Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I'm just playing in her world.
Claimer: I own Melissa.

A/N: Time for some angst. Lovely.

Title: In The Midst of a War
Genre: Angst
Rating: K+
Warning: Suggested Child Abuse?
Pairing/Character: Neville, OC
Word Count: 426

A soft whimper reached Neville's ears, and he withdrew his wand instantly. Carefully, he crept round the corner and along the dark corridor, dodging into shadows when the light of the full moon disturbed the darkness. The whimpering grew louder, and Neville realised they were sobs. A small girl, surely no older than twelve, was curled into a ball behind a statue of a knight. Her head was buried in her arms, which rested on her knees, and her strawberry blonde hair fell in front of her legs.

He sighed and crouched down beside her, resting a hand lightly on her arm. She gasped and her head snapped up, her blue eyes wide with fear. Her face was flushed from crying, her eyes blood-shot and puffy. Blood trickled down her cheek from a gash at the side of her head, and one word left Neville's lips, nothing more than a sorrowful mutter:

"Carrows."

He lifted his wand to the gash and muttered a healing spell, watching with weary eyes as the skin healed over. He took a tissue from a pocket in his robes, and wiped the blood off of the girl's cheek. All the time, she continued looking at him with wide eyes, the tears never decreasing.

"What's your name?"

"Melissa," she whispered, her voice thick with tears.

"I'm Neville," he told her. "What Year are you in?"

"First."

"Bloody Carrows," he muttered, before raising his voice slightly. "Come on, I'll take you back to your common room."

He stood up and offered a hand, pulling her up from the ground. Neville saw the red badge on her robes, and held onto her hand tighter as he led her along the moonlit corridors, gripping his wand in the other. After they reached the portrait, scrambled through the hole, Neville crouched down again and brushed away her tears with his thumb.

"If you ever get into trouble again, tell me, or any of the Sixth- and Seventh Years. Except the Slytherins. Okay? Tell us, and we'll be there."

"You're really brave."

Neville shook his head. "I'm nothing special."

The little girl frowned at this. "Yes, you are, you're brilliant."

"Goodnight, Melissa."

He stood up and urged her forwards, watching her reluctantly trail up the girls' staircase. He sighed, tucked away his wand, and rubbed his eyes wearily. Neville hated war.

"I'm nothing special." ~ "Yes, you are, you're brilliant." - Doctor Who.

A/N: Hey, speaking of Doctor Who, what did you guys think of the first episode of the new series? If you watched it, that is. Personally, I think it was bloody fantastic. Matt Smith, although not as good as David Tennant, is really amazing. And I like Amy! The first companion I've liked since Rose. Whoop ^.^

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