Professor Neville Longbottom (A Harry Potter FanFic)

Chapter Eighteen - Kidnap

MOST OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK ARE THE WORK OF J.K.ROWLING, NOT MY OWN.

Chapter Eighteen - Kidnap

Neville spent the night in the Infirmary laying beside Rosalind on the bed whilst she slept. He, however, couldn't sleep at all. His arms were wrapped tightly around Rosalind's sleeping form as if that would protect her from harm. Neville knew what Falco was now capable of, and his father was worse. Much worse.

Rosalind began to stir at early dawn, the peach coloured sky visible through the frosted window panes. A flock of birds circled in the air just outside the window, their persistant calls pulling Rosalind gently from her sleep. She lifted her head slowly from the pillow to see Neville laying silently beside her. The large gash on his leg had opened up so had been rebandaged tightly whilst he had held Rosalind in his arms the previous day. His eyes were trained on the ceiling, staring at nothing which allowed him to think without being distracted. Rosalind could see that whatever he was thinking about pained him so she lifted her frail arm and stroked his cheek.

Neville turned his head to see Rosalind now awake, her bright eyes full of worry as she stared at him. He smiled warmly at her but it was a feeble attempt. Rosalind could see the tears pricking the corners of his eyes and frowned. Something was obviously troubling him.

Rosalind smiled back at him but the smile never reached her eyes. She was still worried and couldn't kid herself otherwise. She leant forwards and gently kissed him on the lips before staring deeply into his troubled eyes.

"Whats wrong?" She whispered. Neville responded with a sigh and turned his head back to look at the ceiling.

"I should have stopped him hurting you."

"You couldn't have done anything. You didn't have your wand."

"I feel responsible somehow. If only I'd have remembered, then you wouldn't have been tortured like that."

It was Rosalinds turn to sigh. Neville just didn't seem to get that it wasn't his fault.

"Listen to me! It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have gone walking on my own..." She trailed off as she saw Snape standing at the gap in the curtains.

"Not interrupting anything am I?" he hissed. It was his attempt to retain his harsh facade but he couldn't hide the worry in his voice.

Neville let go of Rosalind and pulled himself off the bed and into a chair. He turned his head to face the floor in order to avoid Snapes gaze. He grabbed Rosalinds hand and she glanced at him briefly before turning to face her Father.

"No." She replied meekly. Her face was pale and sullen, her eyes surrounded by dark rings. Her cheeks were stained with tears and her dress was folorn and dirty from where she had fallen to the ground.

Snape strode over to his daughters bedside and stared at her sickly white face. She looked so much like her mother.

"How are you feeling?" He whispered, his voice laced with sincerity for once.

"I'm fine father." She replied, but didn't meet his gaze. She didn't feel fine, she felt terrible, just wanting to curl up into a ball and sob with fear. She never stopped shaking and felt sick to the pit of her stomach just thinking of what could have happened. Or what could still happen.

Snape noticed her hesitation and the fact that she avoided looking him in the eye. He realised just how scared she must be because he was just as scared. If not more.

"I'll protect you." He muttered before noticing the dark look Neville was giving him.

"We'll protect you." He corrected himself before looking back at Neville who was giving him a small smile. Neville noticed the corners of Snapes mouth twitching upwards in a vain attempt of smiling before dropping back down again into his signature scowl. In Neville's opinion that was a breakthrough.

"Whats this then?" They heard someone hiss from the foot of the bed.

"So touching that you could still love that Blood-Traitor. If you could call that love." Draco Malfoy was grinning maniacally at Snape.

"I never knew you had it in you to be a father Severus. You always were such a cold-hearted person." Draco had his wand aimed at Snapes head.

"I suggest you move away from the bed Severus before I do something I might regret." Snape slowly backed away from Rosalind who lay frozen in her bed, obviously petrified.

"You too Longbottom!" He laughed "You always were such an idiot weren't you? the fact that you think you could take me on is quite frankly an insult to my honour." Neville found the wand pointing at his head halfway through pulling his own wand from his pocket.

"Expelliarmus!" Snapes wand was sent flying and a look of pure loathing appeared on his face.

"You touch her and I wont be responsible for my actions Malfoy." Snape growled.

"What could you possibly do? You aren't armed and your friend here," Draco gestured towards Neville "Is incapable of doing anything remotely harmful to me."

"I guess your son hasn't told you what I did then?" Smirked Neville as Dracos smug grin was replaced with a look of shock, and then pure anger.

"YOU DID THAT?" He screamed, his wand aimed at Nevilles head. "YOU IDIOT!"

Rosalind was still laying on the bed in the middle of the fight. Her eyes were wide with fear and tears were trickling down her cheeks. She didn't want either her Father or Neville to be hurt.

"You'll pay." Draco hissed before grabbing Rosalind from the bed.

"Let go of her!" Neville yelled, his wand aimed at Draco.

The last thing Rosalind saw of Neville and her father was the shocked expressions on their faces as Draco dissaperated, taking Rosalind with him.

"No!" Snape screamed, running to the place Rosalind was last standing. "No!" He sobbed, falling to his knees. "They'll kill her!"