously. She felt like she was soaring up on her broom and she was standing still at the same time. It made her intoxicatedly dizzy.

"I don't want you in pain," Neville murmured, taking a seat on the bed and gingerly placing his hand over hers. "Gods above and below I can't stand seeing you like this."

"You're being dramatic."

Neville gave her a look that made her wonder how awful she really looked, but he refrained from saying anything.

"The doctor seems like a nice man," he commented after a long silence.

"He's a butcher," Graces corrected, angrily staring forward. "A bloody butcher."

"He saved your life."

"He sliced me open like a fish and sewed me up like a second hand quilt," Graces whispered tightly. "He's not a man of healing, he's a—"

"He saved your life," Neville reminded. "He saved you, Graces. I'm sure whatever he did was to keep you alive."

"You have no idea what he did," Graces shuddered. "None."

Neville's eyes wandered down to her abdomen that was covered under the blanket. She knew he wanted to see. That he wanted to lift up the sheets and look at what was done to her, but he didn't ask. He averted his eyes and stared at the palms of his hands.

"He wanted me to not see you," Neville whispered. "He asked me if the headmaster was a good man. If he would hurt you. When I said he was a good man he said that I should get you… but I didn't. I-I came in here instead. I should have left for help."

"No. If you had I would have been in even more trouble," Graces comforted. "I would have been killed. Draco would have been killed." Graces was silent for a moment, unsure of how much she wanted to tell Neville. She certainly couldn't tell him Snape would be killed. "And a whole year of our house would have been killed."

"Why didn't you want me to come?" Neville whispered.

"A multitude of reasons," Graces sighed.

"Like what?"

"I didn't want people to catch on," Graces shrugged, diverting her eyes from his.

"They just think I'm some pathetic fool trying at a girl I have no chance with."

Graces smirked and then hissed as her lip re-split open. Neville hurriedly reached in his trousers and dabbed the blood away with his handkerchief. Graces watched as her blood dyed the end of the white cloth. She remembered once that he had become queasy at the sight of blood in potions class and looked up to see if he still didn't have the stomach for such things. But Neville didn't seem to mind. His brow was furrowed only in concern and his brown eyes were soft, even when they were darkening with horror.

"It's just a cut lip," she mumbled against the cloth.

"I love these lips," Neville smiled, removing the cloth and kissing her softly. "I can't let my favorite lips just bleed out and not do anything."

Graces blushed and tried to not think of how much she longed for that kiss, the kiss that told her that even after Neville had seen her like this he could still kiss her and look at her with the same romantic wondering. Graces held Neville's brown eyes with her own silver ones and for the first time since she had seen the Dark Lord nothing hurt.

"Kiss me again," she requested, leaning up breathlessly.

"Gladly," Neville chuckled, moving as close as he dared and continuing to kiss her in the same soft tender manner. Graces found herself searching out Neville's lips immediately after they moved from hers and it thrilled her that when she moved back for them they were never far away. Neville gladly kissed her all she wanted and she could feel his breath becoming warmer on her lips while his fingers roamed her neck.

"We should take a break," she panted. "I-I feel really dizzy."

"Oh, gods, right. Just lean back," Nevill ordered, taking a cool towel on the nightstand and placing it on her head. Graces closed her eyes and tried to relax against the cool cloth. "I can't believe I almost lost you," Neville said faintly, kissing the good corner of her mouth. "Graces, I don't know what I wo—"

"Don't start crying on me again, Longbottom," Graces breathed tiredly. "I'm not lost. I'm here and I currently need you to help me forget that I am in pain. Take my pain away," Graces whispered, leaning up again and kissing his bottom lip.

Neville frowned and ran through what she just said. He remembered hearing her say that before. He remembered her wanted to be rid of her pain asking him to take it away.

"What are you doing?" Graces asked, as he hurried over to his school bag.

"I almost forgot. I-I got you something," he said excitedly.

"You got something for me?" Graces asked. "Like a gift?"

"Yes," Neville smiled, taking out a box of chocolate cauldrons. "A gift."

"Oh, that's-that's so kind," Graces nodded awkwardly. "And those are my favorite. I have no idea how you knew, but-but I'm not really hungry and—"

"Graces," Neville said gently. "There is a good shot of alcohol in each of these chocolate shells." Graces nodded, but Neville knew she didn't understand what he was getting at. "You can't have anything medicinal for the pain," Neville reiterated slowly, "but firewhiskey and chocolate… that's another thing."

"I-I don't know," Graces said nervously turning away.

"Graces," Neville urged, caressing her cheek. "Trust me."

Don't forget to follow/review! The next chapter is going to take off where this one left off :D