A/N: Haha I bet you guys thought you wouldn't be seeing me for a year or so, huh? Well no such luck, I'm back. What's to come?! Hopefully some answers, and some more questions! Hurray! Oh, and beware of gore!

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Snape scowled as he knelt beside the large Bulgarian boy, "How's the fire coming?"

Tonks grinned just as sparks from the rocks sprang into a small fire; Hermione held her jacket over the tiny flame to keep the rain off of it, "Is he alright?"

Snape nodded distractedly as he rolled a bit of the coltsfoot in a leaf of the burdock Neville had found earlier. He handed it to Viktor, who was struggling to keep his breaths from coming too fast, "Breathe in the smoke from this; it will burn but it's all we've got to help right now."

Viktor nodded and Snape reached into the small fire, taking out a bit of wood that was burning strong enough to withstand the move. He lit the end of the rolled herbs when Viktor put it to his lips and tossed the stick back onto the fire. Viktor inhaled and coughed slightly, making a face, "This will help him?" Hermione asked urgently.

"Stay with him and make sure he finishes it." Snape said, "The burdock can cause a rash but it is temporary. Find a way to keep this fire from going out and keep the rest of the plants dry."

Tonks stood as Snape walked away and took his hand, "You saved that boy, Severus." Tonks said.

"What I have done is given him a chance; it's up to those two what happens after this." He said, tensing at her touch, "I'm going to find Longbottom."

"Can't you stay with me just for a while?" Tonks asked, "Just for one night?"

Snape hesitated, and finally gave a sigh of surrender, "Alright."

Tonks smiled and leaned forward, stealing a kiss in the dark.

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Neville nudged Ginny, sitting down beside her in the dark, "It's me."

"Well I figured." She replied sleepily, "Who else would it be?"

Neville reached down and took her hand, "I'm sorry that I yelled."

Ginny rested her head against his shoulder and he could hear the smile in her voice, "Me too."

"I don't really want to take it back." Neville said.

Ginny giggled, "Oh you'll get it back... just not for a long time." She said, snuggling up against him, "Neville?"

"Yeah?"

"I know... I know that you did it for me." Ginny whispered, "Thank you."

"I love you." Neville said suddenly.

Ginny froze, pulling away, "Did you mean that?"

"Yes." Neville sounded frightened as he answered.

Ginny practically leapt onto the boy, kissing him as they fell to the ground, "I love you too." She whispered, pulling her lips away from his just long enough to speak.

Neville pushed her back slightly, "What… what are we doing?"

Ginny sounded mildly annoyed when she replied, "Well geez Neville, I would think that you would recognize it by now." She said, "And be careful with my leg, alright?"

"This wasn't my idea." Neville said.

Ginny shrugged and sat up, "Well we could stop if you want to."

Neville sat up, pulling her to him and capturing her lips with his own.

A few yards away Harry and Ron lay trying to sleep, "Can you hear that?" Ron asked angrily.

"It's better than Goyle and Malfoy's fighting." Harry replied sleepily, rolling over.

Ron grabbed Harry's shoulder and rolled him back over, slamming his friend's back against the ground, "He's shagging my sister." Ron growled.

"They're just kissing, and besides why are you listening?" Harry said, pushing Ron's hand away and sitting up, "I'm going to sleep by Hermione and Viktor on the beach."

"Fine." Ron spat, "Go sleep in the rain."

After a moment of silence signaled Harry's absence, Ron slammed his fist into the ground and tried to block out the giggles and whispers coming from the nearby young couple.

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"Don't be silly, Remus. That had nothing to do with you."

"If I had been focused I… I might have been able to find him sooner." Lupin said.
"Nothing bad happened." Sirius comforted.
"No, but something could have." Lupin sighed, "I can't afford to kill anyone else, Sirius… I have to be on my guard."

"What happened on the plane… you had no control-"

"Exactly!" Lupin shouted, "I never have any control! I'm an animal!"

"You're not an animal, Remus." Sirius said gently, reaching to touch the man's shoulder.

Lupin jerked away and sighed, "I can't afford to do this again, Sirius, not now."

"We can get you Wolfsbane." Sirius comforted, "We can fix it. Snivellus can help you. It probably grows here."

"Severus is busy." Lupin dismissed.

"Then he can tell me what to look for." Sirius said, "Stay here."

Lupin opened his mouth to protest but the other man ran off as the sun began to rise.

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Neville smiled to himself as he rolled onto his side, reaching for Ginny; his hand found only air and he opened his eyes, frowning. Suddenly Sirius walked around the tree, "Neville, have you seen Sniv… Snape?"

"He probably went off to the beach to check on Viktor." Neville replied sleepily, rubbing his eyes, "What's going on?"

"Nothing." Sirius said, heading off towards the beach, "Thank you!"

Neville frowned and stood, crossing his arms as he watched the man walk away. The tall boy couldn't help but feel a stab of annoyance at the way Sirius had brushed him aside. He may not be Harry Potter, but he was perfectly capable of handling adult situations. He'd helped save Viktor's life, and he was about to be a father. That was more than any other man on the island could say. Neville froze when he heard a twig snap behind him; he turned and saw Harry standing not far off, "Oh, hi Harry."

"Hi, Neville." Harry said quietly, "Do you want to go for a walk?"

Neville shrugged, "Alright, yeah." He said, walking to the other boy and smiling, "Where to?"

"You go ahead, Neville. You know the forest better than I do."

Neville smiled and walked ahead, taking the same path he'd taken to the burdock the day before, "It's not so bad, really. It's a lot better than the Forbidden Forest."

"Yeah..." Harry muttered.

Neville let Harry remain silent for the rest of the walk, stopping when they reached a clearing, "Well, this is as far out as I've been."

"It's nice." Harry said.

Suddenly Ron stepped into the clearing before them, holding a fist-sized rock, "Hey Ron." Neville greeted pleasantly, "What are you-" the look on Ron's face forced Neville to silence.

Ron threw the rock before Neville could duck; the tall boy turned and the rock struck him in the back between the shoulders. Pain simultaneously shot up through his skull and down into his knees. Neville stumbled forward but didn't miss a step as he ran from the clearing. Father's instinct—deeper than wizards can understand with their magic and convenience—drove him to run and gain the upper hand, forced him to wonder. When they were done with him, would they go for Ginny and the baby? Neville cried out in rage at the thought and turned, his fist found Ron's jaw before the redhead could react. Ron growled as he climbed back to his feet, picking up a large limb that had long since fallen from one of the trees above. Neville took a step back and Harry shoved him forward as Ron swung, the branch connecting with the boy's head and knocking him down. Harry drug the boy to his feet and held his arms behind him, keeping him steady for Ron.

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"Ginny?"

Ginny turned, "Hello Goyle, what are you doing out here so early?"

Goyle shrugged, "Walking."

"Me too." Ginny said with a smile, "I needed to stretch my legs."

"Care to join me?" Goyle asked quietly, "Malfoy told me where we can find some fruit."

"It could be worth looking." Ginny said pleasantly, "Sure let's go."

"Do you need help?" Goyle asked, offering her his arm.

Ginny beamed and linked her arm in his, "You're too kind." She gushed, walking with him into the forest.

"Uh... Ginny," Goyle started, forcing away his aversion to speaking, "I've... been thinking for a while... about you."

"About me?" Ginny asked, looking up at him.

She was so small and frail next to the hulking boy; Goyle forced himself to swallow the lump in his throat. If Ginny found out that he had helped Ron and Harry hurt Neville, she would never forgive him. His chances would be lost and he'd be stuck with Draco for his only companion forever, "Yeah. I uh... I sort of... fancy you, you could say."

Ginny laughed and after catching sight of his face, stopped, "Oh... oh you really do. Well gee Goyle... you shouldn't. I mean... I'm not that great and I'm with Neville."

Goyle turned and took Ginny by the shoulders, "I don't mean to make you nervous, Ginny."

Ginny shook her head, "You don't, at all. You're a nice guy, Goyle... from what I can tell. The way you swam out to save Draco was great. I just-"

"Draco and I are just acquaintances." Goyle said, "But I would have done it for anybody. So would have any of you that were capable."

"I never took you for the modest type, Goyle." Ginny said.

Goyle shrugged, "Most people don't take me for anything. I don't talk much."

"Well." Ginny said, looking around awkwardly, "How about that fruit?"

Goyle smiled, "It's not far." He assured, leading her into the forest.

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"Get off of me!" Neville cried, struggling to escape Harry's grip.

Harry stumbled forward as the taller boy nearly escaped him, "Ron!"

Ron stepped forward and landed a heavy-handed punch to Neville's nose; Neville stumbled and nearly drug Harry forward as the bespectacled boy held him up. Harry forced himself to remember what Neville had done to them, and ignore the sickening sound of Ron's blows to Neville's face. Neville's head fell back and Harry couldn't close his eyes in time to avoid seeing him. Neville's exact features were hard to make out; blood that poured from his nose hid his mouth completely from view, and as Ron landed a punch to Neville's stomach, a whoosh of air from Neville's mouth caused blood to spray from his lips. Harry winced as Ron grew angrier, "This is what you get for touching my sister, Longbottom!" he yelled.

The words caused Harry's ears to burn and his chest to tighten; he blinked at Ron, "What did you say?"

Neville lifted his head slowly; his bangs hung in his face dripping sweat and blood. His normally dull eyes looked savagely courageous. He spat blood onto the ground and locked eyes with Ron. The redhead froze for a moment, then scowled and shouted again, "Never touch my sister again! Do you hear me?! Never!"

Ron stumbled forward and brought his fist against Neville's temple; a sickening crack sounded and Neville went limp in Harry's arms. The bespectacled boy stumbled forward and his glasses fell from his face, shattering on the ground as something ripped through his mind like a bullet; Don't believe his lies or you'll crucify him. Harry's right hand slid up and he pressed his fingers to Neville's throat, "Ron."

Blood puddle on the redhead's knuckles and Ron hit the spot again, another crack, more blood, "Ron!"

Ron's rage faded as he looked at Harry's face, "What?!"

"Ron he's dead!" Harry sobbed.

Ron straightened and he looked down at his hand before turning and bolting into the forest. Harry let Neville drop forward as buried his face in his blood-soaked hands. Harry fell forward against Neville's body, his hand leaving a sketchy red handprint on the boy's stomach. Less than twelve inches above that, blood that had ran from Neville's face decorated his chest with a large ugly spattering of blackness. Harry clenched his teeth and drove his fist down against Neville's chest, as though he were angry with the boy for dying. Harry stood quickly, stumbling a few times before running blindly into the forest, the image of Neville's brave eyes burned forever into his mind.

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A/N: Well there you have it. Gore, shock, awe, human drama, I hope you're all very pleased with yourselves. Look what you've made me do! Ok so not really… it was mostly Neville's fault. He was just too cute… no more cute shirtless Neville cry. Well anyhow, you should all be proud of me for posting this so fast, AND it's my birthday so… HUZZAH FOR ME!