Bent But Not Broken

Title: Painful Reminders
Author: unbroken_halo
Pairing: Neville/Bill
Word Count: 100X3
Rating: PG
Warnings: DH Spoilers
Challenge: #22: Seventh Year
A/N: Thank you to the most diligent Vegas ladies for all their help in beta-ing these when I kept screwing up one thing or another. *g*



Painful Reminders

Crucio!The spell wrapped around him, filling his body with pain. Writhing and screaming. Relief. Crucio! Again. Agony. Screaming. He bit it off and glared up at Alecto Carrow, vowing silent revenge.

Cries startled Bill awake. "Lumos!"

Neville thrashed on the bed, and Bill reached for him. "Neville!"

Caught in the nightmare of his Seventh Year, Neville flung his arm out.

Bill tried to dodge. Neville's fist met his jaw, hard, and he groaned, clutching at his face.

Neville sat up; eyes open, staring at nothing. Body still shaking, he closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around himself. "Just a dream."

~*~

"The after effects seem real enough," Bill muttered and reached out to run a hand down Neville's back. "Are you all right?"

Neville willed the shudders wracking his body to stop and nodded. He opened his eyes and glanced at Bill, grimacing at the red mark on his face. "Did I do that?"

Bill hummed, arching an eyebrow as Neville began shaking again. "I can't help you if you won't let me. Madame Pomfrey should know about this." He caressed Neville's cheek.

"She already does as she was here during my Seventh Year," Neville murmured, leaning in to Bill's warmth.

~*~

"And so the damage was done. It's not near extensive as my parents, but the Carrows weren't shy about using the Unforgivables my Seventh Year. It's one of the reasons I left the Aurors. The Governors' offer couldn't have come at a better time. "

Bill nodded as Neville finished explaining, running his hands over Neville's arms while he held the other man close. "And nothing seems to help?"

Neville shook his head, and then looked up at Bill. "This appears to have worked nicely."

"Glad to be of assistance," Bill whispered and smiled, softly pressing his mouth to Neville's.