Neville Longbottom stared in horror as his Arithmancy teacher passed out in front of him. He wasn't so sure why he was insistent on helping Professor Davids, she definitely wasn't the nicest teacher at Hogwarts, but nowhere near Snape's level. And she did have that deal with him about being out before morning curfew so he could check on the plants. It was also distressing to see one of his teacher's so… beaten.

"…Professor?" he asked timidly. "Uh, Professor Davids?"

He got no reply. It was then that Neville decided he was going to McGonagall. He could deal with Professor Davids' anger after he knew she was safe, but now he wanted to help. After quickly making sure she was still breathing, he stood and walked back to Professor McGonagall's painting, and knocked.

In a few moments, the lock on the door was clicked open, and the door revealed Professor McGonagall, very much the same as one would see her while in a class.

"Mister Longbottom," she said, surprised and a little irritated. "What are you doing back here, you should be in your common room by now."

"Uh, sorry to bother you Professor," said Neville, still ever so slightly scared of her after all these years, "but Professor Davids is really not well and she passed out just around the corner. I really think we should get her to the infirmary."

It seemed Neville did not imagine McGonagall's face falling into a scowl the moment Professor Davids was mentioned. "Mister Longbottom," said McGonagall tightly, "I'm sure Professor Davids is able to handle the situation herself, but I appreciate your concern."

Neville was taken aback. A fellow teacher was in need, and Professor McGonagall was refusing to help. He had never seen her talk about another staff member with such contempt. "But Professor, please, she looks hurt, I really don't think she should be left there."

"No, Mister Longbottom," McGonagall was scowling in the direction of the corner. "You should go back to your common room, before you get in trouble." Seeing Neville's determined expression, she sighed. "Listen, Mister Longbottom, it is no secret that Hogwarts is no longer as safe as it once was."

She hesitated. "Professors Carrow are both Death Eaters. And so is Professor Davids. I'm sorry but I do not want to aid those people. Whatever messes they get themselves in, they are going to have to get themselves out."

There were a few moments of silence. Neville was shocked. He knew Professor Davids didn't seem like the nicest teacher, she definitely had some Snape vibes about her, but he would never have suspected her as a Death Eater.

"Oh, uh I had no idea," said Neville. His whole perception of her had changed. But there was still a part of him that wanted to help her. He didn't know why, he knew he probably should hate her now, and he definitely didn't like her all too much anymore, but he didn't seem to hate her. It felt wrong to leave her lying on the floor like that, hurt. So, he pressed on. "But please Professor. What good are we if we leave the injured? I mean I know she's a Death Eater now, but shouldn't we at least try? And what happens if she's still there in the morning when students start to walk around the halls? It wouldn't be good for the students to see her like that. Please, Professor."

McGonagall sighed deeply. Then she stood in thought for a few moments, contemplating it. And she knew that he was right. How could she call herself better than a Death Eater if she left someone who was seemingly badly injured? "Alright. I'll see how badly she is hurt, and then we'll figure out what to do. Now, show me to her."

Neville nodded and brought her just around the corner. McGonagall couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the woman before her. Dried and fresh blood mingled with her hair and the side of her face, she had bruises almost covering her arms and legs, and there was another trail of blood down her legs. Her arm looked swollen and was almost definitely broken.

"Dear Merlin," whispered McGonagall. She was not expecting to see this much damage to her colleague. Now she felt ashamed of her initial refusal to help. Kneeling beside Davids, she took out her wand and waved it in complex circles to perform a diagnostic charm. The results left her ever so slightly heartbroken. It explained the blood on her legs.

McGonagall decided she didn't want to get too many people involved, so she turned to Neville. "Mister Longbottom, I'm going to help Professor Davids in my own chambers. If you wouldn't mind, I would like your help."

"O- Of course Professor, I'll help," said Neville, nodding.

"Thank you." McGonagall then flicked her wand again, and Davids body levitated. She stood, and they walked back towards her chambers, Davids floating behind them. They returned into her chambers.

It was exactly how you would imagine her chambers to be. Very prim and proper, and extremely neat. There was the odd tartan pattern here and there, but most things were in a plain deep green. There was a large black sofa on one side, with a small coffee table in front of it.

McGonagall walked straight over to this coffee table and sofa and carefully laid Davids onto the couch. She then transfigured the coffee table into a cot, not unlike those in the infirmary. Davids was then placed on the now cot, gently. McGonagall the cast the diagnostic spell again to clarify what the injuries were. "Mister Longbottom go into the top left cabinet in the kitchen, you should find a variety of bottles there. Grab the first three that are placed there," said the transfiguration teacher. Then she muttered to herself, "I'm not anywhere near as good as Poppy, but we should be able to make do."

Neville nodded, and quickly went to the kitchen, found the potions and brought them to her. When he returned, McGonagall was already muttering multiple healing spells. "Here, Professor."

McGonagall motioned her him to place them beside her, and he did so. Once finished her incantations, she took the potions and put the first two down Davids' throat. The last one she rubbed on the back of her head. Then, McGonagall sighed, and crossed her arms.

"Well, that is all we can do for now. I will watch over her until she wakes up. Mister Longbottom, you should go back to your common room now."

Neville looked up at McGonagall. "O-okay Professor. She's going to be okay, right?"

McGonagall's lips formed a tight smile. "I think so, Mister Longbottom. Now go, before you get in trouble for being out late."

He nodded and left her quarters. As Neville went to bed that night, his mind stayed on the Professor, and how conflicted he felt. What McGonagall had just told him meant that she wasn't a good person, but he couldn't help but think that that was not who he knew as his Arithmancy teacher. But, he thought, I guess she could be just good at her job, at hiding it. With these conflicting thoughts in his head, Neville fell asleep.

A/N hey everyone! sorry for the ever so slightly late and kinda short chapter, but i hope you enjoy it anyway! i'll see you all in two weeks with another, longer and on time chapter, i promise!

- favouriteyellowsweater xox