Nev's wounded

[pinkhairedauror]

Who? Tonks, Neville, (Poppy), possibly eventually Luna
What? Snape's portkey takes Neville to the Hogwarts infirmary
When? The night of the Azkaban battle
Where? The Hogwarts Infirmary.
Why? Because Neville is badly in need of healing?

Comments

[longbottom_heir]

When Neville was eight years old his Uncle Algie dropped him head first out of a window. The way the story was told in the family, it was a moment of triumph because it proved Neville wasn't a squib. Funny how his family overlooked the part about being eight and dropped headfirst out of a window...

True, he hadn't died but he remembered falling. It couldn't have been more than seconds but in that moment it had felt like an eternity. He'd waited for the impact that never came.

Now almost 30 years later and Neville had a sense of what he'd missed that day. Everything hurt to the point he was missing unconsciousness. But before he slipped back into it, he wanted to see Luna. Had to see Luna. Had to see her to believe he was alive. "Luna?"

[oddlylunalu]

It seemed to take forever to get to the infirmary, Tonks hadn't said much...just that he was alive, and that was what was important right? So why couldn't she shake the overwhelming sense of panic?

Once they finally reached the door to the infirmary, she squeezed Tonks hand then wasted no time walking in.

She opened her mouth to say something to Poppy, then she heard it, his faint voice calling her name. Pushing past the healer not really caring what she had to say at the moment, she rushed over to the bed the voice had come from. Taking in a deep breath she slipped through the curtain and rested her eyes on her husband. Once again resisting the urge to cry out at the sight of him she moved over beside the bed, her heart breaking a little at how small he looked.

Carefully she reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. "Shhh...it's okay. I'm here."

[longbottom_heir]

Neville forced himself to focus on her beautiful face. "Alive." He leaned into her touch. "'m sorry love."

There was a different kind of weight on his chest now, how much he loved her, how much he already loved his baby, and how close he'd come to never seeing them again.

"Luna." There was a hitch in his voice not caused by the pain in his body. He couldn't get anything more out.

[oddlylunalu]

Luna's blue eyes met and held his focused gaze. She was trying desperately not to cry. He hated it when she cried. Oh the tears would come...but they would come later. "Shhh, don't it's okay. You're here. That's all that matters."

God how it pained her to see him like this, she was certain it was the worst kind of magic. To see him, the man she loved and cherished more than life itself in so much pain he could barely form words...it quite literally broke her heart a little more, and she realized she'd gladly take his place to stop the hurting.

When he said her name again she took in another deep breath, biting back more tears, and leaning over to gently kiss his forehead.

[longbottom_heir]

He heard the footsteps coming nearer to his bed. Funny, Helena had just become a part of his life and already it was as if she'd been with them all along. He knew her step, her expressions, her body language, he knew his sister. And that thought never failed to amaze him.

"Tink." His words were soft and would stay that way until his lungs fully healed and he could get more air into them.

Poppy had spelled the bed bigger because a 6' grown man shouldn't have to sleep in a bed designed to hold at most a 7th year. He was grateful for the extra leg room and width. He patted the bed next to him. "Hey."

[longbottom_heir]

"Oh Sissy. Don't cry." He squeezed her hand. "Poppy says I'm going to be fine. Nothing's broke that can't be mended." I just hope it's true.

"Helena, I know how you feel. I know Luna is feeling the same way. Please, please don't. I know it's selfish but I can't -" His eyes closed, he didn't want to cry. He wouldn't cry. "When I thought, when I thought it was over. You don't know how much comfort it gave me to know Luna wouldn't be alone. To know my family was safe."

*some time on the morning after*

[pinkhairedauror]

Information started flowing in the early morning, but Tonks wasn't going to leave the school until she was relieved. Since with the day, teachers and other adults started around their usual business, about midmorning she decided to check in on Neville.
And if he was willing to talk about last night? While still on alert she would be able to help piece up the eventual full report on the battle.

So she picked up some chocolate (should he be up to having any) and wound her way to the Infirmary again.

"Nev? You awake?"

Re: *some time on the morning after*

[longbottom_heir]

"Hey Tonks." He had a sort of vague memory of her from the night before.